Listen and watch: interviews about business books, AI, and storytelling
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Listen and watch: interviews about business books, AI, and storytelling

I’m grateful to the hardworking podcasters and video creators who’ve been interested enough in my book to interview me. These are some of the most creative and best-prepared thinkers out there, working hard to come up with new perspectives that will benefit their listeners and viewers. Here’s a short list of unique interviews I’ve just…

The Zoom earnings call and the future of video communication
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The Zoom earnings call and the future of video communication

Zoom used its own video product to conduct its first post-IPO earnings call earlier in June. This is the future of communication. As a former analyst, I can tell you what earnings calls used to be. There was a press release. Then there was a conference call, or possibly a Webinar. In any case, everything…

The perfect length for promotional video and other delusions from CONCURED
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The perfect length for promotional video and other delusions from CONCURED

According to CONCURED, an artificial intelligence platform, the perfect length for promotional video is 3 minutes and 54 seconds. This may be the silliest “fact” I’ve read this month. CONCURED, which calls itself “The world’s first AI-powered Content Strategy Platform,” issued a press release about its new insights. Here’s the whole thing: Artificial Intelligence Names…

Promoting the T-Mobile-Sprint merger with a clear and upbeat message

Promoting the T-Mobile-Sprint merger with a clear and upbeat message

T-Mobile has agreed to acquire Sprint. But the two mobile carriers need regulatory approval to go forward with their merger. Rather than the usual lobbying, they’ve released a video. It’s notable for its clear, simple message addressed directly to consumers. Here’s the video, which already has 84,000 views. Reducing a complex message to simple and…

Will video make text and writing obsolete?
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Will video make text and writing obsolete?

Everyone consumes content online now, and video is ubiquitous. Is it time to admit that writing is obsolete? Not quite. But you must recognize the power of video and understand how it works with text to improve how-to and narrative communication. I recently had a mindset-altering conversation with a third-year medical student. She’s helping me…

United breaks passengers (and apologizes feebly)
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United breaks passengers (and apologizes feebly)

I didn’t want to write another United Airlines post, but so many of you insisted — and United’s apology is even lamer than the one from two weeks ago. On an overbooked flight from Chicago to Louisville, United Express needed space to ferry four crew members to another assignment. After an $800 bribe persuaded only two passengers…

tronc’s employee video is the opposite of inspiring
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tronc’s employee video is the opposite of inspiring

Tribune corporation produced a video to excite employees about its transformation to “tronc” (Tribune online content). The video vividly shows why it’s unlikely to succeed. Newspapers are in bad shape. And Tribune — which owns the Chicago Tribune and the LA Times, and has stumbled from owner to owner — is in particular trouble. Hence…