Closing deals (There’s a special announcement and gift below.) If you’re struggling to close strategic deals, the problem probably isn’t your product or even your pitch. Here’s how to fix that and increase your close rate this quarter. Most marketers think they’re selling outcomes. They’re not. At best, they’re selling promises. At worst, they’re selling…

Every $300M deal I’ve helped win had the same hidden variable. (There’s a special announcement and gift below.) Every $300M deal I’ve helped win had the same hidden variable. And every time we ignored it, the room went quiet. Not out of interest but out of distance. For six years, I worked inside a Big…

Hold on Hold on. What are we even talking about here? In two decades of my career, this question or some version of it has been my role in most rooms. I’ve worked on everything from designing gelato stores, schools, colleges, and restaurants from scratch to creating corporate architectures for complex logistics companies and building…

You’re Not Alone Ahem! *Clears throat. So, where were we? [*awkward silence + the sound of crickets.] Oh, yeah! Um, right. Okay, I got this! Time for some retrospection Welcome to chapter ten and the year twenty seventeen, squadron! We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? At this time of the year, we can look…

Good, Bad & Ugly “Ahhhhh, it’s time to relax, And you know what that means, A glass of wine, your favourite easy chair, And of course reading this chapter in your email inbox. So go on, indulge yourself, That’s right, kick off your shoes, put your feet up, Lean back and just enjoy the story. After…

When Zara — yes, them too — steals your work, one’s gut knee-jerk reaction fulminates resulting in a stubbed toe, concrete wall intact. Try replacing “Zara” with your favourite brand. How does that feel? Fucking sucks, right? Why does our — a creative professional’s — heart sink? Because we’re eyeing great brands hoping that one…

Access the Locker to read any Chapter or T–S–F to download 365 open files in PSD format. (Password: topgun) The only thing worse than clients who don’t pay are the ones who sue you. Welcome to Chapter Seven of SQUAD. Today we’re talking about the nasty side of running a design business. We’ll also do deep dives…

I think it was Bruce Lee who once said, “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” Bruce has a point, but you and I know that it’s easier said than done. And plus, we’re never playing table tennis with nunchucks.…

The title for today’s chapter is a blatant rip-off from Stephen King’s book (review below). I couldn’t help myself. You’ll, and Stephen (if he were a squadron), would modestly agree, this is by far, an attempted textbook appropriation. Or in other words, borrowing a book title, worth millions of dollars in copies sold, to elevate…

Today’s Chapter almost never happened. It was Canada Day on Friday. I spent the long weekend out of it–not in my usual element. Every time I’d stand at my desk to write, I’d wonder away–watching Youtube videos or found myself going down rabbit holes. This is so much fun Couldn’t get focused for fifteen-fucking-seconds. Argh!…

Today I’m super excited to share Three Sixty Five with you. You get exclusive access to ALL the open files (in PSD format). Click big button below. Do whatever you like–Edit the text, move shit around and play all you want. Print out a poster, make a cover art for your event or gig, give your blog/journal a facelift or use as your wallpaper–anything your…

Before we begin, I’m humbled by the feedback I got from Chapter One. It is the reassurance to continue doing the thing I love, which is creating and sharing. Those of you, who got left out or didn’t get the chance, I encourage you to fill out this survey. Tell me a little bit about…