The History Of Lobster (And An AI Lesson)

Lobster wasn’t always a high-ticket delicacy. And I’m not even talking about your fanciest New England friend’s childhood memories. A long time ago, lobster was little more than the Chinese takeout of rural Maine.  The reason lobster “blew up” was the railroad.  That’s right.  No Red Lobster without Big Railroad.  The story is simple, but … Continue reading The History Of Lobster (And An AI Lesson)

Podcast Of The Week: Women In Refrigerators (Cursed Knowledge)

There’s a story trope where a female character is killed just to inspire a male character into action.  It feels sexist. It feels silly. But it’s so common, it’s a trope with it’s own name. With dedicated websites even. And podcast episodes.  And you know, at least at its core, all that murder’s got to … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Women In Refrigerators (Cursed Knowledge)

Sunday Music: 30 Days (Chuck Berry)

Chuck Berry has too many classic songs, but this has to be one of my favorites, “Thirty Days (To Come Back Home).”  Maybe it’s the boom-chick-boom-chonk rhythm guitar thing I love so much.  Maybe it’s the escalating threats in the lyrics, where he calls on everything from the gypsy women to eventually levying the FBI … Continue reading Sunday Music: 30 Days (Chuck Berry)

Podcast Of The Week: Patton Oswalt’s Craziest Day Of His Career

We’ve all had crazy days.  That day probably didn’t start with declining a ride to a gig in the Planter’s Peanut Mobile, witnessing terrifying road rage, and attempting to meditate to the sound of Tingsha bells before your next gig.  This won’t add to your life or professional mojo, but it will remind you truth … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Patton Oswalt’s Craziest Day Of His Career

Podcast Of The Week: The Hero’s Journeys In Our Lives

Tom Morgan has quickly become one of my favorite finance-adjacent thinkers. He’s got an interview with Dr. Daniel Cosby on the Standard Deviations podcast discussing his way of finding Campbell’s famous “Hero’s Journey” story structure in our personal lives.  I’ve thought of this concept when working with others to overcome some obstacle, but hearing him … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: The Hero’s Journeys In Our Lives

Stories Set Prices, But Changing Stories Move Prices

I was listening to a person talk about selling their house. They’re kicking themselves they should have moved when the market was hot last year, but they had some more work to do, and surely it’s still worth it now that everything in the house is perfect, right? The story sets the price. They sound … Continue reading Stories Set Prices, But Changing Stories Move Prices

Valuation Keeps Storytellers Honest And Number Crunchers Relevant

I keep coming back to this Aswath Damodaran idea lately.  Valuation is the bridge that keeps storytellers honest and number crunchers relevant.  If you live in a spreadsheet you’ve got data but no stories. Nobody is going to care what your numbers are.  If you can tell a good story but have no data to … Continue reading Valuation Keeps Storytellers Honest And Number Crunchers Relevant

Understanding Aspirations To Drive Sales

How you position your client's aspirations is the most critical driver of your sales.  This Ash Ambirge (the middle finger project) quote nails it, When the lottery wants to boost ticket sales, they don’t raise the odds. They raise the jackpot. Why? Because people don’t buy odds, they buy dreams.  What does your client want?  … Continue reading Understanding Aspirations To Drive Sales

How We Feel = The Stories We Tell (With Ocean Vuong)

How we feel is a function of the stories we repeat to ourselves.  To change, with repetitions, is to edit. We can edit for length, tone, truth - and/or any combination of things.  When we’re telling stories to others, our stories come crashing into theirs. What they repeat when they walk away, determines how they … Continue reading How We Feel = The Stories We Tell (With Ocean Vuong)

Sunday Music: Slick Rick’s Mona Lisa

When it comes to storytelling, Slick Rick is one of the greats. I don’t know how I ended up with “Mona Lisa” stuck in my head the other day, but the whole song is a masterpiece.  For the uninitiated, Slick Rick has already “made it” before he launches into the song (it’s important background if … Continue reading Sunday Music: Slick Rick’s Mona Lisa