Pressure: The continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it. My journey to this lesson began under the Arch at 6AM on a Friday morning. I was two days into an amazing conference packed with powerful speakers. It just so happened that one of them was a fellow…
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As many of you may be aware, I have a passion that serves as my outlet to feed my creative energy and release stress. That passion is triathlon, a sport which has taught me a lot about consistency, focus, and prioritizing what’s most important. I often compare things I encounter each day to all aspects…
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Think of the last time you were in a restaurant. Chances are, you’re deep into reviewing the menu, trying to decide between the pan seared scallops with lemon caper sauce or the chicken marsala when the server arrives and asks the much-anticipated question: “Would you like to hear about the specials this evening?” It’s an…
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“This isn’t what I signed up for. Big corporations and franchises are killing me. Quality and service are disappearing, and people are being sold ‘OK’ products in well-designed packaging.” This is how my conversation with a local business owner began. He looked defeated, and I could sense that he was concerned about where to go…
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Most people are fairly optimistic in nature, filled with good intentions about things they’d like to do, see, or accomplish. We marketers and business owners fall into that category, seeing the possibilities of the next campaign, latest technology, or goal we’d like to achieve. Intentions are a great start. They’re the dream, allowing your mind…
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Think back to the 80’s music, if you can. (I often forget everyone is not my age.) Back then, MTV was coming on strong and the VJs on MTV were household names. The station was filled with music videos and music news, and it was in that environment that the song “Video Killed the Radio…
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Many organizations talk about customer loyalty and brand loyalty, and some dedicate substantial resources towards building that loyalty. These efforts can take many forms, from perks and special discounts to “membership” statuses achieved by doing various levels of business with the company. While these programs are great, one can’t help but wonder whether they really…
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Scott Kolbe is the other half of the Kolbeco mastermind. You’ve probably seen photos of him on a bike, out in the mountains, or crossing the finish line at some crazy race. But do you really know him? His favorite things, what makes him happy, his embarrassing stories? We know you want to know. We…
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Many years ago, I sat in a prospective client’s conference room presenting recommendations and a marketing campaign that we at Kolbeco believed would bolster their brand and their business. The prospect listened intently, chimed in with his opinions, and in the end began the following exchange: Prospect: If I do these campaigns, do you guarantee…
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Some call them the good old days of crisis communications. Maybe they were for some, offering a place to hide or a quick news cycle to blow over. These good old days weren’t so long ago, and companies are still adjusting. Consider this: ten years ago when a brand faced a challenge with a product…
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