2Bobs—with David C. Baker and Blair Enns

Blair shares his experiences visiting a highly principled creative firm in New Zealand. The hosts discuss their definition of success and admire a firm that prioritizes doing good work. They explore the concept of 'attending the way' and the importance of listening to clients and evaluating principles.

The hosts discuss the conflicts that arise when determining principal compensation in firms with multiple owners. They explain the three components of compensation - ownership, work, and risk. They explore the various forms of risk associated with lending money to a company. They also delve into the principles of partner compensation, including ownership percentage and contribution level.

The podcast explores the power of compound interest in knowledge and career growth, drawing parallels between investing money and investing in learning. It discusses the value of continuous learning and the significance of time in achieving significant growth. The concept of being replaced by an archived version of oneself is also explored. The importance of avoiding early specialization, gaining different perspectives, and maintaining a fast pace of learning is emphasized.

Discussion on the pros and cons of remote work in the post-pandemic economy, including the decline in company culture, team communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Exploring challenges of onboarding young employees and creating the next generation of talent. Highlighting the issues of loneliness, promotion rates, collaboration, and misunderstandings in remote work. Examining the impact of remote work on younger teams and women. Ideas for managing remote or hybrid work, including mandatory yearly retreats and fostering collaboration.

The podcast discusses the drawbacks of using sales scripts in creative firms and emphasizes the need for wide-ranging conversations. It explores the relationship between autonomy and response to unexpected situations. The hosts share their experiences of presenting last minute and without power. The debate between frameworks and scripts in sales is explored, with a conclusion that frameworks strike a balance. The chapter also highlights the importance of considering autonomy and affinity in sales.

The podcast explores the concept of bounded rationality and how it affects decision-making within organizations. It discusses the clash between individual department goals and overall organizational goals. It also explores the impact of CEOs and Mavericks within an organization and questions the origin and impact of the 80-20 rule in marketing budget allocation. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of embracing the convergence of disciplines in the design industry and redefining firm positioning based on client's urgent and expensive problems.

The hosts discuss the theory of leisure and the advice of 'do what you love and the money will follow.' They explore the nuance of finding fulfillment in work and the importance of staying grounded. They also talk about drawing boundaries between work and leisure, the significance of hobbies, and balancing work and leisure to create a fulfilling life.

Explore the costs and impact of pitching in the marketing industry, with a focus on the influence of procurement and search consultants. Discover the financial burden on clients and agencies, and the interesting findings about the role of the incumbent agency in winning new business. Learn about the low success rate of agency pitches and the addictive nature of participating in them. Lastly, uncover the possible connection between CMO job changes and increased frequency of pitches.

The podcast discusses budget allocation for marketing efforts, including website development, search engine marketing, and email automation. It explores the pros and cons of hiring a PR firm and highlights the value of content creation. The use of chat GPT and social media spending are also discussed, with an emphasis on LinkedIn. The importance of personalized marketing strategies, setting aside a monthly budget, and the debate around reasonable marketing budgets for small firms are explored.

The podcast discusses the differences between selling expertise and bargaining ethics, emphasizing the need to adapt bargaining approaches. It explores the conflicting ethics of selling and negotiating, contrasting the 'ideal school' with the 'poker school'. The chapter also highlights the significance of preparation, strategic approach, relationships, motivations, and emotional control in selling and negotiating.