I’ve been struggling with thinking bigger while the world is so crazy, and I’m quite certain I’m not alone. 2020 has brought us a pandemic, an election year, societal unrest, and economic upheaval – and for crying out loud, we’re just midway through. Every day I fight a wait-and-see attitude, and find myself focusing on smaller tactical items that, if I’m being honest, make me feel like I’m moving forward and adding value. That need for control is probably something most of us crave right now.

But there has to be more. Being from the Detroit area, I grew up a Red Wings fan with an appreciation for excellent hockey. Not your “just show up to play” hockey, but the passionate, driving sort of play that fully engages fans in the arena and more importantly, in their hearts. I believe we can apply that same intensity to get through this patch, and not just survive but thrive. These are the correlations I’ve drawn between best practices in marketing and hockey.