Blog

How to thrive like a bloat of hippos

>> It all started with just four … Not native to their new Colombian home, these hippos were illegally imported – along with rhinos, giraffes flamingos, kangaroos and zebras – by Pablo Escobar. It’s said his collection included around 200 …

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When is an “expert” not an expert?

->-> When he “works” for Curry’s If you’ve shopped (or tried to) there, you know. Here’s a comment or two about my last piece on them: Drayton, once again you hit the nail on the head. I was watching the …

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This bag of tricks never fails.

>> “Search the world – Steal the best” Here’s a letter sent by a friend – one of the best marketers around. Like most of the best marketers around he didn’t try anything original in it at all. Hell, never …

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Presenting the FUBAR Award.

>> Have you ever seen something so inept? When I started in business there were very few awards. Now there are hundreds, for all sorts of things. But for sheer witless stupidity none can beat the people who run the …

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How corporate masturbation kills your business

>> And here’s what to do about it.If you start with the wrong perspective you get the wrong results.And an amazing number – maybe most businesses – start by looking in instead of looking out.One symptom is silly slogans.One bank I deal with …

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If you can fake this you’ve got it made…

>> The Secret of Success is Sincerity Do you think that sounds disgustingly cynical? But cynicism is much under-rated. Did you know that Jesus Christ was a great cynic? If you haven’t heard the story here it is. He was …

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The mystery of the maniac realtors

On Friday I sent you this picture, and asked if you had the vaguest idea what was going on… I haven’t revealed the truth till now as yesterday was devoted to celebrating my 85th birthday. Here are just a few …

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Is he pimping himself out? Or what?

>> Hit me with your best guess. It took me three days to work it out. You’ve noticed, I’m sure that estate agents (or realtors in the US) have a really cushy number. They just sit in the middle and …

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The mystery of verbal soup

>> Can I interest you in a pivoted avatar? The masochistic lengths to which some heroes will go in pursuit of knowledge are praiseworthy, if incomprehensible. Tom Rayfield, a talented, witty creative director of J. Walter Thompson Direct once spent …

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