Unskippable: Drag Your Readers Past the First Chapter
You get one shot. That’s it. One chapter. One page. Sometimes just one sentence. If your reader isn’t hooked, they’re not turning to the next page.
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You get one shot. That’s it. One chapter. One page. Sometimes just one sentence. If your reader isn’t hooked, they’re not turning to the next page.
Your coachability will determine your trajectory more than your talent, education or connections.
The truth is that we are not meant to fit into AI’s world. AI is meant to fit into ours.
Jolted by the recent federal hemp ban of intoxicating products, brands have been asking many questions, most of which only have speculative answers. The biggest: Now what?
Culture has already taken the main stage. Leadership is just now catching up.
Drinks have always been proxies for deeper cultural tensions. What we sip is never just about thirst.
By focusing on the energy they can create, businesses with a host mindset tap into the value of building connections instead of collecting followers.
Generosity, as it turns out, is as much a skill as anything else — which means you can get better at it.
A deliberate focus on premium products is a business survival tactic.
If AI has taught me anything, it’s the danger of drifting into mental autopilot.
Just as Geldof brought superstars together for a cause, leaders can promote a sense of compassion over competition to build teams eager to help each other out.
If you want your book to stick with readers long after they’ve finished it, don’t just build a stock antagonist. Build someone that readers can’t stop thinking about.
A look at how the seed sector’s obsession with accuracy, transparency and genetics is reshaping what consumers expect from every corner of cannabis.
One meaningful exchange can ignite films, movements and entire businesses.
What’s changed is investor risk appetite given broader economic concerns.
As creative collaborations are turning stores into cultural destinations, the most enduring ones begin with craft and authenticity.
The next decade will belong to those quietly designing systems that make autonomy safe through coordination, governance and consent.
Intuition isn’t the opposite of data; it’s the mastery of it.
Consumers are indeed inundated with endless ad campaigns, but that doesn’t mean you should remain quiet about your work.
Our society loves to label — people, generations, even entire movements get names slapped on them — but when it comes to women, those labels tighten.
Companies don’t just need better strategies; they need a better way of being.
You can operate with spotless ethics, pure intentions and perfect execution, but if your image doesn’t radiate integrity and meaning, trust will not follow.
Motorsports offers something most major US sports do not — true access to the action.
How top businesses design their spaces to become multi-use destinations for live experiences
Artificial intelligence isn’t just taking jobs. It’s removing the rungs of the ladder that turn rookies into experts.
Somewhere along the way, we started treating rest like a reward instead of a requirement.
When you’re being gaslit by a scammer, it doesn’t play out like a docuseries.
Winner’s pulpy series holds lessons for those in business on standing up to their own workplace bullies.
It is an exhausting game of whack-a-mole, and it is built on chasing digital marketing fool’s gold.
The winners will be the leaders who understand that they are not merely selling a strain or a pre-roll. They are selling an identity.
What’s emerging now is sharper and more intentional, driven by publishers who believe in quality over quantity and depth over distraction.
Cutting DEI isn’t just bad optics — it’s a direct hit to creativity, audience trust and the bottom line.
This isn’t about wild bets. It’s disciplined courage that turns chaos into a launchpad for growth.
The goal isn’t to be less busy — it’s to be busy with things that matter.
This story isn’t about a polite Kickstarter campaign, asking people to smash that subscribe button or pitching your cousin at Thanksgiving dinner.
Just as artists fight for control of their masters, they also must fight for control of their audience relationships.
Let me share three case studies of ways that respecting dignity can unlock business success.
This pressure to perform creatively — it’s corrosive. Soon you start to forget why you ever loved this work in the first place.
In a globalized world, brands chase expansion and universality. But love is local. And memory is particular.
Readers come to the page looking for escape — but what hooks them isn’t the strange, it’s the familiar made strange.
How the coming flood of cheap technology will blow open the doors of theatre — and maybe save it.
The car videos asking people to pre-save no longer work.
Employees, customers and investors are already living inside narratives of loss and uncertainty. Leaders who ignore that dimension risk paralysis in their organizations.
The market has become a competition of numbers, THC percentages climbing like stock tickers, potency sold as prestige.
Let’s build a new ladder, one that moves us from compression to expansion.
We’re often told that to be truly effective, we must project a single, consistent persona 24/7. I don’t agree.
The narrative that the legal cannabis industry is entirely locked out of banking is outdated.
Are you climbing a mountain or running on a hamster wheel? Who knows, and who has time to find out?
Implementing high-impact techniques like breathwork doesn’t require elaborate programs.
Hand someone a microphone and you’ll find out pretty quickly who they really are.
Taking a bold leap into brave new worlds can be scary when it comes to writing that book you’ve always dreamed of having published!
Our generational differences impact our communication and collaboration styles and preferences. Nowhere is this more evident than in the workplace.
This is the warrior’s paradox: nobody loves the warrior until the enemy is at the gates.
In an industry where advertising is constrained, earned media through cannabis trade outlets has become one of the most effective and strategic tools a brand can deploy.
If you’re a CMO, founder or P&L owner, stop measuring your marketing team by media budget efficiency alone.
Visibility is not value. Likes are not loyalty. Attention without memory is a mirage.
Why do most of us still feel like we’re sneaking in the back door of our own careers?
An urgent theme in psychedelic therapy is not just who develops psychedelic therapies, but how and for whom.
Streaming has become a cornerstone of modern entertainment, but the landscape is shifting.
Today’s audiences expect brands to show up for all people, and the events that nail this don’t just look good — they leave a mark.
Money isn’t neutral. Every dollar tells a story about the future it fuels.
Recognizing the parallels can — and will — make you a better leader.
We can’t imagine why anyone would want to spoil the fun like that. But plot twist… those readers aren’t out to ruin the experience. They’re trying to trust you.
Every struggling musician eventually learns the same bitter truth: there’s no secret shortcut.
So, what do you do if you have a bad apple?
Can a venue have its own fandom? The answer is yes — and in today’s landscape, it’s essential.
Three non-negotiable principles that transform good professionals into fearless leaders.
This might sound like the plot of a dystopian sci-fi movie, but it’s a real risk for every business leader today.
Here’s how traditional studios and streaming platforms can adapt—and lead—in this new era.
But what if the future belongs not to those who are seen… but to those who are felt?
We’re heading into a future where much of what fills our feeds will be algorithmically generated. Competent, yes, but soulless.
In business, as in life, there are times when conformity is an asset, but in others, embracing your individuality, inhabiting your rebellious spirit and being a true trailblazer are what lead to success.
In an industry where storytelling is essential, papers become another canvas.
Consider these tips when approaching projects that span languages and cultures.
Here are some things cannabis brands and the industry at large should be thinking about as they tap a boomer and Gen X audience.
Here are five things you may not know about media features.
The real issue isn’t whether AI is “good” or “bad.” That framing is too simplistic. AI is just a tool.
For a generation of students who’ve grown up tethered to devices, and the parents who often modeled that dependency, this change won’t be easy.
In dealmaking, timing is everything and most failures trace back not to bad execution but to answering the call when the time wasn’t right.
It’s as true of fiction as it is of life: everyone’s the hero of their own story. No one sees themselves as “minor.”
There’s a cynical take that says performers are just the last jobs left to automate. I think it’s the opposite: we’re circling back to the oldest profession in the book.
This kind of shift can’t be left to artists, organizers or journalists alone. Business leaders have a critical role to play, too.
As a business leader, walking away from certain situations enables me to realign my professional approach.
Emotional intelligence isn’t about becoming a feelings therapist or walking on eggshells around everyone. It’s about recognizing that emotions are information, not inconveniences.
For startups and established companies alike, the pressure to deliver a “perfect” product or service can be paralyzing.
There are few goals more important for business and organizational leaders than reaching new customers. And one of the best options for doing so is also one of the oldest: throw a really great party.
You don’t need to throw away your brand’s content calendar; it just needs a little re-framing.
Whether filming in India, the jungles of Brazil or the ocean around Guam, there is always a universal opportunity to create a narrative that is authentically human.
No matter how far AI advances, film production will always be driven by visionaries with stories to tell.
It’s not easy being a woman in a male-dominated field. Here’s my advice for thriving as a woman in cannabis culture.
Still think live entertainment is confined to Broadway marquees and stadium tour buses? You’re living in the past. The revolution has a name: placemaking.
Numan’s career and his odyssey back from near obscurity to another career high hold various lessons for business owners about self-belief and sticking to your principles.
Whether you’re leading a brand, launching a startup or shaping cultural experiences, here are six timeless lessons I’ve learned from this extraordinary fragrance.
World-building is about more than setting, though. Just like fantasy, in every story, you need to explain the rules of the world.
Here are four lessons every West Coast operator should internalize before trying to win over New York.
Certainty is seductive. It makes us feel safe, smart and in control. But control is a myth, and safety isn’t the same as progress.
In an age where AI assistants and search engines are the world’s primary influencers, you cannot leave your personal brand narrative to chance.
The truth is, traditional media — especially in the way most of us use it — is passive. It’s built for consumption, not participation.
Work fatigue can be caused by various emotional stressors such as workplace conflicts, pressure to meet expectations and lack of support.
I don’t want to deal with disappointment by feeding damaging emotions. I want to deal with disappointment by healing — and moving on and up.