Week 7 of 2026: Wisdom from Unexpected Places

My nephew didn’t know who Jay-Z was. I told him, “You’re always singing the New York song with Alicia Keys.” He replied, “I didn’t even know the lady singing.”

I was confused. How could he know every word to a song, but not know the artists? Then he said something simple: “That doesn’t matter.”

And he was right.

I come from a generation where we bought albums, studied liner notes, admired cover art, and learned who produced, wrote, mixed, and mastered the record. He comes from the streaming generation, where access matters more than ownership, and moments matter more than details.

It reminded me of an important truth in marketing and business: when the audience changes, the rules change.

What worked before—flyers, posters, print ads, newspaper spreads—has been replaced by short-form video, quick captions, authentic storytelling, and content built for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

The lesson went beyond marketing. In life, many of us focus on details we can’t control, creating unnecessary stress and frustration. Sometimes the smartest path is simplification—breaking problems down to their common denominators and seeing them with fresh eyes.

Interesting that a child reminded me of something Lean Six Sigma has taught businesses for years: simplify, adapt, and focus on what truly matters.

Sometimes wisdom shows up in unexpected places.

#marketing #brandmanagement #8robinsons