Culture


Cat chillin in cat town
Monday, September 22, 20254 Steps to Creating a Strong Brand Message that Sticks

Brand messaging is about capturing just the right language that embodies your brand and makes it stand out from the pack. Here are three steps to get you there.

Cityscape focus
Tuesday, September 16, 2025The Secret to a Strong Branding Message? Focus.

In the mind of the customer, you get to be one thing. One. That matters because the customer's mind is where your brand lives. Not in your headquarters. Not on your website. Not in your PowerPoint deck. Here's how to make sure your message is memorable.

Message signal
Wednesday, September 10, 2025The AI Companies that win won't have the Best Tech—they'll have the Best Story

Your AI is brilliant. Too bad no one knows what it does or why it matters.

A vibrant city skyline reflects transformation, blending cool dawn blues with warm sunset hues, symbolizing reinvention and unity.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024Five Years. Five faces of reinvention.

5 years ago, we took a leap, pivoting to a Liquid Workforce model. The journey was tough, but reinvention led us to amazing places.

Sunday, January 26, 2020Kobe's True Court Vision

In 2009, Traction was hired to launch Alibaba.com in the US. A few of us had the honor of being invited to see Kobe Bryant be interviewed about leadership by Jack Ma.

Friday, June 28, 2019This 4th of July, Give the Gift of Crap

Here comes the Amazing Crap-O-Matic Gift Generator: ’Murica Edition—just in time to celebrate our nation’s independence.

Monday, December 17, 20182018 Dumpster Fire Collectible Table Ornament

2018 has been such a tremendous year of human drama, that the Merriam-Webster dictionary added “dumpster fire” to their next edition.

Rooftops in Cartagena
Tuesday, October 16, 2018Purpose, Politics, Disruption & Business Growth

Last week, I had the honor and good fortune to be invited to speak at the +CTG Latin American Summit (a.k.a. "Mas Cartagena").

Tuesday, September 19, 2017Re: Donuts, Risk Taking, & Being Irreplaceable

Adam has a chat with Bob Purcell, former CEO of Dunkin' Donuts, Noah's Bagels, E-LOAN, and 100% Pure (just to name a few).

Sunday, May 21, 2017Re: Story, Thinking, & "Oh Shit" Questions

Jenn Maer of IDEO talks about her background as a story/copywriter, IDEO's "design thinking" approach, and the big "oh shit" questions that they strive to answer.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017Why We're Offering Paid Leave for Activism

Introducing Days of Action.

Friday, July 1, 201615 Years of Traction

Last week, Traction celebrated 15 years of history. When we started the agency in 2001, we were very humble in our ambitions.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016The Tale of Two Flags - A Foray into Vexillology

Until recently I didn’t know what vexillology was.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013'Tis the Season for Crap

Back by Popular Demand: The Amazing Crap-O-Matic Gift Generator.

Monday, March 18, 2013The Winners and Losers of SXSW

Barbecue, cantankerous felines, food trucks, Al Gore, the fear of missing out, and the word "innovate" - Adweek breaks down the data on SXSW with this convenient infographic, including a quote from our very own Adam Kleinberg.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013More SXSW stereotypes as cats

Just because you can never have enough SXSW Stereotypes as Cats....

Tuesday, February 26, 2013SXSW stereotypes as cats

Back by popular demand. It's your favorite stereotypes of SXSW. As cats.

Monday, December 10, 2012Apocalymas — We're all Doomed! Happy Holidays

With the Mayan Calendar predicting an eminent galactic alignment signifying the possible end of days, Traction has created Apocalymas: a 12 day counting down to the end of the world... or maybe not.

Friday, September 14, 2012Why our Burning Man Policy Matters

This is a response to Adam Kleinberg's post Why We Have A Burning Man Policy. After six consecutive burns I planned to skip this one. I was going to backpack through India! Or ride AIDS Lifecycle! Or apply for grad school! Or visit friends in Europe! Honestly, I didn't really have a plan aside from wanting a Big Important Adventure that involved running water, flushable toilets, and wearing pants.

Friday, March 9, 2012Advertising Ghost Signs of San Francisco

In the era before mobile devices, computers, and television; advertising was an art form dominated by the printing press and the paint brush.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011Why we have a Burning Man policy

On page 10 of Traction's employee handbook, right in between the sections on "Voting Leave" and "Military Leave," is a little section called "The Burning Man Policy."

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