Posts Tagged ‘marketing strategy’

Note to CMO: Closure as Competition, from Alexander to Schiphol’s Porcelain Flies

TweetDear CMO: If Alexander the Great had overseen the development of Schiphol Airport’s urinals, he would have moved the designer forward and to the right. You see, Alexander had a system that made everything in his army work: life was a competition, and winners were rewarded in the most public way of all – they […]


Note to CMO: Seeing What Others Don’t See and Parking Your Car for $12 a Month

TweetDear CMO: I’m going to get this story slightly wrong because I forgot exactly where I heard it or read it, but hopefully the meaning will be clear enough. I’m sharing this with you for one big reason: if you squint at it and think of ways to apply it to what you’re doing, it […]


Note to CMO: Jim Koch & What Giants Can’t Do

TweetDear CMO: “Could a giant do what we do? It would be difficult because it’s not what they’re good at. They’re good at mass producing, very cost effectively, beers that appeal to the mass market… it’s not outside their capabilities, but it’s like McDonalds… could McDonalds make filet mignon? Sure, but it’s not the business they’re […]


Note to CMO: Joe Louis, Billy Conn and the Importance of Focus

Tweet  In June of 1941, Joe Louis was fighting a losing fight against light heavyweight champion Billy Conn at the Polo Grounds in New York in what has been described as the greatest fight in boxing history. Louis was at the height of his power and abilities. But Conn, at 169 pounds – an almost […]


Robin Li, Herman Mashaba and “Being One of Us”

Tweet  And now, the main event. In one corner, the reigning industry champion, weighing in at a few billion in revenue, with massive budgets, headcount and resources. In the other corner, the local favorite – considerably smaller, home grown, and a dangerous scrapper. The heavy weight versus “one of us.” My money’s on the little […]