Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out

Marc Ecko provides an honest and insightful look at personal brand creation. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to ANYONE who needs clarity in developing their ideas beyond their imagination. I especially enjoyed the anecdotes and asides. Although, at some points, the asides interrupted the narrative flow, the illustrations/photographs enlighten and entertain. Awesome read; sick-ass story and trilliant execution.

It's a great story. One of vision and determination. Really well written and captivating. The only reason it's not a five is that I found it slightly lacking in clear teachable lessons and take-aways. I wanted a little more.

Marc spills his guts out in this book and explains his story in his way. Authenticity is the name of the game. I felt he gave this book a very good effort, and explained his perspective very well. He's an interesting character as he allows his emotions to take him in the next direction. The formulas gave visual support, but they didn't have much meaning on their own. I felt he was trying to brand his perspective by giving them a formula (kinda unnecessary, but I get it). This book wasn't much of a mover for me. It just felt like he was trying to explain his side of his story up until this point in his life.

Half way through the Kindle edition and I am already deeply grateful for the insights I've gleaned so far from Mr. Ecko's Unlabel.

What I've been able to see through Marc's eyes is invaluable. There is a real sense of history at play here that fortifies the designers focus on authenticity.

From drawing up 'Vote for Me' flyers to become the student body president in high school to the advanced maneuvers of 'velvet roping' an empty trade show booth with his brand placed elegantly atop a pedestal; there is a constant affirmation in nearly every page of the sheer value of doubling down on originality.

More than a rags to riches story, Ecko's tale is loaded with self effacing admissions of the dangerous side effects of success and lessons on how to counteract them with actual stress tested wisdom.

I've been aware of Ecko only intermittently through the mind stamping Rhino brand and I seem to recall when Getting Up, his foray into video game design came out but I'm someone who has always been suspicious of Graffiti as an art form.

Miraculously early on in the book I was educated by Marc, that what one mostly sees on the street in the form of 'graffiti' are called 'toys' - a moniker for nascent writers whose pens are cans. This seemingly minor insight clarified a confusion I have held for quite some time, namely, 'why does 98% of graffiti just look like practice?' now I know it's just a bunch of 'toys' and that graffiti, like any art, blossoms only after hours, days and potentially years of perfecting a style before you should manage Getting Up your first time. Wasn't it Voltaire who said 'one must write volumes before signing ones own name'? That idea wasn't lost on the ethos of Ecko.

Marc possesses that rare quality of a talent who knows he's got it but takes the time to get it right it in seemingly every aspect of his creative and professional life. I've read it non-stop until I decided to write this review. It reminds me of the 'innocence' of the 80's and 90's. An innocence that is, perhaps against our better judgement, present with us now. And without fail we'll look back on this time, today, in twenty years with the same reverence and nostalgia.

I mean I can hear the Beastie Boys saying "Ali Baba and the 40 thieves" in unison inside this guys garage where everything is possible as he bangs out another custom airbrush design or perfects the 100th palm frond.

I have enjoyed the read and as someone starting a new company his insights are a shot in the arm of perfect timing. I would not have found out about this book if it wasn't for his upcoming Skillshare class that I fully intend on taking. Can't wait to read the rest of where the journey takes him and what he has to say about it. Well done.

post-thought: There is some talk in the book referencing a change in the brand name from echo to ecko which I distinctly remember doing second takes on when it happened. I bring it up because there is something beautiful about the fact that Ecko (with the K) is so much more powerful and true and right for the brand than the 'original'. The philosophical underpinning of this realization in their company and also in the reader is a profound example of the power of being okay with moving forward even though you are not and cannot be sure of how the creative evolution of your business will refine itself. I found this passage and several others extremely encouraging. Just trust it.
scottthrift

This review is for the audio book version. The first chapter took me a while to warm up too as the narration sounded a bit ‘wanna-be-badass’. But, the story took hold, and with the story, the narration kind a fit; fell into place.

Unlabel is like a cocky, coming of age business story. At parts angst ridden and self depreciating and other parts overflowing with egomania. And all that is what I liked about it, I liked the ‘authenticity’.

I feel that Unlabel really rang true. It was littered with Marc’s funny-ass descriptions of people and situations, like meeting his soon to be business partner, Seth Gerszberg and describing him as an ‘un-cool dork-Jew in nut hugging, cut-off jean shorts..”.

The story went on and with it a certain candor came out. Half trying to put on a front, half telling it like it is. I liked that. With it Marc shared many business anecdotes from his perspective of an artist-entrepreneur. I think he’s both, so it’s impossible to separate the two.

Some of the points & lessons Marc made that I think will resonate with readers are; Marc’s drive to be ‘authentic’, to make money from his art and not be ashamed to do so, handling criticism, pushing for something bigger, creative marketing, guerrilla marketing, deployment of an F.U. attitude - when needed…

Like every good story there is drama. Marc talks a lot about the ‘failures’ he made with his business, poor decisions and what he learned from getting hammered during economic shifts. He does all this in a very casual, one on one way. It works.

Buy this book if you want inspiration, marketing tips and to develop a tough attitude and go BIG. Don’t buy it if you like your narration/stories clean and laden with points and 'how to’ techniques; there are many there, but the delivery is unorthodox compared to a standard business book.

This is Marc’s story. Not mine or yours. I liked it and wholly recommend it, both as a funny read and as a fantastic motivator to PUSH you further.

'Unlabel' is a more authentic business book than you will find from other successful businessmen. Marc does a great job explaining his story, how he has been successful and helps you cut through BS. His writing style is really relatable and this is a book you can read in 2 days. You can almost hear him talking to you as you read the book. It is filled with endless creativity. I really like how he has used a number of 'equations' to bring some of the concepts to life.

If you don't know who Marc is, he is a very successful individual with a wide range of interests. He has his own fashion line and started Complex media. He is also the guy who faked out the country by 'tagging' Air Force One. One of my favorite PR stories of all time. He also bought Mark McGwire's record breaking baseball and sent it to outer space. Pretty cool guy.

So who should buy this book? Marketers. Artists. Entrepreneurs. Creators. Inventors. Writers. In a nutshell, "doers".

I believe you will find this book inspirational and really enjoyable to read. I've bought a few copies for friends in the advertising and marketing industry. Looking forward to hearing their thoughts.

This is probably a very good audio book. However, I wouldn't know because I just received my audiobook CD in the mail and was very disappointed when I put the disc in my car CD player and discovered that this CD is not compatible basic CD players. The disc player must be a MP3 compatible player. I am very busy and thought ordering the audiobook would be a convenient way to receive the knowledge as I listen to it in my car. Unfortunately this is not an option. I would like a refund or an exchange for the actual book.

I had the opportunity to read through Marc Ecko's book - and the short of it is this: It was GREAT!

I run a website called Social Triggers, and I was sent an advanced copy of the book because I interviewed Marc Ecko on my podcast Social Triggers Insider.

Just wanted to be up front and disclose. That said, here's why I thought this book was one of the better business books I read this year:

1. This book was a GREAT mix between Marc sharing personal anecdotes from within his life, and action tips that other small business owners and entrepreneurs can use to further their business. In my experience, books either go too far to the left or right in this regard whereas I believe Marc stayed right in the middle.

2. Unlike most other business books written by business experts about themselves, Marc is super honest about his shortcomings and failures. There's a section he calls "Marc in Ecko Land." I believe his mistakes is something many newly successful entrepreneurs and business owners can fall prey to. While reading it, I couldn't help but think "I better not..."

3. The book is beautifully designed. It's got great information, action tips, but what makes this a pleasure is the GREAT pictures throughout the book to illustrate his points and his past.

That all said, this book has a little something for everyone:

1. If you're looking to get attention of influencers, the strategies he shares behind what he calls "The Swag Bomb" is a great way to do it.

2. If you're looking to get into self-development, the document he referred to as "Marc Ecko in 2010" is a great strategy. Just don't take it too far else you risk going to Ecko land ;-)

3. We live in a world where tech companies are all the rage. But hearing a second by second account of how a clothing company did it was great inspiration for anyone who isn't in the tech business.

4. If you feel like you're prone to financial issues, you'll see the failure Marc experience while running his company. You can use this as inspiration for yourself.

5. And a whole lot more.

Hope this helps!

Growing up in Brooklyn, I've always seen the EcKo brand, but never really knew the story behind it. Marc really gives you a glimpse behind the unpretty aspects of launching and sustaining a creative business from the ground up. I appreciate his candor and the fact that he shares the silver lining or the lesson in overcoming every obstacle. Insightful, easy read recommended for anyone interested in uncovering their unique voice and helps prepare you to use it to carve out your place in this crazy, often creativity-suppressing world.

Its a great book to kind of guide yourself through the apparel industry and Marc Ecko's ups and downs during his time at the helm of the company. This is definitely for any potential or experience entrepreneur looking to build an organic brand. Marc goes over his development and marketing ideas he used to build up the Ecko Brand.

I blew through this book in a weekend. great stories and writing, brilliantly illustrated. Usually sidebars and illustrations annoy me. Here, Ecko uses visuals to bolster the concepts adding what the eye can see and what words alone might not say cleanly; and the art itself is a meal for the eyes. The book is both a personal history in business and creativity, and a set of formulas to measure your own journey against. Ecko lays out his principle of authenticity. Each chapter steps through his formula for how to ensure that authenticity is part of any entrepreneurial exercise. But he doesn't pretend to pontificate that these are golden rules, nor does he only toast his own success. There is real blood and emotion in this book, real pain, and a deep exploration into the elements that combined to make the Ecko brand a success. Got me thinking pretty hard, too.

I loved the book. Very creative view of the world and business. Very interesting personal story. I did not know who Marc Ecko is before but now I respect this person a lot. There is a lot to learn from this book.

As someone who feels like they can identify with being an creative artist and an entrepreneur, this book feels like a conversation where the author illustrates among other things how to be authentic in your business endeavors and your personal brand.