A conversation with N.D. Wilson, branding, storytelling, and embracing tension.

I reflect on a pivotal moment when I sat down with best-selling author and creative mind

N.D. Wilson during a conference.

What followed was an inspiring conversation about brand building,

the importance of tension and storytelling,

and how criticism, when applied correctly,

can refine both character and work. The unpolished authentic way in which Nate

conveyed these ideas fits perfectly with the ethos of Don't Be Precious.

Sitting across from N. Wilson in a setting that could have been right out of one of his novels, a mix of chaotic ideas, steady humor, and profound insights, our conversation delved deep into the heart of storytelling.

Nate, with his signature wit and precision, started unpacking how he views branding, story,

and the often misunderstood relationship with criticism.

The most important thing about branding, Nate said, leaning back thoughtfully, is reality.

Your first step in a brand build is to be the thing. Become the thing that's worth

branding. You can't fake it. You can't spin it. That hit me hard. Here was a guy who had built an

entire ethos not just for himself, but for the Moscow, Idaho, community, a place known for its distinctive voice and unapologetic stance, and according to him, it all started with authenticity.

Nate didn't just talk about creating brands, he embodied them.

He built a brand around authenticity that demanded the same from everyone who

interacted with it.

He shared how his early involvement in

marketing started with Credenda Agenda, a magazine he managed as a teenager. The

publication was about more than just promoting ideas.

It was about shaping a community,

...