How to Think Bigger, Market Smarter, and Grow Faster — with Guy Kawasaki

What does it take to thrive in business today, especially when change is the only constant? In this compelling episode of the Marketing Guides For Small Business Podcast, we welcome none other than Guy Kawasaki—legendary evangelist, author, podcaster, and the chief evangelist at Canva. Join hosts Jeff Stec, Ken Tucker, and Paul Barthel for a lively, no-nonsense conversation with Guy about entrepreneurship, technology, sales, AI, and the real secrets behind remarkable marketing.

Whether you’re a founder navigating your own nonlinear path, a marketer ready to learn the art of true evangelism, or a small business eager to stand out in a crowded marketplace, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Table of Contents

1. Guy Kawasaki’s Unconventional Journey
2. From Honolulu roots to Silicon Valley legend: Embracing career twists and the power of passion over “the linear path.”
3. Make or Sell: Why Sales Are Every Entrepreneur’s Job
4. The make-or-sell philosophy and why sales skills trump all in small business.
5. AI for Small Business—Threat or Opportunity?
6. How AI is the best free tool and equalizer for small business, plus practical ways to tap into its power.
7. Lessons from a Remarkable Career
8. Top business (and life) rules Guy lives by, including why you should never ask others to do what you wouldn’t.
9. Standing Out in a Crowded Market—Real Differentiation
10. Guy’s actionable two-by-two matrix for defining and communicating your unique value.
11. The Power (and Pitfalls) of Storytelling
12. How stories trump facts, and why your origin story matters more than you think.
13. Rethinking Social Media for Small Business
14. Should you even be on Instagram? Why reviews may be more valuable than likes.
15. Evangelism for Every Business Owner
16. The essence of true evangelism and how even small business owners can become their own best advocates.
17. Customer Delight, Loyalty, & Future-Proofing Your Business
18. Practical approaches to building customer loyalty, especially with limited budgets.
19. Guy Kawasaki’s Final Tips and Lightning-Round Insights
20. Guerrilla uses of ChatGPT, adapting to rapid change, and resources for going deeper.

Benefits – What You’ll Hear (and Take Away):

• Game-Changing Perspective: Real-world, not textbook, advice on adapting to change and thriving without a perfect plan.
• Actionable Sales Wisdom: Practical, candid tips for leveling up your sales skills no matter your role.
• Step-by-Step Differentiation Framework: A memorable matrix to pinpoint what sets you apart and attract the right customers (without a race to the bottom on price).
• AI Demystified: Simple, actionable ways to use free AI tools like ChatGPT to outpace competitors—no tech degree needed.
• Evangelism That Works: How to inspire passionate word-of-mouth and create advocates for your brand—no matter your company size.
• Customer Experience Hacks: Small but mighty ways to turn happy customers into a marketing engine (even with a shoestring budget).
• Storytelling Secrets: Why stories are your marketing superpower, with practical dos and don’ts from Guy’s own playbook.
• A Modern Take on Social Media: Honest talk about what’s really working for small businesses right now.
• Ready-to-Use Resources: Direct links to Guy’s best tools (including his own AI-powered knowledge base) to keep leveling up after you listen.

Call to Action

Loved this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe for more honest, actionable marketing insights every week. If you found value in our conversation with Guy Kawasaki, please share this episode with fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs who need a boost. For in-depth show notes and bonus resources, visit our website—and be sure to check out Guy’s own podcast, “Remarkable People,” and his brand-new KawasakiGPT for even more wisdom.

Until next time—keep pushing boundaries, finding your unique edge, and keep calm and market on!

#smallbusinessmarketing #guykawasaki