A co-worker poked his head in the door of my office the other day.
“There’s a woman on the phone for you from the Pick-Your-Favorite-Charity and she sounds kind of mad.”
Read MoreA co-worker poked his head in the door of my office the other day.
“There’s a woman on the phone for you from the Pick-Your-Favorite-Charity and she sounds kind of mad.”
Read MoreYou’re reticent to tell a story – on your blog, in some piece of free content, in a presentation – because you don't consider yourself a storyteller. You understand that the craft of storytelling can have a huge impact on your business. But you’re not a writer (so you tell yourself). You don’t think in terms of flowery language, characterization, description, the deeply felt and meaningful. You think of yourself as a strategist. You’re good at finding ways to move the ball down the field toward a goal.
Read MoreThis past week, Wendy’s joined a growing list of fast-food establishments whose employees betrayed them through their immature – usually disgusting – antics. In the latest incident, a photo depicts a guy kneeling in front of a Frosty machine to enjoy the frozen dairy dessert “straight from the tap.”
Read More"I'll have the Turkey Chili,"I said, approaching the counter at Panera Bread. The outside temperature hardly qualified as chili weather, but a hearty soup seemed like the perfect comfort food after the stressful day I had.
Read MoreIt’s been more than 30 years since I stepped foot in the library from my childhood, but the memories are still vivid. Creaky floor. Kid-sized plastic chairs. The smell of musty books.
Read MoreOreo, the creme-filled cookie that nourished many a child’s sweet tooth, is continuing to upstage much younger, hipper upstarts through its branding brilliance. The 101-year-old classic brand just launched Wonderfilled, an integrated marketing campaign that engages new fans while nurturing the goodwill of those of us who helped make the cookie a pantry staple.
Read MoreSocial media makes it awfully hard to hide behind a logo. It wasn’t that long ago when a company’s faceless icon served as its definitive stamp of approval. Just slap it on a communications piece – press release, fact sheet, official statement – and trust that it adds an air of authenticity to whatever message is being shared with media, customers and the world at large. If necessary, put forth the CEO or official corporate spokesperson to go “on-the-record” with official comments or clarifica
Read MoreAs a young boy, I could count my home entertainment options on three fingers: ABC, CBS or NBC. Those were the Big Three networks that served up the TV shows I – and most other folks – cared about.
Read MoreI love it when marketing inspiration comes from unexpected sources. Billboards aren't typically a place I look for wisdom or insight. Occasionally, I'll be struck by a clever turn-of-phrase, but for the most part, I consider "outdoor advertising" to be a nuisance that junks up the landscape.
Read MoreDear Cynics and Skeptics and Perplexed Ones:
I owe you a big fat apology. And it warrants more than 140 characters.
Read MoreA funny thing happened on the way to crafting a story.I got confused about where to tell it.
The storytelling landscape has grown so darn crowded and fragmented. Seems every time I turn around, there’s another new online storytelling platform being touted.
Read MoreWho doesn't love a captivating story? Whether it's the profound expressions of a grief-stricken family, the intrigue of a made-up girlfriend, or the scandal of a former hero falling from grace, we just eat ‘em up. Beyond filling the airwaves of our 24-hour news cycle, these tales fuel a profound human need to feel connected with fellow humans. We yearn to share joy, sorrow, triumph, pain and purpose. Stories help give meaning and context to our lives.
Read MoreAt what point does someone's personal life morph into his professional life – and vice versa? Prior to the advent of mobile technology and social media, the answer to this question was fairly clear-cut. A professional life took place at a formal workplace, during normal office hours. And a personal life happened outside those confines.
Read MoreYou must have lived under a rock if you managed to escape Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2012 breakout hit “Call Me Maybe.” This catchy ditty quickly escalated into a pop culture phenom that spawned scores of clever parodies. Co-written by Jepsen herself, the lyrics tell the story of a coy girl sharing her phone number with a boy she just met and inviting him to call her (maybe). In the throwaway world of pop music, the song struck a collective nerve.
Read MoreMy weekly trip to the grocery store hardly ranks as one of my favorite activities, so I usually treat myself to an impulse purchase (or two) as a reward for enduring the chore. This Sunday, beyond stocking up on bread, cereal and Edy’s Slow-Churned ice cream, I bought me some black water.
Read MoreAs the proud winner of my fourth grade spelling bee, I've never been a fan of the crutch commonly known as spell check. I’m even less fond of its younger, more intrusive cousin: autocorrect. Any technology that threatens to negate one of my keenest skills is no pal of mine.
Read MoreThe Olympics are a wonderful testament to the power of story. Captivating examples of courage, heroism and triumph weave memorable tales that inspire the world. It’s hard not to be sucked in by those dramatized stories chronicled by NBC and other media.
Read MoreOne of my college roommates concocted a ridiculous rule that forbade him from beginning a study session unless it was the top of the hour. Bob adhered to this mandate with religious fervor, refusing to crack the spine of a book unless the time gods deemed it was OK. If the clock read 8:03, for example, he would be “forced” to wait an entire 57 minutes to try again – and he’d have a mere 60 seconds to jump on the study train.
Read MoreGrowing up, Summer Sanders remembers her dad was too cheap to turn on the air conditioning, which meant staying cool required a dip in the backyard pool. And so began the Olympian’s early devotion to swimming.
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