The whole world’s atwitter about making friends, grouponing and googling. Businesses are running around like chickens with their heads cut off worried about missing the social media bandwagon before the Web 3.0 semantic train leaves the station. And ad agencies are still laughing all the way to the bank on media buys. Analytics is just Nielsen turned up to eleven. Thing is, at the end of the day, the CEO is going to make a decision based on their gut feeling regardless of where the CMO and the quants point. SEO, SMO, EIEIO. I’m not belittling metrics, just trying to get them in perspective. Left brain, right brain? They’re both important.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Conferences & events work. They’re where people come together, have the opportunity to meet, kick the tires, smell the coffee. …

Good : Trust is the opportunity for business growth in the mission-based sector. It’s a great term, which Timothy Fort [at GWU] coined to describe the relationship between NGOs and their patrons, especially in the corporate sector.

My approach repositions non-profits from tin-cuppers to content producers and subject matter experts. It’s about seeing your value proposition from different angles and identifying new stakeholders: new channels of revenue.

Bring people together for good.
Make great, positive social impact.

Want to know more? Let’s connect.

Nearly everyone agrees that we’re living through a period of radical change, which demands new ways of connecting with your customers. The old approach of, “It slices! It Dices!” “New & Improved!” “Bigger, Faster, Cheaper!” no longer works. Regardless of your product – in fact even if you play in a niche – the market perceives you as a commodity. You need customers for the long-term, and competing on price is not sustainable. Leverage your company’s Intellectual Capital as a brand asset and grow your business.

The greatest part of your firm is not widgets or billable hours, but the Intellectual and Emotional Capital that sits at your desks and works in the field. Mine the stories within. Share with your employees and your customers what gets you out of bed in the morning; why you love doing what you do. …

What’s your Big idea?
Is it getting across to your stakeholders?
Do you communicate your brand’s persona, values, promise, zeitgeist with integrity?
What are you afraid to share with your customers?
How will they react when they find out?
Are you risk averse? Open to change?
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
What impact do you have on the world?
Are you seen as a commodity?
What’s your unique differentiator?

The way that people experience your brand can make or break your business.
Due diligence and considered planning are usually more effective than “Fire. Ready. Aim.”
Plan well. Do right.

Experience design immerses your stakeholder in your brand.
Click here for some lessons learned from my first career, in theater.
Then connect with me, and let’s bring people together for good!

While serendipity has its rewards, in business it’s usually good to know where you’re going. Roadmaps are a great tool for keeping you and your team on track. Think of them as blueprints for success, which consider all the elements of your project: messages, resources, stakeholders, alliances, creative tactics and more. Without it, your project may take a wrong turn, diluting your message, wasting resources and in extreme cases becoming inexorably lost.

The Strategic Roadmap process typically involves the facilitation of a Thinking Group of project stakeholders, each of whom brings sector insight to the table. I create a safe space for participants to make mistakes, offer boundary-breaking ideas, reach consensus and leave with a sense of accomplishment and ownership. Techniques draw on teachings from CPSI, DeBono, Spolin, Appreciative Inquiry and more. The length, number and intensity of the sessions vary depending …