Own Problems, Propose Solutions, Accelerate Team Momentum
From my end-of-year reflections: if you bring a problem, be sure to bring a proposed solution. And no, it's not because leadership doesn't want to hear about the issues. It's actually the exact opposite... because the fastest way to lose momentum is when problems are framed as someone else's responsibility. Here's what works better imo: own the point of friction. If you see something off, raise it early and often, and come with a point of view on how to fix it. The solution doesn't have to be right; it rarely is. It just has to exist to help continue the discussion. Here's what you will find... or at least what I've found: instead of debating whether a problem is real, you're talking about tradeoffs, instead of escalating and pissing each other off... you get collaboration... instead of delaying for eternity, you get some movement. The teams that move the fastest weren't the ones with fewer problems. They were the ones where people felt responsible for the outcome... not just a task list to get something done. That's something the team is focused on in 2026, and should be one for all teams to embrace. peace out.
AI Is Real Shift; Inspire Shows How to Implement
I've been in software long enough to know the difference between a hype cycle and a real shift in the way we work. AI is the REAL shift. What's happening AROUND it right now feels a lot like a hype...
Discipline Over Hope: Do the Work First
"I don't plan with hope." 🔥 Our fearless leader, Alessio Artuffo , said this in a recent meeting, and it's been stuck in my head ever since. Maybe because I love tagline-worthy quick hits. Or, maybe because as marketers, we're...
Drop “Awareness”—Focus on Measurable Marketing Metrics
Dear marketers: let's retire the word "awareness." Especially used in sentences trying to prove marketing's value: "elevate awareness" "increase awareness" "competitive awareness" "aware awareness" First off, it's an ugly word. AWARENESS. Gross. awareness. awareness. awareness. awareness. awareness. awareness. awareness. awareness....
Lead with Purpose, Not ROI, to Spark Creativity
I went on Adam Singer’s podcast to talk marketing leadership. We ended up talking about Costco hot dogs, Liquid Death, and why ROI talk can kill creativity. Hilarious I know.... but seriously... here's the break down of our discussion: 1)...
Product Marketing Drives Pipeline; Product Managers Own ARR
I had an interesting conversation with our newly minted product leader, Scott P. , last night around KPIs for product marketing and product. I'd love your take. Product Marketing is the steward of the pipeline number associated with their product....
Great Breakthroughs Begin as Weird, Unnoticed Experiments
Marketers: It's your job to create momentum around a story before it's obvious. Like my man, Steven. Loved this BBC article about the 24-year-old Kodak engineer, Steven Sasson, who built the first handheld digital camera. I mean, look at it....
Free All‑In‑One Content Marketing Planning Template
Revisiting a template I made late last year which combined all the planning docs I've used over the last decade for content marketing. I figured I'd share it again and not gate the link. :) This is a combination of...
Turn Silent High‑Fit Accounts Into Conversations with Proactive ABM Play
ABM is less about building a calendar of campaigns and more about building a system that listens and acts. And that’s super difficult. I’ve been spending a little more time understanding the new stage of ABM, and Tofu ’s dynamic...
Executive Fear: One Mistake on LinkedIn Can Cost Jobs
Raise your hand if you've almost been fired for posting something on LinkedIn? I have. Twice (maybe three times). 🤚 🤚 Important to note: it's been a while. I want to think I've learned from my failures so I can...
Turn Meeting Transcripts Into LinkedIn Content with GPT
I'm asked constantly on my "strategy" for posting on this site OR how do I come up with topics. I never have a good answer, because the real answer is... I don't really have a strategy or a process. I...
Brand Spend Needs Measurement, Not Just Revenue‑first Optimization
Trying to answer this today: How do I allocate spend for brand… and how do I prove it worked? Because it's budgeting season, aren't we all so lucky? :) And like any good marketer, I built a little framework to...
Leaders Must Use AI to Learn, Not Just Deploy
"How are you using AI to learn?" Lori Niles-Hofmann This might be the single best question to ask yourself as a learning practitioner. Actually, scratch that.... you don’t even need to be in L&D. We should all be asking ourselves...
People Remain Your Only Edge in an AI World
I’m feeling the need to post this again. When everyone has AI tools, your only competitive advantage is your people. The human element will always be powerful. ✌️
Board‑Ready Marketing: Drive Growth with the Right Business
It's board meeting week! So (naturally), I just put the finishing touches on tonight's newsletter, covering everything board meeting prep, plus an 11-slide board deck template for marketing leaders. You can check out tips, tricks, and the template in the...
Remember: We're Tiny, Not Worth Attribution Stress
Perspective check for your Saturday morning (post 30 KitKat bars). We’re a speck in a spiral galaxy, and we are stressing about inbound and outbound attribution modeling. 🙏
AI‑Powered CBM Delivers 27 Full‑Funnel Playbooks
ABM this. ABM that. I've always preferred to use the acronym CBM (contact-based marketing) because it's all about the human. CBM is a system built to listen, adapt, and act on a multitude of different plays and signals. Luckily the...
Fundamentals of Content Marketing Endure Despite Technological Shifts
I was lucky to have been part of one of the first true content marketing and thought-leadership teams back in the olden days. We eventually built the team to 12 people and over $1M in budget. What’s hilarious (other than...
Critics Don't Buy: Market Validates True Marketing Value
Critics don’t buy; customers do. If the market says “yes,” your aesthetic distaste is just a diary entry. Adam Singer and I talked about a lot on the Revenue Diaries this past week. But we ended on an excellent marketing-centric...
Customers First: Attend Roxana’s AI Pipeline Talk
I was excited to present at Tim Rath ’s Future of Revenue Marketing event in London next week… but I’ve decided to hang with our amazing customers in Paris for Unleash. Customers always come first. You shouldn’t be dismayed because...