Take Your Mini Strategy Break with The Smiling Strategist ????

Hello Folks,

How was your Christmas in July? ??? Hope you had a warm and cozy time with your loved ones. ??

Over the past few months, it has been humbling to?teach?and mentor?at The Miami Ad School and The UNSW Business School. I've learnt?the art of breaking away from familiarity and would love to share the philosophical thinking behind it with you. ?? Plus, I've sharpened my storytelling skills with Donald Miller's Storybrand?framework, which I’m excited to pass on. ?? Coming fresh from retailer and produce briefs, I've got some hot trends in the F&B space for you to browse through. ????

Here you go!

MINI STRATEGY BITES 1 - BREAKING AWAY FROM FAMILIARITY

"In order to see the world, we must break with our familiar acceptance of it." - Maurice Merleau-Ponty.

I feel this is such a critical ingredient for being a sound thinker and applies across so many things we do and experience as #strategists on an everyday basis. Whether it is about keeping an open and bias-free mind to understand somebody else with a different perspective or interacting with somebody from a different background, it's imperative to come forward without any assumptions. If we keep seeing the world in familiar ways, we won't discover anything new. It's only when we are truly open to receiving the unfamiliar that we understand the true nature of human beings, which translates into pure insight. And this insight is what helps us create truly different brands.

#thesmilingstrategist #miniinsights #philosophy #brand #humantruth #insight #strategy #thinkers #freelancestrategy #freelancestrategist #brandstrategist #creativestrategist

MINI STRATEGY BITES 2 - THE STORYBRAND FRAMEWORK

I love this one. The storybrand framework by Donald Miller. It emphasizes the importance of #storytelling in #branding. As humans, we're naturally drawn to stories, making it easier for us to understand and relate to brand message. Have a read. I love the simplicity of it. ?? The StoryBrand Framework:

?? A Character: Your customer is the hero of the story, not your brand.

?? Has a Problem: Identify the problems your customers face.

?? And Meets a Guide: Position your brand as the guide to help solve their problems.

?? Who Gives Them a Plan: Provide a clear, actionable plan for your customers to follow.

? And Calls Them to Action: Encourage your customers to take action.

?? That Helps Them Avoid Failure: Highlight the negative consequences of not taking action.

?? And Ends in Success: Show the positive results of taking action.

#thesmilingstrategist #strategy #strategyconsulting #ministrategybites #brandstrategist #creativestrategist #storytelling #advertising #marketing #strategists #marketers #brandstrategytips #creativestrategytips #strategytips #freelancestrategy #freelancestrategist

MINI STRATEGY BITES 3 - TRENDS IN THE F&B WORLD

Amazing to be working on a leading produce brand for their brand strategy and brand architecture thinking. Here are some key trends to look out for in the food industry. ??

?? Consumer demand is switching from free-from to fortified.?Think of what you can add instead of what you can remove when developing new products, striving for the right balance between satisfaction, nutrition and excitement that consumers seek

?? As consumers pursue hyper-personalised diets, use AI and the data that health wearables provide to offer tailored food and beverage recommendations, addressing individual preferences and health needs

?? While the weight management market is thriving, toxic and outdated diet culture doesn’t have to be a part of the narrative.?Steer clear of attributing moral value to ingredients, and focus on intangible and emotional benefits rather than physical side effects

Source:?Gabriela Bia?kowska?and?Marta Indeka

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Have an interesting strategy project to discuss or need some support? I’d love to hear from you! Let’s also find time to connect in this post-pandemic world - grab a coffee virtually or in person when you’re free. ??

In the meantime, enjoy this newsletter and have a fantastic day! ??

Your Smiling Strategist,

Roma ?? | +61403880286

[email protected]