Insights
Ideas worth carrying home.
Short reads that teach brand the way I always have; through a story. Read them here, or get them in your inbox before anyone else.
Where to start
Pick the problem that feels closest.
Start with one useful read, then measure what it reveals. The articles sharpen the question. The checkup gives you a score.
Founder Brand
I Might Be Digitally Schizophrenic
And before you commit me to Chinama, hear me out.
Brand Equity
Mr Nanoo Never Franchised. I Still Remember Him.
A story about what a brand actually is, and the one thing it cannot save you from on its own.
Brand Clarity
Nobody Finds the Minibus. The Minibus Finds You.
A lesson in brand clarity, taught by the sharpest hustlers in Lusaka.
Insights
Reads worth your time
Short, sharp pieces on brand, story, and why some businesses get chosen and others get forgotten.
Founder Brand
I Might Be Digitally Schizophrenic
And before you commit me to Chinama, hear me out.
Brand Equity
Mr Nanoo Never Franchised. I Still Remember Him.
A story about what a brand actually is, and the one thing it cannot save you from on its own.
Brand Clarity
Nobody Finds the Minibus. The Minibus Finds You.
A lesson in brand clarity, taught by the sharpest hustlers in Lusaka.
Narrative
Building a Narrative That Resonates
Your brand story isn't just what you say--it's how you make people feel. Here's how to build a narrative that truly resonates.
Brand Diagnosis
The 3 Signs Your Brand Needs a Diagnosis
How do you know when your brand needs help? Here are three clear signs that it's time for a brand diagnosis.
Brand Strategy
Why Clarity Beats Strategy Every Time
Most brands fail not because they lack strategy, but because they lack clarity. Here's why clarity is the foundation of everything.
Faith & Business
You Matter. Not Your Numbers.
I built a whole sprint around a number. Then two things cracked it open and showed me what I was really running from.
Africa & Enterprise
Africa is Poor Because of "Empowerment"
An untested proverb got promoted into a doctrine about who deserves capital. We do not need more empowerment. We need more proof.
Brand Strategy
I Know My Funeral Song
One hymn, five completely different versions, five completely different emotions. That is the whole lesson about competing in a crowded market.
Consulting
Red Flags in Business: Lessons from a Naïve Dreamer
I arrived in Lusaka with K200, a gym bag, and a phone that froze every two messages. Here are the six client red flags I learned to read the hard way.
Sales
I Missed Out on a Huge Deal. Here's Why.
The deal of the week died on a wrong phone number, and my own refusal to pause. Sometimes the solution is the one you miss because you won't stop moving.
Resilience
What My Worst Failure Taught Me
A schoolboy love letter, a public rejection, and the longest weekend of my life. What I learned about vulnerability still runs my business today.
Storytelling
The Power of Storytelling: More Than Just Marketing
Product features can be copied. Pricing can be beaten. Your story cannot. Here is how to craft a brand narrative that does the selling for you.
Africa & Enterprise
Stop Importing Winters You'll Never Have
There is a founder in Lusaka building his startup for a snowstorm that is never coming. The most dangerous thing you can import is a strategy that assumes resources you do not have.
Faith & Business
God Rested, and He's God. Who Are You?
You, with your 4am alarm and your 'I'll sleep when I'm dead' caption, are not impressive. You are tired. Your refusal to rest is not discipline. It's pride.
Leadership
If It Doesn't Make Money: Don't Hire for It... Yet
I once hired a former client who sold dreams beautifully but had zero track record of executing them. Keeping people in roles where they generate no value can cost you everything.
Stewardship
Write It All Down: A Track Record is Like a Condom
If your actions have consequences whether you like it or not, then tracking how you use your resources protects you from the unintended ones. Write it all down.
Faith & Business
Faith Without Works Is Dead
With the advent of AI there is a growing number of box tickers, and I have been tempted to join them. But there is something about faith that does not allow you to show up halfway.
Brand Strategy
We Don't Respect Our Businesses As Much As We Do Our Stomachs
If you would not trust a mechanic with your dinner, stop trusting confusion with your brand. Your business deserves the same respect as your stomach.
Founder Brand
I Have Never Loved Myself More Than When I Went Into Business for Myself
Entrepreneurship is hard, but it's also a mirror. It shows you what you are made of when nobody is clapping and the plan is not planning.
Founder Brand
Do Doctors Self-Diagnose?
The hardest thing I have ever done is rebrand myself. I watch brands I've helped build soar, and then there's me, the stepchild at the table.
