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Falling From the Sky … The Call Of The Void
Can a compelling narrative impact a brand’s message and translate emotion into measurable results? Years back, I loved the sky… and would periodically visit, up close. That worn and worthy Cessna 180 shuddered and gradually accelerated as the seven of us huddled forward and climbed twelve thousand feet. That’s as high as I ever…
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How To Lose Your Audience… in Four Minutes
Can brevity capture an audience drowning in content? Over time, our appetite for content has shrunk. TV shows air with 35-minute binge-inviting brevity. Pop songs barely nudge three minutes. YouTube Shorts are 25 seconds. Busy digital consumers, with ever-diminishing attention spans, expect faster pacing and quicker rhythm. In fact — they DEMAND it. So why…
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She Needed A Comforting Ear… Don’t We all
If readers feel understood, will they act? It’s past midnight when the phone rings. Her voice trembles. I listen — her words are measured. She can go months without having one, but when it shows up, it roars in with uncontrolled waves that totally submerge her. “It strangles my throat and scares the shit out…
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It Was An Angry Ocean That Day… One We Would NEVER Forget
How can a blog sell a destination without mentioning it once? Lynn gave me the command to hoist the mainsail. As I did, a strong gust of wind lifted our cutter high into the air. Cold white spray splashed over our heads, covering the deck in bubbling foam. We soon lost sight of land, and…
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Should You Leave Like a Slammed Door or a Silent Whisper?
When does fiction succeed where advice fails? “Either way, the room changes. The air shifts. That draft vanishes. What a graceful ghost. A takedown of accountability disguised as emotional depth.” Frank was talking in a way I would rarely hear — unless he was buzzed. And he was. Saturday, we sat soaking in his hot…
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They’ll Pinch Your Heart… If You Fall For Their Eyes
What impression does your brand project? A clear message removes any doubt. Last Friday afternoon, I’d lost track of time. I was in Montreal’s Old Port, browsing a dimly lit antique boutique, squinting at books stacked in dusty piles, when I sensed her. She wore an exquisite pair of diamond chandelier earrings and a polished…
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Serendipity… Met Us At Rizzo Hall
Do small interactions build brand loyalty? I’ll help you identify the moments that matter. We had just finished playing a long and loud set at Rizzo Hall over in east-end Montreal. Patricia had promised me she wouldn’t drink. It was nowhere near midnight, but her eyes were already glazed, and her lips wore a blank…
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Was It Fate, Destiny, or Simply Dumb Luck?
Brands have ordinary stories. The difference between forgettable and compelling is how you tell them. There are such fine lines between those three compatriots. Does it ever pay to dawdle? In total, I added up about six or seven minutes, which would have resulted in a completely different ending to my day. It all began yesterday…
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Who Has One… and Who Doesn’t?
If your audience can’t hear your brand in their heads, are you just noise? Yesterday, I was on St.John’s Boulevard riding the early morning 470 Express, in a blizzard. It was rush-hour-jammed to the brim. Typically Montreal. Damn, is she HOT.Paul, she’s too young for you.Ya think? Nah… I’m pretty sure I’m in her range.Dude,…
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Is Anyone Ever Ready For Their First Strip Search?
Brands that laugh at themselves are memorable. I’ll help you find that voice. Vermont sounded like a wonderful place to spend a couple of days last weekend. When Lynn invited me to her lakeside cottage, I said “Yes” in a jiffy and escaped Montreal in an effortless flash. The evening drive was peaceful; a persistent…
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“Brevity is the soul of wit.” — William Shakespeare