Melanie Draheim

Challenger-brand marketer helping human-first ideas stand out and actually matter.

digital detox

Aug 30, 2026

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1 min read

Leave a Book

Give something away that might matter to someone you'll never meet

Melanie Draheim

The MEL Method framework

Aug 29, 2026

•

9 min read

Leaf 08: The Brand That Didn’t Need a Budget: What a Box on a Post Tells Us About Winning Small

Why you don't need to be a mega-big brand with a huge budget to build something people love

Melanie Draheim

mindset

Find Something That’s Been Around Longer Than You

Jul 26, 2026

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1 min read

Find Something That’s Been Around Longer Than You

Appreciate why it's lasted

Melanie Draheim

The MEL Method framework

Leaf 07: What Weird Turtle Power Teaches Us About Marketing That Lasts

Jul 26, 2026

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10 min read

Leaf 07: What Weird Turtle Power Teaches Us About Marketing That Lasts

Why marketing that lasts doesn't usually look like it's trying

Melanie Draheim

mindset

Jun 28, 2026

•

1 min read

Spend Time With a Dog

Be in the moment

Melanie Draheim

The MEL Method framework

Leaf 06: Why We Need More Introverts in Marketing: Continued Lessons from My Rescue Dog

Jun 28, 2026

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9 min read

Leaf 06: Why We Need More Introverts in Marketing: Continued Lessons from My Rescue Dog

What I wrote three years ago—and what Bayla and I understand now

Melanie Draheim

digital detox

May 26, 2026

•

1 min read

Sit Somewhere Without an Agenda

Find a quiet spot

Melanie Draheim

The MEL Method framework

Leaf 05: What Two Kids and a Sinking Boat Taught Me About Marketing That Doesn’t Panic

May 26, 2026

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8 min read

Leaf 05: What Two Kids and a Sinking Boat Taught Me About Marketing That Doesn’t Panic

Why logic is only as good as what comes before it

Melanie Draheim

mindset

Apr 26, 2026

•

1 min read

Grow Something You Can Eat

It doesn't matter how long it takes

Melanie Draheim

The MEL Method framework

Leaf 04: Homegrown and Convenient Can Coexist: What Matters Is Knowing Which One You Are Reaching For

Apr 25, 2026

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6 min read

Leaf 04: Homegrown and Convenient Can Coexist: What Matters Is Knowing Which One You Are Reaching For

Why AI and human intelligence don't have to compete—and how knowing the difference creates more meaningful marketing

Melanie Draheim

mindset

Mar 29, 2026

•

1 min read

Go Somewhere You Wrote Off

Get close and notice what's actually there

Melanie Draheim

mindset

Leaf 03: Death Valley Is Very Much Alive (And So Are the Fundamentals of Marketing)

Mar 28, 2026

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12 min read

Leaf 03: Death Valley Is Very Much Alive (And So Are the Fundamentals of Marketing)

Why we should declare "is dead" dead to thrive in today's extreme marketing environment.

Melanie Draheim

digital detox

Feb 22, 2026

•

1 min read

Build By Hand

Embrace your inner child

Melanie Draheim

empathy

Feb 22, 2026

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9 min read

Leaf 02: The Logic of a Three-Year-Old: Why Empathy Still Wins in Marketing

How empathy tells logic where to aim so you can focus on what matters.

Melanie Draheim

marketing mindset

Jan 25, 2026

•

1 min read

Reflect on Your Marketing Mindset

A pen and paper exercise

Melanie Draheim

The MEL Method framework

Leaf 01: How an Artist Accidentally Created a Formula for Meaningful Marketing

Jan 25, 2026

•

9 min read

Leaf 01: How an Artist Accidentally Created a Formula for Meaningful Marketing

A simple sequence for producing marketing with meaning. This article explains why mindset and empathy must come before logic for meaningful results.

Melanie Draheim

Melanie Draheim

Leave a Book

Leaf 08: The Brand That Didn’t Need a Budget: What a Box on a Post Tells Us About Winning Small

Find Something That’s Been Around Longer Than You

Leaf 07: What Weird Turtle Power Teaches Us About Marketing That Lasts

Spend Time With a Dog

Leaf 06: Why We Need More Introverts in Marketing: Continued Lessons from My Rescue Dog

Sit Somewhere Without an Agenda

Leaf 05: What Two Kids and a Sinking Boat Taught Me About Marketing That Doesn’t Panic

Grow Something You Can Eat

Leaf 04: Homegrown and Convenient Can Coexist: What Matters Is Knowing Which One You Are Reaching For

Go Somewhere You Wrote Off

Leaf 03: Death Valley Is Very Much Alive (And So Are the Fundamentals of Marketing)

Build By Hand

Leaf 02: The Logic of a Three-Year-Old: Why Empathy Still Wins in Marketing

Reflect on Your Marketing Mindset

Leaf 01: How an Artist Accidentally Created a Formula for Meaningful Marketing

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