Hello to the readers of the show notes!

This time around, Dan braves Denver traffic to bring us insights from the Smart Marketer conference he attended in October, including a very poignant question from keynote speaker Gabby Bernstein. We ruminate on his takeaways before diving into the challenges behind unit economics and shipping faced by small business owners in today's e-commerce landscape. 

While Dan was busy at his conference, I was busy being way too online. So, I brought him up to speed on the Washington Post declining to endorse a candidate for president and had an Aha! moment in the process.  Spoiler alert, we're with Jeff on this one? It's December, this is old News! you say? Maybe, but the insights remain timeless. 

We circle back to Gabby's influential message, discuss why she hadn't hit our radar until now, and look for some male analogs that may (or may not) currently exist. 

As always, thanks for tuning in!

Cheers,

Sean

Books Discussed:

• Books by Gabby Bernstein
  • While specific titles weren’t named, she has written several New York Times bestsellers centered on spirituality, meditation, and self-improvement.
  • Possible examples currently from my content queue include The Universe Has Your Back and Super Attractor.
• Give and Take by Adam Grant
  • A book Dan recommended - that I have since finished and Wow! - as a valuable read for understanding reciprocity and its impact on personal and professional relationships.
• Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves
  • Discussed in the context of addressing male issues and broader societal dynamics.

Companies Discussed

• Smart Marketer: A digital marketing education and agency platform co-founded by Ezra Firestone and Molly Pittman. This was the central organizer of the marketing conference Daniel attended.

• Native Deodorant: A brand founded by Moiz Ali, mentioned as an inspiration for Daniel to attend the conference after reading a tweet where Ali credited it as life-changing for his business.

• Amazon: Discussed extensively in relation to its logistics dominance, FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) vs. FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) models, and customer expectations for shipping costs and speed.

• The Washington Post/Blue Origin: Brought up during a discussion about Jeff Bezos’s decision to prevent the editorial board from endorsing political candidates, sparking debates on journalistic bias and freedom of expression. 

• Meta (Facebook Ads): Referenced in the context of digital marketing strategies, as Meta ads are a key tool for businesses and a focus at the conference Daniel attended.

• Walmart Plus: An alternative platform that may be getting a bump from customers dissatisfied with Amazon’s business practices.

• USPS (United States Postal Service): A critical element in Daniel’s shipping logistics strategy, particularly for small orders and flat-rate shipping.

• Meow Wolf: Highlighted by Sean as a new immersive art experience in Houston, providing an interactive and surreal environment, with locations in Santa Fe, Denver, Dallas, and Las Vegas. 

• St. Arnold's Brewery: A local Houston brewery located adjacent to the new Meow Wolf Houston location. Seriously, y'all, come visit H-town sometime and hit @SlowVSM up on Twitter. 

Chapters

00:00 Conference Insights and Personal Growth
03:35 Marketing Strategies and Team Development
06:21 E-commerce Challenges and Solutions
08:53 Shipping Economics and Customer Experience
11:46 Amazon's Business Model and Market Impact
14:33 Editorial Independence and Media Ethics
20:33 Cultural Experiences and Community Engagement
24:36 Reflections on Turning 40
25:28 Travel Plans and Celebrations
26:54 Culinary Adventures in Hawaii
29:13 Insights from Gabby Bernstein
31:44 Empowerment and Self-Reflection
33:41 The Challenge of People-Pleasing
35:27 The Value of Connection at Conferences
37:13 Understanding and Befriending Your Demons
39:55 Exploring Male Role Models
44:07 Traveling to the Philippines