Growth was seen as an endless series of daily choices and decisions in each of which one can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.Abraham H. Maslow[1. Abraham H. Maslow, The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance, 1966.]
If youâre comfortable, youâre not growing. Itâs the uncomfortable things that make us grow.
The same is true of business: companies that embrace discomfort as a regular part of business life are more likely to achieve their goals and move closer and closer to fulfilling their company vision than those that donât.
Companies that stay comfortableâwhich feels great in the momentâend up losing in the long run, which doesnât feel so great.
Discomfort is a prerequisite for change.
Youâre a better designer if you love the people youâre designing for. Fred Dust, IDEO Partner, quoted in Bernadette Jiwaâs Meaningful Iâm surprised how many companies donât love their customers. They talk about being customer-centric or even customer-obsessed, but they donât love the customer they have. Instead,...
Today the campfire is called a computer or a television ⊠Drama goes back to the beginning of civilization around the campfire, where the tribe comes together, and they say, âMy God, did you see what blah blah did with that mountain lion today?â And the other guy says, âIâll tell you one better than that.â ⊠[W}e tell stories that unite the tribe. We reinforce our tribal unity. We say, this is how we do things here. David Mamet, MasterClass.comIf the computer is the new campfire, social media is the biggest campfire ever built. Most companies invest a lot of money in social media because they know they have to. But, few know what to do with it.
Most commercial messages contain too many elements, all competing with one another for our understanding, and the elements themselves may be uninteresting, unclear, or off-message. Marty Neumeier, ZagCompanies try to make their brands stand out and be different: they try to constantly be new to gain a competitive advantage. In short, they use newness as a path to relevance. But, this quest to be relevant has affected their ability to be meaningful.
Magic has long held a special place in the nationâs history. American magicians perform in arenas, theaters, and even backyards. No matter how big or small, a magic show will always inspire wonder. Today as a member of the Citizensâ Stamp Advisory Committee, I am honored...
Now what do you want out of me? Fine writing? Do you want masterpieces? Do you want glowing things that can be framed by copywriters? Or do you want to see the goddamned sales curve stop moving down and start moving up? Rosser Reeves in Dennis...
âAccounting is a department. Marketing isnât. Marketing is something everyone in your company is doing 24/7/365.â Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, Rework A brand isnât a name or a logo: itâs the perception people have of your organization. Everything your company and employees do contribute to...
In Alexander the Greatâs conquest of Persia, the Macedonian King upset his military compatriots and childhood friends by marrying Roxana. Roxana was the daughter of a minor Persian baron. That is, she was not from Macedonia; she was not of Greek blood. This outraged Alexanderâs men who...
THE BIG IDEA: Certain businesses excel at fostering undying, cult-like following among their customers. Our study of Cult Brands reveals seven rules any business can follow to attract loyal customers. ______________ Some customers have a religious devotion to a particular brand. They may go so far as...