Deep inside all of us, we all possess a story that speaks to the power of human values. 

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The need to “Belong” taps into the deepest part of our humanity.

Psychologists and anthropologists agree that humans possess a strong, primal instinct to feel a sense of ‘belonging’ to small groups that share clear purpose and values.

It’s been said that the strongest among us are not those who flex their hero muscles in public, but those who quietly win battles we know nothing about. In a fast-paced world obsessed with big names, celebrities and fashionistas, everyday, unsung heroes tend to wear a cloak of anonymity.

You are sitting in a boardroom.

The meeting you’re attending feels like a private version of hell. Somewhere between Groundhog Day and listening to the Charlie Brown Teacher.

Every brand in the world – including yours - would love to become a giant, irresistible magnet on steroids that attracts unusually high volumes of customer interest and attention.

What do you remember about the year 1999? For many it was the year of Y2K and the looming internet apocalypse that never happened. 

What separates ordinary slogans and taglines from those few, carefully selected words and phrases that anchor legendary brands?

If you get your kicks watching cat videos, on-line gamers, political rants or tips on how to play the ukulele, this post is not for you. 

If you are a person who doesn’t give two hoots and could care less about the marketing function of a business – an essential component for any sustainable enterprise - this post will not be your intellectual cup of tea.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was once described as a man who could stroke you with his words. Author of epics like The Great Gatsby, it was Fitzgerald who once said, “Don’t write because you want to say something. Write because you have something to say”.

Detroit is hip again.

Still Ford tough.

But, more real.

The phrase “retail apocalypse” has become so ingrained in our culture, that it now has its own Wikipedia entry.

The next time someone insists that your crazy, off-the-wall, BIG hairy, audacious idea is impossible, you might want to look them square in the eye and say:

What if you had to walk into a high-level boardroom and pitch the idea of running a 60-second Super Bowl commercial, spending a ton of company money and make a deliberate decision NOT to focus on the product you’re selling?

You are nursing a frosty pint in a noisy Scottish pub called the Dunvegan, listening to a retired IBM executive admitting how emotional it felt during his first time at The Old Course.

In the U.K., they’re called “repeats”.

Here in North America, we call them “re-runs”.

How reckless are you feeling today?

Ready to risk a little intellectual danger in the pursuit of clarity and truth in marketing? See if you can answer this skill-testing question.

Dad wasn’t home last Sunday to take his Father’s Day phone call.

In typical Dad fashion, he was out working his side hustle and doing what he has always done to stay busy and productive as he approaches his 79th birthday this September.

It’s admittedly old-fashioned, but first impressions still matter.

A major decision is weighing heavily on your mind.