marketing

When assumptions become liabilities

Every strategy rests on assumptions. The problem is that once a strategy is approved, those…

Evolution of competitive identity

Every nation possesses a brand. A country brand is not created solely through government marketing…

The strategic difference between loyalty and inertia

Are customers returning because they choose you or because they have not found a reason…

Collapse of traditional family logic changes strategy

Most corporate growth strategies are built on a dangerous, unexamined assumption. Executives design 10-year expansion…

6 hidden fault lines in the modern marketing plan

Most marketing plans look impressive on paper. They contain polished slide decks, ambitious revenue projections,…

What Ghost Month teaches marketers about consumer behavior

Nearly two decades ago, we purchased our family dream home. The documents had been signed;…

It’s not about how much you sell, but how much value you create

Many corporate executives talk about culture, but very few can seamlessly connect deep organizational values…

Why strategy fails even when everything looks right

On paper, companies are logically consistent: They define a value proposition; They design an operating…

The Solomon trap: When brilliant minds build flawed logic

We all know King Solomon for his wisdom. If he were a modern CEO, he…

Why your promise fails at scale and how to fix it

Author’s note: This is an expanded version of last Friday’s article on the value proposition…