Andrea Lechner-Becker, a self-proclaimed, “recovering CMO” and published author, reads a lot and has rarely found a problem there isn’t already a book about. In this episode, she details a few of her favorite examples, including the initial key to sticky ideas, which requires marketers to break people's guessing machine and surprise them. Andrea also covers the need to build relationships and educate leadership teams on the value of marketing.

Takeaways: 

1. Find a book that tells you how to do something and actually apply the lessons from it. Andrea shares how a wealth of knowledge is often hidden in plain sight within books, but it only becomes useful when put into action. The key isn’t just reading but applying what you’ve learned. Many people consume vast amounts of content but never take the steps to implement that knowledge. When you actively integrate insights from books into your work or life, you turn theory into practice and start seeing tangible results. 
2. Break people's guessing machine and surprise them to make your ideas stick. People are naturally wired to predict and make assumptions based on familiar patterns, but when you disrupt those expectations, you capture attention and make your message memorable. In marketing, this concept is critical because customers are constantly bombarded with information. Whether it’s a bold creative idea, an unconventional campaign, or an innovative product, when you defy expectations, your message resonates more deeply.
3. Creativity and taking risks are essential in marketing. At the heart of great marketing lies creativity — the ability to come up with fresh, innovative ideas that break through the noise. But creativity often comes with a level of risk, as it challenges the status quo and pushes boundaries. Risk-taking doesn’t mean being reckless; rather, it involves experimenting with bold ideas, understanding your audience, and being willing to step outside of your comfort zone. Great marketing is a balance between creativity and risk, where you learn to embrace uncertainty in order to create lasting impact.

Quote of the Show:

"You have to break someone's guessing machine in order to get them to pay attention to the message that you are using to get them to do something." - Andrea Lechner-Becker

Links:

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

Shoutouts:

• Drew Smith 
• 'Obviously Awesome' by April Dunford 
• 'Made to Stick' by Chip and Dan Heath 
• 'The Challenger Sale' by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpM8myxsUinc5bfLIbjJz?si=0af576adfb8e49f8 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cheat-code/id1692445190 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cb0b3afa-063f-4f3b-96be-b98214c74912 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheatCodePodcast