All CEOs learn / They do not define their brand... / Eventually.

Marketing choices / Need to include this question: / What’s the f$&@ing point?

In this episode of Poetry in Marketing, I’m out walking the dogs and asking what might be the single most important question in all of marketing: Marketing choices Need to include this question: What’s the f$&@ing point? Too many businesses spend money on websites, SEO, branding projects, Google Ads, and social campaigns without ever stopping to ask why they’re doing it, or whether the tactic actually supports the business goal they’re trying to achieve. In this episode, I break down why every marketing decision needs a clear purpose tied directly to outcomes like revenue, retention, growth, or positioning. Because if you can’t explain the point of the project, chances are the project isn’t going to help.

No silver bullet / Can fix a bad strategy; / Even with good intents.

Today on Poetry in Marketing, we’re outside with coffee, clouds, and some straight talk about marketing strategy: No silver bullet Can fix a bad strategy; Even with good intents. In this episode, I talk about one of the biggest traps in marketing: believing that one new tool, platform, campaign, or tactic is finally going to solve everything. A new website. SEO. HubSpot. AI-generated content. None of those things are magic and none of them can rescue a business from unclear goals or weak strategy. The problem isn’t usually the tactic. The problem is starting with tactics instead of starting with the business objective. If you’ve ever felt disappointed after investing in “the next big thing,” this episode is your reminder to slow down, define success clearly, and build your marketing backwards from the outcome you actually want.

Marketing is how / Companies say ,“I love you” / To their customers.

Today on Poetry in Marketing, we’re talking about love. Not the Hallmark-card kind. The real kind. Marketing is how Companies say ,“I love you” To their customers. In this episode, I explore the deeper connection between great marketing and human empathy. At its best, marketing isn’t manipulation... it’s understanding. It’s how businesses show customers that they’re seen, valued, supported, and understood. Because every buying decision is personal. Whether someone’s choosing a consultant, a software platform, or a cup of coffee, what they’re really responding to is the feeling that somebody “gets” them. This episode is all about how great marketing bridges that emotional gap and why connection matters more than ever.

All CEOs learn / They do not define their brand... / Eventually.

In this, the 40th episode of Poetry in Marketing, I'm tackling a hard truth for business owners: All CEOs learn They do not define their brand... Eventually. If you’ve built a business around something you love, something you’re great at, something that feels deeply personal, this might be hard to hear. But here’s the reality: your brand isn’t for you. In this episode, I talk about the shift every successful business leader has to make: from building a brand based on personal passion to shaping a brand around what the marketplace actually values. Because if you only see your business through your own lens, you might love it… but your customers won’t.

Your first job is / To fall in love with the problems / Your customers have.

This week on Poetry in Marketing, I’m coming to you inspired by a conversation I had with a tattoo artist… in Scotland. Your first job is To fall in love with the problems Your customers have. In this episode, I share a simple but powerful truth: great marketing doesn’t start with talking about yourself... it starts with understanding your customer. What are they trying to accomplish? What’s frustrating them? What would make their experience better? The tattoo artist I met had it figured out without even realizing it; aligning his hours, messaging, and approach to the needs of traveling customers. That’s what great marketing looks like. If you want more business, stop leading with what makes you great and start by deeply understanding the problems you’re solving.