10 Ways to Restore Passion and Joy
Passion and joy can seem a bit tidal, ebbing and flowing. When I notice the tide going out a little bit too far, here’s what helps. They are simple things, but it’s easy to forget them when you’re feeling a bit disconnected from what drives you. They help restore passion and joy, and they also […]
I Stopped Using Social Media
Do you have a tripwire that stops you using social media platforms? In 2015, I stopped using my personal Twitter because it was a distraction. Exported my tweets, deleted the account. In 2017, I stopped using Facebook. On top of the overall climate of venom and disinformation, the excessive detail about people’s political opinions and […]
People Are Humans, Not Targets
Marketers like to ask questions like “what is the client/customer’s pain point?” You know what it often is? It’s burnout and frustration. It’s a lack of autonomy. It’s mental health. It’s the impossible double bind called work/life balance. It’s illegitimate power. It’s a burning planet. Why am I posting this screed? Because I want us […]
How to Stay Balanced
Syncresis turns 15 today! On November 1, 2007, I filed the LLC paperwork for the business. And here we are, in 2022. It’s not a linear story. Syncresis focused on digital patient engagement in healthcare, then communication strategy in several industries, and now on thought leadership for financial innovators. It has lived as a side […]
Brevity Doesn’t Matter
Brevity doesn’t matter. Neither does length. What matters is whether the work you are asking your readers to do to understand your point is commensurate with the amount of work your readers are willing and able to do. If brevity actually mattered, we’d just say wu (無) and go on with our lives. If length […]
Fundamental Principles of Marketing and Communication
“Two fundamental principles of marketing and communication: Attention is a limited and non-renewable resource. Communicators have a moral obligation to earn it and use it well. Transgression is generative. New thinking requires crossing the lines of old norms.” Read my full interview with Genius X for more.
Thought Leadership and AI
Thought leadership consulting is like skin care. At least that’s what this surreal cold email suggests. And since surrealism invites us to consider unexpected correlations, I figured I should give it a go. ✅ Attentive care to client needs ✅ Helping tighten, brighten, and remove blemishes ✅ Easy to commoditize but rate to excel ✅ […]
What’s Your Thought Leadership Persona?
Adopting a specific persona can help thought leaders shape both individual pieces of thought leadership and their overarching brand.
Don’t Worry About Thought Leadership – Part II
Every organization needs people who strive safely for the middle and do their jobs reliably. Thought leadership doesn’t always matter.
Don’t Worry About Thought Leadership – Part I
Thought leadership doesn’t always matter. If every company tries to be a thought leader, we just end up with noise.