Said another way, who are you? What do you want to say? What is your unique point of view? Many brands struggle with these questions. I get it; they are challenging. We can barely answer these questions for ourselves. What makes us think we can get together with a team and answer them? Understanding your… Continue reading Building a brand that endures starts with a hard question: How do you want your customers to position your brand in their minds?
Category: Entrepreneurship
DTC Evolution: Adapting to the 3.0 Era
First, a quick review: The New(ish) DTC 3.0 Playbook (subject to change): 1. Start with PMF: It always does. Clearly define your hero product and give it the love it deserves for longer than you think. 2. Define Your Brand. Who you are and more importantly who you are NOT. Another holdover from DTC 1.0… Continue reading DTC Evolution: Adapting to the 3.0 Era
Why I Kind of Fired Myself
Before I get into it, I want to say a few words about my process for writing and posting this piece. I went back and forth with family and friends on the “should I?” or “shouldn’t I?” question. Will this piece come off as ego-driven? Maybe. Will this piece come across as a cry for… Continue reading Why I Kind of Fired Myself
The essence of luxury is a closed-circuit world
Immediately entering a luxury expereince you notice that everything is meticulously designed for that specific world. You don’t see everyday things, you see everyday things retrofitted for this new world. The simplicity is beautiful. In theory, it’s easy to pull off, but pulling back one layer of the onion reveals you need time, money, and… Continue reading The essence of luxury is a closed-circuit world
The customer is always right? Wrong
Allow me to let the cat out of the bag. The saying “the customer is always right” is dead. It should have never been a thing — props to the customer lobbyist who made this happen. The assumption that every customer is always right is a gross miscalculation. Businesses and brands have been bending over… Continue reading The customer is always right? Wrong
Air (Deloris) Jordan
Air, the new film, from Matt Damen and Ben Affleck, about Nike courting Michael Jordan, truly fires on all cylinders. It’s cheesy but not too cheesy. It has the proper dose of nostalgia. The performances are solid. The soundtrack hits and hits at the correct times. It never drags. It never moves too fast. You know… Continue reading Air (Deloris) Jordan
Now Hiring: Associate, Comedian
With exceptions, like selling financial services or luxury goods, you can and should benefit from comedic talents on your team. Let’s call a spade a spade — you’re not looking for a copywriter or a content creator — you’re looking for a comedian. You can teach marketing, photoshop, or video editing, but you can’t teach… Continue reading Now Hiring: Associate, Comedian
Your baby is ugly
Your baby is ugly. I first heard this truism from Troy Henikoff, an entrepreneur and VC, during a panel discussion back in 2012. I had no idea what it meant. Fast forward 10+ years, and I know all too well what it means. It means you’re coddling your startup. You’re worrying that X or Y… Continue reading Your baby is ugly