Straight Talk Blog
Ted Rubin
Be Clear on Expectations, and Make Sure There Is Incentive to Perform
There is power in clear expectations and meaningful incentives. One of the most important factors in achieving success—whether at work, in personal projects, or even in relationships—is ensuring clarity in expectations and providing incentives that inspire action....
Building Trust and Accountability: Evergreen Trading’s Commitment to Excellence
In MARKETING, trust is the cornerstone of successful campaigns and long-term brand loyalty. At Evergreen Trading, "A Media Investment Agency Powered By Trade," they understand that every promise made to clients and partners reflects directly on your brand's...
So Much to Do There, and So Little Time… SXSW
For me, and for many others, the most successful approach to a conference like SXSW is to allow the event to take on a life of its own once you arrive. Make plans, check the schedule (I personally always spend a great deal of time at the amazing Brand Innovators...
Partnering With Evergreen Trading Can… “Save you in such a huge way.” ~Jeanniey Walden, CMO
Jeanniey Walden:This was one of the best decisions I made when I was at RiteAid. Happy to chat about it with anyone who has questions. Ted Rubin: Jeanniey, I remember telling you about Evergreen Trading when you first called me to share with me that you were joining...
The Daily Habit Keeping Me Sane Right Now
I recently posted on FB... "I don't trust anyone who is not visibly stressed out right now." Just to clarify, that post was intended for people across the entire political spectrum. More importantly, I know for certain that many people are currently more stressed than...
A Conversation With My Brother
I had an interesting hour long conversation with my brother, an Associate Professor of History at BU (who has spent a good part of his life studying democratic grass-roots movements), this morning (FB post and comments below)… I won’t bore you with the entire subject...
Marketing and AI
For me the most important trend is how marketers are trying to use AI to take too much marketing out of the hands of humans and allowing machines to do the work. In a world where technology drives transformation, the real challenge isn’t the tools—it’s the people. How...
The Implications of the Emergence of DeepSeek AI
John Andrews: I recently participated in an industry call with AI leaders to explore the implications of DeepSeek AI. The discussion brought forth various perspectives on its impact, resulting in some noteworthy insights: - Doubts on Cost and Performance: Critics...
AI and the Heart of Relationships: A Conversation on Transformation with Dev Mukherjee
In a world where technology drives transformation, the real challenge isn’t the tools—it’s the people. I sat down with my longtime friend Dev Mukherjee, a seasoned Chief Transformation Officer with a deep background in technology and a knack for inspiring...
Personally… I’d Be SO Happy if They Shut Down ALL Social Media Platforms
Imagine a world where we step back from the chaos of endless scrolling and algorithm-driven feeds, returning to a time when human connection was at the forefront of how we communicated and built relationships. Personally, I’d be thrilled if all social media platforms...
Get Noticed at Any Event Where There Are Speakers and Opportunities for Q&A
An easy way to get noticed at any event where there are speakers and opportunities for Q&A... In advance of the event, prepare questions for the speakers. Make an effort to be the first one with your hand up for a question, sitting in one of the front rows can...
RETURN ON RELATIONSHIP Adds More to ROI Than Meets the Eye – Part 2
ROI offers a straightforward calculation: it measures the financial gain or loss relative to the investment made, often within a defined time frame. However, as businesses evolve to prioritize not only profitability but also long-term sustainability and...
CREATE Yourself as an Alternative to “Finding” Yourself
CREATING YOURSELF is a mindset I employed with my daughters in the hopes I would impress upon them, in a small way with a few words, what I will say here with many more words than their attention spans would allow while they were growing up. I continue to try to...
Be Nourished by the Love You Give
I have learned over the years, especially with the challenges I have faced with my daughters, to be nourished by the love I give, not by the validation I might receive in return. For so long, my acts, and thoughts, of care and generosity were quietly tethered to a...
Shift From a Targeting Mindset to a Matchmaking Mentality
Shifting from a targeting mindset to a matchmaking mentality in marketing represents a transformative change in how businesses engage with their audiences. Targeting traditionally focuses on identifying specific groups and persuading them to adopt a product or...
Is the Paradox of Choice Plus the Paradigm of Spam Killing Ecommerce?
My friend, colleague (former business partner) and retail thought-leader John Andrews recently asked this question on LinkedIn (see post embedded below)... "Has the paradox of choice plus the paradigm of spam killed eCommerce?" "I often find that during a digital...
Return on Relationship Adds More to ROI Than Meets the Eye
RETURN ON RELATIONSHIP (ROR), a concept I have been using and evangelizing since March 2009, is increasingly recognized, but NOT nearly enough, alongside traditional Return on Investment (ROI), and highlights the often-overlooked value derived from building and...
The Evergreen Edge
Evergreen Trading is a media trade company that delivers innovative solutions to help businesses maximize the impact of their advertising budgets. Evergreen empowers its clients with a distinct advantage—The Evergreen Edge— enabling brands to unlock unparalleled value...
The “Social” in Social Media Has Been Left Behind
Social media platforms, in their early stages, were bustling spaces of authentic conversation and connection. Brands that excelled understood that success in this realm was not just about broadcasting messages but about cultivating genuine relationships. The recent...
Networks Give You Reach… Communities Give You Power
If at some point your brand voice is misunderstood by stakeholders, a great deal will depend upon the community you have built around your brand. Building a strong community creates a support system that goes beyond simple interactions or surface-level engagement....
A “Giver’s Gain” Philosophy
From an early age, my Dad instilled in me the value of being a giver. He led by example, always extending a helping hand to our neighbors, fixing things, and offering assistance in any way possible. His acts of kindness were not driven by any expectation of...
Friendship Has Many Forms…
A great mentor drilled into me at the beginning of my career, and my Dad in many ways my whole life, that some friends will be for when you just need someone to listen and offer comfort; some will be for when you need advice and support. Some will be there for just...
Think Like a Child… And Change Your Creative Mindset to One That Works!
When we think like children, we unlock a world of curiosity, playfulness, and boundless imagination. Children don’t worry about limitations or what others might think—they explore, ask questions, and dive into creativity without fear. They see the world as a place...
Reflections on Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. For me, not being a religious person but more of a cultural Jew, it is a day of fasting (a religious activity that I participate in as a hat-tip to the community) and more...
Apply an Emotional Lens to Your Programmatic Ad Buys
VIDEO INTERVIEW ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Hotspex Media combines the head of a hold company with the heart of a boutique agency. The seasoned Hotspex team's hands-on approach and proprietary emotional targeting helps their partners maximize ad impact through powerful emotional...
Business Cards Offer a Valuable Opportunity to Build Connections
Business cards present a great opportunity for connection. It's unfortunate that so many foolishly think they are outdated…. but as always with something overlooked, a great opportunity presents itself for those who understand the value. In today’s digital age,...
RITE AID Partners with Evergreen Trading… and Evergreen SAVES Them in a HUGE WAY!
VIDEO ⬇️⬇️⬇️ SPEAKING HERE with RITE AID CMO Jeanniey Walden at the company headquarters in Philadelphia. RITE AID partners with Evergreen Trading… and Evergreen SAVES them in a HUGE WAY! Evergreen's partnership with RITE AID is just one example of why Evergreen...
What Holds You Back?
"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not." ~Denis Waitley This quote has always been stuck in my head, "It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not," as it highlights the power of self-perception in shaping...
Busy, Busy, Busy…
I think the “busy” word is also used to fend off any possibility of outreach for so many that think of connection and relationship building as a chore… AND who worry that the outreach might require some sort of a commitment to be of assistance. Too many don’t...
Instituting a Required Two Gap Years of Service After High School
Here’s an idea to help our young adults mature and learn after High School and before college, or entering the workforce independently, AND raise the productivity in the US for projects that require man/woman-power. A required two gap years that must entail either a...