Podcast Summary: "Failing Fast Is a Power Move" | Bathroom Break #68 COLLAB: The Marketing Millennials + Do This, Not That
Release Date: August 11, 2025
In this special collaborative episode of the “Bathroom Break” series, hosts Daniel Murray from Marketing Millennials and Jay Schwedelson from the “Do This, Not That” podcast delve into the pivotal role of failure in marketing. Titled "Failing Fast Is a Power Move," the episode offers listeners invaluable insights into embracing failure as a strategy for growth and success in the competitive marketing landscape.
Introduction to the Bathroom Break Series
Daniel Murray (00:01):
“Welcome to a new special series called the Bathroom break. That extra 10 minutes you either have to listen to marketing tips or use the bathroom. Or both. But I don't recommend both. But that's your choice.”
The episode kicks off with the hosts introducing the “Bathroom Break” format—a concise, 10-minute dive into essential marketing tips designed to fit into a busy schedule. This collaborative effort between Marketing Millennials and Do This, Not That aims to provide actionable advice in a relaxed, conversational style.
Embracing Failure in Marketing
Jay Schwedelson (01:53):
“First of all, get very comfortable having failure because failure is actually how you grow in anything in your personal life, in your business, in your marketing.”
Jay emphasizes the necessity of embracing failure as a foundational element for growth. He highlights that in marketing, failure is not just inevitable but also a critical learning opportunity. For instance, he points out that an average email open rate below 50% is common, yet marketers often celebrate rates like 47%, underscoring the importance of setting realistic benchmarks.
Daniel Murray (02:34):
“Marketing is all about at bats. And it could be the 11th, 12, 13 thing you do that could catapult your brand to the next level.”
Daniel likens marketing efforts to baseball "at bats," suggesting that perseverance and multiple attempts are essential for eventual success. He underscores that not every campaign will succeed, but each failure brings valuable lessons that can inform future strategies.
Documenting and Learning from Failures
Daniel Murray (04:01):
“Failure is all about, we tested something and what do we learn from this test that we do so we don't repeat that mistake.”
Both hosts agree on the importance of documenting failures systematically. They advocate for maintaining detailed records of unsuccessful campaigns, including specifics like the wrong audience targeting, ineffective color schemes, or poor call-to-action (CTA) placements. This practice ensures that organizations can analyze and learn from past mistakes, preventing their recurrence.
Jay Schwedelson (04:49):
“You have to celebrate the fact that you're sharing the learnings internally.”
Jay stresses the need for a supportive environment where sharing failures is encouraged rather than stigmatized. By fostering a culture that views failures as collective learning experiences, teams can enhance their resilience and adaptability.
Implementing Kill Criteria for Campaigns
Daniel Murray (05:49):
“Have a kill criteria or a trip wire to say, like, after seven days, if I'm at like, conversion rates, don't raise by X percent or something doesn't happen here. We shut off this campaign and it's agreed upon ahead of time.”
Daniel introduces the concept of "kill criteria"—predefined metrics and timelines that determine when a campaign should be halted. This proactive approach prevents prolonged investment in underperforming initiatives, allowing marketers to reallocate resources to more promising strategies swiftly.
The Philosophy of Failing Fast
Jay Schwedelson (05:49):
“People get their ego tied to an idea. They themselves like the idea so much and they hold on to something and that's where they spend a lot of money. That's how businesses go out of business, is they just, they hold on too long.”
Jay champions the "fail fast" mentality, advocating for rapid identification and termination of ineffective ideas. He shares a personal anecdote about the Guru Awards, a project his media business launched and quickly discontinued upon realizing its lack of viability despite initial extensive planning. This decisive action allowed them to pivot and invest in more successful ventures.
Daniel Murray (06:44):
“Sometimes you have to pull the plug and go to things that are going to work because results matter at the end of the day.”
Daniel echoes Jay's sentiment, recounting Marketing Millennials' unsuccessful foray into TikTok. Recognizing the platform wasn't yielding desired growth despite multiple attempts, they made the strategic decision to focus on more effective channels, thereby optimizing their marketing efforts and resources.
Personal Reflections on Failure
Daniel Murray (07:55):
“I tried, like, keto and, like, I felt, like, super sick on keto, and I tried, like, trying vegetarian for a little bit. Hated that.”
Shifting to a more personal tone, Daniel shares his own experiences with failure outside of marketing, such as unsuccessful attempts at various diets. These anecdotes serve to humanize the conversation, illustrating that failure is a universal experience and reinforcing the episode's central theme.
Jay Schwedelson (08:24):
“So you're a failure.”
Daniel Murray (08:25):
“I'm a failure.”
Jay Schwedelson (08:28):
“Perfect. Yeah. Yeah. I fail all the time.”
The lighthearted exchange highlights that failure is not only common but also an integral part of personal and professional growth.
Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
As the episode wraps up, the hosts encourage listeners to share the podcast on social media and engage with their respective channels for more marketing insights. They reinforce the episode's key message: embracing and learning from failure is essential for achieving marketing success.
Jay Schwedelson (09:08):
“Check out my podcast, do this, not that, for Marketers. Each week we share really quick tips on stuff that can improve your marketing and hope you give it a try.”
Daniel Murray (09:08):
“Go follow the Market Millennials podcast, but also tune into this series. It's once a week, the Bathroom Break. We talk about marketing tips that we just spew out.”
Key Takeaways
- Embrace Failure: Accepting failure as a natural and necessary component of growth in marketing and business.
- Document Learnings: Systematically record unsuccessful campaigns to extract valuable insights and prevent repeat mistakes.
- Implement Kill Criteria: Set predefined metrics and timelines to evaluate and terminate underperforming campaigns swiftly.
- Adopt a Fail Fast Mentality: Quickly identify and discontinue ineffective ideas to free up resources for more promising initiatives.
- Foster a Supportive Culture: Encourage open discussion of failures within teams to promote collective learning and resilience.
Notable Quotes
-
Jay Schwedelson (01:53):
“Failure is actually how you grow in anything in your personal life, in your business, in your marketing.” -
Daniel Murray (02:34):
“Marketing is all about at bats. And it could be the 11th, 12, 13 thing you do that could catapult your brand to the next level.” -
Daniel Murray (05:49):
“Have a kill criteria or a trip wire to say, like, after seven days, if I'm at like, conversion rates, don't raise by X percent or something doesn't happen here. We shut off this campaign and it's agreed upon ahead of time.” -
Jay Schwedelson (05:49):
“People get their ego tied to an idea. They themselves like the idea so much and they hold on to something and that's where they spend a lot of money.”
Conclusion
This episode of the “Bathroom Break” series serves as a compelling guide for marketers, emphasizing that failure, when strategically managed and learned from, can be a powerful catalyst for success. By fostering a culture that not only accepts but also systematically analyzes failures, marketers can enhance their strategies, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately drive more effective campaigns.
For more marketing insights and actionable tips, tune into future episodes of "Do This, NOT That" and "The Marketing Millennials."