Why I dislike 98% of all Mission Statements

I'm not gonna be shy about this one: I'm not a fan of almost all Mission Statements. They are way too wordy, include way too many commas, and are never remembered by employees and leadership alike.

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on September 1st, 2010

Brand Camp: August Report

Last week we wrapped up another Brand Camp retreat for 5 small businesses.

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on August 25th, 2010

Client Leadership vs Portfolio Dictatorship

In the world of design, sometimes remembering who the design is for can get blurry in the process.

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on August 19th, 2010

The Cost of Focus

What does it cost you to focus on that which makes you the best in the world?

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on August 11th, 2010

Ask the right questions first

Every now and again I talk with someone who ends up asking, "Do you think we should rebrand?" Though a good question, not the first question to ask.

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on August 4th, 2010

It’s not what you say

I have spoken to many business leaders who have said something to the effect of "I know exactly who we are and what our brand stands for and means to our customers." But is that really what we're striving for?

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on July 28th, 2010

No More Shallow Success

I recently read Harvard Business Review's interview with Howard Schultz about his return to Starbucks.

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on July 26th, 2010

Who is this for?

When a company is going through a rebranding process, it is important to constantly clarify the answer to the question "Who is this for?"

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on July 21st, 2010

All The Small Things

Whether we admit it or not, there are certain aspects of a brand that are much sexier than others. Developing a very engaging and interactive website is a lot of fun and cool to show off. Designing really cool package that will be seen every day can bring a lot of pride both to the one designing as well as the client. But there is opportunity in all aspects of the customer's experience of your brand.

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on July 11th, 2010

A Call for Truth

Companies so often want customers to love them like a friend, however they struggle to see it happen. Why is that?

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on June 30th, 2010