Podcast Summary: The Marketing Millennials – SPECIAL SERIES: Ridiculous Things People Say | Bathroom Break #44 🚽
Episode Details:
- Title: SPECIAL SERIES: Ridiculous Things People Say | Bathroom Break #44 🚽
- Hosts: Daniel Murray (The Marketing Millennials) and Jay Schwedelson (Do This Not That Podcast)
- Release Date: February 24, 2025
Introduction: Setting the Stage
In this special episode of The Marketing Millennials, host Daniel Murray collaborates with Jay Schwedelson from the Do This Not That podcast. Titled "Bathroom Break #44," the episode delves into the often-quoted yet questionable sayings prevalent in careers, business, and life. The hosts aim to debunk these clichés, providing marketers with actionable insights and honest perspectives.
1. Debunking Career Clichés: "Love What You Do and You'll Never Work a Day in Your Life"
Timestamp: [01:20]
Discussion Highlights:
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Jay Schwedelson's Perspective: Jay challenges the notion by emphasizing that it's unrealistic to expect to 100% love one's job. He advocates for focusing on honing skills where one excels rather than solely chasing passion. "You'll do way better in your career doubling down on a skill you can be the best at than doing things something that you love to do," Jay asserts.
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Daniel Murray's Take: Daniel strongly opposes the saying, labeling it as detrimental, especially for young professionals. He argues that expecting to love every aspect of one's job sets an unattainable standard, leading to unnecessary stress. "I think it's garbage, and it makes people stress out that they're on the wrong path," Daniel states.
Notable Quote:
- Daniel Murray: "I don't love what I do. And that's fine. Fine. I think it's garbage, and it makes people stress out that they're on the wrong path." [01:53]
2. The Pitfalls of Overthinking: "Don't Overthink Things"
Timestamp: [02:44]
Discussion Highlights:
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Jay Schwedelson's Insights: Jay acknowledges that while overthinking can sometimes be beneficial, in the realm of marketing, it often leads to paralysis by analysis. He emphasizes the importance of execution over prolonged deliberation. "I think that marketers in general overthink everything, and that leads to not executing," Jay explains.
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Daniel Murray's Agreement: Initially skeptical, Daniel concedes Jay's point, recognizing that excessive deliberation can hinder timely execution—a critical aspect in marketing where trends and audience responses can be unpredictable. "You can't overthink to the point where you're not executing. So I subscribe to what you just said." [03:21]
Notable Quote:
- Jay Schwedelson: "Everything in marketing to me is a test. Everything. You don't know what's going to flop. You don't know what's going to work." [02:44]
3. Embracing Uncertainty: "Never Admit You Don't Know the Answer"
Timestamp: [04:39]
Discussion Highlights:
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Jay Schwedelson's Stance: Jay vehemently disagrees with the notion, advocating for honesty and continuous learning. He posits that admitting ignorance fosters trust and opens avenues for collaborative problem-solving. "There's never a dumb question. And the best marketers are always asking why to everything," Jay emphasizes.
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Daniel Murray's Endorsement: Daniel echoes Jay's sentiments, highlighting that acknowledging when one doesn't know something enhances credibility. He believes that this honesty is a cornerstone for building strong professional relationships. "I trust that person so much more than somebody who gives me an answer and they're just like spewing out nonsense." [05:24]
Notable Quote:
- Daniel Murray: "Getting confident enough to say I don't know is like a secret sauce way to build a strong connection with somebody else, ironically." [05:57]
4. Rethinking Scalability: "If It Doesn't Scale, Don't Do It"
Timestamp: [06:19]
Discussion Highlights:
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Jay Schwedelson's Argument: Jay challenges the scalability mantra by asserting that many foundational marketing activities start as unscalable. He argues that these initial, grassroots efforts are essential for long-term scalability and brand building. "I love organic social. And organic social at the beginning is one of the most unscalable things." [06:19]
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Daniel Murray's Agreement: Daniel concurs, illustrating that engaging in unscalable actions often leads to discovering scalable processes. He uses their podcast collaboration as an example of how persistent, seemingly unscalable efforts can culminate in successful, scalable outcomes. "Doing unscalable things leads to scalable things." [06:19]
Notable Quote:
- Jay Schwedelson: "If you're trying to keep your brand only a year or two, then do only things that maybe will scale, like paid ads, but you need to do the other things to scale." [07:00]
5. Lighthearted Interlude: Discussing Current Movies
Timestamp: [07:49]
While primarily focused on marketing clichés, the hosts briefly veer into a casual discussion about contemporary movies, expressing their opinions on the latest Captain America installment and Oscar-nominated films. This segment serves as a lighthearted break from the more serious topics, showcasing the hosts' personal tastes and providing relatable content for listeners.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts
Throughout "Bathroom Break #44," Daniel Murray and Jay Schwedelson dismantle several overused and misleading sayings that permeate the marketing and business landscape. Their candid conversation underscores the importance of:
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Realistic Career Expectations: Recognizing that not every aspect of a job will be fulfilling, but leveraging strengths can lead to success.
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Prioritizing Execution: Avoiding the trap of overthinking to ensure timely and effective marketing actions.
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Valuing Honesty: Embracing the admission of not knowing something as a pathway to trust and growth.
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Appreciating the Unscalable: Understanding that foundational, unscalable efforts are often the bedrock of scalable success.
The episode concludes with a nod to their ongoing collaboration and a reminder to listeners to engage with The Marketing Millennials and Do This Not That podcasts for more insightful discussions.
Final Notable Quote:
- Daniel Murray: "We talk about it. Just give us a shout on LinkedIn and tell us what you want to hear. Peace out." [10:54]
Connect with the Hosts:
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The Marketing Millennials Community:
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Daniel Murray:
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Jay Schwedelson:
- Do This Not That Podcast (Assumed link as not provided)
This episode serves as a valuable resource for marketers seeking to navigate the often contradictory advice in the industry. By challenging common sayings and advocating for practical, honest approaches, Daniel and Jay provide listeners with actionable insights to enhance their marketing strategies and career trajectories.