I was working today with Julie Paige Grant, one of our newer people.  We were struggling through the first draft of a Brand Backbone Strategy document for a project of hers.  I sympathized, “This is not easy.  That’s why so few people do it, actually write down a brand strategy document for the long haul.”  [...]

The following advice comes from Fawzia Gulsha, a friend in Dubai, who is both a royal princess and a very successful real estate agent in Dubai.
“The starting point of great success and achievement has always been the same. It is for you to dream big dreams. There is nothing more important, and nothing that works [...]

I  love this business.  Yes, I must suffer through the Gatorade fiascos, and the Tropicana near disasters, but every now and then, you stumble across something wonderful,  Today, I discovered Whistle Creek walking sticks and canes out in Estes Park, Colorado.
I have a heath nuisance that might force me use a cane, and I don’t [...]

The other week, a friend in Canada, Nina Troezkiy and I were trying to talk with a bad cell phone connection.  She made a simple but profound comment, “It’s hard to have a good talk with a bad connection.”  Zing went the strings in my brain.  HOW RIGHT SHE IS.  On every level.
If you want [...]

Many of you know that I am a fan of Native American wisdom and rhetoric.  One of you just sent me this parable which I had forgotton.  Seems to be appropriate for the last few posts and comments.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, [...]

If you work in any organization, you are always going to have friends and you are always going to have enemies.  That is if you are any good.  Medium performers can have only friends, but top performers always have enemies.
Oscar Wilde said, “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”  Robert Greene in his [...]

Albert Schweitzer said, “A man does not have to be an angel to be a saint.”  I believe that.
A really good leader is a saint.  You do not have to be perfect.  Remember one simple thought.  A good leader is one others choose to follow.  It really is that simple.  Others either choose of their [...]

On this Thanksgiving Day, I offer a quote by Ralph Charell.  This advice is as spot on as I can give to anyone involved in Brand Management.
“Be the chess player, not the chess piece.”

Helen Hayes once advised, “Focus on achievement.  Forget about success.”
Good advice for anyone, particularly brand managers.  If you can take your own personal drive and ambition and translate it entirely into drive and ambition for the brand entrusted to you, you don’t have to worry about your own success.  Make your brand achieve.  Your rewards [...]

Heard good advice on TV, CANE episode tonight.
The patriarch of the family gave this advice to Jimmy Smits who he has put in charge of the business. “Learn to listen. People will say, ‘I shouldn’t be telling you this. But they tell you anyway. It’s one of the most commonly used [...]