The wellness industry has been unwell. It sells perfection. Implies feeling good is reserved for the elite few. Makes self-care seem possible only if you have endless time or money to splurge on it. XWELL wasn’t interested in playing along.…
There’s a particular kind of confidence you only earn over time. The kind that comes from doing things the right way, consistently, for decades. It shows up in how decisions are made, how relationships are built and how people talk…
This is for my friends in private equity. From my experience, private equity firms stress-test everything. Cap tables. EBITDA multiples. Customer concentration risk. Tech debt. You run scenarios until the model breaks, then you run them again. And rightfully so.…
Professional services firms still struggle with their own marketing. After 25 years of building websites for architects, financial advisors, healthcare consultants and technology firms (and running a business myself), I can tell you the problem hasn’t changed: most firms look…
Why timeless design principles still matter in a world obsessed with trends. The Problem with Modern Branding A few years ago, I was in a meeting where a client asked if their logo should “look more like Airbnb’s.” You’ve probably…
In the area between downtown St. Louis, Forest Park and South City, there’s a stretch of Manchester Ave. where culture and creativity thrive. To locals, the six or seven blocks are known simply as “The Grove.” From its roots as…
You know that sinking feeling: You’re reading your competitor’s website, and the messaging sounds… familiar. Too familiar. You realize you could swap logos and no one would notice the difference. “Innovative solutions.” “Customer-centric approach.” “Leading the industry forward.” Generic. Safe.…
The notification pops up on LinkedIn: Your biggest competitor just dropped a rebrand. It’s sleek. Bold. Everywhere. Your phone buzzes—the CEO’s asking, “Did you see what they did?” Your stomach drops a little and the questions start coming. Are we…
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working with hundreds of brands over the last 25 years, it’s this: Branding is personal. Brand is reputation. It’s a reflection of self. It’s the founder’s vision. Their baby. It’s business, of course,…
I’ve read The Emperor’s New Clothes to my kids probably a thousand times. It’s one of those classic bedtime stories that sticks with you. Partly because it’s funny. Partly because it’s short. And partly because there’s something deeper going on…