branding Archives - Wakeman Consulting Group

The Three Flinches

October 3, 2026
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I was reading the Wall Street Journal earlier and saw a report on McCormick’s earnings call. Spices. Why am I paying attention? I use their products. But really, the company is from Baltimore: a local story. Three moments stood out to me: Because each of these phrases is a decision. One that releases the pressure the CEO […]

The “10% Test”: A Simple Question to See If You’re a Commodity

I want to share a quick test with you this morning to help you understand the challenges and fears folks face when I talk about commoditization. Fear Most people I speak with are afraid of losing out on a project or a client. They often feel on edge between winning and losing, like they have […]

Hold the Line: Gaining Price Integrity

John Wall Street analyzed the Minnesota Timberwolves today from the angle of “price integrity.” Great stuff. We don’t find enough examples of “price integrity” in tickets because that part of the discussion is often handed over to the secondary market’s myth of “the free market will decide.” Matthew Caldwell has done something difficult with the Minnesota […]

The Three Mirages: Why Organizations Chase the Wrong Targets

There’s a feeling we are all familiar with. Working hard. Growing. Adding clients. Opening offices. Can’t quite keep up. But something feels off. Like you are chasing something elusive. Likely a mirage…I’ve identified three that seduce more organizations than anything else. The Money Mirage: “Growth” becomes “success.” Revenue. Headcount. New markets. New offices. Measurable. Addictive. […]

The “Most Feared” Law Firm Wants to Be Liked…That’s a Strategy Problem.

Quinn Emanuel, the “most feared” litigation firm, is considering a rebrand? In the UK. A new logo?A softer image? A different position? The headlines call it a brand problem. The headlines are wrong. This is a strategy problem wearing a marketing costume. But Quinn Emanuel isn’t alone. Across the legal industry, firms are drifting. Chasing […]

February 18, 2026
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Hi! This is a longer piece that I’ve been working on for a few days… Consider this my collected thoughts about tickets heading into 2026. If you like this one, share it! Share I started this piece thinking that everyone had lost. The ticket ecosystem was broken. No one was coming out ahead. I was […]

October 13, 2025
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A common theme you have shared in the 2025 Talking Tickets Global Survey is that people are looking for “exclusivity” in the purchases they are making. This is especially true when it comes to the truly unique experiences. Things like: I could go on. The interesting thing is that The Economist tracks these kinds of services. They […]

branding

The Three Flinches

The “10% Test”: A Simple Question to See If You’re a Commodity

Hold the Line: Gaining Price Integrity

The Three Mirages: Why Organizations Chase the Wrong Targets

The “Most Feared” Law Firm Wants to Be Liked…That’s a Strategy Problem.

Ticketmaster Won. Everyone Else Lost. That’s Why Tickets are Broken.

The BIG Ticket: Real Premium Selling & Buying is Different Now

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