"We work in marketing - we're not curing cancer" - My PMC 2017 Ride

"We work in marketing - we're not curing cancer" - My PMC 2017 Ride

david knies
Pan Mass Challenge 2017, Fundraising

“We work in marketing. We’re not curing cancer.” 

But what if we could? 

I’ve worked for 25+ years in branding, marketing and innovation with some of the world’s greatest companies. If a dollar had been contributed to cancer research every time someone used the phrase “We’re not curing cancer here…” at work, the disease would’ve been defeated a long time ago. 

I'm doing the next best thing to help cure cancer faster – I’m riding this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), and our team at Breakaway has become a PMC sponsor and branding / marketing partner. I’m asking for your support in form of a small charitable donation - $25 – that will go directly to the team at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) to help them get closer to a cure faster.

Interview with Candice Peak / A Superpowered Career in Finance + Fitness

Interview with Candice Peak / A Superpowered Career in Finance + Fitness

david knies
Career Path, superpowers, Fitness

Going to the gym is very different now, in many ways because of star trainers who inspire and motivate. I had the opportunity to interview Candice Peak and learn about her Superpowers that enable her to not only balance a full-time career in the financial industry, a very busy class schedule, a modeling career, running marathons, owning a dog and a very active social media presence - but to crush at it all at the highest level. 

adidas: An Original Is Never Finished.

adidas: An Original Is Never Finished.

david knies
Career Path, Family

Its not often that advertising still gives goosebumps, but when i saw this amazing new adidas Originals spot during the Grammy Awards Sunday night, the Trefoil that's been in my heart for many, many years swelled with pride.  I started my career with adidas in Germany back in 1990. I was obsessed by the brand as a kid and a dream come true to see the Trefoil logo spinning on the roof of the building in person the first time, let alone have the opportunity to work there. It would've been impossible to not have a Trefoil in my heart after the experiences I had there to live my dream. Because an Original is never finished. 

Company Culture: The Invisible Superpower

Company Culture: The Invisible Superpower

david knies

Culture is the difference between a good company and a great one.

I've worked in, with, around and on hundreds of companies - great ones, good ones, average ones, and shitty ones - and believe that the great ones all have culture as a Superpower. 

I Could've Been A Patriots Fan.

I Could've Been A Patriots Fan.

david knies
futility

In 1994, I moved to Boston after a few years living in Germany. 

I faced a tough decision upon my repatriation - become a Boston sports fan, or stay true to my roots and stick with my Philadelphia teams, especially the Eagles. In what can only be described as the sports equivalent of choosing to invest in Enron instead of Google, I chose the Eagles over the Patriots.

The Superpowered: Interview with Author Peter Smith

The Superpowered: Interview with Author Peter Smith

david knies
superpowers, sales

Peter Smith has spent thirty years building sales teams at retail at Tiffany & Co., Colibri, Hearts On Fire. He is currently executive vice president of diamond company Schachter & Co., a division of Leo Schachter, and recently put a lot of his branded sales experience and expertise into his first book, Hiring Squirrels (available on Amazon). 

Peter is a longtime friend, mentor and former colleague from my days leading marketing at Hearts On Fire.

"The gift isn't the talent...many people have talent. The gift is actually being able to follow it up and make it your career."

"The gift isn't the talent...many people have talent. The gift is actually being able to follow it up and make it your career."

david knies
Career Reinvention, superpowers

Jamie Cullum on how he built a successful career in music by harnessing his Superpowers. 

I came across a live Jamie Cullum performance (below) while channel surfing on a Jet Blue flight a few years ago and became an instant fan. And was excited to hear him this weekend on NPR's Weekend Edition talking about his career while plugging his new album. 

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