Tessera

Why we need to fall back in love with insights rather than be bunny-boilers for frameworks.

A Love Letter To Insights …

Insights aren’t very fashionable these days. Seen as outdated and derivative or increasingly reduced to nothing more than a basic observation of human behaviour, increasingly favored by creat…

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Why it’s worth remembering you don't have to be a prick to be successful. It just feels that way.

You Don’t Have To Be A Prick …

On Tuesday I wrote about how we have our priorities messed up … If you haven’t read it, you can see it here. The underlying point being we seem to accept the shitty behaviour of the sup…

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How Billy Idol, Lucille Ball and my Dad will help you become a smarter strategist than you already are.

Why Smart Beats Clever. At Least For Strategists …

One of the things that has always bugged me about some strategists is their desire to be academically victorious in every conversation. To not just be ‘right’, but to be the ‘righ…

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Why companies, bosses and people need to realise you are what you prioritise (and everyone else ends up paying for it - literally and metaphorically)

You Become What You Prioritise …

Big business increases prices/loses people for profit protection. Small business increases prices/loses people for survival. One gets grudgingly accepted. The other gets openly criticised. And at a…

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Why experience and process don't build reputation - standards do - and the older you get, the more impatient you are to only work with those who get it and value it, regardless of where they're from and how old they are.

All We Have Are Our Standards …

Good enough. Two words that trigger the fuck out of me. Truly press every button I have. Not because I’m some perfectionist who never gets things wrong. Nor because I’m a myopic tyrant who only car…

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All We Have Are Our Standards …

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What Cannes Lions can learn from some German strategists about creating events that champions the craft, rather than chases whoever has the cash: (Said with love to Cannes, but with concern for where they're heading & who they're choosing to follow)

If You Want To Know Why The UK Should Never Have Left The EU, Attend StratCon In Berlin …

So a few weeks ago, I spoke at StratCon in Berlin. I had known about the event because I knew one of the organisers – Fran, from Jung von Matt – but it was my first time ever going. I k…

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Up early for the big match soooo … Why I'm fed-up with marketing confusing shock for strategy. ( A.K.A: understanding the difference between being noticed and being remembered)

Welcome To The 80’s. Again …

The last 2 posts of this week have been pretty heavy … or, even angry. And I make no apologies for that when I see how the talent in our industry are being undermined by people who only care …

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Why nothing causes more damage than temporary people being allowed to make permanent decisions that feeds short-term personal benefit.

Don’t Let Temporary People Make Permanent Decisions ….

A while ago, I listened to someone explain one of the best lessons they’d ever learned. And they said what the title of this post says … Don’t let temporary people make permenant decisions. I haven…

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Rob C @robc.bsky.social · last mo.

How my trip revealed the difference between those who embody creativity and those who merely perform it:

Sometimes, The Further You Step Back, The Closer You See The Real Problems …

Well, hello again … How are you? I had a pretty spectacular and wild time and do you what was one of the most amazing bits … The people I met didn’t talk about Cannes once. In fact, they probably d…

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The moment a passenger took control of the Air Canada airport lounge TV in Vancouver Airport and finally got the match back on the screen after an Air Canada worker pressed the wrong button and lost it and couldn’t get it back.

Rob C @robc.bsky.social · last mo.

A quick visit to say hello to Mum and Dad before I go. I love you and miss you and will always treasure the place you raised me and the life and love you gave me. And still do. Saying bye doesn’t get easier. Till next time. Rx

As it’s Sunday, I thought I’d go to my church. Hello dear friend. I’ve missed you. How ironic that next door, at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, England are playing New Zealand. Two worlds collide. I like it. #NFFC #COYR

Why the problem with strategy is everyone thinks their approach is different and yet everything turns out the s(h)ame.

Everyone thinks they’re different. Everyone is exactly the same …

This is my last post for a couple of weeks as I head off on a stupid trip around the World. Los Angeles. London. Milan. Amsterdam. And finally … Berlin. While I’m excited for all the places I’m goi…

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Why the best defence against being replaced - by people, tech or time - isn't following 'best practice'. It's your crooked tree.

Be The Crooked Tree …

One of the many things I love about China, are their proverbs. Whatever the subject, there will be an expression that captures the issue in a brilliant, wonderful way. And there’s so bloody m…

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Why I’m fed up with the people turning LinkedIn into professional 4chan. (and this is coming from someone who once founded a company called cynic!)

Isn’t It Sad That The People With All The Answers To All The Problems In The World Shunned Medicine, Science Or Politics And Chose To Become A 24/7, Linkedin Pundit Instead …

I’ve got to be honest, I’m getting fed up reading certain people’s sarcastic comments on other people’s posts on Linkedin. I could maybe handle it more if they were responding to something offensiv…

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How to be a great client to your agency so your agency can be a great partner to your company.

How To Be A Great Client Who Creates Great Work …

I’ve been around. I’ve been doing this strategy thing for longer than many who read this blog have been alive. And of all the things I’ve learned, one of the most valuable has been to never doubt t…

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Why Specsavers media agency should have gone to Specsavers.

Why The Industry Needs To Go To Specsavers So We Can See The Difference Between An Idea And An Execution …

As it’s Monday, let me start this post with some good news. This is the last week of posts for a while as I’m flying off to Europe on Friday. Not for a holiday. Not for Colenso. But for…

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Why the corporately and commercially valuable thing to do is let creative minds sit around and do nothing.

Public Service Announcement …

Dear clients, companies, managers and network CEOS … If you want the creative people you employ/hire/work with to be 100% effective, you need to allow them to be 20% ineffective. Doesn’…

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Why I am thankful to Wieden+Kennedy for giving me one of the most special times of my professional career, but I'm even more indebted to China for the long-lasting friendships and relationships it ensured I got out of it.

Pressure Creates Trust …

Of all the places I’ve worked, the people I’ve stayed the most in touch with are those who were at Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai. That doesn’t mean I haven’t stayed in touch with colleagues at other plac…

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If Greggs are happy with the success of their vegan sausage roll, they're going to be positively delirious when they hear how I can make them another 10 million in profit. No new product development required. (You're welcome G shareholders)

Sometimes, Humanity Is The Best Anti-Aging Treatment …

As I said last week, while I am old as fuck, I am also immune from maturity. Well, I say that [or more specifically Peter Mensch and Cliff Burnstein say that] but the reality is I am wearing much m…

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