Perspectives

1433 Articles
Businessman gazing at city lights, reflecting on an entrepreneur's passionate journey and spirit

The Founder Playbook for the Answer Engine Era

Every founder I talk to is building for a customer who no longer exists. The customer they are building for opens Google, reads articles, clicks through to a website, and converts on a landing page. That customer is bei

A woman gazes confidently from a skyscraper window, reflecting on business growth and entrepreneurial fear

Growing a Business: PR Agency Growth and Success

I read this post from a venture capitalist and found it to be true as an entrepreneur today at the age of 36, owning 1 of the 13 largest independent Public Relations firms in the US, and pondering what’s next: I don’t th

A hand writing notes, reviewing a PR agency's annual performance report

Public Relations Report: PR Agency Review

Originally published: January 3, 2011 · Updated: June 16, 2026 In January 2011, The Holmes Report — now PRovoke Media — published its 2010 Agency Report Card on 5W. Paul Holmes wrote that 5W was among the most aggressiv

A fluffy white cat gazes at a digital tablet, reflecting on PR tech trends

RANDOM PUBLIC RELATIONS MUSINGS

What a relaxing weekend it has been. In NYC, it’s a real winter snow storm (and my daughter is so excited school was cancelled and we have already made the morning trip to Central Park with the sleigh and to play in the

A person works late in a busy office, highlighting the demanding world of PR

PUBLIC RELATIONS: A WEEK OF PR AGENCY ACTIVITIES

Originally published: December 9, 2010 · Updated: June 16, 2026 I wrote a day-in-the-life post in December 2010 describing one week at 5W. Holiday e-commerce strategy sessions. A Soho House lunch with a former client. T

Two hands shaking, one red and one blue, representing a difficult client relationship

NOT ALL PR CLIENTS ARE GOOD CLIENTS

Originally published: December 9, 2010 · Updated: June 16, 2026 I lost a client in December 2010 and wrote about being relieved. The setup: 5W had been hired by the international headquarters of a major global brand. Th

Colorful puzzle pieces forming a vibrant mosaic, representing PR's exciting reinvention

NEW GAME RULES TRIGGER A REBIRTH

Originally published: December 1, 2010 · Updated: June 16, 2026 The International Public Relations Association published this piece in December 2010 as a member byline. The original headline: PR was reinventing itself f

Cruise ship "Splendor" stranded at sea, illustrating a public relations crisis averted

Cruise Control PR: An Unsafe Bet in Public Relations

Originally published November 15, 2010. Editorial note added June 14, 2026. The crisis of Carnival's "Splendor" cruise ship was apparently a malfunction that resulted in 3,300 people stuck for 72 hours wit