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The Punching Nun Group Blog
After all, marketing is life, right?
The Blockbuster Effect
The Blockbuster Effect defined: when we trust that what is working now will always work. Everyone remembers those stores that rented thousands of movies housed in blue boxes. They seemed to be on every corner, yet this once-booming company filed for bankruptcy in 2010. As a marketing professional, I’ve seen many examples of this seismic fizzle after years of success. Often a new solution, product, or platform enters the market with a technological advantage. Recently I spoke to two entrepreneurs who launched a new company after a successful exit based on a solution that was created in their first start-up. Initially, the venture had a significant technological advantage which resulted in rapid sales growth leading to the close with a few major health systems. As technologists, the focus was on continuous improvement with the platform adding features as clients asked and offering dynamic proactive service. All good right? Sort of. They
Fundamentals of Marketing, Know Thy Audience
Just this week, a major consumer brand experienced the same sort of nosedive as “New Coke.” For those younger than my 57 years, New Coke
Heading Into 2023
Like most Americans, I wanted 2022 to end.
The chaos, threats of war, an economy in freefall, distrust of the institutions we once held dear and the schism between right and left have resulted in heightened anxiety in every quarter of our country. One thing we all seem to agree on is that a feeling of heaviness permeates every interaction, and the very soul of America.
Honors Convocation
Although more than 3 decades have passed, my experience at St. Vincent College continues to impact my life in many ways and my prayer is
Life in Rural Mississippi
This New Year, I’m on the farm worked by my husband’s family since the early 1800s. They settled this area before it was a state,
I Will Not Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
Why? Because it’s not actually a vaccine, it is a type of gene therapy called mRNA and it’s still in clinical trial—making half of Americans
Facts Over Fear: A Quiet Entrepreneurial Rebellion is Afoot
Parents right here in Middle Tennessee are slowly—and somewhat secretly—taking back their children’s education. Why? Because the majority of public schools have chosen not to
On Hope and Freedom
I’m writing this from a space the size of an old school dorm room, sitting in a narrow twin bed. It’s day 10 of a
The Legacy of George Floyd
I personally condemn all forms of racism, bigotry, hatred, discrimination, and violence—sins against God and humanity. Like so many other Americans, I am sickened by
Tennessee, The Volunteer State
We are 48 hours in from the devastating tornado that tore through Nashville and roared down I40 to Cookeville, taking more than 20 lives with
Addiction in Franklin, Tennessee
I’m crying tonight as I write this. A night out for pizza has become another lesson in the hideous tragedy of addiction. I live in
Amanda Cecconi invited to join Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust
Franklin, TN (February 5, 2020) — Amanda Cecconi, Founder and Managing Partner of Punching Nun Group, has been invited to join Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust,
Kobe Bryant: Girls Basketball Coach
January 26, 2020 — I woke to the tragic news that Kobe Bryant, his young daughter Gianna and 7 other people lost their lives. As
Living A Brand
Tonight, I sat at a favorite bar in a brand new boutique hotel in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, named after the same river that meanders east,
New Year’s 2020
After creating so much content for clients, it can be challenging to stop the presses for a moment to develop our content (the cobbler’s children
Central American Beauty
My daughter fell in love with the Nicaraguan people after nearly a year teaching at orphanages in the capital city and in the rural mountain
Gratitude and Letting Go
Tonight, I was able to stop time. I had to take my son back to college. It was dark and warm, with an early September
Social Media and The Business of Healthcare. A Double-Edged Sword.
Perhaps. Social media as a channel has been around for 40+ years. Consumer brands embraced social first, as a way to communicate with consumers and
Uniquely American: 911 and the Heroes of United Flight 93
“Are you guys ready? Ok, let’s roll!” Todd Beamer from Flint, MI Tom Burnett from Bloomington, MN Mark Bingham from Los Gatos, CA Jeremy Glick
The Death of Journalism
Dearly Departed, We are gathered here today to say farewell to journalism—journalism degrees, journalism as a career, any respect for the news in general. Dead,
City of Zombies
I’ve had the opportunity to visit the West Coast twice in the past few months. Typically, travel is business related but these were both pleasure
Something Sweet In Seattle
After a week in the Pacific Northwest visiting Vancouver and Seattle (the city British Columbians say is “just like here but 2 hours south”) I
Econ 101
Just about 32 years ago I graduated from Saint Vincent College (SVC) in Latrobe, PA. I’d transferred from William & Mary—much to my father’s chagrin.
Survival & Forgiveness, Life Lessons from Louis Zamperini
Louis Zamperini having reached his 97th year went to heaven on July 2, 2014, after living what can only be described as a miraculous, amazing,
Risk and Reward, the Economics of Immigration
In 2018 controversy and rage around immigration—illegal and otherwise—seemed to dominate the news cycle. As I took off over the Atlantic today, leaving behind the
It Really Is a Wonderful Life …
At this time of year in the Cecconi family, one of our favorite ways to celebrate Christmas and the end of another year is to
Vision Without Execution is Hallucination
Factors to Close the Execution Gap Thomas Edison’s quote, uttered more than 100 years ago, rings true across organizations of all sizes in the year
Project YOU
A new client joined the ranks of PNG this month and as I typically do—when I see something really interesting that I know they’ll relate
Prohibition & Entrepreneurialism
This is Ersilia Conjoli Cecconi. In this picture (circa 1900) she was 22. I believe it to be her wedding photo. Ersilia is my great
