I overthink so you don’t have to.

The Red Thread® Newsletter

Stories, examples, images, and data you can use to help bring your ideas and messages to life.

The best ideas aren’t found — they’re built. Get a weekly dose of strategies, studies, and stories — direct to your inbox from me — to help you make your ideas strong enough to build change on.

I don’t want you to miss a thing

Pick your format and be the first to get all my content.

Vintage engraving showing a hand grenade, 1864

YOUTUBE

LEARN MORE

APPLE PODCASTS

LEARN MORE

LIBSYN

LEARN MORE

FRESH THREADS

The Freenoter Podcast

There are lots of resources out there on how to become a paid speaker or keynoter, but what if you speak to build your business, as a FREEnoter? Each week, join me and Tom Webster as we cover all the angles of how to profit from speaking for free. If you are looking to grow your business from the stage--without "selling from the stage," this is the show for you. We will cover EVERY aspect of building your business through speaking, and even share a different craft cocktail recipe every week, just because. Subscribe now!

Message in a Minute: You can’t have more than one “front door”

Have you ever heard that cooking advice about how to know pasta is done? That you throw it at the wall and see if it sticks? Have you ever done something similar with your messaging?

How could you use it? How Epidemics of the Past Changed the Way Americans Lived

From the masks that hang from magnetic hooks on the inside of my front door to almost forgetting what it’s like to get on a plane or eat in a restaurant, the pandemic has changed so much of every part of my life this past year — maybe yours, too?

Message in a Minute: When you know what someone wants, you know where the story starts

It’s “back in the saddle time” after a week away with my other job: Momming. This week, though, my focus is all on the beginning of your message, and more specifically, why the start of your message is arguably the most important part of it.

How could you use it? The fence is uncomfortable but it affords the best view

Towards the end of any week, I start to feel, well… ambivalent about the coming weekend. Not because I’m not looking forward to it! Goodness, no, I’m not sure what I would do without weekends. Every other one I get to spend neck-deep in baking, Animal Crossing, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D fun with my two sons. On the off […]

Message in a Minute: The Fool Wanders, the Wise Man Travels

Here’s the TL:DR (too long; didn’t read) version of both this post and my most recent “Message in a Minute” video. They’re both all about the steps you need to take to make sure your idea gets heard

How could you use it? The 7 stories of “This American Life”

I had this idea a while back that I’d use as writing prompts proverbs I include in my book. Then, a couple of weeks ago, you all seemed to LOVE the “How could you use it?” feature I was playing around with.

Message in a Minute: Great ideas aren’t found, they’re built

On my continued theme of experimenting with different forms of content, today I bring you “Message in a Minute,” which is—you guessed it!—a one-minute video about a single idea.

How could you use it? Creatures under the ice

I’m in the mood for something a bit lighter and fun this week, so I’ve invented a new feature (which may or may not exist beyond this week!): “How could you use it?”

3 places your message fails (and how to fix them)

This week I’m picking up on a concept I introduced in my last post: that as a communicator of ideas, your real job is to be a translator.

How to make your organization irresistible

You may have noticed that these little missives are often, erm, not so little. So, this week I’m going to try something I do in my forthcoming book: I’m going to give you the Red Thread of the post right up front as a wee summary.

The Red Thread® Newsletter

Stories, examples, images, and data you can use to help bring your ideas and messages to life.
The best ideas aren’t found — they’re built. Get a weekly dose of strategies, studies, and stories — direct to your inbox from me — to help you make your ideas strong enough to build change on.