Newsletter: Your Partnership Program is on Coldplay's Kiss Cam 💋 ; 5 Things AI Can Do in Sponsorship ✅ ; Data Visuals that Wow: 5 Ways to Show Impact 🤩

Everyone knows about the Coldplay kiss-cam scandal.

Overnight, the couple became main characters in a viral morality play. Bad news. Messy news. Unavoidable news.

But here’s my question: What if YOUR MESS ended up in the spotlight?

 
 

No, no, I don’t mean your personal life. Heaven forbid! I mean your partnership program. What if your board, your partners, your boss (your mom!) got a raw, unfiltered look at how you actually run things behind the scenes?

Would they see a purpose-driven powerhouse? Or would they see a series of half-baked proposals, expired pitch decks, neglected partners, and those two corporate contacts you still haven’t followed up with since last fall?

We work so hard to project polish: glossy decks, LinkedIn wins, a string of logo slides that say, “Look at all the good we’re doing.” But the truth is, sometimes we duct-tape things together behind the scenes and hope no one zooms in.

There’s a lesson here that goes beyond viral spectacle.

The difference between a scandal and a success often comes down to readiness.

If the curtain suddenly lifted, would your partnership program reflect purpose, clarity, strategy, and integrity? Or would you scramble to explain why your best partners haven’t heard from you in months? Or why you've never documented your partnership successes in compelling case studies by that wicked awesome guy Joe Waters? (Sorry, shameless plug.)

You don’t need to run a flawless operation, but you do need to build one you wouldn’t be ashamed of if someone caught a glimpse.

The Coldplay kiss cam reminds us all: you never know when the spotlight will swing your way. Will you and your team shine? Or will you need a PR team, a quick exit, or, perish the thought, a divorce lawyer?

Take steps now to avoid that fate. The choice is yours: 15 minutes of fame or a lifetime of shame.

✍️ Partnership Notes

In my "Partnership Notes" section, I share stellar corporate partnership programs and show you how to do your job better!

1. ​5 things AI can do in sponsorship (and 3 things it can’t do)​.

💡 This article also includes a helpful section on tips and best practices for using AI in sponsorship. It's from Chris Baylis at The Sponsorship Collective, so you know it's good!

2. ​The ultimate sales hack: Just stay in touch​. [Look for this article midway down where it says "Stay in Touch."]

💡 This article from The Follow Up truly summarizes my sales approach. "'Always Be Closing' makes for a great movie line. But in real life, 'Always Be in Touch' is a lot more effective." 🙏

3. ​How I meet with C-level execs and win deals as a seasoned sales rep​.

💡 Want to land a meeting with the C-suite? This comprehensive article outlines how to earn their time by leading with business value, speaking their language, and making every second count.

🤑 Marketing Your Cause

In my "Marketing Your Cause" section, I share strategies for growing your brand and audience—two key ingredients for securing more partnerships.

1. ​How to incorporate social proof into your content​.

💡 One of my favorite newsletter writers, Josh Spector, shares a smart AI prompt that helps you weave testimonials naturally into any content.

2. ​What’s the best B2B thought-leadership content?​

💡 The best B2B content tackles real client problems—and it starts before you write, with a sharp angle and an original insight.

3. ​Data visuals that wow: 5 easy ways to show impact​. 🔐 (🔐 = I subscribe to this publication and can email you this article.)

💡 Want your impact data to actually show your impact? This COP article shares five simple but powerful chart tweaks, like better titles, smarter annotations, and more inclusive color choices, that turn confusing graphs into compelling visuals anyone can understand.

😎 Cool Jobs in Cause

In my "Cool Jobs in Cause" section, I share open partnership positions so you can discover your next adventure.

1. Part-time Account Manager/Sr. Account Manager, ​For Momentum​, Remote

2. Director of Corporate and Community Engagement, ​Gulf Coast JFCS​, Clearwater, FL

🧠🍌 Brain Food

In my "Brain Food" section, I share things that spark inspiration, fuel curiosity, and bring a smile to your face!

1. ​What finally convinced me that AI is real​.

💡 This 30-second clip from wicked smarty Jay Baer caught my eye!

2. ​Do you have a ‘Type B’ personality?​

💡 Everyone talks about Type A personalities—driven, detail-obsessed, always ten steps ahead. But what about Type B? I often describe myself as a B+, so maybe I'm just one step ahead.

3. ​On the importance of learning by heart​.

💡 "What you have by heart, the bastards cannot touch, they cannot take it from you."

It reminds me of a line I’ve memorized from Marcus Aurelius:

"In life, be like the boxer, not like the gladiator. For while the latter picks up and sets aside his sword, the former always has his fist and only needs to clench it."

What we commit to heart becomes part of us—untouchable, ever-ready, and always in hand.

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Newsletter: Corporate Giving is Up - But Everything Isn’t Ducky 🦆 ; Do a Cold Plunge in Patrick Mahomes Head for a Cause 🏈 ; Why Your Partnership Program Needs Brand Awareness 📢