Below is an archive of every blog post shared through this site since 2010. For posts by topic, check out articles on marketing, leadership, and building new products.
For new posts, check out my Substack newsletter and subscribe:
Analytical skills didn’t come easily for me.
In college, my least favorite classes were quantitative. It was a miracle I even scraped by.
Which is why I was so surprised when Gap Inc wanted to hire me, upon graduation, to be an analyst.
The job was 100% about numbers.
Logically this seemed like the worst possible fit.
Read MoreI've been thinking about framing ideas in terms of the upcoming decisions I have to make.
It’s a fast way to focus your efforts. Things will go from being hypothetical, loose, and abstract... to tangible, concrete, and time-bound.
Talking about the “what” has a bad rap because our culture is obsessed with "whys.” Once you know your why, you still have to translate it into a tangible what. And In the process, you might realize you aren’t as sure about your idea as you originally thought.
Identifying the upcoming decision is powerful because it prevents you from hiding. It prevents you from being delusional.
Read MoreStartup culture glorifies failure.
We all know the quote from Thomas Edison: “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
What most people fail to mention is this quote works because Edison DID eventually find a way that worked.
He’s credited with inventing the first practical incandescent light bulb.
He has over 1,000 patents for his inventions.
He's described as America's greatest inventor.
In other words… HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.
Read MoreWe’re going through weird times right now. The environment around us has changed and there’s more ambiguity.
Which brings me to the topic of plants.
Plants are exciting (and frustrating) for two reasons:
1. There’s no instant gratification.
When you move a plant to a sunnier spot near the biggest window in your home, you can’t tell immediately if the plant likes this.
You won’t see a difference until a week or two later.
Sometimes you won’t see results until the next month.
Read MoreA lot has changed in the past week... I feel grateful for all of you and for being able to stay connected remotely. If you‘re taking this time to regroup on your work, I hope this post is helpful for you. Please stay healthy and safe.
*****
Do you hate getting rejected? Of course you do. I hate it too.
Look, we can train ourselves to get comfortable with rejection. But the fact that we need to train ourselves at all is proof that it’s unpleasant.
Of course, being a change agent means trying new things. And when you try new things, not everything will work. For example, about 1/10 of the marketing experiments I try actually work, and that’s considered a good hit rate.
So is rejection something you just have to deal with?
Read MoreWhen you write an email, Slack message, or report, you’re probably just trying to get your ideas across as quickly as possible.
You might be missing the fact that language is a free way to be strategic. The right words can make you seem warmer, more authoritative, and more effective.
But the wrong words can accidentally make you sound negative, passive, cold—even confrontational. You can sound like you’re not a team player even though you are one in real life.
Use words to your advantage. Don’t accidentally shoot yourself in the foot by using language that diminishes your intent and authority.
Read MoreSome people have a great poker face.
You and I probably aren’t one of them.
The other day, I was having a tough conversation with someone who probably thought they had a poker face. The conversation went something like this:
Their words: “Yes, I totally understand. Please continue.”
Their face: “ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THIS IS BS. I HATE YOU, WES.”
Read MoreCover letters are sales letters. You want to focus on your reader—and make them the hero.
“But Wes,” you say, “Isn’t a cover letter about me and what I bring to the table?”
Yes, but it’s IN RELATION to your audience, hiring manager, prospective client. So it might seem like it’s about you on the surface. But it’s really about them.
Most of the time, when I review an email, it's a great first stab. But a great first stab isn’t enough to stand out.
Usually my feedback is: “This is too much about you (the writer).”
So, what should you do?
Read MoreThe best marketers might call themselves marketers... But they are secretly strong in other disciplines.
Over the past 12 years, I’ve been asked many times, “How can I become a better marketer?”
My answer has changed over time. But one thing has stayed constant: only focusing on marketing is not enough.
By all means, read the classics and contemporary work about marketing. If you ONLY do that, though, you’ll back yourself into a corner. Your box will get smaller and smaller.
Instead, get good at adjacent disciplines. The adjacent disciplines will give you the je ne se quois that expands your lateral thinking. They make you a sharper, savvier, more nuanced marketer.
Read MoreMost of us think too small, including myself.
It’s not about getting more likes on your next tweet. Or describing your niche. Or introducing yourself at a networking event.
Those are short-term and micro. Personal credibility is about your body of work and legacy in your chosen field. How will your field be different after you, because of you?
When you have the answer to that macro question, ironically, you’ll write better tweets, confidently describe your work, and introduce yourself with more clarity.
Here’s an exercise to help you reset, carve out your legacy, and start thinking bigger.
Read More