Raw, real, and ready to shake up your thinking.

BRANDING HAS BEEN DEMOTED TO CONTENT

If your brand only exists as content, you don’t have a brand. You have output. You can’t optimise your way out of a weak brand.

DO YOU LIVE IN A FRIENDLY OR HOSTILE UNIVERSE?

It’s been said the most powerful question you can answer is: Do you live in a friendly or hostile universe? Because it shapes how you show up in every moment.

THE LINE YOU NEVER CROSS

We draw lines around ourselves. I’m not creative. I’m too old. I’m not ready. Not facts. Stories repeated until they harden into limits ...

COMPANY VALUES: THE MOST POPULAR FICTION IN BUSINESS

Are your company values showing up in hiring decisions, performance reviews, leadership behaviour, and everyday conversations?

BRAND IS A DECISION SYSTEM

Brand doesn’t just sit in Marketing. It lives everywhere. In Operations, HR, Finance, Sales, Product, and Leadership.

THE VOICE AT THE DOOR

​​“I don’t let the old guy in.”​​ That line stayed with me, as a 65 year old guy, because it has nothing to do with age and everything to do with attitude and identity.

GLOBAL BRAND GURUS: RANKED #7 FOR 2026

I am delighted to be listed again in the World's Top 30 Brand Professionals for 2026.. This is the 13th year in a row that I have been listed.

'GOOD ENOUGH' BRANDING ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH

Branding is not the garnish, it’s the fuel. And if you don’t invest in it now, you’ll pay for it later, with higher costs and lower loyalty.

MY JOB IS TO HELP YOU SEE WHAT YOU DON'T SEE

How I uncover hidden truths, feelings, insights, and opportunities for organisations, businesses and brands.

THE FISHERMAN FROM SAMOA

An Australian businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Samoan village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna.

UNLOCK YOUR OCEAN OF POTENTIAL

If you believe your inner critic, it becomes your reality. If you peel back the curtain, the goldfish bowl cracks, and the ocean of potential opens wide.

SELF-DOUBT. THE INVISIBLE VIRUS.

Self-doubt is the silent, invisible virus that infects people at every level of business. People don’t talk about it, but it runs deep.

DON'T BELIEVE THE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD

Most people could write an essay about why they’ll fail, but they can’t even finish a sentence about why they’ll win.

UNDER THE JAGUAR HOOD: BOLD OR BUSTED?!

Jaguar's "We’re here to delete ordinary. To go bold. To copy nothing” feels like an ordinary copy of a whole lot of stuff I’ve seen before.

WHY CHILDCARE ISN'T SAFE

Child abuse happens because 75% of the childcare centres are profit-driven enterprises, not purpose-led services.

IMAGINE YOU WERE ON FLIGHT 1549

The story of Ric Elias, who was on Flight 1549 along with 154 other passengers and crew, is such a powerful WAKE UP CALL!

THE FACE IN THE MIRROR

When it comes to just you and the mirror, who do you see? Do you like the person looking back? Do you feel good about him/her?

GREAT BRANDING WILL TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS!

ARE YOU TRAPPED INSIDE YOUR WORLDVIEW?!

ARE YOU LIVING LONGER?

ARE YOU LIVING LONGER? Or are you just taking longer to die? Yes, we’re living longer. But not necessarily better.

TESLA: A BRAND IN FREE FALL!

Tesla isn’t just suffering from a PR crisis—it's in the midst of a full-blown reputational implosion, fuelled by CEO, Elon Musk.

BRANDING IS KNOWING WHICH SCREWS TO TURN

Branding is built from a delicate balance of strategy, psychology, design, storytelling, and experience. It's not for dummies.

IS IT YOU DOING THE THINKING?!

Your brain thinks, and you experience the thoughts. But are they actually yours? Or do your thoughts come in a pre-set box of thoughts?

STOP BEING 'PROFESSIONAL': BE REAL INSTEAD

Most “professional” branding is painfully boring. It’s stuffed with meaningless buzzwords. When you brand make sure to be real.

WHAT RABBIT ARE YOU CHASING?!

There was a champion greyhound, the fastest racer on the track. He had never lost a race. Then, one day, without warning, he retired. Why?

MY JOB IS TO HELP BUSINESSES SEE WHAT THEY DON'T SEE

My job is to help businesses see what they don’t see. Knowledge is nothing—awareness is everything ...

THE FEAR THAT HELD ME BACK—AND HOW I LET IT GO!

For many years, fear of judgment kept me small. I second-guessed myself, hesitated to speak up, and stayed silent when I had something to say.

CAR BRANDS: THE SHIFT FROM PEDIGREE TO PRICE TAG

Affordability, efficiency, features, and new innovations matter more to many of today’s buyers than the car brand history and pedigree.

HOW REAL IS REALITY TV?

Imagine if your life was filmed, and you got to do your own, real edit. What would you leave out? What would you be afraid to leave in?

TAKE MORE RISKS!

We need to take more risks, even if it makes us uncomfortable. And MAFS was about as uncomfortable as it gets.

AUTHENTICITY IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED

Authenticity (and MAFS) is not for the faint-hearted. When you are being authentic, while you will attract some, you will repel many others.

DEAR STRESS, LET'S BREAK UP!

MAFS one of the most stressful experiences of my life because they place a premium on creating “drama” and situations of heightened stress.

THERE IS STRENGTH IN BEING VULNERABLE

Every person who went on MAFS was vulnerable, because they opened themselves up to the experiment, the cameras, and the whole bloody world.

THE DAY I STEPPED OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

I want to share some reflections of the day I stepped out of my comfort zone by agreeing to appear on Married at First Sight.

BRAND VALUE TOPS US$5 TRILLION

Brand Value. The latest 2024 report on the world’s most valuable brands has just landed, and here are some interesting observations:

UNSAFE AT DAIHATSU

Daihatsu lied about the safety of their cars by falsifying crash tests – across 64 models, going back more than three decades.

THE POWER OF WORDS

Branding is about creating the future. And the tool we use to create that future is language. Yes, powerful words!

PEOPLE MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!

Companies set out the vision and the aspiration, people make things happen. The question is: do your people want to make it happen?

BEING THE REAL YOU

Here's a tip: If you're heading to a job interview, try not to tell people to go fuck themselves on the way there - they might end up being your interviewer.

"CHANGE" - WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?

In the past, the knowledge and experience of ‘the old’ was the best instruction for ‘the young’. Today we live with a new set of realities.

NINE-A-LEMON: THE PORSCHE THAT WASN'T

Porsche sold Nick Murray a 911. It was a lemon: spent 60 days being serviced. So Nick asked for a replacement, and Porsche said "no".

THE BRAND PODCAST

Grant McGaugh is a guy who loves brands and branding, and he recently reached out to me for this interview.

WHAT THE HECK HAS HAPPENED TO THE QANTAS BRAND?

Phillip Adams wants his slogan back. Customers want their bags back. Qantas wants its reputation back. Time will tell where it will land.

THE $35 NIKE LOGO THAT BECAME A GLOBAL ICON

The Nike logo was designed by graphic designer Carolyn Davidson in 1971 for $35. Phil Knight didn't love it, but it grew on him.

DALI DESIGNED THE CHUPA CHUPS LOGO IN AN HOUR

Salvador Dali designed the Chupa Chups daisy flower logo in an hour. More than 50 years on it's as relevant and potent as ever.

BEWARE THE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD

Is the voice in your head a champion for who you are, or is it a constant reminder of how inadequate you are?

WHY I LOVE BEING A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

I'm a motivational speaker with a massive fear of rejection. I do it to challenge myself by facing my fears.

PwC: DEVOID OF AN ETHICAL BACKBONE

Leaking confidential Federal Government tax plans to clients for financial gain is pretty a pretty woeful act.

PURPOSE-DRIVEN POWER BRANDING

What a purpose-driven power brand strategy is, why it matters, how power brands build value, and how to engage employees through your brand.

IS YOUR BRAND A FORCE FOR A BETTER WORLD?

Your brand is uniquely placed to be the force for a better world by serving humanity and aligning its purpose with human ends and goals.

SOME FCUKING GREAT FEEDBACK

Sharing some feedback from three of my talks last month; ranging from creativity to branding and a Real YOU motivational kick up the butt.

THE POWER OF SWEARING

Is it worth alienating some people because of my swearing? And the answer to that question is an unequivocal, “Fuck yes!”. And here’s why.

BRANDING IS A LEADERSHIP ISSUE

Your brand is not something you add to your business, it's the reason your business exists. Branding consultants just don't get this AT ALL.

THE HUMAN POTENTIAL MOVEMENT

In the mid-twentieth century, two remarkable thinkers emerged as pioneering voices in the Human Potential Movement.

TRUST: THE LATEST REPORT CARD IS IN

Trust - the latest report card is in. From an Australian perspective, these are some of the highlights (or lowlights)

THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD

The richest man in the world doesn't own a tech, online retail, energy, or a media business. He owns 75 brands.

AI: BRANDING IN A NEW ERA

AI is powerful technology that's transforming our world, fast. But there are many red flags in the way AI systems are being deployed and used.

POWER BRANDING FOR PHARMA

Richard will be delivering a 30-minute Power Branding session in Melbourne, Australia, for Melbourne Pharma Marketers in March.

LIGHT YOUR FIRE!

Richard will be delivering a 2-hour Light Your Fire! session to 150 young NGEN professionals who work in media, marketing, and advertising.

REAL YOU

Richard will be delivering a 2-hour Real YOU session in Brisbane, Australia, for CitrusAd’s Global Leadership Team.

YOU HAVE TO JUMP

You have to jump - to take the leap of faith in yourself. Too many people hang around on the edge of the cliff of life, watching others soaring by.

WANTED ALIVE, NOT DEAD

Last week it struck me, as I was sitting in a company meeting on Monday afternoon, how many people in the room were playing dead.

IN A WORLD OF CHANGE, SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

In a world of change, the one constant you can always depend upon is what people want, how people like to be treated, and what you can do to win people over.

LONGING FOR FREEDOM

How can you begin to satisfy your desire for ‘greater freedom’? I think it requires addressing these three challenges.

THE TOP 5 REGRETS OF THE DYING

Here are the top five regrets of the dying. What’s your biggest regret so far? AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CHANGE IT!

WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST? WHAT'S FOR LIFE?

Your intentions for the day affect what you do, what you experience, and how you experience it

BRANDING IS THE PURPOSE AND PASSION THAT PROPELS EVERYTHING YOUR COMPANY SAYS AND DOES

Branding is not something you add to your business, it's the purpose and passion that propels everything your company does.

THE BACKSTABBING ITCH YOU CAN'T IGNORE

There is that part in us with an itch to let go, to walk the road less travelled, to walk out, to shout out, to throw the dice, to take it to the limit.

YOUR CAREER: MY 5 ASTOUNDING TRUTHS

As 2022 comes to a close, and after a really hectic three years, these are my 5 astounding truths about your career. And they're probably the same five truths I would have written three years ago.

DEATH IS WAITING FOR ALL OF US

Let’s talk about death. Why? Because is the one thing that’s going to happen to each and every one of us, guaranteed.

AGEISM IS ALIVE AND WELL, UNFORTUNATELY

When it comes to recruiting and employing older people, ageism - the stereotyping and discrimination of people on the basis of their age - is alive and well.

POSSIBILITY: WHAT'S YOUR 4-MINUTE MILE?

For many years it was widely believed to be impossible for a human being to run a mile in under four minutes. Today over 1,500 people have done it.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER TO YOU?

The people who matter to you aren't rich and famous. Take this quiz and see for yourself.

BE NICE TO EMPLOYEES OR THEY WILL LEAVE

Employees were almost three times more likely to leave a role because of poor leadership, compared to wanting to be paid more.”

TOP 10 REALITIES FACING BRANDS TODAY

Adapt or die! 10 tips for brands today.

THE FEARLESS LION HAS TO SHOW THE JACKALS WHO'S IN CHARGE

And then one day, when the time is right, you'll get up and tear the shit out of everybody. Because every once in a while you have to show the jackals who you really are.

MANAGE YOUR TIME BETTER, CHANGE YOUR PRIORITIES

Here's a lesson in how to change your priorities and better manage your time that I use in my talks and workshops.

NEVER BE AFRAID TO BET ON YOURSELF

There is no playbook: we’re all just figuring shit out as we go along. And when all’s said and done, what other bets can you make that are going to be as sure a thing as betting on yourself? Answer = None. You are the best bet there is so always bet on yourself.

A BREATHTAKING BRAND CALLED NIGEL KENNEDY

One Friday evening my son Nick and I had the mighty privilege of watching Nigel Kennedy and his band play Jimi Hendrix.

STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!

Stop living your life with the handbrake on and step out of your comfort zone.

THE HORRIBLE TRUTH ABOUT RESUMES

Resumes are not a true reflection of who you are and what you can do.

HOW TO WIN IN 2022

Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a framework for understanding consumers’ needs, these are some of the how to win waves that brands would do well to ride in 2022 and beyond.

CULTURE IS WHAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL EMPOWERED AND INSPIRED

The motivation behind this new focus on company culture is share price and risk management. No matter. If this leads to workplaces where people are more engaged and satisfied at work, long may it last.

NORMAL DIED THIS YEAR

“Normal” died this year as a new reality shaped our lives. Covid_19 took away a lot of what we considered “normal” everyday life.

NOT ALL SUPERHEROES WEAR CAPES

THE CONSOLATION OF CONFINEMENT

This period of confinement is your opportunity to appreciate a great deal of what you generally see without ever properly noticing. Enjoy it.

END THE LOCKDOWN NOW!

WHAT'S THE BIG TABOO IN OUR LIVES?

If sex is no longer the BIG taboo, what is? What would be The Book that parents might slip to their kids, without ever admitting it openly?

BE PRESENT

I’m tired of being obsessed with memories of the past. Try instead to invent a current life worthy of seeing through the lens of my mind.

WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO J&J?

LEADERSHIP: NEVER HAVE A GUY LIKE BOB WORKING FOR YOU

I'M TOO BUSY TO TELL PEOPLE I'M BUSY

WHEN TIME STANDS STILL

IS THE WORLD GETTING BETTER OR WORSE? AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

It’s easy to think the world is getting worse and worse by the day, when in fact it's better then ever.

IF YOU WERE BORN BEFORE 1980 ...

ARE YOU DOING A JOB OR CHANGING THE WORLD?

There are three kinds of relationships you can have with your work: you either have a job, a career, or a calling.

PEAK PERFORMANCE: WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE PARTY?

What are the attributes of peak performance? This is a fundamental question, that goes right to the heart of work, talent, and great people.

THE COURAGE TO BE YOURSELF

Because whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself.

IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO PLAY IN THE REALM OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

It's the holiday season. That time of the year when we reach out to others who are less fortunate than ourselves, whoever or wherever they may be, and make a difference in small or big ways to them and their lives.

a matter of great fucking R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

STOP FEAR FROM STOPPING YOU

Fear is like a handbrake that holds you back. This is how to get out of your comfort zone and start thriving.

PLAY BIG OR GO HOME

ARE YOU LIVING YOUR RESUME OR YOUR EULOGY

ARE YOU LIVING A LIFE THAT INSPIRES YOU?

POPULARITY IS FOR MEDIOCRE PEOPLE

Real people turn up and say, "This is who I am" - because they don't give a fuck what the group thinks. That's authentic.

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK

WHAT SORT OF BRIEFS ARE YOU DISHING OUT?

THE WORST BOSS IN THE WORLD: THAT WOULD BE YOU

I AM YOUR ATTITUDE

I control how you feel, be it cheerful or miserable, up or down. I am your attitude.

HOW TO CRUSH A MAN

How to crush a man - bore him to death at work - by Fyodor Dostoyevsky [he who knows the true meaning of “punishment”]

10 REASONS WHY YOU’LL NEVER DO ANYTHING AMAZING WITH YOUR LIFE

WHAT'S UP WITH OUR BANKS? A STORY IN 3 CHAPTERS

ARE YOU TRAPPED INSIDE YOUR WORLDVIEW?

HOW TO CREATE SHAREHOLDER WEALTH: BUILD A COMPANY PEOPLE LOVE.

Shareholder wealth is not a business input. Shareholder wealth is an output i.e. it happens "as a result of" doing these four things:

THE #1. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT THAT NO-ONE IS TALKING ABOUT

DON'T WORK FOR THE MONEY. IT'S NEVER ENOUGH.

IF SOMEONE ISN'T UPSET BY WHO YOU ARE, YOU AREN'T PUSHING HARD ENOUGH

Are your words leading to feeble or powerful outcomes?

CREATIVITY IS ABOUT PUTTING YOURSELF ON THE LINE

One thing I do know about creative people is that their work is an expression of their ideas, and their ideas only. And it's a hard sell.

The truth is hard to find

The state of TRUST

an autobiography

Is the voice in your head driving you fucking crazy?

Is this the H&M Way?

I hope that H&M intends to and can and will keep all of its promises in future - ethically, honestly, and responsibly.

WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO DIET COKE?

To think that Diet Coke is now going to be lapped up by millennials just because the packaging is slimmer and it has four new flavours is, in my view, a very big call.

Always give them an A

A brand called Docs

Rule #6

Death by overwork

More than a brand, Tesla is on a mission

FREEDOM COMES AT TOO HIGH A PRICE

Millennials (Gen Y, born 1980-2000, aged 17-37) aren’t driving motorcycles. And that’s really hurting Harley-Davidson.

THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE PERFUME

The world's most expensive perfume, Imperial Majesty by Clive Christian is sold at $435,000 for a 16.9oz bottle.

Using fashion to get inside his opponent’s head

SHUFFLING THE NO SUGAR CARDS AT COCA-COLA

Coca-Cola is set to remove Coke Zero from Australian shops with the launch of Coca-Cola No Sugar. This is their third sugar-free product.

The smell of the place.

Old habits die hard

Money or the Box? How money alienates you from the things that matter, and what to do about it.

What is YOUR greatness?

Does anyone give a shit?

THE STORY OF THE RABBIT THAT GOT AWAY

HOW POSITIVE BRAND AFFINITY DRIVES OUR CHOICES

Are people less attracted to smoking simply because the packs are devoid of any and all branding?

How to fuck up your brand in an instant

Two brands not afraid to make a stand

Input versus Output. A modern workplace dilemma.

WORK-LIFE. WHAT BALANCE?

Work-life balance: there is no distinction between ‘work’ and ‘life’ if your ‘work’ is as much a part of your ‘life’ as your ‘life’ is.

The largest drop EVER in TRUST

IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING

The bumblebee is not supposed to fly. Its body is too heavy and its wing span is too small. And yet it flies.

Rational irrationality

A BRAND CALLED ROCKY

Fuck you Monday!

I don’t get the mentality of being head-down sad on a Monday morning. You know those people who live for weekends? They’re wishing their life away.

A new operating system: the things that really DO motivate us

THE GRINDING BANALITY OF SAMENESS

When it comes to branding, sameness is death. Compliance over inspiration; obedience over boldness; being right over being awesome.

Do what you love

THE UNBRANDED BRAND

Have you ever heard of an unbranded brand? The brand that’s so independent and self-assured that it doesn’t need to actually brand itself.

HOW HIGH ARE YOU AIMING?

THE GREATEST LESSON I LEARN'T AT SCHOOL

When I was 11 our class year sat a General Knowledge test. The last question took us all by surprise: The name of the lady who cleans the school?

THE CORNER STOREKEEPER IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN OREGON

Steve Young hangs up this sign outside his small dry cleaning business in Oregon. It helps unemployed people to get a job.

Back to the future

What’s your superpower?

The power of language [or How not to do it]

An Australian Story

The world is an empty space waiting to be filled. By YOU.

I’m not playing that game

Would you recommend your life to someone else?

Beware The Hedonistic Treadmill

Fashion Darling …

THE GREATEST AGENCY IN THE WORLD

My first job in an advertising agency was a Graduate Trainee at Saatchi & Saatchi on Charlotte Street, London.

USING YOUR BRAND TO BREATHE LIFE INTO THE MACHINE

Is your organisation run as a machine, or is it run as a living entity that displays the full range of human emotions?

BRAND AS STORY

brand as service

The Angel In The Stone

A brand called Warren

BRAND POWER

It amazes and amuses me how the business of Digital, Data and Direct Marketing has forgotten the power of brand.