Author Archives: Peter

July Workshop

By Peter | June 8, 2010

BETTER BRAND STORY PRESENTS: ELEVATING YOUR ELEVATOR SPEECH
Workshop Offered to Business & Non Profit Leaders, Managers, Project Managers, Job Seekers, and Social Networkers
WHEN:
Wednesday, July 7
6pm – 9pm
WHERE:
At the Strand Theater (1823 N. Charles [...]

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Theater as a Business Metaphor

By Peter | April 13, 2010

“The Humble Hound” is a great editorial in the New York Times (April 8, 2010) by David Brooks on leadership styles. It ends using theater as a metaphor.
The metaphor relates to the people who work behind the scenes, whose satisfaction comes, not from the applause, but from working with others towards a shared higher purpose.

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Ideas on when and how to fail

By Peter | April 8, 2010

The two most artistically interesting people I know are Liz Lerman and Adrian Danzig. Liz is the founding Artistic Director of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, and Adrian the Artistic Director of 500 Clown. What do a dancer and a clown have in common? They ask the most daring artistic questions and risk their take on [...]

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IGNITE Baltimore

By Peter | March 8, 2010

In five minutes and 20 slides (rotating every 15 seconds), I present “Business is Theater” at Ignite Baltimore 5. I make the case for how well theater best practices apply in the world of business.
Have a look and listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUGw5yC7P48&feature=PlayList&p=0CADB93695631416&index=
Here’s a link to Ignite Baltimore:
http://ignitebaltimore.com/
I’ve attended a few Ignites as a spectator and thought, “Hey, I [...]

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Business as Theater

By Peter | December 8, 2009

One of my favorite theater companies, Single Carrot Theatre, has been selected as a “Startup to Watch” by the Baltimore Business Journal. I’m delighted but not surprised. Every play that Single Carrot produces is a start-up venture. For each production they assemble a unique team of leaders, designers, techies, and performers around a core concept–the [...]

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The History of Branding

By Peter | September 23, 2009

The history of branding goes something like this:
This is mine:

This is better:

I am like this:

When your audience intuitively understands what “like this” means, then you have a winning, sustainable brand.

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Case Study: Branding Water

By Peter | September 22, 2009

Step #1 — Uncover your Brand DNA
Do research…Find people who have a relationship with water and ask them to choose words, phrases and concepts that best describe water. They might say that water is:
Liquid
Useful
Gives life
Cleans
Erodes
Floods
Powerful force
Gentle healer
Contradictions abound  as they do in people and organizations. Many I hear include: Are we about classic plays or [...]

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Universal Truth

By Peter | September 8, 2009

Situation:
Between bands as a drummer I picked up the guitar. I’ve been playing a few years, and written a few decent songs. The craft of songwriting is interesting. Within certain parameters you want to compose a memorable melody, tell a compelling story, create a certain mood, and connect with an audience.  It’s the connecting part [...]

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Stand for something people feel passionate about.

By Peter | August 25, 2009

As a leader, you are your organization’s principal story teller. Employees, customers and stakeholders all look to you to set the theme and develop the plot. Tell a great story and they all want to become characters in it. Every interaction and transaction becomes charged with meaning and drama. In a good story, threats and [...]

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