Human connections and networks and brands and group events are all better when powered by authentic chemistry and vibes. In a work travel fueled rant Joe tries to invent SXSW and other events that already exist in the hopes of kindling valuable network interactions while Richard channels post-vacation vibes to adjust the volume and surface insights about quality of connections over quantity, "Circles of Competence," and vibes/culture/brands.

Growing teams is hard. This we know. Communicating with growing teams, managing operations and process among growing teams, hiring and evolving sales within growing teams, and maintaining an identity within a growing team are all topics on the table in this episode. Learn the origin of #turdstorm! and the magical, universal time when all services agencies hire their first dedicated biz dev person (Spoiler: the answer is always 6-12 months too late).

Acronyms and jargon can become the building blocks of corporate culture and build unintended barriers. This week we dive into how to engage with strange new company cultures. How good leaders destroy obstacles while recognizing their limitations. And how context permeates and informs everything. Then it needs to change.

In this episode we challenge the traditional sales playbook, examining the real impact of common tactics like AdWords, LinkedIn marketing, and Clutch.co profile creation. We underscore instead the crucial need for personalization in business, with a particular focus on the pivotal role of CEOs and business leaders in forging direct, meaningful engagement with customers. We unpack the art of creating genuine connections with potential clients, moving beyond the confines of generic marketing techniques. Our discussion further illuminates the power of storytelling and personal branding in an era marked by digital overload and growing distrust in conventional marketing. Don't be a muggle! Use your detectiveness skills to lead and contribute to conversations that turn into successful relationships.

We’re having too much fun making the podcast which leads us to question, is this “too much fun” to be called work? In this episode we dive into the transformative power of integrating playfulness into our work lives. Challenging the entrenched 'grind culture' that glorifies overwork and undervalues leisure, we unravel how adopting a playful approach can lead to more meaningful and sustainable success. We dissect the illusions created by visibility and hard work, advocate for the impact of soft power in leadership, and celebrate the unsung heroes who achieve without the need for fame.

PhilaMade's return sparks interesting opportunities. Richard tackles pricing and estimating. The podcast addresses the role of co-working spaces in building community. They discuss the fraudulent nature of billing hourly. The importance of designing conversations and processes in sales consulting is explored. Preparing for the future and the importance of continuous interviewing in consulting businesses are discussed.

Richard and Joe could barely wait to record this episode as they both dive into GPTs. ChatGPT launched GPTs, enabling users to build their own LLM and AI-based applications. Your Losers (Richard & Joe? Is that a thing?) immediately built a variety of experimental GPTs and plunged into building a sales enablement GPT based on their catalog of writing, consulting, podcasts, and more. The result is a sales copilot providing the answers and data AMs and salespeople need to more efficiently and effectively shorten and deepen the selling process. Dive in with us as we figure all of this out and build as we go.

Joe discusses different pricing approaches, emphasizing profitability and efficiency. He suggests celebrating profitability with bonuses, creating project manifestos, and setting personal goals within projects. Sales should focus on creating high-value opportunities with partners.

Medium shapes the message too often if we're not careful. Enterprise CRM tools shape and dictate sales strategy unintentionally. A marketing website is redesigned at great expense because it's the tool a designer understands. LinkedIn is chosen over TikTok because of biases about the platform. The remedy might opening up the door you didn't realize was available the whole time. Experimenting in a state of play creates unexpected value and opportunity. Quite confidence outperforms bluster and bullshit. In this episode Richard and Joe unpack ways to incorporate all of this into your work, relationships, and leadership.

Joe shares a bad day which Richard turns into a coaching session about mood following action and market fit. They also discuss the value of validation, book writing strategies, embracing wrong ideas, and cultivating a positive mindset.