The Art of Crafting A Better Theory: Insights, Logic, and Miscellaneous Nonsense

Welcome to our blog, a place where information flows like a parched riverbed in the scorching desert. Join us on a captivating journey through the arid expanse of knowledge as we delve into the depths of various topics with an unyielding thirst for understanding. With each meticulously crafted entry, we offer a unique blend of crisp analysis, unwavering logic, and a dash of subtle humor, creating an oasis of insightful content amidst the vast digital wilderness. Brace yourself for a thought-provoking expedition as our blog becomes your trusty guide through the barren terrain of intellectual curiosity.

one grand gesture
perspectives Nathan Elson perspectives Nathan Elson

one grand gesture

One of the most underused and undervalued tools in a leader's toolkit is the element of surprise. It is fun, really; you can lie in wait in your office with the lights out, and when someone walks in, yell, "BOO!" All kidding aside, the idea of surprise can often be used not just as a culture builder but as a robust tool for building unique and effective relationships inside and outside your organization.

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on web marketing (re-revisited)
marketing Nathan Elson marketing Nathan Elson

on web marketing (re-revisited)

The most challenging part of navigating the environment that is the interwebs is understanding how your business fits in. I offer here four simple things that you can do to figure out what you should be doing on the web—and through them, you can create a set of criteria to make an intelligent strategic decision about how to spend your web marketing budget.

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nine marketing trends since the pandemic
marketing Nathan Elson marketing Nathan Elson

nine marketing trends since the pandemic

Much like a personal journey through uncharted waters, my organization's response to the pandemic encapsulates the emerging dynamic marketing trends. This story serves as an analogy to explore nine key trends that have reshaped the marketing landscape since the onset of the pandemic.

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intent + opportunity
leadership Nathan Elson leadership Nathan Elson

intent + opportunity

The concept was birthed from a conversation I unpacked with someone who reported directly to me. Not only did the desire to articulate the concept of Philosophy of Work come out of the conversation, but a maxim that helped me best articulate my philosophy: intent + opportunity. My philosophy is simple: move forward with intent and seize every opportunity that presents itself.

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six ways generative ai can help your organization today
Nathan Elson Nathan Elson

six ways generative ai can help your organization today

Why would AI be any different? Will some jobs go away? Sure, but it stands to reason that new categories of jobs will replace them. Why not embrace AI, especially generative AI, which we used to create most of the website (including research for many of our posts)?

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philosophy & the work conversation
leadership Nathan Elson leadership Nathan Elson

philosophy & the work conversation

if we leave the conversation at the level of the semantics behind how one person defines strategy or another defines execution or another defines projects, then all we are doing is having a conversation about how we view the work we actually do.

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clichés and all that jazz
marketing Nathan Elson marketing Nathan Elson

clichés and all that jazz

I am big fan of clichés. No, really, I am. The thing about clichés is that they are inherently useful in conveying meaning beyond words. Put even more straightforward, clichés are a way to share complex things, like emotion or emphasis, in ways that are sure to be understood.

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three ideas to help maximize resources
Nathan Elson Nathan Elson

three ideas to help maximize resources

Our stories are not written in stone, and our decisions have real-world implications. There may not be a right answer. But when you prioritize strategic allocation rooted in long-term value through an adaptable approach, well, that is worthy of Oompa Loompa.

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the science of story
marketing Nathan Elson marketing Nathan Elson

the science of story

The point of this post is not to show how good or bad this site is but to illustrate something specific. There is as much science as there is art to storytelling. Take the time to understand the science behind the craft and learn from those who strive to understand why stories work.

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mgmt
leadership Nathan Elson leadership Nathan Elson

mgmt

I am a fan of (some of) the music of the enigmatic band (whoismgmt.com), and while the use of their moniker is somewhat of an SEO experiment, this post is not about them. It is about three observations about management I would like to share.

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ten futile workplace clichés
perspectives Nathan Elson perspectives Nathan Elson

ten futile workplace clichés

Because, you know, clichés exist for a reason - they, after all, are based in truth (or at the very least describe reality). If that is the case, then why do so many writers/bloggers/pundits out there do so much to speak out against the use of clichés (simply do a search for the word cliché, and you will see as many posts about avoiding them as anything else)?

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the joy of zero
perspectives Nathan Elson perspectives Nathan Elson

the joy of zero

That is not to say that I have never been there before (well, I do not mean to brag, but it is a regular thing for me). It has taken me years to perfect this method (see my post on how I get things done). So the method that I have produced is very simple and very compelling. In fact, I can guarantee that my method will work for anybody.

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right story. right people.
marketing Nathan Elson marketing Nathan Elson

right story. right people.

I believe the goal of marketing is to produce a behavioral change in people from something that does not benefit you to something that does, and the way you do that is to "tell the right stories to the right people."

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decision parallax
perspectives Nathan Elson perspectives Nathan Elson

decision parallax

As a matter of course, everyone, every day, is faced with a series of decisions. A constant onslaught of decision points interweaves the fabric of our lives. It starts at the first dawn of consciousness and ends with its last flicker. The very moment we experience lucidity is the very moment we have to make a decision.

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seven sins of organizational culture
Nathan Elson Nathan Elson

seven sins of organizational culture

In the most iconic scene in the movie "Se7en," Brad Pitt's David Mills reacts to receiving a box from the antagonist by hauntingly saying, "What's in the box?" This scene can be a gripping analogy for a CEO delving into the underside of their organization's culture. Like the suspense surrounding that fateful box, leaders embark on a nerve-wracking journey when they conduct a 360-degree internal audit of organizational culture.

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flying coach
leadership Nathan Elson leadership Nathan Elson

flying coach

But what indeed fascinates me about it is something that goes beyond the traditional ideas of organizational development in the sense of strategy and structure. I am enthralled with the constituents of the organization itself.

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