Episodes

  • Win on Emotion: The ThinkBlink Brand Playbook

    Win on Emotion: The ThinkBlink Brand Playbook
    Oct 1 2025
    Stop competing on price—win on emotion.

    Host Lisa Urbanski sits down with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President & Chief Strategy Officer at SLD, to unpack how brands build durable advantage by targeting one dominant emotional need, removing friction across the journey, and telling simple, memorable stories that create community and loyalty.

    You’ll learn:
    • The 7 core tenets of emotional brand building (and how to choose one word that anchors your brand)
    • Why features get copied—but feelings don’t—and how to stay ahead of the commoditization curve
    • Pricing without a race to the bottom: when promos help (and when they erode brand)
    • How to scan trends and learn from other industries to stay relevant
    • Practical moves to reduce journey friction and build a belonging-driven community


    Explore JP’s work and the ThinkBlink manifesto:
    • Website: https://www.sld.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanpierrelacroix/
    • Book: ThinkBlink Manifesto (Amazon Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ThinkBlink+Manifesto+Jean-Pierre+Lacroix
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Stories, Senses, Sales: Think Blink in Action

    Stories, Senses, Sales: Think Blink in Action
    Sep 22 2025
    Build brand love that survives disruption and blend emotional connection with strategic foresight... so customers choose you in a blink and stay for life.

    Award-winning brand strategist Jean-Pierre Lacroix joins host Lisa Urbanski to unpack the Think Blink manifesto—how to create deep, lasting emotional brand connections—then layer in scenario planning, AI, and behavioral science to future-proof CX.

    From Amazon & Apple’s “test-and-learn” culture to Sears’ cautionary tale, you’ll get a practical roadmap to win now and stay relevant next.

    You’ll learn how to:
    • Trigger instant affinity with story, symbols, and sensory cues (the “blink factor”).
    • Measure emotion and reduce friction across the journey (before churn starts).
    • Design belonging with community experiences that outlast transactions.
    • Use foresight & scenarios to spot signals, separate trends from fads, and adapt fast.
    • Apply behavioral science (choice architecture, “good-better-best”) to drive decisions.
    • Leverage AI thoughtfully (sentiment, avatars) without losing the human.


    Explore JP’s work and the ThinkBlink manifesto:
    • Website: https://www.sld.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanpierrelacroix/
    • Book: ThinkBlink Manifesto (Amazon Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ThinkBlink+Manifesto+Jean-Pierre+Lacroix
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Think Blink: Measure Emotion, Build Belonging

    Think Blink: Measure Emotion, Build Belonging
    Sep 16 2025
    If 80% of buying is emotional, how are you measuring it—and turning customers into a community that stays? In this episode, host Lisa Urbanski sits down with Jean-Pierre Lacroix (author of ThinkBlink) to unpack Tenet 5 (Measure Emotional Connection) and Tenet 6 (Design for Belonging). We dig into practical ways brands can quantify feelings, repair trust fast, and craft community experiences that drive loyalty—online and in-store.

    You’ll learn how to
    • Track emotional signals with metrics, analytics, and sentiment tools
    • Spot friction points and deploy service-recovery that rebuilds trust
    • Move from “transactions” to belonging with community-first design
    • Use personas + psychographics (not just demographics) to hit the heart
    • Blend AI + human insight for personalization that feels seen
    • Measure what matters: connection, advocacy, and lifetime value
    Explore JP’s work and the ThinkBlink manifesto:
    • Website: www.sld.com
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanpierrelacroix/
    • Book: ThinkBlink Manifesto (Amazon Kindle)
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • Emotional Marketing: Convert Customers Fast

    Emotional Marketing: Convert Customers Fast
    Sep 8 2025
    If 80% of buying decisions are emotional, why are you still leading with features?

    On this episode of The Advisor, host Lisa Urbanski sits down with Jean Pierre Lacroix (author of Think Blink) to unpack Tenet 3 & Tenet 4 of his book Think Blink—how emotion-first storytelling and precision personas create instant resonance and repeat revenue.

    We dive into the neuroscience of attention, AI-driven persona building, and designing “belonging experiences” that meet customers across every life stage.

    What you’ll learn:

    🫶 Emotion > Information (Tenet 3): Craft story arcs (context → conflict → resolution) that stick faster than facts.
    🤝 Persona Precision (Tenet 4): Go beyond demographics to psychographics, behaviors, and moments that matter.
    🌐 AI that serves humans: Use sentiment analysis & wearables ethically to refine offers your audience actually wants.
    ✅ From CLV to TLV: Build for longer lifecycles and total life value in an era of longevity and rapid change.
    👀 All-senses branding: Activate sight, sound, scent, and touch to deepen memory and meaning.
    📝 Trust by design: Create a clear data-for-value exchange that earns consent—and loyalty.


    Ready to “Think Blink” and turn attention into attachment? Hit PLAY to learn how today!

    📖 Grab the book HERE

    📲 Connect with JP at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanpierrelacroix/

    🔗 Explore Jean-Pierre's work & services at sld.com
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Think Blink: Make Customers Love Your Brand

    Think Blink: Make Customers Love Your Brand
    Jul 30 2025
    90% of buying decisions are emotional; Are you speaking to the heart or just listing features?

    Host Lisa Urbanski sits down with design legend and SLD president Jean-Pierre Lacroix to unpack his new book Think Blink Manifesto: Creating Deep, Lasting Emotional Brand Connections in the Blink of an Eye.

    In this fast, insight-packed episode, Jean-Pierre reveals the seven tenets behind emotional branding, the “blink factor” that locks your brand into memory, and why simplicity and one powerful “emotional word” can outpace any feature list.

    You’ll discover:
    • How to compete on emotional equities when features are easy to copy
    • The psychology behind impulse buys and disruptive packaging
    • Why only ~30 of 80,000 new products win, and how to be one of them
    • The Trust Ladder, community-building, and measuring sentiment (hello, AI)
    📖 Ready to Think Blink? Grab the book HERE

    🔗 Explore Jean-Pierre's work & services at sld.com

    Explore JP’s work and the ThinkBlink manifesto:
    • Website: https://www.sld.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanpierrelacroix/
    • Book: ThinkBlink Manifesto (Amazon Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ThinkBlink+Manifesto+Jean-Pierre+Lacroix
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Want a Life of Freedom? Here's the Big Shift You Need!

    Want a Life of Freedom? Here's the Big Shift You Need!
    Jan 27 2025
    Are you feeling stuck and unsure of how to make the big shift in your life? Do you have a deep desire to break free from the status quo and pursue your passions, but something is holding you back? In this captivating episode, venture into the realm of personal growth and professional development with host Stacey Chillemi and guest Jean-Pierre Lacroix from SLD Inc. Explore the art of making profound shifts in both personal and professional life, unveiling invaluable strategies and practical tips that will empower and inspire you to confidently maneuver life's twists and turns.

    Discover the key to unlocking your full potential for positive change and growth. Brace yourself for an inspiring journey towards self-improvement, as you break free from limitations and unleash the power of your inner potential. Join us on this immersive voyage of personal transformation and witness the magic that unfolds when you take the first step towards a more fulfilling future.

    Tune in to this episode loaded with expert insights and actionable advice to kickstart your transformative journey towards embracing The Big Shift.

    To explore more about Shikatani Lacroix Design and their innovative consumer experiences, visit their website at sld.com.
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins