I was talking to a founder about her biggest headache: a recurring bottleneck in her sales pipeline. Every quarter, the same issue would surface. She’d review the deals, spot the friction, step in, and fix it. She’s the hero in the moment, but the cycle keeps repeating. She told me, “I know the answer is…
Your brain is telling you a story right now. It’s telling you a story about what you’re reading, your calendar and to-do list, and even about the health of your business! Like most good stories, the stories your brain is telling you aren’t reality. Instead, they’re your thoughts about reality. This is one of the most…
I was in a meeting recently with a nonprofit I’m committed to, talking through a challenging problem with people I care deeply about. I offered a suggestion, and the comment that came back felt like a physical blow. It wasn’t an attack, at least not an obvious one, but in that instant, I felt completely…
I was sitting in on a client’s team meeting the other day, and something interesting happened. It was a very efficient group, laser-focused on getting through the agenda so they could “do” things. The conversation moved fast as they reviewed the key initiatives for the quarter, when, with 5 minutes left in the hour, someone…
When it comes to marketing, I feel like I’m standing on shifting ground. The world of marketing is changing so fast that it’s tempting to wonder if we’re losing our minds. It can feel like walking through a hall of mirrors, where we can’t tell what’s real or who to believe. Someone who started last…
Lately, I’m hearing a lot of confusion from clients about how to land new business. Some of the marketing playbooks they have relied on (e.g., creating content, attracting traffic, sending traffic through a funnel, and then generating leads) have fallen apart over the last year or so. But I keep coming back to one simple,…
My client was in the midst of an unprecedented storm of projects and responsibilities. She felt overwhelmed by everything and was convinced that the only way to find peace was by mastering all this work with sheer force and effort. As I listened, I couldn’t help but hear the ghost of a younger version of…
Sometimes a client will come to a call with an excited, nervous energy, tinged with fear and dread. They’ll say something like, “I have this idea, but it feels a little crazy,” or “Is it too much to think about this right now?” They’re sitting on a big dream—something that seems too good to be…
Last week, my wife and I spent a lovely seven days in Little Traverse Bay, Michigan, where we walked the beaches, watched some sunsets, had terrific meals, and generally relaxed. About halfway through the week, my wife turned to me and said, “You know, I like VACATION BRAD.” I paused for a minute to think…
As you’re reading this, I’m out on what I call my “yearly walk.” For me, that means I’m somewhere in the mountains or on a beach, pushing myself on a long, strenuous hike. I’m in unfamiliar territory, soaking in new sights, and leaning into a different rhythm. In our busy lives, where the to-do list…