Notes

Thoughts, parables, and case studies on building irresistible brands.

PositioningFeb 9, 2026

Clarity Is a Brand Advantage

If people don't grasp your message quickly, they leave. Clarity makes websites shorter and pitches sharper, helping the right buyers self-select.

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PositioningFeb 9, 2026

Make the Customer the Hero

Messages centered on yourself typically fall flat. Customers seek to feel understood and guided, not to hear about your features.

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PositioningFeb 7, 2026

Distinctive Assets Compound

Distinctive cues act as shortcuts in the brain. Tiffany blue works on social posts or across a room without a logo.

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PositioningFeb 6, 2026

Brand Is the Aftertaste

People remember experiences and feelings, not logos. How customers feel after leaving defines your brand.

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PositioningFeb 4, 2026

Don’t Look Like Everyone

Most brands copy category conventions, making them safe and invisible. Being different breaks through when everyone follows the same pattern.

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PositioningFeb 4, 2026

Pick the Right Comparison

A product appears average or exceptional based on its frame of reference. Choose comparisons where your strengths matter most.

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PositioningFeb 4, 2026

Own a Position

Brands win by saying one thing clearly enough that markets repeat it back. If buyers can't explain you in one breath, they won't remember.

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PositioningFeb 4, 2026

Better metrics ≠ Better outcomes

A metric can rise while your brand declines. Measure what you're building, memory, trust, preference, not just dashboard movement.

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PositioningFeb 4, 2026

22 Brand Strategy Principles

Branding principles turn strategy into clear rules, keeping teams aligned and building long-term trust instead of chasing short-term metrics.

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Industry NotesJan 21, 2026

Brand Naming and Logo Redesign Unified a Multi-Company Healthcare Marketing Merger

A full naming and branding initiative synthesized the strengths of four agencies into one cohesive brand through research and iterative refinement.

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Industry NotesJan 21, 2026

How a Full Website & Brand Redesign Elevated a Literary Nonprofit's Presence

A content-rich nonprofit site with over 100 pages was restructured for clearer organization, better performance, and more intuitive navigation.

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Industry NotesJan 21, 2026

The Power of a Clean Rebrand: Before-and-After Logo Makeover with Instant Client Raves

Blue Ocean Software's brand evolved from dated and cluttered to bold and modern, with cleaner typography and a refreshed color palette.

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Industry NotesJan 20, 2026

Worthless insight

LinkedIn insights feel like progress but often aren't. Real insight reveals who viewed content, their titles, companies, and what actions followed.

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PositioningJan 20, 2026

Straight Answers to the Questions I Get Asked Most

Direct answers on pricing, process, why choose a boutique agency, and what fractional CMO work entails in practice.

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Industry NotesJan 20, 2026

MENA's leader in background music rebrand

A complete rebrand captured the emotional power of sound, creating a website that resonates with the target market.

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ParablesJan 20, 2026

Bugs = Progress

Errors in writing, design, and code are inevitable. Life doesn't end when refinement is needed after launch.

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ThoughtsJan 10, 2026

Wish you less

Less noise, less screen time, less scrolling. Choose intentionally, fewer clients, deeper mastery, more clarity.

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Industry NotesSep 10, 2025

How a Full Website & Brand Redesign Drove Explosive Growth in AdTech DOOH Advertising

A programmatic DOOH platform received a complete refresh with a bolder aesthetic and rebuilt site featuring analytics, mapping, and self-service tools.

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AnnouncementsAug 6, 2025

Blue Ocean Software Acquires RW3 to Expand Retail Intelligence and CPG Performance Enablement Capabilities

An acquisition expanded capabilities in retail data intelligence and field team enablement for consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers.

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LeadershipApr 26, 2025

The Creative Purge

AI unleashed a purge on the creative world. The industry needs thoughtful creatives, not brainless marketers churning out generic work.

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AnnouncementsApr 10, 2025

Podsense Introduces New Brand Identity in with JOHN LUKE

A podcast monetization platform launched a refreshed identity with modern typography and a new mascot for a more approachable feel.

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AnnouncementsApr 7, 2025

Research Innovator Refreshes Look to Highlight Actionable Insights

A research firm updated its look with sleek design and sharper focus on membership organizations and customer insights.

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AnnouncementsJan 5, 2025

Seagulls Media Unveils a Bold Brand Refresh, Hires JOHN LUKE as an Agency Partner

A brand refresh embraced a vision where adtech drives connection and fuels creativity through merged technology and innovation.

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AnnouncementsNov 5, 2024

Laura Dartnall Joins JOHN LUKE to Shape Future Growth Initiatives

An experienced brand strategist joined as Head of Strategy & Growth, bringing expertise from major organizations.

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AnnouncementsSep 30, 2024

Announcing the Promotion of Felipe Lopera to Art Director Amidst Rapid Growth

A creative team member was promoted to Art Director, driving innovative branding efforts for B2B and tech brands.

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Industry NotesSep 20, 2023

Rebrand brings ACS as #1 cancer charity in trust and impact

A nonprofit facing declining donations underwent rebranding to refresh messaging and reconnect with younger audiences.

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LeadershipFeb 6, 2023

Profits against Humanity.

Mission-driven brands may lose focus on their original vision when prioritizing revenue growth over impact.

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ParablesFeb 6, 2023

Loudest vs the most important.

The loudest problems often receive attention, but may not be the most important ones deserving resources.

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ParablesJan 25, 2023

The Paradox of Less Stress

Proximity changes how we perceive value. Closer or easier-to-reach places take more mental attention than distant ones.

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ParablesJan 23, 2023

Walk like a cow.

Cows can't walk downstairs due to knee structure. They don't compromise standards, neither should you.

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ParablesJan 22, 2023

Tools.

Professional-quality software is now accessible at low cost. Excellence comes from passion, not tools.

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ParablesJan 22, 2023

The Noise

New tools make mediocre work faster. The world drowns in noise, increasing the need for genuine creativity.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Die for it.

Life is short. Do work that matters, something worth living and dying for.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Think More.

Time is universal, 24 hours daily for everyone. Individuality lies in how you use it.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

The Future.

Self-driving cars, automated problem-solving, and smart homes will reshape daily life and commerce.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

The Craftsman.

Craftspeople sculpt their work carefully, whether words, schedules, or espresso, creating quality through attention.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Steadfast.

New beginnings feel exciting, but consistency and steadiness matter more than novelty.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Snooze...

A day in the life of routine, hitting snooze, rushing through traffic, spending money, arriving late.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Secret Sauce.

Every expert has unique methods worth protecting. Everyone has secrets too valuable to share carelessly.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Run like a rhino.

Rhinos run 30+ mph but can't see 30 feet ahead. They run with audacity and forward momentum.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Pig's Milk.

Success comes from narrow focus. Starbucks thrived by specializing in coffee, not serving everything.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Noticed.

Early cars and Apple products showed precision craftsmanship in every detail, an art form approach to design.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Normal is invisible.

People share remarkable things, not normal ones. Stability is overrated; being different breaks through.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Most Important.

What matters most can't be replaced, the irreplaceable things that define our lives.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Make a ruckus.

Times changed. Stand out by organizing chaos, simplifying complexity, or breaking established patterns.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Know.

Four quadrants of knowing exist, and the unknown unknowns are most dangerous and invisible to us.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Inspiration Expires.

Ideas last forever; inspiration dies without warning. Capture it immediately when it arrives.

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

History.

If you knew you were making history, would your choices be different?

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Go there. Goal here.

If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you get there? People are the most unsatisfied with themselves, not when they haven’t met their goals or have arrived at their destination, but when they’ve…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Givers. Takers. Consumers.

There are many shades of love. We all want to be loved. However, what is it that we actually want? This love you have for fish, for example, can be demonstrated in three different ways: You love fish so much you feed,…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Gingerbread Conundrum.

The Gingerbread Man story teaches a few valuable lessons. One that you can apply to your own life. If you don’t know the story, here’s a short recap: An old, lonely couple living alone with their cat decide one day to…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Generic.

When you get a dog, you name it. When you have a product, service or brand, the most important decision you will ever make is naming it. In order for us to give meaning to a printed word, we translate it into a sound.…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Find / Make

Find time / Make time Find a job / Make a job Find a life / Make a life ‍ The act of "Finding" is not intrinsically bad, but it’s not as good as what it displaces. - JL ‍

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Ferris vs Paris.

George wanted to make something that would compete against one of the most admired architectures in the world, The Eiffel Tower. He wanted something more exhilarating than just a simple skyscraper. Many engineers…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Elephant Rope

The limitations of the largest land animal, elephants, are profoundly similar to ours. They’re smart, extremely strong, and almost define the word “greatness”. Yet just a small rope on a single leg can immobilize a 7…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Driftwood.

You lost. The bet. The race. The game. But you know what's worse than losing the bet, race or game? Losing your ambition. Your drive. Your fight. Fighting for survival is better than drifting. What's at stake becomes…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Credibility.

The quest for credibility is a reasonable pursuit for most. But first, what is it? Credibility is the quality of being trusted and believed in. Here's a formula: Credibility = Experience X Expertise X Sincerity But what…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Competition.

There’s something inherently wrong about competition. Competition can distract you from creating your own methods, standards, and solutions. If you’re too busy beating others you may forget that beating yourself is more…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Blinded by Opportunity.

Why do some people strive for greatness? Or more importantly, why do so many settle for... good enough? Why is it that opportunity is so obvious to some but invisible to others? Is it possible that being nurtured with…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Bigger Fish.

If you're an alligator you don't need to worry about the bigger fish. You're a whole different type of animal. When you live and treat others differently, you're another species entirely. - JL

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Attention.

you can get it. Make yourself beautiful. Be loud, be proud, and be bold. Put yourself out there. Have a dinner, a date... but then what? Attention, you can get it. Just give it away for free. Be loud, big, and bold. Put…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

Adapt.

Williams Sr. was a soap manufacturer, his son Junior helped sell the soap in baskets in the streets of Philly. In 1891, Will left Philadelphia and started his own business in Chicago selling his father's soap. Trying to…

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ParablesJan 21, 2023

A selfish sea.

The sea doesn't give it, it only takes. The Jordan River, full of life, pours into it constantly but everything dies. See it consumes resources without giving anything away. The sea is landlock. It's selfish... no…

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ThoughtsJan 1, 2022

It's a New Year

team First of all, I’d like to wish you a very happy new year. This has been quite a historical year since emerging out of pandemic. This past year 35% of our income is attributed to pharma, our largest sector; and now…

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