Photo from the talented Libby Williams. I hate when people ask us how long we’ve been in business. Just hate it. Brains on Fire has been a company since 1999 (over 16 years) and before that a company called Greg and Greg was alive and well and so was a company called Phillips and Goot. …
When most people think of advertising, it conjures up visions of product placement and catchy jingles in their head. Minute Maid’s latest spot is a shining example of marketing through a bigger and better story. While you won’t find any close-up shots of orange juice slowly filling a glass, what you will find is a brand stepping aside …
What if we could live our lives with a sureness that things often fall apart in order to make way for something even more remarkable? Above: One of my favorite photos of Ramsey, Cordell, Mike and yours truly taken during one of Mike’s visits a couple of year ago. In 2004, Mike Goot, my business partner …
Another inspiring photo from my friend Libby Williams‘ collection of beautiful things. A couple of months ago, I got asked a simple and amazing question during Q+A time at a speaking engagement. “How do you stay inspired every day?” I stopped for a moment and said, “ME PERSONALLY?” “YES”, she said. I shared how personal stories …
Our new neighbors at Oobe are busily beautifying the Innovate Building inside and out. Cant wait to see the finished product! When an insight trip feels more like playtime…
I read an interesting article on Fast Company yesterday. Long story short, researchers have found that experiences — not things — bring us the most happiness in the long run. It’s counterintuitive that something like a physical object that you can keep for a long time doesn’t keep you as happy as long as a once-and-done …
I recently read a quote from film director Jim Jarmusch that challenged me: “Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things …
I love this slide Greg Ramsey quickly did for one of my presentations. I love being able to feel the person behind design. This week I presented at a conference in Vermont and I got asked the most wonderful and unexpected question during Q+A time. “You have the most beautiful slides. Do you believe design …
A few fun facts: 20 percent of companies offer Employee Volunteer Programs (EVPs) and that figure has been steadily rising over the past decade. (Source) EVPs have been shown to improve employee morale, productivity, loyalty and recruitment efforts. (Source) 61 percent of millennials report that an employer’s commitment to its community would play a role in their decision to accept …
New map for our old office space. New conference table…coming soonish. A cool way to think about what drives us. Cleaning day! Wishing you a purrrrfect weekend.
If I move again, it will be to a really tiny house like this one. About four years ago, I got pneumonia. Trust me. Coughing up blood makes you listen hard to a doctor’s advice to stay in bed. So I canceled my fancy plans to meet with a client on the west coast. And …
Pie for Pi Day. Our ancient floorboards are becoming our new conference table — and we can’t wait to see the final result. Greenville goes to (BOF)LA. Beau doing a little nasal proofing of our handiwork. Hope your St. Patrick’s Day was good and green.
For some reason, whenever I go grocery shopping, I find myself drawn to a random row of product in the baking aisle. The “weird flours,” if you will. I always wonder about the people who are purchasing those little bags of coconut flour and hazelnut meal. “What are you doing with all that chia seed,” I find myself wondering. It’s …
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a Rapid Ingenuity Blitz in NYC. Greg Galle from Future Partners shared Google’s criteria for moonshot idea during the Blitz. 1. Must be an idea that will affect a million people. 2. People will say you are nuts. 3. Yet you still believe it’s possible. Don’t you just love …
Our old floorboards are becoming our new conference table. (With a little help from @PineBoxDaddy) Sometimes we get paid to burn things. They don’t call us Brains on Fire for nothing. Not awkward at all.
When it comes to marketing, surprise and delight might be my favorite thing of all. There’s something really magical about getting to help your client become a remarkable brand by doing something remarkable. And while there are all kinds of theories about the ins and outs of surprise and delight, it’s the one part of marketing I find …
A farewell to FIRE wall… Room to romp! Client trip to ATX. Yeehaw, y’all. Had a blast today putting our #client in front of the camera in Austin. T-Rex and Tapatío: BOFLA essentials.
I recently visited a friend’s house to discover a canister of Cafe Bustelo sitting on their countertop. With its bright yellow and red design, it stuck out like a sore thumb in a space I lovingly (and accurately) call the epitome of a hipster haven. A quick Google of Cafe Bustelo history makes me think their branding …
A core belief in our PASSION CONVERSATION book is the need to rewire a marketer’s brain to appreciate creating opportunities (online and offline) for the customers you serve to share their own stories. A lot of good can come out of encouraging people to talk about themselves, their lives, their hopes, and their accomplishments. Ultimately, …
I know it’s cold outside, but it’s comforting to know that Spring will come. This photo from Libby Willams is a great reminder. Yesterday Emily and I were having a discussion and she made a simple statement that got stuck in my heart. A company like Brains on Fire should have “healthy tension”. I honestly have …
