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The Cannes Before the Storm

THE DAY BEFORE THE CANNES FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY BEGINS IN EARNEST is a ballet of well-managed chaos. Some venues are still being built and painted, agencies furiously slap up posters promoting their events, and the infamous Gutter Bar — the perennial Cannes watering hole — still has empty seats. But unlike other conferences (and I’veContinue reading “The Cannes Before the Storm”

Father’s Day Isn’t (Really) About Fathers

FOR YEARS ON FATHER’S DAY I WOULD REPUBLISH AN OLD POST I WROTE ABOUT MY DAD. I liked it, which was a valid reason to be sure — but the real reason was I was just lazy, and re-posting old stuff to make it seem like new was a pretty easy way to keep theContinue reading “Father’s Day Isn’t (Really) About Fathers”

Truth: The New Digital Divide

IN WONDER WOMAN, the new summer blockbuster from DC Comics, Diana Prince uses her “Lasso of Truth” to ensnare the bad guys and make them come clean. Her lasso is the ultimate weapon – nonviolent yet all-powerful. The world could use that lasso right now. “Truth” will be a recurring theme throughout this year’s CannesContinue reading “Truth: The New Digital Divide”

Making Fear a Non-Factor

FEAR ONLY EXISTS IF YOU LET IT. Ask the man who casually fled the London Bridge terror attack with pint in hand. Ask the Borough Market restaurant patron who returned the next day to pay his bill and tip the staff, and who promised to eat and drink out in London even more often now.Continue reading “Making Fear a Non-Factor”

On Being American

THE WAR ON TERROR IS OVER. And we lost. What began on Sept. 11, 2001, ended on Jan. 27, 2017. It ended when the US Government banned million of refugees and legal residents from entering the country out of ignorance and fear. Not for due cause. Not for being on a watch list. Not forContinue reading “On Being American”

Dear PR and Marketing People: Be Activists, not Apologists

FUCK “POST-TRUTH. “ There, that feels better. Plus I’ve always wanted to begin a blog post by swearing, so no matter what you think of the rest of this rant, mission accomplished. But seriously, fuck “post-truth” and “fake news” and anyone who uses those terms, which I’m sorry to say, includes pretty much everyone inContinue reading “Dear PR and Marketing People: Be Activists, not Apologists”

America 2016: Monsters Under the Bed

WHEN WE WERE LITTLE THERE WERE MONSTERS UNDER OUR BEDS. They kept us up at night, our covers pulled tight over our heads and our hearts demanding swift exit from our chests. We never saw the monsters but we felt them and heard them. They cast shadows over our young lives – but they neverContinue reading “America 2016: Monsters Under the Bed”

Brand Superheroes: Why Being Real Matters Now More Than Ever

ALL SUPERHEROES ARE THE SAME. Their power may differ, their purpose may vary – but all superheroes share an undeniable bond to each other and an unbreakable bond with the public. Being real. Superheroes are true to who there are, whether to their strengths (Superman) or to their flaws (Batman.) When Superman says he fightsContinue reading “Brand Superheroes: Why Being Real Matters Now More Than Ever”

Brand Superheroes: Finding Your Power and Purpose

“With great power comes great responsibility.” – Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben SPIDERMAN IS THE WALL CRAWLER. Superman is the Man of Steel. The Hulk has extraordinary size and strength; Black Widow is an expert assassin; and Aquaman can, um…well he can talk to fish (yeah, I know what you’re thinking, but it does come inContinue reading “Brand Superheroes: Finding Your Power and Purpose”

Brand Superheroes: What’s Your Origin Story?

IN THE FIRST AVENGERS MOVIE, you see a team of superheroes join together to fight a common enemy. They use their powers to save the world, with little to no regard for their own safety. But you don’t know why. You don’t know what makes the Avengers The Avengers. For that you need to seeContinue reading “Brand Superheroes: What’s Your Origin Story?”