We have all heard it before.  Branding is more than just words and images – it’s about an experience.   Every interaction that a customer has with the brand factors in to their overall opinion of the brand.  Therefore, branding is not just about what you say – it’s about what you do.  More importantly, the most successful brands have figured out that linking what you say with you what you do is key to driving brand value.  Just think about the experience of walking into an Apple store and you know exactly what I mean.

Therefore it’s not surprising that a … read more

The military has long been admired for its leadership development successes. This Harvard Business Review article will show you how to make military strategy accessible and effective for your organization.

http://bit.ly/gX87g6

Our marching orders:

• Create a personal connection with every employee.  The more an employee feels connected and cared for by their leader, the more likely they are to carry out the leader’s intent.  Use every interaction to reinforce your message.
• Choose action over perfection.  Waiting too long to be certain you have the right plan can threaten your ability to beat the competition.  Sometimes, “the worst decision is no decision.”
• Be … read more
  

As a brand mentor to small and large companies alike, Steve Jobs discusses the inspired purpose of Apple. If you need proof that a great brand is about more than features and benefits or product and service offerings, watch this short video.

bit.ly/hrjn7b

And a big THANK YOU to all of those featured in Apple’s Think Different campaign, including the great Martin Luther King, who have dared to change the world!  (Also, keep an eye out for our favorite brand leader…Sir Richard Branson…as he dangles above the crowds by a Virgin billboard.)

…Richard Branson. What a ROCKSTAR!

http://bit.ly/fvF8AZ

That is all.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Being first feels an awful lot like being wrong?” Sometimes, a new way of thinking can seem naïve or just plain crazy. In this Harvard Business Review article, Umair Haque urges the businesses of the future to become Meaning Organizations– those that focus their energies (and outputs) on “delivering benefits that matter in human terms.”

http://bit.ly/g5hwBN

Here’s what we think:

• Every organization should strive to deliver a higher purpose end-result – one where value is not driven by profit, but about personal, everyday fulfillment.
• If you are inspired by your work and what it … read more