In this episode of The Fractional CMO Show, Casey Stanton breaks down exactly why deals fall apart—and why most of the time, it's not about you. Drawing from Eugene Schwartz's Breakthrough Advertising, Casey walks through the stages of prospect awareness and reveals the harsh truth: 20% of deals will never close, 20% are laydowns, and 60% require serious follow-up. He shares real stories from the field—prospects who ghosted after great calls, a doctor who chose a $500 AI tool over a fractional CMO, and deals that stalled despite perfect chemistry.

Casey gets into the psychology of the sale: problem awareness, motivation, timing, and budget—and how to know when a "no" has nothing to do with your skills. He shares his own low points, like selling his car the day before a payment was due while rebuilding his business, and explains how staying steady and relentless—even when desperate—is what separates fractional CMOs who thrive from those who struggle.

Key Topics Covered:

-The stages of prospect awareness and why deals die before you pitch

-Problem-aware but unmotivated prospects—and when to let them go

-Why your pricing conversation should end with "that makes sense"

-Getting to yes or no: why "maybe" and ghosting kill your pipeline

-Staying steady and relentless even when you need the sale​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

🌟 Take the First Step Toward Growth with CMOx 🌟

Booking a call with our team is super easy, stress-free, and all about YOU. Whether you're exploring options or ready to scale, this no-pressure consultation is designed to understand your needs and guide you in the right direction.

📅 Schedule your call today:

👉 CMOx.com/call

We'll make sure this is the most productive (and effortless) decision you've made for your business. Let's talk about strategy and success!

🤝 Join the Fractional CMO Community 🤝

Want to continue the conversation and get access to exclusive resources? Join our free Facebook group for fractional CMOs and marketing leaders! Inside, you'll find discussions, insights, and tools to help you grow your business and maximize your impact.

👉 CMOx.com/community

Looking forward to seeing you inside! 🚀

🎙️ Stay Ahead with the Fractional CMO Show 🎙️

Want to unlock the secrets of marketing success? Subscribe to the podcast and gain exclusive insights from industry leaders and experts!

👉 CMOx.com/podcast

Got questions? We'd love to hear them! Submit your questions for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode:

👉 FractionalCMOShow.com

Subscribe today and start leveling up your marketing game!

📚 Master the Game with These Must-Read Books 📚

Want to go deeper and build a high-impact marketing career on your terms? These two books from Casey Stanton are your blueprint.

The Fractional CMO Method

Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller. Learn how to attract, convert, and serve high-paying clients while staying focused on strategy and leadership.

👉 CMOx.com/book

Find Your CMO

Hiring a CMO? This guide helps CEOs and founders understand what great marketing leadership looks like—and how to find the right fit.

👉 CMOx.com/find-your-cmo

Start reading and take control of your marketing future.

Connect with Casey Stanton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

Website: https://caseystanton.com/

In this episode of The Fractional CMO Show, Casey Stanton dives into what it really means to work as a fractional CMO—and why sometimes that means rolling up your sleeves and doing the work yourself. He's pulling from years of real client experience, from managing multi-million-dollar launches to helping clients navigate gaps in their teams, and he's calling out the patterns he sees: overextending yourself, letting scope creep happen, and trying to do everything instead of delegating strategically.

Casey shares straight-up stories from his work—like stepping in when a key team member's paternity leave threatened a project, or designing a custom data workflow to connect a client's CRM systems. These examples show the fine line between having fun, experimenting, and solving problems that only you can solve as a CMO.

Key Topics Covered:

-How to handle scope creep without burning out

-When it makes sense to roll up your sleeves—and when to delegate

-Building systems and teams to work smarter, not harder

-Using curiosity and play to maintain an edge and stay sharp

-Leading through hard times, not just easy wins

-Structuring fractional CMO engagements for maximum impact

-Why fewer clients and bigger problems equal better outcomes and higher fees

🌟 Take the First Step Toward Growth with CMOx 🌟

Booking a call with our team is super easy, stress-free, and all about YOU. Whether you're exploring options or ready to scale, this no-pressure consultation is designed to understand your needs and guide you in the right direction.

📅 Schedule your call today:

👉 CMOx.com/call

We'll make sure this is the most productive (and effortless) decision you've made for your business. Let's talk about strategy and success!

🤝 Join the Fractional CMO Community 🤝

Want to continue the conversation and get access to exclusive resources? Join our free Facebook group for fractional CMOs and marketing leaders! Inside, you'll find discussions, insights, and tools to help you grow your business and maximize your impact.

👉 CMOx.com/community

Looking forward to seeing you inside! 🚀

🎙️ Stay Ahead with the Fractional CMO Show 🎙️

Want to unlock the secrets of marketing success? Subscribe to the podcast and gain exclusive insights from industry leaders and experts!

👉 CMOx.com/podcast

Got questions? We'd love to hear them! Submit your questions for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode:

👉 FractionalCMOShow.com

Subscribe today and start leveling up your marketing game!

📚 Master the Game with These Must-Read Books 📚

Want to go deeper and build a high-impact marketing career on your terms? These two books from Casey Stanton are your blueprint.

The Fractional CMO Method

Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller. Learn how to attract, convert, and serve high-paying clients while staying focused on strategy and leadership.

👉 CMOx.com/book

Find Your CMO

Hiring a CMO? This guide helps CEOs and founders understand what great marketing leadership looks like—and how to find the right fit.

👉 CMOx.com/find-your-cmo

Start reading and take control of your marketing future.

Connect with Casey Stanton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

Website: https://caseystanton.com/

In this episode of The Fractional CMO Show, Casey dives into the secret to thriving long-term as a fractional CMO: having fun. He shares why commitment and consistency matter, but also why enjoying the work you do is what fuels creativity, engagement, and lasting success.

Drawing on his own experiences — from conversations with Jeff Walker, the enduring "Launch Guy," to experimenting with vibe coding, AI, and creative marketing projects — Casey shows how curiosity and play can lead to innovation and new opportunities. He explains why marketers who constantly reinvent themselves often burn out, and why committing to your craft while keeping it playful can help you solve bigger problems, create higher-value client relationships, and enjoy the journey along the way.

Throughout the episode, Casey offers practical ways to bring fun into your work, whether that's experimenting with marketing strategies, pricing creatively, or just nerding out on the aspects of marketing that excite you most. This episode is a reminder that the most successful fractional CMOs are those who treat their career like a game — where engagement, joy, and curiosity drive both impact and income.

Whether you're a seasoned fractional CMO or just starting out, this episode will help you rediscover the joy in your work, innovate without pressure, and create a career that's both high-performing and enjoyable.

- Why commitment and consistency are essential for long-term success

- Lessons from Jeff Walker on staying focused and building enduring expertise

- The danger of constant reinvention and chasing short-term wins

- How "play" and curiosity fuel innovation and learning

- Turning your marketing interests into fun experiments that enhance skills

- Bringing joy and energy into client work, pricing, and problem-solving

- Why being playful attracts clients, collaborators, and opportunities

- How fun amplifies engagement, mastery, and long-term success

Booking a call with our team is super easy, stress-free, and all about YOU. Whether you're exploring options or ready to scale, this no-pressure consultation is designed to understand your needs and guide you in the right direction.

📅 Schedule your call today:
👉 CMOx.com/call

We'll make sure this is the most productive (and effortless) decision you've made for your business. Let's talk about strategy and success!

Want to continue the conversation and get access to exclusive resources? Join our free Facebook group for fractional CMOs and marketing leaders! Inside, you'll find discussions, insights, and tools to help you grow your business and maximize your impact.

👉 CMOx.com/community

Looking forward to seeing you inside! 🚀

Want to unlock the secrets of marketing success? Subscribe to the podcast and gain exclusive insights from industry leaders and experts!

👉 CMOx.com/podcast

Got questions? We'd love to hear them! Submit your questions for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode:

👉 FractionalCMOShow.com

Subscribe today and start leveling up your marketing game!

Want to go deeper and build a high-impact marketing career on your terms? These two books from Casey Stanton are your blueprint.

The Fractional CMO Method
Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller. Learn how to attract, convert, and serve high-paying clients while staying focused on strategy and leadership.

👉 CMOx.com/book

Find Your CMO
Hiring a CMO? This guide helps CEOs and founders understand what great marketing leadership looks like — and how to find the right fit.

👉 CMOx.com/find-your-cmo

Start reading and take control of your marketing future.

Connect with Casey Stanton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/
Website: https://caseystanton.com/

In this episode of The Fractional CMO Show, Casey Stanton tackles a question many marketers quietly ask: Is being a fractional CMO even a real job? Through sharp insights and personal reflection, Casey makes the case that the corporate "safety net" is long gone—and that the real opportunity lies in betting on yourself.

He explores why today's market pressures—from AI disruption to global competition—are pushing corporate marketers to rethink their path, and how the fractional CMO model offers freedom, financial stability, and long-term upside. Casey shares the story of his father's career at IBM, lessons on mediating structures, and the mindset shift required to build your own future instead of relying on outdated systems.

Whether you're in a corporate seat wondering if you're next on the layoff list or ready to lead multiple clients with confidence, this episode gives you a roadmap to independence, relevance, and sustainable growth.

Key Topics Covered:

-Why the corporate "safety net" is an illusion in 2025
-The hidden dangers of staying too long in a corporate role
-How AI and global labor shifts are transforming the marketing landscape
-What it really means to be a fractional CMO (and why it's safer than a 9–5)
-Why commitment and community matter more than credentials
-The future of fractional leadership—and why 2026 will be a breakout year
-How to build long-term wealth and low-anxiety success as a CMO

🌟 Take the First Step Toward Growth with CMOx 🌟

Booking a call with our team is super easy, stress-free, and all about YOU. Whether you're exploring options or ready to scale, this no-pressure consultation is designed to understand your needs and guide you in the right direction.

📅 Schedule your call today:

👉 CMOx.com/call

We'll make sure this is the most productive (and effortless) decision you've made for your business. Let's talk about strategy and success!

🤝 Join the Fractional CMO Community 🤝

Want to continue the conversation and get access to exclusive resources? Join our free Facebook group for fractional CMOs and marketing leaders! Inside, you'll find discussions, insights, and tools to help you grow your business and maximize your impact.

👉 CMOx.com/community

Looking forward to seeing you inside! 🚀

🎙️ Stay Ahead with the Fractional CMO Show 🎙️

Want to unlock the secrets of marketing success? Subscribe to the podcast and gain exclusive insights from industry leaders and experts!

👉 CMOx.com/podcast

Got questions? We'd love to hear them! Submit your questions for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode:

👉 FractionalCMOShow.com

Subscribe today and start leveling up your marketing game!

📚 Master the Game with These Must-Read Books 📚

Want to go deeper and build a high-impact marketing career on your terms? These two books from Casey Stanton are your blueprint.

The Fractional CMO Method

Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller. Learn how to attract, convert, and serve high-paying clients while staying focused on strategy and leadership.

👉 CMOx.com/book

Find Your CMO

Hiring a CMO? This guide helps CEOs and founders understand what great marketing leadership looks like—and how to find the right fit.

👉 CMOx.com/find-your-cmo

Start reading and take control of your marketing future.

Connect with Casey Stanton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

Website: https://caseystanton.com/