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Mark My Words.

Articles, interviews & insights by journalist & narrative intelligence expert MARK JONES on trends shaping the future of business events, marketing, media, finance, technology, AI, workplace wellbeing and leadership. Subscribers will be first to know, MARK MY WORDS.

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The VISION REALITY GAP explained
Explainer

The VISION REALITY GAP explained

Why do well-funded change programs stall? Mark Jones' Vision Reality Gap brand and leadership mindset storytelling model shows what happens when the story leaders tell doesn't match what people experience, and how to close the gap for organisations and individual leaders.

Read →8 October 2026
Nike’s long-running false narrative sees it sweat staff & stores
Thought leadership

Nike’s long-running false narrative sees it sweat staff & stores

In the later 2010’s Nike cut wholesale partners and retailers in favour of Nike-owned stories and direct online sales. Turns out people won’t ‘just do it’ if it demands changing human habit.

Read →8 October 2026
Are big events better? The research says yes, with a catch
Thought leadership

Are big events better? The research says yes, with a catch

Bigger events are better – at least that’s what the research is telling us again this week. But scale without intentional design is the fastest way to lose value.

Read →30 September 2026
10 keys to unlock AI transformation success with better storytelling
Thought leadership

10 keys to unlock AI transformation success with better storytelling

Failed AI transformation is not a technology problem. It’s a human change problem. Storytelling is the answer, and Mark has proof.

Read →25 September 2026
Events is a numbers game, with a twist
Thought leadership

Events is a numbers game, with a twist

Ask an event organiser what business they're really in and the honest answer is numbers – budgets, headcount, revenue in the room. Two snapshots from the road show why AI, small rooms and virtual agents are changing what those numbers actually mean.

Read →15 September 2026
What is a storytelling mindset?
Explainer

What is a storytelling mindset?

A storytelling mindset is the habit of treating the story you tell yourself as something you author, rather than something you inherit. It's the working beli…

Read →8 September 2026
What Is Narrative Intelligence (NQ)?
Explainer

What Is Narrative Intelligence (NQ)?

The skill beyond IQ and EQ – and why it decides who leads well in the age of AI

Read →3 September 2026
The 7 Codebreaker Archetypes: which character are you playing at work?
Explainer

The 7 Codebreaker Archetypes: which character are you playing at work?

Mark Jones breaks down the 7 Codebreaker Archetypes from The Story Code for Leaders – Hero, Mentor, Navigator and more. Which one are you playing at work?

Read →29 August 2026
How come we're so burned out? The leadership burnout story nobody's rewriting
Foundational

How come we're so burned out? The leadership burnout story nobody's rewriting

Leadership burnout is now a measurable business cost in Australia. Here's the story running underneath it, and how leaders rewrite it.

Read →24 August 2026
Listen to Your Heart: Dr Renu Burr on the Courage to Lead Differently
Thought leadership

Listen to Your Heart: Dr Renu Burr on the Courage to Lead Differently

Dr Renu Burr on courage, limiting beliefs and moving from ego to ecosystem leadership – Mark Jones interviews her for The Story Code for Leaders.

Read →19 August 2026
Let’s talk about burnout: It’s way too hot right now
Foundational

Let’s talk about burnout: It’s way too hot right now

Ever find yourself staring at a screen, mind blank, your brain basically flatlining?

Read →14 August 2026
The business case for hope: a corporate narrative without hope is a guaranteed corporate box office fail
Thought leadership

The business case for hope: a corporate narrative without hope is a guaranteed corporate box office fail

In this article, keynote speaker, journalist and author Mark Jones makes the case that restoring hope in our leadership narrative is a commercial distinctive…

Read →9 August 2026