Ever get bored reading? Even those of you who are by definition reading this, probably have a low tolearance for bullshit and blah blah blah, yada yada yada.. You probably skimmed the blahs and yadas in that last sentence. And yet when we get the chance to sell sombody something, we tend to go on and on about.... well, us. We think the more 'stuff' we throw at the consumer, the better - and while that may be true from a content marketing approach, there's something to be said

People always ask me how they can write better. Well, actually, it was one time. Anyway, I have some advice for writers who feel their writing lacks strength. And no it has nothing to do with 'there', 'their' and 'they're' or 'its' and 'it's' or any other common grammar correction some people point out to feel superior (Especially us writers - that's like crack to us) The words I'd recommend removing from your vocab are: Very - the reason is simple: when 'good' wasn't good e

Can I be Candid? If we spoke in real life the way we often speak about our brands, we would soon find ourselves with very few friends. Imagine a cocktail party that features these common brand personalities, and tell me which one you'd like to hang with: It's All About Me: This guy starts off talking about the awards he has, before going into great detail about the type of guy he is and why people think that's 'just super'. When he's not talking about himself, he's talking ab

Hi, I'm Chad, nice to meet you. I was hoping, now that you've stopped by my blog, that we could start making plans for our wedding - gay or straight, I'm in... for life! What do you mean I'm weirding you out? Don't leave!! I have a mortgage broker waiting to speak to us and my mom wants to tell you all about the names she likes best for our first three children...! I'm joking, of course. But the sad truth is that this conversation happens every day between brands and potentia

​ As I stood waiting for my Starbucks Cinnamon Dolche Latte (manly, I know) I couldn't help but notice the guy in front of me. Can I be Candid? It wasn't the fact that he was talking loudly on his cell that caught my attention, or even the fact that he was wearing a three piece custom-made suit complete with cufflinks and $100 haircut (although all those things were extremely impressive). No, what caught my attention was the fact that he missed a belt loop. There it was, like

Can I be Candid? It's not enough to take steroids - you have to get off your ass and go to the gym! In the same way, it's not enough to simply have the online tools required to ensure your brand dominates the digital landscape, you have to know how to apply them to your goals. Just like the weightlifter or athlete that takes steroids but skips the gym, having a competitive advantage is only beneficial if you combine it with some good old fashioned heavy lifting. Confused? Con

Ever find yourself in the self check-out aisle behind someone with a full cart of product-code-free produce and seemingly nowhere else they need to be for the next hour or two? Frustrating isn’t it? In today’s world of user-friendly technology, we are equipping people more than ever to take on jobs that were previously delegated to those who have the training to do it properly. Can I be Candid? The truth is that just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. The same should b

We've all seen that 'unique' couple. They may not be attractive in the traditional Hollywood couple Brangalena or Bennifer sense, in fact, their style might make you cringe - but the fact remains that at some point in their lives they took one look at each other and said - yup, that works for me! Heck, I once saw a couple on TV that liked to pretend they were both cats - they drank milk and chased yarn and were genuinely thrilled to be in each other's company. Can I be Candid

I've always said that every situation in life can be explained using a Seinfeld episode example. Let's put that to the test. The Soup Nazi A classic example of how you must research your audience to see what they value before you try to connect or compel them to act in your favour. The Contest Delayed gratification isn't easy. But the longer you hold out, building that relationship and providing value prior to the ask, the more satisfying that final sale will be. Are you mast

What's in a name? When it comes to branding, your name can go a long way towards telling people who you are and what you do. Take my name for example - Candid speaks to the fact that you'll always get a no bullshit evaluation of your brand and opportunities. But there is much more to a brand than the name. For example, take a look at your phones contact list. Chances are you have much more in there then the first and last names of everyone you've ever connected with. Take min