ImagineerShip

?? If Nike Knew What Nike Knows – The Formula for Success and How You Can Improve It. Nike has inspired millions with its iconic “Just Do It” mindset, but have you ever wondered what truly fueled its greatest successes? During my 10 years as a leader at Nike, I often thought: “If only Nike knew what Nike knows.” Behind the innovation and culture was something deeper - a powerful, intuitive formula that shaped every success story. Today, for the first time, that formula has been decoded. ?? ?? It wasn’t just about culture. It was the ability to intuitively: ?? Sense what consumers needed. ?? Think ahead to create meaningful connections. ?? Feel the bonds that set Nike apart. This formula, now called ImagineerShip, captures what Nike did at its best - and shows how you can evolve it for your own success. ? In the latest article, we reveal: 1? The untold dynamics that drove Nike’s golden era. 2? Why “consumer obsession” always beat competitor focus. 3? How ImagineerShip empowers you to replicate and enhance Nike’s success. ?? Ready to master the formula that made Nike great? ?? Discover the full story on ImagineerShip.com. ???? Bonding is the New Branding ???? #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Chris Igwe Linda Johansen-James Walter Holbrook Melissa Moore Jeff Sward Ghalia Boustani. Ph.D David Whiterod

THE DEATH OF IMAGINEERING - AND HOW TO BRING IT BACK ???? We were all born as Imagineers. As children, we built worlds, saw endless possibilities, and dared to ask, “What if?” Then, something happened. We grew up. ?? Rules replaced creativity. ?? Certainty killed curiosity. ?? "That’s not how we do things here" became the biggest innovation killer. The corporate world systematically trains people to stop Imagineering. The result? ?? Siloed thinking instead of synchronized genius. ?? Predictable strategies instead of bold breakthroughs. ?? Incremental improvements instead of game-changing transformation. But here’s the truth: The future doesn’t belong to the ones who follow the rules. It belongs to the ones who Imagineer new ones. ?? How Do We Restore Imagineering? It starts with breaking free from The 4 Mental Shackles: ?? Shackle #1: The Expert Trap – Companies only hire those who have “done it before.” But innovation comes from those who haven’t. ?? Shackle #2: The Silo Syndrome – Employees are taught to “stay in their lane.” But the biggest breakthroughs come from crossing boundaries. ?? Shackle #3: The Fear Factor – Perfection is demanded, failure is punished. But Imagineering requires risk. ?? Shackle #4: The Efficiency Illusion – Optimization is worshipped. But efficiency alone doesn’t create innovation - Imagineering does. ?? The Solution? ImagineerShip. ImagineerShip restores our ability to Sense, Think, and Feel as one. ? SENSE (ii – Intelligent Intuition): Detect unseen opportunities before they’re obvious. ? THINK (ViiBE – Virtuous Bonding Experience): Design bold, consumer-first strategies. ? FEEL (RiiSE – Relational Leadership): Lead with bondability and unleash collective subconscious genius. This is how businesses stop operating inside the box - and start redesigning the box itself. Innovation isn’t a skill - it’s a mindset. And it’s time to take it back. ImagineerShip. Bonding is the New Branding. ???? #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG

?? Branding is not dead - it’s just been demoted by bonding. ?? For years, businesses have believed that branding builds bonds. That if you flood the market with ads, logos, and slogans, people will feel connected to your brand. ?? But today’s consumers are iConsumer Zappers. They teleport across the ShopperVerse, dodging traditional branding attempts like a game of digital hopscotch. The old playbook? Shout your brand louder. The new reality? Consumers don’t listen - they feel. ?? If you want to build mindspace, you need to build bonds first. ImagineerShip reveals the truth: Branding doesn’t create bonds. Bonds create branding. Brands that bond don’t need to beg for attention - consumers naturally give it to them. Brands that bond don’t just sell products - they create relationships that make people return. Brands that bond don’t need a million ads - they have a million conversations. ?? Bonding isn’t a marketing trick. It’s a transformational shift. And it changes everything. ?? Are you still trying to brand your way into consumers' minds? Or are you building bonds that put your brand in their hearts? Let’s talk. ?? ???? ImagineerShip. Bonding is the New Branding. ???? #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Torben Valsted

The Consumer Experience Illusion... ? More experiences ≠ Better experiences. ? More touchpoints ≠ Stronger connections. ? More omnichannel ≠ More engagement. Most businesses are drowning in their own "experience chaos." Marketing crafts a campaign. Retail builds an activation. E-commerce optimizes conversion. Customer service operates in isolation. ?? The result? Consumers feel nothing. No connection. No journey. Just noise. If every department creates its own experience, those experiences neutralize each other. They cancel out, leaving the consumer lost in a disconnected mess. ?? The illusion of "omnichannel" has FAILED because it was never orchestrated. Presence without purpose is just clutter. ?? The Fix? ?? One strategy. ?? One orchestration. ??? One connected ViiBEpoint journey. The brands that unify sense, think, and feel into a seamless consumer experience will dominate. The rest will keep wondering why they’re losing relevance. Bonding is the new branding. And that starts with creating ONE experience - not a mess of competing ones. ?? Are you building a brand journey or just collecting random touchpoints? Let’s discuss. ImagineerShip. Bonding is the New Branding. Sense Their* Journey. Master Their* ViiBE (* Consumers & Team) ???? #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Torben Valsted

Don't recruit to copy the past. Recruit to spark the future. ?? The Copy Economy is Killing Your Business ?? ?? Copying never creates leaders. It creates leftovers. Most companies hire industry veterans because they feel “safe.” They know the playbook. They’ve been doing this for decades. They understand best practices. And yet… ?? Most industries are stuck in a race to the bottom. ?? Most businesses are just tiny variations of each other. ?? Most strategies are slight tweaks of what competitors already do. No one ever won by being a copy. ?? Nike didn’t hire industry insiders. They hired Imagineers. ?? Apple didn’t follow the PC market. They redefined it. The difference? They didn’t hire for experience. They hired for vision. The Copy Economy is a dead end. If you’re just hiring to repeat the past, you’re already being left behind. ?? The future belongs to those who don’t play by the old rules. ?? The future belongs to those who Imagineer it. ?? Are you running a copy business or an Imagineered one? ?? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s talk. If you want to catch up, do the same. If you want to get in front, do it differently. ImagineerShip. Bonding is the New Branding. ???? #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Torben Valsted

?? BUSINESSES ARE STUCK IN A LOOP – AND IT’S KILLING THEIR FUTURE ?? Many companies aren’t evolving. They’re repeating. They hire the same kind of people. They create disconnected experiences. They operate in siloes. They treat branding like it’s still 1995. And they wonder why they’re struggling to break through. The world has changed. The Copy Economy is dead. ?? You don’t win by copying what worked before, by only hiring people who’ve done exactly the same before - you succeed by Imagineering what’s next. ?? You don’t build bonds with consumers by throwing random experiences at them - you create one seamless ViiBEpoint journey. ?? You don’t foster innovation by drowning people in processes - you synchronize minds and unleash their collective subconscious genius. ?? And you don’t earn loyalty with logos - you earn it with real emotional connection. ?? Companies which innovate WHAT they do, not WHY they do it, will miss the next best trend and eventually render themselves obsolete. ?? It’s time for companies to wake up. Business isn’t only about what you SELL anymore - it’s about how you BOND. The infinite game of business belongs to those who master consumer connection. ?? We break down exactly how companies must shift their approach in a new article on the Imagineer blog and community site (link in the comments). ?? Which of these four business traps have you seen in action? Let’s discuss. ImagineerShip. Bonding is the New Branding ???? #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Torben Valsted

Just like Rome, brands and bonds are not built in a day. Many don't ever happen because we don't have the patience or attention span to see them through. It takes long time to build them but only 3 seconds to break them ?? Let's talk about the “Miller” effect in this video and how bonding doesn't happen in one big bang… It’s not about the loudest explosion or the flashiest campaign. It’s a long-haul journey — subtle, precise, intentional. ?? It starts when you SENSE what your consumers truly need… and how they move, feel, and connect. ?? Then you THINK out the 360° brand story — one that flows seamlessly through every touchpoint, every ViiBEpoint, every interaction. ?? And most importantly — you FEEL your consumers in every engagement, across your entire organization - to bond, you most be bondable. When you do that — consistently, intentionally, and with focused energy — you start cultivating Good ViiBE (Virtuous intelligent intuition Bonding Experience). At first… nothing happens. Then a crack forms. And slowly, the bond builds, drop by drop. Until one day — nature takes over. Good ViiBE and word of mouth flows. Resistance breaks. And the ripple becomes a wave. ? That’s the power of brand bonding. ? That’s how you Imagineer the future. This video is a bit long for #LinkedIn patience and attention spans ?? It's happy Friday, so relax and lean back. Be like Miller. Give it time ? It WILL shows its effect... Let this scene speak for itself. Let the metaphor sink in. Let the water do the rest. It's just like in other life initiatives...most of them never happen because we step back before they move forward. Think about it. Nature is on your side if you direct its force the right way. ??Bonding is the New Branding. Sense Their Journey. Master Their ViiBE. ???? #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Torben Valsted (the clip is from "Force 10 of Navarone" - one of my childhood favorite movies ????)

?? Why do a rare few companies keep thriving when most legendary companies die before they turn 50? ?? The business graveyard is full of dead or decimated companies: Nokia. Kodak. Blockbuster. Blackberry. Pan Am. Polaroid. Sears. Xerox. Toys R' Us... ? They didn’t just fade — they vanished or become a shadow of their previous selves. Not from lack of money. Not from lack of intelligence. They vanished because they stopped evolving fast enough. From understanding and believing the "next big thing". Meanwhile, others refused to die: ? Nike reinvented itself every decade. ? Apple turned tech into obsession. ? Amazon rebuilt itself from bookstore to empire. ? Lego nearly collapsed — then Imagineered its own rebirth. ?? What separates the survivors from the extinct? They kept innovating. They kept storytelling. But here’s the wake-up call: ?? The next era of change won’t be led by products and branding. It will be led by bonding. ?? Product innovation won’t secure loyalty. ?? Branding won’t build lasting connection. ?? Consumers don’t just buy — they bond. ?? The next evolution isn’t just about having the best product. It’s about being the brand consumers feel connected to. That’s why the future isn’t just about innovation. It’s about Imagineering. ?? The brands that last won’t just build better. They’ll bond deeper. We live in a copy economy where entire industries tend to miss out on the "next big game changer". That's why the iPhone wiped out a number of "market leaders" with one blow...BlackBerry, Ericsson, Nokia...from hero to zero. Which companies will be first-movers in the next big round of "bonding-evolution"? Yours? If you want to catch up, do the same. If you want to get ahead, do it differently. Don't just improve the game play. Change the game. Forever. ???? Bonding is the New Branding. ? Sense Their* Journey. Master Their* ViiBE. (*Team and consumers) (Read the full article on ImagineerShip dot com - link in the comments) #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Chris Igwe Linda Johansen-James Christian Faber Matt Mueller Steve Worthy, MBA Ghalia Boustani. Ph.D Melissa Moore Walter Holbrook Jeff Sward Torben Valsted

?? BlackBerry didn’t die because of bad tech. It died because it lost the bond. You can build the best product in the world - But if you don’t evolve with your consumers, you become irrelevant. ?? Innovation isn’t enough. ?? You have to Sense their journey. ?? Think their experience. ?? Feel their bond. That’s what grows Good ViiBE— And Good ViiBE unleashes your power to Imagineer the future. BlackBerry kept building. Apple kept bonding. Now, who’s still thriving? ?? The brands that last don’t just build. They Imagineer. ? Bonding is the New Branding. ???? ? Sense *Their Journey. Master *Their ViiBE. (*You ? Team ? Company ? Consumers) (ViiBE: Virtuous intelligent intuition Bonding Experience) (Read the full article - follow the link in the comments) #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Chris Igwe Linda Johansen-James Christian Faber Matt Mueller Steve Worthy, MBA Ghalia Boustani. Ph.D Melissa Moore Walter Holbrook Jeff Sward

Stop Chasing Growth. Start Growing Bonds. ?? Want to build a business that lasts? ? Stop scaling “fast.” ? Stop chasing vanity growth. ? Stop prioritizing speed over sustainability. The ImagineerShip Startup, Growth & Life Cultiivators flip the script: ? Scale bonds FIRST. ? Build depth BEFORE volume. ? Grow with MEANING, not just momentum. ???? Grow people → Grow bonds → Grow business. In that order. Bonding is the New Branding ???? #ImagineerShip #ShopperVerse #GoodViiBE #BondingIsTheNewBranding #UnifiedFramework #Innovation #Vision #Leadership #Strategy #Analytics #SenseThinkFeel #TRE #TopRetailExpert #IRG Chris Igwe Linda Johansen-James