The Blink 182 example hit me especially hard—not just because it's smart marketing, but because it's a rare display of creative humility. There's something deeply human in recognizing that love, even when it's messy or off-script, deserves to be amplified—not shut down.
You reminded me that influence isn’t about keeping the mic—it’s about knowing when to pass it. Bravo for weaving that truth through stories that feel as much about trust as they are about brand strategy.
Looking forward to Bette’s piece next week—your lineup is 🔥
Hi Alexandra! Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment. I’m sorry, I try to stay off Substack as much as possible on Sundays. Love your point about humility. Humbling yourself can often lead to some of your greatest successes!
No need to apologize, Mack—Sundays should be sacred. I love that you said humbling yourself can lead to success. It’s such a rare lens in a space that often rewards volume over depth.
Thank you again for holding space for that kind of leadership—quiet, generous, and real. I’m learning a lot just by watching how you move through this platform.
I think the bigger lesson here is that companies or leaders often don’t know when to lean in and when to step back. This is a perfect example—whether it’s music, Nutella, or the workplace, you’ve got people who are excited and engaged, and instead of channeling that energy, leadership shuts it down. And that’s how morale dies.
Control can never build a lasting impact. Connection does.
Sara Russo’s story speaks to something more than brand loyalty.
Shared meaning, about people wanting to belong to something they love. And while Nutella’s initial response was sadly predictable, Blink 182’s choice to lean into that chaos of fandom was a positive change. When brands (or leaders) choose openness over ownership, they create a platform for real community. Thank you for putting this together, Mark - I mean Mack :)
This was such a generous read, Mack.
The Blink 182 example hit me especially hard—not just because it's smart marketing, but because it's a rare display of creative humility. There's something deeply human in recognizing that love, even when it's messy or off-script, deserves to be amplified—not shut down.
You reminded me that influence isn’t about keeping the mic—it’s about knowing when to pass it. Bravo for weaving that truth through stories that feel as much about trust as they are about brand strategy.
Looking forward to Bette’s piece next week—your lineup is 🔥
Hi Alexandra! Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment. I’m sorry, I try to stay off Substack as much as possible on Sundays. Love your point about humility. Humbling yourself can often lead to some of your greatest successes!
No need to apologize, Mack—Sundays should be sacred. I love that you said humbling yourself can lead to success. It’s such a rare lens in a space that often rewards volume over depth.
Thank you again for holding space for that kind of leadership—quiet, generous, and real. I’m learning a lot just by watching how you move through this platform.
I think the bigger lesson here is that companies or leaders often don’t know when to lean in and when to step back. This is a perfect example—whether it’s music, Nutella, or the workplace, you’ve got people who are excited and engaged, and instead of channeling that energy, leadership shuts it down. And that’s how morale dies.
Happy Thursday Mack! 😊
Going to create an Amazon marketplace store? Nutella with Blink 182 labels. Nutella will love that effort for reinstalling their reputation.
Great compilation! Thank you!
I could listen to "All the Small Things" over and over again. 😀
So catchy!
It literally motivated me to play the song by Blink182 :D
Control can never build a lasting impact. Connection does.
Sara Russo’s story speaks to something more than brand loyalty.
Shared meaning, about people wanting to belong to something they love. And while Nutella’s initial response was sadly predictable, Blink 182’s choice to lean into that chaos of fandom was a positive change. When brands (or leaders) choose openness over ownership, they create a platform for real community. Thank you for putting this together, Mark - I mean Mack :)
Happy Thursday!
There’s my lovely rat of sunshine 💘
darnit substack - why can't I add a GIF here lol
Go to DM. Always better in DM ❤️
Great to read these behind-the-scenes look at artists and their relationship with fans. Happy Thursday.
Thank you Hans. Happy Thursday!