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Mike Taylor is the CEO and Co-Founder of Rally, an AI audience simulation platform that allows marketers to run synthetic focus groups. Before founding Rally, Mike co-founded Ladder, a 50-person growth marketing agency, as well as Vexpower, a simulation-based learning platform for marketers.

Here’s some of my takeaways from this week’s episode…

1/ 🎯 Live in the Future, Act in the PresentThe future exists, it's just not evenly distributed. Make intentional trips to tech hubs like SF/NYC to soak up emerging trends, then bring those insights back home. You don't need to live there, but you do need to visit regularly.2/ 💰 Status vs. Money: Choose Your PathWant status? Get in super early. Want profit? Join right before mainstream. But always optimize for money first—it buys freedom to pursue what truly interests you later. The sweet spot is often right before mass adoption.3/ 🤖 AI Automation = Creative Freedom When you automate the mundane parts of your job, you have two choices: work less or work on more interesting things. The real opportunity is using that freed-up time to pursue creative projects that AI can't replicate.4/ 🎯 The NCO EffectPosition yourself as the "non-commissioned officer" between AI strategy and execution. Humans excel at making creative, contextual decisions that bridge high-level planning and ground-level implementation.5/ 📝 Content Marketing 2.0The future isn't about pumping out 3500-word SEO articles—AI can do that. Success lies in finding and amplifying authentic stories, acting more like a journalist than a content factory.6/ 🎨 Test Small, Scale SmartStart by doing things manually, then automate once you've proven the process works. The progression: Do it manually → Create saved prompts → Automate with no-code tools → Build custom solutions.7/ 🎯 The 60/90 RuleBlog posts drove 60% of direct leads but influenced 90% of all deals. Don't write for decision-makers—write for the experts who influence them. Your content builds credibility with the recommenders.8/ 🤝 Network Like a ConnectorEvents aren't about meeting clients directly—they're about meeting people who know potential clients. Focus on being someone others are excited to recommend rather than selling directly.

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Where to find Mike Taylor:

* Rally: https://askrally.com/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjt145/

* X: https://x.com/hammer_mt

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In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Intro and Welcome 00:39 The Journey into AI and Marketing 03:23 Navigating the AI Landscape 06:17 Status vs. Money in Business 09:06 The Birth of Rally 12:30 Understanding Rally's Purpose and Functionality 25:10 Experimenting with AI and Predicting Viral Headlines 27:59 Understanding Human Behavior Through AI 29:51 The Art of Prompt Engineering 37:04 Building an Uno Game with AI 45:55 Automating Tasks with AI 52:52 The Future of Creativity and AI 58:19 Value-Based Pricing and Client Perceptions 01:00:22 Automation and Freedom in Writing 01:01:17 AI's Role in Marketing Synthesis 01:03:29 The Future of Marketing Roles 01:07:45 The Evolution of Marketing Strategies 01:11:23 Insights from Working with Major Brands 01:17:07 Creative Hiring Strategies for Agencies

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Obligatory disclaimer: I've worked at YouTube and Google for about a decade in various marketing teams. Nothing I say in my personal spaces is necessarily endorsed by them.

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