Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that strategy, vision, and way too much business jargon are best tackled with a microphone and a good sense of humor. This week, we’re charting our course, defining our North Stars, and figuring out if ICPs are actually useful—or just another buzzword for business bingo.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Got lost in the concept of Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) – Are they an essential tool or just a fancy way to pretend you have your business under control? Andreas breaks down how defining ICPs helped Forward Momentum sharpen its focus, while Max and Simon debate whether companies should focus less on personas and more on just doing the work.

🔹 Argued about strategy vs. action – Should businesses spend more time figuring out who they’re selling to, or should they just hit the ground running and adjust along the way? Max takes a strong stance against startup books and frameworks, and Simon wonders if ICPs are just a distraction from actually getting customers.

🔹 Got philosophical about our own North Stars – What drives us? What keeps us going? And should a North Star be something you can actually reach, or an impossible goal that keeps you moving forward? Simon’s got his vision sealed in an envelope, Andreas wants to leave a lasting impact, and Max just wants to be the Jimmy Iovine of corporate podcasting.

🔹 Debated external vs. internal motivation – Does success come from within, or do we need validation from others? Are we driven by personal growth, financial success, or the legacy we leave behind? Spoiler: we still don’t agree.

🔹 Got deep into business psychology – From visualization techniques to breaking through obstacles (or just chopping them down), we explore how mindset shapes success—and whether we should all be writing down our North Stars.

🔹 Complained about too much self-promotion – Yes, we mentioned Hypecast and Forward Momentum too many times, and yes, Max is already tired of it.

🔹 Ended on a musical note – As always, we wrapped up with what we’ve been listening to, because strategy discussions need soundtracks too:

🎵 The Answer – Bad Religion (Andreas throwing it back to punk rock wisdom)

🎵 If You’re Happy and You Know It – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s weekly kids’ music streak continues)

🎵 You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire – Queens of the Stone Age (Max staying on brand with heavy desert rock vibes)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and occasional existential crises:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

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