494 The Road To Hell by Nick Asbury

Jun 28, 2024

Nick Asbury discusses the pitfalls of purpose-driven marketing, advocating for creativity over corporate agendas. The conversation explores the evolution of advertising, ethical considerations, and the intersection of purpose, positivity, and humility in marketing. Asbury emphasizes the importance of cognitive empathy, diverse perspectives, and authentic storytelling in engaging with audiences.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Exploring 'The Road to Hell' Book and Transition to Retirement

02:03 • 2min

Exploring Demotivational Posters and Personal Anecdotes

04:01 • 2min

Exploring Various Topics and Book Reviews

05:42 • 7min

Empathy in Marketing with a Twist

12:47 • 5min

Evolution of Purpose-Driven Marketing

17:40 • 16min

Exploring the Pitfalls of Brand Purpose in Marketing

34:01 • 16min

Exploring Noble Cause Corruption in Business and Its Consequences

50:12 • 4min

The Intersection of Purpose, Positivity, and Humility in Marketing

53:56 • 10min

Importance of Cognitive Empathy and Creativity in Marketing

01:03:43 • 20min

The Road To Hell: How Purposeful Business Leads To Bad Marketing And A Worse World And How Human Creativity Is The Way Out by Nick Asbury

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, says the proverb. Never has that been truer than in the case of corporate purpose, the movement that took over the business and advertising world following the financial crisis of 2008.

Guided by the mantra 'do well by doing good', businesses embraced a social purpose agenda that sought to align doing good for society with doing well in the marketplace.

According to author Nick Asbury, the result has been a wave of humorless and hubristic advertising and a spiral of worse social outcomes, as businesses wade into issues beyond their remit while neglecting their real ethical responsibilities.

Diving into examples including Bud Light, Patagonia, Cadbury, and Unilever, Nick Asbury builds a compelling case against purpose - covering what it is, where it came from, how it leads to worse marketing, and how it leads to worse social outcomes.

As a positive alternative, he makes the case for creativity, cognitive empathy, and valuing the human over the corporate.

Amid the fierce and topical debate about purpose and corporate politics, The Road to Hell is a sharp and entertaining intervention, shedding light on how we got here - and where we go next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nick Asbury is a creative writer, corporate purpose critic, poet, songsmith, humorist, and one-half of Asbury & Asbury UK.

His other works include Perpetual Disappointments Diary (a demotivational journal of despair), A Smile in the Mind, Realtime Notes (3.5 years of fast poems described by critic John Self as 'the best chronicle of the 21st century), and appearances in books including The Copy Book: How Some Of The Best Advertising Writers In The World Write Their Advertising.

And, interesting fact - he writes tin pan alley music! Click here for this episode's website page with the links mentioned during the interview...

https://www.salesartillery.com/marketing-book-podcast/road-hell-nick-asbury