Avoiding the Hard Truth?

We love the polished pitch.

The tidy tagline.

The story we think our audience wants to hear.

But clarity demands telling the truth.

What do you need to admit about your brand?

That you’ve outgrown what you’re selling?

That your promise doesn’t match the experience?

That you’re avoiding saying something real because it might turn people away?

Patagonia faced this.

Their “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign didn’t soften the message.

They made customers confront the cost of consumption.

They sold fewer jackets to build a more trusted brand.

It was uncomfortable. But it was honest.

Name the truth.

Make people feel it.

Because when you avoid hard questions, you invite confusion.

When you answer them, you create trust.

This week’s prompt:

What truth about your brand are you avoiding saying?

Ian Adams, Founder the little red sofa

Before founding the little red sofa, I led strategy and creative for brands like Jeep, HSBC, and Unilever at top global agencies and in-house teams across 8 countries. Now I work with founders to turn brand clarity into sustainable growth.