What’s the difference between a good observation and a real insight? According to Mark Pollard, one of the most sought-after strategy consultants and trainers in the industry, it often comes down to whether someone’s willing to confess something they’ve never said out loud before.

As an Australian strategist, Mark brings a different voice to the podcast - literally and figuratively. You’ll notice from his very first line, he doesn’t mince words and he’s not afraid to call a spade a spade. Maybe it’s the Aussie accent that allows him to be so bold. Or maybe it’s because he’s been doing strategy for so long that he just knows how to cut through all the bullshit and get to the heart of a situation.

Mark has been in the agency world since he was 19 and he’s worked with a wide variety of agencies, including Big Spaceship, Leo Burnett NY, Edelman NY, and Ogilvy, just to name a few. His client roster is equally as impressive, working with brands like Audi, Hilton, Netflix, The Economist, Facebook, Electronic Arts, and more.

In this episode, Mark takes a break from his global strategy training tour to talk about the messy, awkward, and deeply human side of strategy.

Some of my favorite aha moments from our conversation include:

The difference between loud and quiet questions when interviewing people
How to highlight problems and challenge assumptions without pissing people off
Why studying a language might actually be better than therapy
The many marketing riddles that are built into US corporate culture
Figuring out which people in the organization are the most useful to talk to
Some of Mark’s favorite comedians and what he’s learned from them

Show Notes:

Below are links to inspiring ideas that came up during our conversation.

Books:

The Innovators Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen

Campaigns:

Steal Banksy: An Australian Hotel Chain Challenges Guests to Steal Art

Comedians:

Anthony Jeselnik Comedy Special - Caligula

Jim Jeffries - The Jim Jeffries Show

Sebastian Maniscalco - Aren’t You Embarrassed?

Videos & Shows:

Why The Loudest Caribbean City Is Also The Most Creative - Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

Weak Hero Trailer (Netflix)

Friends & Neighbors Trailer (Apple TV)

Practice: Loving Our Political Enemies