Episodios

  • The Trouble With Toying Around in Archetypes and Branding

    The Trouble With Toying Around in Archetypes and Branding
    Apr 28 2025
    In Person, we discover why songwriters and business folk alike benefit from fresh eyes that ask the right questions, revealing how collaboration creates outcomes greater than the sum of their parts. Principles explores whether archetypes offer genuine strategic value for businesses or simply provide convenient shortcuts to avoid the hard work of authentic brand development. Problems exposes dubious attempts to charge for Google indexing services that should always be free, reminding us that snake oil salespeople are always finding new bottles. And in Perspicacity, we examine the peculiar trend of executives creating AI-generated action figures of themselves, highlighting the troubling difference between what we can do and what we should do. Are we creating meaningful content or just chasing dopamine? Get ready to take notes. Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes 02:00 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.When Another Set of Eyes Asks the Perfect Question What can business owners learn from musical collaborations? Quite a lot, it seems. Drawing from an anecdote about a young composer seeking feedback from a musical theatre legend from Econtalk episode Weep, Shudder, Die: The Secret of Opera Revealed (with Dana Gioia), we discover the power of the perfect question at the right moment. The story features a nervous student bravely presenting a rock opera-style composition based on Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” to a renowned composer. After the impressive performance, rather than offering generic praise or criticism, the master simply asks: “In that instrumental section—what will be happening on stage?” This deceptively simple question opens up entirely new dimensions of thinking. Steve and David explore how this mirrors their experiences in business mentoring, where often it’s not expertise but rather fresh perspective that catalyses breakthroughs. “It’s that wise old head asking that little bit… What are your characters doing on stage at that time?” Steve notes, highlighting how external viewpoints can illuminate blind spots we’ve developed through overexposure to our own work. The conversation reveals a particularly Australian challenge: our tendency toward isolation in small business compared to more collaborative approaches in other entrepreneurial cultures. “In the place that’s meant to be fixated on rugged individualism, there’s a heck of a lot more trying to socialise, connect, and just add value in the ferment of enthusiasm,” David observes about American business culture. 12:00 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.Archetypes as Branding Shortcuts – Compass or Crutch? When Jane McCarthy’s work on feminine archetypes in branding enters the conversation, both hosts approach with healthy scepticism while remaining open to potential value. “I think archetypes are such a double-edged thing,” David reflects, cutting to the heart of the matter: “It’s nice to be recognisable, but if you’re recognisable as an archetype, are you necessarily being recognised as you?” The discussion reveals that archetypes might function best as internal navigational tools rather than external identities. McCarthy’s concept of a “hometown hostess” archetype, as quoted from Marketing Over Coffee episode, The Goddess Guide To Branding, demonstrates how these frameworks provide shorthand for brand behaviour – a “true north” that teams can understand even when founders or consultants aren’t present. This sparks reflection on the mindset behind effective branding: not just selecting colours or crafting taglines, but establishing behavioural patterns that guide decision-making. “Every time you see it, it reinforces quickly… how it is to be on track when you are representing the brand, when you are living as the brand,” Steve explains. The hosts conclude that archetypes might complement rather than replace frameworks like StoryBrand, potentially offering valuable shortcuts when they help teams stay aligned with founding principles. The key insight emerges: an archetype without a story lacks context, while a story without consistent character lacks coherence. 25:00 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.The Elaborate Con of Charging for Free Services The dubious email promising to “add your domain to Google Search Index” for a fee provides a perfect case study in digital snake oil. “Here’s someone paying for something that’s free,” Steve observes, breaking down the scam’s mechanics with mounting exasperation. The discussion exposes how predatory services exploit knowledge gaps among business owners, charging for basic services that Google offers freely through Search Console. The investigation reveals increasingly troubling details – from fake customer service numbers to overly broad privacy ...
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    42 m
  • You're Just Too Good To Be True

    You're Just Too Good To Be True
    Apr 14 2025
    Will Guidara’s journey from awestruck 12-year-old at the Four Seasons to creating one of the world’s best restaurants reveals what “unreasonable hospitality” truly means. Disney’s insistence on breathing animatronic birds teaches us why perfection in unseen details creates experiences customers can feel. Steve confesses how a questionable radio crossfade between Deep Purple and Smokie’s Oh Carol sparked an 18-year broadcasting career, while David shares how a teacher’s inspired intervention led him to discover his guiding principle: “how you do anything is how you do everything.” All this, plus a practical solution to website bottlenecks and a healthy skepticism about whether traditional pricing psychology still applies in our cashless world. Get ready to take notes. Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes 01:15 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.Those Childhood Moments That Define Our Future Selves Nothing shapes a career path quite like those lightning bolt moments from childhood. Will Guidara, in his brilliant book Unreasonable Hospitality, recounts how his entire professional trajectory was set at age 12 when a Four Seasons server called him “sir” after dropping his napkin. That dignified treatment, the refusal to make a child feel small in a sophisticated space, ignited his passion for hospitality. Steve and David explore how these formative experiences shape our professional identities, with Steve confessing his own watershed moment came at precisely the same age—albeit sparked by something considerably less profound: a jarring radio crossfade between Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water and Smokie’s Oh Carol that had him thinking, “That looks easy—and you’d get all the girls.” Despite its dubious inspiration, that moment launched an 18-year broadcasting career that no careers counsellor could talk him out of. David’s path proved distinctly different, with uncertainty rather than clarity defining his early professional thoughts. His transformative moment came through a teacher who, recognising his analytical mind (and argumentative tendencies), arranged legal work experience that taught him a crucial lesson: “how you do anything is how you do everything”—a principle that would resurface throughout the episode. 09:30 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.Disney Birds Must Breathe: The Power of Unreasonable Precision Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality offers a masterclass in intentionality that has Steve and David unpacking its transformative implications for every aspect of business. Guidara’s approach at Eleven Madison Park—requiring staff to position plates so manufacturer stamps would face right-side up if a guest flipped them over—exemplifies what Walt Disney understood decades earlier: “People can feel perfection.” When Disney’s Imagineers protested that no one would notice whether their animatronic birds appeared to breathe in the Enchanted Tiki Room, Disney insisted they add the feature, understanding that details create an emotional response even when not consciously registered. The hosts explore how this meticulous attention applies beyond hospitality—it’s about creating an environment where precision becomes second nature. David connects this to his experiences in Special Operations training, where he witnessed firsthand how an entire culture of exactitude made everyone’s work smoother and more effective. This precision extends to the mundane: putting staplers back exactly where they belong and refilling paper before it runs out. Steve introduces his emerging household philosophy of considering “the next person”—leaving things right for whoever follows, even if that person is your future self. David traces this mindset back to his Hungarian grandmother, who instinctively prepared everything for its next use before walking away. In both hospitality and life, the way you do one thing truly becomes the way you do everything. 18:00 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.Unblocking the Website Bottleneck What keeps projects stalled in the “too hard” basket? Steve and David examine how their new “Website in a Week” offering tackles three common bottlenecks that plague small business websites. First, there’s the blank page problem—small business owners facing writer’s block when asked to create their own content. Steve’s solution: “Give me 30 minutes of your time. I’ll interview you and take content creation completely off your plate.” Then there’s the deadline dilemma. Without clear timeframes, projects languish indefinitely. The “in a week” commitment creates urgency and clarity for everyone involved. Finally, they address the perfection trap—that paralysing fear of launching something that isn’t 100% perfect. Their ...
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    30 m
  • The Book About Careless People That Thoughtful People Should Read

    The Book About Careless People That Thoughtful People Should Read
    Mar 31 2025
    Willie Nelson once said you should “get to the heart of feelings and keep it to a minimum” for maximum effect. We wish Facebook had taken that advice before building an empire on manipulating our emotions. Sarah Wynn-Williams lifts the veil on tech’s “move fast and break things” mantra in her revealing memoir of life inside Meta’s walls. David shares his belated Facebook awakening and the initial joy of reconnecting with students and overseas friends—before the platform’s heavy-handed manipulation became impossible to ignore. Steve conducts a post-mortem on our collective social media naivety, tracing the path from wide-eyed optimism to the sobering reality of platforms that profit most when humanity is divided, angry, and clicking. Get ready to take notes. Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes 01:15 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.Sarah Wynn-Williams’ Cautionary Tale of Idealism in Silicon Valley Sarah Wynn-Williams’ journey from diplomatic service to Facebook’s corridors of power offers a fascinating window into tech’s hollow promises. Her book “Careless People” details how her desire to make a positive difference in the world led her to Facebook—where she discovered idealism is no match for growth at all costs. As David notes, it’s remarkable that someone so committed to values could survive within the company’s ecosystem for as long as she did. Her tenacious belief that Facebook could become a force for good provides a poignant contrast to the “move fast and break things” mindset embedded in the company’s DNA. The hosts reflect on how many of us “drank the Kool-Aid” during social media’s early days, creating genuine connections before algorithmic manipulation became the norm. While David found accessibility benefits in Facebook’s ability to reconnect him with students and overseas friends, even these positive experiences came with hidden costs that Wynn-Williams’ book painfully exposes. 13:00 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.Free Speech Champions Until The Speech Isn’t Free (of Criticism) In a masterclass of hypocrisy, the tech industry’s self-proclaimed defenders of free expression reveal their true colors when the spotlight turns on them. Steve highlights the book’s uncertain future as Meta attempts to silence Wynn-Williams through legal manoeuvres—ironic for a company whose leadership constantly wraps itself in free speech rhetoric. The discussion explores Facebook’s calculated approach to political influence, including the shocking revelation of how they embedded staff within Trump’s 2016 campaign while employing sophisticated proicesses for micro-targeting voters. As Wynn-Williams recounts, Zuckerberg’s reaction to learning of his platform’s role in the election outcome wasn’t moral reflection but rather fascination with his own potential political aspirations. Most disturbing is what the hosts describe as the “absent moral dimension” throughout the company’s decision-making. From offering surveillance capabilities to authoritarian governments to designing systems that profit from societal division, the book exposes how ethical considerations consistently take a backseat to user acquisition and engagement metrics. 23:00 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.When “Connecting People” Becomes a Weapon The most harrowing segment delves into Facebook’s role in the Myanmar genocide, where military operatives weaponised the platform to spread misinformation and incite violence against the Muslim population. Steve and David confront the ethical dilemma this presents to marketers and users alike. While acknowledging the platform’s continuing utility as a communication tool, they announce their decision to adopt an “organic social media only” policy, refusing to funnel client advertising dollars into Meta’s coffers. The hosts grapple with the uncomfortable reality that no social media platform is entirely “clean,” leaving businesses and individuals to make difficult ethical calculations. As David notes, “We can’t have a pure version here, but we can certainly not contribute to it being worse.” 30:00 Perspicacity This segment is designed to sharpen our thinking by reflecting on a case study from the past.When Social Connection Returns to Human Scale From the chaos of the Christchurch earthquake emerges a surprising insight about technology’s proper place in our lives. Sarah Wynn-Williams’ personal story of receiving news about her sister’s safety through Facebook demonstrates how these platforms can serve genuine human needs during crises. Yet as Steve observes, the trustworthiness of crisis information has dramatically declined with the proliferation of fake content. The hosts suggest that social media works best when confined to ...
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    36 m
  • Bitter Truths and False Sweeteners: Embracing Failure and Contradiction the Healthy Way

    Bitter Truths and False Sweeteners: Embracing Failure and Contradiction the Healthy Way
    Mar 17 2025
    David Duchovny reveals why success can leave you alone on a pedestal while failure invites you into a community of shared experience. We unpack the delightful contradiction of business advice books – from bootstrapping beginners to broccoli-avoiding delegators – and why different paths might all lead to the same summit. Meanwhile, VentraIP’s ‘complimentary’ domain names and Microsoft’s Skype funeral remind us that in business, what’s presented as sweet often leaves a bitter aftertaste. Get ready to take notes. Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes 01:30 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.David Duchovny’s Blueprint for Embracing the Upside of Your Failures When most celebrities discuss their journey, they craft a narrative that conveniently drops the missteps. Not so with David Duchovny, who offers a refreshingly nuanced take on why his post-X-Files ventures into filmmaking sometimes flopped – and why that might be a good thing. As our hosts unpack Duchovny’s conversation with Adam Grant, they reveal his core insight: success isolates while failure creates connection. The discussion evolves into an exploration of Australia’s peculiar relationship with both success and failure. Unlike America’s entrepreneur-friendly “fail forward” culture, we’ve developed an environment where discussing either triumph or disaster feels equally uncomfortable. As David notes, “We’re not allowed to talk about failure and we’re not allowed to talk about success. What exactly are we meant to talk about?” The segment concludes with Duchovny’s deliciously pointed observation about Silicon Valley’s “fail fast” mantra, describing it as merely “success culture wearing failure drag” – a concept that resonated with both hosts as they reflected on how our relationship with failure shapes our capacity for authentic human connection. 14:00 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.The Contradictory Wisdom of Business Guides (Or: How Every Book Can Be Right) What happens when the business advice you’re receiving appears to contradict itself? Our hosts dive into this conundrum by examining the tension between Simon Squibb’s bootstrapping philosophy and Blair Enns’ “don’t eat your broccoli” approach to delegation. The first tells you to do everything yourself; the second tells you to outsource what you don’t enjoy. Rather than picking a winner, Steve and David suggest both perspectives might be simultaneously valid depending on your circumstances. “It’s like what Rabbi Brasch once told me,” Steve reflects. “There are many pathways to the top of the same mountain.” The conversation takes an elegant turn toward Richard Koch’s 80/20 principle as a possible reconciliation between these seemingly opposing views. David reframes the delegation question: “It’s not whether broccoli’s good for you or bad for you… it’s a question of if I spend time eating my broccoli, am I wasting time on something else that would be even better for me?” This philosophical dance culminates in a real-world application as Steve discusses his newly launched “Website in a Week” offering – a service that contradicts his 20-year philosophy of encouraging clients to build their own sites, yet perfectly aligns with the principle of allowing people to focus on their strengths. 21:00 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.The “Free” Domain Name That’s Anything But (Or: When Gifts Come With Strings) In a segment that sparked evident frustration from both hosts, Steve details how Australian web hosting company VentraIP has adopted a page from the cynical playbook of LinkedIn’s “free premium” offers. Their “complimentary” domain name – presented as appreciation for customer loyalty – automatically renews as a paid service the following year. The hosts dissect not just the questionable ethics of this “gift” but the deliberately cumbersome process required to decline it. “It is a center of confusion in the business world,” Steve notes, pointing out how small business owners regularly forward domain renewal notices to him, unsure whether they’re legitimate services or clever scams. The segment concludes with a clear warning: while not reason enough to immediately abandon VentraIP, this tactic has certainly primed our hosts to keep their eyes open for competitors who “stick to their knitting” without resorting to such manipulative marketing practices. 26:00 Perspicacity This segment is designed to sharpen our thinking by reflecting on a case study from the past.Microsoft’s Digital Spring Clean: The Death of Skype and Publisher In the final segment, our hosts contemplate Microsoft’s decision to discontinue Skype, exploring the unexpected emotions that surface when familiar tools disappear from ...
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    32 m
  • Fire Walk With Me: When Personal Responsibility Outshines Regulation

    Fire Walk With Me: When Personal Responsibility Outshines Regulation
    Mar 3 2025
    Rick Caruso demonstrates why planning for disaster means you might be the only building left standing when LA’s wildfires rage through – and why his private firefighter strategy offers lessons for us all. David Lynch’s legacy reminds us that creating characters people genuinely care about is the secret ingredient to making audiences lean in and stay engaged – even when the narrative deliberately avoids closure. Meta’s inbox impersonators are getting craftier with their urgent demands for “verification,” proving that digital scammers are banking on our panic response. A small child tapping alongside a street performer in Galway asks the question we all need to consider: why aren’t more of us willing to step out of our comfort zones and join the dance? Get ready to take notes. Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes 01:00 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.Rick Caruso’s Private Firefighting Playbook Rick Caruso, former LA Department for Water and Power commissioner, real estate mogul and philanthropist, shares a remarkable tale of foresight that left his shopping centre standing while LA burned. Steve encountered Rick’s discussion in In The Politics of Catastrophe – Waking Up Podcast #399. Drawing on lessons from previous Montecito disasters, Caruso and his team built a shopping centre with non-combustible materials, minimal venting, and a private firefighting strategy that didn’t deplete municipal resources. Steve and David unpack this approach through the lens of strategic planning, noting how the “pre-mortem” exercise (imagining future failure and working backward) overlaps with Caruso’s meticulous planning. They explore the growing necessity of personal responsibility in an era where Donald Trump and Elon Musk seemingly mock standards, asking whether we should all be holding ourselves to higher account in both business and personal life. As David notes, we’re entering a period where “if you don’t look after yourself, no one else is going to” – pointing to rising insurance costs, healthcare expenses, and other signs that systems we once relied on are faltering. Self-sufficiency, from solar panels to physical fitness, might be the new normal in weathering life’s inevitable storms. 13:30 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.David Lynch’s Guide to Character Connection Following the death of filmmaker David Lynch in January 2025, Steve and David reflect on the appointment-viewing phenomenon that was Twin Peaks and what made Lynch’s storytelling so powerful. Steve picked up on the news after hearing Tamler Summer from the Very Bad Wizards podcast, eulogise the famous director. They explore Lynch’s deliberate avoidance of narrative closure – “as soon as you get closure, it’s just an excuse to forget you saw the damn thing” – and what this means for business storytelling. The hosts connect Lynch’s character-building prowess to Donald Miller’s StoryBrand framework, noting that Lynch understood what takes many marketers years to learn: audiences connect with vulnerable characters who keep trying despite uncertainty. The key insight? In your marketing, position your customer as the hero and your business as the guide – not the other way around. As David notes, “Lynch always left his central characters with some degree of vulnerability. We came to really care about the fact they were vulnerable, and it could go wrong, and they didn’t have all the answers, but they kept on trying.” They conclude that while storytelling in marketing isn’t new, Lynch reached a depth that many storytellers – and marketers – are still trying to catch up to. 21:45 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.Meta Verification Scams Get Craftier A plague of convincing scam messages is hitting Facebook business pages and Instagram accounts, purporting to be from Meta with urgent notices of policy violations. These messages, typically from accounts with blue icons featuring three people, warn of imminent account suspension or deactivation unless “verification” is completed within unreasonably short timeframes. Steve shares examples of these messages, pointing out the telltale signs they’re fake: urgency tactics (verify within 4 hours), suspicious web addresses that don’t end in meta.com, and exaggerated threats of account deletion. His preferred response to these scammers? “Thank you so much. Can you please remove my page? It’s way too much work” – a bit of fun at their expense. The hosts offer practical advice: never click suspicious links, check that any Meta-related links actually end in meta.com, and when in doubt, contact trusted sources (like Talked About Marketing for their clients) to verify legitimacy. 25:15 Perspicacity This segment is designed to sharpen our thinking by reflecting...
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    31 m
  • Make Your Long Story Short, Says Willie Nelson

    Make Your Long Story Short, Says Willie Nelson
    Dec 9 2024
    Willie Nelson shows us why getting to the point isn't just good songwriting – it's good business sense, especially when your audience's attention span is shorter than a country music chorus. John Cleese reveals why creativity loves company (as long as it's the right company) and why the Japanese might be onto something with their "juniors first" approach to meetings. LinkedIn's quiet data collection for AI training has us wondering if we should be getting premium memberships in exchange for our digital breadcrumbs. Steve conducts a cheeky experiment with fake business awards that has everyone (except one sharp-eyed Rotarian) fooled. Get ready to take notes. Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes 01:30 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.Willie Nelson's Guide to Not Wearing Out Your Welcome Drawing from his new book Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs, Willie Nelson shares why sometimes eight lines are better than eighty. His approach to songwriting – get the story right first, then worry about the melody – offers a fresh perspective on business communication. As Steve and David unpack Willie's philosophy, they reveal why "less is more" isn't just a cliché when you're fighting for attention in a world of information overload. The hosts explore how this meshes with their own experiences in business communication, noting that while verbose marketers might love the sound of their own voice, their audiences rarely share the enthusiasm. 07:15 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.John Cleese and the Art of Group Think (The Good Kind) When John Cleese talks creativity, our hosts lean in – especially when he outlines why the best ideas often come from collaboration, provided you're not sharing the room with idea-killers. David and Steve explore how this mirrors their own experiences in marketing mentorship, highlighting the value of creating spaces where people feel safe to contribute without fear of judgment. The discussion takes an intriguing turn through Japanese business culture, where letting junior staff speak first isn't just polite – it's strategic. As our hosts note, this approach might just be the antidote to the "but we've always done it this way" syndrome that plagues many businesses. 15:15 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.LinkedIn's Data Harvest (Or: Why Your Professional Profile Is Training Someone Else's AI) In a revelation that had both hosts raising their eyebrows, we learn about LinkedIn's practice of using member data to train AI models. Steve and David dig into the implications, noting how European privacy laws forced a different approach across the pond while the rest of us clicked "agree" without reading the fine print. The discussion evolves into a broader examination of digital privacy and corporate transparency, with David suggesting that if companies want to use our data, maybe they should at least buy us dinner first (or at least a Premium membership). Here are the LinkedIn Scraping Opt Out Instructions, as shared by PerplexityAI: To opt out of LinkedIn using your data for AI training, follow these steps: Access your LinkedIn settings: On desktop: Click on your profile picture and select "Settings & Privacy"On mobile: Tap your profile picture and then tap "Settings" in the bottom-left corner Navigate to the "Data Privacy" sectionLook for "Data for Generative AI improvement"Toggle off the option "Use my data for training content creation AI models" 1 3 It's important to note a few key points: This setting is switched on by default for users outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland1Opting out will prevent LinkedIn and its affiliates from using your personal data or content for future AI model training1However, opting out does not affect AI training that has already taken place using your data 1 3 For a more comprehensive opt-out, LinkedIn also provides a separate data processing objection form. However, they note that this also won't affect training that has already occurred1.Privacy advocates argue that this opt-out model is inadequate for protecting user rights, suggesting that companies should instead use an opt-in model for consent to use personal data for AI training.Remember, if you're in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, LinkedIn is not currently using your data to train content-generating AI models due to stricter privacy regulations in these regions. 2 3 20:30 Perspicacity This segment is designed to sharpen our thinking by reflecting on a case study from the past.The Great Awards Game From the nostalgic world of "As Seen on TV" badges to today's proliferation of business awards, Steve and David create a traffic light system for credential credibility. The segment culminates in Steve's mischievous experiment with a completely fabricated award that garnered genuine ...
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    35 m
  • Are You Ready To Walk The Line?

    Are You Ready To Walk The Line?
    Nov 25 2024
    In this episode of Talking About Marketing, we explore the delicate balance between staying true to yourself and navigating external expectations. We begin with Johnny Cash’s iconic song Man in Black, delving into how moments of clarity can redefine purpose, both in life and in business. Next, we discuss the concept of altruism, inspired by filmmaker Penny Lane’s bold decision to donate a kidney to a stranger, examining the tension between genuine acts of goodness and societal scepticism. Our problem segment highlights the dangers of spreading unchecked memes, urging us to verify before sharing in the fast-paced world of social media. Finally, we tackle the evolving sensitivities around language and metaphor, pondering how intent and context shape how expressions are received. Get ready to take notes! Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes 01:15 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.The Mirror Audit: Lessons from Johnny Cash on Authenticity in Life and Work In this segment, Steve and David delve into the power of authenticity, inspired by Johnny Cash’s iconic song Man in Black. The discussion begins with an anecdote about Johnny Cash’s struggle to reconcile public expectations with his true self, culminating in the creation of a song that not only defined his legacy but also served as his personal manifesto, as explained in the book, Johnny Cash: The Life In Lyrics. The conversation reveals that Cash wrote Man in Black in just three hours during a moment of clarity, illustrating the creative power that can emerge when one embraces their true identity. Steve and David reflect on how society often pressures individuals to conform, especially after achieving success. They highlight the courage it takes to resist this pressure, as seen in Cash’s decision to remain true to himself despite external demands. The discussion broadens to explore how this principle applies to everyday life and professional settings. Drawing from personal insights and teaching experience, David emphasises the importance of being a consistent, authentic version of oneself, rather than attempting to fabricate a professional persona. They suggest conducting a "mirror audit" to assess whether one’s behaviour aligns with their true self while balancing the nuances required in different social or professional contexts. Ultimately, they celebrate the value of individuality, noting that it not only leads to greater personal satisfaction but also makes a person more memorable and impactful. 13:00 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.Do-Gooder Derogation: The Double-Edged Sword of Altruism and Social Media In this segment, Steve and David explore the thought-provoking concept of "do-gooder derogation," a term introduced by filmmaker Penny Lane in her reflections on altruism on one of Steve's favourite podcasts, Econtalk. Lane, who documented her personal experience of donating a kidney to a stranger, provides insights into the human tendency to disparage those who take morally courageous actions. This psychological phenomenon arises as a self-protective mechanism, where observing someone’s altruism triggers feelings of inadequacy or judgment in others. Lane compares this to reactions toward vegans, who often face criticism for their lifestyle choices because they inadvertently highlight others’ shortcomings. Steve connects this idea to marketing and social media dynamics, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn, where humblebragging and self-congratulatory posts often provoke similar reactions. Together, Steve and David unpack the nuances of this behaviour, suggesting ways to approach online content with authenticity and humility. They advocate for shifting the focus from self-promotion to gratitude, learning, and acknowledging the contributions of others. By grounding personal achievements in relatable contexts and recognising the role of luck and goodwill, individuals can foster genuine connections while mitigating the negative effects of do-gooder derogation. 24:00 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.The Problem with Memes: Verify Before You Amplify In this problem-focused segment, Steve and David examine the tempting but often problematic nature of memes in modern media. Steve shares his experience encountering a humorous yet false meme about Stephen King allegedly being kicked off X (formerly Twitter) for calling Elon Musk “the first lady.” Though the meme was untrue, Steve reflects on its resonance due to the grain of truth it carried about individuals who dish out criticism but cannot handle it themselves. This highlights the dual-edged nature of memes: their ability to encapsulate sentiments while risking the spread of misinformation. The discussion underscores the responsibility that comes with sharing content, particularly in an era where ...
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    35 m
  • Apropos of Nothing And Everything

    Apropos of Nothing And Everything
    Nov 11 2024
    Welcome to another thought-provoking episode where we dive deep into the realms of literature, personal insight, and the art of effective marketing. In the Person segment, we continue our journey through Dostoevsky’s timeless quotes, applying his reflections on self-awareness and resilience to both personal and professional contexts. Next, in the Principles segment, we explore Woody Allen’s unique approach to creativity, examining how his philosophy of ignoring critics can be applied to business and creative projects alike. Moving into the Problem segment, we take aim at overused marketing clichés and emphasise the importance of specificity, particularly for tourism copy that truly resonates with an audience. Finally, in Perspicacity, we revisit one of Australia’s most daring and celebrated lamb adverts, considering its humour, cultural nuances, and whether its message of unity would hold up in today’s climate. Get ready to take notes! Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes 01:30 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.Embracing Dostoevsky's Wisdom for Life and Business In this Person segment, Steve and David continue their journey through the profound quotes of Fyodor Dostoevsky, extracting insights that apply as much to the world of business as to our personal lives. They begin by discussing Dostoevsky's observation that "Man only likes to count his troubles. He doesn't calculate his happiness," and reflect on the human tendency to focus on negative experiences. Drawing on research about negativity bias, they discuss the power of gratitude practices, even as small as a three-point journal, to shift our perspective and enrich our lives. The conversation deepens as they explore Dostoevsky’s thoughts on self-reflection, noting the importance of being able to admit one’s own mistakes and grow from them. David emphasises that true intelligence goes beyond knowledge, involving empathy, courage, and the willingness to embrace vulnerability. Steve and David share their personal practices and challenges around self-awareness, finding meaning in even the simplest interactions and daily reflections, which can offer clarity and growth. Finally, they reflect on the power of creative work as a “medicine” for the soul, echoing Dostoevsky’s advice to find refuge in art. Whether it’s as simple as picking up a guitar or crafting a new character, creative pursuits offer a lifeline to recharge, inspire, and build resilience. Steve and David conclude with a reminder that stories, even small daily ones, are invaluable — not only for personal growth but for connecting with others. Through Dostoevsky’s words, this segment invites listeners to embrace the deeper truths within everyday experiences and apply these timeless principles in their own lives. 17:45 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.Pursuing Your Vision: Lessons in Courage and Creativity from Woody Allen and Tim Burton In this Principles segment, Steve and David explore the importance of following one’s creative vision, undeterred by the noise of criticism, through the lens of Woody Allen’s approach to filmmaking. Inspired by Allen’s autobiography, Apropos of Nothing, they discuss the discipline of blocking out external opinions and staying true to one's unique ideas, even when others may not fully understand or appreciate them. Allen’s career, marked by a relentless pursuit of his creative ideas regardless of critical acclaim, is seen as an example of how to cultivate resilience and artistic control in the face of outside pressures. They also touch on the advice Allen received early in his career: to listen to trusted voices but to avoid letting critics and industry gatekeepers sway his vision. Steve and David discuss how this principle applies to business, particularly in making bold decisions and pursuing projects that may not immediately resonate with others. The challenge, they suggest, is in discerning when to listen to trusted feedback and when to stay the course with a personal vision, even if that path is misunderstood by others. Bringing in another perspective, David recounts a recent BBC interview with director Tim Burton, who similarly prioritises completing his vision over appeasing external opinions. For entrepreneurs, artists, and anyone with a strong creative drive, Steve and David conclude that pursuing these "earworm" ideas is essential. When a concept or vision keeps resurfacing, it’s often a signal that it deserves attention — and that following through on it may be more fulfilling than compromising for approval. 27:30 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.Avoiding the Trap of Generic Messaging: Making Your Brand Stand Out with Specificity In this Problem segment, Steve and David tackle the issue of overly generic marketing messages that ...
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    44 m
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup