Hi and Happy Sunday -
I’m retiring Sunday Seven in favor of something more fun—a mix of stories, media, links, and other things that have caught my eye.
Let me know what you think. Feedback makes the world go round (or so they say).
Thank you for reading Shared Narratives 🙏
Vanderbilt’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was a record low 4.7%, which means the school is doing something very right from a branding and reputation perspective. Meanwhile, San Francisco’s downtown is still in rough shape, never fully recovered from the pandemic exodus of tech bros in branded Patagonias. One plus one doesn’t equal three, so this feels like an odd trade unless something akin to the 2011 Twitter Tax Break is at play. Revitalize the downtown once, good on San Francisco, revitalize the downtown twice, let’s see if lightning can strike twice.
Companies used to tout headcount growth as a key indicator that business was up and to the right. Now? It’s the opposite. Wells Fargo’s CEO, who cut headcount for twenty consecutive quarters (!) recently described using attrition ‘as our friend.’ To put it lightly, that is an insane choice of words. What gets lost here is the fact that Mr. Market doesn’t reward operational efficiency, he rewards growth and innovation. If companies cut headcount but don’t build new products or increase market share, the shrinkage may only be a short-term win.
In a land far, far away, it was easy to shop All-American. But after decades of companies offshoring labor and materials, it’s a lot harder to find 100% locally grown and manufactured products. Even when you think you’re buying something made in the US, a flimsy label often belies a products true origin. Speaking of which, there is an amazing store called Made in Oregon that only sells products…made in Oregon. Think Pendleton blankets and Willamette Valley wine. If you ever fly through PDX, it’s worth popping in.
The best PR people tell it how it is, aren’t afraid to say “why not?”, and can preempt your questions even before they’ve left your lips. This guy seems to lean into the chaos and embraces controversy (and controversial clients), and I love it. A good profile shows someone for exactly who they are—quirks, flaws, and all—and leaves space for the reader to decide how they feel.
As a child, Jackson says, he saw the “long game” in gaining and maintaining attention. His mother used to say, “You’ll never starve in America if you’re shameless. Only prideful people starve,” he added, which sounds quite a bit like the motivating factor of his clientele.
The Netflix of A.I.? (Puck)
Showrunner is building a platform where users can create and share their own TV-like shows using existing, licensed IP. In other words, you could make your own version of Lord of the Rings but with you and your friends as the main characters. Sounds like a modern day Build-A-Bear workshop, but the founder acknowledges “we have no idea whether anyone wants what I’m describing.” What happened to validating customer demand and willingness to pay before starting a company and raising money?
The tee all your other shirts will be jealous of: this t-shirt is super soft but not flimsy, structured enough to be dressed up, and comfortable enough to nap in. I bought 4 of them.
Not your dad’s polo shirt: this is a dreamy color and a very reasonable price point. Why men’s clothes are often so much cheaper than women’s is a mystery that only Fashion People could explain.
A set a day keeps the doc away: great for errands, lounging, or camp drop off. No notes.
Tangle-free travels: tangled necklaces should be a crime. Whether you’re going away for the weekend or the whole month of August (who are you and what are you doing with your life?), this is a small case that will give you big peace of mind.
Honey, I forgot the kids: back-to-school season is around the corner and this is a ridiculously cute sage green sweater. It’s made for the monkey bars or an early bird dinner.
Acquired with Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase
There’s a reason some people want Jamie Dimon to run for president (okay, me). For one, he runs the largest retail bank in the US, with name recognition and brand equity all the way from Main Street to Wall Street. Some takeaways from this interview: liquidity is king, risk is risky for a reason, and even smart people get fired once in their life.
How Long Gone with Imogene Strauss, Creative Director to Charli XCX
If you want to giggle with a bunch of creative types and generally disconnect from reality, this podcast checks those boxes and then some. For some reason, my Mom calls this the “Hey Dude” podcast and she’s not totally wrong.