A version of this article was originally published by ColoradoBiz here. As the pandemic began to wane around two and a half months ago, I started noticing something bizarre. Several times a week, I’d see young, apparently healthy people riding their…
A version of this article was originally published by ColoradoBiz here. Whether they know it or not, humans make decisions on emotion. When I was in 3rd grade, I had an experience I should have learned from sooner. It had nothing…
A version of this article was originally published by BizWest here. Business storytelling works where rhetoric fails because it’s imbued with elements like emotion that the mind latches onto. It was a bad idea, but it prevailed because reason took a…
A version of this article was originally published by BizWest here. “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” — Yogi Berra As far as I’m concerned, the term “internal marketing” is almost redundant. While marketing should…
I have two teenagers: a literal teenager, who is cheerful, well-adjusted and wonderful; and a teenage alter-ego, who is cynical and loutish. I never really noticed the latter until July or August of 2020, when the exhaustion from the pandemic…
A version of this article was originally published by ColoradoBiz here. Nobody wants to hire a hero. Think of your favorite movie. I bet I know a lot about it without you naming it. Whether it’s a thriller, drama, romance or comedy,…
A version of this article was originally published by ColoradoBiz here. When marketing is alienating or boring, overdog protagonists are a common culprit. Last month I opened a three-part discussion on how to avoid common business storytelling blunders. I usually keep my…
Redefine and communicate your purpose with these 2 simple branding exercises This article was originally published in BizWest here. Tony Hsieh, founder of shoe ecommerce giant Zappos, isn’t passionate about shoes. He says his passion is “delivering happiness.” You might not be…
A version of this article was originally published by ColoradoBiz here. One key culprit for boring company narratives is that few people actually know what constitutes a “story.” This matters more than you think. What’s a story? Is your company history a…
This article originally appeared in the ColoradoBiz online edition here. Sensory language makes ideas more memorable by enriching context Do you mind if I totally screw with your head for a minute? Good — I was hoping that’s what you’d say!…
