An annual assessment of my professional and personal journey. The moment my finger hovers over the "publish" button to post this annual blog, a familiar mix of anticipation and vulnerability washes over me. In that instant, I'm acutely aware of the ritual I'm about to repeat for the ninth year in a row. As I hit "schedule," the muted sound of my laptop's fan serves as an unglamorous yet steady companion to this annual self-examination. Every year, I write and post this blog

This episode of Between 2 Brands is brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com  today! It’s time to drop the first Between 2 Brands episode of 202

Why disconnecting this week is the most productive move you can make. As I write this, it’s right in the middle of that strange, quiet pocket of the calendar where time has little meaning and calories from cheese don’t count: the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Some use this week to plan, set goals, or map out their “best year yet.” As for me, I’m intentionally doing the opposite by fully disconnecting. It’s not because I’m lazy, but because both I and brandivate need

BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this rose-gold level broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com . It’s the Friday after Christmas and time for Ep. 50 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s “Opening Shot” takes on the how much work need

Important Note: I've written (and rewritten) a variation of this every year for the past decade. In that time, I've never used AI and only relied on my brain and, at times, rhymezone. With the proliferation of AI tools, I feel it's necessary that I share that, as in years past, I did not use any AI writing the below . Good, bad, or somewhere in between, it's all human generated. Could AI do better? Probably. Would it lose its soul and meaning? It would, at least to me. With

HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that! It’s time to drop Ep. 49 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares how the podcast has evolved in the past year and what his vision is for it moving forward. After that, he is joined by the one and only Mark Graham from commonsku and they have a

The letter written to my son as he graduated from Mississippi State University Most of the time, I use this spot to share my thoughts on marketing, branding, sales, the wacky world of promotional products, and other things relating to my professional life. Today, that's not going to happen because about 72 hours ago, my son, Drew, graduated from Mississippi State University. As you might imagine, it's been a bit difficult focus on anything else. Perhaps it's because he's work

BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. The schedule for Conference Day at PPAI Expo has officially dropped and you won’t believe the truly AMAZING speakers ready to help you level up your 2026! Check out the lineup at ppai.org/schedule ! It’s Friday and time for Ep. 48 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill starts off the podcast with his “Opening Shot” where he takes on the absurdity of the Pantone Color of the Year. After that little pre

Every path is optional. Last Friday, while I was on my morning run, something I see all the time suddenly jumped out at me: every sidewalk that I ran on was a suggestion, not a rule. Some are smooth, some are covered in wet leaves, and some are cracked. From a directional standpoint, some take you exactly where you want to go, while others dead-end into a greenbelt. And, every once in a while, the sidewalk you think you're supposed to take turns into a frustrating detour that

HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today! It’s time to drop Ep. 47 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week Bill shares his thoughts on the potential end of social listening brought on by AI bots. After that, he’s joine