Dive deep into business, brand and strategy.
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How to sell anything without sounding like The Architect
Have you ever been in a presentation where buzzwords like “synergy,” “interchain,” and “paradigm shift” were used, leaving the audience confused? This common phenomenon, which I call “technobabble fever,” might make the speaker feel like The Architect (from The Matrix) but leaves listeners bored and wonderings what’s for lunch. These blunders can render communication ineffective…
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The Gap Between “What You’re Selling” vs “What They’re Buying” is Empathy
You’re probably thinking, “I’ve got a phenomenal product or service. Why aren’t customers breaking down my doors?” Truthfully, when you’re waist-deep in the trenches of your product or service, it’s easy to get tunnel vision. You think, “Oh, my new Vision Brag 5000 has a 20% faster thingamabob and twice the storage capacity of the…
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Response to Andreessen on “Why AI Will Save the World”
Read Andreessen’s article first. As a curious designer, I read the article published on Andreessen Horowitz’s blog, “Why AI Will Save the World.” The piece is a compelling read, filled with optimism and a vision of a future where AI is the panacea for all our problems. However, as someone who has spent years studying…
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“Yes, But…”
If your meetings are akin to watching paint dry and customer objections make you want to assume the fetal position, then buckle up, compadre; you’re thirsting for “Yes, And…”. “Yes” is the hearty handshake to someone’s idea; “And” is crafting a Lego palace together. The “Yes” acknowledges – it’s the embrace of your partner’s line…
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The Cheesy Connection Between Abundance and Risk
Imagine this: a radiant Sunday afternoon, with the glimmering waters of Lake Ontario stretching out below. I’m perched on an 18th-floor balcony, surrounded by friends, laughter and the tantalizing aroma of a freshly baked Margherita pizza. Amid this enticing backdrop, I casually toss a nugget of wisdom into the mix. “An abundant mindset,” I offered, with…
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The Stoic Coach: Stop talking. Start listening.
Coaching, within a stoic framework, is a journey of personal transformation. At the core, both Stoicism and coaching thrive on introspection, self-improvement, and resilience. They foster a deep sense of understanding, empowering individuals to navigate their paths with wisdom. Both respect the boundary of control, focusing on self-development and facilitating others to do the same.…
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Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, The Canadian Newcomers Edition
Over the weekend, I found myself on a sun-drenched Toronto patio, engrossed in conversations with fellow immigrants about our experiences integrating into Canadian society. Each story, filled with trials, triumphs, and moments of levity, seemed to echo the narrative of the 1992 Bollywood classic “Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman.” A common thread in our tales was…
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Selling is not helping. Helping is selling.
Though its origin remains a mystery, this nugget of wisdom is the crux of our discourse today. But first, a bit of context. During my tenure at a creative agency, my primary role was to bring in new business and strategize. The question that often arose was, “How do you land such big accounts?” Well,…
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Hang on a Minute, You Still Read, Don’t You?
Well, well, well. There’s this quirky little rumor flying around that folks like you and I don’t read anymore. They say we’ve all turned into screen-staring zombies, hypnotized by flashy images, and swiping past anything that demands more than a two-second peek. Is that what you’ve heard too? Now, isn’t that just the oddest thing?…
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How to design like a writer
Dear design leaders, I invite you to adopt a new perspective – design like a writer. Intrigued? Allow me to explain. In the whirlwind of user personas, journey maps, and frameworks, we often forget to zoom out, losing sight of the story we are trying to tell. So engrossed are we in the function and…
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The Label Game: The Fashionable Art of Pretense
“They say the clothes make the man,” quipped Mark Twain. Well, if that’s true, then the brands must be making a killing. Picture this: I’m on the phone with my dad, defending my latest splurge on a high-end branded t-shirt, and he’s schooling me on the merits of a thrifty $5 tee. Oh, the joys…
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Break the rules or sharpen your pencil.
Growing up, my peers labelled me the ultimate nonconformist, the oddball who didn’t fit the mould, the “tomato potato.” I was like the Banksy of my elementary school, minus the actual talent. But, to be honest, I couldn’t have cared less about what they thought. Who were they to judge? The offspring of punctuality aficionados?…
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