What I agree with completely is that "a brand is what others say about you, not what you say about yourself." This is what your brand really means and stands for... because your audience (made up primarily of customers) is saying this about you. And their opinion counts in the eyes of others because they are generally trusted sources. Companies aren't trusted nearly as much (90% vs. 12% to be exact) so even if a company tells you what their brand is about, not many really believe it... at least not as much as if your buddy says it to you.