Jeff Marcoux on LinkedIn: 6.14 Brainfood (2024)

"I feel like we've been talking about aligning sales & marketing for over a decade, yet it is something organizations still struggle with"🎧 New Episode Alert! Dive into the latest episode of Marketing Hops where Tracie Poland and I explore the intricacies of B2B sales and marketing alignment. 🚀Tracy shares her invaluable experiences from giants like IBM and Microsoft to leading roles in dynamic startups and how she has been able to accomplish this throughout her career, including a few toe stubs! In this episode you'll find:✅ Her Journey: From the cubicles of JD Edwards ERP to the helm of global campaigns at IBM and Microsoft, and finally into the fast-paced world of startups. ✅ Sales and Marketing Synergy: Practical strategies for fostering a collaborative relationship between sales and marketing teams. ✅ Navigating Organizational Challenges: How to align goals, overcome attribution issues, and drive cohesive efforts across departments. ✅ Actionable Mid-Funnel Tactics: Techniques that go beyond top-of-funnel activities, focusing on closing deals and boosting sales velocity. ✅ Event Strategies That Work: Insights into creating impactful events that drive not just top-of-funnel leads but also significant pipeline acceleration.Tracy bring some recommendations on tested and proven ways to bring sales and marketing closer together.💡#MarketingHops #B2BSales #MarketingAlignment #LeadershipInsights #PodcastEpisode

5

1 Comment

🌊 The Science of The Healing Power of Water: Discovering Serenity at the Beach I grew up in Tucson, Arizona 🌵 - a hot, dry desert, so even after decades in the PNW, I still am shocked at the beauty of the Puget Sound.This past weekend, I had the joy of unwinding at the beach with my family. Watching my kids dig in the sand, chase giant bubbles, and explore a clear jellyfish they found was more than just fun – it was good for the mind/body, and there is science to back that up!Science! (Article in the comments)Have you ever noticed how just looking at water can make you feel more at peace? It’s not just in your head! University of California, Davis research by Professor Richard Coss and Craig Keller reveals that gazing at bodies of water, from a serene pond to the vast ocean, can dramatically lower heart rate and blood pressure and boost feelings of relaxation. 🔍 Key Findings:Lower Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Viewing water can reduce stress indicators more effectively than looking at urban or non-water landscapes.Increased Relaxation: The wider the body of water, the stronger the calming effect.Temporary Benefits: Even brief moments of water-gazing can provide a quick mental reset.As someone deeply invested in understanding what drives human behavior, these insights are golden. They underscore how crucial it is to carve out moments of calm in our fast-paced world. Whether it’s a fountain outside your office, a nearby lake, or even just a video of ocean waves, make time to connect with water. Your mind and body will thank you. 🙏💧What’s your favorite spot to relax and gaze at water? Share it in the comments, Drop a Picture! Even a picture has impact!!#WaterWellness #BeachDays #StressRelief #MindfulMoments #FamilyTime

12

10 Comments

🌟 Friday Brain Food Alert! 🌟Stay curious and dive into your weekend with a dose of inspiration, a laugh, and a fresh perspective. This week’s "Friday Brain Food" is packed with gems to fuel your mind and soul. Here's a sneak peek of what’s inside:😂 To Laugh: The AI revolution is here, and it's hilariously awkward. From chatbots making legally binding $1 car offers to AI suggesting you eat a small rock daily, these stories remind us that digital transformation is an ongoing adventure. 🤖🚗✨ To Inspire: “Experts are the only ones who think they know everything. Geniuses are the ones who know they don’t.” A phrase I like to use a lot is - If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room. You will never know everything, always stay curious!🧠 To Think: Ever wondered why you prefer buying big-ticket items on your computer rather than your phone? Discover how merchants are adapting to our purchasing habits and why our screens influence our buying decisions. 📱💻💡 To Learn: How can established companies benefit from the bold strategies of venture capitalists? Stanford's Ilya Strebulaev shares insights on embracing risk and agile decision-making in this must-listen podcast. 🎧💼Read the Latest Friday Brain Food 📖#FridayBrainFood #Inspiration #Learning #AI #VentureCapital

8

1 Comment

New Episode Alert:Nailing your first marketing hire: When is the right time & How to succeed"Business is about people. It's about your customers and your employees." -Lindsay BrittI’m thrilled to welcome Lindsay Britt to this week's episode of Marketing Hops. She is a marketing powerhouse with a background spanning The Home Depot, Deloitte, Dell Technologies, UPS, and more. We discussed everything from her career trajectory to the intricacies of being the first marketing hire and what worked and what didn't at fast-paced startups.Key Takeaways:- The critical role of customer experience in marketing strategy- Transitioning from HR to marketing and its impact on business strategy- Effective ways to align marketing efforts with business goals- The value of setting up efficient marketing tech stacks earlyLindsay shared invaluable lessons on the importance of customer experience, team dynamics, and knowing when to bring in your first marketer. You don’t want to miss this one!Lindsay's Must Have Technologies:- CRM to start, HubSpot for B2B or Klaviyo for B2C- Looker to drive data analysis- Notion and AirtableWhat are we sipping on?- Lindsay had an Aura Bora Cactus Rose- Jeff had a Cazadores Paloma

5

3 Comments

Hope. This word was all the soldiers had.80 years ago today, D-Day.I don’t believe we are able to live a moment without hope.Hope is what moves us to continue to go forward. Eighty years ago, thousands of brave souls embarked on the D-Day invasion, a pivotal moment in history. This year, fewer than 200 veterans, have made the journey to Normandy, reminding us that the Greatest Generation is almost gone. Their stories hold invaluable lessons for us all that we owe it to not lose to time and indifference.Hope was their guiding star.As General Eisenhower said, "Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you." Hope moves us forward and reminds us that present difficulties are not the end of the story.His words were a testament to the unity and resolve of the Allied forces, emphasizing the importance of hope and the collective effort to achieve victory. This message still resonates today as we reflect on the sacrifices made and the lessons learned.To truly appreciate what these heroes went through, I recommend watching "Band of Brothers," "The Pacific," and "Masters of the Air." These series offer a closer understanding of the immense bravery and endurance displayed during World War II. I know I’ll be revisiting them this weekend to honor their memory.Let us never forget the lessons of WWII. Let us continue to strive for a world where freedom and peace prevail, driven by the hope that guided our greatest generation to victory.#Hope #DDay #GreatestGeneration #WWII #Gratitude #BandOfBrothers #ThePacific #MastersOfTheAir

12

3 Comments

SilenceIt can be scary or exactly what we need. 5am & a notebook. These are the tools that enable me to have my most creative thoughts. The world is quiet, I rarely see another human or car - just me and my thoughts.I firmly believe that walking in silence is far more productive than with a podcast or audiobook on 2x speed. It may be uncomfortable, but you'll be amazed at what your brain can do with blood flowing and the quiet.Here’s a challenge for you:Go for a 15-minute walk without any tech every day this week.- No phone (this is why I carry a notebook)- No podcasts- No audiobooksJust you and your thoughts. It’s a simple way to reset, unlock new creativity, and gain fresh perspectives. Give it a try and see the difference!

15

1 Comment

"I test software, Mr. Gates, because a broken computer on every desk and in every home is no contribution to humanity. Sir.”Last Thursday, James Whittaker shared a career-defining encounter with Bill Gates. While others introduced themselves with lengthy credentials, Gates visibly bored. James had a plan. He had a story, a concise statement that grabbed Gates' attention and led to a meaningful conversation and a killer career.Last Thursday night, I got to revisit one of my favorite teachers, James Whittaker, at his Side Hustle taproom in Kirkland, WA. I took this class, The Art of Storytelling, over a decade ago at Microsoft. It was transformational then and it was time for a refresher. This class brought together people from all backgrounds - engineers, lawers, product manager, and more - I was one of only a handful of marketers in the room! Why? Because James has been a distinguished engineer at both Microsoft and Google."The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller." - Steve JobsLet me cut to the chase: if you’re not leveraging the power of storytelling, you’re leaving money, influence, and opportunities on the table.Key Takeaways- Meet them where they are. Gen x has a 6 minute attention span, Gen Y 30 sec, Gen Z 7 sec.Your first line sets the tone, the first minute sets the hook, and you have to get them to opt in.“You’re fighting against that phone they have in their pocket… and you know what that phone can have on it..??(I’ll save the punch line here, you’ll have to watch)- Make the audience an offer.What are they going to walk away with? To accomplish this you have to boil everything you want to say into it’s raw essences, into 144 characters or less (the tweet test), make them want what you have to offer and reveal how it can impact their life.- Keep your audience engaged (duh, but this is hard than it looks).Nailing your stage presence, ensuring you stay on topic and don’t freestyle too much, ensuring every detail is relevant. Work to create an emotional connection. Do people really care that your product is faster? Likely not anymore. "Apple doesn't sell MacBook Airs because they're faster; they sell them because they make people feel part of an exclusive club."- You have to motivate them to act. Build suspense, add reminders into your story, and repeat your message often (remember that tweet test?)- Make it last. Think for them and guide them to the conclusion you want them to draw, and assign them homework at the end.The entire talk is gold to anyone looking to uplevel their career and is a good reminder (rude awakening) of why marketing speak & buzzwords miss the mark.Your homework: Buy the book, watch the YouTube class or attend one live. I promise you won’t regret it.#Storytelling #Leadership #Inspiration #BusinessNarratives #ChangeTheWorldThanks to Bryan Law, Garren Weiner, & Steven co*ckcroft MSc for your company during it!

19

2 Comments

Whew, don’t know about you but for a short week this week has been a whirlwind.Here is your Friday Brainfood! 🚀 As always, trying to inspire, make you laugh, teach & more.A quick summary of what's in it!- To Inspire: If we were good at everything, we would have no need for each other- To Laugh: Check out this hilarious cartoon from the Marketoonist on guessing a client's brief. It's a great reminder to clarify expectations upfront! (I've been guilty of this in my career... sorry Chaenara OBrien & Steven Clough!)- To Think: LinkedIn's The B2B Institute revisited the 95:5 Rule in B2B Marketing with a great article by Tyrona (Ty) Heath:1️⃣ Only 5% of B2B buyers are actively looking to purchase.2️⃣ Focus on long-term brand building and nurturing relationships.3️⃣ Stay top-of-mind for future buyers.4️⃣ Shift to a sustained engagement strategy.5️⃣ Effective brand-building now ensures better future results.- To Learn: Watch Amanda Palmer's TED Conferences Talk, "The Art of Asking," and explore the new relationship between artist and fan. (A quick 13min) Enjoy, stay curious, and have a fantastic weekend! 🎉#StayCurious #FridayBrainfood #Inspiration #B2BMarketing #Learning #WeekendVibes

13

1 Comment

"I haven't found anything in my life that's more rewarding than when you give without expectation in anything in return." - Taylor Wells🍻 Cheers to another episode of Marketing Hops! 🍻This week, I'm thrilled to feature Taylor Wells, an amazing marketing executive with a treasure trove of knowledge who made the pivot from sales into marketing. We discussed the journey to marketing leadership, effective sales strategies, and the evolving landscape of B2B marketing.Key Takeaways:- The role of empathy in marketing and sales.- Balancing creativity with data-driven decisions.- Nailing your go-to-market strategy.- Practicing the "selfless advantage" in marketing and lifeWhether you're sipping on a Hoplark like Taylor or a summer ale like me, don’t miss out on these valuable insights. Check out the episode and let's raise a glass to continuous learning!______________________________Taylor's must have sales & marketing technologies: Riverside.fm, HubSpot, and Apollo.ioWhat are we sipping on? Taylor picked a Hoplark as a good IPA substitute for when you still have to work and I had a Kulshan Brewing Company Greenwood Summer Ale.

19

6 Comments