When you go to buy something yourself, are you more interested in getting the “New” thing or the “Better” thing? Which one gets you more excited? Note: this even applies to Apple. When they introduce something that’s improved (for ex. speed) it gets a yawn. But when they introduce something new (for ex. Face Time or [...]
Focus Your Marketing (and Strategy) More on New Than on Better
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Business, Change, Communication, Creativity/Innovation, Design, Entreprenuership, Goals, Leadership, Marketing, Planning, Pricing, Remarkability, Strategy
Always Have Someone “Outside” Read Your Copy
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Business, Communication, Design, Leadership, Writing
No matter who’s speaking, we all suffer from the same problem. Once we know something, it’s incredibly difficult to imagine what it’s like to not know that thing. So, when we say something, we often say things that make complete sense to us, but don’t to the people we’re attempting to communicate with. For example, [...]
Are Your Systems Stupid?
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Business, Change, Customer Service, Design, Growth, Leadership, Operations, Personal Development, Remarkability, Strategy
Every company has them–they’re the reason why we love Dilbert, laugh at The Office, yell at the auto attendant in “customer service,” who “can’t understand our response,” and can’t wait to tell our friends and co-workers, “You won’t believe what happened to me today.” Or, in the case of people like me, blog about them. [...]
Need Some Inspiration?
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Attitude, Branding/Differentiation, Business, Change, Character, Communication, Creativity/Innovation, Customer Service, Design, Finances/Money Management, Goals, Growth, Leadership, Learning, Managing Talent, Marketing, Personal Development, Planning, Remarkability, Strategy, Time Management, Writing
If you’re at all like me, chances are you have some favorite quotes that you return to over an over again to pick you up and get your headed in the right direction. I remember, shortly after my board coup several years ago, the movie “Rocky Balboa” came out and in the middle of the [...]
Key Lessons from Steve Jobs at All Things Digital (D8)
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Branding/Differentiation, Business, Change, Communication, Design, Growth, Leadership, Planning, Pricing, Strategy
Whenever Steve Jobs speaks, it’s usually worth listening. Love him or hate him, he’s always worth listening to–especially because he masterminded one of the most amazing comebacks of all time. Thirteen years ago when he returned to Apple they were just 90 days away from going bankrupt. And then, just last week, they surpassed Microsoft [...]
Is It Time for a Makeover for Your Business (A Lesson from BusinessWeek)
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Branding/Differentiation, Business, Change, Communication, Design, Entreprenuership, Growth, Leadership, Marketing, Remarkability, Strategy
When was the last time you did a website makeover? Or changed the interior design of your workspace/office/store? Or more importantly, changed the way you do business? Or changed the way you market what you offer? Or even changed what you offer? Most leaders underestimate the power of a makeover–and the speed at which they [...]
What You Can Learn From Steve Jobs About “PowerPoint”
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Business, Communication, Creativity/Innovation, Design, Leadership, Writing
Every CEO eventually has to do a presentation. And that invariably means that you have to use PowerPoint–or if you’re lucky enough to be on a Mac, Keynote (which is way better, by the way). Note: That’s also why “PowerPoint” is in quotes above since Steve Jobs clearly uses Keynote–but you get the point. While [...]
Steve Jobs’ Presentation Secrets
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Books, Business, Communication, Creativity/Innovation, Design, Marketing
If you’ve ever watched Steve Jobs do a product launch, you know you’ve watched a master communicator. And if you’ve ever wondered if you could ever communicate as effectively as Steve, there’s good news for you. Business Week Small Biz columnist, Carmine Gallo, has just published a book on “The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs.” [...]
It’s Not About Your Product!
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Branding/Differentiation, Business, Design, Finances/Money Management, Growth, Pricing, Remarkability
I received an email from my mother last evening about a social experiment that the Washington Post conducted two years ago with Joshua Bell, the world famous violinist. That said, I think the real value of the experiment drives home an incredibly important message for business owners and senior executives. The basic story line goes [...]
Are You Sizzling Hot?
Posted on by Bruce Johnson in Branding/Differentiation, Business, Creativity/Innovation, Design, Entreprenuership, Growth, Marketing, Planning, Remarkability, Strategy
When your prospects and customers think about you, do they think, “I have to have that!” Or, “I need to go there!” Or “I need to use them!” Or is it more of a more of a, “Let me think about it.” Or a “I’ll get back to you.” Or, “I’m doing my due diligence,” [...]


