Baby Quote by Paul Orfalea
“I called it Kinko’s because of my nickname — because I had this really kinky hair. If you think about it, the first thing a baby learns is ‘Googoo, gaga,’ and if you think of good businesses like Kodak, Xerox, Google, people remember consonants — which was why Kinko’s was a good name. But really I had this big head of curly hair and before being called ‘Kinko’ I was ‘Pube Head.’ So I thought Kinko’s was better than Pubo’s.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Paul Orfalea on naming Kinko’s, 1990s
He chose a memorable name by linking his nickname and distinctive hair to the phonetic pattern of successful brands.
In simple terms: Name reflects personal traits and brand recall.
Key Takeaway
Use personal quirks to create memorable branding.
Themes
branding
personal identity
language
marketing
creativity
Mood
playful
reflective
Type
anecdotal
inspirational
When to use this quote
- business naming
- personal branding
- entrepreneurial storytelling
- marketing pitches
Key Concepts
phonetics
brand strategy
identity formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal identity influence brand perception?
- Can a quirky name hinder professional credibility?
A Different Perspective
May limit perception if name is too quirky for some audiences.
![“In this country, some aristocratic families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and kinky hair as "Barias" [Amharic for slave]... let it be clear to everybody that I shall soon make these ignoramuses stoop and grind corn!” quote by Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0ed/mengistu-haile-mariam-31262_aristocratic_in-this-country-some-aristocratic-famili_2249190.jpg)
![“Whenever I felt down, whenever I started wondering what homeless shelter I would die in, [my mother] would buck me up by telling me: you know, Paul, the A students work for the B students, the C students run the companies, and the D students dedicate the buildings.” quote by Paul Orfalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/087/paul-orfalea-23888_bucks_whenever-i-felt-down-whenever-i-started_826897.jpg)
