Motivation Articles
Encouragement
August 26, 2013

When my sister was in medical school she shared a fun turn of the phrase with us. One of her colleagues would often compliment students with the stoic praise, “strong work.” And while this has become something of an internal … Read More
Steve Jobs on Innovation, Intuition, & Life
October 6, 2011

Steve Jobs has passed away leaving behind an unparalleled legacy in American innovation. As my friend and fellow marketer, Bob Abbate, fittingly summed up, “His vision inspired me. His products are the tools of my trade. He was a master … Read More
8 Innovation Lessons from Walt Disney
June 13, 2011

Vacations allow you to recharge your batteries — both personally and professionally. On a vacation to Disney World it’s hard not to be struck by the vision and innovation of the park’s founder. If Walt Disney were alive today he’d … Read More
Copywriter’s Time Machine: Ted’s Words
February 19, 2009
Our first client was/is a Cadillac dealership. On the wall of one of their conference rooms is a framed document with advertising copy in it. Yep, ad copy. A copywriter’s dream come true — that their words would live on, … Read More
In the Words of Others – Try Something
February 5, 2009
Last week at the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet, former UI president David Skorton was asked how his love of jazz has influenced him. “You don’t know what’s going to happen but you have to improvise to … Read More
A Young Mind
January 26, 2009
Henry Ford once said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” Like Henry, the 25,000 car dealers here at … Read More
Thinking of the Whole Picture
January 13, 2007
The following message from Whole Foods CEO John Mackey was distributed to all team members on November 2, 2006. On the same day, the company warned that sales growth would be slow in the year ahead and that its stock … Read More
Black on the Edge of Customer Service
August 23, 2006
Those of you who know me personally, know I love rage-comic Lewis Black. Those of you who read this blog frequently know that I also love good customer service. So what a treat I got this week when I received … Read More