I was in an unfamiliar city in a historic building, exploring the space with a reporter I’d only emailed and communicated with over the phone. As we reached yet another floor, our elevator opened to a darkened space. Rows of abandoned desks were visible. A space that I can imagine was once alive with so…
Read more
As the sun rose, human piñatas emerged, a giant arch was constructed, and throngs of the faithful began converging on a town square where the wreckage of Noah’s Ark once stood. Was it some sort of ritual? A religious ceremony? Depending on your perspective, the answer to those questions could be yes … So what…
Read more
“So, do you put these coupons here in the newspaper?” I smiled at the question, and replied, “Well, sometimes, if it makes sense for the client.” “And you do some stuff on the news, too?” “I do.” “I just don’t get it …” My then-81-year-old grandmother and I sat at her kitchen table on a…
Read more
It was a day to remember. Many government offices were closed. People skipped work and kept their kids home from school. My mother sat me down the night before and told me that if we somehow got separated on that day, I should stay where I was until she could reach me. Was it a…
Read more
Most of the time, when I talk about a brand making an emotional connection, I’m concerned with connecting to a chosen audience. But what about you, a business leader, being emotionally connected to your own brand? After all, it all starts with you and your team, believing in your brand promise, living it each day,…
Read more
A few years ago, my parents retired and bought a place in Florida (because according to Seinfeld, that’s what you’re supposed to do when you retire). When they took ownership, they found that the previous owner had left an entire room lined with bookcases full of books. There were interesting books about Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec,…
Read more
I never thought I’d say this, but I love teaching. When I’m in front of a room of professionals or students, I’m surrounded by people hungry to expose themselves to something new. That intellectual curiosity is inspiring, so I rarely turn down a request to give a presentation. My favorite moments are when I get…
Read more
It was a great product. I had used it for years. It kept my crazy hair smooth and smelled good too. At the store, I always knew where my beloved big orange bottle of shampoo would be. Then one day, the unthinkable happened. They changed the packaging! I knew the brand, but didn’t know what…
Read more
How far could our creative team go to give people a chuckle? How far would the client be willing to go?
We all grew up listening to our parents and grandparents talk about how things were “back in the day.” You know, those stories where they walked to school uphill in the snow, both ways. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but I’m finding myself using this phrase a lot lately. It’s hard for the…
Read more
