THE BOSS OPERATIVES
Brand Operating System Syndicate (BOSS)
— A global grassroots effort for The Brand Operating System book launch.
You've been invited here because I trust you to take this seriously.
My first book, The Brand Operating System comes out in summer 2026. Instead of relying entirely on algorithms and LinkedIn posts, I'm building a small network of operatives to help seed the book in the real world.
I'd like to send each BOSS a small stack of buckslips— 30 4" x 9" flyers —promoting the book. The ask: place them in coffee shops, library bulletin boards, co-working spaces, professional meetups, design events—public spaces where people who think about business, brand, strategy, or creative work might notice them. Not all at once, but casually over a few weeks around the launch.
If you're in, snap a photo when you place one somewhere good. I'll share them on @okmarc and tag you—or keep you anonymous if you prefer to operate in the shadows. When completed, I'll send you a signed copy of the book with my compliments, for your help.
This only works if a BOSS follows through.
That's why you're here and others aren't.
About the Author
Marc V. Stress has spent more than 25 years helping organizations embed brand into how they operate. He founded Stressdesign in 2000, co-founded 76West, and now serves as a Fractional Chief Brand Officer through OK Marc. He is Professor of Practice at Syracuse University’s School of Design, where he advances systems thinking at the intersection of design, business, and emerging technology. The Brand Operating System is his first book.
advance praise
"Tactical dependence leads inexorably to commoditization."
— Marty Neumeier, author of The Brand Gap