Category: Story
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The Number Isn’t the Story
Three people died at Burning Man this year. That sounds like a lot. And when I first heard it, it felt like a lot. But then I started wondering about the numbers. Put 60,000 to 70,000 people together for a week and, statistically, some people are going to die during that week whether they’re in…
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Creativity Needs a Recharge, Too
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about creativity. More specifically, what happens when you’ve been doing creative work for a very long time and the battery starts running a little low. This year will be my 20th Burning Man. You might think I’m about to describe it as my annual opportunity to relax, recharge and…
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AI Slop? Maybe We’re Asking the Wrong Question
I’ve been seeing a lot of discussion lately about “AI slop.” You know what I’m talking about. Generic articles. Endless LinkedIn posts. Blogs that all sound the same. Some people insist they can spot AI writing a mile away. Maybe they can. But I wonder if we’re asking the wrong question. The question isn’t whether…
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The One-Star Guy Doesn’t Matter
Every business owner remembers the bad review. Not the fifty glowing ones from the same week. The one-star review. You know the one… “Food was fantastic. Service was friendly. Parking was difficult. ★☆☆☆☆” Or… “Everything was perfect. It rained and were soaked when we got there. ★☆☆☆☆” There’s always one. The funny thing is, that…
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The Difference Between Marketing and Communications
Companies and organizations often use the terms marketing and communications interchangeably. They shouldn’t. While the two disciplines overlap, they serve different purposes. Understanding the difference can help organizations solve the right problems and avoid investing in tactics when what they really need is clarity. When something isn’t working, the conversation often starts with marketing. “We…
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why strategy matters before tactics
Too often, organizations jump straight to tactics: “We need a new website.”“We need social media.”“We need a logo refresh.” Maybe. But those are tools – not strategy. The real questions come first:• Who are you trying to reach?• What do you want them to understand?• Why should they care?• What action should they take? When…
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it took me 30 years to describe my career correctly
I’ve been doing a little soul-searching lately. Ok… well… a lot, actually. For most of my career, people have known me as the “marketing guy.” And that’s fair – I love great design, compelling content, and creative problem solving. But when I look back over the last 30+ years, the work I’ve enjoyed most wasn’t…
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When Every Brand Starts Looking the Same: The AI Graphics Dilemma
AI has changed creative work almost overnight. Need a social graphic, product image, flyer, or ad? AI can generate something polished in seconds, often for a fraction of the cost of traditional design. For small businesses, that’s incredibly appealing. And honestly? Sometimes it’s useful. But as AI-generated graphics flood social media and marketing, something else…
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Reno Doesn’t Have a Branding Problem. It Has an Identity Problem.
Reno keeps trying to solve an identity question with branding. For decades, we’ve leaned on “The Biggest Little City in the World,” a line that speaks to size, not substance. Today, ask what Reno is and you’ll get a dozen answers. Tech hub, outdoor basecamp, college town, casino legacy. Everything, and nothing at once. The…
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Marketing Doesn’t Fix a Bad Experience | Lessons for Northern Nevada Businesses
When a business struggles in Northern Nevada, the explanation usually sounds familiar. Rent is too high. Costs went up. The economy shifted. People aren’t going out as much. And sometimes those things are true. But often, the response inside the business sounds like this: We need better marketing. More advertising. More social media. A rebrand.…