022: Ethan McCarty: Commtech and the Rise of Employee Activation

In this special episode, Dan shares his thoughts on the rapid rise in antisemitism in the weeks after Hamas brutally and barbarically murdered, maimed, raped, and kidnapped innocent Israelis, tourists, and visiting workers in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. These terrorists, on the worst day for Jews since the Holocaust, murdered approximately 1500 innocents, injured thousands more, and took over 200 hostages - including infants, children, elderly, disabled, and ill people from 33 countries. And they recorded all of it. 

Despite these atrocities and the incontrovertible evidence of the October 7 pogrom, despite the fact that innocents were deliberately attacked and the Hamas terrorists paraded hostages and dead bodies through the streets of Gaza amidst joyful crowds, despite the fact that Israeli babies were beheaded, despite the fact that Hamas openly calls for the elimination of the State of Israel and explicitly calls on its followers to kill Jews wherever they find them...despite all of this, anti-Israel, pro-Hamas, and - yes - antisemitic groups around the world took less than a day to start rallies, protests, marches, and a PR blitz AGAINST Israel and Jews. These despicable groups - a metastatic cancer that has spread around the world - have denied the atrocities and justified the Hamas attacks under any number of abhorrent ideologies. It wasn't long before synagogues were burning, Jewish property defaced and damaged, Jewish businesses vandalized, and violent incidents targeting Jewish people - including children, students, and the elderly - became a daily occurrence.

This inhumanity, this evil scourge of antisemitism, has deep roots in academia, religion, culture, and history. It has been the lifeblood of those who have persecuted and oppressed Jews for over two millennia. It has led to expulsions, pogroms, and the Holocaust. It has afflicted 15 million people presently living on Earth with an ever-present anxiety and fear of extermination. And now it is undeniably on the rise again, fueling Jew hatred everywhere. 

Why, then, is antisemitism ignored and denied? Why is it that our cowardly leaders can't say antisemitism without also invoking Islamophobia and generic hate? Why have CEOs and influencers who were and are so quick to support BLM, Ukraine, the Trans movement, anti-Asian hate, and a multitude of other causes, remained silent? Why have university professors, student groups, and administrators gone completely and utterly mad?

You won't find the answers in this episode. But you will find food for thought and a working definition of antisemitism that is a good place to start. Please listen, absorb, and think about how you can fight antisemitism or, at a bare minimum, see it for what it is.

***

Featured in this episode:

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism

Special thanks to The Commentary Magazine Podcast's October 23, 2023 episode with Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Israel's special envoy for combatting antisemitism, for inspiring me to do this.

 

 

In this episode, Dan sits down with marketer, author, and two-time resigner turned bonafide career transition master Sara J. McElroy.  Sara’s journey looks a lot like the picture of success: academic achievement followed by a steady rise in marketing and ultimately to a CMO role. But in the midst of the Great Resignation, her battles with overwork, toxic workplaces, health crises, and sexual harassment all led to two resignations, a spiritual awakening, personal empowerment, and a mission to help women find their voices and take charge of their careers. Now, as founder and CEO of Raze to Rise, she’s on a mission to “uplift the voices of women from the Great Resignation across diverse walks of life, industries, functions, and career stages” and empower women to “make bold career moves.”  

She and Dan cover a lot of ground as Sara challenges conventional, “rational” career choices and argues that emotions, intuition, and physiology have a massive role to play in making life-changing decisions.  Here’s a taste of what you’ll learn about through their conversation:

• How and when to manage your career. 
• Career management is a mindset and an inside job.
• The most important times in your career before making the leap. 
• Career transitions can be messy and it’s necessary … the Messcessary. 
• The life experience that prompted a life change. 
• The unlikely gift of Shingles. 
• Getting off the grid can often be the best thing. 
• Most professionals need more than a weekend to plot their next moves. 
• The critical role sexual harassment played in her life choices. 
• Seeing the connections of random events.
• Forward-thinking themes that came from the pandemic, especially for women. 
• The value of self-discovery and the role it plays in balancing life. 
• We can have a plan, but until we experience it, we don’t know. 
• Missing the senses of when it’s time to move on. 
• How to learn and leverage body signals. 
• The danger of internal capitalism.

Notable Quotes:

• “The moments of our careers that are most impactful are the ones that are coming in the in-between, not the big moment of turning in the resignation and walking out the door.” (4:26), Sara.
• “I just had the idea that if I just follow the playbook, that perfect life playbook where you climb the ladder and chase the fancier titles and fatter paychecks, and everything will work out.” – (9:01), Sara.
• “I went off to Peru and began reconnecting with the parts of me that weren’t just lost over the last couple of years and even childhood.” – (13:01), Sara.
• “The lather, rinse, repeat of our current lifestyle keeps us really stuck.” – (14:40), Sara. 
• “Valedictorians by in large don’t become leaders.” – (19:44), Dan. 
• “Sexual harassment is not a style.” – (25:22), Sara.
• “I felt like I could not be the only woman who was getting mired in the spin cycle of being burnout, overwhelm, toxic culture.” – (32:20), Sara.
• “Designing a fulfilling career is an inside job.” (34:27), Sara. 
• “The expression listen to your gut is more than just a metaphor.” – (36:35), Dan. 
• “Our bodies are hardwired for experience of joy and bliss.” – (42:55), Sara. 
• “We are built to move through all of the things we’re facing in life through our senses.” – (45:19), Sara. 
• “In a professional world, you’re kind of like a brain, floating around in an apparatus that allows you to execute what you need to do.” – (50:40), Sara.
• “We have been taught to ignore the signs that things are not working for us.” – (51:27), Sara.
• “Disease is the last attempt to get our attention when we’re doing things that are not good for us.”- (51:27), Sara. 
• “We have the ability to feel into what we think is good.” – (54:44), Sara. 
• “It’s also important to meditate.” (1:01:08), Sara.
• “When consequences are larger and bigger and weighs on you, you really need to tune in and listen.” – (1:07:00), Dan.
• “Sometimes your employer is unable to give you what you need to grow.” – (1:10:00), Dan.

About Dan Nestle 

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle | Twitter

About Sara McElroy

• Sara McElroy - Instagram
• Sara McElroy - Linkedin
• Raze to Rise – Website
  

 

The key moments in this episode (as generated by my AI buddy, Capsho) are:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:01 - Sarah's Career Journey and the Importance of the In-Between Moments

00:07:52 - Sarah's First Resignation and the Need for a Reset

00:12:47 - The Great Resignation and Finding Resilience

00:15:20 - The Impact of Divorce and Mental Health Issues,

00:18:07 - The Pressure of Being a Valedictorian,

00:22:51 - The Lack of a Life Roadmap,

00:25:26 - Resignation and Self-Reflection,

00:28:45 - The Journey of Personal Growth,

00:30:49 - The Journey Begins,

00:33:27 - The Power of Women's Stories,

00:35:17 - Designing a Fulfilling Career,

00:39:37 - The Unforeseen Path,

00:43:35 - The Role of Physiology,

00:47:29 - The Importance of Sensory Reactions,

00:49:10 - The Impact of Lack of Sensory Information,

00:50:59 - Ignoring Emotional and Physical Signs,

00:53:30 - Recognizing Signals and Taking Action,

00:58:15 - Using Visualization and Body Reactions,

01:02:51 - The Impact of a Job on Relationships,

01:03:30 - Measuring Readiness to Leave a Job,

01:04:58 - Balancing Rationality and Emotion in Career Decisions,

01:06:07 - Expanding and Growing Outside of Work,

01:10:30 - The Individualized Nature of Career Paths,

01:18:36 - The Impact of Self-Objectification and Internalized Capitalism,

01:19:06 - The Historical Origins of Work Culture,

01:20:25 - Challenges for Women in the Business World,

01:21:23 - Overcoming Biases and Empowering Women,

01:23:12 - Keeping an Open Mind and Trusting Yourself

 

Timestamped summary of this episode (also presented as generated by Capsho):

00:00:00 - Introduction to the Dan Nestle Show 
Dan Nestle introduces the podcast episode and his guest, Sarah McElroy, who is a high-performing chief marketing officer turned CEO and career transition expert. They discuss the importance of managing one's career and the power of the in-between moments in career transitions.

00:02:01 - Sarah's Career Journey and the Importance of the In-Between Moments
Sarah McElroy shares her personal career journey, including a difficult divorce, job loss, and health issues. She emphasizes the significance of the in-between moments in one's career and how they can shape the direction and decisions for the future.

00:07:52 - Sarah's First Resignation and the Need for a Reset
Sarah talks about her first resignation and how it came after experiencing physical and mental health issues due to overworking. She decided to take a pause and went on a wellness retreat in Peru to reconnect with herself. This reset led her to make significant changes in her career and personal life.

00:12:47 - The Great Resignation and Finding Resilience
Sarah discusses the concept of the Great Resignation and how it has impacted many people's career decisions. She emphasizes the importance of finding resilience during challenging times and shares her own experience of quitting her job after being diagnosed with shingles. This decision allowed her to prioritize her well-being and seek a more fulfilling career path.

00:15:20 - The Impact of Divorce and Mental Health Issues,
Sara discusses how her divorce, mental health issues, and childhood trauma affected her. She shares her hospitalization and estrangement from her family, leading to feelings of worthlessness and a need to prove her value.

00:18:07 - The Pressure of Being a Valedictorian,
Sara and Dan discuss how being valedictorian can create pressure and expectations. They explore the idea that valedictorians often become followers rather than leaders, as they excel at working within a structured system.

00:22:51 - The Lack of a Life Roadmap,
Sara and Dan reflect on how the traditional notion of a life roadmap no longer applies in today's ever-changing world. They discuss the challenges faced by recent generations in navigating their careers and finding their paths.

00:25:26 - Resignation and Self-Reflection,
Sara shares her experience of resigning from her second job due to sexual harassment and feeling undervalued. She discusses how these experiences pushed her to leave corporate life and become an entrepreneur. She also recognizes her own role in choosing these environments and the need for self-reflection and healing.

00:28:45 - The Journey of Personal Growth,
Sara and Dan emphasize the value of personal growth and therapy in understanding oneself and making better choices. They discuss the importance of embracing the past and learning from experiences to shape a fulfilling career and life.

00:30:49 - The Journey Begins,
Sara reflects on her decision to leave a terrible job and the inspiration it sparked to help other women facing burnout and toxic cultures. She starts a journalism project called Raised to Rise to capture the stories and wisdom of women experiencing the great resignation.

00:33:27 - The Power of Women's Stories,
Sara realizes the universality of women's experiences during the great resignation and decides to turn Raised to Rise into a book. She wants to share the raw, messy, and inspiring stories of women to create a playbook for designing a fulfilling career.

00:35:17 - Designing a Fulfilling Career,
Sara believes that designing a fulfilling career is an inside job. Rather than solely relying on external factors like job title and salary, she emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, intuition, and listening to our physiology to find greater fulfillment in our work.

00:39:37 - The Unforeseen Path,
Sara shares how her book took an unexpected turn, allowing her to incorporate more of the ups and downs and unexpected twists of her own journey. She believes that embracing the unexpected and staying true to oneself is essential when navigating career transitions.

00:43:35 - The Role of Physiology,
Sara explores the role of physiology in decision-making and career choices. She discusses the body's response to emotions and the importance of listening to our gut and heart, which are often overlooked in favor of the rational brain. Our bodies have evolved to seek joy and fulfillment, making

00:47:29 - The Importance of Sensory Reactions,
Sarah discusses how sensory reactions play a role in our conversations and decision-making. She mentions that although we may not have all of our senses when communicating virtually, we can still pick up on cues and signals through what we hear and see.

00:49:10 - The Impact of Lack of Sensory Information,
Sarah acknowledges that the lack of sensory information in virtual communication may affect our ability to recognize when it's time to make a change. She emphasizes the importance of paying attention to our emotions, body, and intuition to determine if something is not working for us.

00:50:59 - Ignoring Emotional and Physical Signs,
Sarah points out that we have been trained to leave our emotions and bodies at the door in the professional world. She believes that ignoring these signs can lead to disease and that we should listen to our emotions, body, and intuition for cues about what is and isn't working for us.

00:53:30 - Recognizing Signals and Taking Action,
Sarah shares her personal experiences of feeling a "scary buzz" and a mixture of anxiety and excitement when she knows she needs to take action. She encourages listeners to pay attention to their own body's signals and use them as a guide for making decisions.

00:58:15 - Using Visualization and Body Reactions,
Sarah suggests a practice of visualizing oneself in different situations and paying attention to the body's reactions. By connecting visualization to our bodies, we can determine what

01:02:51 - The Impact of a Job on Relationships,
Sara reflects on how her job affected her relationships in Australia and acknowledges that some of those relationships may not have been good for her in the first place.

01:03:30 - Measuring Readiness to Leave a Job,
Sara discusses her quit readiness quiz, which helps individuals assess their readiness to leave a job. Factors such as stability in other aspects of life, length of dissatisfaction, comfort with uncertainty, and financial stability are considered.

01:04:58 - Balancing Rationality and Emotion in Career Decisions,
Sara emphasizes the importance of not acting blindly on emotions when making career decisions. She suggests considering both rational and emotional factors, and taking a balanced approach that includes planning and thoughtful decision-making.

01:06:07 - Expanding and Growing Outside of Work,
Dan and Sara discuss the importance of personal growth and expansion, both within and outside of work. They highlight the need to listen to the signals of growth, such as feeling stuck or the desire to stretch and evolve, and finding opportunities to fulfill that growth.

01:10:30 - The Individualized Nature of Career Paths,
Sara emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all playbook for career decisions. Each person's journey is unique, and it's important to explore different paths and opportunities for growth, even if they may not directly align with one's current career. The focus is on individualized fulfillment and finding joy and meaning in various aspects of life.

01:18:36 - The Impact of Self-Objectification and Internalized Capitalism,
The guest discusses the harmful effects of self-objectification and internalized capitalism on individuals. She emphasizes how these societal pressures lead people to believe that their worth is tied to productivity and achieving success in their careers.

01:19:06 - The Historical Origins of Work Culture,
The conversation delves into the historical roots of work culture, tracing it back to the Industrial Revolution when humans were seen as resources to be valued based on their economic output. This mindset still persists and influences how we view work and ourselves today.

01:20:25 - Challenges for Women in the Business World,
The guest acknowledges that women face additional challenges in the business world, such as being judged based on their marital status and motherhood. Despite progress, biases and stereotypes still persist, making it important to address these issues for future generations.

01:21:23 - Overcoming Biases and Empowering Women,
The guest expresses her desire to empower her daughters and future generations of women by challenging societal biases and stereotypes. She metaphorically refers to carrying a "flamethrower" to burn down these biases and create a more equal and equitable society.

01:23:12 - Keeping an Open Mind and Trusting Yourself,
The guest encourages listeners to approach unconventional ideas with an open mind, acknowledging that scientific advancements have often debunked previously perceived "mystical" beliefs. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity, self-discovery

*Notes were created by humans, with help from Capsho, my preferred AI show notes assistant.

In this episode, Dan reconnects with a former colleague and marketing communications collaborator,  Michael Morris. A world traveler who has spent his career putting purpose at the forefront of everything he does, Michael recently co-founded Denmark-based Engagement Lab, an advisory firm specializing in behavioral insights, brand building, competitive positioning, and strategic communications – and focused exclusively on businesses in the green transition.

Dan and Michael dig into the importance of purpose and serendipity in career decisions as they explore Michael's fascinating story. Early in his career, during a stint in Ghana that didn't go according to plan, Michael realized that being a communicator gave him a unique role in bringing purpose to life, not just for himself but for his company and colleagues as well. His later work with World Vision propelled him on a purpose-driven path that continued through his work at MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, helping improve the lives of others through strategic communication. 

Through their conversation...

• Discover the road to fulfillment and maximum impact in your career, guided by purpose and authentic communication.
• Uncover the value hidden in networks and mentorships and how they unlock doors to personal and professional growth.
• Grasp the transformative power of empathy in fostering genuine relationships, elevating marketing communications to new heights.
• Understand the game-changing role of energy transition and sustainability in setting new standards for careers and businesses.
• Delve into the fascinating interplay between AI and the writing landscape, highlighting the tightrope balance between creativity amplification and preservation.

Notable Quotes:

• “It’s important for us to recognize poignant moments when they happen.” – (8:21), Michael
• “Every person that you meet is a whole new door to who knows what else.” – (11:00), Dan
• “I choose to believe that things happen for a reason because if only because then I’m more aware of when things happen and who I’m meeting with.” – (17:44), Michael
• “Let’s make sure that we’re doing our best to have continuity between the internal experience and the external messaging.” - (37:08), Michael
• “Because of tech, you don’t have an internal announcement and an external announcement, you have an announcement.” – (40:40), Michael
• “Your work is made better by cultivating and integrating your peripheral interests.” – (1:00:07), Michael
• “AI doesn’t care about the truth.” – (1:09:00), Michael
  

About Dan Nestle 

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle | Twitter
  

About Michael Morris

• Engagement Lab - Website
• Michael Morris - Linkedin

The key moments in this episode (as generated by my AI buddy, Capsho) are:

00:00:00 - Introduction,
00:00:19 - The Power of Purpose,
00:04:14 - Michael's Journey,
00:08:30 - Working with Purpose,
00:15:12 - The Heartbreaking Reality in Sub-Saharan Africa,
00:16:50 - Embracing Serendipity and Openness,
00:19:42 - The Power of Storytelling in Communications and Marketing,
00:21:08 - The Superpower of Connecting Dots and Cultivating Empathy,
00:26:15 - Engagement Lab: Facilitating Connection and Empathy,
00:31:22 - Overview of Communication Scope,
00:32:47 - Communication Challenges in the Energy Transition,
00:33:27 - Identifying Needs in the Energy Transition Space,
00:35:05 - Importance of Founding Values and Employee Engagement,
00:36:23 - Internal Communications and External Messaging,
00:47:31 - Dealing with Impatience and Inspiration,
00:48:24 - The Ambivalence of Gen X,
00:49:39 - Embracing a Balanced Approach,
00:51:51 - The Long-Term Nature of the Energy Transition,
00:54:02 - Acknowledging the Benefits of Power,
01:02:54 - Introduction to Barrett Road and its Agile Approach,
01:03:25 - The Impact of AI on Writing and Creativity,
01:05:34 - AI's Potential to Replace Writers and Artists,
01:09:15 - AI's Lack of Commitment to Truth and Connection,
01:13:30 - Embracing AI as a Tool and Making Writing More Efficient,
01:17:13 - The Power of Technology in Graphic Design and Artistry,
01:18:37 - Unleashing Creativity with AI,
01:19:44 - Experience and Career Advantages in the Age of AI,
01:20:31 - Connecting with Michael Morris and Engagement Lab,
01:21:29 - Gratitude and Encouragement

Timestamped summary of this episode (also presented as generated by Capsho):

00:00:00 - Introduction, 
Dan Nestle introduces the podcast and his guest, Michael Morris, a strategic communications professional with a passion for purpose-driven work.

00:00:19 - The Power of Purpose,
Dan and Michael discuss how purpose can transform a career and bring fulfillment. They emphasize the importance of recognizing pivotal moments and connecting with instrumental people along the way.

00:04:14 - Michael's Journey,
Michael shares his journey from working in Ghana to traveling across Africa with World Vision. He highlights the impact of experiencing adversity and how it shaped his commitment to work with purpose.

00:08:30 - Working with Purpose,
Michael and Dan discuss the significance of purpose finding you rather than the other way around. They emphasize the importance of human-to-human connections and being open to opportunities for making a positive impact.

00:15:12 - The Heartbreaking Reality in Sub-Saharan Africa,
The guest discusses the heartbreaking stories of children dying from diarrhea in sub-Saharan Africa. He emphasizes the importance of addressing this issue and highlights the work done by World Vision. He also encourages listeners to support organizations like World Vision.

00:16:50 - Embracing Serendipity and Openness,
The conversation shifts to the concept of serendipity and the importance of being open to unexpected opportunities. The guest shares his belief that things happen for a reason and encourages listeners to recognize pivotal moments in their lives. This mindset is crucial for success in the creative field and helps in building connections and empathy with others.

00:19:42 - The Power of Storytelling in Communications and Marketing,
The guest explains how storytelling plays a vital role in communications and marketing. The goal is to persuade, convince, or change minds by using the power of story and imagery. Being open to connections and embracing serendipity is essential in effectively reaching and engaging with different audiences.

00:21:08 - The Superpower of Connecting Dots and Cultivating Empathy,
The guest discusses the superpower of connecting dots that others may not see. This ability to find connections is essential in the creative field and contributes to success. It is driven by empathy, which requires mental energy and the ability to put oneself in someone else's shoes.

00:26:15 - Engagement Lab: Facilitating Connection and Empathy,
The guest introduces Engagement Lab and

00:31:22 - Overview of Communication Scope,
The guest explains that their communication services are broad but limited to engagements that include upfront research. Their specialization is in the energy transition sector.

00:32:47 - Communication Challenges in the Energy Transition,
The guest highlights the communication challenges faced by energy transition companies, such as assuming everyone believes in their mission without considering the need for effective communication and understanding of alternative solutions within the renewables industry.

00:33:27 - Identifying Needs in the Energy Transition Space,
The guest emphasizes the tremendous need for effective communication within the energy transition sector, especially for rapidly scaling companies. They discuss the strain on culture, values, and internal communications as businesses grow.

00:35:05 - Importance of Founding Values and Employee Engagement,
The conversation explores the significance of founding values and employee engagement in growing firms. Companies need to ensure continuity and alignment between internal culture and external messaging to maintain employee satisfaction and trust.

00:36:23 - Internal Communications and External Messaging,
The guest discusses the importance of internal communications and how they influence external messaging. They stress the need for consistency and alignment between the internal experience and the external image portrayed to stakeholders.

00:47:31 - Dealing with Impatience and Inspiration,
The conversation explores the dilemma of balancing impatience and inspiration in the face of climate change. It discusses the need for companies, leaders, communicators, and marketers to be inspirational while counteracting people's impatience about the state of the world.

00:48:24 - The Ambivalence of Gen X,
The hosts discuss their generation's ambivalence towards various issues but acknowledge the importance of passionate individuals working in renewable and climate change-related industries. They emphasize the need for these individuals to see the bigger picture and the importance of focusing on specific areas and products to effect change.

00:49:39 - Embracing a Balanced Approach,
The conversation emphasizes the importance of living with urgency and passion, while also maintaining a pragmatic view of the technology and practicalities involved in the energy transition. They highlight the need to blend the inspiration of environmentalists with the knowledge and understanding of technology experts.

00:51:51 - The Long-Term Nature of the Energy Transition,
The hosts discuss the reality that the energy transition is a long-term process rather than an overnight fix. They acknowledge the need for political action to accelerate the transition but emphasize that it requires time, investment, and a willingness to explore and embrace multiple solutions.

00:54:02 - Acknowledging the Benefits of Power,
The conversation acknowledges the historical benefits of power and energy in improving people's lives, despite the negative environmental impacts. They highlight the need for a cleaner and

01:02:54 - Introduction to Barrett Road and its Agile Approach,
Michael Morris discusses Barrett Road, a family business known for its tight-knit group and agile approach in client engagements.

01:03:25 - The Impact of AI on Writing and Creativity,
Michael shares his thoughts on how AI technology, such as Chat GPT, is impacting the writing process. He believes that while AI can enhance writing, the journey of exploration and creativity is what truly makes writing powerful.

01:05:34 - AI's Potential to Replace Writers and Artists,
The question of whether AI will replace writers and artists is explored, with different opinions ranging from full replacement to AI being a tool for augmentation. Michael leans towards the idea of humans staying in control of the writing process for a more meaningful connection with the audience.

01:09:15 - AI's Lack of Commitment to Truth and Connection,
Michael highlights the importance of truth and empathy in writing and how AI lacks the commitment to these aspects. He emphasizes the human-to-human connection and engagement that good writing brings.

01:13:30 - Embracing AI as a Tool and Making Writing More Efficient,
While acknowledging the benefits of AI in enhancing writing skills and accessibility, Michael suggests finding a balance between using AI as a tool and maintaining the journey of research and personal growth that comes with writing. He encourages writers to embrace AI while still staying in control of the process.

01:17:13 - The Power of Technology in Graphic Design and Artistry,
The guest expresses his surprise at the quality of work produced by AI tools like Mid Journey and Dolly, despite not having a background in graphic design. He highlights the potential for these technologies in the energy transition and cautions about the need for fact-checking.

01:18:37 - Unleashing Creativity with AI,
The guest shares an example of how Chat GPT was used to discuss the carbon credit controversy in Shakespearean style, showcasing the creative possibilities of AI. He emphasizes the importance of humans in competing with AI and hopes that these technologies won't displace people in the value chain.

01:19:44 - Experience and Career Advantages in the Age of AI,
The guest acknowledges that his and the host's experience and position in their careers protect them from being displaced by AI. He encourages others to find ways to compete with AI and expresses hope for the future.

01:20:31 - Connecting with Michael Morris and Engagement Lab,
The host provides information on how listeners can connect with Michael Morris on LinkedIn and mentions the upcoming launch of the Engagement Lab website. He encourages readers to explore the work of Engagement Lab in the energy transition.

01:21:29 - Gratitude and Encouragement,
The guest expresses his gratitude for the conversation and praises the host for incorporating different elements of his life into the podcast. The host reciprocates the appreciation and encourages listeners to subscribe and leave reviews.

*Notes were created by humans, with help from Capsho, my preferred AI show notes assistant.

In this episode, Dan dives deep into some of his favorite topics with seasoned marketing pro, thought leader, podcaster, and fellow denizen of the RISE Community, Aaron Hassen. An Air Force veteran with decades of corporate B2B sales and marketing experience, Aaron is the founder and Chief Marketer of AH Marketing, his consultancy focused on helping B2B clients multiply their annual growth. Never afraid to chase down a new idea or pursue a theory, Aaron’s bold stance on current marketing matters has led him to become “the founder’s best friend and secret weapon.” As a founder-turned-marketer, he knows what owners and founders need to market their businesses and stay connected to customers. 

He and Dan explore some of that as they discuss how trust and emotion are absolutely necessary to make the kinds of connections that will shape the current and next generation of business. Listen to their conversation, and you will:

• Discover the essential role of trust and connection in marketing for strengthening customer relationships.
• Understand how to utilize personal branding to establish a formidable bond with your target audience.
• Unearth the potential of communities in fostering trust and creating a solid connection with your customer base.
• Recognize the impact of face-to-face interaction in building an authentic connection and lasting trust.
• Learn the significance of aligning your brand values with consumers to reinforce your brand identity and build trust. 

Notable Quotes:

• “I learned from sales to listen and to really listen deeply with empathy and understanding.” (10:31), Aaron. 
• “Servant leaders and great entrepreneurs embody the same things.” – (13:17), Aaron. 
• “Sometimes we get behind these closed doors and we start to think selfishly and that’s the worst thing you can do in terms of acquiring customers in my view.” - (14:40), Aaron. 
• “Consumers have control of a brand’s reputation, and they have access to product information like they never have before.” – (16:55), Aaron. 
• “Personal brands help companies become more than a product or solution.” – (27:16), Aaron. 
• “People do not trust companies the way they used to.” (28:30), Aaron. 
• “Customers are looking for integrity that somebody is going to be consistent and reliable to their values, purpose, and vision.” – (32:03), Aaron.
• “You’ve got to go through the process of understanding who you are and what your role and relevance is in the market.” – (33:17), Aaron.
• “Different people will have different perspectives based on how they’re traversing different challenges at their company.” – (42:44), Aaron. 
• On AI. “How do I know this is a real person behind it, how do I know the information isn’t false.” – (44:45), Aaron.
• “People are seeking human beings and they ‘re looking for solutions through trusted sources.” (45:38), Aaron. 
• “Relationships are built on trust and trusted relationships drive referrals.” – (54:31), Aaron.
• “You can’t buy trust.” – (57:16), Dan.

About Dan Nestle 

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle (@dsnestle) | Twitter/X
  

About Aaron Hassen

• Aaron Hassen – Website
• Aaron Hassen - Linkedin
• Aaron Hassen – YouTube
• Aaron Hassen - Twitter/X 
  
  

The key moments in this episode (as generated by my AI buddy, Capsho) are:

00:00:00 - Introduction, 
00:02:10 - The Value of Deep Conversations,
00:06:17 - The Emotional Side of B2B Marketing,
00:09:00 - The Journey to Becoming a Marketer,
00:12:32 - Being a Servant Leader in Marketing,
00:17:19 - The Power of Community in Building Brands,
00:18:28 - The Importance of Being Human and Building Trust,
00:20:30 - Personal Branding for All, not Just Entrepreneurs,
00:21:59 - The Success of Personal Branding,
00:28:30 - Building Personal Brands to Go Beyond Products,
00:35:01 - The Importance of Brand Identity,
00:36:07 - The Danger of Losing Focus,
00:38:01 - Trust and Connection in Marketing,
00:40:03 - The Challenge of Writing Frequency,
00:41:48 - Trust and Connection as Megatrends,
00:51:54 - Importance of In-Person Communication,
00:52:47 - Pros and Cons of Different Communication Methods,
00:54:07 - Hotels as Meeting Spaces,
00:55:39 - Trust in Different Communication Channels,
01:02:05 - The Role of AI in Trust,
01:07:40 - The Value and Challenges of Having an Intern,
01:08:03 - Teaching Once and Letting Interns Progress,
01:08:29 - The Benefits of Having Highly Skilled Unpaid Workers,
01:09:02 - Using Freedom to Innovate,
01:09:41 - AI's Origin in Humanity and the Need for Improvement

Timestamped summary of this episode, also presented as generated by Capsho:

00:00:00 - Introduction, 

Dan Nestle introduces the podcast and his guest, Aaron Hassen, who is a marketer and a contributing member of the Rise community. They discuss the importance of community and what makes a good community.

00:02:10 - The Value of Deep Conversations, 

Dan and Aaron discuss the importance of deep conversations and the value they bring in contrast to short attention spans. They both appreciate the opportunity for meaningful discussions and learning in the podcast format.

00:06:17 - The Emotional Side of B2B Marketing, 

Aaron shares his experience transitioning from the military to the corporate world and how it shaped his perspective on marketing. He emphasizes the emotional aspect of B2B marketing and the importance of trust, connection, and empathy in building relationships with customers.

00:09:00 - The Journey to Becoming a Marketer, 

Aaron talks about his path from the military to starting his own business and eventually finding his passion for marketing. He highlights the lessons he learned from sales, such as the importance of listening deeply and understanding the emotional drivers behind purchasing decisions.

00:12:32 - Being a Servant Leader in Marketing, 

Dan and Aaron discuss the qualities of a good marketer who approaches their role as a servant leader. They emphasize the importance of embodying the brand, leading with a clear vision, inspiring change, and prioritizing the needs of the customer over self-interest.

 

00:17:19 - The Power of Community in Building Brands, 

Brands that facilitate communities are effective in connecting with customers and building trust. Live events and personal recommendations from trusted individuals are successful because people want to belong and connect.

00:18:28 - The Importance of Being Human and Building Trust, 

In an environment where trust is lacking, it is important for brands to be more human, empathetic, and authentic. Personal branding allows marketing to connect with customers in a more personal way and build trust.

00:20:30 - Personal Branding for All, not Just Entrepreneurs, 

Personal branding should not be limited to solopreneurs and entrepreneurs. Every executive and leader can benefit from developing their personal brand to survive in a changing industry and connect with customers.

00:21:59 - The Success of Personal Branding, 

Personal branding works when it is based on authenticity, trust, and connecting with the customer's core issues. Building a personal brand that resonates with people can lead to business success.

00:28:30 - Building Personal Brands to Go Beyond Products, 

Personal brands help companies become more than just a product or a logo. By connecting with people, sharing experiences, and developing emotions, brands can build trust and create a loyal customer base.

00:35:01 - The Importance of Brand Identity, 

The conversation begins with a discussion about the significance of brand identity and how wrong positioning or a loss of values can lead to the downfall of a brand. The analogy is made that brands are like people and can also experience a loss of direction or values.

00:36:07 - The Danger of Losing Focus, 

The conversation continues by highlighting the tendency for success to cause complacency and a loss of hunger, leading to a decline in quality. This phenomenon is compared to rock bands that lose their audience after deviating from their original sound and style.

00:38:01 - Trust and Connection in Marketing, 

The conversation shifts to the importance of trust and connection in marketing. The guest emphasizes the need to build trust and establish genuine connections with customers rather than resorting to aggressive advertising or deception. The concept of personal branding and regular content creation is also discussed.

00:40:03 - The Challenge of Writing Frequency, 

The host shares his struggle with writing frequency and the guest explains the benefits of regular content creation for developing thoughts and personal brand. The guest emphasizes the importance of learning from marketing experts and staying relevant in the industry.

00:41:48 - Trust and Connection as Megatrends, 

The guest identifies trust and connection as megatrends in the B2B market. Nonlinear buyer journeys, dark social, and event-led marketing are all driven by the need for trust and connection. The guest highlights the impact of recent global events on the desire for interpersonal

00:51:54 - Importance of In-Person Communication, 

In-person communication allows for both verbal and nonverbal cues, which are crucial for effective connection and understanding. Sangrim and GTM Partners are hosting road shows to facilitate face-to-face interactions and build relationships.

00:52:47 - Pros and Cons of Different Communication Methods, 

Different communication methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. While in-person interaction is unparalleled, verbal conversations over the phone can be more focused. Each type of communication serves a purpose and has its place.

00:54:07 - Hotels as Meeting Spaces, 

With the shift to remote work, companies have closed their offices, leading to a need for temporary meeting spaces. Hotels are investing in meeting spaces to accommodate these needs and capitalize on the demand for in-person collaboration and events.

00:55:39 - Trust in Different Communication Channels, 

Content marketing has emerged as a highly trusted channel, surprising many. Live events can also be considered a form of content marketing, especially when combined with lead generation mechanisms. Trust is crucial in building relationships and driving referrals.

01:02:05 - The Role of AI in Trust, 

AI has the potential to automate tasks and improve efficiency. However, human connection and personal branding remain essential. People want to connect with creators on a personal level, share experiences, and feel a sense of empathy, which AI cannot replicate. Differentiating through humanity is key.

01:07:40 - The Value and Challenges of Having an Intern, 

Interns are a double-edged sword. While they help with grunt work, they also require teaching and supervision. This extra work is worth it because it allows you to educate and start someone off on their career.

01:08:03 - Teaching Once and Letting Interns Progress, 

The goal is to teach an intern once and then let them move forward and improve on their own. This allows you to focus on what the intern can do next and frees you up to do other work.

01:08:29 - The Benefits of Having Highly Skilled Unpaid Workers, 

Having an intern who continually improves and becomes highly skilled can be valuable, even if they are unpaid. This allows you to delegate tasks and frees up your time for more important work.

01:09:02 - Using Freedom to Innovate, 

The freedom that comes from having an intern can allow you to innovate and find new ways to improve your work. It's important to take advantage of this freedom and constantly look for new opportunities.

01:09:41 - AI's Origin in Humanity and the Need for Improvement, 

The intelligence of AI originates from humans, so it's important to address issues of bias, racism, and how we treat each other. We have the opportunity to improve and use AI to our advantage, but it starts with improving ourselves and our values.

*Notes were created by humans, with help from Capsho, my preferred AI show notes assistant.

In this episode, Dan welcomes back legendary communicator, connector, and executive coach to the PR industry, Ken Jacobs, for his second appearance on the show. Back in January 2021, he and Dan talked about leadership and purpose in the agency world. Now, with the pandemic in the rearview, has widespread indecision and inconsistency around remote work, hybrid work, and RTO (Return to Office) changed the nature of leadership and management?

Ken and Dan dig into some of the changes we’ve seen over the past few years and try to find some answers. Ken walks us through the nuances of building a team in a remote setting and why managers still must be able to build and manage teams effectively. Remote working doesn’t seem like it’s going away anytime soon, even as some organizations push for a return to more traditional work settings. No matter what organizations are doing, though, the past few years have highlighted the importance of connection and connectedness for effective leadership - and we need a new playbook.

 In this episode, you will be able to:

• Uncover the ever-progressing dynamics of leadership within the context of the PR industry in a fluctuating global environment.
• Navigate the ins and outs of remote work and running teams virtually in a post-pandemic world.
• Find the balance between granting autonomy, instilling trust, and avoiding micromanagement in a team-centric setting.
• Gain insight into the pivotal role of AI and other groundbreaking technologies in reshaping the PR industry.
• Appreciate why adopting a learning attitude and making learning a lifetime habit stands as a key cornerstone of successful leadership.

Notable Quotes:

• “I think this whole notion of connecting more and wanting to connect more and wanting more time together is partly due to the lockdown and also, they want to spend time with people who are natural connectors.” – (3:17), Ken
• “Coaching isn’t what we do; it’s who we are.” – (5:46), Ken
• “Make your office a magnet, not a mandate.” – (16:00), Ken
• “It (remote working for PR) can be done. Can it be done better working together? Probably” – (18:58), Ken
• “Is the team really a team if they’re not together?” – (22:24), Dan
• “Every time you say it’s hard for me or I’m not good at, add the word … now.” – (30:30), Ken
• “You don’t have to be a neuroscientist to use the neuroscience.” – (31:40), Ken
• “When we say I wonder how that would feel, we actually start to feel it.” – (34:21), Ken
• “We don’t realize it but many people who work for us, our followers, have a vision.” – (36:20), Ken
• “It feels like the need for certain leadership attributes are on steroids.” – (41:05), Ken
• “You’ve got to act in a trustworthy manner no matter the consequences.” – (42:23), Ken
• “When you look at your past be very mindful to not judge yourself too harshly.” – (46:40), Ken
• “It’s really important that you’re nurturing and not micromanaging.”  (51:31), Ken
• “One thing AI cannot do is mimic or replace emotional intelligence and empathy and trust.” – (1:01:13), Dan
• “This notion of lifetime learning is absolutely critical.” – (1:04:55), Ken

About Ken Jacobs

Ken Jacobs is the principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching, leveraging his expertise for over a decade to bolster agency growth, client relations, and staff performance. A recognized coach and consultant, Ken holds PCC credentials from the International Coach Federation and additional accreditations from iPEC, including CPC, ELI Master Practitioner, and CLDS. His rich experience encompasses collaborations with top-tier communications agencies such as Catalyst, Coyne Public Relations, and M Booth, to name a few. Before founding his firm, Jacobs dedicated 25 years to leadership roles in renowned PR agencies, notably spearheading the award-winning "MMC Masters" training program at Marina Maher Communications. Beyond his consulting, Ken shares insights in his "Taking The Lead" column for PRSA's Strategies and Tactics. An alumnus of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School, he's also an honored member of PRSA, and a Senior Counselor to Prosper Group.

Ken Jacobs Links

• Jacobs Consulting and Executive Coaching
• Ken Jacobs - Twitter
• Ken Jacobs - Facebook
• Ken Jacobs – Linkedin

Dan Nestle Links

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle | Twitter

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction, 

00:01:48 - Connecting with Natural Connectors, 

00:06:07 - Coaching During the Pandemic, 

00:10:12 - Accelerated Change and Returning to the Office, 

00:13:32 - In-Person Energy and Coordination, 

00:15:56 - The Importance of Making the Office a Magnet, not a Mandate, 

00:16:42 - Challenges of Remote Work and Real Estate, 

00:18:30 - The Value of In-Person Collaboration, 

00:19:51 - Leadership in a Remote Work Environment, 

00:25:34 - Expectations Gap and Hiring Talent, 

00:33:02 - The Relief of a Fresh Perspective, 

00:34:16 - Customizing Leadership Styles, 

00:36:11 - Building Trust and Connection, 

00:42:58 - The Challenges of Virtual Leadership, 

00:50:40 - The Importance of Nurturing Relationships in a Remote Work Environment, 

00:53:19 - Setting Clear Expectations and Deadlines, 

00:56:25 - Embracing AI and the Importance of Integration, 

01:00:50 - Approaching AI with a Growth Mindset, 

01:04:51 - The Importance of Lifetime Learning and Staying Relevant, 

01:07:29 - Learning About AI, 

01:08:12 - The Future of AI, 

01:08:59 - Pivotal Person in Life, 

01:10:49 - LinkedIn as the Platform of Choice, 

01:14:35 - LinkedIn Fails and Harassment

Timestamped summary of this episode, courtesy of Capsho:

00:00:00 - Introduction, 

Dan Nestle introduces the podcast episode and welcomes back Ken Jacobs, a former PR agency executive and leadership expert. They discuss the importance of pivotal moments and the role of people in those moments.

00:01:48 - Connecting with Natural Connectors, 

Ken Jacobs talks about the desire to connect more with people who are natural connectors and how it transcends age. He emphasizes the importance of helping one another and how the lockdown during the pandemic accelerated the need for connection.

00:06:07 - Coaching During the Pandemic, 

Ken Jacobs shares his experience as a coach during the pandemic and how he continued coaching even when clients couldn't pay. He highlights the importance of purpose-driven work and how emotional intelligence and empathy helped people thrive during challenging times.

00:10:12 - Accelerated Change and Returning to the Office, 

The conversation shifts to the accelerated change brought on by the pandemic and the impact on work culture. They discuss the mixed approach of remote and in-office work and the need to reevaluate the purpose of going to the office. Ken emphasizes the importance of using in-person time effectively.

00:13:32 - In-Person Energy and Coordination, 

Ken and Dan discuss the energy that comes from in-person interactions and the need to find a balance between remote and in-office work. They highlight the importance of coordinating in-person time to brainstorm and collaborate effectively.

00:15:56 - The Importance of Making the Office a Magnet, not a Mandate, 

Ken Jacobs emphasizes the need for companies to give employees a reason to come back to the office beyond just basic perks like Taco Tuesday. Making the office a place for collaboration and idea generation is crucial, but it must be done in a way that respects individual preferences and safety concerns.

00:16:42 - Challenges of Remote Work and Real Estate, 

Many companies had to downsize their office spaces during the pandemic due to financial constraints. However, finding the right balance of remote work and in-person collaboration remains a challenge. Different industries and organizations have unique needs and must determine what approach works best for them.

00:18:30 - The Value of In-Person Collaboration, 

In agencies, where brainstorming and collaboration are vital, being physically present can enhance creativity and energy. While virtual collaboration is possible, the magic often happens when diverse teams come together in person. However, organizations must be mindful of including remote team members to ensure everyone feels connected.

00:19:51 - Leadership in a Remote Work Environment, 

Great leaders must be empathetic, good listeners, and understand that it is impossible to please everyone. Balancing the needs and preferences of team members who want to work remotely or in the office requires careful consideration. Dialing up empathy and seeking feedback from employees are essential for effective leadership.

00:25:34 - Expectations Gap and Hiring Talent, 

The expectations gap between agencies and employees spread across different locations has grown

00:33:02 - The Relief of a Fresh Perspective, 

The conversation explores the feeling of relief and a breath of fresh air that comes with challenging preconceived notions and adopting a learner's mindset in leadership. It emphasizes the importance of self-growth and highlights the motivation that comes from imagining how achieving new perspectives and growth would feel.

00:34:16 - Customizing Leadership Styles, 

The discussion delves into the significance of customizing leadership styles for each team member. It emphasizes the importance of understanding their values, vision, and learning styles to create alignment and motivation within the team. Taking the time to think about individual team members before interactions can greatly impact their engagement and fulfillment.

00:36:11 - Building Trust and Connection, 

The conversation emphasizes the need for leaders to build trust and connection with their team members. This involves understanding their values, vision, and role in achieving the group's goals. By creating alignment between the organization's values, the leader's values, and the individual team members' values, leaders can foster a sense of belonging and fulfillment in their team.

00:42:58 - The Challenges of Virtual Leadership, 

The discussion explores the challenges of building relationships and trust in a virtual work environment. It highlights the need for leaders to demonstrate courage, bravery, and trustworthiness, as well as to act as a source of stability and certainty during uncertain times. The importance of leading with empathy, emotional intelligence, and trust is emphasized, particularly in an unpredictable world.

00:50:40 - The Importance of Nurturing Relationships in a Remote Work Environment, 

In a remote work environment, leaders need to be proactive in nurturing relationships to prevent complacency and maintain strong bonds within the team. Building trust and rapport is crucial, and leaders should focus on nurturing rather than micromanaging their employees.

00:53:19 - Setting Clear Expectations and Deadlines, 

Leaders should have open and honest conversations with their team members about assignments, deadlines, and expectations. It is important to establish a contract where both parties agree on what success looks like and communicate any challenges or struggles early on.

00:56:25 - Embracing AI and the Importance of Integration, 

AI is becoming increasingly important in the PR industry, and leaders should embrace it as a tool to enhance their work rather than fear it. Integration is also crucial, as PR professionals should explore how different channels and platforms can work together to maximize impact.

01:00:50 - Approaching AI with a Growth Mindset, 

Instead of approaching AI with fear, leaders should have a growth mindset and view it as an opportunity to learn and improve their practice. AI can automate certain tasks, allowing professionals to focus on higher-value work and think of new ways to contribute.

01:04:51 - The Importance of Lifetime Learning and Staying Relevant, 

Staying relevant in any field requires a commitment to lifetime learning. Professionals should continuously seek to expand their knowledge and skills to adapt to changing technologies and industry trends. Relevance is key to

01:07:29 - Learning About AI, 

The guest expresses fascination with AI and how it can lead to deep exploration and questioning of what is true. They also express nervousness about being asked about their use of AI in their coaching practice in the future.

01:08:12 - The Future of AI, 

The guest speculates about the possibility of speaking with an AI-generated simulacrum of the host in the future. They express their love for having conversations like these and the importance of maintaining a learner's mindset.

01:08:59 - Pivotal Person in Life, 

The host expresses gratitude for the guest being a pivotal person in their life and discusses the importance of maintaining a learner's mindset as they move forward. They provide information on how to find the guest on LinkedIn and their website.

01:10:49 - LinkedIn as the Platform of Choice, 

The guest discusses their decreased activity on Twitter and their preference for LinkedIn as a platform for professionals to connect. They also mention the annoyance of receiving LinkedIn messages from non-certified coaches.

01:14:35 - LinkedIn Fails and Harassment, 

The host and guest discuss the humor in sharing LinkedIn fails and their experiences with fake profiles and spam messages. They acknowledge the entertainment value but also express frustration with the harassment.

*Notes were created by humans, with help from Capsho, my preferred AI show notes assistant.

In this episode, Dan welcomes translation and localization expert Bill Lafferty, the founder of Loc Navigator, a resource-rich newsletter that helps readers understand translation and localization as drivers of business growth. An accomplished Japanese-to-English legal translator, enterprise localization project leader, and localization technology consultant, Bill has lived at the intersection of technology and translation for nearly three decades. And full disclosure: he’s been one of Dan’s best friends for over 25 years, so he knows…quite a lot about the host of the show.

 

He and Dan reminisce a bit and then dig into the evolution of translation and localization and the proliferation of technology in the field. Perhaps more than any other profession, translators have had to deal with ever-improving AI tools, and adaptation and skill enhancement have been par for the course. Now, with ChatGPT and LLMs performing better translations than any previous disruptive development, will translators survive? 

 

Find out as Bill and Dan uncover some of the misconceptions about where AI is taking the translation profession - and by extension, other language-intensive jobs. In this episode:

 

• Delve into the crucial role localization has in enhancing global business performance.
• Understand the influence human proficiency has on the nuance-rich translation industry.
• Scrutinize the landscape of the translation field in the new age of AI and machine translation.
• Ascertain the advantages and pitfalls of forging a career path in translation and localization.
• Embrace the importance of fostering continuous learning in the dynamic tech-driven world.

Listen in and hear…

• All about the world of translation
• The concept of localization of languages
• Perceptions about Google Translate
• Human-oriented tasks in translation
• What makes Bill so interested in language translation 
• The beauty of the Japanese language
• The intersection of software and local translation
• Legal translation and the room for growth 
• Where machine translation fails 
• ChatGPT and how it is impacting translation
• Neuro-machine translations, usages, and limitations
• On-the-fly speech translation and pixelation
• The difference between localization and translation
• Understanding taxonomy and how it plays within your business 
• The Block Chain and opportunities it brings
• How AI helps increase the capacity and quality of communications

Notable Quotes:

• “A lot of language learning comes from an openness to rhythm and sound.” – (12:49), Bill
• “There’s different levels to feeling accomplished when speaking a second language.” – (17:11), Bill
• “It was more important for me at the right age to make this really big career change into something different because I felt life would be a little less heavy.” – (20:07), Bill
• “Savvy, freelance translators are learning to use these technologies and harness them and use them as accelerators.” – (30:28), Bill
• “Low level jobs that would’ve been steps along the way are not exactly necessary anymore.” – (33:58), Dan
• “The amount of words being created everyday is just incredible.” – (35:58), Bill 
• “New tools require new operators.” – (36:28), Dan
• “Localization is one of the key drivers for global growth for any business.” – (51:03), Bill 
• “Translation is an industry that has always been shaped by infusions of technology.” – (57:23), Bill
• “Making something less complex is a huge value-add in this economy right now.” – (1:00:18), Bill
• “The better you can be at helping your customers or stakeholders to escape complexity, the more they’re going to thank you.” – (1:00:32), Bill
• “In my opinion ChatGPT promotes better mental health.” – (1:02:26), Bill
• “For freelance translators, don’t let all this noise about technology be something that is going to derail your career. Do what you love.” – (1:12:33), Bill

Dan Nestle Links

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle (@dsnestle) | Twitter

Bill Lafferty Links

• Loc Navigator
• Bill Lafferty - Twitter
• Bill Lafferty – Linkedin

Timestamped summary of this episode, courtesy of Capsho:

00:00:00 - Introduction,
Dan introduces the podcast and his guest, Bill Lafferty, who has a long career in translation and localization. They discuss the importance of translation in today's global economy.

00:02:37 - The Perception of Translation,
Dan and Bill talk about the misconception that translation is a commoditized service and the challenge of overcoming this perception. They highlight the need for human-oriented tasks in translation and the importance of delivering translations that feel natural to the target audience.

00:06:09 - The Commoditization of Translation,
Bill discusses the commoditization of the translation industry and the long tail of language service providers. He emphasizes the importance of understanding clients' goals and finding solutions that fit their budget.

00:07:52 - AI and Translation,
Dan and Bill touch on the advancements in AI and its impact on the translation industry. They discuss the complexities of translating multiple languages and character sets, and how translation has been grappling with these challenges for a long time.

00:11:02 - Bill's Journey in Translation,
Bill shares his journey in translation, from studying Japanese in college to being enchanted by the language. He discusses his experience as a legal translator and the rewards of learning to read Japanese at a high level.

00:15:13 - The Meticulousness of Translation,
The guest discusses the meticulous nature of translation, where one stroke or change in a character can completely change the meaning. They also highlight the challenge of finding the opposite meaning from the same character given a different conjugation.

00:15:50 - Curiosity and Connection,
The guest emphasizes the importance of curiosity and an innate sense of curiosity in learning a second language. They also express the desire to reach out and connect with others through language.

00:16:26 - Shades of Meaning in Japanese,
The guest compares languages like Japanese and Chinese to Romance languages, highlighting the complexity and multiple shades of meaning in characters. They discuss the challenge of translating legal contracts and documents from English to Japanese.

00:18:20 - Missing the Social Dynamic,
The guest shares their reason for stopping their translation career, expressing a desire for more socialization and connection with people. They enjoy talking and developing relationships, which led them to their current role in sales and client development.

00:19:47 - The Desire for Hands-On Translation,
The guest expresses a desire to return to translation and be hands-on, as they enjoy diving in and being tactile. They mention the possibility of translating short stories or engaging in more creative translation in the future.

00:30:57 - Impact of Technology on Solopreneurs and Small Business Owners,
Technology advancements like Chat GPT can disrupt industries, potentially putting solopreneurs and small business owners out of business or forcing them onto new career paths.

00:32:21 - Disruption in the Creative World,
The creative world, including industries like copywriting, marketing consulting, and translation, is experiencing disruption as technology continues to advance. Jobs that were once necessary may become obsolete as AI tools like Chat GPT become more sophisticated.

00:34:15 - The Role of Supervised Learning and Machine Translation,
In machine translation, there is a distinction between supervised learning and unsupervised learning. While Chat GPT goes through a filtration process, unsupervised machine translation can still be improved with technology advancements like neural machine translation.

00:35:33 - Balancing Machine Translation and Human Translation,
When expanding into new markets, companies must consider the balance between using machine translation and human translation. While machine translation may be budget-friendly, it's important to ensure that the first impression of a product or brand is accurate and well-translated.

00:38:43 - New Skills and Opportunities,
The introduction of AI tools like Chat GPT creates new opportunities for those who possess skills in manipulating and guiding these tools. Curiosity and a command of language are valuable assets in utilizing AI for oneself or clients.

00:46:38 - The Potential of Machine Translation,
The guest discusses the potential of machine translation, mentioning the possibility of real-time translation and the ability to overlay mouth movements in different languages. However, he notes that the marriage of technology and translation is still not fully developed.

00:47:56 - The Advancements in Machine Translation,
The guest acknowledges that developments in machine translation are already happening, citing examples such as instant translation on LinkedIn. He emphasizes that while machine translation has improved, it still comes with certain limitations and caveats.

00:49:49 - Localization vs. Translation,
The host and guest discuss localization, highlighting its importance in global business growth. They explain that localization goes beyond translation as it involves adapting content to different languages, cultures, and markets. They note that localization should be considered early on in the development process.

00:51:18 - Historical Challenges in Localization,
The guest explains that the historical paradigm of starting in a single market and expanding later has led to localization being an afterthought for many businesses. However, he mentions that forward-thinking companies are now incorporating localization into their product development from the beginning.

00:56:21 - The Future of Localization,
The guest sees a positive future for localization, as technology continues to advance and automation becomes more desired. However, he highlights the need for strategic consulting and human involvement to ensure accurate and effective localization. The challenges ahead include keeping up with evolving technology and untangling the complexities of AI in localization workflows.

01:02:41 - Promoting Better Mental Health,
The conversation starts with both Dan and Bill sharing their experiences of unhappiness in various positions throughout their careers. They discuss how using Chat GPT has helped them explore new ideas and perspectives, leading to a sense of fulfillment and better mental health.

01:03:26 - Empowering Website Development,
Bill shares a specific example of how Chat GPT helped him enhance his website, Loknavigator.com. He explains how he was able to program interactive tiles and generate personalized suggestions based on user inputs. This experience opened his mind to new possibilities and boosted his confidence in web development.

01:04:51 - Chat GPT for Code Generation,
The conversation highlights the effectiveness of Chat GPT in generating code snippets. Bill mentions that he used Chat GPT to find the snippets of code he needed to improve his website's functionality. They discuss the power of AI in code generation and its potential for improving workflow efficiency.

01:06:11 - Mindset Shifts and Pivoting,
Dan and Bill discuss how using Chat GPT has helped them shift their mindsets and approach tasks and projects from new perspectives. They also mention the importance of having someone to bounce ideas off and validate their thinking. Chat GPT serves as a helpful tool in moments of panic or uncertainty.

01:09:12 - Overcoming Learning Hurdles,
The conversation emphasizes how Chat GPT accelerates the learning process and helps overcome learning hurdles. Bill shares his personal accomplishment in using Chat GPT.

 

*Notes were created by humans, with help from Capsho, my preferred AI show notes assistant.

In this episode, Dan connects with career strategist, ex-recruiter, host of the Career Blast in a Half podcast, and President of Portfoliorocket.com,  Loren Greiff. A career trailblazer in her own right who rose to the highest levels of ad agency leadership before embarking on a second career in recruiting and career management, Loren experienced the recruiting world from all angles - and concluded that the current model is fundamentally broken, somewhat inhuman, and rigged against job seekers. To fix it, she founded Portfolio Rocket - a career curriculum that uses a radical approach to helping professionals level up their careers and discover how to uncover the hidden job market.

She and Dan dig deep into the challenges facing job seekers; the almost criminal lack of career education and the resulting reactive, shallow approach to career management; the importance of mindset and of exploring your “why;” and much more. There’s something in this episode for anyone who has ever had to manage their career (which means pretty much everyone).

Listen in and hear…

• Fatal flaws that today’s recruiters are making and how to overcome them.
• The potentially dangerous impact of living an unfulfilled professional life. 
• The professional lightbulb moment that sparked something in Loren.
• Where the recruiting industry gets it all wrong and how you can get it right. 
• Why job searching is actually a life skill. 
• The importance of embracing the gift of desperation. 
• Why job seekers don’t have to start their search from scratch.
• The trickle-down impact of an executive departure.
• The debilitating concept of “Landline Thinking.”
• The length of time your resume warrants and how to overcome it.
• Why your resume is only a piece of your job-seeking arsenal. 
• The new, revolutionary mindset that every job seeker must have.
• Problem-solving and alignment with the needs of potential employers. 
• Understanding your professional why.
• The Coffee Strategy and the Essence of the Hidden Job Market. 

Notable Quotes:

• “I’m very much the challenger, I’m very much the person that’s seeking to find the information, I also can be the informant.” – (6:20) - Loren
• “Our careers, they don’t live in some compartment. They run alongside you as your partner in your professional life.” – (8:47) - Loren
• “Career management should be a skill set.” (26:22) - Dan
• “Robots might take your job, so now is a great time to start thinking about the skill set you need to manage your career.” – (33:50) – Dan
• “Please stop asking yourself, ‘what do I want to do next?’ and replace it with ‘what problems do I love to solve?’” – (38:27) – Loren 
• “Networking is always about the quality.” – (55:58) – Loren 
• “What keeps me up at night is the unbelievable roadblocks that come in so many mental formats.” – (1:10:22) - Loren

Loren Greiff’s Links

• Loren Greiff – Linkedin
• Portfolio Rocket
• Career Blast in a Half Podcast
  

Dan Nestle’s Links

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle (@dsnestle) | Twitter

Key episode highlights (courtesy of Capsho):

00:00:00 - Introduction to the Dan Nestle Show,
00:03:02 - The Power of Genuine Connections,
00:05:58 - Loren Greiff's Journey,
00:09:30 - The Disconnection Between Job and Personal Life,
00:13:57 - Finding Success in Recruiting,
00:16:08 - Making a Career Change,
00:19:04 - A Crisis of Integrity,
00:21:04 - The Challenges of Recruitment,
00:23:25 - The Sad Reality of the System,
00:28:12 - Embracing Change,
00:33:35 - Rapid Technological Changes and Career Implications,
00:35:16 - The Problem with Landline Thinking,
00:38:00 - Shifting Mindset and Identifying Problems,
00:40:51 - Reconnecting with Purpose,
00:46:32 - Niche and Career Management,
00:49:52 - Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile,
00:51:59 - Building a Pipeline of Networking Conversations,
00:52:58 - Treating Your Career Like Your Health,
00:54:32 - Quality Networking vs. Superficial Connections,
01:00:38 - The Hidden Job Market & Creating Opportunities,
01:07:17 - Lively and Spicy Conversation,
01:08:13 - Embracing Change in Your Career,
01:09:31 - Balancing Curiosity and Focus,
01:10:31 - Roadblocks to Career Success,
01:13:26 - Portfolio Rocket and Career Management

Timestamped summary of this episode (courtesy of Capsho):

00:00:00 - Introduction to the Dan Nestle Show, 

Dan Nestle introduces the podcast and his guest, Loren Greiff. He highlights the importance of finding meaningful opportunities in the world of work and teases the unique approach Loren has taken to help executives and senior leaders discover hidden job opportunities.

00:03:02 - The Power of Genuine Connections, 

Dan and Loren discuss the narrow approach people often take when it comes to career and job searches. They emphasize the importance of making genuine connections and tapping into the secret job market to find careers that truly light people up.

00:05:58 - Loren Greiff's Journey, 

Loren shares her journey from being a marketer in New York City to transitioning to a client-side role in Chicago. She talks about the challenges she faced and how she eventually found her calling in recruiting. Her experience with anxiety and burnout led her to a path of helping others navigate their careers.

00:09:30 - The Disconnection Between Job and Personal Life, 

Loren reflects on her experience working in financial services and the disconnect she felt between her job and personal life. She emphasizes the importance of aligning career choices with personal priorities and needs.

00:13:57 - Finding Success in Recruiting, 

Loren discusses her transition into the recruiting field and how she excelled in sourcing and understanding the needs of creative professionals. She shares her passion for reading through job descriptions and helping companies find the right candidates.

00:16:08 - Making a Career Change, 

The guest describes her decision to leave her high-level role in finance and pursue a career in recruitment without much deliberation. She felt a level of certainty and alignment in her decision and enjoyed the work for a long time.

00:19:04 - A Crisis of Integrity, 

The guest shares her realization that she was out of integrity with the recruitment industry. She didn't feel morally or ethically at peace with the way the system worked, especially when it came to the overflow of candidates who didn't get the job.

00:21:04 - The Challenges of Recruitment, 

The guest discusses the challenges of being a recruiter, particularly the pressure to find the right candidates for clients and the lack of support for candidates who don't get the job. She expresses her concern about not having a solution for these candidates and not wanting to breed dependency on her.

00:23:25 - The Sad Reality of the System, 

The guest and the host share their frustrations with the recruitment system, where candidates who can't get a job through the system are often overlooked and not given another chance. They highlight the importance of teaching people the skills needed for a successful job search.

00:28:12 - Embracing Change, 

The guest reflects on her decision to leave the industry and emphasizes the importance of reaching a point where you understand that no one else will save you or change the situation for you. She encourages listeners to embrace the gift of desperation and take control of their own careers

00:33:35 - Rapid Technological Changes and Career Implications, 

The guest discusses how rapid technological changes, like the development of Chat GPT, can disrupt careers at all levels. She emphasizes the need to adapt and acquire skills that are either robot-proof or enable individuals to work alongside robots.

00:35:16 - The Problem with Landline Thinking, 

The guest introduces the concept of "landline thinking" and compares it to using a landline phone in today's mobile and connected world. She highlights how traditional approaches to job searching, like relying solely on resumes, may no longer be effective.

00:38:00 - Shifting Mindset and Identifying Problems, 

The guest advises against asking oneself, "What do I want to do next?" and encourages focusing on the problems one loves to solve instead. By identifying their contribution and impact, individuals can align their skills and interests with organizations that need their problem-solving abilities.

00:40:51 - Reconnecting with Purpose, 

Loren emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with one's why and using a simple formula: contribution + impact. She suggests revisiting one's purpose every six months to ensure it still aligns with personal values and passions.

00:46:32 - Niche and Career Management, 

The guest discusses the concept of finding a niche in one's career and how it relates to career management. She highlights the importance of identifying a target audience and catering to their specific needs and desires, especially for individuals looking to make a significant career change.

00:49:52 - Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile, 

Loren discusses the importance of using LinkedIn as a landing page that converts and drives activity. She emphasizes the need to network and move online connections offline, sharing her "coffee strategy" of scheduling two networking calls per day, resulting in 40 connections each month.

00:51:59 - Building a Pipeline of Networking Conversations, 

Loren explains how consistent networking leads to a pipeline of conversations, highlighting that one out of every 15 referrals lands a job. She emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity and recommends coming prepared with three referrals for each networking call.

00:52:58 - Treating Your Career Like Your Health, 

Loren compares treating one's career to maintaining good health, emphasizing the need for consistency and taking proactive steps. She highlights the importance of networking even when not actively job searching, and encourages reaching out to old contacts and making genuine connections.

00:54:32 - Quality Networking vs. Superficial Connections, 

Loren discusses the difference between simply connecting with people on LinkedIn and building genuine connections. She emphasizes the need to invest time and effort in getting to know individuals before asking for favors or opportunities.

01:00:38 - The Hidden Job Market & Creating Opportunities, 

Loren explains that the hidden job market extends beyond unposted positions and includes creating or augmenting roles. She emphasizes the value of understanding a company's needs and offering unique solutions. She also highlights the importance of making relevant and genuine requests when reaching out to potential connections on LinkedIn.

01:07:17 - Lively and Spicy Conversation, 

The conversation on the podcast is described as lively and spicy. Swearing is allowed to keep listeners engaged. The focus is on debunking faulty beliefs and staying up to date with the ever-changing landscape.

01:08:13 - Embracing Change in Your Career, 

Mark Herschberg's "career toolkit" concept is mentioned, highlighting the importance of embracing change and being a futurist in one's career. Reading and staying informed are emphasized as ways to explore new opportunities and expand one's skill set.

01:09:31 - Balancing Curiosity and Focus, 

The speaker discusses the risk of being distracted by bright shiny objects and emphasizes the need to find a balance between exploring new interests and staying focused on one's current job. Personal experience and curiosity play a role in shaping one's career path.

01:10:31 - Roadblocks to Career Success, 

The main challenge mentioned is the roadblocks that hinder career progress, such as fear, imposter syndrome, and other mental barriers. Overcoming these obstacles requires transparency, support from others, and a flexible learning mindset.

01:13:26 - Portfolio Rocket and Career Management, 

The guest, Loren Greiff, introduces Portfolio Rocket as a solution for career management and highlights its focus on building a supportive community. The importance of mindset and owning one's career management is emphasized.

*Notes were created by humans, with help from Capsho, my preferred AI show notes assistant.

 

In this episode, Dan connects with retired Navy officer, legendary communicator, speaker, leadership strategist, and coach David Albritton. The founder and CEO of Nineteen88 Strategies, David cut his PR and communications chops at the Pentagon and followed a career track that led to his role as Chief Communications Officer at Exelis. That would have been the career-high mark for most communicators, but not for David. From the pinnacle of the comms world, he made that rare, perhaps unique, jump to running an entire enterprise, ultimately becoming the President of General Motors Defense. Through it all, he saw the value of coaching and mentoring in his life and decided to dedicate his third - and current - career to helping others realize the same. 

How did he (and how does he) do it? How do you make the journey from being the PR guy to running a multi-billion-dollar business? Maybe it’s how he fostered a learning mindset. Perhaps it’s how he recognized when it’s important to embrace change. Or it could be that a "Learn-or-Die" mantra is a prerequisite for success. He and Dan explore these and many more lessons from David’s career to find some answers. 

Listen in and learn …

• Why communications professionals need to develop business acumen
• The dynamic nature of communications professionals’ role and the significance of continuous learning and growth. 
• The value of mentorship from a personal and professional perspective.
• The difference between a small “m” mentor and a large “M” mentor.
• How the universe recognizes your mentoring efforts and will reward you accordingly.
• The role of your worst day and how it can be used to push you forward. 
• The importance of respecting the expertise of others. 
• The Hole in Your Swing Philosophy and why it’s important to address it.
• Why leaders understand the value of surrounding themselves with smart people. 
• That sometimes people can see the leader in you before you can see the leader in yourself. 
• Coaching is a safe place and there is a difference between coaching and mentoring. 
• The game-changing aspects of coaching on a personal and corporate level. 
• Some of the amazing resources David used to fuel his growth including, “Business Acumen for Strategic Communicators” by Ron Culp and Matthew W. Ragas. 

Notable Quotes:

• “There have been so many people who have mentored me and didn’t even know it.” (4:56) – David
• “I’m truly one that believes you can get through this life journey alone.” – (5:43) – David
• “Believing in others and their ability to help you and your ability to help them is what makes us human.” – (7:30)
• “There’s a whole lot of goodness in this country that we don’t get to see through the media all the time.” (10:06) – David
• “What is the story of David Albritton?” – (12:55) – Dan
• “You can’t be a good leader until you’ve learned how to be a good follower.” – (14:33) – David
• “A soldier is trained to carry a rifle to fight wars and all those types of things. They’re not trained to move a family with a baby that needs diapers and blankets.” – (34:14) – David
• “I never believed that by myself I was smart enough to do anything.” – (39:48) – David
• “PR isn’t an exact science.” – (40:23) – David
• “I realized that I couldn’t just be a communications person. I had to become more of a business partner.” – (40:54) – David
• “Just because you have title does not mean you know.” – (44:24) – David
• “Communications gives us (communicators) license to try and learn everything.” (47:31) -Dan
• “Then I had a huge left hook thrown at me that knocked me on my butt.” – (56:00) – David
• “I realized that if I could become a coach and get paid to be a coach, I never have to retire.” – (1:00:22) – David
• “We all deal with change differently.” – (1:03:40) – David
• “The job of a coach is to look into your future.” – (1:08:22) – David
• “It’s not so much about who you know but who knows you.” (1:13:07) – David
• “Go into every situation as prepared as you can be.” (1:14:22) – David
• “Ask smart questions to people when you don’t know things.” – (1:18:32) – David
• “You have to be known because you are contributing.” – (1:20:27) – Dan
• “People will stay with you if they feel like they have the opportunity to grow.” – (1:26:39) -David

About David J. Albritton, ACC

David Albritton, Founder and CEO of Nineteen88 Strategies, is an accomplished ICF-certified executive coach and business leader with over 30 years of diverse leadership experience spanning corporate, nonprofit, and military sectors. From his unique transition as a Chief Communications Officer to a business division chief executive of a Fortune 25 company, to his current role on the board of NASDAQ-listed Embecta Corp., Albritton exemplifies career versatility. His extensive roles, including President at General Motors Defense and VP Communications roles at Amazon Web Services, Exelis, ITT Defense, and United Way of America, reflect his expertise. As a seasoned executive coach, Albritton employs a holistic and authentic coaching framework to empower high-performing executives. His passion lies in enhancing leadership presence, personal branding, and emotional intelligence among others. He is also a Service-Disabled Veteran with degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, and executive education from top universities including Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton.

• Nineteen88 Strategies
• David Albritton | Linkedin
• David Albritton - Instagram 
• David Albritton - Twitter
• Four Forces Executive Group

Dan Nestle Links

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle on Twitter

Timestamped Summary

• Introduction to today’s guest. 0:00
• David’s introduction. 1:49
• Putting positivity out into the universe. 6:22
• How did you get to the mindset you have? 11:49
• The mindset of a public relations professional. 17:57
• Learning to be a media communicator. 25:09
• Rising through the ranks of the military. 29:38
• Dealing with the perceptions of the military. 37:22
• The common theme of leaders who are not the smartest. 44:48
• Becoming a CCO at Exelis. 48:52
• The importance of having the right talent. 53:09
• Understanding your why and your purpose. 57:40
• Being directive as a mentor. 1:02:06
• Coaching is about helping people. 1:07:04
• The importance of being prepared for every meeting. 1:11:49
• The crux of it all. 1:18:56
• David’s advice for leaders. 1:23:48
• David’s work with veterans and charitable orgs. 1:27:52

*Notes were created by humans, with some help from Capsho and Otter.ai. 

In this episode, Dan connects with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Steven Mark Kahan to discuss his latest book, High-Velocity Digital Marketing. An all-around digital marketing legend, during his career as CMO of several Silicon Valley startups, Steve helped engineer seven successful exits that generated an astounding $5 billion in shareholder value. He and Dan talk about how he managed to make it all happen - and it turns out, it’s all about having the right plan. 

Of course, the right plan is very, very thorough. Luckily, Steve (and his book) deliver exactly that. Over the course of their discussion, Dan and Steve take a deep dive into the elements of marketing, the importance of content, and just how critical it is to identify your audience correctly and speak to them in a way that resonates. 

Listen in and...

• Discover powerful digital marketing techniques to skyrocket your online presence.
• Uncover the significance of grasping buyer personas for targeted campaigns.
• Explore the crucial role of consistent content creation in engaging customers.
• Learn the importance of data-driven marketing and evaluating success.
• Gain insights on choosing the best partners and agencies to boost your marketing efforts.

Notable Quotes:

• “I found that the traditional path from school to climbing the corporate ladder at least for me, could not only be high-risk for my career, it could almost feel like a death trap.” – (2:59) - Steve
• “I asked myself a really important question and that question was, how can I earn a great living doing what I love?” – (4:14) – Steve
• “I’ve learned how to spot a startup that has a good chance for success versus one that doesn’t.” – (6:47) – Steve
• ”I’m never concerned when I see that there’s big competition in the market. I’m always concerned when I see that there’s next to no competition in the market.” – (9:26) – Steve
• “You want to go to work everyday with a passion for the products the company creates as well as your role in creating it.” – (9:56) – Steve
• “I wouldn’t want to take a job if I didn’t align with the values of the company.” – (11:33) – Dan
• “You don’t often lose business to a competitor as much as you lose it to the status quo.” – (25:33) - Steve
• “Never assume that the benefits a customer expresses, equates to impact.” – (31:28) – Steve
• “So many organizations don’t train their sales or their partners on every single piece of content that they have.” - (42:54) – Steve
• “You need to turn your website into a lead magnet.” – (54:40) – Steve
• “If you get that content right and that is a big chunk of the battle.” – (1:11:00) – Steve 

Key Moments:

00:00:00 - Introduction,

00:05:05 - Choosing a Startup,

00:12:33 - Importance of Stock Options,

00:17:23 - Digital Marketing Strategies,

00:28:50 - Importance of Agility,

00:15:57 - Lessons from a Failed Startup,

00:18:05 - Evaluating Startup Concepts,

00:22:30 - Understanding the Customer, 

00:25:43 - Building Strong Value Propositions,

00:29:24 - Understanding Benefits vs. Impacts,

00:33:22 - Cybersecurity and Content Creation,

00:35:55 - Sincerity and Content Value,

00:45:03 - Content Stories and Sales Velocity,

00:48:12 - Managing Multifunctional Disarray,

00:51:37 - Importance of Metrics,

00:52:09 - The Martech Stack and Metrics,

00:54:08 - Practical Tips for Improving Lead Conversion Rates,

00:57:53 - The Importance of SEO and Google,

01:04:24 - Agency Selection and Scoring,

01:08:38 - Building Great Content,

01:10:56 - The Importance of Getting Content Right,

01:11:29 - The Future of Marketing,

01:14:16 - Recommendation for High-Velocity Digital Marketing, 

About Steve Kahan

Bestselling author Steven Mark Kahan has a formidable track record, successfully navigating seven startups to acquisition or IPO, amassing a total value exceeding $5 billion. A powerhouse in the world of startups, Steve is revered for his innovative digital marketing strategies that resulted in rapid revenue growth, market expansion, and robust returns for shareholders. In his most recent stint as CMO and Chief of Staff at Thycotic (now Delinea), he propelled the company to a remarkable $1.4B exit. His impact extends to other ventures like KnowledgeWare, PentaSafe, Postini, Quest Software, and The Planet. A past board member of Target Hunger, Steve channels his passion into philanthropic pursuits. 

• Steven Mark Kahan on LinkedIn
• Steve Kahan on Instagram
• Steve Kahan on Facebook
• Learn all about High-Velocity Digital Marketing - Be a Startup Superstar
• High-Velocity Digital Marketing: Silicon Valley Secrets to Create Breakthrough Revenue in Record Time on Amazon.com

Dan Nestle Links

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle (@dsnestle) / Twitter

 

Timestamped summary of this episode (Generated by Capsho - and presented here unedited)

00:00:00 - Introduction, 

Dan Nestle welcomes Steve Kahan, former CMO of cybersecurity firm, Thycotic and author of "High Velocity Digital Marketing" to discuss his journey in the startup world and important factors to consider before choosing a startup.

 

00:05:05 - Choosing a Startup, 

Kahan shares four important attributes to look for when choosing a startup: quality people who share your values, a concept that fills a big market need, a great product you can get behind, and the startup being well-funded.

 

00:12:33 - Importance of Stock Options, 

Kahan explains how stock options can be a game-changer for those looking to separate themselves financially. Working for a successful startup and seeing the value of those stock options grow can lead to significant financial gain.

 

00:17:23 - Digital Marketing Strategies, 

Kahan discusses the importance of digital marketing strategies in building a successful startup, noting that they can be a cost-effective way to reach a large target audience. He breaks down some key strategies outlined in his book, "High Velocity Digital Marketing."

 

00:28:50 - Importance of Agility, 

Kahan emphasizes the importance of agility in the startup world, noting that companies need to be able to pivot quickly and adapt to changing circumstances. He cites examples from his own experience helping startups navigate unexpected challenges.

 

00:15:57 - Lessons from a Failed Startup, 

Steve shares his experience working for a startup in Japan that lacked differentiation in the market and eventually failed. He discusses the importance of identifying a unique product and positioning it effectively to stand out from competitors.

 

00:18:05 - Evaluating Startup Concepts, 

Steve and Dan discuss evaluating startup concepts and identifying a must-solve problem for a specific audience. Steve shares his experience at Psychotic, where understanding the customer and crafting value propositions based on their needs led to significant growth and success.

 

00:22:30 - Understanding the Customer, 

Steve emphasizes the importance of understanding the full context of the ideal target buyer's world and paying attention to their specific language. He shares his process of asking questions to customers and crafting value propositions that address the benefits and impacts that buyers want to make on their company.

 

00:25:43 - Building Strong Value Propositions, 

Steve discusses the mistake many organizations make in building value propositions that align well with what they do, rather than what the seller cares about. He emphasizes the importance of crafting value propositions based on a full understanding of customers that address their specific needs and challenges.

 

00:29:24 - Understanding Benefits vs. Impacts, 

Steve differentiates between benefits and impacts, with impacts being closer to the meaning that customers want to achieve in their lives. He emphasizes the importance of addressing both benefits and impacts in crafting value propositions that resonate with customers.

 

00:33:22 - Cybersecurity and Content Creation, 

Steve Kahan discusses how weak or stolen privileged passwords are responsible for 80% of cyberattacks, and how his company created content stories to educate and provide value to their customers. He emphasizes the importance of tailoring content to the buyer's journey and creating incredible content that engages the buyer at every stage of the funnel.

 

00:35:55 - Sincerity and Content Value, 

Kahan explains how being sincere and providing real value in content creation is crucial for engaging potential buyers. He shares examples of his company's free tools and risk assessments, which offered real value to the target market and helped to accelerate revenue growth at reasonable costs.

 

00:45:03 - Content Stories and Sales Velocity, 

Kahan emphasizes the importance of content stories that tie together and support all stages of the funnel to maintain sales velocity. He highlights the need for ongoing partnerships and collaboration between functions to prevent breakdowns in the buyer's journey. Kahan stresses the importance of metrics and numbers to manage and optimize the sales and marketing process.

 

00:48:12 - Managing Multifunctional Disarray, 

Kahan emphasizes the importance of managing metrics and numbers to identify and resolve breakdowns in the buyer's journey. He encourages organizations to instrument their sales and marketing processes in detail and manage them rigorously to maintain sales velocity. Kahan stresses the need for ongoing collaboration between functions to prevent breakdowns and optimize the buyer's journey.

 

00:51:37 - Importance of Metrics, 

The importance of metrics and data analytics is discussed, with Steve Kahan emphasizing the need for ongoing refinement of data to improve marketing strategies.

 

00:52:09 - The Martech Stack and Metrics, 

The Martech section of the book is discussed, with Steve Kahan providing a blueprint for building a successful marketing stack. He emphasizes the importance of measuring KPIs and setting revenue goals.

 

00:54:08 - Practical Tips for Improving Lead Conversion Rates, 

Steve Kahan provides practical tips for improving lead conversion rates, including adding a "get a quote" button, minimizing friction in forms, using calls to action in every blog post, and catering to mobile users.

 

00:57:53 - The Importance of SEO and Google, 

Steve Kahan emphasizes the importance of SEO and Google for businesses today, noting that companies should focus on both great content and SEO optimization to increase their visibility in search results.

 

01:04:24 - Agency Selection and Scoring, 

Steve Kahan provides a scoring system for selecting digital agencies, emphasizing the need to choose partners who are all about the numbers and can provide expert analysis. He notes that selecting the right agency is crucial to a company's success.

 

01:08:38 - Building Great Content, 

Steve shares his approach to building great content by having meetings twice a year with cross-functional teams to generate ideas. He prioritizes the best ideas and relies on his team's expertise to create high-quality content that resonates with the target audience.

 

01:10:56 - The Importance of Getting Content Right, 

Steve emphasizes the importance of getting content right and making sure it resonates with the right buyer. He suggests that many companies struggle with the fundamentals of marketing, and focusing on these basics can make a significant difference.

 

01:11:29 - The Future of Marketing, 

Dan asks Steve about the trends that marketers should be aware of. Steve responds that the focus should be on mastering the fundamentals of marketing rather than looking for a silver bullet. He also mentions that he is currently writing a murder mystery with James Patterson's co-authors.

 

01:14:16 - Recommendation for High Velocity Digital Marketing, 

Dan highly recommends Steve's book, "High Velocity Digital Marketing," which offers practical advice on understanding the target audience, creating compelling content, measuring results, and improving marketing efforts. He also notes that David Meerman Scott wrote the book's foreword. 

 

01:16:55 - Wrapping Up, 

Dan thanks Steve for sharing his insights and experiences on the show. Steve expresses his pleasure in being a guest and shares his website and LinkedIn profile as the best places to find him.

 

In this episode, Dan connects with the founder of the Marketing Advisory Network, author of Unleash Possible, host of the Unleash Possible podcast, and most recently co-author (with Dan and 34 others) of The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever, B2B powerhouse Samantha Stone. With a passion for complex problem-solving, Samantha shares powerful insights on the value of communicating effectively with your customers 

B2B communication is strategic, and all too often, businesses make the mistake of thinking it just happens. In reality, it takes time, and as it turns out, it’s one of the most intentional, strategic components of your entire business model. It takes effort to understand your customers, who they are, and what they need. Once you’ve done those things, it’s time to activate them with a message that brings it all together and ignites something special. 

Neither Dan nor Samantha pulls any punches in this episode as they dismiss myths about marketing and share eye-opening insights that will get your gears moving in the right direction. They also discuss her book entitled, “Unleash Possible: A Marketing Playbook that Drives B2B Sales.” When it comes to B2B marketing, chances are Samantha has been there and done that. Now, she wants to make sure you reach that same place and do it better.

Here's what you can expect from the show: 

• Insightful exchanges on the nuances of B2B and B2C communication. 
• The power of networking and value of intimate networks of influencers and contacts.
• The need for marketers and creatives to be amongst one another for a nurturing experience.
• The B2B Experience: stories, reputations, trust, and getting to know your customers.
• Narrowing it down to find out who you can best serve.
• The flaw of spending your way to success and growth. 
• Sales can do things that marketing simply cannot … because marketing isn’t always human. 
• Building sustainable customer relationships, not just securing a sale. 
• Sometimes you have to hold the hands of sales and show them the way. 
• The importance of managing internal stakeholders and understanding their “why”. 
• If everyone is focusing on the buyer, all the jobs become easier. 
• The remote workplace has changed the work-learning landscape. 

Notable Quotes

• “Marketing, communications, whatever it is that we do, creativity, being curious, intellectual curiosity, they’re all so common across leaders in the field, but they need a valve or safe space to let ideas fly.” – (9:16) – Dan
• “Good marketing, great education is emotional.” – (10:19) – Samantha
• “Just because you don’t have the skill doesn’t mean you can’t get the skill.” – (22:24) – Dan
• “Businesses need to find niches that they can own and expand from.” – (28:50) – Samantha
• “Qualitative research is actually a little bit of a lost art.” – (36:44) – Samantha 
• “As human beings it is natural for us to put the most value on the product or service that is the hardest for us to deliver.” – (39:08) – Samantha
• “If we take the time to understand our customers, we’ll build businesses that have sustainable growth.” – (1:12) Samantha
  

About Dan Nestle 

• The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com)
• Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn
• The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook
• Dan Nestle (@dsnestle) / Twitter
• The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever

About Samantha Stone

Samantha Stone is a forward thinker and true champion of B2B communications. She’s the author of Unleash Possible: A Marketing Playbook that Drives B2B Sales and a leading contributor to the rapidly evolving world of marketing. A skilled researcher, highly sought after speaker and consultant, she’s authored several successful go-to-market efforts, resulting in recognizable results for brands across the business spectrum. The founder of Marketing Advisory Network, the arch of her career has seen her become one of the most trusted voices in the B2B space. Most recently, she has developed on-demand courses focused on mastering the art of finding and using buyer insights. She is a member of Mark Schaefer’s RISE Community and co-author (with Mark, Dan, and 33 others) of The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever.

• Samantha Stone | LinkedIn
• Samantha Stone on Twitter - @Samanthastone
• Unleash Possible - The Website
• Unleash Possible - The Podcast
• Unleash Possible - The Book
• Samantha’s On-Demand Buyer Insight Courses

Timestamped summary of this episode

00:00:00 - Introduction,
Host Dan Nestle introduces himself and his guest, Samantha Stone, a leading B2B marketing influencer and advisor. They discuss the challenges and rewards of B2B marketing.
00:04:29 - The Uprising and Rise Communities,
Dan and Samantha discuss their attendance at the Uprising conference and their involvement in the Rise community. They talk about the importance of connecting with other marketing professionals and the value of in-person events.
00:08:35 - Emotional Marketing,
Samantha and Dan discuss the emotional aspect of marketing and the importance of tapping into the human experience. They reflect on how the Uprising and Rise communities have provided a safe space to explore ideas and connect with others.
00:11:22 - The Value of Community,
Dan and Samantha talk about the value of being part of a community and the benefits of engaging with other professionals. They discuss the Rise community's use of Discord and how it has become a valuable tool for learning and networking.
00:14:10 - From Economics to Marketing,
Samantha shares her journey from studying economics in college to becoming a B2B marketing influencer and advisor. She discusses her passion for helping companies drive revenue through effective marketing strategies.
00:14:33 - Challenges of Public Policy,
Samantha reflects on her love for policy and its challenges, but admits to being impatient. She discusses the slow pace of public policy and how it takes years to make an impact because it affects whole communities.
00:16:14 - From Sales to Marketing,
Samantha talks about how she transitioned from channel sales to marketing. She discovered her love for marketing and how it allowed her to have a bigger impact. She also discusses the challenges she faced and how she learned as she went along.
00:19:34 - The Birth of Marketing Advisory Network,
Samantha explains why she started the Marketing Advisory Network. She wanted to do what she loved without the baggage of internal politics clouding her judgment. She also talks about how she wrote her book to help people who couldn't afford her services.
00:22:29 - The Importance of People Skills,
Samantha discusses the importance of people skills in marketing and sales. She talks about how she honed her people skills by being empathetic and understanding the sales team's perspective. She also emphasizes that anyone can learn people skills with practice and guidance.
00:27:18 - Unleashing Possible,
Samantha talks about her book, Unleash Possible, and how it helps companies tap into their full potential. She emphasizes that companies often overlook the resources they have within their organization, such as people and processes. She also discusses the importance of convincing the world of your big opportunity when starting a business.
00:28:44 - The Importance of Narrowing Audience,
To create traction, businesses need to find niches to own and expand from. Focusing on narrowing the audience helps to better understand who a business can best serve and prevent bringing in customers who aren't a great fit.
00:29:42 - Measuring Marketing Incorrectly,
Boards, CEOs, and salespeople are obsessed with measuring marketing by the number of leads generated. This approach creates the wrong behavior and makes marketing focus on the wrong things. Instead, marketing should be held accountable for overall business metrics and growth.
00:33:00 - Spending Your Way into Success and Growth,
Businesses too often try to spend their way into success and growth by running more ads and content syndication. However, they overlook referral activity, advocacy, and word of mouth, which are missed opportunities. Businesses need to experiment with these channels for better results.
00:36:48 - Qualitative Research,
Qualitative research is critical for understanding why a buyer or a group of buyers likes a specific aspect of a product or service. It complements data by helping businesses understand what is essential to each buyer at each stage of the process. Salespeople are the best personalization engines for building emotional connections.
00:42:43 - The Role of Experienced Salespeople,
Experienced salespeople instinctively know the buyer persona or the buyer data and can build emotional connections. However, they may not have the mechanism or incentive to share this data with their teammates or
00:43:46 - The Importance of Understanding Buyers,
Samantha Stone emphasizes the importance of understanding buyers' needs. She explains that good salespeople do not waste time convincing someone to buy something they do not need. Stone believes it is crucial to earn the trust of salespeople and understand what drives them.
00:45:16 - Buyer Personas in Recruitment,
Stone mentions her team's focus on the book "The New Rules of Marketing & PR" and creating buyer personas for recruitment. She notes the challenge of obtaining information from recruiters and emphasizes the need to tailor marketing materials to different learning styles.
00:47:11 - Building Relationships with Salespeople,
The conversation shifts to the relationship between sales and marketing. Stone explains that salespeople are often hesitant to share data because they do not see any benefit. She recommends creating pilots to prove the effectiveness of marketing materials and building relationships with influential salespeople.
00:50:21 - Knowing Internal Stakeholders,
Stone stresses the importance of understanding internal stakeholders, such as salespeople, and creating buyer personas for them. She emphasizes the need to recognize different personalities and learning styles and tailor marketing materials accordingly.
00:56:33 - Samantha Stone's New Learning Product,
Stone introduces her new learning product, designed to help people who are new to the marketing field or transitioning to a new role. She notes the challenges of learning remotely and emphasizes the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest industry developments.
00:58:12 - Samantha's Transition to Creating a Self Paced Class,
Samantha talks about her transition from providing custom training to creating a self-paced class. She shares that she wanted to make her workshop material accessible to a broader audience and that her course is video-based with exercises in a workbook to help participants apply the skills to their job.
00:58:59 - Buyer Insights Course,
Samantha's first course is all about finding buyer insights and is heavy on qualitative research skills. The goal is to help more people understand how to do this kind of research, even if it's not their primary job. The course is designed to take the mystery out of conducting interviews and help people ask better questions.
01:01:00 - Understanding Buyers,
Samantha emphasizes the importance of understanding buyers and the need to eliminate friction from the process. She shares a personal experience of how a company lost her as a customer because of the friction they put in the sales process. She believes that marketing is all about understanding people and that it's a good human skill to have.
01:02:44 - Simplifying the Process,
Samantha talks about the importance of keeping things simple and removing obstacles for buyers. She believes in creating a frictionless process and removing unnecessary steps to make it easier for buyers. She believes that marketers need to constantly go through and try to eliminate friction points as they come up.
01:10:12 - Taking Time Off,
Samantha talks about the importance of taking time off and making time for personal and family commitments
01:11:18 - Long-term thinking in business, farewells

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