Evan Nierman

Red Banyan

Red Banyan is a strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, crisis management and marketing.  Red Banyan Group combines creative thinking, steady judgment shaped by experience and a relentless commitment to achieving results for its clients.  Red Banyan offers a wide array of services, including: media relations, crisis management, marketing, corporate communications, litigation support, social and digital media, copywriting and editing and media training.

Founder and CEO

Entrepreneurs'​ Organization

Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Member 

Green Bullion Financial Services

Director of Public Relations

Saylor Company

Principal

AIPAC

Editorial Director and Executive Editor of Near East Report

Communications Associate and Managing Editor of Near East Report

Communications Assistant

Founder & CEO, Red Banyan PR | Author of Top-Rated Newsletter on Communications Best Practices

My team and I are focusing on STRATEGY and RESULTS. I lead an international PR and crisis management firm that exists to press the truth.  We empower clients to achieve business goals using strategic communications. We specialize in crisis management, high-stakes PR, and complex assignments requiring creative thinking, steady judgment shaped by experience and a relentless commitment to exceeding expectations.

Red Banyan Group is a strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, crisis management and marketing.  Red Banyan Group combines creative thinking, steady judgment shaped by experience and a relentless commitment to achieving results for its clients.  Red Banyan offers a wide array of services, including: media relations, crisis management, marketing, corporate communications, litigation support, social and digital media, copywriting and editing and media training.

Titles change. Companies reorganize. Projects end.
But your mission is what stays.

I see this every day in crisis PR.

People who attach themselves to roles, personalities, or status lose direction the moment pressure rises.

People who attach themselves to a mission stay steady even when the narrative falls apart.

In high-pressure situations the difference is striking:

a.) Leaders who cling to titles look for protection.
b.) Leaders who cling to purpose create solutions.

When a leader centers their compass on a goal instead of ego, the team immediately knows how to respond under pressure.

This shapes reputation from the inside long before the outside world sees it.

If you want stability in difficult moments, start here:

Anchor yourself to values, not positions.

Positions shift. Integrity remains.

Focus on mission, not personalities.

Preferences crack under pressure. 

Mission keeps direction.

Build a culture where purpose leads and titles follow.

This creates a team that holds together even when the silence gets uncomfortable.

In crisis PR, purpose is the most reliable navigation tool.

Reputation begins at the point where you choose to attach yourself.

Follow Evan Nierman for insights on crisis PR, leadership under pressure, and reputation management.

A reality check for any leader: 
Your crisis plan is only as strong as the person who goes first.

Most teams assume a crisis will activate responsibility automatically.

They think the plan will guide everyone.

They expect people to step in at the right moment.

But crises do not work that way.

The real breakdown happens when every person waits for a signal that never comes.

Hesitation does more damage than the crisis itself.

A crisis-ready team runs on four behaviors:

1. Awareness → People notice early signs instead of assuming “it will pass.”
Awareness stops problems before they spread.

2. Initiative → Someone steps forward even if it is not part of their role.
Initiative prevents escalation.

3. Communication → Information moves quickly and clearly.
No gaps, no guessing, no confusion.

4. Follow-through → What starts gets finished.
No loose ends for the public to fill with their own narrative.

Without these behaviors, plans stay on paper and the crisis gains control.

With them, the team acts with clarity and the situation stabilizes before it spirals.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis leadership and responsible communication.

In every crisis, the same problem appears:
everyone waits for someone else.

Most crises don’t escalate because of external pressure.

They escalate because of internal silence.

In organizations without a clear chain of responsibility, the same pattern emerges: everyone assumes it’s “someone else’s job.”

And while that pause drags on, the internet becomes the spokesperson.

A vacuum in a crisis never stays empty.

If you don’t fill it, the narrative will.

Leadership in a crisis isn’t delegation.

Leadership means the first sentence, the first move, and the first signal come from you not from the chaos around you.

The most dangerous phrase in crisis PR is: “I assumed.”

When a crisis hits, it must be unmistakably clear who speaks, who leads, and who owns the response because while the team hesitates, the reputation burns.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis PR and reputation management.

Reputation is what people believe about you. 
Character is who you are when no one is watching.

You can shape reputation.

You choose your message, control the narrative, and manage how you appear in public.

Character is different.

It is built in the unseen moments.

In choices that cost you something.

In how you treat people who cannot offer you anything in return.

Here is the truth many leaders learn late:

Reputation without character looks strong until pressure hits. 

Then it collapses.

Reputation is external. 

Character is internal.

When they do not align, that gap becomes the crisis.

You can polish reputation.

You cannot fake character.

People may believe the image for a while.

But character shows itself over time in patterns and consistency.

Character is what survives the crisis.

If it is real, you rebuild.

If it is not, everything falls apart.

Leaders who last are not the ones with the best PR.

They are the ones whose private behavior matches their public words.

Reputation may open the door.

Character is what keeps you in the room.

Follow Evan Nierman for weekly insights on leadership, integrity and what endures.

The way you treat people when no one’s watching
says more about your leadership than any title ever could.

I’ve seen this in boardrooms, startups, and crisis situations.

The leaders who earn trust under pressure are the ones who lead with respect, not authority.

Reputation doesn’t begin with public perception.

It begins in private moments how you speak to assistants, interns, or colleagues when stress peaks.

Those quiet interactions shape culture. 

And culture shapes how your organization responds when challenges appear.

If you want lasting trust, start here:

1.) Respect without hierarchy.
People notice how you treat those who can’t advance your career. Respect creates loyalty that outlasts titles.

2.) Listen before reacting.
When pressure rises, the instinct is to speak first. Listening shows discipline — and builds confidence in your judgment.

3.)Treat every role as essential.
No crisis is solved alone. When people feel valued, they take ownership — and that’s where real resilience begins.

Leading with title earns compliance.

Leading with respect earns commitment.

Reputation is built on how people feel in your presence, not on your résumé.

Follow for weekly insights on leadership, crisis PR, and reputation management.

A client once told me: "I don't want to apologize. I want to win."
That's when I knew we had a problem.

He was furious.

The media was running a story he believed was unfair.

The facts, in his view, were being twisted.

And his instinct was to fight back. Publicly. Loudly.

To "set the record straight."

To win.

I understood the impulse.

When you're being criticized—fairly or not—the natural reaction is to defend yourself.

To prove you're right.

To make everyone see your side.

But here's what I told him:
"You can win the argument and lose everything else."

Because in a crisis, winning isn't about being right.

It's about being trusted.

And trust doesn't come from fighting.

It comes from how you show up when things go wrong.

Here's what happens when ego drives crisis response:

You focus on being right instead of being heard. 

People don't care about your ten-point rebuttal. 

They care whether you understand their concern.

You turn critics into enemies. 

When you fight back, you escalate. 

And escalation rarely ends in your favor.

You lose the people in the middle. 

The ones who were willing to listen? 

They stop listening when you start swinging.

The conversation I had with that client wasn't easy.

But eventually, he understood:

The goal isn't to win.
It's to resolve.

To move through the crisis with your reputation intact.

To show humility when humility is called for—and strength when strength is needed.

We didn't issue a combative statement.

We acknowledged the concern. 

Clarified the facts calmly. 

Focused on what we were doing moving forward.

No victory lap. No "gotcha" moment.

Just accountability and action.

The story faded.

The relationship with his stakeholders held.

And he learned something more valuable than winning an argument:
In crisis, ego is a liability.

Strategy is what saves you.

Follow for weekly insights on strategy and leadership under pressure.

The verdict doesn't matter if you've already lost in the court of public opinion. Litigation PR has changed.

It used to be simple: Don't comment on pending litigation. 

Let the lawyers handle it. 

Stay quiet until the judge rules.

That strategy doesn't work anymore.

Because while your legal team is preparing motions, the other side is shaping the narrative on social media, cable news, and in the press.

And by the time the case settles or goes to trial, public perception is already locked in.

Here's what's different now:

The court of public opinion moves faster than the courtroom.

A lawsuit gets filed. 

Within hours, it's trending.

You can't wait 18 months for discovery to tell your side of the story.

The damage is happening now.

Silence reads as guilt.

"No comment" used to be safe.

Now it looks like evasion.

If you're not telling your story, someone else will and their version will stick.

Juries Google.

Even when judges instruct them not to, jurors search for information.

What they find online influences how they interpret the evidence in court.
Settlements don't erase headlines.

You can settle the case. 

You can't settle the reputation damage.

If the narrative is "they did something wrong and paid to make it go away," that story lives forever.

What effective litigation PR looks like today:

1. Legal and PR working together from day one. Not as adversaries. As partners with a shared goal: protect the client.

2. Proactive messaging that tells your side without compromising the case. You can communicate strategically while respecting legal boundaries.

3. Stakeholder management beyond the courtroom. Employees. Investors. Customers. They're making decisions now based on what they see—not waiting for a verdict.

4. Digital reputation management. Ensuring your narrative isn't buried by the opposition's spin.

The goal isn't to win the PR battle and lose the legal one.

It's to protect your reputation while you fight the case—so when it's over, you still have a business to run.

Litigation PR isn't optional anymore.

It's essential.

Because even if you win in court, losing in public can cost you everything.

Follow for weekly insights on litigation communications and reputation protection.

If you're delivering bad news over email, you've already lost the relationship.
I see it all the time.

The termination notice sent at 5 PM on a Friday.

The policy change buried in a mass email.

The apology that reads like it was drafted by legal and approved by no one with a pulse.

Leaders hide behind screens when things get hard.

And it always backfires.

Because bad news delivered without presence feels like cowardice.

And cowardice destroys trust faster than the bad news itself.

Here's why email fails in crisis:

1.) It removes accountability. You can't see the person's reaction. 

You can't answer their questions. 

You can't adjust based on how they're receiving it.

You just send it—and hope it lands okay.

2.) It feels transactional. Email says: "This is a task I needed to complete."

A conversation says: "This matters enough for me to show up."

3.) Tone gets lost. What you meant as direct reads as cold. 

What you meant as professional reads as detached.

And in a crisis, tone is everything.

4.) It invites misinterpretation. People fill in the gaps. 

They read between the lines. They assume the worst.

Because when you're not there to clarify, they're left to imagine your intent.

The hard conversations—the ones that matter most—deserve your presence.

Not your inbox.

That means:

→ A phone call when you can't be there in person.
→ A video meeting when you need to see their face.
→ A real conversation—not a one-way broadcast.

Yes, it's uncomfortable.

Yes, it takes more time.

Yes, it's harder than hitting "send."

But leadership isn't about efficiency.

It's about integrity.

And integrity shows up.

Even when—especially when—the news is bad.

Follow for weekly insights on communication, presence, and leadership.

Five words that never work in a crisis:
"It was just a joke."

I’ve heard this defense after an offensive tweet, a tone-deaf comment, or a video that “wasn’t meant seriously.”

Every time, it makes things worse.

Intent doesn't matter. Impact does.

You may have meant it as humor, but if it landed as hurtful or dismissive, that is what counts.

Explaining your intent doesn't erase the impact. 

It only sounds like avoiding accountability.

Humor doesn't land the same for everyone.

What is funny to you may be insulting to someone else.

Sarcasm gets lost. Tone gets misread.

And you do not get to control how people receive it.

"Just joking" sounds like minimizing.

People hear:

"You're overreacting."
"You're too sensitive."
"I'm not responsible."

That never ends well.

The internet doesn't care about your intentions.

A joke that fails in a room is awkward.

A joke that fails online is permanent.

Screenshots keep the words, not the tone.

What to do instead:

Own the impact.

"I meant it as humor, but I see how it landed, and I'm sorry."

Skip the justification.

Don't explain why they shouldn't be offended. 

Acknowledge that they are.

Know your audience.

Not every joke fits every context.

The best communicators understand this:

You don’t decide how your words are received.

You only decide whether you'll stand by them or own the mistake.

Follow for weekly insights on communication, accountability, and reputation.

Microsoft just bought a 27% stake in OpenAI.
On paper, it's a business deal. In reality,

it's a power shift that changes everything about who controls the future of AI.

And most people aren't paying attention.

Here's what just happened:

OpenAI—the company that gave us ChatGPT—was structured as a nonprofit with a mission: develop AI that benefits humanity, not shareholders.

Now it's becoming a public benefit corporation.

With Microsoft holding significant equity.

Translation: the guardrails just got weaker.

And the profit motive just got stronger.

This isn't just a tech story.

It's a reputation and accountability story.

Because when innovation moves faster than regulation, trust becomes the only thing holding the system together.

And trust is fragile.

Here's what this deal reveals:

Power and accountability are diverging.

Microsoft gains influence. OpenAI gains capital.

But who's accountable when something goes wrong?

When AI makes a harmful decision, who answers for it—the nonprofit mission or the corporate investor?

The structure just got more complicated. And complexity is where accountability dies.

The narrative is shifting before the public realizes it.

Most people still think of OpenAI as the "good guys" in AI development.

Independent. Mission-driven. Different from Big Tech.

But this deal quietly erodes that distinction.

And once the public catches on, the backlash will be swift.

Innovation is outpacing oversight.

AI development is moving at a pace regulators can't match.

New models. New capabilities. New risks.

And the companies building it are writing their own rules—because no one else can keep up.

That's a reputation time bomb.

Three lessons for communicators navigating the AI era:

1.) Transparency isn't optional anymore.
The days of "move fast and explain later" are over.

If your company is pushing boundaries in AI, you need to communicate what you're doing, why, and who's accountable—before someone else defines it for you.

2.) Mission statements won't protect you.

Saying you're committed to safety and ethics doesn't mean anything if your structure prioritizes profit.

The public is learning to look past the messaging and examine the incentives.

3.) One misstep reshapes trust overnight.

AI mistakes don't just hurt your brand. They reshape public perception of the entire industry.

When trust is the only thing preventing regulation or backlash, you can't afford to get it wrong.

This deal is a signal.

The AI race is accelerating.

And the companies that win won't just be the most innovative.

They'll be the ones who figured out how to build trust while everyone else was just building technology.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis management in the age of rapid innovation.

The video went viral within hours.



Erratic driving. Swerving across lanes. 

Tailgating. Confused explanations.

Britney Spears is struggling and the people who should be protecting her brand either can't reach her, or aren't there.

This is what happens when crisis management fails before the cameras start rolling.

Her family, once accused of micromanaging under conservatorship, is now reportedly uninvolved. She's entirely on her own.

That absence is a brand liability playing out in real time.

For public figures, a functioning support system is essential reputation management. Without close advisors and a competent crisis team, minor incidents escalate into viral PR disasters.

What every crisis team should learn:

1. Act before the cameras roll.

Warning signs were there—erratic posts, fractured relationships, behavioral shifts insiders likely noticed months ago.

Waiting until damage goes viral is a fatal mistake.

2. Build a network, not an audience.

Fans aren't advisors. Real stability comes from legal, emotional, and strategic professionals who can say "no."

If no one in the inner circle has that role, the inner circle is the problem.

3. Control the narrative—or be controlled by it.

Her Instagram follow-up was confusing, rambling, unsupervised. It made things worse.

Messaging needs to be intentional. Not every thought belongs online.

4. Understand the cost of visibility.

Britney Spears is a brand with cultural equity, legacy value, and commercial interest.

When celebrities become unstable in public, they jeopardize the long-term viability of their brand.

5. Have a comeback plan before the crisis hits.

Image rehabilitation must begin in calm moments, not after public collapse.

The Reality:

Once the video goes viral, you're not managing a crisis.

You're managing the aftermath of one that's been building for months.

When public figures lack a clear PR strategy, one misstep becomes an irreversible spiral.

Public life offers rewards, but also risk.

When the spotlight turns toxic, survival depends on having the right people, the right plan, and the ability to act fast.

Because if you don't manage your reputation, someone else will.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis intervention and reputation protection.

The House passing the Epstein files bill 427 to 1 is not the headline.
The real headline is what happens next.

Many people assume the release will simply reveal names and fuel public outrage.

They think the narrative will unfold on its own, driven by the documents alone.

It won’t.

The truth is that the decisive moments will unfold in the first 24 to 48 hours.
 
That is when teams move, stories shift and reputations are either protected or permanently damaged.

Here is the pattern that crisis professionals recognize immediately:

• rapid distancing from implicated networks
• controlled statements designed to anchor early perception
• coordinated messaging to shape how the public interprets new information
• quiet legal positioning before narratives harden

With preparation, reputations can be stabilized.
 
Without it, the public forms conclusions that become nearly impossible to reverse.

For a fuller breakdown of what the next phase will look like, see my crisis communications analysis on CBS LA:

https://lnkd.in/eNcjD88i

Excited to be a guest speaker at Broward College today. Sponsored by Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, this event highlights the importance of kindness in our lives and the impact each of us can make. #guestspeaker #browardcollege #education #kindnessmatters #leadership

Red Banyan has once again been named an Inc. Magazine Power Partner—recognized back-to-back as one of the top B2B firms in public relations. PROUD of the work we do, the IMPACT we create, and the TEAM that makes it happen. Grateful to the leaders who count on us when the stakes are highest. Recognition like this is earned by showing up, staying sharp, and delivering when it matters most.
#IncPowerPartners #RedBanyan #Leadership #CrisisPR #ReputationMatters

Open article: Red Banyan Named 2025 Inc. Power Partner | Red Banyan by redbanyan.com

Red Banyan Named 2025 Inc. Power Partner | Red Banyan

Even the most successful entrepreneurs have blind spots. 
I wrote this piece for Entrepreneurs'​ Organization's Inc. Magazine channel after seeing how often leaders overlook issues that quietly grow beneath the surface—especially when things are going well. Big takeaway? Success doesn’t erase your weaknesses. It often hides them. Staying aware is what separates leaders who grow from leaders who stall. 
Read the full article here:
https://lnkd.in/ei3ysW-x
#Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Growth #ReputationMatters

Open article: 5 Blind Spots That Sneak Up on Successful Entrepreneurs by inc.com

5 Blind Spots That Sneak Up on Successful Entrepreneurs

It’s not every day your work helps put a client in the dictionary. 
But that’s exactly what Red Banyan did.

Through focused media relations and strategic advocacy, our client’s insights were quoted by Merriam-Webster and cemented into the official definition of “radicalism.” A defining voice on a defining issue—with national impact.
This kind of influence doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of precision, consistency, and the right message delivered at the right time.

This is the power of strategic communications.
This is the power of Red Banyan.

See the dictionary citation: https://lnkd.in/eFzcmDE7
#StrategicComms #MediaRelations #ThoughtLeadership #CrisisPR #ReputationMatters #Authority

Glen Powell understands that reputation is the most valuable asset. He is smart and strategic about his every move, and it's paving the way to new levels of superstardom. My take in the Us Weekly cover story.#celebrity #publicrelatons #strategy

Open article: How Glen Powell Balances His Career, Dating and Life in Texas (Excl) by usmagazine.com

How Glen Powell Balances His Career, Dating and Life in Texas (Excl)

When a crisis occurs, customers shouldn’t be left to solve it themselves. 
As I shared with Business Insider, hospitality companies earn goodwill by removing the burden, not adding to it. Relocation, refunds, and clear guidance aren’t perks. They’re the basics. Read the full story:

Open article: Hilton's CEO says problem-solving keeps guests coming back by businessinsider.com

Hilton's CEO says problem-solving keeps guests coming back

Leadership means staying grounded when everything around you is uncertain.

I recently contributed this piece to EO on how today’s leaders can build resilience that actually lasts. Especially when times are turbulent, the habits you form before the crisis often define how you lead through it.
Grateful for the chance to share these ideas with the EO community—and would love to hear what’s worked for you. Read the full article here:
https://lnkd.in/eU_n8UCG
#Leadership #Resilience #Entrepreneurs #CrisisPR #StrategicComms

Open article: Developing Resilient Leadership Habits for Uncertain Times by eonetwork.org

Developing Resilient Leadership Habits for Uncertain Times

Learning about diplomacy, debate and ideally compromise, collaboration and problem-solving. Critically important business and life skills. Proud of my daughter Noa Nierman for participating in Model U.N. as a diplomat from Jordan!

Student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas | Teen Leader |

The past two days, I’ve been honored to participate in BULLSMUN 2025 as a delegate for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This is a Model UN conference for high school students where we use parliamentary procedure, give speeches, and collaborate to solve current global diplomatic issues. I participated in the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) committee, where the bloc I led developed a logistical and fair economic and legal framework addressing climate change and managing the effects of global hunger. I was honored to be named Outstanding Delegate by the committee chair, as well as my school being named best large delegate with the most amount of wins! Grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with other students, practice my public speaking, and craft detailed resolutions to real life issues. I am also excited to announce that I have officially joined the MSD Model Un club officer team as the social media manager. Looking forward to the next conference already!

Chase Dimond

Top Ecommerce Email Marketer & Agency Owner | We’ve sent over 1 billion emails for our clients resulting in $200+ million in email attributable revenue.

Currently building Structured — a top ecommerce email marketing agency.

We’re a top Omnisend and Klaviyo email marketing agency partner.

And I was recently voted as the #1 ecommerce influencer to follow by Shopify and Shopify Plus.

I was also given the Top Voice Award for Email Marketing by LinkedIn and was ranked as the top email marketer on LinkedIn by Favikon.

Since launching our email agency in June of 2018, we’ve helped our clients send over a billion emails resulting in over $200 million in email attributable revenue. 

A few of our current and past clients include:
- Poo~Pourri
- Eight Sleep
- Health-Ade
- Mixtiles
- The Chive
- Vessi
- CrossNet
- Orgain

If you’re looking to hire a great email marketing agency, send me an email with more here: chase@chasedimond.com

———————————————————————————

Outside my agency, I run a number of other fast growing businesses. And I’m fortunate to have over 750,000+ amazing followers/subscribers across my social channels and email newsletter.

If you’re looking to advertise to my audience, please send me an email with more info: chase@chasedimond.com 

———————————————————————————

Here are a few other things I've accomplished:

-Scaled a product I built, marketed, and managed to 500,000 visitors in 6 months without spending a single traditional advertising dollar.

-Generated 1.5 million visitors for a dating site within the first two months of launch without spending a single traditional advertising dollar.

-Acquired 500,000 subscribers in 10 months for a travel email newsletter I helped launch while spending very little traditional advertising dollars.

-Acquired over 1.5 million total followers on Instagram for the clients/companies I have worked with/for.

-Sold a business (social media tool that helps musicians automate growth and promotions) to the largest player in the space.

You can reach me via email: chase@chasedimond.com

Founder

My newsletter is your no BS guide into what's working in email marketing - I'll give you the latest tips + tactics to help you drive more revenue from your email marketing channel. 

Sign up (it's free) here: https://chasedimond.com/chase-email-newsletter

It’s not about collecting business cards or follower counts.

It’s about building bridges with people who get it - who challenge you, inspire you, and open doors you didn’t know existed.

The right network doesn’t just grow your career - it expands your mindset, your confidence, and your opportunities.

Here are 12 ways to build powerful, authentic connections:

1️⃣ Lead with curiosity. Ask, don’t pitch. People love being seen and heard.

2️⃣ Add value first. Share insights, introductions, or encouragement before asking for anything.

3️⃣ Show up consistently. Comment, engage, and participate where your industry hangs out.

4️⃣ Find your communities. Join professional groups, Slack channels, or niche forums.

5️⃣ Attend events strategically. Go where your next mentor, collaborator, or client might actually be.

6️⃣ Follow up. A short, thoughtful message can turn a conversation into a relationship.

7️⃣ Be generous with your expertise. Give more than you take - it builds reputation fast.

8️⃣ Don’t chase status. The best opportunities often come from peers, not big titles.

9️⃣ Stay authentic. Pretending to be someone you’re not is the fastest way to disconnect.

1️⃣0️⃣ Keep it human. Share stories, not sales pitches.

1️⃣1️⃣ Support others publicly. Celebrate others’ wins - it builds goodwill that lasts.

1️⃣2️⃣ Play the long game. Relationships compound like interest; nurture them with time.

The truth? You’re one conversation away from a completely different path.

Image credit: Tim Stoddart

I hired the smartest person in the room once.
They lasted 3 months.

I hired the kindest person in the room once.
They're now running that team.

(Credit: Daniel Disney) 

Here's what that sign gets absolutely RIGHT about building winning teams 👇

We're obsessed with IQ.
With credentials.
With "rockstars" and "ninjas."

But after 15+ years building sales teams, I've learned something brutal:

Smart people who lack humility? They're ticking time bombs.

Think about it...

That genius who won't listen to feedback?
That top performer who belittles teammates?
That "expert" who thinks they know everything?

They're not building your business.
They're slowly destroying it.

Here's what ACTUALLY happens when you prioritize kindness and humility:

↳ Team meetings become idea factories (not ego battles)
↳ Mistakes become learning moments (not blame games)
↳ Success gets shared (not hoarded)
↳ People actually WANT to help each other win

I've seen it firsthand:

The "average" rep who listened to everyone?
Became our top performer within 6 months.

The "inexperienced" manager who admitted what they didn't know?
Built the strongest team culture we'd ever had.

The "quiet" team member who always helped others?
Now our most valuable leader.

Because here's the uncomfortable truth:

Skills can be taught.
Systems can be learned.
Processes can be mastered.

But kindness? Humility? 
Those are CHARACTER.

And character is what determines:
- How they handle pressure
- How they treat customers
- How they respond to failure
- How they celebrate others' wins

Smart people might win alone.
Kind and humble people? They build dynasties.

So next time you're hiring, promoting, or building a team...

Don't just check their resume.
Check their character.

Because working with smart people IS great.

But working with kind and humble people?

That's how you build something that actually lasts.

Your peace of mind is worth more than any paycheck


🟡 Put Your Mental Health First: No Job is Worth Your Peace of Mind 

Your job should make you feel good, not stressed out

🟠 If work is keeping you up at night, it's time for a change. 

Your mental health comes first—always

🔴 Let's create workplaces where we can thrive without sacrificing our well-being

🟢 You deserve a job that lets you rest peacefully at night


Credit: Dr. Mohammed Shagil

Every marketer has been here.

Meanwhile, the marketing team is just trying to hold it together.

But here’s the truth —
Marketing isn’t about making things look good.
It’s about making things work.

✅ It turns chaos into clarity.
✅ It connects what the product does with what people actually want.
✅ It builds systems that create demand instead of chasing it.

When you treat marketing as design-on-demand, you get noise.
When you treat it as strategy, you get growth. 🚀

Image credit: @Kimberly Gordon


P.S. If you write emails and you’re looking for inspiration, check out:

inboox.ai

People will forget your title.

But they’ll NEVER forget how you treated them.

Everyone deserves respect.
Regardless of title or status.

I’ve seen people completely ignore cleaners, security & junior staff…

Only to light up when a senior exec enters the room.

It's embarrassing. 
And tells me everything I need to know.

I come from humble beginnings.
My parents taught me to respect everyone.

Here’s How To Lead With Humility & Build A Culture Of Respect:

1️⃣ Treat Everyone Like They Matter
↳ Because they do - everyone has a part to play.

2️⃣ Speak to People on Their Level
↳ Don’t talk at people. Speak with them.
↳ Be genuine - ask questions and listen. 

3️⃣ Show Gratitude Daily
↳ A simple thank you can mean the world.
↳ Especially to those often overlooked.

4️⃣ Promote DEI Beyond the Buzzwords
↳ Listen to diverse voices & celebrate differences
↳ Hire & promote inclusively - your team will benefit.

5️⃣ Ask for Feedback at Every Level
↳ Get 360 insight from everyone around you. 
↳ You'll see how you're actually perceived. 

6️⃣ Stay Grounded
↳ Don’t let your title make you forget where you came from.

7️⃣ Lead by Example
↳ People remember how you make them feel. 

How you treat others says everything about you.

Respect everyone.

You'll be a better person & leader because of it.


Credit: Dan Mian

Some years test your patience more than your strategy.

Not every year is about scaling fast, hitting every goal, or breaking records.
Some years are about surviving the turbulence and learning who you are when nothing goes as planned.

Those seasons don’t define your losses - they define your foundation.

Because:

👉 The lessons learned in difficult years become the instincts you rely on in successful ones.
👉 The resilience you build under pressure becomes the quiet strength that carries your team.
👉 The humility gained in setbacks makes you a better leader when you rise again.

You don’t lose when progress slows.
You build depth, discipline, and direction.

Growth doesn’t always look like expansion.
Sometimes, it looks like endurance.

Some years you win.
Other years - you build the person who will.

Image credit: UpSkillYourLife on Twitter/X

Marketing managers don’t sign up to do it all. They’re just expected to.

Write the copy.
Run the ads.
Design the creative.
Analyze the data.
Manage the projects.

No one can excel when they’re spread this thin.

Marketing managers shouldn’t have to wear every hat. They should be supported so they can focus on leading strategy and driving growth.


P.S. If you write emails and you’re looking for inspiration, check out:

inboox.ai

Working with smart people is great.
But it is not enough.

Because intelligence can solve problems.
But humility and kindness build cultures where problems don’t have to exist in the first place.

Here’s why it matters so much 👇

Kind and humble people:

They make collaboration effortless.
You don’t waste energy defending ideas or egos. 
You build together - faster, cleaner, and with more trust.

They create psychological safety.
When people feel respected, they speak up, share bold ideas, 
and admit mistakes early. 
That’s how teams innovate and grow.

They inspire long-term loyalty.
People don’t leave companies - they leave toxic dynamics. 
Working with grounded, genuine teammates keeps great talent around.

 Ways to practice kindness and humility at work:

Listen more than you talk.
You don’t need to have the loudest voice to have the strongest impact. 
Listening builds connection and earns respect.

Give credit - generously.
Acknowledging others’ work doesn’t diminish your own. 
It multiplies the trust and energy in your team.

Keep learning.
The moment you think you’ve “arrived,” you stop growing. 
Stay curious, stay open, and never let success make you unapproachable.

Kind people build strong teams.
Strong teams create big results.

Marketers don’t quit marketing.
They quit:

– companies that believe marketing is just “posting on LinkedIn”
– leaders who don’t understand how marketing actually works
– founders who refuse to trust the experts they’ve hired
– executives who treat every new idea as urgent
– managers who assign twelve “top priorities” at once
– leadership teams that want bold results but reject bold ideas
– organizations where insights are collected but never acted upon
– executives who cut budgets but double the targets
– founders who expect one person to do five jobs
– cultures that dismiss brand work as vanity
– leaders who pull headcount approvals after promising them for months
– timelines that confuse motion with progress
– teams where data matters only when it fits the narrative
– workplaces that celebrate constant “busyness” over meaningful results
– decision-makers who change direction every quarter and call it agility
– companies that undervalue strategy because it doesn’t produce instant ROI
– environments where creative work is micromanaged to death
– executives who equate “viral” with “effective”

Good marketing isn’t fragile.
Bad leadership is.

Marketers don’t burn out from the craft - they burn out from the chaos around it.

They love the process, the insight, the storytelling, the measurable growth.
What drives them away isn’t the work.
It’s being set up to fail.

Did I miss anything?

We live in a world obsessed with titles, but every person carries invisible stories of struggle, wisdom, and potential that no business card can capture.

When we lead with respect rather than hierarchy, we unlock something powerful: authentic human connection.

What i have learned about true leadership.

Real leaders don't wait to see credentials before showing respect. 

They understand that:
- Dignity isn't distributed based on job descriptions
- Today's intern could be tomorrow's innovator
- Every person has something valuable to teach us
- Character reveals itself in how we treat those who "can't help us"

Three simple shifts that change everything

1. Replace "What do you do?" with “What are you passionate about?"
Watch how conversations transform when you're genuinely curious about the person, not their position.

2. Listen for the story, not the status: 
Everyone has a journey. 

The most interesting people are often hiding in plain sight.

3. Practice "respectful curiosity": 
Approach each interaction wondering what you might learn, rather than what you might gain.

When you treat the receptionist with the same courtesy as the CEO, people notice. 

When you thank the maintenance team as genuinely as you thank your biggest client, culture shifts.

Respect isn't a favor you give; it's a standard you set.

Think about someone you interact with regularly but might overlook. 

What would happen if you approached them with fresh eyes tomorrow?

The most successful people I know aren't those who demand respect—they're the ones who give it freely.

What's one assumption you've made about someone that completely changed when you got to know their story? 


Credit: Makarand Utpat

Bad marketing feels like someone is selling to you.

Great marketing feels like someone is helping you.

Credit: therealhakam on Twitter/X

Marketing and advertising are not the same. 
(Credit: Nehal Kazim)

They have two different objectives.

Too many brands are still getting this wrong. 

I've seen 100s of brands at Ad Pros struggle to scale. 

It has nothing to do with their product or service. 
It's their marketing approach. 

They think marketing is just running ads and posting content.
But as advertising lead, I have to remind them there's more to it. 

Marketing is knowing your customers, creating trust, 
And showing them why they should buy from you and not your competitors. 

Here are the 6 foundational components of marketing and why they matter: 

1. Market Research

Understanding the landscape, trends, competitors, and customer needs. 
You can't position effectively if you don't know what's out there.

2. Target Audience

Knowing exactly who you're talking to. 
A clear profile of the customers you're trying to reach.
Vague audience definitions lead to vague messaging. 

3. Value Proposition

The reason people should choose you over alternatives.
Your value proposition should be specific and meaningful. 

4. Marketing Channels

The platforms and mediums where you connect with your audience. 
(Social, email, paid ads, and events.) 
Channel selection matters if positioning and messaging are locked in.

5. Content Strategy

The messaging, visuals, and stories that attract, engage, and convert.
Content isn't just what you post. 
It's how you communicate value across every touchpoint.

6. Marketing Campaigns

Planned initiatives to achieve specific marketing goals. 
Campaigns are the execution layer. 
They only work when the foundation is already solid.

If you're a small brand just getting started, 
Running ads and posting on social might work temporarily. 

But if your goal is building something that scales to 8 figures and beyond... 

You need to understand the full marketing system inside and out.

When you have clarity on your market, audience, and value proposition, 
Everything else becomes more effective and predictable.

Visual credit: reputeforge on Instagram.

Marketing is...

We often search for the “perfect candidate” - someone with every qualification, every skill, and years of experience. But in doing so, we overlook a simple truth:

(Credit: Makarand Utpat )

Most jobs are trainable.
What really matters is a person’s willingness to learn.

The real asset is a teachable attitude

Skills can be taught. Software can be learned.
Processes can be explained.
But curiosity, drive, and a growth mindset are priceless.

Here’s proof:

Every top chef once started at the sink, scrubbing dishes.

Every great designer once fumbled through their first Photoshop file.

Every confident leader once feared speaking up in a room.

Every skilled coder once Googled “how to write a loop.”

Every thriving professional once just had the courage to say, “I’m willing to learn.”

Skills are teachable. Hunger isn’t.
Hire for mindset. Train for mastery.

What employers should do

Hire for attitude, train for skill.
Build supportive onboarding and mentorship.
Create clear growth paths.
Reward effort, not just results.

The payoff:

When you give someone a chance, you don’t just fill a role, you build loyalty, reduce turnover, and uncover hidden potential.

Every expert was once a beginner.
Every success story started with someone who got a shot.

Let’s stop gatekeeping potential. Give people the opportunity to prove themselves.

THE 5 P'S OF MARKETING:

PRODUCT 
This is the core offering of your business.

PRICE 
Setting the right price is crucial for profitability and market positioning.

PROMOTION 
This encompasses all the strategies you use to communicate and market your product.

PLACE
This refers to the distribution channels through which customers access your product.

PEOPLE 
Your employees and customer service play a crucial role in the success of your marketing efforts.


HOW TO USE THEM:

PRODUCT
Know your audience's needs and preferences.
Keep innovating to stay ahead.
Deliver quality and reliability to earn trust.

PRICE
Research the market to find the best pricing.
Balance perceived value with competitive rates.
Adjust prices based on demand and market shifts.

PROMOTION
Create a marketing plan with ads, PR, and social media.
Customize promotions to connect with your audience.
Track campaign results and refine as needed.

PLACE
Choose the right distribution channels.
Streamline your supply chain for efficiency and satisfaction.
Make your product accessible when and where customers need it.

PEOPLE
Train employees to embody your brand.
Deliver exceptional customer service to foster loyalty.
Gather and act on feedback for continuous improvement.

Marketing without humor
is like pizza without cheese

You can serve it 

But 

No one’s coming back for seconds.
Funny doesn’t mean unprofessional.

It means relatable.
It means human.

People don’t remember the product.
They remember how you made them feel.

So make them feel good.

Add flavor to your brand. 
Not just features.

Marketers,

Here’s a table with 6 copywriting formulas for writing effective ads:

Bookmark this 🔖

No alternative text description for this image

Bad copywriting:

• Here's my product
• Here's what it does
• Here's what's so good about it

Good copywriting:

• Here's your problem
• Here's the benefit of solving it
• Here's why what you've tried has failed
• And by the way here's a product that will help you solve it

Credit: Dickie Bush 🚢

You can mute people in real life too.

It is called boundaries.

Setting boundaries isn’t rude.
It’s responsible.

You’re not meant to be available for everyone, all the time.
Protecting your time, focus, and mental space doesn’t make you cold — it makes you effective.

Boundaries aren’t walls — they’re filters.
They help you decide what gets your attention and what doesn’t.
Because not everyone deserves access to your time or mental space.

🚫 Situations where you need to stop wasting time and set boundaries:

Endless negativity.
If someone always brings problems but never solutions — stop being their emotional landfill. You can listen with empathy without absorbing their energy.

Unclear work expectations.
If you’re constantly saying “yes” to extra work, late calls, or unrealistic deadlines, you’re not being a team player — you’re burning out. Boundaries protect both your energy and your quality of work.

Relationships that drain instead of support.
When every conversation leaves you exhausted or doubting yourself, it’s a sign to step back. Not everyone is meant to stay in your circle forever.

🧭 Simple ways to set healthy boundaries:

Communicate clearly — not emotionally.
Boundaries aren’t ultimatums. They’re statements of respect.
→ “I can’t take calls after 7 PM.”
→ “I’ll join, but only if we can stick to 30 minutes.”

Protect your calendar.
Treat your time like money. If you wouldn’t give away $1,000 easily, don’t give away hours of focus to low-value conversations or tasks.

Practice saying no — kindly.
“No” isn’t rejection. It’s redirection.
You’re saying no to one thing so you can say yes to something that matters more.

Boundaries don’t push people away.
They teach people how to treat you — and show that you take yourself seriously.

Because when you stop pouring into things that drain you,
you finally have energy for the things that build you. 

♻️ Repost to remind others that protecting your energy is productive.

👉 What’s one boundary you need to reinforce this week?

Marketing 101: The B.S. Detector

People trust 4.6/5 more than a 5/5.

Don't position yourself as "too good to be true".

Credit: The Ad Professor


P.S. If you write emails and you’re looking for inspiration, check out:

inboox.ai

Most people never lose because they tried.

They lost because they never started.

Trying doesn’t guarantee you’ll win.
 But not trying guarantees you won’t.

Every idea, business, or dream you’ve ever admired
Started with someone willing to look a little foolish at first.

You don’t need perfect timing.
You need momentum.

💡Start small. Try anyway.

The worst that happens? You learn.

The best? You win.

Image Credit: dtop1percentmen on Twitter/X

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