Darth Vader’s Top 10 Personal Branding Tips

One of my favourite dark characters of all time is Darth Vader. Ever since I saw the first Star Wars: A New Hope film in 1977 right up to my favourite film of 2016, Star Wars: Rogue One, Darth Vader has always inspired me through his personal branding. Here are my top 10 inspirational tips from Darth Vader about his personal brand enhancement strategy:

1.  Black is the new Black

The first and last times that I encountered Darth Vader in "A New Hope" and "Rogue One" he is bursting through a white spaceship door with white storm troopers all dressed in black rampaging on-wards killing everything in his way.

I always remember going “wow” the first time and 40+ years later jumping off my seat and going “wow, wow” again the second time (bit like the girl below!)! I have seen Rogue One three times and each time I get goosebumps at that final scene of Darth Vader leading his storm troopers, not letting anything get in his way. The total blackness, head to toe no less makes a grand and bold statement.

Your personal brand is always enhanced with black. If you are 7 foot tall and swooshing a light saber and with the aid of the dark side of the “force” it makes an even bigger personal branding statement.

2. How you dress is how you're perceived

Darth Vader isn’t just wearing a normal black suit he is wearing a black helmet mask which immediately grabs your attention and an enormous black cloak combined with an impressive black body armour suit. The clock swooshing along behind him enhances his personal brand by growing his body mass to look and feel even more impressive. When Darth Vader walks, or rather strides purposefully into a room you know about it.

If Darth Vader is using the “force” to wipe everything in his way aside while reflecting all lasers aimed at him and waving a vicious lightsaber then you certainly know that he has arrived. Never has there been a more powerful and charismatic entrance truly reflecting his personal brand than when Darth Vader walks through those doors.

  3. Your mannerisms say everything about you

There is nothing more distinctive in the world that Darth Vader’s breathing. Everyone knows when they hear that spine chilling sound that he is present. He doesn’t even need to be seen for you to know that he is there. That is the ultimate personal branding. People know who you are because of very distinctive personal characteristics.

4. Voice projection 

Darth Vader projects a commanding voice. He is not a man for long speeches. He is short and focused in his wording. He makes his point, turns around and his black cloak swooshes that he is gone. Powerful personal branding.

Darth Vader’s voice projection is powerful and highly authoritative. You listen to what he has to say. Excellent personal branding characteristics.

5. Red light saber

Darth Vader’s red light saber is key to his personal branding while at work. The “goodies” have blue and white light sabers where as Darth Vader as with all the Dark Side “baddies” have blood red, warning red, run-away red light sabers.

The personal brand is enhanced by knowing that the red light saber spells trouble and should be avoided at all costs. It is literally a warning not to mess with him. His personal branding is enhanced by his “work” instruments.

It’s not as if I can actually imagine Darth Vader taking time out to go to the movies, football match or enjoy a nice meal, the only time you ever see him not working is when he is in chemical bath before the black body armour goes in. Again, an excellent work ethic is very brand enhancing.

6. The Dark Side

Any personal brand has to have a vision, a belief system, a culture and a direction for that brand to have full effect and fulfil it’s potential. The Dark Side is the ethos, the creed by which Darth Vader not only lives but tries to get everyone else to follow.

The Dark side is omnipresent, it is everything to Darth Vader. It is the reason for his being and the reason he leads battles with such determination, purpose and energy. The Dark Side is the part of of his personal brand that is unquestionable and intrinsic to his personal brand. It dictates his actions and his motivation. Everyone needs their Dark Side to give them purpose and focus to accentuate their personal brand.

7. A boss who is more fearsome than you

Darth Vader has the ultimate mentor, referrer and icon to inspire his personal brand and drive his ambitions, almost like his father, The Emperor. As fearsome as Darth Vader is, nothing compares with The Emperor. Not as impressive from a personal branding point of view or as youthful but 10x more powerful, ruthless and nasty The Emperor is the dark black heart of The Dark Side.

As a role model, which we all need for our personal branding, The Emperor is as good as they come. Always giving advice and directing while always being there, Darth Vader like anyone else can learn a lot about personal branding from him.

 8. Leadership

Darth Vader is not one of these Roman or World War 1 or 2 generals sitting in bunkers or on horses miles from the action. Darth Vader literally leads by example. The Star Wars films are full of him leading his Storm Troopers into battle.

The first scene in the A New Hope, the last but one scene in Rogue one who is leading his troops into the battle against the laser guns? Darth Vader. Swishing his red lightsaber, striding into battle with his black cloak of danger behind him, using The Force to deflect all lasers and wipe aside anyone who will try and stop him Darth Vader is leading by example.

In the last battle scene of A New Hope it’s Darth Vader who takes the lead to try and find and kill his son, Luke Skywalker in his specially designed X-wing? He isn’t leaving this task to anyone else it’s him who will finish the job in his purpose built .

From a personal branding point of view nothing matters more to followers, employees than a leader willing to get his hands dirty and lead by example. Inspiring.

 9. The Death Star

What every personal brand needs is a product, a symbol of their power and personal brand. The Death Star is Vader’s. The ultimate killing force in the galaxy, the ultimate planet erasing machine, The Death Star is that symbol of power that had been inspired by and is driven by Darth Vader.

Everyone who works for him wants to impress him with what the Death Star can do to enhance his personal brand and conquer the galaxy. Awesome. 

10. Endless optimism

I always loved the phrase that Darth Vader utters many many times, “no one can stop us this time”! Of course his plans never quite materialise how he wishes. However optimism and blind faith in your personal brand and ability to deliver is very intoxicating for your followers.

People follow personal brand leaders. People follow people they believe in. People would follow Darth Vader.