There are some brands out there that just *get it.* We identify with them so deeply that they don't just represent a product that we consume or a service we use, they represent our selves. What is it that makes a brand like Disney so intrinsic to the American identity, versus another animation studio like Dreamworks?
It's in the story they help their audience tell about themselves.
Read MoreWe're often told that having a great career, a beautiful family, and a cool place to live is the equivalent to "having it all." But what happens when you have it all, but there's still something missing? This week's guest, Ashley Gartland, discovered that "good enough" sometimes just isn't good enough and found a way to make an okay life a Hell Yes Life. Take it, Ashley!
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Has this ever happened to you? It's like this little frenzied spirit starts to whisper in my mind: "Ooo! wouldn't this be cool?" "What would happen if you...?" "I think this idea would be awesome!" And it keeps niggling at me until I just have to do something about it.
Read MoreIn order for you to be successful in your niche, you need to find an audience that will embrace it and evolve as a community to support and encourage you in your work. That group of people, according to The Godfather of Tribal Marketing, Seth Godin, is called a digital tribe.
And the way that you find your tribe is to follow your passions and to be true to yourself.
Read MoreI come from a very large tribe; one that has members on almost every continent. It lived together in one village before gradually scattering to the winds, only to come together in new forms.
Over generations, this tribe has evolved its own symbols, initiation rites, tribal elders, even sacred texts. The texts are central to our community because this tribe revolves around the works of a storyteller.
You might have heard of him. His name is Neil Gaiman.
Read MoreAs a lover of words, there’s nothing I hate more than soulless language. Marketing jargon is exactly that; artificial shorthand created to make the user sound more authoritative than he or she actually is. George Carlin famously referred to it as “soft language.”
Read MoreCreativity is a tool. With practice and discipline, anyone can use it. So what can you do to regain access to your long-forgotten font of creativity? Here are a few questions to ask yourself.
Read MoreWords can have power. Words can wound and they can also heal. Making yourself vulnerable by telling your story can expose your audience's vulnerability as well, thus creating a deep connection between storyteller and listener.
If you’ve experienced a personal struggle that changed the course of your professional life, I'd like to share your story. I'm creating a new weekly feature in my blog called Tapestry: a series of personal stories of struggle and growth that, when woven together, create a picture of the human condition. You can contribute to the series as a guest blogger, or I can write the post on your behalf. It's up to you.
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After I had my child, I found myself deeper and deeper in mourning for the death of the person I had been.
Read MoreWe’ll be looking at the rest of the elements of the Hero’s Journey and how to apply them to your business story. Then, we’ll take a look at how to get your message across with a style that reflects your brand.
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