Archive - Thoughts on Writing

The motte-and-bailey fallacy, and a response to a decent response

(Not a full-on post, more an extended LinkedIn reply)

Jun 16

May 2025

Stengel and a strange purpose autopsy

Despite omissions, a recent purpose conversation on the CMO podcast was at least 50% sane—and might be the closest we get to closure

May 23

December 2024

My inherently problematic Christmas ad diversity audit

This year's crop of Christmas ads is ethnically and gender diverse to a fault. But there's a weird reluctance to admit it in adland.

Dec 17, 2024

November 2024

The post-purpose election

If the 2007-2008 financial crisis marked the start of the purpose era, the 2024 election might just mark its end.

Nov 19, 2024

October 2024

The billboard backlash

Too many advertisers have forgotten about the social contract that allows billboards to exist in the first place

Oct 7, 2024

September 2024

Truthiness isn't beauty

An extract from my new book The Road to Hell, in which I examine the case of Dove, hailed as the exemplar of purposeful marketing, but based on…

Sep 9, 2024

August 2024

Social media, social purpose and social unrest

Facing concerns that social media is fuelling social unrest, a purposeful advertising industry is keen to step up – in any way that increases its power.

Aug 9, 2024

July 2024

The story of why

An excerpt from my new book The Road to Hell, examining the case of influential purpose pioneer Simon Sinek.

Jul 9, 2024

June 2024

Notes not from Cannes

On 'post-purpose', empowered judges, devaluing creativity, alt text facepalms, diverse juries, progressive ads, Musk, and all the creativity never…

Jun 24, 2024

May 2024

Come say hell-o

An invitation to the book launch, some social proof, a prod for shares and reviews, and my venture into the lions' den of WARC.

May 24, 2024

The Road to Hell is out

Today is the official release day of my book, The Road to Hell. Here's the introduction—along with an earnest appeal for support.

May 13, 2024

April 2024

The Road to Hell: pre-orders open

My book about purpose is coming out May 13th. It would mean a lot if you could pre-order copies for yourself, friends and/or sworn enemies.

Apr 17, 2024

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