Dive deep into business, brand and strategy.
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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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Qualifying vs Discovery
The common mistake many of us make is confusing these two. They are not the same. In my early days of running an agency, I thought I had it all figured out – I’d do some qualifying and then jump straight into discovery. Yet, the results were sometimes better than I’d hoped, and I soon…
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Building Human Connections Before Blockchain: An Inside Out Approach to Web3 Companies
Jawaharlal Nehru (Former Prime Minister of India) and Le Corbusier were the OG Web3 founders! Hear me out! A significant global shift is underway. Businesses worldwide are embracing Web3 technologies – decentralized systems powered by blockchain – and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at a pace that could make your head spin. The promise is a utopia…
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High-resolution conversations
How can you show up to conversations to understand the client better or, when talking to a friend or colleague, help them uncover their true challenge? TL;DR — Be more childlike. The first thing is metacognition — being aware of your thinking. For example, do I have an agenda? Am I just waiting for the…
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