It’s a question that comes up more than ever: Do I have free speech at work? The answer may surprise you. In most workplaces, employees should absolutely be encouraged to share ideas, challenge assumptions, identify problems, and offer different perspectives. In fact, organizations that discourage honest feedback rarely improve. Innovation depends on people who are...
Ask ten people what branding is, and most will describe a logo, a color palette, or a tagline. And while those things matter, they are really only the outward expression of something much deeper. At 78Madison, we believe brand strategy and branding aren’t simply things you create. They’re things you cultivate. Your brand is the...
One of the greatest lessons I learned in more than forty years in the advertising agency business is this: You don’t really know what you can accomplish until you stop waiting for someone else to tell you it’s okay. We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” While I wouldn’t recommend...
Take a look at the homepage of most company websites and you’ll notice a pattern. “We’ve been in business for 25 years.” “We’re industry leaders.” “Our team is passionate about excellence.” “We provide innovative solutions.” The problem? Your customers don’t wake up thinking about your company. They wake up thinking about their problems. They want...
As America celebrates 250 years of independence, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on something many of us rarely stop to appreciate: what an incredible privilege it is to own, lead, or work in a business in this country. We often get caught up in deadlines, budgets, customer expectations, regulations, and the day-to-day challenges...
Most companies don’t have a marketing problem. They have a courage problem. In boardrooms and marketing meetings across the country, the same conversation happens every day: “Let’s not do anything too controversial.” “Let’s stick with what we’ve always done.” “Let’s not take any chances.” On the surface, that sounds responsible. After all, risk is something...
On paper, the brief is straightforward. Capacity. Dates. Budget. Brand alignment. Amenities. But anyone who has worked closely with meeting planners knows that’s just the surface. The real decision-making happens in the margins – in the things that rarely make it into the RFP, but ultimately determine where the business goes. Here’s what meeting planners...
Meeting planners are inundated. Emails. LinkedIn messages. Cold outreach. “Just checking in” follow-ups. Most of it gets ignored. Not because planners are dismissive, but because the majority of outreach feels interchangeable. Same language. Same promises. Same lack of relevance. So, what actually breaks through? Here’s what 78Madison has concluded (from years of trial and error)...
Imagine your brand walking into a room. Not your logo. Not your website. Not your tagline. Your brand as a person. Do people lean in… or slowly look for the nearest exit? It’s a simple question, but it cuts straight to the heart of brand voice. Because whether you realize it or not, your brand...
Marketing is noisy. Every week, there’s a new “must-do” trend, a new platform to master, or a new tool promising to transform your business overnight. But let’s be honest, most of it doesn’t matter. And for clients and businesses trying to make smart decisions, clarity is more valuable than chasing every shiny object. So, how...