Dots. | Podcast of Paul Syng

Mike Grinberg is passionate about meaningful engagement and the power of a clear narrative. Rather than just posting for the sake of attention, Mike believes that every message—whether humorous or insightful—should support a bigger purpose and encourage others to see their challenges in a new light. For Mike, it’s not about being everywhere all at once, but about building trust and bringing a strong point of view that truly resonates. Otherwise, as he says, you risk becoming just another voice in the noise—unless, of course, your calling is to be a comedian.__DOTS PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMSYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhdYWtEVH6R9lX2exP_8ni9YGKNTZ1b8&si=4s69nrKCahy5vQ5OSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2z0Vgy7eNR6XSk3M0uSugp?si=eb5369dea4314099 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dots-podcast-of-paul-syng/id1557392269  Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyng__GRAB YOUR CEO CLARITY STARTER KIT http://claritytoscale.bizREAD PLATONIC BLOGhttps://paulsyng.com/blog/NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE? https://paulsyng.com__SPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng:https://x.com/paulsynghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/Guest, Mike Grinberghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegrinberg/__CHAPTERS0:00 - 8:45: The Hook: De-Risking Boutiques Against Giants8:45 - 17:32: The Trust Void: Why Engagement Fails Pipelines17:32 - 28:05: Market Diagnostics: Align Growth with Reality28:05 - 45:09: Sales Gravity: Questions, No's, and Proxy Busting45:09 - 59:24: IP as Moat: From Nested Dolls to Bait-and-Switch Traps59:24 - 1:20:18: Thought Leadership Unmasked: Outcomes Over Polish1:20:18 - 1:39:31: The Missing Bridge: Awareness to Paid Work1:39:31 - 1:56:35: Outreach Alchemy: Lurkers, IP Demos, and Reach Rules1:56:35 - 2:01:31: Core Close: De-Risking for Challengers + Parenthood Paradox

Tim Shore is the visionary founder of blogTO, Toronto's premier digital media platform for local news, culture, and events, which he launched in 2004 as a side hustle while working in advertising. His passion for the project grew so intense that it led to his firing from his day job, prompting him to go all-in and transform blogTO into Canada's largest independent blog of its kind. Drawing from early experiences as a CNN intern and managing digital campaigns for brands like Yahoo! and Microsoft, Tim scaled the site to millions of monthly users. In January 2022, he sold blogTO to ZoomerMedia for $15 million, marking a pinnacle of success — only for his journey to come full circle when the company terminated him on March 25, 2025. In this episode, Tim shares candid reflections on resilience, building a media empire from scratch, navigating viral content strategies, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and side hustlers eyeing the digital space.__DOTS PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMSYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhdYWtEVH6R9lX2exP_8ni9YGKNTZ1b8&si=4s69nrKCahy5vQ5OSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2z0Vgy7eNR6XSk3M0uSugp?si=eb5369dea4314099 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dots-podcast-of-paul-syng/id1557392269  Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyng__GRAB YOUR CEO CLARITY STARTER KIT http://claritytoscale.bizREAD PLATONIC BLOGhttps://paulsyng.com/blog/NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE? https://paulsyng.com__SPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng:https://x.com/paulsynghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/Guest, Tim Shorehttps://x.com/timshorehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-shore/__CHAPTERS00:00 - Early days of blogTO and getting fired from his full-time job5:20 - Why Tim started blogTO back in 200411:30 - Blogs, photoblogs and the importance of community14:08 - Growing audience and brand awareness in the first few years23:00 - Early signs of traction and success36:25 - Tim's reader-first approach and saying no to advertisers43:55 - Tim's iterative approach and responding to market disruptions48:48 - Clickbait headlines and packaging web content1:09:12 - blogTO's curatorial approach to covering the city1:14:16 - The competitive landscape and respecting the reader1:23:56 - What some competitors missed1:26:42 - Tim's worst (but necessary?) business decisions1:32:56 - Challenges retaining core staff and work-life balance1:40:35 - Selling blogTO to ZoomerMedia and getting fired1:53:35 - Closing

Victoria Rudd is a multilingual adventurer guided by perseverance and curiosity. Though English is not her native tongue, she uses it with ease and humor. The journey took a sharp turn when she moved to Spain for her master's degree, assured that all courses would be in English. On arrival, she discovered everything was taught in Spanish, and the Spanish classes clashed with her core courses. Faced with this unexpected challenge, Victoria dove headfirst into the language, mastering Spanish out of necessity to thrive in both academia and daily life. Her story is further colored by earlier language experiences—French being the first foreign language she learned—making her language journey one shaped by adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.__DOTS PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMSYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhdYWtEVH6R9lX2exP_8ni9YGKNTZ1b8&si=4s69nrKCahy5vQ5OSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2z0Vgy7eNR6XSk3M0uSugp?si=eb5369dea4314099 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dots-podcast-of-paul-syng/id1557392269  Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyng__GRAB YOUR CEO CLARITY STARTER KIT http://claritytoscale.bizREAD PLATONIC BLOGhttps://paulsyng.com/blog/NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE? https://paulsyng.com__SPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng:https://x.com/paulsynghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/Guest, Victoria Rudihttps://www.saasminds.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriarudi/__CHAPTERS00:00 Understanding Language and Bias08:00 Crete: Greece's Self-Sufficient Gem15:44 Reflecting on LinkedIn's Artificial Progress16:35 "Over-Optimizing LinkedIn Posts"25:59 Feature Prioritization and Information Architecture27:43 Complex Software Usability Challenges38:08 Public-Facing Software Taxonomy Explained42:01 Zapier's Clear Communication Excellence47:36 Emerging Regtech and Fintech Clusters51:39 Selling Solutions, Not Products56:17 Centralizing Decentralized Messaging01:02:23 Effective Design in Diverse Industries01:08:49 From Auditor to Fractional Lead

Sara Loretta is an entrepreneur, digital strategist, and operations consultant based in Austin, Texas. She is the founder and Chief Digital Architect of SYSTMS™, a consultancy specializing in helping service-based businesses streamline their workflows and scale effectively. With over a decade of experience in data management, compliance, and business development, Sara focuses on designing tools and strategies to support asynchronous and remote work environments globally.DOTS PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMSYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhdYWtEVH6R9lX2exP_8ni9YGKNTZ1b8&si=4s69nrKCahy5vQ5OSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2z0Vgy7eNR6XSk3M0uSugp?si=eb5369dea4314099 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dots-podcast-of-paul-syng/id1557392269  Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyngREAD PLATONIC BLOGhttps://paulsyng.com/blog/NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE? https://paulsyng.comSPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng:https://x.com/paulsynghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/Guest, Sara Lorettahttps://x.com/thesaralorettahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/saraloretta/CHAPTERS00:00 Prioritizing Emotional Well-being18:19 "Gratitude and Paying It Forward"33:48 Perception Filters and Decisions49:56 Empowering Solutions for Community Needs01:12:24 "Mastering Gap-Filling in Business"01:29:04 Viral Scandal Involving Sarah01:42:50 "Pursuing Growth Without Virality"01:49:38 Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs02:15:15 Finding Language in Operations02:21:21 Solopreneurship and Self-Management Goals02:42:22 Targeted Quiz for Business Insights02:56:44 Streamlining Work with Emojis and Ideas

Steve Patti is a seasoned marketing strategist with over 35 years of extensive experience. He has navigated a successful career marked by three significant phases. The journey began with a decade dedicated to working within diverse enterprise environments, ranging from small businesses to a Fortune 500 tech giant generating $5 billion in revenue. Building on this foundation, Steve launched a marketing consulting firm, scaling it impressively from zero to $20 million within three years, collaborating with prominent brands such as Visa, Intel, American Express, and Dell. The most recent chapter of this career has been characterized by roles as a growth advisor, serving as a full-time or fractional CMO and undertaking strategic growth roles that bridge sales and marketing for companies with revenues up to $160 million. This blend of corporate, entrepreneurial, and advisory experience showcases a profound expertise in driving growth and innovation.DOTS PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMSYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhdYWtEVH6R9lX2exP_8ni9YGKNTZ1b8&si=4s69nrKCahy5vQ5OSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2z0Vgy7eNR6XSk3M0uSugp?si=eb5369dea4314099 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dots-podcast-of-paul-syng/id1557392269  Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyngREAD PLATONIC BLOGhttps://paulsyng.com/blog/NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE? https://paulsyng.comSPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng:https://x.com/paulsynghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/Guest, Steve Patti:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevepatti/CHAPTERS00:00 Three Decades of Business Leadership10:41 Rethinking Marketing Beyond Pipelines13:23 "Product Marketing: Core Function Importance"22:04 Marketing Career Crossroads Choices23:27 "Embrace Change or Enhance Skills"30:35 CMO Reporting Beyond Numbers38:09 "Marketing's Role in Employer Branding"39:14 Align HR and Finance for Recruitment45:01 "Brand Accelerates Demand"53:06 Marketing Strategies and Leadership Buy-In57:02 "Measure Brand Marketing Effectively"01:04:11 "New Marketing Alignment Proposal"01:08:20 Problematic Marketing Partnership Dynamics01:10:35 "Performance Data Disconnect"

Cecilia Ambros is a trained fine artist who has seamlessly transitioned from painting with colours and digital designs to "painting with data." Leveraging a versatile skill set, Cecilia embraces the challenge of learning new domains, thriving even without initial subject matter expertise. Her remarkable career has led her through unexpected opportunities, including roles at prestigious companies such as banks and Amazon. DOTS PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMS YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhdYWtEVH6R9lX2exP_8ni9YGKNTZ1b8&si=4s69nrKCahy5vQ5O⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2z0Vgy7eNR6XSk3M0uSugp?si=eb5369dea4314099⁠ Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dots-podcast-of-paul-syng/id1557392269⁠ Podcasters: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyng⁠ READ PLATONIC BLOG ⁠https://paulsyng.com/blog/⁠ NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE? ⁠https://paulsyng.com⁠ SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: ⁠https://x.com/paulsyng⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/⁠ Guest, Cecilia Ambros: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conceptualthinking/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Small studio grew; pursued MBA for job. 05:36 Missing two MBA classes; career shifts rapidly. 12:18 Differences in design approach: Nike, Amazon, Loblaws. 17:32 Observing brand adaptation, design validation differs greatly. 26:16 Nike tested gear innovations with University of Oregon. 32:21 Man's intellect challenged value of product branding. 36:50 Navigating creative differences between brands and agencies. 42:42 Nike nurtures curiosity, aligning designers across disciplines. 46:43 Understanding athlete rigor enhances design inspiration. 53:02 Nike's coaching philosophy shaped my leadership journey. 58:26 Impressed by leaders’ rapid document understanding skills. 01:03:51 Evolving client relationships through digital transformation. 01:08:33 Nike, Amazon, and Chase share service values. 01:12:28 Shattered ankle, long recovery, first hospital experience.

Josh Lowman founded Gold Front, an agency that’s helped major players like Stripe, Uber, and Clari carve out new market categories. Josh and his team focus on business strategy, positioning, and brand design, working with top CEOs, founders, and CMOs who want to be different in their industries. But that’s not all. Josh is also passionate about sharing his insights for free through his newsletter, LinkedIn, and live workshops. When he’s not shaping the future of tech brands, you can find him hanging out with his daughters or rooting for the Detroit Lions—a test of loyalty if there ever was one! DOTS PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMS YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhdYWtEVH6R9lX2exP_8ni9YGKNTZ1b8&si=4s69nrKCahy5vQ5O Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2z0Vgy7eNR6XSk3M0uSugp?si=eb5369dea4314099  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dots-podcast-of-paul-syng/id1557392269   Anchor: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyng READ PLATONIC BLOG https://paulsyng.com/blog/ NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE?  https://paulsyng.com SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://x.com/paulsyng https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/ Guest, Josh Lowman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshlowman/ Gold Front | Apex - Case Study https://www.goldfront.com/work/real-performance-apex CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome Josh Lowman 02:38 How Josh created Gold Front (A category design studio) 11:53 Connecting the dots from strategy to execution 22:14 Category vs 'Brand' and why words you use matter 29:55 Positioning in category strategy 36:27 One thing that drives Josh about Gold Front 40:11 Apex case study 44:25 Working with founders and CEOs 50:07 3001 Questions all about me

Alex Smith is a strategist, writer, and advisor to CEOs and founders. He is the founder of Basic Arts, and he helps create brands that stand alone in their markets and bring true value to people. It’s my goal to increase strategic understanding and expertise among founders since it’s not only widely misunderstood but often completely overlooked. DOTS PODCAST ON ALL PLATFORMS YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhdYWtEVH6R9lX2exP_8ni9YGKNTZ1b8&si=4s69nrKCahy5vQ5O Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2z0Vgy7eNR6XSk3M0uSugp?si=eb5369dea4314099  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dots-podcast-of-paul-syng/id1557392269   Anchor: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyng READ PLATONIC BLOG https://paulsyng.com/blog/ NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE?  https://paulsyng.com SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://x.com/paulsyng https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/ Guest, Alex Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-m-h-smith/ 00:00:00 Meet Alex, monetize your quirks 00:03:42 Alex's unconventional path to strategy 00:15:03 An act of mischief 00:28:07 Elephant, monkey and a fish climb a tree 00:35:34 No one is buying strategy 00:43:15 What is 'strategy' and understanding founder motivations 00:55:33 Understand the person and their context first 01:05:17 Positioning and Simon Sinek's 'Why?' 01:14:26 Fame ≠ expertise 01:32:05 How Alex built an audience of 90k on LinkedIn 01:48:47 3001 Questions all about me

Steve Patti is a seasoned marketing strategist specializing in helping B2B companies align their marketing efforts with how their Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) really buy. He excels in three core areas: 1. Aligning marketing strategy with genuine buyer behaviour by integrating brand, demand, and customer expansion, while debunking common marketing myths like fake funnels and false intent signals. 2. Centering ICPs in content strategies by involving them as expert guests and contributors, thereby boosting content credibility, distribution, and engagement. 3. Accelerating the development of first-time CMOs, guiding them to quickly and effectively take on leadership roles. Steve's extensive experience spans across both B2B and B2C sectors, including cloud hosting, SaaS, telecom, banking, and augmented reality. He has held leadership roles as a $20MM Founder/CEO, agency VP, and startup advisor, and serves as an adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship & Marketing. Clients praise Steve for his no-nonsense, actionable advice that brings clarity and focus to their marketing strategies. DOTS PODCAST ON ALL OTHER PLATFORMS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: ⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyng READ PLATONIC BLOG https://paulsyng.com/blog/ NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE? https://paulsyng.com SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://x.com/paulsyng https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/ Guest, Steve Patti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevepatti/ CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Hello, Steve Patti 00:04:27 Getting the fundamentals right (Marketing 101) 00:11:02 Three reasons marketing and sales folks are at odds with each other 00:18:35 Organizing teams and resources around the customer 00:28:56 Everyone must get on customer calls 00:34:04 How to deprogram demand gen cults 00:48:37 Why marketers need to use Elon Musk's playbook 00:53:40 On growth mindset 00:59:16 Summarizing the key points 01:02:03 3001 Questions all about me 01:04:13 Closing remarks

Paul helps Sales and Service leaders implement SwitchGear Operating Systems. These systems have had a significant impact. - Sales Acceleration System: $100M revenue growth - LEAD System: $34M added to bottom-line - Trusted Advisor System: Increased customer loyalty - 750+ leaders graduated from programs - 14,000+ frontline employees impacted DOTS PODCAST ON ALL OTHER PLATFORMS Spotify, Apple, & more: ⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paulsyng READ PLATONIC BLOG https://paulsyng.com/blog/ NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE? https://paulsyng.com SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://x.com/paulsyng https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/ Guest, Paul Hicks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wphicks/ CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Who is Paul Hicks? 00:06:03 Role of feedback and having a mentor 00:13:12 Distinction between mentors and coaches 00:15:42 Memborable coaching moments 00:26:02 Common mistakes sales leaders make 00:54:13 Asking questions as your superpower 01:05:11 Doubling valuation by articulating the problem 01:21:15 Helping front-line workers navigate through the pandemic 01:45:04 Early stages of AI being implemented in sales 02:02:30 How do you navigate and prepare for AI at work? 02:11:22 How to build rapport on a sales call? 02:15:35 What sales leaders need to do right away 02:23:53 What did the CSO say to the CMO? 02:29:22 3001 questions all about me 02:30:20 Final words and closing remarks

Andrea Guertin is a seasoned design strategist and innovation leader currently heading Design & Co-creation at Kyndryl Vital Canada. With a Master's in Social Design, she has held key positions at Bridgeable, Deloitte, and Gensler, specializing in bridging business strategy with design thinking. Guertin's expertise lies in facilitating executive-level workshops, driving organizational transformation, and implementing human-centred design approaches across various industries. From her early days as a design strategist to her current role as a transformational leader, Andrea Guertin has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation and design in business. Her journey includes founding a B2B market research firm, teaching service design at the college level, and advising executives on inclusive design. Guertin's career is marked by a commitment to solving complex challenges through creative problem-solving and co-creation, leaving a significant impact on organizations ranging from startups to global consultancies. 👉🏼 DOTS PODCAST ON ALL OTHER PLATFORMS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: ⁠ https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG⁠ 👉🏼 SUBSCRIBE TO SQUAD — A WEEKLY DIGEST Dive deep into business, brand and strategy every Tuesday. https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/114937/68230051490956385/share 👉🏼 READ PLATONIC BLOG https://paulsyng.com/blog/ 👉🏼 NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGES? https://paulsyng.com 👉🏼 SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://x.com/paulsyng https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/ Guest, Andrea Guertin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaguertin/ 👉🏼 CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Modelling gig story 00:01:36 How do you say 'Guertin' by the way? 00:03:14 Who is Andrea Guertin? 00:06:50 A designer who no longer designs 00:11:27 Where GREAT designers and consultants overlap 00:22:41 Telling people vs taking them along 00:29:02 Be confident in being the dumbest person in the room 00:32:26 Embrace the messy nature of the work 00:36:01 Curiosity over conclusions 00:44:28 Why consulting gets a bad reputation? 00:50:44 Secrets of facilitation no one talks about 00:58:15 How quality of your questions builds trust 01:08:44 USA vs Canada 01:20:22 The 'S' word (strategy) 01:23:43 Andrea shares personal stories about being a mom 01:39:32 What led to Andrea leaving her job as the CEO 01:45:03 Nerd out on strategy 02:08:34 What the client is asking for vs what they need and want 02:16:12 Role of curiosity in your job search and advice for women 02:24:43 3001 Questions all about me 02:32:33 Final words, closing remarks

Tom's work focuses on long-term strategic visioning and implementation, executive management, board management, team building, stakeholder relations, storytelling in digital media, and government relations. He is a proud human rights advocate, an experienced consultant, and formerly a journalist and entrepreneur. At the Arctic Research Foundation, Tom develops and implements long-term strategy, oversees hiring, budgeting, communications and the management of relationships with community, government, corporate and university partners; seven research vessels; five renewable-powered Arctic-hardened laboratories; and ARF's ArcticFocus website and Arctic Research Database. As a Senior Political Consultant, Tom led the federal Green Party's Rapid Response Team in the 2018 federal election and advised Annamie Paul during her successful campaign for GPC leadership. Tom was also Director of News and Digital at VICE Canada, an editor at the Toronto Star, and a reporter at Maclean's Magazine.  He also worked as the Executive Director of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, which protects the right to free expression in Canada and worldwide. Originally from New Brunswick, Tom has consulted on and helped pass crucial legislation in Canada and Ontario. This includes reforming Bill C-51, successfully lobbying for Canada’s first Press Shield Law, and passing Ontario’s anti-SLAPP legislation. He helped fight against a major crackdown on the free press in Croatia, a fight which had a major part in the formation of a new, democratically elected government. Tom has successfully advocated for the release of jailed journalists worldwide and has facilitated the disbursement of dozens of life-saving grants to journalists in distress throughout the globe.  As a journalist, Tom covered everything from food insecurity, resource extraction, serial killers, and the Toronto International Film Festival. He’s also launched numerous digital and print products, including Canada’s first national Web TV program, Macleans: TV, and the Toronto Star’s Small Business Section and Star Business Club. A former videographer and small business owner, Tom has also designed, patented and licenced innovative products for shooting video with digital SLRs. SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/paulsyng⁠⁠ Guest, Tom Henheffer: ⁠https://www.arcticfocus.org/⁠ EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG⁠⁠ 00:00:00 Who is Tom Henheffer 00:03:48 Tom's career in journalism 00:07:44 Decline of journalism 00:15:30 The business of journalism 00:24:01 Canadian media and social media 00:28:17 What is the Artic Research Foundation? 00:39:29 Blackberry CEO Jim 00:41:11 Politics and planet 00:49:44 Procurement and the planet 00:53:44 How to get involved with ARF 00:58:15 3001 Questions all about me

Throughout his career, Bill has been obsessed with helping businesses discover their true purpose – and turning that insight into exceptional experiences that bind brands and their customers together. Whether helping launch the CarFax Vehicle History Report to the consumer market, positioning Delsey as North America’s lightweight luggage leader or preparing start-ups like Bleep CPAP to disrupt their category, Bill has been passionate about turning consumer insight into category leadership. He believes that every brand has the potential to dominate their category – to create a contagious, market-shattering impact on their customers and competition. Since 1998, Bill has created brand strategies and creative campaigns for more than 300 brands around the globe. He has engaged audiences for brands like EverBank, Music & Arts, Delsey Luggage, Red Hot & Blue, Denny’s, Precision Tune and Enterprise Rent-a-Car, to name a few. On their behalf, Bill uncovered unique insights into the consumer set, created campaigns that positively disrupted their categories and caused countless competitors sleepless nights.  Bill is an optimist at heart. He believes that every good idea has a passionate message standing behind it.  SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: ⁠https://linktr.ee/paulsyng⁠ Guest, Bill Harper: https://brandbosshq.com/ EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: ⁠https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG⁠ CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Welcome to the show, Bill! 00:05:17 What is a brand? 00:11:20 Breaking the myth of B2B vs B2C 00:19:30 Tow truck story 00:27:13 Helping clients get out of their own way 00:31:27 The creative genius Rolodex 00:40:53 From toxic relationship to true partner 00:56:00 Are you willing to be great? 01:07:02 The right person and the right vision 01:23:02 Eight powerful ideas 01:33:51 Brand is agnostic to what and how you do it 01:38:12 How to bring internal and external stakeholders on the journey 01:44:02 When internal adoption fails 01:57:10 How to build an audience by being irrelevant 02:06:00 What to do with negative comments 02:12:05 Haters grow your brand and audience 02:16:23 How much time Bill spends on making content 02:22:05 3001 Questions all about me 02:23:52 Summarizing the second half 02:32:08 Closing remarks

Sheeba has become a voice of insight and encouragement within the health community, especially on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where she openly discusses the complexities of thyroid disorders. With each story she shares, Sheeba shines a light on the unique array of symptoms that people with these conditions experience, both in diversity and intensity. Her own personal journey with the disorder is marked by a vivid recollection – the day fatigue overwhelmed her after a seemingly normal work routine with clients. This poignant memory of utter exhaustion led to a realization that she was battling more than just physical tiredness; it was a sign of severe depression intertwined with her thyroid condition. Her raw and personal narratives not only raise awareness about the condition but also serve as a beacon of hope and understanding for others navigating similar health challenges. SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng Guest, Coach Sheeba: https://www.tiktok.com/@xsheebax EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Welcome to the studio, Marc Jacobs 00:02:13 Who is Sheeba 00:04:21 Thyroid TikTok taking off 00:05:54 Inspiration behind talking thyroid 00:08:47 Mental and physical symptoms of thyroid 00:12:24 Handling hateful comments on social media 00:14:21 What is a thyroid and what does it do 00:16:16 Early success on YouTube 00:20:52 YouTube audience don't like change 00:25:56 Three things to know about your thyroid 00:33:28 Paul's protocol part one 00:48:05 Thyroid and depression 00:51:58 Paul's protocol part two 00:54:25 How to get started on your superhuman journey 01:00:49 Harmful effects and downside of TRT 01:08:54 Keeping up with the latest in thyroid research 01:11:24 Summary and final advice on thyroid and health 01:15:45 3001 Questions 01:16:24 Closing remarks

John LePore is a highly skilled professional known for blending creative innovation with pragmatic thinking. His career is marked by his ability to inspire excitement about the future through consulting with organizations, leading teams, or directing innovation. With a rich background as the Principal/Chief Creative at Perception, LePore has excelled in motion design and user experience and has over a decade of leadership, direction, and strategy. He is an accomplished public speaker who captivates audiences worldwide by demystifying popular films and products. LePore distinguishes himself in consulting, offering concentrated value to overcome specific challenges, inspiring leadership and forging new competencies within organizations. Based in the NYC Metro area, he consults globally, contributing to film, technology, automotive, and more, and is accessible through various social media platforms and professional networks. SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng Guest, John LePore: https://twitter.com/JohnnyMotion EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG _ F1 + Apple Vision Pro Concept https://youtu.be/y9FpgxNeWJk?si=4_TlkNgxwNvbhMbU TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Greetings 00:01:53 Who is John? 00:13:46 How John thinks about his work with Marvel Avengers 00:24:34 What it means to have genuine empathy 00:30:22 What it means to get curious 00:38:13 Meeting clients where they are 00:46:47 John's Black Panther story 00:52:44 Detaching from the outcome 00:58:13 The holy trinity question by Paul 01:01:07 How John thinks about Digital Product Design 01:07:55 John's hot take on the Apple Vision Pro 01:10:04 John's F1 concept was viewed over 55 million times 01:14:49 A simple way to understand "The Metaverse' 01:20:13 Why do automobile interfaces suck 01:29:46 What Hanz Zimmer & Linkin Park and cars have in common 01:35:05 John's involvement with top-secret projects 01:39:29 Working in digital product vs automotive company 01:51:45 What John's race instructor dad taught him 02:03:35 John's design of the Porsche instrument gauge cluster 02:17:02 Designing for the future vs futuristic design 02:28:07 John's on a mission, and you should hire him 02:34:38 3001 Questions all about me 02:37:44 Paul summarizes key takeaways 02:39:25 Closing remarks by John

Jen was a full-cycle Enterprise Sales rep for 18 years. As a seller who made every mistake in the book, she believes sellers don’t need to be motivated; she feels they need to be empowered.  Jen teaches the strategies and tactics to earn buyer attention and trust. She has sold $50M+ to C-level Sales, Marketing, and Strategy executives while at Corporate Executive Board, Gartner, and Challenger Inc. (the company behind The Challenger Sale). Jen was a Relationship Builder who learned to sell like a Challenger. Jen has hosted the Winning the Challenger Sale podcast (growing the audience from 2k to 20k listeners per month) and created the role of Chief Evangelist at Challenger. This Is when she fell in love with speaking at SKOs to help Sales and marketing teams rethink their beliefs and assumptions about how to earn buyer attention and trust and defeat the status quo. SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng Guest, Jen Allen-Knuth (aka DemandJen): https://demandjen.com/ EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Warming up and stretching 02:14 Who is Jen, and why she can't stop rescuing animals 03:49 Jen is not your guru (*wink Tony Robbins) 06:10 Lead Gen (Sales 101 with email and social) 09:04 How to know your client's problems 12:33 How to write a crispy email 15:25 Who do you email at a company? 18:04 Don't make this rookie mistake 19:47 Showing up like a boss to the first booked meeting 22:42 How to compound your upfront research by getting curious 24:17 Jen's LinkedIn strategy 27:09 Knowing your client's priorities 28:54 How to show up on social media 31:36 Another reason why you should be personable online 32:36 Bite-sized summary by Paul 33:15 Wisdomous last words by Jen 33:48 Josh Braun fan club 34:21 3001 questions all about me 36:04 Closing remarks

Andrew Hegarty has ten years of experience working in and advising startups in Toronto. He’s an active mentor to designers and product managers, sharing his experiences and lessons learned from growing an early-stage startup and design practice. He's passionate about mentorship, team empowerment, continually improving product development processes, and building strong organizational cultures. _ EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng _ TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Getting started, our common friend 00:06:29 How Andrew got into design 00:14:23 Andrew's first paid client 00:17:35 Developing a problem-solving approach 00:19:35 Getting serious about a design career 00:21:06 Andrew's true passion 00:24:36 Skating helped Andrew step out of his comfort zone 00:28:20 Isolation parallel to remote work 00:31:56 Advice for people in 0-1 stage companies 00:39:47 Early career, education and first job 00:42:59 To defend the work or not is the question 00:53:49 Choice and signs of maturity 00:56:32 Windows vs Mac 00:58:33 A decade at Street Context 01:03:03 Killing your darlings 01:07:02 Throwing yourself into the deep end (beginner's mind) 01:13:45 From design to product 01:20:00 Design decisions based on where you are 01:25:23 Fintech rebrand, behind the scenes 01:37:22 Why Andrew moved into a product role 01:44:46 Shy kid in basement to talking to clients and loving it 01:52:23 3001 Questions All About Me 01:56:51 Be the dumbest person in the room 01:58:03 Closing remarks

Dann Petty is a renowned freelance designer and entrepreneur, widely recognized in the design and tech industries for his expertise in UI/UX design. He is the founder of Epicurrence, an innovative event blending creative discussions with outdoor activities, aimed at fostering community and inspiration among designers. Known for his advocacy of freelance work and remote lifestyles, Petty shares insights and experiences to help others succeed in the freelance world. His career includes collaborations with various startups and major companies, where he has left a significant mark with his user-centric design approach. Petty is also a public speaker and mentor, sharing his knowledge at design conferences and through online platforms. His influence extends across social media, where he actively engages with the design community, offering mentorship and insights into his creative process. SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng Guest, Dann Petty: https://twitter.com/DannPetty EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG Joe Stewart on design doing https://youtu.be/MOrWV-LOwUY?si=a39gU1TGinlpc_Fy CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Who is Dann Petty? 00:01:08 How we know each other 00:03:32 The power of asking questions 00:08:22 Overcoming rejection 00:10:05 The unexpected shy kid 00:15:26 Dann, the cartoonist 00:16:57 Why Dann loves teaching 00:20:49 Role of teachers in stifling or nurturing creativity 00:28:58 Finding mentors and leaning in 00:33:26 How Dann became a designer 00:43:47 How to be self-taught without structure 00:48:15 Great vs average creative folks (do vs think) 00:55:21 Joe Stewart on design doing vs design thinking 01:09:17 How Dann got hired at Medium 01:20:00 Dann's Y-Combinator story 01:26:05 What Dann learned from his adventures in SF 01:31:04 Role of creative / designer today 01:37:27 Putting yourself out there (fear of rejection) 01:40:36 Going where the clients are 01:45:27 What is on Dann's plate today 01:47:34 Final words from Dann 01:49:40 Closing remarks and farewell

Paul: Introduce yourself. Yousuf: My professional journey has been both fun and rewarding, encompassing diverse roles such as a brand designer at a boutique corporate branding studio, digital producer then account director at a large ad agency, and management consultant at PwC. You might be wondering, how did this guy start in visual design and end up leading business transformations for major corporations in Canada? Well, curiosity and an entrepreneurial spirit have been my driving forces, complemented by great mentorship along the way. These experiences have equipped me with unique vantage points for problem-solving and a versatile skill set for building solutions with incredible teams. Today, I have the privilege of serving as the Head of Product Management and Strategic Design at PwC Canada, an iconic global enterprise with an impressive array of clients. My current practice area focuses on reimagining end-to-end customer and employee experiences. We design, build, and launch software to bring those experiences to life and enhance organizational capabilities to enable sustained success. In my role, I foster an environment that enables pragmatic innovation, resulting in aligning siloed processes, integrating disparate technologies, and realigning incentives to successfully deliver customer/employee experiences that lead to business growth, increased customer satisfaction, and improved operational efficiency. It’s a wonderful blend of business, creativity, and technology. _ SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: ⁠https://linktr.ee/paulsyng⁠ Guest, Yousuf Afridi: ⁠linkedin.com/in/afridi⁠ _ EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: ⁠https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG⁠ CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Yousuf on writing his LinkedIn bio 00:02:06 How we met 00:07:01 When a Pakistani studying at British School in Dubai 00:20:40 Immigrating to Canada 00:27:30 Being self-taught 00:30:00 Skateboarding and emulating 00:36:28 Starting a creative business at the age of fifteen 00:44:18 Mentorship and learning the business of design 00:49:41 What Yousuf’s mentor taught him 00:57:36 Asking questions vs having answers 01:03:05 How consulting firms differ from agencies 01:11:00 Coffee and creative career paths 01:19:03 Business case vs creative brief 01:21:50 Can agencies swim upstream? 01:38:36 First year in consulting 01:48:04 What working WITH clients looks like 02:00:32 What consulting and agencies have in common 02:16:23 What creative people do in consulting 02:25:59 Being authentic as your MOAT 02:34:08 Ways of working and how approaches differ 02:53:52 Curious creative consultant over conclusions 02:59:34 What is Yousuf focused on now 03:06:08 3001 Questions and final thoughts 03:09:52 Closing remarks

Talica's sales career has spanned over two decades. She has expertise in selling products and services ranging from high-end apparel, investment management, high ticket coaching programs and consulting services. She has led business development and revenue growth strategies for top-performing wealth advisory teams and run sales departments for start-ups and established entrepreneurs. SPEAKER LINKS Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng Guest, Talica Davies: talicadavies.com EPISODE LINKS Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG CHAPTERS (00:00) Who is Talica Davies (03:39) Closing $750,000,000 in sales (05:23) Lessons from closing 9-figure deals for individuals (10:22) How to become the person that closes 9-figure deals (13:05) Discomfort and uncertainty in sales vs regular 9-5 folks (16:20) What advice would Talica give to her younger self (19:17) How to care about and believe in what you’re selling (24:24) How to step into the shoes of your customer or client (27:27) Language vs intelligence  (29:59) What is sales? (33:23) Onboarding: Training, scripts and frameworks  (38:18) The power of questions (40:24) How to start your coaching business without a website (47:05) Warm vs cold lead. Doing outreach right (52:18) How to build an offer (56:16) Pricing: common mistakes (58:28) Reframing: what you’re selling vs what they are buying  (01:07:24) Sales 101: Presenting your compelling offer  (01:13:24) What are buying signals and how to look for them (01:18:09) Asking for money  (01:22:50) How to control the sales conversation without being needy (01:28:37) Summary and 3001 Questions (01:33:35) Final words from Talica