Loyalty
As I sit here in the aftermath of another Knicks game, once again picking up the pieces of my broken orange and battered-blue heart I ponder what it is exactly that keeps me tied to this team.
The Knicks have never won a championship in my lifetime.
That means, as far back as my memory goes every single year of being a Knicks fan, since I was knee-high gazing up at Patrick Ewing, has ended in heartbreak.
It’s emotionally exhausting.
So, why not root for a different team? Team loyalty.
Which is essentially the same thing as brand loyalty—and man, one of the deepest types of brand loyalty you’ll find.
An unshakable devotion. I literally can't think of anything that would make me abandon this commitment.
Even through decade after decade after decade of agony.
Even after they traded away my childhood hero after he gave them every drop of his blood, knee-pad-soaked sweat, and tears.
Even after years of the team being the butt of jokes, even to Disney
Even though I—and every other Knick fan in the universe—loathe the team owner.
Even after countless times being let down after foolishly getting my hopes up that the next great player would surely bring his talents to Madison Square Garden.
Even though I would've witnessed five or more championships in my life had I rooted for the Bulls or Lakers or Spurs.
Even after Charles Smith and Frederic Weiss. Even after the finger roll.
Even if they moved to Mexico City or Montreal, still, my loyalty would remain with the team from New York.
It's hard to even quite put into words. It's not about being pretty, but hard-nosed, nitty-gritty, it's more than just pride for The City.
It means something to be a Knick, and as an extension of that, a Knick fan.
That something is brand.
That something goes way beyond the colors and the logo.
That something is what wins the hearts of fans by connecting emotionally and creating an irrational, undying loyalty.
I love this team, and I love talking about and helping define and build brands around that something.
Change clothes and go
The power of a good redesign isn't just about making something look prettier.
It's about changing perception.
Both internally and externally.
Consider how you carry yourself when you’ve groomed, moisturized, and taken the time to put together your best outfit. The attention you put into the parts the world will never see influences how you move in the world, and the world will receive you differently both because of the groove in your stride, and your external appearance.
It's well-documented that NASA’s redesign provided the necessary fuel for the mission to the moon.
Interior design can completely transform the way we interact with a space.
The color of your shoes can greatly shift how people receive you as a speaker.
A beard transformed Drake from former child actor to arm candy for Rihanna, J-Lo, Serena, and Sade.
Sheesh! The power of the redesign, people.
Mean what you say
I think one of the main differences between an authentic brand and a pandering brand is intention.
To be authentic, it's not enough to simply “do the right thing” but to do it for the right reason.
It's like the difference between receiving an obligatory versus a heartfelt apology.
Are you embracing eco-friendly practices to preserve the environment or simply to move more units?
Are you celebrating Black voices because your organization actually values them, or simply to increase viewership?
If you're doing the right things for the wrong reasons, carry on—it’s better than doing the wrong things.
But in order to achieve authenticity, key stakeholders need to actually care and understand the importance of the initiative. This means either reprioritizing values or bringing in people with those values.
Inbound call
If you want to connect with pure creativity there's no need to make an outbound call.
Be still and listen.
Mining for ideas
It's hard to generate ideas on the spot, whole and complete.
It's easier to generate ideas by releasing your thoughts and emotions onto the page in an environment totally free of judgment or pressure.
These journaled ideas are not always fully formed, and not all of them are good. But once you've laid everything out on the page, you can sift through and at the very least find threads.
Those threads often lead to interesting places that are worth exploring more in-depth.
That level of in-depth exploration often unearths quality ideas worthy of bringing up to the surface to share with others.
Better than breadsticks
While being safer than the safest choice in town is an option, being different is often a better strategy.
Revisiting Rudy’s, Bob’s wife Linda complains “it’s always soup and salad, breadsticks and fish.”
If you wanted to give customers a clear alternative you might open a Thai restaurant or a taco stand, or even a flight school.
Safer than safe
Being known is an advantage that can allow even mediocre brands to succeed by positioning themselves as the safe choice.
It’s hard to out-safe the safest choice in town. But one way to try is with great brand design.
Rudy's is known, but if that's all they've got going for them you may be able to beat them out with a bit of brand design and strategy and position your restaurant as an even less risky alternative.
A memorable name, a well-designed storefront and web presence, a novel menu and ordering experience, employee uniforms—these are all bread crumbs of a consistent and reliable experience that don't require years of familiarity to build.
Rudy’s
Robert Belcher, Jr.—restaurateur and star of animated hit series Bob’s Burgers—has a go-to date night spot called Rudy’s.
He likes Rudy’s not because it's the best, but because he knows he won't be disappointed when he eats there.
Bob’s not alone.
Customers often go with what they know because it’s the least risky choice.
Being known reduces risk.
Steal away
15 minutes isn’t much. But it’s enough to get started.
Steal away at least a sliver of your day to put towards building your dream, reading a good book, restarting a meditation practice, or wherever your heart leads you.
Set the clock. Start now.
Reputation
A brand is a reputation.
Whether or not you're deliberately shaping your reputation, you've got one.
Every choice, every action shapes and contributes to it.
You may be known as the first to buy new tech, the funny one, the reliable one, a magical thinker, a socially-conscious change-maker—or any mix of these and other traits.
You may be seen as flaky, flamboyant, phony, or maybe even totally forgettable.
The thing is whether or not you're aware of what your reputation is, you have one. Same goes for your brand.
Might as well be deliberate about it.
Good design
Good design is choosing an appropriate solution for your desired outcome.
Bad design is insanity—like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will feel the effects.
Don't get comfortable
Security in a relationship removes the need to take risks or go above and beyond.
Don’t get comfortable.
Comfort leads to complacency.
The complacent don’t ask questions. They simply comply and conform to expectations in exchange for security.
Beginner's bliss
When I embrace experimentation and spontaneity I often create cool stuff and have fun.
Music has been a low-entry arena for me to play in.
Because I'm a hobbyist, my expectations are relatively low. So, when I make music I often go in with a blank slate and simply go where my instincts guide me.
I don't know any better.
Jimi Netflix
Following your curiosity can be as simple as turning off the TV and picking up that guitar you’ve been wanting to play.
One beautiful thing about following your curiosity instead of your passion is there’s less pressure.
You’re not reaching for the guitar to become the next Hendrix, but simply because you feel like playing.
Stay curious
Maybe the planets aligned, or the gods conversed, or your ancestors wrote it on that great ledger in the sky.
I’m not sure where it comes from, but there’s this widespread notion that you arrived here on this planet with a predetermined mission.
Call it your destiny, your fate, your purpose, your passion.
If you have a singular, all-consuming career or hobby, this notion of passion is especially alluring because—you’ve done it! You’ve cracked the code, inquired within, and emerged victorious with a clear and glimmering understanding of your one true assignment.
Meanwhile, the rest of us mortals are left wandering, chucking stone after unturned stone aside in search of our passion.
I’ve always had a hard time finding labels that fit me just right. So, the notion that my entire existence here could fit on a single shiny bumper sticker, all predetermined by one holy roll of the dice just doesn’t add up for me.
I am passionate about design and branding, amongst many, many other related and unrelated things both professionally and personally.
But I don’t have that one passion that I would give up everything else for. And this lack, has caused me many restless nights. Especially with countless books, podcasts, and YouTube videos touting the importance of finding one’s purpose.
Thankfully, life’s algorithm has recently been sending messages in various forms to put down the relentless quest to uncover the almighty passion and simply follow my curiosities.
For this next phase, that’s what I intend to do.
Stay curious, my friends.
A little place called Aspen
Design is a vehicle. A way of getting from here to there.
Before you step on the gas, figure out where you want to go and punch in the coordinates.
There may be some detours and wrong turns along the way, but you’ll get there.
If you leave without choosing a destination you’ll just end up where you end up.
Too much patience
They say patience is a virtue.
But how much patience is too much?
If your patience turns into regret or resentment you've waited too long.
Make moves.
Deliberation
Design is deliberate action toward a desired state.
Routine can make us blind to the things we’ve put on autopilot or just plain neglected.
If something is underperforming, ugly, or unusable take a long look at it.
Review best practices, gather inspirational references, envision how you want it to be—then take action.