Field Notes

Short essays about creativity, learning, technology, and the strange ways ideas connect.

These are observations collected along the journey.

You are only selling a commodity if that's the story you choose to tell

You are only selling a commodity if that’s the story you choose to tell Is a food truck just selling food? Is a hair salon just selling haircuts? Is a real estate firm just selling houses? The answer is, emphatically, no! Food trucks sell nostalgia and convenience, allowing us to enjoy good food in beautiful or remote settings. Hair salons sell confidence and relaxation, knowing their clients are going to feel better when they leave their salon. Real estate firms sell security and financial independence, allowing their clients to literally stake their claim in the world. ...

Leadership: Sometimes you just need a crowbar

Leadership: Sometimes you just need a crowbar In this post, we’re going to dive into the topic of leadership, something very close to my heart. I believe leadership is one of the noblest positions in the world. Leadership requires sacrifice and risking part of ourselves for the advancement and betterment of others. Leadership is one of the most beautiful gifts we can get and give all at once. I was recently reminded of this point while watching the film, Hidden Figures. Being a leader is about preparing people for change, even if they’re not ready for it. It’s about putting the interests of others ahead of your own self-interests, knowing that the priorities of many outweigh your own sometimes. ...

The Game is Infinite

The Game is Infinite These four simple words relentlessly humble and inspire me. I remind myself of them almost every day. It helps me understand others’ behavior, challenge my own intentions and make tough decisions when I find myself worrying over which path to take. It calms me and excites me all at once. I had the great privilege of happily stumbling upon James Carse’s Finite and Infinite Games some years ago and now pass along the following as a brief introduction to a beautiful worldview. ...

The Industrial is Over

The “Industrial” is Over Marketing is about a company identifying the current and future needs of a group of people, while determining which needs it will address with their products and services. What draws me to marketing has nothing to do with the products themselves but with the profound impact they can have on the people you serve. While customers should be high on your list of people to serve, there is also another important group we shouldn’t ignore: your employees*.* ...