There is a sweet spot, however difficult to find, between analysis paralysis and “plunge-in bias.” Here’s how CEOs can withstand uncertainty and make their way through complex challenges sustainably. Complexity is the unsung nemesis of 2023 for CEOs. No matter the industry, economic uncertainty, wild supply chains, and the throes of digital transformation are making businesses more complex than ever before.

A new survey suggests many consumers don’t experience digital video and CTV ads as meaningfully more personalized than traditional TV—often because of over-frequency, weak creative rotation, and targeting that doesn’t “feel” relevant on-screen. For local media AEs and agencies, that perception gap is the opportunity: clients don’t want more jargon about targeting—they want a better managed ad experience they can defend. The winning play is to sell “premium delivery” (controls, rotation, sequencing, and proof) so streaming performs better and feels smarter to the viewer.

Recently, I had an interesting conversation with an executive. It was a large organization. By most measures, it was extremely successful. Year after year of good (perhaps not great) revenue growth, good profitability. They checked all the boxes the financial markets tend to care about and it was reflected in their stock price. But the executive was uncomfortable. As we peeled back his concerns and started looking at the data, we discovered some interesting things:

I’ve seen a series of posts offering tricks and techniques to eliminating objections. Every day, we see experts commenting on objections, “how to overcome them, how to handle them, how to eliminate them.” Objections are often positioned as a battle between sellers and the customer, with our objective to prevail, defeating the customers’ objections

Weekly Newsletter January 26, 2026

As media inflation cools across the U.S., local media sellers mdash;across newspapers, magazines, billboards, TV, and digital mdash;are entering 2025 with a more stable pricing environment. The latest ECI Media Inflation Report projects just a 2.5% increase in media costs, with radio ad rates rising only 1% and digital video (CTV) seeing continued price declines. For local media sellers, this presents a key opportunity: while national and global uncertainties persist, local advertisers may find more room to buy and plan confidently. Stability in pricing can help unlock conversations with cautious advertisers, especially in sectors pressured by tariffs and consumer belt-tightening.

Nov 12, 2024 | Digital Media and Technology, Industry Press Highlights Executive Summary: Pinterest has positioned itself as a top destination for holiday shopping this...

Few retail sectors have suffered as much from the pandemic as restaurants. It doesn’t just affect the cash register till, but also employment (often teens and younger adults), payroll and sales taxes and tourism. Although some major chains may experience significant revenues losses, and even bankruptcy, it’s the independents and mom-and-pop establishments which are experiencing the brunt of state-mandated closures.

How a War Veteran Built Canada's Most Influential Youth Media Empire and Changed Pop Culture Forever
Allan Waters, a World War II veteran, transformed a failing Toronto radio station into CHUM Limited, one of Canada’s most influential media empires. He pioneered youth-focused programming and launched iconic platforms like MuchMusic, while supporting Canadian artists through initiatives like VideoFACT. Waters succeeded by deeply understanding underserved audiences and building cultural institutions that fostered trust and loyalty. His legacy teaches media professionals that long-term success comes from innovation, community connection, and purpose-driven leadership.

Physical retail maintains strong pull despite e-commerce growth, offering local media and agencies key targeting opportunities.

Despite e-commerce growth, 76% of consumers consider in-store shopping a holiday ritual, with three-quarters saying it's essential to feeling festive and connected. Physical stores drive higher-value purchases, as 70% of shoppers feel more comfortable buying premium items in-store versus 30% online, while 72% trust in-store quality more than online options. The research challenges Black Friday's effectiveness, with 84% of consumers preferring deals spread throughout November and December rather than concentrated one-day events. For local media sales reps and agencies, the data suggests opportunities in sustained promotional campaigns, experiential retail messaging, and targeting Gen Z shoppers who show the strongest affinity for in-store discovery.

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 with a vision to build an online bookstore, but his relentless focus on customer obsession, innovation, and long-term thinking transformed it into a global tech and retail empire. From the early days in a Seattle garage to launching Amazon Web Services, Alexa, and acquiring The Washington Post, Bezos consistently pushed boundaries across industries. His leadership style—rooted in experimentation, operational excellence, and bold vision—helped Amazon redefine commerce, logistics, and cloud computing. Bezos’s journey offers powerful lessons in brand building, customer experience, and strategic risk-taking for marketers, media professionals, and entrepreneurs alike.

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Weekly Newsletter January 12, 2026

Many journalists, bloggers, scientists and futurists have described artificial intelligence and robotics as “The Third Industrial Revolution.” It may be more accurate to call it “The Everything Revolution,” because their use has already impacted many industries – and for decades. What AI and robotics are about to impact is virtually every other sector of society and everyone’s life.