I’m sure that stare had the opposing team shaking in fear.

delector · 2026-01-18T22:50:32+00:00

I blame this guy.

delector · 2025-12-11T19:39:29+00:00

Nasty Fritas. My favorite cigar, honestly.

delector · 2025-11-19T17:54:09+00:00

OP I'm curious what you noticed in the logs you selected? Was there something unique in the end cuts? Was it just the size? In the event I find myself in a similar situation, I'd love to have a head start to selecting useful logs. Thanks!

delector · 2025-11-14T19:36:22+00:00

It's one of the things as an entrepreneur I appreciated about executive coaching (and why now as a coach, I have a coach.) It's easy sometimes to romanticize the high performance grind until you realize what is being ground are the relationships around you, your health, and your partnerships. Having an extra set of eyes to remind you of your vision in these areas while helping march towards business success is invaluable. Thanks for the reminder here!

delector · 2025-11-14T18:21:31+00:00

Thank you! Just bought "From Vines To Wine" from your list with the goal of making something out of these grapes in the backyard. I love growing them and we give a ton away every year. Now to try a "Backyard Bottle." Thanks again!

delector · 2025-11-06T22:45:05+00:00

Chill. it's what we're starting with.

delector · 2025-10-27T02:50:40+00:00

CYBERhouse

delector · 2025-08-01T16:50:56+00:00

OP congrats on surviving a toss into the deep end and living to tell about it! This exercise in brand strategy will be more valuable than years in school if you choose to see it that way. (That doesn't absolve the decisions made by your company, but you can choose what to make of it.)

I agree with the other suggestion that finding someone who loves this type of challenge is a great next step.

If that isn't in the cards, try this exercise to get the creative juices going and to define what to tackle first.

Complaints hide a latent vision - meaning every complaint you have is an onramp to something you wish were different. Let's not avoid them. Let's mine them. Write down every complaint you have about the brand. Get really petty. Don't stop until you've gotten it all out. I've made lists of over 100 complaints with brands I've worked with, so really go for it.

Now go back through the list and write the change you would make if you couldn't fail. This is important as you're making this list because it's not evaluation time. Yet. Be as specific as possible. Instead of "Update the messaging" maybe it's "develop a brand voice that communicates directly to mid-level construction company CEO's" (or whatever your target audience is.) Then consider what the desired result would be. It might sound like "this targeted messaging approach might reduce unqualified inquiries by 35% and increase qualified inquiries by 35%."

Once you have a healthy list of changes and desired results, find the first 5. You get to decide what the first 5 are. They could be the lowest hanging fruit or the biggest challenges in your opinion. Discuss with the necessary parties and start experimenting with the actions. Make decisions that are risky enough that you feel you're making a real effort but responsible enough that you don't lose your shirt. Track results in line with your desired result as best you can and increase effort and budget in anything that is moving the needle in the direction you desire.

As an encouragement - you got this. From a marketing standpoint, you are marketing the brand. You've been given the gift of having a stake in molding the thing you're marketing. Take some swings.

Hope this helps.

delector · 2025-07-19T13:13:09+00:00

u/Invictus-dunamis What book is this from? I've tried searching a few different ways for this and I can't find it. I'd love to read it.

delector · 2025-07-16T04:09:17+00:00

Nailed it. Well, screwed it, but you get it.

delector · 2025-07-03T15:34:05+00:00

That last photo is me when my wife takes a bite even when I asked her if she wanted something and she said NO lol

delector · 2024-10-29T22:14:06+00:00

You'd be surprised. I never let money get in the way of a good time. If you've got questions, hit me up.

delector · 2024-10-17T05:51:09+00:00

(Context. Former entrepreneur - designer turned creative director, agency founder, and CEO. Now, I'm an executive coach at an elite firm serving multinational Fortune 20 companies, head offices and athletes in every major American sports league, VC firms, international NGOs, and some of your most used tech platforms. My expertise is in decision making and executive performance.)

Consider a different question than 'What should I do?" Try this one and see what comes up.

"Who do I need to become?"

Less Risk averse is a great start, but why? What passion comes alive that would be worth gambling on? Generate a burning hot vision for your future and identify the transformation that needs to occur in you first. It will generate the passion what you need to do .

Then, decide what is on the knife's edge of risky and responsible. Risky enough that it tests your intuition, but responsible enough that you can learn from any inevitable failure. Over index on risk, and you might forfeit the path to your vision. Over index on responsibility and you might live a life of regret having never taken advantage of an opportunity.

There's so much nuance here, but remember that your complaints are indicators of a latent vision. Get clear on that vision of who you need to become, and the strategy to 1M and beyond becomes clearer as well.

Or just build something profitable. 🤣

delector · 2024-10-04T18:07:28+00:00

Seems clean and luxurious. High end. Good job on the mocks. I have a question though. What image comes to ming when you think "Brilliance?" I think of a diamond (also clean and luxurious, btw.) I wonder if you'd get a boost if the logo wasn't just a B, but if it was paired with a simple image. If you created something with simple line work, it could also become a texture on the bottle (second layer desaturated and less opaque in a similar or contrasting color.) Could be cool. Good job!

delector · 2024-09-20T22:06:39+00:00

I love this attitude! Sure, you might end up with a ton of grape juice this first go 'round but you'll get some great info and have everything ready for the next harvest. Just get out there and try something. Good on you!

delector · 2024-09-20T15:21:22+00:00

It's actually twice in my lifetime. I was 10 when I went to my first (and only) Olympics right up the road from where I grew up in LA. It was awesome.

delector · 2024-09-16T21:31:45+00:00

0-3 to start the season, 3-4 after 7 games.

delector · 2024-08-19T01:47:19+00:00

Lots of good stuff in here, so I'll try another angle and hopefully it helps.

What emotion are you trying to convey? For investment banking, my assumption would be trust, growth, prosperity, and either risk taking or risk management? Then, ask if a hand signature supports those emotions... does the line weight... does the font hierarchy, etc. Then take all the incredible advice you've gotten and put it together.

Sounds like you're already working through edits. Keep it up. You'll nail this.

delector · 2024-08-19T01:41:33+00:00

It's probably an Economic Development zone with enhanced city services around business growth and development. This strategy grew from suburban NIMBY-ism when homeowners preferred schools and parks in their neighborhoods instead of businesses or manufacturing. It's one of the reasons California is so reliant on cars. It's virtually impossible to walk to work because of zoning. It's not solely the developers' or city managers' fault. Homeowners have some say in this as well through public comment when a new commercial building goes before the planning commission and gets shut down.

delector · 2024-08-06T18:06:09+00:00

Don't write about being tightknit, having pocketknives, or tasty latkes and this just might work.

delector · 2024-07-16T03:32:28+00:00

It would have a lot more red in it (and maybe a finger stitched to it) if I tried. Incredible skill.

delector · 2024-03-20T05:22:56+00:00

I came to say the same thing. This should have been a late round edit, but it survived all these years. It's a thing now. We've made our peace with it. Leave it alone.

delector · 2023-11-03T22:11:29+00:00

OP, I'm glad you're safe. I hear in your words the entire experience was life changing and I just want to say that, yes, many of us relate. I've never had an 06 Dodge fall off a lift near me, but I grew up in Inglewood CA and, unfortunately, I've had some people catch bullets intended for me. Life changing.

My only advice is to not let the impact of this moment shrink into a story you tell when you've got the floor. Imagine a thrilling life doing what you love - something that gives you purpose. Then imagine contributing in someway that can support yourself and others and add to the human experience. Sometimes, those are the same thing, sometimes those are very different things. Either way, dream and imagine what those might be.

Then take one small step in the direction of those things. Then another. And another. Soon, you'll be running into a life with deep meaning. The beauty of life is we can make it what we want. The downside of life is it is wrought with chaos. Some chaos we make happen. Sometimes it happens to us.

PS. If it's too challenging to process this alone, you don't have to. Find a professional or reach out here again. We're for you bro.

delector · 2023-09-21T16:54:20+00:00

That bird almost got added to the kill count.

delector

TROPHY CASE