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A lament about the demise of AM radio has been rising in the halls of Congress. (Nieman Lab)Read More

Veteran newspaper banker and media operator James McDonald launched a new company to consolidate hyperlocal and regional news sites across Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore. (Axios)Read More

According to Nielsen Media Research, 43.145 million viewers tuned in to watch Gov. Tim Walz debate Sen. J.D. Vance in New York City. The vice presidential match-up might end up being the final televised national debate of the 2024 election cycle, and CBS News hosted the event with anchors Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan. Simulcast…Read More

On June 6, 2024, a 35-year-old Tennessean named Robby Starbuck got wind of something that ticked him off. Tractor Supply, the retail chain where Starbuck bought feed for the cattle on his 12-acre ranch, had adopted multiple policies and initiatives aimed at fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI.) And so Starbuck, a former music video…Read More

Every founder, leader, sales rep and person on a dating app has heard this.

“Bring me the broomstick!”

Why did the Wizard ask Dorothy to bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch? It’s not because he needed a broomstick.

It’s because he wanted Dorothy to go away. If you send someone away to get something ungettable, if you articulate a need that violates the rules of physics or possibility, then you’ve said no without saying no.

For his own concealed reasons, he wasn’t sold. It’s usually fear. Fear of the unknown, or fear of going first, or fear of being seen as a fraud. There are lots of reasons we don’t want to fund a company, offer a job, go on a second date or buy something.

But sharing the real objection is painful. It might expose us. We might have the objection ‘overcome’ and then we’re on the hook.

When we ask for a broomstick, we’re sending the well-meaning person on a fruitless mission, hoping that they won’t come back.

When someone asks for a broomstick, the first thing to do is to find enough empathy to imagine why the person actually needs a broomstick. Because sometimes they do (and if that’s the case, it’s not a ‘broomstick objection’ and you should either find new people to call on or fix what you’re got).

But if they don’t need a broomstick, realize that the only thing you’ve learned is that the person you’re sitting with is afraid of something. For their sake, and yours, it pays to patiently and generously discover what it is.

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Finland’s vast green forests are famously restorative. So restorative that they can even treat diseases. That’s according to Uute Scientific, a biotech firm based in Helsinki. The company has created a unique remedy: a microbial extract that replicates Finnish nature. Today, the startup revealed new evidence of the organism’s powers. The extract targets a growing health problem. Immune systems, Uute says, are being weakened by urbanisation and oversanitation. As a result, city dwellers have higher rates of many allergic, inflammatory, and auto-immune diseases. Biodiversity could give their bodies a boost. Unfortunately, the benefits aren’t always readily available on tap. But you…

This story continues at The Next WebRead More

While AI is our latest fascination, upholding and prioritizing equity and inclusion in marketing and advertising is crucial. At Cannes Lions 2024, AI ignited essential and overdue discussions about the future of ad agencies and the creative industry. These conversations must highlight the ongoing need to promote diversity as we grow. As we plan our…Read More

Berta de Pablos-Barbier is choosing bling, joining jewelry manufacturer and retailer Pandora as its new chief marketing officer (CMO). She succeeds Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson, who is returning to Unilever, where she worked prior to sitting in the top marketer seat at Pandora. Gasco-Buisson is rejoining to take on the role of executive (CEO) at Unilever…Read More

Seven months ago, Toyota unveiled season one of its original anime series Grip. The five-episode series follows male protagonist Jae Kang, the charismatic son of a racing legend who whips through Japan in a GR Corolla. It also features some of Toyota’s other Gazoo Racing motorsport division cars including the GR Supra and GR 86….Read More

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to spotlight the voices of America’s vibrant Hispanic and Latino communities spread across the country from sea to shining sea. And that spotlight is shining brighter than ever this year courtesy of the 2024 presidential election, with the Latino vote shaping up to be one of the deciding factors…Read More