"Burnout to Balance: Prioritize and Thrive in '25" Today, executives face a mandate: "Grow revenue while reducing costs." This mantra permeates the US government, public and private companies. Random tactics and endless "to do" lists lead to burnout and loss of your top performers—costing millions in lost brand repute, revenue, workers compensation, and indefinite medical leave. If you're feeling the sting of burnout, give a listen to this episode. You will learn: 🌟 A clear definition of burnout. 🌟 Why the productivity industrial complex is failing us. 🌟How one $800M software company is doing more with less. 🌟 A proven method to map your HIGH value priorities in real time. 🌟 How to use generative AI as your planning partner. Lisa included a pre-tested prompt, too. Lisa wants to help thousands put a bite in burnout. Spread the word and share this show! Useful Links:

1. Struggling with innovation? Are your teams in constant fear of failing? Join us in Boston, May 8-9 for "The Art of Experimentation" at Tufts University. Details and registration:tinyurl.com/clic25boston.
2. Want to overcome career isolation and propel growth? Apply to the Marketing Growth Leaders peer community: marketinggrowthleaders.com
3. Don't miss another episode. Join our private "know ahead" list at themindfulmarketer.com.
4. Enjoying our shows? Please leave us an Apple Podcast review. Spread the love! Meanwhile, we're sending love to our production team: Alex Connolly, 💫Marisa Cali and Bill Connolly - Digital Style Coach.

"Avoid These Costly Transformation Traps in 2025" #86

In this AI-powered age and impatient investor climate, growth leaders often struggle with avoiding transformation traps and tribulations.

This session will help you avoid today's costly career and company moves.

Here's what you'll hear in this episode:

* 5 transformation types every leader needs to navigate (the Transformation Tree) (8:40)

* Contemporary transformation trap examples, including Starbucks, IBM, and Nike (15:00-23:10)

* The trap that leaders often underestimate (11:05-15:00)

* Lisa's five favorite strategy accelerators (23:00)

Don't miss our next show. Join our "know ahead" list at themindfulmarketer.com.

A hearty thanks to our production team: Steffen Kaplan and Alexander and Bill Connolly.

"Fight Fake News, Protect Your Brand: Lessons from an AI Experiment" with Jack Brewster (#86)

It can cost bad actors less than $150 to create a fake (or "pink slime") news site and mess with your company's brand. We're deep into the USA election season, and we're watching this train wreck unfold.

Don't let misinformation ruin your hard-earned reputation. Listen to this episode, where we welcome Jack Brewster of NewsGuard. They are committed to providing transparent tools to counter fake news for marketers, leaders, and democracies.

Summary:

Here's what you can do to protect your brand:

1. Practice "pre-bunking" across the company. Jack recommends that "readers should be informed about sources that often share misinformation so they can critically evaluate the information they encounter."

2. Before you take the content seriously, copy the story into Google. See the source. Are they a Tier 1, credible site?

3. Embrace a healthy media diet. Cut your social media consumption by just five minutes a day (please avoid using Facebook, Instagram, and X as your "go-to" news feeds). Divert that energy to Tier 1 sources.

4. Refine your critical thinking skills. A lot of my CEO and CMO clients have young, inexperienced team members running their content and communications strategies. It's incumbent on their leaders to help them build critical thinking and strategic muscles. Invest in courses, such as "Developing Critical Thinking Skills" by my fellow LinkedIn Learning instructor Becki Salzman.

5. When using generative AI tools to brainstorm or summarize, ask the tool for exact sources and the URL to that source. Then test that URL. Some will not work!

Show Links:

1. Follow Jack Brewster's work, and subscribe to NewsGuard's free "Reality Check" e-news:https://www.newsguardtech.com/about/
2. Facing company or career transition? Join us October 17-20 for "The Midlife Innovator" Retreat at MEA Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA). Details and registration:bit.ly/clic24santafe
3. Want to overcome career isolation and propel growth? Apply to the Marketing Growth Leaders peer community: marketinggrowthleaders.com
4. Don't miss another episode. Register for our private "know ahead" list at themindfulmarketer.com.
5. Like what you heard? Please leave us an Apple Podcast review. Spread the love! Meanwhile, we're sending love to our production team: Alexander Connolly, 💫Marisa Cali and Bill Connolly - Digital Style Coach.

Full Time vs. Fractional? The CMO Career Debate Guests: Scott Kabat, CEO, 621 Consulting and Michael Taylor, CEO, SimpleMind Inc. SUMMARY: It's our job as leaders to present cost-effective and strategic alternatives to old traditional CMO roles and responsibilities. Why now? Because generative AI is rapidly streamlining how we build content, go to market, engage with customers, and design our demand gen strategies. These are common requirements to be a "full stack" CMO. Here's the challenge. Thanks to AI, information has become commoditized, and knowledge (skills) are table stakes. On the other hand, wisdom, the pinnacle of human understanding, comes from the marriage of knowledge and experience. In the future, boards and CEOs will need more wisdom than information. And a fractional CMO just might be the wisdom well you need as you face this stage of growth. If you are curious about hiring a fractional CMO, or you are a CMO considering a fractional career path, listen to this show. We welcomed Scott Kabat, CEO of 621 Consulting in San Francisco. He leads a team of fractional CMOs and hands-on marketing operators. A recovering CMO himself, Scott has worked with brands such as Apple, Lyft, and Target. Our other panelist – a returning favorite and BFF-- is Michael Taylor, founder of Simple Mind Inc. He works with top firms such as AARP, IHG, and Great Dane and has been a fractional CMO, creative director, and startup founder and builder of a top digital agency. Listen and learn:

• Why fractional CMOs are currently in high demand
• The distinctions between fractional and interim CMOs

• The reasons why CEOs hire fractional CMOs.

• Key questions you need to ask to ensure success and client alignment.

• A 10-point checklist for CEOs to assess fractional CMO needs. (see show link).

Show Links:

1. "The Midlife Innovator" Retreat, October 17-20, 2024, at MEA Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA). Details and registration:bit.ly/clic24santafe
2. Scott Kabat: www.621consulting.com.
3. "Is Hiring a Fractional CMO Right for You?" Checklist: www.simplemindinc.com/cmo
4. Want to overcome career isolation and propel growth? Apply to the Marketing Growth Leaders peer community: marketinggrowthleaders.com
5. Want to build your fractional CMO role and brand? These are some favorite marketing and business development resources from Alan Weiss:https://alanweiss.com/store/books/
6. Don't miss another episode. Register for our private "know ahead" list at themindfulmarketer.com.

Like what you heard? Please leave us an Apple Podcast review. We love our listeners!

"Four Big Customer Growth Unlocks" with HomeServe USA's CMO, Andy Yost

There has never been a better time for marketers to lead growth initiatives--yet many are mired in overwhelming and misaligned priorities. That clouds their ability to design new futures and test growth hypotheses.

Hear how Andy Yost is testing and discovering new revenue streams without alienating teams at this 20-year-old brand. HomeServe USA offers nearly 5 million homeowners affordable emergency service plans and protection from expensive and unexpected repairs.

We cover simple ways to make trust tangible, building hypotheses, setting clear priorities, picking metrics that matter, and more. You will also hear details on CLIC '24: Digital Innovation Day. This marks our 8th innovation cohort in NYC (May 1-2).

Thank you for being a loyal listener.

A hearty THANK YOU to our superstar production team: Alexander Connolly, 💫Marisa Cali and Bill Connolly - Digital Style Coach.

LINKS:

1. CMOs Leading Innovation Conference "Digital Innovation Day" – May 1-2, New York City. Details and registration here: https://bit.ly/clic24nyc

1. Don't miss another show! Join our private "know ahead" list at themindfulmarketer.com.

Episode 82 dives into the power of community in marketing, featuring a special book giveaway of "Rising Together" by Sally Helgesen. We cover the nuances of community-building among marketers and CMOs, and learn how to navigate the challenges that often hinder the formation of strong employee, stakeholder, and customer communities. This episode outlines three common obstacles to community success: fear of self-promotion, the "overconfidence versus competence" dilemma, and the "network versus grapevine" distinction.

**Show Highlights & Resources**

- Join our 8th CMOs Leading Innovation Conference "Digital Innovation Day" happening on May 1-2 in New York City. Visit bit.ly/clic24nyc

- Order "Rising Together" by Sally Helgesen on Amazon tinyurl.com/risingsallybook

- Stay ahead of the curve by registering for our "know ahead" list at themindfulmarketer.com, ensuring you never miss an episode.

A big thank you to our dedicated production team: Alex Connolly, Marisa Cali, and Bill Connolly, for their exceptional work.

Like what you heard? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and share the love.

"Smart Recruiting Strategies in an AI Powered World" with CoStar Group's Kirstine Wilson

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that 85% of 1,000 U.S. professionals surveyed are thinking about changing jobs this year. This represents an 18-point surge from 2023.

Why do this report (and episode) matter? Because promotions and job searches have become even more competitive. With AI vying for certain jobs, we need to be more articulate, strategic, and connected than ever. A high-quality network gets you interviews, not an assembly line of AI-generated cover letters.

Episode 81 show highlights include:

• New ways that CoStar is hiring creative talent (and you can, too).
• Messaging and outreach methods that help you get attention.
• Why AI cover letters fail to captivate recruiters.
• How to request strategic introductions—and skip the resume blasting.

• The pros and cons of the "executive profile on a page."

We went live in Washington, DC with CoStar Group, Inc.'s VP of Talent Acquisition, Kirstine Wilson.

In her role as lead recruiter, Kirstine has spearheaded more than 3,000 hires for this public global company with a current market cap of $33.3B.

During this episode, we hope you discover a new idea to land that important interview!

Join our 2024 "know ahead" show and retreat list now—register at themindfulmarketer.com.

Thank you for being a loyal listener. Join us for the next show on March 1 with return guest, seven-time leadership author Sally Helgesen. March is book giveaway month!

A hearty THANK YOU to our superstar production team: Alex Connolly, 💫Marisa Cali and Bill Connolly - Digital Style Coach. Thanks to CoStar Group for sponsoring this show.

SHOW BONUSES and LINKS:

1. Wall Street Journal article on the surge in job seekers:http://tinyurl.com/jobsearchWSJ
2. CMOs Leading Innovation Conference (CLIC '24) at MEA Santa Fe this October with Chip Conley – 6-minute video here:http://tinyurl.com/clic2023
3. Don't miss another episode. Register for our private "know ahead" list at themindfulmarketer.com.

Reflect and Refresh: Six Mindful Questions for 2024

Before you start this show, grab a nice cup of hot tea or cacao. Find a quiet spot where you do your best dreaming and thinking.

Bring your presence, pen, and paper. Then press "start."

We skipped the "fast start/out of the gates" approach to the new year.

Instead, we designed Episode 80 to help you design a fulfilling 2024.

The 6 Mindful Questions will help you... 1. reflect on your 2023 goals and milestones - WITHOUT distractions. 2. discover talents worth keeping and repeating. 3. address and overcome persistent obstacles. This is not another goal setting or strategic planning session. It's a deeply inquisitive exercise that will get to the heart of your accomplishments, aspirations, and impact. I get personal in this show. I reveal the power of asking and sharing in the "third vault," a term coined by two-time Superbowl champion, Aaron Rogers. I learned about him through my work at MEA, the world's first midlife wisdom school.

HBS Professor and bestselling author, Amy Edmondson, also joined us! She has taught millions about the art and power behind psychological safety. Her newest book, "Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well," is now available.

P.S. Join our 2024 "know ahead" show and retreat list now—register at themindfulmarketer.com.

Episode 79: Welcome to 2024 planning season.

How will you ensure your go to market and customer retention strategies ring true for your customers, investors, and board members?

If you are relying on 'tried and true" approaches for 2024, your plan might not hit the right notes.

Amy Kellinger and Alex Withers joined us in the studio. Amy leads growth marketing, events and content marketing for Blackbaud. Alex Withers brings decades of tech and sports industry marketing and sales leadership roles at Pepsi, LexisNexis, and TriMark Digital.

You will learn:

🎶 The "two deep" dynamic every marketer needs to include in their 2024 strategy.

🎶 Three board-level priorities you need to factor into your growth plans.

🎶 How companies conduct "takedown exercises" to mitigate competition.

🎶 The power of Pareto to drive smart marketing investments.

Don't miss this lively recap of our 7th CMOs Leading Innovation Conference in Nashville.

Join our 2024 "know ahead" show and retreat list now—register at themindfulmarketer.com.

Happy Holidays and thank you for being a loyal listener. Get ready for a great 2024 show season!

How Marketing Can Be an Ally for Truth" with Eric Schurenberg

In our previous episode 76 with Charlene Li, we discussed how intentional marketing leaders share three habits: courage, curiosity, and discipline.

Those qualities are needed more than ever: across every institution, facts are under attack.

Some media and tech leaders stoke polarization. AI hallucination and nefarious bots are not the only sources.

A zealous quest for market dominance and ad revenues also squanders trust.

What can we do to earn it back to preserve our brand, cultivate customer trust, and restore civil discourse?

Former Inc. and FastCompany CEO Eric Schurenberg joined Lisa in the studio for this important conversation. He currently leads the Alliance for Trust in Media.

Episode 77 is packed with practical strategies to improve your search for the truth and cultivate wisdom, including:

1. How to apply the Wisdom Pyramid in your daily decisions. (credit to Chip Conley from Episode 67)
2. The three questions every leader needs to ask to verify information:

• Is this designed to trigger an emotional response?
• How likely could this be true?
• What if I pause before sharing it?

1. The danger of "talking your book" – tooting a customer's or partner's horn without fully disclosing the nature of your relationship. (some analysts are shameless about this).
2. How to design your news feed wisely, and Eric's daily "truth training" habits.
3. BONUS: fun pilot stories from Eric and Lisa (31:20).

A hearty THANK YOU to our superstar production team: Alex Connolly, 💫Marisa Cali and Bill Connolly - Digital Style Coach. This was made possible through the support of Peter Erickson - CEO of The Voice + AI conference.

SHOW BONUSES:

1. CMOs Leading Innovation Conference (CLIC '23) – details and registration here: http://tinyurl.com/clic2023
2. "The OnRamp to Market Leadership"Webinar – contains slides and more insights on setting AI priorities. Click here: https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/zp4238xbjs
3. Prefer the show video? Here is the replay:https://www.linkedin.com/events/howmarketingcanbeanallyfortruth7109618647265939457/comments/
4. Listen to Eric's "In Reality" podcast: inreality.fm
5. Don't miss another episode. Register for our private "know ahead" list at themindfulmarketer.com.