Category: then & now

leadership dot #4951: dirty

May 17, 2026May 15, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

If you ever questioned the power of social media, look no further than the proliferation of “dirty sodas” that have moved into the mainstream. (Dirty sodas are regular pop with flavored creamers or syrups added to the mix.)

Apparently, TikTok is responsible for the spread of this concoction, and now dirty drinks are available in many places. Franchise restaurants such as Texas Roadhouse are promoting their beverages with the addition, and Mountain Dew just released a dirty version in cans. There are brands (Swig and Sodalicious) specifically dedicated to dirty soda variations. And, of course, there are hundreds of combinations that can be made, enhancing the appeal. Everyone wants everything customized to their liking.

If you haven’t yet noticed the dirty soda trend, it won’t be long before you do. I envision “dirty soda bars” popping up at parties everywhere! For good clean fun, your team can have fun experimenting to create their own version of dirty.

leadership dot #4881: private

February 28, 2026February 25, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It’s interesting to me what is kept private and what is freely shared.

I see social media posts with license plates blacked out — even though they are publicly visible on streets and parking lots. The White Pages used to publish everyone’s phone number, but now you have to pay to access a phone number or address.

Warnings have been issued about decals on cars that unintentionally reveal information about the family. And yet, people upload pictures and many personal details with AI, then publicly share caricatures that disclose much more about themselves than a license plate.

Don’t worry about covering up things that are public and instead spend your energy choosing what to keep private.

leadership dot #555a: @

December 20, 2025December 19, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I’m following my own advice and taking a break from dot-writing through the holidays. Enjoy some of my past favorites until new dots return on January 5, 2026.

In one character — the @ symbol — we can see the evolution of so much.

This piece of punctuation was included on the earliest manual typewriters and used well before those machines were developed. “At” primarily meant “at that price”. Think of the early shopkeepers with their 3×5 receipt pad — writing “3 bushels @ $1”, “1 apple @ 5 cents” or similar things. It was one of the first symbols of commerce.

Today, we all know that @ has a very different meaning. It has become so pervasive that the Museum of Modern Art’s Department of Architecture and Design “acquired” the symbol in 2010.* You could say “at” and most everyone today would instinctively write the @ sign. It has become the punctuation of the modern economy — connecting us all to each other.

You, too, can give long-standing things a new meaning. Is there a symbol in your organization that needs to evolve?

Source: A Decade in Design 2004-2013, March 2010, Fast Company, October 2013, p.66

Originally published in modified form on December 8, 2013

leadership dot #4817: dining

December 10, 2025December 5, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I had the occasion to be in a campus cafeteria — something I haven’t done in many years. I was struck by how things have changed. When I was a co-ed, there was one line with one or two entrees and very little choice. That model expanded when I worked at a college, and students demanded more options and healthier foods. But even since then, college food has evolved into a dining hall that acknowledges allergies, nutrition, ethnic foods, and even environmental impact.

In this cafeteria, there was an entire gluten-free section, with special tongs, a cutting board, and multiple breads. They offered Almond Milk and Soy Milk in addition to the usual choices. The hall featured fountain offerings with full Pepsi- and a Coke-brand selections — no more “take it or leave it,” as was the case in my day! There was also a prominent composting section, something unheard of in previous years.

I also noticed all of the signs. Plaques illustrated what could/couldn’t be placed in composting bins. Signs shared statistics about the source of the milk. There was nutritional information and signs promoting the consumption of healthy foods such as apples and cinnamon. Even the seating areas had changed, with tall tables and a setting with comfortable chairs.

It would be easy to provide sustenance in an institutional setting, but college cafeterias have become part of the educational mission. Instead of being the source of the “Freshman 5 (pounds gained from starchy foods),” the cafeteria is now part of forming social relationships and laying a foundation for lifelong healthy eating.

How has your organization evolved to adapt to its changing audience? Maybe a field trip to a college dining hall can give you some inspiration.

leadership dot #4813: side by side

December 6, 2025December 5, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

A donut shop had an old-time cash register that was prominently displayed on the checkout counter. It caught my attention because next to it was a touchscreen pad for credit card purchases, and I wondered what they had manipulated to achieve a blend of technology and nostalgia.

The answer: nothing. Instead, they had a Stripe register on the other side of the mammoth vintage register, which was just there for looks!

It was a reminder that we don’t always have to complicate things. Sometimes we can have the best of the new without foregoing the best of the old by keeping them side by side.

leadership dot #4737: transfer

September 21, 2025September 19, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Less than ten percent of the donations we have raised to support the bond referendum have been paid by cash or check. Almost half of our contributions have been paid via Stripe on our website, with the other portion paid through Venmo.

When we conducted the first round of advocacy in 2023, we were slow in accepting electronic donations because of the fees we needed to pay in order to do so. But we came around, as have most vendors today. From Girl Scout cookies to craft shows, to devotional candles in church, to the farm stand selling corn, it seems that you can’t conduct business without a way to process cashless sales. Yes, that convenience comes with a price — usually three percent or so — but what you gain in revenue far outweighs the surcharge.

Studies have shown that the further actual cash is from the transaction, the less real it seems, making people likely to spend more. (You spend more on your credit card than if you had to pull those bills out of your wallet.) Let psychology and convenience work in your favor by creating a cashless path for people to transfer their money to you.

leadership dot #4656: scarcity

June 18, 2025June 11, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplett1 Comment

One of the memories from my trip to Colorado in 1970 is my dad loading every inch of available space in the trailer with Coors beer to bring home to his friends. Coors was a novelty back then, only sold in the Golden State, and it was a coveted item elsewhere.

I thought about that when I was in Denver, as there are fewer and fewer items that are place-bound or a treat to have because you are in a specific location. So many of the restaurants and stores are the same ones I can frequent at home, so we had to seek out local treasures to enjoy the Colorado flavor.

While not unique to Denver, but at least indigenous to the West, is Voodoo Doughnuts. The premium for an item from their carousel of tempting treats was worth it, just for the novelty of having something new.

Everything Everywhere All at Once may be a great movie title, but it’s a lousy business strategy. Scarcity can be an asset.

leadership dot #4636: bite-size

May 29, 2025May 21, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I think about when my mother would pack a picnic lunch for us to take to the beach. There were sandwiches, fruit, specific homemade cookies, drinks, Twizzlers, and chips — it was a regular meal. Today, the summer aisles are featuring “Snackleboxes”, snacks in a knockoff of a tackle box.

It’s the on-the-go version of charcuterie boards, which in themselves are pared-down versions of a full deli tray. The theme: bite-sized.

Everything seems to be brief these days. “Friends” are the other side of a social media click, instead of an enduring acquaintance with whom you spend countless hours. News is digested through ticker tapes on the bottom of a television screen or by short headlines on the phone’s feed. Forget about analysis; anything over a few sentences is deemed “TL; DR” (too long, didn’t read).

We are consuming our food, our friends, and our news in micro-bites. There is a focus on quick and now, without much thought to the long term. Think about one thing that matters to you and go deep with how you interact with it. Make a full meal. Actually talk to your friend. Read the entire article — or even two to get a broader perspective. Depth matters for the future.

leadership dot #4613: charges

May 6, 2025May 5, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I wanted to send a sympathy card to a former neighbor but couldn’t remember the house number. Where do you find that information today? It used to be that everyone’s address and phone number came in a book, delivered for free right to your door. Now, what was formerly accessible has been hidden behind a paywall.

I think about other things that have switched from free to a charge (television, bags in stores, use of credit cards, water, seats on an airplane, baggage) and things that were costly but are now priced for free or where you don’t worry about pay-by-the-increment (long-distance and out-of-area phone calls, computer/internet time, video editing/publishing, many software programs, and even some online classes).

Consider things you charge for and things you offer without a direct cost. Might you be better off if you switched some of that formula?

leadership dot #4601: hub

April 24, 2025April 23, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Long before collaboration was a common buzzword in business, five New York City newspapers partnered in 1846 to share information about the Mexican-American War. One editor realized there was great overlap and wasted resources with everyone trying to cover the conflict on their own, so he offered a joint partnership that carried news across the Gulf of Mexico, then via Pony Express and mail coach, before being transmitted over telegraph wire to the outlets. Today, 179 years later, that same practice occurs, but obviously via more sophisticated methods — and is known as the Associated Press.

The AP’s throwback lesson reminded me once again that history does repeat itself. I just finished a project about strengthening local journalism, and one of the recurring themes was to partner with others to create a “news hub” that deploys people to gather news and share it with multiple outlets. It may even help to have one consistent source of facts rather than each medium spinning the story their way.

While it’s easier today to do your own thing with digital tools instead of the arduous Pony Express, partnering is still a good option. Sharing resources, whether in journalism or other ventures, is good for economics and the environment, and often results in improved work products created from diverse perspectives. If others are doing the same thing, why not work together on the inputs to improve everyone’s outputs?