This week I’m coming to you live on video from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas with a poem straight from the speaker lounge:

Trade shows only work

When goals and reality

Converge at your booth.

In this episode of Poetry in Marketing, I reflect on the disconnect that often happens at trade shows—where expectations for lead gen and sales don’t match the reality of what the event actually delivers. Whether you’re walking into a massive industry showcase or a small regional expo, your investment only pays off when your goals align with what the show is truly built to offer.

If you’ve ever left a trade show wondering “was that worth it?”... This one’s for you.

This week on Poetry in Marketing, I’m digging into one of the biggest misconceptions in branding, with a poem that gets right to the point:

Building a great brand

Takes more than just designing

A cool new logo.

Your brand isn’t your logo. It’s not your color palette or your new font. Your brand is your company’s skin: the interface between you and the outside world. It’s everything your customers see, hear, touch, and experience. In this episode, I talk about why rebranding is about far more than visual design, and how to approach your brand with the kind of intentionality that actually makes a difference.

In this episode of Poetry in Marketing, we’re talking about that sneaky force that helps you get things done… but might be holding you back:

Inertia works great

When you want to get things done

But comes at a cost.

Inertia can be a gift: it smooths out workflows, makes marketing predictable, and keeps things moving. But it can also be a creativity killer. In this episode, I share how sticking to what’s familiar — just because it’s familiar — can box us in, dilute innovation, and keep us from asking the bigger questions that lead to real growth.

If you’ve been running on autopilot with your brand, your content, or even your business model, this one’s your wake-up call.