The Good List 2023
2023 has been a whirlwind of a year.
From the headlines, books, media, and trends, we bring you 24 good things that came from this year... and a few hints as to what may happen next.
AI quiet quits and trust comes back in fashion
Looking back, 2023 did a good job of making us believe that shiny objects, fancy AI gadgets, mass-produced content, and general internet tomfoolery would grow businesses in scale and trust. Turns out they were wrong, again.
Who will they trust? Maybe you.
The future of every industry is defined on the bookends: Boomers who aren't leaving, and Gen-Z/late Millennials who own the culture. All the money is flowing sub-40 to a group of people with such Rizz that they don't trust the internet, brands, or the media.
Who will they trust? Maybe you.
Formula for a failed leadership transition
Leadership transitions are one of the most dramatic that any organization undertakes, and they fail up to 70% of the time. Successors make one of three critical entry errors. A cultural crisis is on the horizon if these three are in play.
When trust is the only thing that matters
Nobody wants to say that trust is their issue. Which is why it's stunning how often it is.
All organizations depend on trust, but some, the kind that often work with us, demand it for their survival. Trust ventures have a unique set of characteristics and require a specific type of growth strategy.
Five things CEOs do to undermine marketing
CEOs and their peers in the C-suite want marketing to do more and do better. Likewise, marketers want to see their work valued and work within their zone of strength. But all too often the Clash between executive culture and marketing culture enflames tension and frustration, dampening results.