In the bustling digital metropolis, where algorithms whisper and data streams flow, a new kind of agency was born from the mind of a visionary named MarkAvery Claridge. Not content with the old ways of marketing and management, MarkAvery sought a deeper truth, a more profound understanding of what truly drives human behavior. This quest led to the founding of MAC Thought, a consulting agency that operates not on spreadsheets and projections, but on the very fabric of the human mind itself.
At MAC Thought, we believe that the most powerful business tool is the brain. Our strategies are not just about market trends; they are an intricate dance with the principles of neuroscience and psychology. We tap into the science of decision-making, harnessing the power of cognitive biases like the reciprocity principle to foster loyalty and the social proof heuristic to build trust. Our campaigns are designed to stimulate the brain’s reward centers, creating a positive feedback loop that turns fleeting interest into lasting engagement.
We help businesses understand their customers not as demographic data points, but as complex individuals with unique motivations and fears. We peer into the minds of your target audience, using insights from psychology to craft narratives that resonate on an emotional level. By understanding the primal drivers of human behavior, we enable our clients to forge connections that are not just transactional, but profoundly influential. At MAC Thought, we don’t just help you sell a product; we help you create an experience that leaves an indelible mark on the mind.
MarkAvery Claridge
In May of 2012, MarkAvery and his wife had a baby boy. She was a H.S. math teacher and he had just graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in psychology and Neuroscience. One day that summer, they were on their sailboat and realized this was the first time in their lives (they were in their thirties) in their adult lives they weren’t going to work all summer. They vowed to value their time together more than sacrificing for a future that so often people never realize. Live for today; plan for tomorrow.
MarkAvery loves downhill skiing and anything that involves a body of water, especially when he can spend that time with his family.
His careers and education have taken him on a journey through working with adults and children with disabilities, the nuclear field in the Navy, chemistry, psychology, neuroscience, art, community engagement, public relations and teaching. Of those, he always came back to science and teaching.
He discovered Robert Cialdini while studying cognitive psychology at Syracuse University (Go Orange!). From there he was hooked. What was going on in people’s brains? The complete answer to that question may continue to always be elusive but what we do know is amazing and the applications to the real world go way beyond medications and therapy.
He wanted to build a company that helps people live the life they deserve. He believes, it should not break the bank or feel like unattainable knowledge to understand how people think and make decisions.
Tom Homestead's Story
Tom adjusted his tie, feeling the familiar constraint of his role. He had been a teacher for a decade, a vocation he’d once loved for its dynamism. Now, he felt hemmed in by a rigid curriculum that prioritized a relentless march through content over the organic development of skills. Moments of spontaneous debate or deep, meandering conversations—the lifeblood of real learning—were clipped short by the ticking clock of the testing schedule. His role, he reflected, had shifted from fostering intellectual curiosity to managing a timeline. He came to see that the system’s architecture was simply not built for the kind of education he believed in—one centered on human connection and the slow, steady cultivation of thoughtful minds.
Yearning for a deeper truth, Tom began to explore neuroscience and psychology, seeking to understand how the human mind truly learns and is motivated. His late nights were spent devouring books, connecting the dots that the educational system seemed to ignore. He experimented subtly in his own classroom, using principles of intrinsic motivation, and was exhilarated to see flashes of his students’ old spark return. His quest led him to an interesting conversation with a colleague who lead Thomas to seek out the founder of MAC Thought, MarkAvery.
MarkAvery explained his vision for MAC Thought, which applied “the principles of influence, neuroscience, and psychology to help businesses succeed.” Intrigued by concept, Tom decided he wanted to learn more.
MarkAvery, the founder of Mac Thought, whose charisma and words immediately captivated him. MarkAvery didn’t speak of profit margins but of human connection, of how understanding the brain’s biases could build trust, and how the art of storytelling could move mountains. As MarkAvery spoke, a profound sense of recognition washed over Tom. This was the language he had been searching for, the missing pieces of the puzzle he had been trying to solve in his own fractured educational world. The system might be broken, but the human mind was not. And with Mac Thought, Tom felt a forgotten flame of hope flicker back to life.
