How small brands can hit the big time

Brands, at their best, can be deeply aspirational drivers of humanity. They are optimistic creative objects, which make them among the best vehicles for human self-determination that we have, especially as other vehicles for meaning-making and impact decline in importance

Consumer demand for smaller scale and human-crafted versions of everything will grow in an AI world. While the future of work might lend itself to small business creation, let’s ****not forget the demand side of the equation. We are going to crave artisanal and story-driven sources and experiences. Why? As every big company floods the zone of our a... See more

Stand for something that’s all your own. Help us find unexpected things and think unexpected thoughts. Don’t create for the algorithm (as tempting as it is to try and give it what it seems to want, to help your brand gain visibility). Don’t drift to the middle in search of eyeballs. Think bigger, more long-term, more societal-level, even. Do things... See more

If you pay attention, you’ll see that today’s winning brands understand the customer’s story is the only one that matters. Your most important job as a brand is to show people whom they can become with your product.

Great brands know this and understand they are in the business of helping people realize their potential, regardless of what the produc... See more