Thinking Ahead.
Customer experience, loyalty, and the AI era.
A new post every week — drawn from Joseph's current research and the ideas shaping his presentations.
1132 posts in the archive
Earlier writing.
Page 7 of 57
- Sep 5, 2024
Artificial Intelligence is NOT a Customer Experience Panacea: Beware the Privacy and Operational Pitfalls (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about effectively blending AI and human service delivery. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our team,…
- Sep 4, 2024
Artificial Intelligence is NOT a Customer Experience Panacea: Beware the Privacy and Operational Pitfalls
Undeniably, AI and data analytics are enhancing customer service and operational efficiency; however, their use is fraught with significant ethical and legal challenges, particularly concerning customer privacy and data usage. Patagonia , renowned…
- Aug 29, 2024
Birds of Different Feathers SHOULD Flock Together: The Power of Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Growth (Infographics)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about creating unexpected and mutually beneficial partnerships. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our…
- Aug 28, 2024
Birds of Different Feathers SHOULD Flock Together: The Power of Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Growth
The recently announced partnership between Starbucks and Mercedes-Benz definitely grabbed my attention. I've consulted for and written about both brands but had yet to conceptualize them working together. This somewhat unusual partnership addresses…
- Aug 22, 2024
Where is Your Customer Experience Going?: Enhancing Customer Engagement through Journey Mapping (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about successful customer journey mapping. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our team, please visit…
- Aug 21, 2024
Where is Your Customer Experience Going?: Enhancing Customer Engagement through Journey Mapping
Sometimes, we are too close to something – a process, an idea, a product, or a service – to see it with accurate, objective clarity and perspective. This can be especially (and paradoxically) true when a notion leaps from our brains. We think we…
- Aug 15, 2024
Valued but Not Equal - A Case for Customer Segmentation (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about effective customer segmentation. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our team, please visit…
- Aug 14, 2024
Valued but Not Equal - A Case for Customer Segmentation
Customers aren’t always right and certainly don't contribute equally to your business's success, but…customers always pay your bills! I am struck by two groups of business leaders – those who treat customers as an afterthought to profits or products…
- Aug 8, 2024
Walking Your Talk: Cultivating Authentic Customer Service (Part 2 of 2) (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about cultivating authentic customer service. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our team, please…
- Aug 7, 2024
Walking Your Talk: Cultivating Authentic Customer Service (Part 2 of 2)
Let's build on last week's post, which focused on authentic customer experiences provided by legendary brands I've worked with and written about, such as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company , Zappos , and Starbucks . Becoming known for extraordinary…
- Aug 1, 2024
Walking Your Talk: Cultivating Authentic Customer Service (Part 1 of 2) (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about cultivating authentic customer service. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our team, please…
- Jul 31, 2024
Walking Your Talk: Cultivating Authentic Customer Service (Part 1 of 2)
I have often suggested that a measure of a person and a brand is what people say about you when you are not around. My book "The Zappos Experience" includes many customer voices demonstrating how people talk about service brands that authentically…
- Jul 25, 2024
Everyone is Responsible for Customer Calm (Part 2 of 2) - Infographic
In this week’s blog, I discussed about ensuring you deliver peace of mind to your customers. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our…
- Jul 24, 2024
Owning Peace of Mind - Everyone is Responsible for Customer Calm (Part 2 of 2)
Continuing from last week's post on the importance of creating peace of mind for customers, let’s explore more actionable strategies that can elevate your customer experience, drive customer ease, and foster loyalty. Extraordinary customer…
- Jul 18, 2024
Everyone is Responsible for Customer Calm (Part 1 of 2) (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about ensuring you deliver peace of mind to your customers. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our…
- Jul 17, 2024
Owning Peace of Mind - Everyone is Responsible for Customer Calm (Part 1 of 2)
Leadership guru Brian Tracy has been kind enough to endorse several of my books, and I have looked to him for wisdom throughout the years. One of my favorite quotes of Brian’s is, The older I get, the more I value “peace of mind” for myself and…
- Jul 11, 2024
Autonomy and Guidelines - The Art of Front-Line Empowerment (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about empowering your team. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our team, please visit…
- Jul 10, 2024
Autonomy and Guidelines - The Art of Front-Line Empowerment
Why do people leave employers? An outstanding customer experience professional shared, “I didn’t want to leave the company, but I didn't have the authority to make things right for customers, and escalated issues didn't get resolved." Her experience…
- Jun 27, 2024
Lovemark? Infusing your brand with Mystery, Sensuality and Intimacy (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about achieving "customer loyalty beyond reason. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our team, please…
- Jun 26, 2024
Lovemark? Infusing your brand with Mystery, Sensuality and Intimacy
Here’s an exercise: try going one day without seeing an advertising message. OK, how about an hour? Marketing messages are ubiquitous, appearing in unexpected places like the bottoms of golf holes. Every business talks to customers, but what makes…

Joseph Michelli
Bestselling author of twelve books on Starbucks, Ritz-Carlton, Mercedes-Benz, Zappos, Airbnb, UCLA Health, and One Medical. Top 5 Global CX Thought Leader for ten consecutive years.
More about Joseph