Every week there are articles published that are of interest to promotional products industry professionals across the land. To save you time, a rotating group of PromoKitchen chefs have culled the internet for the ones you should read and the ones you should skip. This week’s Dish was authored by Chef Marshall Atkinson.

I’ve always been fascinated with how businesses pull ideas out of the air, develop them, and bring them to market.  This is from both a design and manufacturing sensibility, to also just how they market their idea in their space. 

For this week’s Dish, here are some articles that I’ve been collecting that I think can show different aspects of business.  Read these and think about how they apply to what you do.  Would you change something?  Can you use it to generate a new idea or direction?

Give Away Your Legos – “Must Read” Article of the Week

This is probably my favorite article I’ve read online all time.  After you read it, you will send it out to your staff, your friends, maybe even your customers.  It’s that good.

What Makes Things Cool

Raymond Lowy and his MAYA concept.  “Most Advanced Yet Acceptable” – read this and think about how you develop and market your ideas or products. 

How Technology is Destroying Jobs

Decoupling productivity and employment.  In the news are a lot of articles stating that “we need to bring manufacturing jobs back”.  However, most stuff isn’t made the same way as it was even ten years ago.  It’s important to look at how companies can use technology to improve, and people can use technology to better their lives or careers.  You have to adapt.

The Scale Series

Businesses need growth.  It’s what drives us.  So what happens if you build it and you go too fast?  Read this…

Visual Intelligence: Make Better High Stakes Decisions

This is a video, and not really an article…but it is so good you have to watch.  How can you train your brain to make better decisions?  Here’s how…

Cheetos Debuts Merch Line – huh? – “Don’t Waste Your Time” Article of the Week

C’mon.  This has to be a joke.  Except that maybe Trump uses the Cheetos bronzer.  It explains so much…