Cheers Rob for your comments as well. I love your last point about your brand being a promise. It is safe to say that part of your brand is not only how your donors or customers see you – really – it is how you see yourself too – and like you say – what you aspire to be. Thanks.

A creative director I once worked with called the phenomenon “analysis to paralysis.” If you throw enough doubt into any new idea, and back it up with the threat of meaningless focus groups, there is no good idea that can’t be stalled and prevented.

And prevention is a form of control.

Another very wise mind has said that “your brand is a promise.” It is both what you project to the world across all touchpoints, and what you ideally aspire to be.

I have been trying to hammer this into several heads lately
(and over the past ten years actually). With little to no avail.

Keep talking about the important things John.
Keep fighting the good fight.

In the end, your clients will realize how lucky they (and their brands) are to have a straight-shooter such as yourself at the helm.