Johnnie Walker’s ‘The Walk’ is my favorite ad of 2009 and for a number of reasons; it’s storytelling, it’s simplicity and it’s Scottish heritage. And so it seemed a great way to toast the the passing of 2009 and acknowledge the coming of the new decade ahead.
The past year was a turbulent one [...]

This past weekend I was honoured to have coached my daughter’s U7 North Shore Girls Soccer team to their first Soccer Tournament Championship. A weekend full of great moments, it was a joy to watch these girls come together and play as a team, cheer each other on and show a genuine excitement for the [...]

COURAGEOUSb is putting the ‘Projects of Passion’ initiative out there. By applying our COR values, passions and skills to what interests us most COURAGEOUSb is looking for individuals and organizations that believe in something bigger than themselves. With a passion to change the world. And the true courage to make it happen.
Whether you are a [...]

I was asked to talk about ‘courageous brands’ to the brand & creative department at VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Committee) a few weeks ago. After a few words and examples of global brands making a difference, I stopped talking and asked them to explore how they might define their own unique brand identities. I brought out [...]

Remember when the Doctor made house calls, we had a Milkman delivering to our door and we knew the name of the family that owned the local Hardware store? To be honest I don’t, it was before my day, but I’ve read stories and often imagine such a time.
What makes those stories sound so fantastical? [...]

Tops in design, business, brands, the tops of this and that is endless. I have had a few of these list style links bookmarked to share for a while and with June 2009’s Fast Company cover feature “the 100 Most Creative People in Business” I figured it was a good time to post them.
Online [...]

In 1821 Clarissa was born a timid soul but with a courageous pioneering heart. Forty years years later ‘the Angel of the Battlefield’ began her life’s work.
In 1861, now considered ‘calm and resourceful’ Clara, as she wished to be called, was working as a recording clerk in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C. at [...]

Happy World Graphic Design Day, Happy Anniversary ICOGRADA, and congratulations to the GDC - The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada for adopting their first official Sustainability Principles!
After four inspiring days of discussion, debate, innovation and change at the GDC’s National AGM in Winnipeg MB, I’m thrilled to have been a member of the [...]

BE SURE TO READ Yvon Chouinards business autobiography, ‘Let My People Go Surfing: the education of a reluctant businessman.‘
 
“I’ve never respected the profession. It’s business that has to take the majority of the blame for being the enemy of nature, for destroying native cultures, for taking from the poor and giving to the rich, and [...]

MMMMMMMMMMMM, Cherry Garcia®, Phish Food®, Half Baked…I’m seeing a trend here…and it’s not stoner music. It’s a creative approach to making business fun and it’s not at the expense of ‘wicked cool’ financial returns.
Who would have thought two ‘hippie’ Long Island grade school friends could take a ‘cow to cone’ business plan and help change the world with [...]