Head on Fire

Bronkey Bronkeys!

I went to the Olympic Games in Paris last week, and my head was on fire. Not only because it was 33 degrees in the shade that day while I watched the men’s Hockey Quarterfinals in the blazing sun at two in the afternoon, but also because I was so inspired by all those athletes and their absolute perseverance. I have a 14-year-old athlete at home—still young, I know, so I’m aware that anything could happen, from quitting to winning. But what I want to share here is how wonderful it is to witness all this mental strength, that focus on a goal*, that power to push beyond your own limits. We all can learn from that!

*At the end of this newsletter, I have a special offer. So, make sure to stick around until the very end!

➡️ Life: Do we need to push beyond our limits?

Can we learn from that? Is it all about having a clear goal, the courage to pursue it relentlessly, and the tenacity to keep going, even when the odds are against you? Do we really need to push beyond our limits?

This is an interesting topic I discussed this week with my client Isabel Verstraete during a casual chat. (I’m helping her with her new website and refining her narrative into concise copy. Go and look her up: she has a great story to tell with The Care Principles and purpose-driven growth. Book her for a keynote, you won’t regret!!)

We were talking about the concept of “planting the flag.” Do we all need to have one clear goal? Because, for example, I don’t have a single, well-defined goal today. What I do have is a broad direction on the horizon—a sort of goal that isn’t really super clear. It’s a road, that’s for sure, and a direction, but I could take the long and scenic route, or the short and bumpy one. And maybe there’s another path I haven’t discovered yet.

What I know is that the destination is uncertain. It’s somewhere on the horizon, but I let life guide me in deciding whether I go slightly left or maybe more to the right. For me, it’s not about knowing exactly where I’m going, it’s more about taking control and considering options that previously seemed impossible. And also about moving my ass and doing it—just getting up and taking action. Maybe that’s the most important? What do you think?

➡️ Brandlove: Paris, Je t’aime 💛

Back to the Paris Olympics and how these 'Instagram Games' affected Paris as a brand. Affected positively, I’d like to add immediately. We all know Paris for its beautiful architecture, world-renowned art, and romantic ambiance, but let's be real—also for the somewhat rude reputation of its locals.

But not during the last few weeks! The organization did a beautiful job on the “Paris 2024” brand. Parisians, known for their ‘unwelcoming’ behavior, were suddenly welcoming, even warm. Volunteers, dressed in uniforms that perfectly blended with the brand guidelines, greeted visitors with smiles. Yes, it’s true: the typically grumpy city seemed to have discovered a newfound sense of community and openness. It was as if the whole city decided to drop its usual cynicism!

Ok, we all know the real Parisians left the city to avoid the Games and crowds of tourists, but the Paris brand definitely scored some points. You felt safe, there were no major incidents, and the city looked its absolute best. With locations like the Eiffel Tower for beach volleyball, the Grand Palais for fencing, and the iconic Place de la Concorde for urban sports, Paris scored big time! For me, it was definitely a successful rebranding as a more approachable, friendly destination. And I loved how the visual branding was consistently applied and visible through the entire city!

➡️ SoMe Shizzles : Instagram presents the RECTANGLE

Every now and then, I need to talk about Social Media Shizzles here, because all those tiny decisions made by giants like META can have a huge impact on you as a brand guardian. So, there's drama in Instagram-land this week. Instagram has been testing a new grid format for some users: the rectangle!

(Apparently, only about 10% of users have been switched to this new layout as a test, but I want to give you a heads-up in case this plan goes live.)

Now, let’s dive into the potential downsides. This rectangle grid could disrupt the clean, cohesive aesthetic you’ve carefully built on your profile. Posts that were once perfectly aligned might suddenly look awkward or out of place, and older content could end up cropped in ways that just don’t work. For brands, this could mean a significant shift in content strategy, as consistency and visual appeal are key to maintaining your online presence.

On the bright side, the new rectangle grid format could offer a fresh way to showcase your content. It might allow for more creative layouts and storytelling, giving your brand a unique edge. The extra vertical space in each post could make images and videos more impactful, drawing in viewers and encouraging more engagement.

Voila, my task is done. You're in the loop now.

➡️ Brandlove: the wheelchair icon with a sporty twist

I read on Famous Campaigns (Yes, this is one of the places where I find amazing campaigns that I share here. So, my secret is out, and now you can go explore yourself. Though, I know most of you will just will wait for my Monday newsletter to drop—no shame in that!) that since 1968, the wheelchair icon has been a universal sign of accessibility.

In Canada, Decathlon has taken this iconic symbol and reimagined it in their car parks, adding a sporty twist. They introduced new logos that represent sports played by the Canadian Paralympic team, like rugby, basketball, archery, and tennis. On top of that, they launched a website offering 18 different sports icons for public use.

It’s amazing how much impact a little reframing can have.✨

➡️ To Read: The Millionaire Fastlane

Finally, I’m reading again. Oh, how I’ve missed this. We’re back to one book a week! With plenty of sunshine and long evenings, I’ve added some novels to my list that I’m enjoying in the garden. But I’m also diving back into business books.

This week, I started reading The Millionaire Fastlane. It popped up in my e-reader program as a must-read, and when I saw the ratings and reviews, I was convinced. Even though I’m not particularly money-driven, so the whole money mindset and wealth stuff isn’t usually what draws me in.

(Maybe it was influenced by a story JF (my husband) told me this week about the Albert Heijn delivery guy. It was a hot day around 4 PM, and JF wished him good luck with the end of his day, knowing we were the last clients on his route. But the man responded that he was actually starting his second job of the day. Are we living in America now, where people need second jobs just to survive?)

My question is: what is wealth for you? For me, it’s freedom. And this book is giving me a roadmap to that freedom. I’m only a quarter of the way through, so I’ll keep you updated on how it unfolds!

➡️ Entrepreneurship: *****Special Offer!

Ahaaaa, you’ve made it to the end, and as promised, here’s the Special Offer! Enough talk about goals and roads. I might not know what’s on my horizon, but one thing’s for sure—I absolutely love writing this newsletter. It’s here to stay. But you know what would make it even better? More readers! As much as I enjoy sharing insights, I’m not great at self-promotion. So, here’s the plan: If I keep doing what I’m good at, could you handle the promotion for me? Haha!! Ok, let me put it differently—I could really use your help. Well, “need” might be a strong word—let’s say I have a proposal.

If you can bring in 15 new subscribers and prove it to me, you’ll get a free brainstorming session (whether it’s about your brand, personal brand, team challenges, or whatever suits you)! I know there are plenty of you here who might not have the budget for something like this—so this one’s for you! If you are rather lazy, but feeling helpful, you can also give me support via my linkedin post today 🤷‍♀️ Help spread the word about my newsletter, use me ☺️ and let’s grow this community together!

See you next week!

x Ingrid