Human Nature
A weekly newsletter for people creating lasting, positive change in themselves, business and the world.
Be the most stupid person in the room
Subscribe | Connect I’m sitting in a meeting about launching a clothing rental scheme. It’s the 13th meeting we’ve had about this, and we’re no closer to launching. Everyone in the room is visibly bored. The project lead is at the front, going on about details that, frankly, I don’t understand anymore. Despite people nodding along, one question hangs in the air. A question so obvious, no one wants to ask it.Because, at this point, asking it would make you look stupid. Well, I asked it. Photo...
34 books to change your thinking
Subscribe | Connect Yearbook 1 © Hiut Denim Co. Hello changemaker, Tomorrow, I celebrate my 34th birthday. Yep. Still a spring chicken. In those thirty-four years, I've had some 620,500,000 thoughts. 620 million thoughts! I believe the quality of your thoughts directly correlates with what you feed your brain. Quality in.Quality out. I often feel like I think differently from many of those around me. Which I take as a pretty good indication I'm not following the crowd. As I reflect on the 34...
What spilt milk can teach you about marketing
Subscribe | Connect Hi there, Sorry for the later-than-usual email today. I spent today at the University of Derby giving a guest lecture to MA Marketing students. I was speaking about brand relevance in a changing world and how the most important thing you can do is remember that our role as marketers is to help people transform into the version of themselves they want to be. I love spending time at universities. They're a melting pot of youthful energy, ideas, idealism, and inspiration....
Are you talking about the wrong thing?
Subscribe | Connect I was chatting to a co-founder of a business this week. After 5 successful years, they're struggling with conversion. Despite getting thousands of website visits each week.They get very few sign-ups. Strategically, they're in a super strong position: first to market, the ONLY option in the UK, and it's a hot topic. So the question is: why aren't people signing up? Maybe that sounds familiar. In this week's newsletter, we dive into the curse of knowledge and how to avoid...
Screw this...
Subscribe | Connect Every now and then, I find something I obsess over. I'll go around telling everyone who'll listen about it.Don't be fooled. The bar is high.It's gotta be radically perspective-changing. Often, it's music or a film or a book.This time it's a podcast. In my increasingly busy life, I've really leaned into listening to audiobooks. I love how I can "read" while walking the dog or walking into town. I literally remember things I've listened to by physical location. Like, there's...
“I might have to cancel your booking…”
Subscribe | Connect This morning, I cried while hearing these words: “To my customers: I am sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you had booked in. Because I’m heading for Parliament” They are the words Hannah Spencer shared as she became the first ever Green Party MP in the North of England. A huge shift in the political landscape. She’s also the first ever Green candidate to win a parliamentary by-election. And won a staggering 40.7% of votes, as much as 12 points ahead...
Sometimes the worst move is the obvious one
Subscribe | Connect Imagine this… You’ve just joined a team as a sustainability lead with the mandate to start making the business more sustainable. You are brimming with ideas: swap the fleet for EVs, install automated low-flow taps, switch energy providers, use recycled paper, stop buying biros. You can’t wait to begin, so where do you start? The stationary cupboard. You open the door, and it’s a graveyard of single-use plastic. Biros, plastic folders, bubble wrap, sticky tape, letter...
You don’t have a storytelling problem
Subscribe | Connect Credit: Helen Rowan Last night, I gave a talk about Brand Storytelling for Good. It was a charming evening with 30-odd local business owners and brand leaders in the room. From photographers to yoga teachers to placemakers. My intention was simple: light a spark for interesting conversations.And, on hearing some of the chatter after my talk, I think I succeeded. One person grabbed me afterwards and asked a question: "How do I tell my story?" I’ve lost count of how many...
How to craft a message that matters
Subscribe | Connect Hi, it's Kevin. And I'm back! I decided to take some time off at the end of last year due to illness and a few projects that took up a big chunk of my time. That time off extended into the festive break, and now I'm refreshed and super psyched to be back. In the meantime, our small community has grown by 8%, which is super exciting. But there's also been a hell of a lot change in the world. Davos. Venezuela. The world’s first officially recognised climate refugees. The...
Want better ideas? Invite the wrong people
Subscribe | Connect Hello, Sorry for the radio silence last week. I was planning to send my newsletter on Thursday/Friday last week to share some insights from Blue Earth Summit. But I was having too good a time connecting with generous humans doing meaningful work. I figured you'd forgive me. It was great to see so many of you there: Abby, Ben, Jonny, Bonnie, Adam, Jordan, Charles, Ritchie, and so many more. Today's newsletter is inspired by an experience at Blue Earth... so let's get to it....
A weekly newsletter for people creating lasting, positive change in themselves, business and the world.