Today we celebrate Summer Solstice. Have you booked your summer R&R time?

It may feel like a bad idea right now. I get it.

We are navigating our way through two summer storms: the era of efficiency and double digit increases in layoffs in certain sectors. As of June 8, Layoffs.fyi reported that 749 tech companies have laid off 202,399 people. That number was 164,709 for the full year ending 12/31/22.

That does not take into account the number of CMOs who have recently accepted temporary double digit pay cuts–to “take one for the team.”…

We’re living in a time of marketing liminality.  Some leaders feel as if they have one hand clinging to their Zoom rooms and one hand clinging to a dusty office HQ desk.

This messy middle moment is fueled by ever-changing customer expectations, dynamic workplace configurations, and  high team turnover. (I started to see these challenges emerge in 2018 and published 3 posts about them here.)

There is a silver lining to this liminal marketing moment….

The flurry of business activity– market selloffs, marketing planning, and volatile “back to work” policies—are putting a lot of us on edge. 

It’s even worse when you are faced with toxic team members or bosses. 

In this #Newsweek Livestream with Dorie Clark, I provide two steps you can immediately take to create more calm amidst the chaos:

Tell yourself a little mantra: “poise begins with a pause.” Set your clock and pause for one minute before your next big meeting….

Many CMOs and CEOs ask me how I help clients (especially marketers) leap from “order takers” to growth champions.

It starts with looking at your team’s culture and growth mindset and taking steps to improve your “rapid customer value”.

Fifteen months ago, I received an email that would forever change my business.

Marshall Goldsmith announced that I was selected into the 100 Coaches community. This is an esteemed global confab of business thinkers, authors, CEOs, and academic leaders.

My fellow 100 Coaches advise the titans of business, save lives (yes, really!), turn around failing companies, fuel entrepreneurship, lead nonprofits, and more. It is both humbling and energizing to spend time with them every week;…

As marketing leaders, you know that a strong company culture cultivates a workforce of powerful brand advocates who enhance marketing efforts. What can marketing do to navigate the culture war that ensues in the face of increased M&A activity? Here are three rules of thumb to consider as you evaluate an M&A deal on the horizon, and when you are in the throes of a post-deal journey.

The Amazon hiring machine, which promises to add
25,000 new jobs in DC the coming decade, has arrived with great fanfare. With 3.7% unemployment in our region, hiring and
retention is on every leader’s mind.

Local, smaller firms
have good reason to be are worried. Sadly, many are still in denial.

Thankfully, our
clients are thinking differently. They are being proactive and creative. They
are not following the hiring herd.

This month, our
private Marketing Leaders of DC™ discussion focused on how CMOs can dramatically improve their
ability to attract top candidates—even when Amazon is invading your space….