Client Story: United Country Western Dance Council<sup>®</sup>

Client Story: United Country Western Dance Council®

Redefining and Realigning to Empower Global Growth
Read More
The art of the interview

The art of the interview

The anatomy of a high-yield information interview.
Read More
Design thinking + communications thinking = better results

Design thinking + communications thinking = better results

Communications thinking can influence design decisions, inform or complement the design of brands, products, services, and systems
Read More
Verbal identity: a leadership team’s unifying force

Verbal identity: a leadership team’s unifying force

Introducing a leadership team to the identity of their organization, often through a brand-new lens.
Read More
How a subtle positioning shift can unlock new opportunities

How a subtle positioning shift can unlock new opportunities

The right shift in perspective, discovered through the Essential Story Process, can completely transform a business, organization, or brand.
Read More
How the Essential Story guides change

How the Essential Story guides change

The Essential Story Process creates the alignment necessary to initiate the magical momentum for change.   
Read More
Planning your exit strategy

Planning your exit strategy

An Essential Story can ease the transition of succession
Read More
Giving literal voice to the essential story

Giving literal voice to the essential story

How the Essential Story kickstarts engagement and growth
Read More
Client Story: Mission Control Space Services

Client Story: Mission Control Space Services

Empowering Leadership on Earth, Moon, Mars, and Beyond
Read More
Self-actualization: the Essential Story Process

Self-actualization: the Essential Story Process

The origin story of the Essential Story and Corporate Phrasebook™
Read More
Standing out from the crowd

Standing out from the crowd

Differentiation is not just the thing your business does best; it’s the value you deliver better than anyone else.
Read More
Balancing act

Balancing act

Where Vision and Mission statements go wrong and what they should be.
Read More
Keep it real

Keep it real

How to avoid "virtue signalling" and take a real stand.
Read More
A dying breed

A dying breed

How mentoring can mend the new digital divide in marcoms
Read More
Client Story: Guertin Poirier

Client Story: Guertin Poirier

Law Firm Rebrands for a New Generation
Read More
Make it real: how organizations live their essential stories

Make it real: how organizations live their essential stories

Real-world examples of how organizations leverage their Essential Stories to live their brands.
Read More
Client Story: Studio 91

Client Story: Studio 91

Established business gains new clarity and confidence for its 10-year anniversary
Read More
The brand truth

The brand truth

Seven key message issues that prevent scale
Read More
Words first: the long path to the short cut

Words first: the long path to the short cut

Don't give the short-shrift the story that needs to be told.
Read More
Beyond words

Beyond words

This is one client's story of moving beyond phrases and key messages to real business transformation.
Read More
Client Story: Writers Collective of Canada

Client Story: Writers Collective of Canada

Rebranding, Realigning for Rapid National Growth
Read More
Who’s at the table?

Who’s at the table?

Communications team structure is a determinant of results.
Read More
The consistency quotient: taking control of your greatest brand asset

The consistency quotient: taking control of your greatest brand asset

A brand’s ability to be flexible depends on its consistency.
Read More
Do we need a new brand? (Maybe not)

Do we need a new brand? (Maybe not)

The answer to “what should be done?” is not always a new brand.
Read More
Positioned or pigeon-holed? Be leading-edge AND understood

Positioned or pigeon-holed? Be leading-edge AND understood

Demystifying the concept of “positioning” for tech and other leading-edge enterprises
Read More
Re-thinking your pitch: pitch the story, not the FAQ

Re-thinking your pitch: pitch the story, not the FAQ

You're drinking your own Kool-Aid, but your audience isn't (yet).
Read More
The vanity pitch: when is pay-to-play okay?

The vanity pitch: when is pay-to-play okay?

How to identify and evaluate sponsored advertising disguised as awards, shortlists, and exclusive profiles.
Read More
Are you talking to me? Choosing the right audience

Are you talking to me? Choosing the right audience

The right messages, crafted well but directed to the wrong people, won’t open doors.
Read More
Leveling-up authentically: get a brand from here to there

Leveling-up authentically: get a brand from here to there

Getting from “here” to “there” does not require a dishonest leap of faith.
Read More
Launch-and-forget: the cost of (brand) neglect

Launch-and-forget: the cost of (brand) neglect

In branding, neglect is the enemy of progress.
Read More
Guest blog: when a vision fails

Guest blog: when a vision fails

Volvo's Vision 2020 inspired an industry then failed -- just not the way you think.
Read More
Do these 5 things to support brand succession

Do these 5 things to support brand succession

A brand-centric viewpoint on succession planning + five concrete things to do.
Read More
Brand stewardship: how to caretake your brand

Brand stewardship: how to caretake your brand

The what, why, who, and how of brand stewardship.
Read More
On-brand customer gifts

On-brand customer gifts

Why journal books are the best customer gifts I’ve ever given (with recommendations)
Read More
Client Story: iSpark

Client Story: iSpark

New Confidence and Clarity Empower Entrepreneur to Up-Level Her Business
Read More
Your brand as real-estate ad

Your brand as real-estate ad

The importance of passionate objectivity in branding.
Read More
Quality Time With Your Brand: Video Series

Quality Time With Your Brand: Video Series

Five short exercises to get to know your brand more deeply.
Read More
Unsticking a brand

Unsticking a brand

Where to start when re-branding or re-positioning is in order.
Read More
Client Story: Third Law

Client Story: Third Law

Automotive Marketing Firm Clarifies Value, Crystallizes Differentiation to Pursue New Business
Read More
Communicating with creatives

Communicating with creatives

Top tips and best practices for getting the best creative work.
Read More
10 topics to build a thought-leadership brand

10 topics to build a thought-leadership brand

Inspiration for aspiring or established thought-leaders.
Read More
The rule of simplicity

The rule of simplicity

The why and how of paring down to essentials to boost brand power.
Read More
Understanding (your) brand

Understanding (your) brand

How to take a new look at your brand.
Read More
Client Story: AIM Women’s Wellness Center

Client Story: AIM Women’s Wellness Center

New Brand Attracts More Clients, Staff Who “Really Fit”
Read More
Is your brand adapting or breaking?

Is your brand adapting or breaking?

Learn the warning signs and take charge.
Read More
Your business has a personality

Your business has a personality

The user manual for your brand and how it ticks.
Read More
You aren’t your business: divide to conquer

You aren’t your business: divide to conquer

Freedom is disentangling from your business's brand.
Read More
Pre-marketing: the groundwork for success

Pre-marketing: the groundwork for success

Laying the groundwork for successful long-term marketing.
Read More
When it’s too complicated to explain

When it’s too complicated to explain

You can't cross the chasm with complicated messages.
Read More
Your ad agency is crazy

Your ad agency is crazy

Tips for getting great business results from designers, writers, and other creative minds.
Read More
When your brand is a best-kept secret

When your brand is a best-kept secret

Kick “best-kept-secret” syndrome with a powerful brand voice.
Read More
If marketing feels bad

If marketing feels bad

Start saying NO to marketing activities that don’t work and do your pre-marketing instead.
Read More
Your proposals suck

Your proposals suck

Here’s what I think about proposals: they should feel exciting to create.
Read More
Client Story: Mindful Change

Client Story: Mindful Change

A New Direction for an Established Mindset Coach
Read More
When the marcom team gets it wrong

When the marcom team gets it wrong

How to help others communicate in the voice of your brand.
Read More
Your competition is lying

Your competition is lying

Company leaders often explain to me how their competitors are making untrue claims.
Read More
Client Story: Modern Niagara

Client Story: Modern Niagara

Aligned Brand Supports Major National Growth
Read More
Client Story: KDM Analytics

Client Story: KDM Analytics

Essential Story Supports New Brand, Pivot from Engineering Services to Product-Based Offering
Read More