The Hot Duck: A Tale of Brand Differentiation
On display at the duck pond was the perfect embodiment of Rule #1 in branding: Stand out from your competition.
No Brand Is An Island
There comes a time in the growth of any business when it pays to reach out for help.
Putting in the Reps
With any type of content marketing, it can take a while to see results.
Set It On Fire
Unless you live on a tiny atoll in the Pacific, chances are there are a lot of competitors around who do what you do.
Your Success is Real: 10 Ways to Conquer Impostor Syndrome
Here’s a phrase that sends chills: “ You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?” Executives worldwide agree that their number one fear is being found incompetent.
Last One Standing
Defining the emotional essence of a brand is critical. Why? Because people don’t buy using their heads, they buy with their hearts.
Our New Frankenword
Brand design is becoming more business and business is becoming more creative. They are merging. Those that embrace the merger will thrive and those that do not will wither.
Don't Be Dr. Dynamite
If you could capture the single most important quality that creates a successful brand, it boils down to differentiation.
The Side Door
When I talk to my coaching clients I always stress the fact that you have to follow opportunities when they present themselves. Even those that may seem unrelated to your ultimate goal. Why?
Looking for a Greener Pasture?
I frequently work with clients who have designed businesses, products and services who have taken the “If I build it, they will come.” approach. Often they wake up to an awful reality…
Perfectionism Is Killing Your Career: Here’s What You Can Do About It
Perfectionism can sound like a good idea. At first glance, it makes sense; being a perfectionist must lead to perfection. But the truth is that perfectionism is greatness killer.
Finding the "Wow!"
When you ask the right questions and then actively listen, a mysterious and convoluted problem becomes a clear signal.
To Win Big, Think Small
A staggering 80% of social media viewing is done on mobile devices. How do people choose what to consume?
Retail Trend: The Cattle Chute Method
Retailers like Amazon are using The Cattle Chute Method to drive shoppers to their own private label products. How do we compete?
Sunken Treasure
What can a 310-year-old Spanish galleon at the bottom of the sea teach us about brand value? A lot it turns out.
THREE LITTLE WORDS (AND PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT)
Establishing a credo can be one of the most powerful things a brand can create. It guides every brand decision and action. It keeps you and your employees grounded in the brand values. Sometimes those values are tested.
Different Is Better Than Better
The savvy folks at hub by Premier Inn noticed an empty quadrant in the X/Y map of the competitive landscape of the hotel industry in London. So they did what any smart brand does, they filled it.
Your Best Self: 7 Mantras for Designers & Entrepreneurs
Mantras are not just for meditating. Mantras are simply ideas and philosophies to live by. They have one purpose: to keep us on track. They prevent us from going a down a rabbit hole.
In the Flow: 10 Ways to Stay Creative
Creativity is critical to your success as a creative professional or an entrepreneur. New ideas and innovative solutions are your livelihood.
The Sexy Potato
There are watershed moments in our professional lives where something happens that changes everything.