Podcast
My Biggest Marketing Mistake
Hosted by Provisions Group · EN
Are you responsible for making marketing decisions for your company? Don't make the same mistakes that have cost other companies big! My Biggest Marketing Mistake shines a spotlight on one of the most undervalued aspects of marketing: when it fails.
Join Kacy Maxwell, CMO for Provisions Group with over 17 years of marketing experience, as he sits down with CEOs as they unpack their greatest and most costly marketing fails and how they ultimately made them better leaders. These powerful stories cover key problems facing most businesses, including:
- How should I position my company?
- What channels are most effective?
- How much should I spend on marketing tech?
- Should I insource, outsource, or work with an agency?
- And much more.
These honest, insightful, and practical conversations will help you avoid these common pitfalls, make better decisions, and grow your business.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
My $150k Marketing Mistake with Kacy Maxwell
Jun 2300:39:33Tap to summarizeIn this final episode of season one of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, host Kacy Maxwell flips the script and shares one of his own costly marketing missteps. Joined by producer Tim Hull, Kacy dives into a mistake he made early in his career, one fueled by good intentions and data, but ultimately rooted in marketing bias and misinterpretation.In this candid conversation, you’ll hear about:🔥 How personal preferences can cloud marketing judgment🔥 Why data, while invaluable, can sometimes mislead🔥 The importance of truly understanding your customerThis episode wraps up season one with a heartfelt thank you to all the guests who shared their lessons learned and a reminder that every failure is a stepping stone to smarter marketing.Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
Transcribe →Don't Make this MarTech Mistake with Jessica Walker
May 29, 202500:42:13Tap to summarizeIn this eye-opening episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, sits down with Jessica Walker, founder and CEO of Care Sherpa, to unpack a misstep that’s far more common and costly than most business leaders realize: investing in the right technology at the wrong time.With marketing and tech deeply intertwined, it’s easy to believe the next shiny tool will be the solution to all your problems. But what happens when the promise of efficiency turns into a costly distraction? Jessica reflects on a decision that many leaders make with the best intentions, only to face unintended consequences.You’ll hear about:🔥 The hidden cost of jumping into new tools too soon🔥 Why the timing of a tech investment can matter more than the tool itself🔥 How to assess your readiness beyond just technical capabilityThis conversation is a must-listen for business owners, marketing leaders, and anyone making decisions about technology investments. If you’re navigating the endless wave of new platforms and wondering when (or if) to buy in, this episode offers a candid look at what can go wrong and how to get it right.--We Want YOU on the Show!🎙 Submit to Be a GuestWe’re looking for CEOs and Founders who’ve made big marketing mistakes and are open to sharing what they’ve learned in a full episode. Interested? Email us to start the conversation.🎙 Get Featured on the ShowAre you a marketer with a story to tell? Record a 30-second voice memo about your marketing mistake and the lesson you learned and email it to us. We may feature your clip on the podcast.📩 Send all submissions to: mbmm@provisionsgroup.com with the subject line 'Marketing Mistake Submission'.Featured guests will receive an exclusive thank-you gift!--Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
Transcribe →Are You Spearfishing or Casting Nets with Kyle Bush
May 8, 202500:44:11Tap to summarizeIn this episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, sits down with Kyle Bush, cofounder of Cumberland Creative, to talk about a misstep many founders make without realizing it—waiting too long to prioritize marketing.When you're heads-down building a business, it's easy to prioritize sales and delivery over everything else. But what happens when those efforts stop scaling? Kyle shares the turning point that forced him to rethink how his team approached growth and why marketing couldn't stay on the back burner any longer.In this episode, you’ll learn:🔥 Why relying on sales alone creates a growth ceiling🔥 How delaying marketing leads to a harder climb later🔥 The perils of handling marketing "by committee"If you're in the early stages of building something, or just now realizing your marketing might be an afterthought, this one’s for you.--We Want YOU on the Show!🎙 Submit to Be a GuestWe’re looking for CEOs and Founders who’ve made big marketing mistakes and are open to sharing what they’ve learned in a full episode. Interested? Email us to start the conversation.🎙 Get Featured on the ShowAre you a marketer with a story to tell? Record a 30-second voice memo about your marketing mistake and the lesson you learned and email it to us. We may feature your clip on the podcast.📩 Send all submissions to: mbmm@provisionsgroup.com with the subject line 'Marketing Mistake Submission'.Featured guests will receive an exclusive thank-you gift!--Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
Transcribe →Don’t Hire an Agency Until You Hear This with Chase Spurlock
Apr 24, 202500:47:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, sits down with Chase Spurlock, CEO and cofounder of Decode Health, to unpack the real cost of hiring the wrong marketing agency.Chase shares a painful story from his time leading a healthcare company, when what seemed like a smart, safe marketing decision turned into a costly and frustrating mistake. Over just four months, the company spent $125,000 with an agency that never fully understood the business, resulting in confusion, constant rewrites, and zero ROI.Kacy breaks down the bigger lesson: Hiring a marketing agency isn’t just about handing things off; it’s about building a relationship. And too often, leaders skip over the most critical questions about roles, expectations, and support.In this episode, you’ll learn:🔥 Why even “experienced” agencies can miss the mark🔥 What questions to ask before you hire an agency🔥 How to set your marketing agency up to succeedIf you’ve ever considered bringing in an outside marketing partner, or if you’ve been burned by one, this episode will help you choose smarter, lead better, and avoid making the same costly mistake.--We Want YOU on the Show!🎙 Submit to Be a GuestWe’re looking for CEOs and Founders who’ve made big marketing mistakes and are open to sharing what they’ve learned in a full episode. Interested? Email us to start the conversation.🎙 Get Featured on the ShowAre you a marketer with a story to tell? Record a 30-second voice memo about your marketing mistake and the lesson you learned and email it to us. We may feature your clip on the podcast.📩 Send all submissions to: mbmm@provisionsgroup.com with the subject line 'Marketing Mistake Submission'.Featured guests will receive an exclusive thank-you gift!--Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
Transcribe →My Gut Cost Us $25,000 with George Stern
Apr 10, 202500:37:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, sits down with George Stern, CEO of G&P LLC, to explore the dangers of the “no-brainer” marketing decisions, those tactics that seem so obviously promising, they don’t need a second thought. George shares a story from his own experience where he jumped into a marketing strategy without fully vetting it, only to see it fall flat, resulting in a costly mistake that set him back $25,000In this episode, you’ll learn:🔥 How to balance gut instinct with data-driven strategy🔥 How to avoid the trap of confirmation bias and faulty assumptions🔥 How to spot the red flags and avoid marketing pitfallsIf you've ever been tempted by a marketing tactic that looked too good to fail, this episode will help you think twice before jumping in headfirst.Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
Transcribe →Targeting This Audience Stifled Our Growth with Cord Sachs
Mar 27, 202500:42:26Tap to summarizeIn this episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, sits down with Cord Sachs, CEO of Wildsparq and Fireseeds, to discuss how failing to narrow down your target audience can stall your growth and why narrowing your focus can empower your sales and marketing.Cord shares a pivotal lesson from his own journey: how trying to be everything to everyone only diluted his company’s impact. He opens up about the trap of broad messaging and how honing in on the right target audience can turn your marketing and sales into a powerful engine for growth.In this episode, you’ll learn about:🔥 Why trying to be for everyone can actually make you for no one🔥 The risks of generic messaging and how to avoid the common pitfall of being too broad🔥 The power of niche marketing and why it’s a game-changer for scaling effectivelyIf you’re struggling to stand out in a crowded market, this episode is a must-listen. Cord’s journey will help you understand why narrowing your focus might just be the key to unlocking the growth you’ve been chasing.Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
Transcribe →Our Biggest Success Led to Our Biggest Failure with Jonathan Fisher
Mar 13, 202500:31:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, sits down with Jonathan Fisher, owner and CEO of Bevanda, to discuss the unexpected challenges that arose after a wildly successful event. Bevanda hosted a one-day event that became an instant hit. The overwhelming positive feedback was so encouraging that they decided to do it again, bigger and better, the following year.However, despite the early success, the decision to scale up wasn’t as smooth as expected. In this conversation, Jonathan opens up about how they didn’t pause to ask the critical question: Why shouldn’t we do this again? Instead, they gave in to confirmation bias and missed key red flags.In this episode, you’ll hear about:🔥 The dangers of confirmation bias and why it’s crucial to challenge your assumptions🔥 How misaligned positioning can lead to unexpected pitfalls and how to course-correct🔥 The importance of aligning your marketing strategy with your product and how to recognize when it’s not workingThis episode dives deep into how sometimes our biggest failures happen right after our biggest successes and why reflection and alignment are key to sustainable growth.Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
Transcribe →Avoid Wasting Millions on This Branding Mistake with Steph Weibring
Feb 27, 202500:41:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, sits down with Steph Weibring, founder of Joy Creative Shop, to explore the often-overlooked connection between brand and customer experience.Steph shares her company’s journey into wholesale and why it didn’t work out the way they expected. While many might assume the challenges stemmed from the logistics of wholesale itself, the real obstacle was the loss of the personal touch that had made their direct-to-consumer brand experience so special.In this conversation, you’ll hear about:🔥 Why protecting brand integrity can mean saying “no” to new opportunities🔥 The power of focusing on what’s working instead of chasing every shiny new idea🔥 How your brand is much more than your logo and color paletteThis episode is a masterclass in branding, proving that your brand is so much more than just your logo, messaging, or marketing efforts; it’s about the entire experience you craft for your customers.Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube ChannelRead Rick Rubin's The Creative Act, the source of Kacy's failure quote.
Transcribe →Positioning Killed Our Pipeline with James Carbary
Feb 13, 202500:33:47Tap to summarizeIn this revealing episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, is joined by James Carbary, founder of Sweet Fish Media, a powerhouse in B2B growth content. Behind Sweet Fish's success lies a story of an enormous misstep that almost unraveled everything. He dives into how an unclear brand position caused confusion both internally with his team and externally with potential customers, leading to wasted time, lost resources, and financial setbacks.You’ll hear about:🔥 Why “going with your gut” on strategic decisions can often be a double-edged sword🔥 The power of leadership alignment and how a unified vision is essential for executing a successful marketing strategy.🔥 The critical importance of brand positioning and how getting it wrong can confuse both your internal team and your customersThis conversation serves as an honest assessment for CEOs and marketing leaders navigating the complexities of brand positioning. If you’re grappling with aligning your messaging or facing confusion internally or externally, this episode offers invaluable lessons on how to get the foundation right for long-term growth and success.Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
Transcribe →Burning $1 Million per month on the Wrong Strategy with Aaron Witt
Jan 30, 202500:31:45Tap to summarizeIn the premiere episode of My Biggest Marketing Mistake, host Kacy Maxwell, CMO of Provisions Group, sits down with Aaron Witt, the unapologetically transparent Founder and CEO of BuildWitt. Known for shaking up the construction industry's image, Aaron opens up about one of the most pivotal and painful missteps in his company's journey—from skyrocketing growth fueled by authentic content creation to burning $1M per month on a misaligned marketing strategy.This story of marketing failure explores:🔥 Why "marketing strategies" can sometimes kill your momentum.🔥 How proximity to your customers can make or break your content.🔥 The power of transparency as a brand strategy—and why big companies miss the mark.🔥 Why the best marketing often doesn’t come from a “playbook.”If you’re tired of hearing the same cookie-cutter marketing advice and want to learn from someone who isn’t afraid to fail forward, this episode is for you.💡 This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a wake-up call for leaders everywhere to rethink how they approach growth, failure, and their company’s true strengths.Subscribe and listen now to hear how mistakes shape success—and why you should embrace your own missteps!Learn more about Provisions Group MarketingConnect with Kacy Maxwell on LinkedInFollow Provisions Group on LinkedInCheck out Provisions Group's YouTube Channel
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