The Unlock

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How one key obsession can build and drive a legacy brand

Lew Frankfort — Chairman Emeritus of Coach, Inc. — reveals the surest way for a brand to stand the test of time.

A smiling older man with a bald head and trimmed white beard, wearing a black jacket and black shirt, in front of a plain dark background.

Lew Frankfort is Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of Coach, Inc, co-founder of investment firm Benvolio Group, and the author of Bag Man.

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Collage featuring a man operating early computer equipment and a man in aviator goggles, with the text "THE NIGHTCRAWLER" above them—capturing the creative sparks of innovation and adventure.

Business

The beauty of writing in public

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

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Eric Markowitz

Eric Markowitz is a partner and the Director of Research at investment firm Nightview Capital. A former investigative journalist, with bylines in The New Yorker, GQ, Fast Company, among other[…]

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A collage features a man in academic regalia at a podium, a black-and-white rural village, ants, and the words “THE NIGHTCRAWLER” in bold text at the top, evoking the art of reason amid contrasting scenes.

Business

Meet the philosopher outsmarting me since kindergarten

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

Eric Markowitz

Eric Markowitz is a partner and the Director of Research at investment firm Nightview Capital. A former investigative journalist, with bylines in The New Yorker, GQ, Fast Company, among other[…]

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Two men in suits sit at a table looking stressed; one leans back with his head tilted upwards, and the other covers his face with his hand. The scene hints at the consequences of relying on the McNamara fallacy. A blurred glass pitcher is visible in the foreground.

Business

The “McNamara fallacy”: When data leads to the worst decision

Don’t make the mistake of blindly following quantitative metrics — whether you’re helping clients or looking for lunch.

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Business

How to create an “idea generation assembly line”

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

The image shows the words "Organizational Friction" in bold white text on a black background with red arrows crossing over them.

Why ‘friction thinkers’ see hidden opportunities first

“When we face a problem, our natural tendency is to race ahead – but some friction is actually a good thing.”

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7 min

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with

Bob Sutton

Three versions of a buttercup flower: left is yellow in visible light, middle is pinkish in ultraviolet, and right is colorless in infrared—a glimpse into the diverse sensory umwelt surrounding us.

Business

How “umwelt” can make you more creative and productive

If you’re out on a walk, you will see a different world than your dog, a bee, or an ant. Here are three reasons why that matters.

Collage featuring a person sleeping at a desk, a hand holding a hotel bell, and sharks. The title "The Night Crawler" appears at the top.

Business

The thrill is in the hunt — not just the victory

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

Illustration of two human silhouettes facing each other with neural connections and nodes, featuring the text "BORN AND MADE" on a green background.

6 key abilities of strategic thinkers (you can learn them)

“I’m often asked: “Are great strategic thinkers born, or are they made?” And my answer is always yes. Like so many human capabilities, it’s a mixture of nature, nurture and experience.”

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7 min

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with

Michael D. Watkins