Crane + Grey

04/23/2025

We’re pleased to share the launch of Dr. Arthur Herman’s official website—a project our team at Crane + Grey was proud to shape from the ground up.

Dr. Herman is one of the rare public figures whose work bridges the intellectual and the practical—moving between history, defense policy, technological innovation, and the enduring moral questions of Western civilization. His voice is calm, rigorous, and urgent.

The new site presents his complete bibliography, selected essays and articles, archived lectures and media, and makes it easier than ever to connect with him for speaking and consulting engagements.

We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to help present his work to a wider world—and hopeful that this platform furthers his ability to influence the conversations that matter most.
Visit: https://www.arthur-herman.com/
—Crane + Grey

New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Dr. Arthur Herman illuminates the past to reveal the forces shaping our future. His work challenges conventional wisdom, blending history, strategy, and innovation.

04/10/2023

Welcome to Week 4 of our 7-week series on the "7 Deadly Sins of Strategic Planning."

This week, we confront the green-eyed monster of Envy, a strategic flaw that can lure organizations into replicating the plans of others and ignoring their unique DNA.

At Crane + Grey, we help organizations resist the allure of Envy by crafting bespoke strategic plans that embrace your organization's one-of-a-kind DNA. We collaborate with you to uncover your strengths, challenges, and opportunities, ensuring that your plan is a harmonious fit for your community and organization.

Welcome to Week 4 of our 7-week series on the “7 Deadly Sins of Strategic Planning.” This week, we’re examining Envy, an all-too-common foible that can lead organizations to covet the strategic plans of others, ignoring the unique tapestry of their own strengths and challenges. At Crane + Grey...

03/30/2023

Looking to cut through the endless cycle of strategic planning without any action?

This week, we're exploring the sin of Gluttony and how it can leave you feeling bloated and slow-moving. At Crane + Grey, we're here to help you trim the fat and create a lean, agile strategy that's focused on immediate action. No more drowning in paperwork or endless to-do lists – just real progress. 🚀

Welcome to Week 3 of our 7-week series on the “7 Deadly Sins of Strategic Planning.” This week, we’re taking a look at Gluttony in strategic planning. Just like an overindulgent meal, too many plans can leave you feeling bloated and slow-moving. At Crane + Grey we’re ready to help you trim t...

03/28/2023

Check your ego at the door and join us for Week 2 of our 7-week series on the "7 Deadly Sins of Strategic Planning."

This week we're tackling Pride and its sin of top-down planning. By excluding diverse voices, organizations risk creating a narrow perspective and a lack of ownership among staff and stakeholders.

Our Narrative Strategic Planning approach promotes collaboration and empathetic design, resulting in a plan that unifies and empowers the entire organization. Learn more now! 🤝📈

Welcome to Week 2 of our 7-week series on the “7 Deadly Sins of Strategic Planning.” This week, we’re exploring the sin of Pride and how it can hinder your organization’s growth. As always, Crane + Grey is here to help you overcome these pitfalls and create actionable, engaging, and highly e...

03/27/2023

Join us as we embark on a journey to dissect the deadly sins of strategic planning. This week we take on Sloth - the scourge of the uninspired planner. Beware the Telescopic Trap, where overly broad and vague goals leave teams wandering aimlessly in a strategic wilderness. Our solution? A Narrative Strategic Planning approach that combines rigorous research with a shared vision and measurable goals.

So, put down that fifth cup of coffee, and join us in the pursuit of strategic excellence. Read the full article at the link below:

We’re excited to kick off a special 7-week series on the “7 Deadly Sins of Strategic Planning.” Each week, we’ll dive into one of these common pitfalls and explore how Crane + Grey can help your organization overcome them to create actionable, engaging, and highly effective strategic plans.

06/01/2022

Research doesn’t have to be boring. At Crane + Grey, we’re fans of getting as much for your dollar as we can.

For example, focus groups can be amazing for gathering anecdotal research and building some impactful marketing materials. Check out some videos that we created with Yes. Every Kid. while also gaining several valuable research insights that helped us drive strategy:

What is quality education and how do we know it when we see it? That’s the question that’s long plagued policymakers and administrators in this country. But,...

05/30/2022

> Research
> Analysis
> Strategic Planning
> Vision Alignment
> Communications

Much like in an orchestra, each instrument on its own can play a tune, but the real beauty comes when they all join together in harmony.

While often viewed as a separate process, we like to think of these as parts of a whole story of an organization. Let us tell yours. Reach out today.

05/26/2022

Crane + Grey offers a wide range of research and consulting services that all build on one another. Read more about what we do on our website.

Whatever challenge you’re facing or project you’re working on, we can help you form a data-driven approach.

Research is tricky business; many claim to do it, few do it well. Unlike other weapons in the marketing and planning arsenal, if research isn't done well, it becomes fully useless at best, actively harmful at worst. But, when it's planned intelligently, designed according to publication-ready standa...

05/24/2022

We’ve seen a million strategic plans that all look the same. Do X thing by X date.

What they all lack is something that everyone can relate to. As humans, it’s through story that we find great meaning. A shared narrative that people can connect with and stand behind.

No, this isn’t marketing BS. Just imagine it for a second… if the very people who you want to positively impact with your objectives don’t understand what they mean for them in their lives, how likely are they to champion your cause?

Let us tell your story and get your community rallied around something great. Reach out to us today.

05/19/2022

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about” - Meg Wheatley

At Crane + Grey, we believe in the power of passion to drive positive change. We’ve seen it first hand. When a community rallies together around a shared vision, amazing things can happen.

We’d love the opportunity to tell your story and help shape it for years to come. Reach out to us to find out how we’ve helped communities (and the foundations that power them) come together and find their story.

05/16/2022

Why use our narrative-based strategic planning approach?

You want a long-run vision that your people actually care about.
You want a plan that can evolve with the ever-changing needs but doesn’t lose impact.
You need processes that bring passionate people to the table to help.
You’re sick of cookie-cutter strategies that get tossed and rewritten every few years.

Reach out today and let’s talk about how we can help tell your story and drive it forward.

05/06/2022

Here at Crane + Grey we merge the concrete with the abstract to provide a wider view of organizational strategy. We use the power of data to drive creative thinking; taking the guesswork out of building your brand.

Find out how you can be more empirical today. Message us today.