Note to CMO: The Ladder of Inference, or, The Art of Not Listening

Dear CMO: An exchange with Valeria Maltoni at Conversation Agent reminded me of another great conversation agent, Dr. Steven Feinberg at ROI Dynamics, with whom I had the great opportunity of working some years back. We talked about corporate culture, specifically the art of listening. What an unpracticed art. Being a listener has become something […]


Note to CMO: Jamil Hussein is My Spokesperson

Dear CMO: Sony and Zipatoni flauxg the PSP. Walmart fakes it, as well. Sony Pictures (again with Sony?) writes their own movie reviews. The Associated Press, for whom a picture is apparently worth far more than a thousand (truthful) words, creates Jamil Hussein, a guy who apparently shows up more often in the credits than […]


Note to CMO: The Clamshell, Defended (With Reservations)

Dear CMO: The holidays are over. Time to end the fiscal year, hopefully with a sprint to the finish, and then move on to planning for next year. And, as I can see the Band Aids peeking through your French cuffs, you’ll no doubt resolve to do your part in the coming budget cycle to […]


Note to CMO: Positioning and Deciding Who You’re NOT

Dear CMO: Let’s talk for a moment about who you’re not. We all know who you are, but your forced choices under pressure often reveal more about you than your bio might reveal. What are you willing to walk away from? Answer that and you’ll define yourself in vivid terms that stick. If it works […]


Note to CMO: SWOT Analyses and Being Trampled to Death by a Mouse

Dear CMO: We are biased. We consider all the options that fit our needs — both those that conform to our preconceptions and those we are predisposed to throw under the bus to best illustrate our objective reasoning. The threats we acknowledge are the manageable ones we know can live with, our opportunities not much […]