Why is it so necessary for the world to become more video literate? How has technology made this one of the best times to be an entrepreneur? Is email marketing on its way out? On this episode, Chris Brogan joins us to talk about this, why we need to put humanity front and center, as well as his love for Batman.

As long as enough of us think all the water is going to raise all the boats, I think there’s so much opportunity not to think about competition. - Chris Brogan

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Chris talked about his love for Batman and what he likes about him as a superhero. He also talked about how he got into blogging and podcasting early in the game, the opportunities video marketing provides, and why a lot of people are lying about being entrepreneurs. We also talked about category design, and the importance of asking the question “why hasn’t anyone?”

Chris also spoke about;

With access to so much infrastructure and the culminated power of technology and connectivity, this is a great time to be an entrepreneur. While there are many people who call themselves entrepreneurs, the people who are really making an impact are the ones solving problems, making life easier, creating categories and driving meaningful human interaction. We have so many opportunities for velocity, friction and connectedness, we should take advantage it.

Guest Bio

Chris Brogan is CEO of Owner Media Group , providing strategy and skills for the modern business. He is also a highly sought after professional speaker and the New York Times bestselling author of nine books and counting. His latest is called Find Your Writing Voice. Go to ChrisBrogan.com for more information.

What do we think of the new color shifting beverage Starbucks recently introduced? Why are some people in California painting phallic symbols on the street? On this episode, we’re back to outdo each other with stories taken from the news. Whose stories are going to be more legendary? Find out on our latest edition of Trading Legendary Stories!

The interweb is unbelievable, at 8 years old you can learn how to drive and take your sister to McDonald’s. -Christopher Lochhead

Takeaways

At the start of this episode, we talked about how a Burger King ad backfired, as well as license plate flippers. Next, we talked about ephemeral ink tattoos, and how physicists have created negative mass. We also shared on the man who caught a marathon cheater, potholes in Oregon and the shrimp named after Pink Floyd.

We also talked about

Where there’s category design, there’s also needless problem design. How would you consider the innovations we discussed on this episode? The findom, the Unicorn frappuccino, and the edible water bob are all new things that have been announced recently, and these are just the beginning. The interwebs are powerful, the American muscle car is having a great time, marathon cheaters will be caught, and if you want a human walker, go to LA.

Modern marketing often feels like it’s mystic, dark, magic voodoo. How do you unlock what will make your small business succeed? How do you get the most out of podcasting and create the right kind of content? How do we overcome imposter syndrome? On this episode, Stephen Woessner shares on his podcast, and gives us some interesting marketing insights.

Content that is exceptional and doesn’t feel really commercialized really gets traction. It’s a safe environment because it’s a haven away from the clutter. -Stephen Woessner

Takeaways

At the start of the show we talked about podcasts and why ranking well on iTunes is not a viable strategy. We also talked about how to build your own audience and the importance of creating great stuff consistently. We talked about the problems internet users have with ad-heavy content, and how to overcome that as a content creator. Stephen also shared on predictive ROI, and the main problems small business owners are facing. Towards the end of the show we talked about long form content and overcoming imposter syndrome.

Stephen also shared insights on;

When it comes to marketing a small business, building an audience on Facebook makes a lot of sense. Podcasts aren’t for every type of business. If a business is run by a thought leader, and the content of the podcast ties into the business, customers will appreciate it. The secret is getting your content strategy right, developing a nation of true fans, creating great stuff consistently and distributing it effectively. Remember we’ve all dealt with imposter syndrome and if we work hard, and grit it out success will happen for us.

Guest Bio

Stephen is a digital marketing authority, entrepreneur, speaker, educator, and bestselling author two books, The Small Business Owner’s Handbook to Search Engine Optimization and Increase Online Sales through Viral Social Networking. Clients include Cisco, Advisors Excel, Agency Management Institute, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and others. Linda Fassig-Knauer, US Channels, Cisco Systems, said “Stephen really engaged the audience at our SMB Advisory Council. His presentation hit the mark.

Do stronger interpersonal relationships make for better colleagues? How has the business book genre shifted in the last 30 years? How has the advent of technology changed things for authors and publishers? In this episode, Sally Haldorson, the general manager of 800-CEO-READ, brings her expert knowledge on the business book field to discuss these questions and many more as we delve into the changing work culture that is taking place in America right now.  

The people who do the work are now in the driver’s seat and that is changing business and changing corporations for the better. – Sally Haldorson

Takeaways

We began this episode discussing the more humanistic approach that has been implemented in business since the 1980’s, and how we’ve grown increasingly accepting in embracing the human aspect of business. Sally discussed whether she feels that this shift makes for better colleagues and employees. Sally then went on to talk about how this has been mirrored in the business book world through books such as ‘Solve for Happy’. Later in this episode we moved on to discuss how technology has affected business and the pushback that has occurred to non-face to face connections and social media. Sally spoke about how this technology shift has affected both publishers and authors. Sally finished off by recommending some business books that she feels people should read and we spoke about the idea of empowerment.

We also discussed;

Over the past 30 years there has been a huge shift in business culture which has seen a move away from strict, regimented control to giving more power back to the workers themselves and creating a more personable, empathetic workplace environment. Inherently, empathy makes us better people and empathy allows us to do better work and this has been realised by businesses. This has been partially driven by a change in the business book genre which has seen an increase in books about self-help, personal development,

Great PR and communications can very well be an x-factor in the success of a tech business. What are the greatest lessons learned from a successful career in this space? What is the future of the industry? What is love-based marketing and what will it do? On this episode, Sabrina Horn shares insights from her perch as the grand dame of Silicon Valley PR.

The worst mistakes I ever made were because I didn’t make the right decision soon enough. -Sabrina Horn

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Sabrina shared on her life story, her parents’ own entrepreneurship and how running a business is very humbling. Next, she talked about her life outside of work and the new wave of technology that is based on AI. She also shared tips for getting the most out of media relations and the biggest mistakes she’s ever made.

Sabrina also talked about;

As tech draws nearer to AI, and the media continues to be turned on its head, communicators are necessary now more than ever to take the fear and uncertainty out of these times. It comes down to keeping your head on your shoulders when things go nuts, learning from mistakes and filtering the noise out so you can listen to yourself, ask smart questions and make the best decisions.

Guest Bio

Sabrina is the Founder of the Horn Group, a Leading PR/Digital Communications Agency. She is also a partner at Finn Partners and she has 20 years of tech, enterprenuerial and media/leadership training experience. Follow her on Twitter @SabrinaHorn or find her on LinkedIn LinkedIn.com/in/SabrinaHorn

The army is overweighted in military capability but underweighted in the other things. What are the lessons that can improve this? What can the military teach businesses? What is the paradox of senior leadership? On this episode we are joined by the legendary General Stanley McChrystal, who shares his life journey, his military career and his company.

When you don’t have a discipline in a system, and there’s not a way to fail, then it’s hard for anyone to really succeed. -Stanley McChrystal

Takeaways

At the start of the show, General Stanley McChrystal shares how becoming a grandfather has impacted him, and the lessons it taught him about fatherhood and having a career. “When we say work-life balance, I don’t think we mean it on a daily basis.” Next he shared on how he came up in the army, and how he joined the US Army at a time where it was looking for its identity. We also talked about why younger soldiers aren’t affected by the need to make things look good, his book and the work his company does. Towards the end of the show, we talked about the importance of discipline.

We also discussed;

Senior leaders walk the line between not BSing while also conveying confidence to the people who look up to them. The best path to take is to be as honest as you can all the time - so your credibility never comes into question. In military and in business, it’s important to focus on the human element as much as you think of the capabilities and technical side of things. Technology is something we can leverage to create understanding. We tend to hate the people we really don’t know, so the right tools can make us a better society.

Guest Bio

Stanley A. McChrystal was born on August 14, 1954, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1990, he became action officer for Army Special Operations, working in Joint Special Operations Command. In 1991, he saw action in the Desert Shield and Desert Storm tours.

Building a business that goes the distance is a challenge for today’s entrepreneurs. What makes a good CMO, and how do they fit into building lasting businesses? How do you market a company as successful as Sequoia Capital? In this episode Blair Shane, CMO of Sequoia Capital answers these questions and shares her expert insight into the world of venture capital. She also talks candidly about how Sequoia runs and how she balances her work and home life.

We will have lost if the companies we back don’t transform the world. – Blair Shane

Takeaways

We began this episode by discussing what being legendary means and Blair gave us her views on this, as well as some information about her background within the working world. Blair then went on to discuss everything related to Sequoia including what they look for in the people they decide to work with, and how they continue on the mission that their founders created by valuing teamwork over showmanship. Following on from that Blair explained to us what she feels Sequoia’s secrets to success are. We moved on to talk about why companies are waiting longer and longer before going public nowadays. Blair moved on to talk about how she markets brands that are already dominating their category and how she markets a firm that doesn’t want to market its own successes. We finished up by talking about what it means to be a CMO today and what category design means to Blair.

We also discussed;

If you want to change the market you must have an idea that is based on a market need and you must not only have the ego to push and realize the full potential of the product, but also realize that you are not bigger than the product itself. It should be the idea that fuels you, not a desire for fame or wealth. The people that fit that bill can become true legends and category kings.

Guest Bio

Blair Shane is the CMO of Sequoia Capital where she is responsible for building Sequoia's global brand and helping to build the enduring companies of tomorrow. Previously to this she worked as the Associate Dean and CMO at Stanford School of Gradu...

People in business make an unconscious choice to attack an existing space, market or category. Why is this the wrong way to go about things? Is your business marketing to an existing space or category? What do you miss out on when you take this approach? On this special episode of Legends and Losers, we are joined by Rhonda Smith and other entrepreneurs for a mindset on utilizing category design in your business and how you sell yourself short when you don’t use it. You’ll learn how you can start using it today to improve your business.

This book changed my life, I don’t mean it changed my business, it changed my life as well as my business – Rhonda Smith

Takeaways

In this episode we began by discussing what category design is by showcasing some examples of companies using it to their advantage. We then went on to discuss personal branding and how important it is to be authentic in your branding and advertising. Next, we talked about the importance of category design in branding and how branding without category design is a bad idea. Later in the show, we discussed how someone can become legendary and design a legendary category. We shared on the success of CEO of Salesforce, Mark Benioff and how companies like Netflix have created their own categories by marketing new problems to people that they didn’t know they had. We finished off by discussing the importance of not selling yourself short.

We also shared insights on;

Every product or service that we love exists because a legend executed the magic triangle; company design, product design and category design. They are all equally important and many people in business don’t even understand what category design is or how best to utilize it. You can see great examples of category design through the ages, like Henry Ford marketing the car as a horseless carriage. In many ways the category is in the context of what it isn’t because we understand a prior category. The most important feature of category design is marketing the problem,...

People in business make an unconscious choice to attack an existing space, market or category. Why is this the wrong way to go about things? Is your business marketing to an existing space or category? What do you miss out on when you take this approach? On this special episode of Legends and Losers, we are joined by Rhonda Smith and other entrepreneurs for a mindset on utilizing category design in your business and how you sell yourself short when you don’t use it. You’ll learn how you can start using it today to improve your business.

This book changed my life, I don’t mean it changed my business, it changed my life as well as my business – Rhonda Smith

Takeaways

In this episode we began by discussing what category design is by showcasing some examples of companies using it to their advantage. We then went on to discuss personal branding and how important it is to be authentic in your branding and advertising. Next, we talked about the importance of category design in branding and how branding without category design is a bad idea. Later in the show, we discussed how someone can become legendary and design a legendary category. We shared on the success of CEO of Salesforce, Mark Benioff and how companies like Netflix have created their own categories by marketing new problems to people that they didn’t know they had. We finished off by discussing the importance of not selling yourself short.

We also shared insights on;

Every product or service that we love exists because a legend executed the magic triangle; company design, product design and category design. They are all equally important and many people in business don’t even understand what category design is or how best to utilize it. You can see great examples of category design through the ages, like Henry Ford marketing the car as a horseless carriage. In many ways the category is in the context of what it isn’t because we understand a prior category. The most important feature of category design is marketing the problem,

Success in business and life is all about having an appetite for risk. Why do we need a little bit of crazy to make things happen? What has changed about media relations today, and how can companies play in that arena? On this episode, Paul Maher talks about category design, his career and having the power of having the courage to think your own thoughts.

You do need to conceive immediately what the largest piece you can play on is, and make that move. If you don’t, that will drop you into the loser category. -Paul Maher

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Paul shared insights from a conference he attended in India, and how the world of employment is going to change because of automation. We also talked about how Paul became so good with PR, and his career at companies like Scient and HP. Next, we discussed how he started Positive Marketing, the things he discovered, and what helped him zero in on the right client and category design.

Paul also shared insights on;

True power and legendary status come from the courage to think your own thoughts and have a big appetite for risk. It’s about finding a piece that works really well for you and making a move on it at the right moment. For companies to succeed, the media relations piece will always be important, but now it also needs the category design piece to stand out. This is how you create the halo effect and dominance that only category kings enjoy.  

Guest Bio

Paul is the founder and CEO of Positive Marketing. Go to PositiveMarketing.com for more information or follow him on LinkedIn www.LinkedIn.com/in/pmaher.