It's ironic, really. CPOs dedicate their days to crafting an equitable environment with opportunities and satisfied employees. Yet, they and their teams find themselves overworked and struggling with tight budgets, hindering their ability to make those game-changing moves.

Creatives can be territorial. Peeing on the whiteboards in the conference room. Snarling at account managers. Flaunting iPads. All this creates an antagonistic and one-dimensional workspace.

A great idea can come from anyone.

An extraordinary creative team has open borders and is eager for fresh perspectives. Invite the bean-counters, the brand managers, and, shudder, even the clients.

I miss unlimited coffee.

Strong culture? Or creepy cult?

Having a strong culture in the workplace is important

Laughing forms bonds. Be more funny.

Some people don't want empathy or understanding or encouragement or engagement or affirmation or acknowledgment. And that’s ok.

Your employees crave purpose, not ping-pong.

Your CEO: Wait, it’s mid-October? I’m not even a thought leader yet.

You: I'll just slide that budget right into 2023's plan.

Struggling to simplify complexity? Focus on the overarching benefit of your products and services. The total benefit will carry the message.

Marketing directors need money to make money. That’s how marketing works.

Older creatives are still creative.

Writers (all creatives, really) need to break their dependency on the keyboard and screen. Embrace the meandering mind. Start by not starting.

As marketers continue to huddle in the safely grey space of performance marketing, the brave and light and colorful and interesting will form whole universes with irresistible gravity.

Don't be afraid.

We've all surpassed our 10,000 hours. We're expert consumers. So when marketers throw fakery our way, we spot it and swat it.

Authenticity (as buzzy as it is) is foundational for true, long-lasting relationships.

Meanwhile, my own funnel remains dusty and covered in ants.

Uh-oh, the client met a marketing consultant at a digital lunch & learn. I'm experiencing an acronym surge over here.

I used a period and my daughter thought I was yelling at her apparently they don't like punctuation anymore it makes them nervous Im not sure how I feel about this but Im positive how I feel doesn't matter

I once had a client complain about the amount of copy I delivered relative to the cost. That's like ordering guacamole and complaining they didn't give you the avocado's pit and skin.

Editing is war—self-editing, especially.

Authenticity means being honest. Not just honest with your customers, but honest with yourselves.