Category Archives: Abilene Paradox
Innovation on Ambien, or Why Product Development is Sleep Walking
I had this ridiculous idea once that involved billboards, graffiti, hidden video, bumper stickers, and a fake drink. If I had raised the funding I was going to conduct an experiment in Boston to prove that a brand could be … Continue reading
Filed under Abilene Paradox, Branding, Entrepreneurialism, Fashion, Indie, Marketing, Product Innovation
There’s No Crying in Investment Banking, or Don’t Take a Ride on a Snake’s Back
So there’s this mouse who wants to cross a river, and a poison snake who offers the little fellow a ride. “Will you bite me?” squeaks the mouse. “Of courssse not,” replies the snake. The mouse gets on the scaly … Continue reading
Filed under Abilene Paradox, Advertising, Arrogance, Culture Change, Employee Engagement
The Sunshine of Branding, or How to Make the Invisible Visible
I’ve spent the last 20 or so blog posts bringing to light how employees, committees, and organizations can participate in folly that as individuals they know to be ridiculous. This is the focus of The Road to Abilene: my puny … Continue reading
Filed under Abilene Paradox, Branding, Culture Change, Group Dynamics, Indie, Social Media
The Power of Tension and Trans Fatty Acids, or why 2012 is like 1984.
First let me say this: No one should judge advertising under the influence of Cheese Whiz and Funyuns. Now that thirty days have passed, and I’ve worked off nearly a third of the calories that I consumed during our Super … Continue reading
Filed under Abilene Paradox, Advertising, Brand Strength, Branding, Super Bowl Advertising
Prestidigitation and Brand Strength – A Hypothesis
When I was about 10 my father took me to the Magic Castle in Hollywood. What a strange and wonderful place. In every nook and cranny there was something mysterious and amazing (at least for a 10 year old). However, … Continue reading
Filed under Abilene Paradox, Brand Strength, Branding, Employee Engagement, Marketing, Prestidigitation
The Abilene Paradox
Why does corporate idiocy sometimes feel like one of those things you just have to get used to, like mimes and gravity? How is it that normal, well-educated, well-meaning corporate citizens act like terrorists within their own organization? It’s the … Continue reading
Filed under Abilene Paradox, Branding, Group Dynamics, Management Theory, Marketing, Workability
