Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. Events are a competitive advantage. They create connection faster than anything else can. But most events follow a few typical formats, even while there are simple ways to make the experience more engaging. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ Three unusual event formats Last week’s Responsive Conference was the best event I’ve produced....
12 days ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. People don’t want “authenticity” – they want you to be the same person on stage, on Zoom, and chasing your dog around the kitchen. Alignment means being that same person when the cameras are off. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ Why alignment matters more than authenticity Years ago, in the depths of COVID, I was cavorting with my dog...
19 days ago • 3 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. The world is more unpredictable than ever, and nowhere is that clearer than in the chaos of live events. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ The future is unpredictable In 2015, the authors of Responsive.org wrote that “the future is becoming increasingly difficult to predict.” Today, with global instability, political partisanship, and a...
26 days ago • 4 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. I just bought a house and learned how messy, salesy, and weirdly urgent real estate can be. This week’s essay distills what I learned into a practical guide for first-time buyers. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ How to buy a house Last month, I bought a house. Buying a house is more complicated than nearly anything else I've done –...
about 1 month ago • 12 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. This week’s article is a throwback to some of my favorite “How to” essays — practical guides on everything from buying a used car to raising a puppy. They’re the reference pieces I keep coming back to, and maybe you will too. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ The best How-tos Earlier this month, I shared some of my favorite articles from...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. An unconference flips the traditional event model by putting the agenda in the hands of attendees. My own Responsive.org journey began with a 1-day unconference in 2016, and this deceptively simple format remains at the heart of Responsive Conference 2025. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ How to run an unconference With Responsive...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. This week’s essay is a throwback tour through some of my most enduring Snafu pieces—from boundaries and discipline to habits, hiring, and self-experiments. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ Throwbacks from a Chaotic Summer I’ve been delinquent in writing Snafu this last week, because… I bought a house and moved in Responsive Conference...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. Storytelling is the foundation of great sales. Using my own Responsive Conference origin story as an example, I break down how a well-told story connects, reveals, and intrigues — and how you can craft your own without a hard sell. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ How to tell your story I've never thought of myself as a great salesman....
2 months ago • 4 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. Most of us avoid conflict, especially in public. But this week, I picked a fight on the Internet. After calling out a pushy AI salesman, I found myself debating strangers and for the first time in my life, I'm very happy to stand my ground. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ This is how you lose a sale in under 24 hours A few weeks ago, a...
2 months ago • 3 min read