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The Quality of MLB’s New Jerseys: Brand Codes 101

February 17, 2024
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Brands spend a lot of time thinking about their brand…if they are smart. Why? For major businesses, your brand can be worth 30-40% of the total valuation of your business. For a small business, your brand and your name are likely the only thing you have that is standing between you and the commodity abyss. […]

February 1, 2024
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Honestly, I’m not sure if I heard of The Messenger before yesterday. Which is probably part of the problem the site had. But the bigger point to make is that the collapse of The Messenger is a reminder to get your strategy right before you do anything else. I took a look at the site’s Wikipedia this morning and saw a […]

January 31, 2024
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TechCrunch shuts down TC+ to get their focus on one business. It is the quote from Editor in Chief, Connie Lozois, that really struck me as very smart: “Building around two businesses hasn’t allowed us to focus where we can win.” Music to my ears. Why? Our business environment seems to almost exclusively send the […]

January 29, 2024
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Dr. Julie Gurner is the psychologist that was an inspiration for Wendy Rhodes on Billions. This morning she wrote about the 4 critical moments that define your success in business or your career. I’ve been thinking about the fourth one a lot lately. Why? Because it feels like all of us are at a point of inflection and […]

January 28, 2024
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Hi! This common question I come back to with folks is: “How well do you really know your customers and target market?” Your knee jerk reaction is probably, “Pretty well.” But, my question to you is, “Is that really true?” Let’s talk about market research and customer orientation this morning: Tom Elmer, a marketing professor […]

January 24, 2024
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Hey! I’m back from the midwest where I drank coffee and beer, and watched basketball. Yesterday, a few folks forwarded me a post about a “strategic plan” for a smaller orchestra with a similar question: “Is this what a strategy document should look like?” The short answer: No. A friend of mine called it “strategy theatre” and […]

January 23, 2024
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A Thinker’s 50 writer takes aim at marketing, especially the way that businesses are pushing prices as far as they can, even when signs of distress in the world are everywhere. I know Umair from his writing about economics. Thanks for reading Above Average Intelligence: Dave Wakeman’s Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts […]

The Quality of MLB’s New Jerseys: Brand Codes 101

‘The Messenger’ is a Reminder: Strategy Before Tactics…

TechCrunch Shuts TC+ For a Good Strategic Reason…

What Does Reinvention Mean to You Now?

Research is bringing the voice of your customer into your business…

Is This Orchestra’s Strategic Plan an Example to Follow?

Marketing Has Lost Its Way?!

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