authenticated reviews

The best little country on Earth

The best little country on Earth

Last week I was in Paris, waiting with thousands of other Eurostar commuters for more hours than usual to queue for trains back to London. French customs officials were striking to show what travel would look like in a post-Brexit world, and I had a lot of time to...

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Hatred will never trump tolerance and love

Hatred will never trump tolerance and love

I'm currently in London and woke up on Friday morning to the unbelievable news that there had been a shooting at two mosques in Christchurch - a city I have lived in for 28 years of my life. Like most Kiwis - at home and around the world - I have followed the news of...

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Zip codes and sea monkeys

Zip codes and sea monkeys

When I was a kid I used to love poring over the advertisements for toys, magic tricks, and gimmicks in the back pages of comics. There were two items that myself, and my friends coveted the most - sea monkeys and the 1000 piece US Revolutionary War set. One thing...

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Brand loyalty only goes so far

Brand loyalty only goes so far

Since I was a kid I have loved airplanes and flying. Not that I can fly myself - just that I have enjoyed the experience of jetting between countries inside of some of the greatest engineering feats human beings have achieved. My father worked for Air New Zealand for...

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Football gets it right – and dreadfully wrong

Football gets it right – and dreadfully wrong

Sport tends to mirror the best, and the worst of real life and that is possibly its greatest attraction. Sure there's the drama, the comebacks, the domination, the fierce contests between rivals - but I think sports is at its greatest and most dire, when it reflects...

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Consistent marketing wards off invisibility

Consistent marketing wards off invisibility

For a business to survive and thrive it needs to be seen – that may sound overly simplistic but it’s true. Being seen is the key to attracting customers, accruing revenue and sustaining growth. To be seen, a business has to market its brand, goods, and services and it...

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Our day of sporting infamy

Our day of sporting infamy

In 1981, New Zealand sports teams were involved in two events that have significantly shaped our sporting and cultural legacy. The first was the Springbok Tour  - where the South African rugby team’s visit to our shores deeply divided the nation - resulting in...

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Video killed the radio star, part 2

Video killed the radio star, part 2

I talk to thousands of business owners and consumers each year. While they are all obviously different - in age, gender, racial and ethic background and life experience - the one thing they have in common is that they are trying to connect - with customers and with...

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Marketing a reputation in boom times and bust

Marketing a reputation in boom times and bust

Marketing is a vital element to every business’ success and viability. Like other essentials, it needs to be nurtured and more importantly – it requires a commitment – to ensure that a business’ name, brand, and services are continually present where they are most...

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