Branding and Brand Strategy for Growing Companies
Branding for Restless Companies and Driven Entrepreneurs
We’re halfway through 2025 so I decided to do a branding update because branding is still the most misunderstood, overcomplicated, and underutilized business advantage on the planet. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I don’t sugarcoat that. Branding done right? It builds empires. Done wrong? It wastes years. Branding Myths Are …
There’s a disease—a fatal mistake—spreading through boardrooms, pitch decks, and tech stacks. It’s called feature-itis: An ocean of sameness with an endless tsunami of identical features. And it’s killing customer trust, market differentiation, and prospect retention at an alarming rate. Take the MSP industry (Managed Services Providers). They’re the folks who set up and babysit …
Welcome to the AI World—where speed is cheap, content is cloned, and originality? Originality. Now that’s premium real estate. But let’s get something straight: AI isn’t coming for your career.It’s coming for our excuses. We’re all in the AI World now. But don’t confuse “automation” with “authority.” In this new world, the biggest differentiatorisn’t your …
Let’s kill a myth. The ability to “make more money” has almost nothing to do with adding more features, more perks, or more fluff. But that’s where most people go. The myth: “If I just sweeten the deal a little more… add this bonus… tack on this AI-powered thing…” The myth is that this approach will attract …
Last night, I sat in a theater, mouth slightly open, as Tom Cruise defied physics, logic, and fear—again. The film? Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. A review? Not possible. Because this wasn’t just a movie. It was a masterclass in obsession, execution, and brand dominance. And it came with its own philosophy: Mission Impossible: The Myth …
Why does a case study on the best billboard and outdoor ads matter to you and your business? Fact: People are moving 70 MPH, just like a car. Why not build messages that communicate that fast? The skills needed to attract attention “on the road” are the same ones needed to crush it online. This …
Brand storytelling is the superpower of Ninja CEOs from another galaxy. It’s how Pixar movies pull us in like a powerful intergalactic gravitational force. Their secret is a killer narrative formula that turns everyday chaos into unforgettable blockbusters. And guess what? Your brand can do the same. But first, there’s something you need to know: …
Let’s cut through the hype: AI isn’t your genius intern. It’s not sitting in a dimly lit room somewhere, smoking a pipe and solving humanity’s existential crises. So What is AI? AI is the world’s fastest garbage-sifter, a glorified bulldozer for bad ideas, and a mirror that reflects exactly how lazy your thinking has become. …
Oh, Valentine’s Day. The one day a year where love is measured in overpriced roses, heartfelt (or last-minute) greeting cards, and an avalanche of chocolates wrapped in shiny red foil. Richard Cadbury—yes, the OG of chocolate romance—introduced the first heart-shaped chocolate box in 1861. Fast forward to today, and we’re moving over 36 million of …
Ready to ignite some real, sustainable growth and ditch the endless sea of me-too brands? Then buckle up. Recently, I had the absolute blast of going toe-to-toe with the legendary Brad Szollose on his Awakened Nation podcast—talking branding, differentiation, and my new book, Rich Brand Poor Brand: How to Unleash Your David in a World …
There’s a secret to building a brand that most leaders overlook: it starts from within. Your title means nothing when it comes to elevating a team or shaping a culture. In fact, status and hierarchy are toxic when trying to build a brand that thrives. The real power move? Creating a culture so strong it …
In 2009, Airbnb was losing money on air mattresses. By 2024, they hit $8.4B in revenue. The difference? Came down to one overlooked signal in their data. The truth? Most billion-dollar brands aren’t built on intuition. They’re built on data signals everyone else missed. Here’s how 6 major brands spotted similar transformation moments: And the …
Branding must be fearless. Not tentative. To do that, we must know what branding isn’t (and what it is). Here’s what rebranding isn’t: Here’s what rebranding actually is: Want to rebrand the right way? Embrace the hard stuff. Boldly. The INC 5000 Company With a Vision (and the Guts to Look) This is exactly what Fortis Business …
After learning my clients had generated over $4 billion in revenue in 2024, I wanted today’s article to be insightful by sharing my entrepreneurial journey. ACTION TIP #1: Know your niche, own the spaceDefine what you do better than anyone else, and own that narrative relentlessly. If your brand doesn’t dominate a specific conversation, it’s …
Brands like Oatly have successfully differentiated themselves and become one of today’s iconic brands through bold and irreverent visual styles, creating a unique space in crowded categories. Some stats help frame the importance of this: Iconic brands succeed by questioning assumptions, embracing trust, and delivering unexpected customer experiences. These two quotes from my new bestseller …
CEO excellence is built on something invisible: Ideas. Recently, Stu Sjouwerman, CEO of KnowBe4, the global leader in Security Awareness Training, put out the original version of THE KNOWSTER PLAYBOOK as low-cost as possible to make it super easy for 2000+ Knowsters worldwide to buy it and read their own physical copy. Stu had one …
Jaguar went neon models. Mercedes went chicken. Neither ad showed product. One worked. The other had the lifespan of a crash-dummy test. Jaguar’s recent ad campaign was a spectacle of neon-colored models. Where were the cars? What was the message? It felt more like a fashion show on LSD than a car commercial. By contrast, …
. When George Bryant, a New York Times bestselling author and podcast host extraordinaire, who helps others achieve business success invited me to join him for a conversation, I knew it was going to be more than just a chat. It was going to be a branding smackdown—the kind that wakes up businesses stuck in …
Santa’s got his list, and he’s checking it twice — but this year, there’s a curveball: David Brier’s new book, Rich Brand Poor Brand: How to Unleash Your David in a World of Goliaths. Will David and his book land on the “Nice” list or stir up so much branding controversy that it’s considered downright mischievous? Let’s dive in. …
Codie Sanchez and I don’t just share a passion for rethinking success—we’re also book neighbors. Her Mainstreet Millionaire and my Rich Brand Poor Brand debut just 24 hours apart. Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe it’s proof that bold ideas have impeccable timing. Codie’s focus is on empowering individuals to unlock wealth through small business ownership. My focus? Showing companies how …
Loyalty doesn’t mean conformity or tolerating a “cancel culture” environment. Let that sink in. True loyalty involves critical thinking because one is being loyal to the overall purpose, not merely saying “yes” because it’s the acceptable thing to do. Here’s the kicker: Cancel culture doesn’t just “happen.” It thrives where weak leaders reign—where toxic workplaces …
Oh, that new Jaguar logo and rebrand? “Disaster” doesn’t even scratch the surface. They’ve officially downgraded from sleek predator to confused house cat. “What some call strategy, others call tragedy.” This is the brand that gave us the E-Type—literal sex on wheels—once called “the most beautiful car ever made” by Enzo Ferrari. And now? A …
In a world where the rules of business shift faster than a trending meme, Rich Brand Poor Brand is the business book no business can afford to skip if they plan to compete and grow in 2025. And it goes on sale December 4th. Are you experiencing: The Best Business Book for 2025? This game-changing …
Word salads are ruining brands. And they’re destroying your business. What is a word salad? A jumble of fancy words tossed together, hoping it tastes like a story. But really, it just leaves us hungry for a point. Word Salads are Not a Small Issue ❌ They confuse customers.❌ They ruin brand stories.❌ They send …
Nike, the global juggernaut known for “Just Do It,” is no stranger to breaking molds and pushing boundaries. This might be the most important thing you read in 2024. It’s how to transform your brand from ordinary to iconic. And a lesson in simplicity. And focus. The Nike Mindset: Their Unfair Advantage Here’s the thing: …
