14 hours agoWhere does creativity come from?Neuroscientist Rex Jung defines creativity as “the process of making something both novel and useful.” Without usefulness, nothing matters. Without novelty, nobody cares. So how do we go about finding creative ideas? Great ideas often feel like magic. That’s because creative thoughts originate in your unconscious brain then literally burst…Creativity1 min readCreativity1 min read
Oct 19Nonprofits are powerful influencers in the brand activism era.This is a story about unrealized power by nonprofit leaders. As the story goes, big businesses write checks to nonprofits as part of a CSR or ESG initiative (aka cause marketing). Some are motivated by a sense of purpose. Some are seeking positive press mentions and applause points in their…Nonprofit3 min readNonprofit3 min read
Oct 43 Branding Tips for Credit UnionsMy creative agency BRINK are proud proponents of community banking models, seeing them as a form of activism and empowerment for people to take more control of their local economic system. Our most prominent work in this space is as the longtime agency-of-record for Vantage West Credit Union, one of…Credit Unions2 min readCredit Unions2 min read
Published in BRINK·Jun 10These words should be banned from your brand guide.I’ve been on a tear lately to strip the fluff from the brand strategy process. If you missed my article on brand promise, you might enjoy this twitter thread to summarize. Today I take on brand tone. Finding the right words to shape your brand’s voice is a worthwhile exercise…Branding2 min readBranding2 min read
Published in BRINK·May 19Diversity is UncomfortableJonathan Haidt’s recent piece in the The Atlantic titled “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid” has a lot of interesting insights from the prominent social psychologist. To summarize one bit: A “Hidden Tribes” study of 8,000 Americans identified seven groups that shared beliefs and…Diversity2 min readDiversity2 min read
Published in BRINK·May 12Your brand has no promise.I wrote you a mission statement: We deliver innovative programs to make a meaningful impact on the world. My consulting fee is $50k. Sure, I’ll take a check. I’ve seen this version of a mission / purpose (let’s not quibble over the differences right now, let’s just say they sleep…Branding2 min readBranding2 min read
Published in BRINK·May 11I’m sure you heard. Elon’s buying Twitter.You can find plenty of opinions about what it means and predictions about what he might do, but right now I care more about why. Why is he paying a 38% premium for a business that smart people struggle to monetize? The public square is the most consequential apparatus in…Twitter2 min readTwitter2 min read
Published in BRINK·Jan 10, 2017You’re Going to Lose Your JobTo the hard working manufacturers and blue collar laborers. The ones Bruce Springsteen writes depressing songs set to deceptively upbeat tempos about and pickup truck commercials and spray tanned politicians pander to. You were the first to go. You were recently swindled into thinking illegal immigrants and globalized trade agreements…Self Driving Cars3 min readSelf Driving Cars3 min read
Published in BRINK·Jun 6, 2014Goliath, Meet DavidCan small digital agencies compete for big brands? — From NBA-Live Forums: user “miesomn” I often say that my agency, BRINK, is not small, it’s “boutique.” That’s the word you use when you want to avoid feeling inadequate. Like a fine microbrew in a world of Budweiser, we’re better quality, more hip, more acquired. …5 min read5 min read
