--- title: "Blog – Character – Experts on Brand Character and Story" language: "en-US" canonical_url: "https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/blog/" source_url: "https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/blog/" content_type: "text/markdown" --- ### Chapter six: Deep Thoughts ![](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/blog_img_thinker-177x300.png) ## our blog ## Sign up for our occasional newsletter ### [ Uncertainty and Control ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2026/03/12/uncertainty-and-control/) Uncertainty is having a moment. Across business and culture, the conditions that once made long-term planning possible are eroding. Markets shift faster than ever before. [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2026/03/12/uncertainty-and-control/) Jim Hardison March 12, 2026 ### [ Campfire Stories: Episode Four with Melissa Minihan ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/07/18/campfire-stories-episode-four-with-melissa-minihan/) Here’s a counter-intuitive idea: Great business to business brands know something essential about story that many B2C brands could benefit from learning. I know. I [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/07/18/campfire-stories-episode-four-with-melissa-minihan/) Jim Hardison July 18, 2024 ### [ Campfire Stories: Episode Three with Greg Hughes ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/06/10/campfire-stories-episode-three-with-greg-hughes/) The best story in the world won’t help your brand for long if you don’t offer something great that your audience needs. So, am I [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/06/10/campfire-stories-episode-three-with-greg-hughes/) Jim Hardison June 10, 2024 ### [ Campfire Stories: Episode Two with Lee Susen ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/05/01/campfire-stories-episode-one-with-douwe-bergsma/) One of the difficulties in telling an ongoing story, whether for a brand, a long-running TV series, or movie franchise, is keeping things interesting, relevant, [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/05/01/campfire-stories-episode-one-with-douwe-bergsma/) Jim Hardison May 1, 2024 ### [ Campfire Stories: Episode One with Douwe Bergsma ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/04/02/campfire-stories-episode-one-with-douwe-bergsma-2/) We’re launching a new thing today that we’re calling Character Campfire stories. For almost 25 years now, we’ve been running Character Camps to help brand [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/04/02/campfire-stories-episode-one-with-douwe-bergsma-2/) Jim Hardison April 2, 2024 ### [ Busted Noses, Black Belts, and Branding ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/01/03/busted-noses-black-belts-and-branding/) We were helping a brand team work through how to use their story framework on the final day of Character Camp. “Using the conflict is [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2024/01/03/busted-noses-black-belts-and-branding/) Jim Hardison January 3, 2024 ### [ Know Your Gifts: Nike or Adidas ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2023/11/28/know-your-gifts-nike-or-adidas/) “If you’re done digesting, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas presents,” Maria announced Friday morning, as I was making coffee. “Again?” I whined. “Already?” [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2023/11/28/know-your-gifts-nike-or-adidas/) Jim Hardison November 28, 2023 ### [ Uneasy Sunday: Brand Values Aren’t Meant to Be Easy ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2023/09/22/uneasy-sunday-brand-values-arent-meant-to-be-easy/) So much has already been said about the Bud Light issue I’d decided I wasn’t going to write about it. But then I was watching [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2023/09/22/uneasy-sunday-brand-values-arent-meant-to-be-easy/) Jim Hardison September 22, 2023 ### [ Carrots, Candy, and Category Conflict ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2023/07/19/carrots-candy-and-category-conflict/) Conflict is an engagement engine. I’m not saying people like conflict. Most don’t. But it does capture and compel our attention. That’s why conflict is [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2023/07/19/carrots-candy-and-category-conflict/) Jim Hardison July 19, 2023 ### [ The Party’s Over: Conflict and Cookies ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2023/01/12/the-partys-over-conflict-and-cookies/) “You’re wrong, Jim,” my friend Jim said as he bit the head off of a Santa-shaped and frosted Christmas cookie. Jim is kind of a [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2023/01/12/the-partys-over-conflict-and-cookies/) Jim Hardison January 12, 2023 ### [ The Magic of Holiday Magic ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2022/12/20/the-magic-of-holiday-magic/) “You’ve noticed what’s going on with Macy’s story?” Sara asked me. You remember Sara. We work together. She does jujitsu. “How they forgot to put [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2022/12/20/the-magic-of-holiday-magic/) Jim Hardison December 20, 2022 ### [ Extra Extra! Where’s the Story in your Press Release? ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2022/11/17/extra-extra-wheres-the-story-in-your-press-release/) I was on a video conference with a friend from a well-known brand the other day. Let’s call it ShopLand. We were talking about how [ Read More » ](https://ipa1ewmwkdvx8gk.onstatic.studio/2022/11/17/extra-extra-wheres-the-story-in-your-press-release/) Jim Hardison November 17, 2022 ### Chapter five: Identities Revealed ### Epilogue: The beginning