Exposing the marketing science setting the time at Apple — As the world awaits Apple’s September 14th product launch, there are a lot of questions folks have about the iWatch Series 7. Will it have a bigger display? Upgraded connectivity? A battery life boost? Curiousity about these questions drove many to attend the online event. …

It doesn’t take much to leave a lasting impression on customers, partners, and employees. — I can still remember my first visit to a Doubletree Hilton. Typically, I’m loyal to Marriott, but my colleague booked the room for me with their last-minute meeting request. I raced to their airport to catch the first flight I could from Chicago to San Francisco — and then sat…

A seemingly trivial choice by Microsoft will determine it. — I was 26 years old when I learned the word trebuchet. It is both a medieval catapult and the name of a font — and my client had decided to use it throughout their new website. That summer, I learned a lot about .css — and the myriad legal disclaimers…

I stayed in a short-term rental who used technology as a virtual warden, scaring guests into good behavior. — As I walked into the homeshare apartment I’d rented for the weekend, my 25-year-old philosphy degree bellowed from a forgotten corner. PANOPTICON. Prominently displayed on the kitchen counter was a list of house rules including many variations on their “Number One Rule” “We have a zero-tolerance policy for parties or…

Gathering with family is a time of celebration — but simmering conflict can ruin the night. Here’s a guide to a successful holiday dinner. — “When are you gonna hear what my mommy and daddy said? They had a fi … they were talking mean to each other.” Working on my PhD in Communication, I spent 16 weeks with research that sprang from the recorded dinnertime conversations of a few dozen families. …

There’s a lot of freedom that comes with a “work from home” job — but it can come with great personal cost, too. — The CEO of an old-school financial firm invited all employees to a zoom meeting. The pandemic had impacted their business negatively, and it was time for him to provide a candid update on their strategy. …

Most Republicans — and Religious Voters — Affirm LGBTQ Rights. — “I’d like a pretty bra.” Our homeless outreach team had developed a relationship with this guest, so when she told them she’d reached the point in her transition when she wondered if our clothes closet might have a bra in her size, it wasn’t an unexpected request. And since…

We love to follow along at home, but most maps are messy to use. I set out to change that. — When I was in first grade, my teacher sent us home one night with a map of the United States and an assignment to watch the presidential election results on TV. States that voted for Jimmy Carter were to be colored blue, Reagan states colored red. …

Here’s what to do about that. — Last fall, I was invited to a reception honoring Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives. …