Straight Talk Blog
Ted Rubin
For Fun, For Comfort, For Life… The Many Faces of Friendship
A great mentor drilled into me at an early age something that’s stayed with me for decades... 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 fun. And a...
Where Freedom Begins… Showing Up, Even When It’s Hard
This Independence Day, I’m taking a moment to reflect on what freedom really means... what it asks of us, and what it offers. In a time when so many feel less free, when hate is louder, when immigrants and asylum seekers face hostility, antisemitism is once again...
We Can’t Fight Antisemitism With Blind Loyalty
Antisemitism is rising, violently, visibly, and it's frightening. But what makes it even more difficult is knowing that, for many, the moment I speak out against Netanyahu and the current Israeli government, I’m seen as feeding that antisemitism. That somehow, calling...
The Algorithms Are Rigged: When Platforms Prioritize Profits Over Truth
Let’s get real about the platforms we all rely on, whether for content, connection, or commerce. The algorithms aren’t neutral. They’re not just “feeding the content people want.” They are engineered to suppress anything that disrupts the plans, or profits, of those...
The Quiet Echo of Fatherhood… Still a Dad, Always Loving
I don’t get to celebrate Father’s Day in the traditional way, as a Dad surrounded by his daughters, his son-in-law, or holding his grandson. Instead, I celebrate in silence, from a distance, holding tight to memories and love that still burn bright, even if the...
AI and the Future of Connection… Putting People Before the Platform
In a previous conversation with my longtime friend and colleague Dev Mukherjee, we explored the evolving role of AI in business and relationships. The big takeaway? AI isn’t the villain, it’s the tool. But the relationships that truly matter... those are built by...
Let’s Change the Marketing and Sales Conversation
Let’s change the Marketing and Sales conversation... it’s time to move beyond the outdated, impersonal mindset of “targeting” and start thinking like matchmakers instead. TARGETING is about aiming at a prospect like a bullseye, calculating who’s most likely to convert...
Hope… The Weight We Carry, the Light We Keep
HOPE HAS A STRANGE WAY OF SHOWING UP... Sometimes it drifts in gently, like sunlight through a window, soft, warming, almost easy to miss. But other times, it crashes in, loud and relentless, refusing to let you give up even when you're exhausted… even when you don’t...
Grow Fast, But Connect Deeper… Building Personal Trust and Return on Relationship
In the race to grow a business or build personal relationships, it’s easy to fixate on speed… more followers, more leads, more visibility. But real influence isn’t measured in acceleration alone. It’s measured in depth… how deeply you connect, how much trust you earn,...
Question the Question: The Essence of Higher-Order Critical Thinking
*The inspiration for this post came from friend and colleague Ivonne Kinser and her podcast... Critical Thinking. The highest form of critical thinking isn’t about having the right answers... It's about recognizing when the question itself is flawed. This is...
Setting the Record Straight on Principal-Based Media Buying… Formerly Called “Barter”
Setting the Record Straight on Principal-Based Buying (formerly called Barter or Corporate Trade – YES, IT'S ALL THE SAME). ~via Gordon Zellner, Founder/CEO of Evergreen Trading. ➡️ Originally posted at... https://lnkd.in/eE9JUNYC ⬅️ So called, principal-based buying...
Confronting the Growing Hatred of Jews
If we truly care about lessening the rising hatred toward Jews worldwide, we must be willing to confront a painful truth: much of that anger is being fueled by the actions of Netanyahu and the Israeli government. If we want to protect Jewish lives and dignity, we must...
Survival Is Not Enough… The Fight for Jewish Conscience
I was brought up to revere Israel. My Jewish identity was formed not just at home by first-generation American Jews, Holocaust survivor relatives, and grandparents who escaped Poland, but also in the sanctuary of an Orthodox synagogue, deeply influenced by my...
It’s Not ROI “vs” ROR… It’s “ROI + ROR”
Traditional metrics like Return on Investment (ROI) have long been the gold standard for evaluating the success of projects and strategies. ROI offers a straightforward calculation: it measures the financial gain or loss relative to the investment made, often within a...
Evergreen Trading Steps Beyond Creating a “Culture” and Nurtures “Employee Community”
Creating a positive culture within a company is crucial for employee engagement, productivity, and overall success. But in today’s fast-paced business environment, simply having a good culture is not enough. Companies need to go beyond creating a culture and start...
Attitude, Perspective, and Mindset… Marketing Team Superpowers
Marketing isn’t just about strategies, data, and campaigns, it’s about how you think, adapt, and approach challenges. The best marketing teams don’t just execute; they innovate, pivot, and see opportunities where others see obstacles. The key to success lies in...
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....
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...