Chapter six:
Deep Thoughts
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Campfire Stories: Episode Four with Melissa Minihan
Here’s a counter-intuitive idea: Great business to business brands know something essential about story that many B2C brands could benefit from learning. I know. I
Campfire Stories: Episode Three with Greg Hughes
The best story in the world won’t help your brand for long if you don’t offer something great that your audience needs. So, am I
Campfire Stories: Episode Two with Lee Susen
One of the difficulties in telling an ongoing story, whether for a brand, a long-running TV series, or movie franchise, is keeping things interesting, relevant,
Campfire Stories: Episode One with Douwe Bergsma
We’re launching a new thing today that we’re calling Character Campfire stories. For almost 25 years now, we’ve been running Character Camps to help brand
Busted Noses, Black Belts, and Branding
We were helping a brand team work through how to use their story framework on the final day of Character Camp. “Using the conflict is
Know Your Gifts: Nike or Adidas
“If you’re done digesting, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas presents,” Maria announced Friday morning, as I was making coffee. “Again?” I whined. “Already?”
Uneasy Sunday: Brand Values Aren’t Meant to Be Easy
So much has already been said about the Bud Light issue I’d decided I wasn’t going to write about it. But then I was watching
Carrots, Candy, and Category Conflict
Conflict is an engagement engine. I’m not saying people like conflict. Most don’t. But it does capture and compel our attention. That’s why conflict is
The Party’s Over: Conflict and Cookies
“You’re wrong, Jim,” my friend Jim said as he bit the head off of a Santa-shaped and frosted Christmas cookie. Jim is kind of a
The Magic of Holiday Magic
“You’ve noticed what’s going on with Macy’s story?” Sara asked me. You remember Sara. We work together. She does jujitsu. “How they forgot to put
Extra Extra! Where’s the Story in your Press Release?
I was on a video conference with a friend from a well-known brand the other day. Let’s call it ShopLand. We were talking about how
Lost Soul: The Bones of the Hamsters
I was watching Hulu with my daughters when the new 2023 Kia Soul commercial, “Built for Whoever You Are,” came on. It features a trio