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Why Marketers Should Think Like Anthropologists
As marketers, we love our titles. Some of us are marketing strategists, some are storytellers, and some are marketing architects. And, of course, some of us just stick with “marketer,” because that works, too. (My personal favorite, btw, is “growth hacker,” which sounds like a character in a Netflix show that probably bombed!). But after 25 years in this industry, I can tell you, although none of us will ever call ourselves this, what we really are is anthropologists. We’re not the type of anthropologists who brush dust off bones in the desert. We’re the type who study the rituals of the people we want to reach… their morning coffee…
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Runaway Truck Ramps and the Reminder I Didn’t Know I Needed
So…I drove my daughter to college last week. The car was packed with too many blue zippered moving bags (which were filled with fluffy pink blankets and pillows with pink pom-poms and pink extra-long twin sheets). We had a fan that TikTok said we had to have, too many sweatshirts for someone going to South Carolina, and snacks… a lot of snacks. But my heart was full. On the drive, we alternated between true crime podcasts, self-help audiobooks, and what I call “memory music”… the songs that sneak up on you and remind you what it felt like to buckle them into a car seat. (Those were tough!) Then, somewhere…
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What Thought Leadership Really Looks Like in 2025
The term “thought leader” used to mean something. It meant experience. Credibility. A hard-earned perspective shaped by time in the trenches, not just trending content and clever phrasing. It was something other people called you, not something you slapped on your LinkedIn headline. Thought leadership in 2025 isn’t about visibility for visibility’s sake. It’s about being someone people actually want to hear from, someone people trust. So if you’re a consultant, a creative, an educator, a strategist, a builder, or just the person in the room who always seems to get it, this is for you. Because we’re all experts now, juggling multiple roles every day. So, the question becomes:…
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Polyworking? I Think Gen X Invented That
I came across a Forbes article recently about how millennials are embracing “polyworking.” It’s a fancy term for holding multiple jobs or juggling income streams to stay afloat. The article talks about how millennials are burning out from side hustles, long hours, and trying to do it all while still answering Slack messages. And while I don’t disagree, millennials are absolutely doing the hustle, I couldn’t help but think… Gen X has been living this life for decades. We just didn’t have a catchy word for it or time to write think pieces about it. We were too busy doing it. We were latchkey kids. We learned early how to…
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Micro Moments in Marketing + Connection = Lasting Relationships
Have you heard of micro moments in marketing? If you’ve worked in digital marketing, you probably know the Google version: micro moments are those quick, intent-driven interactions. Like when someone searches for something with the goal of doing, knowing, or buying right now. It’s when you search for best running shoes for flat feet while you’re on your way to the sporting goods store, or when you search for financial advisor near me after you read an article on how your 401K may not be enough for retirement. These tiny bursts of action influence what happens next. These touchpoints matter. And they’re real and trackable. But there’s another kind of…
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What Trust in Business Actually Looks Like
I used to think trust was a feeling you either had or didn’t. You meet someone, something clicks (or doesn’t), and you go from there. But after more than two decades of working with clients, managing teams, and trying to keep it all together in life and business, I’ve realized trust in business is rarely that simple. It’s not a lightning bolt or a vibe. It’s a pattern. A bunch of small moments that add up over time. Trust is how I know I can take on a new project without spiraling into “What if this is a disaster?” Trust is how my clients know they can throw a million…
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Bad Business Advice I Blissfully Ignored
You’ve probably heard this one before: “If you want to be successful, you have to [insert generic advice here].” But… following bad business advice can sometimes do more harm than good. Whether it’s “niche down or get drowned out” or “scale fast or fail,” there’s no shortage of rules when it comes to building a business. And I get it… some of it works. But a lot of it? Let’s just say I smiled, nodded, and did the opposite. And here’s the kicker: I’m better for it. The advice I ignored led to more creative freedom, better-fit clients, a saner schedule, and a business that actually feels like me. Let’s…
