Do You Have Time to Feel Like 💩?

<p>Hello to the readers of the show notes!</p> <p>This time around, Dan braves Denver traffic to bring us insights from the <a href="https://smartmarketer.com/">Smart Marketer conference</a> he attended in October, including a very poignant question from keynote speaker <a href= "https://gabbybernstein.com/">Gabby Bernstein</a>. 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. </p> <p>While Dan was busy at his conference, I was busy being way <em>too online</em>. So, I brought him up to speed on the Washington Post declining to endorse a candidate for president and had an <em>A</em><em>ha!</em> moment in the process.  Spoiler alert, we're with Jeff on this one? <em>It's December, this is old News!</em> you say? Maybe, but the insights remain timeless. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>As always, thanks for tuning in!</p> <p>Cheers,</p> <p>Sean</p> <h3><strong>Books Discussed:</strong></h3> <ul> <li><strong>Books by Gabby Bernstein</strong> <ul> <li>While specific titles weren't named, she has written several New York Times bestsellers centered on spirituality, meditation, and self-improvement.</li> <li>Possible examples currently from my content queue include <em>The Universe Has Your Back</em> and <em>Super Attractor</em>.</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Give and Take</strong> by Adam Grant <ul> <li>A book Dan recommended - that I have since finished and <em>Wow!</em> - as a valuable read for understanding reciprocity and its impact on personal and professional relationships.</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Of Boys and Men</strong> by Richard Reeves <ul> <li>Discussed in the context of addressing male issues and broader societal dynamics.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Companies Discussed</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Smart Marketer:</strong> 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.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Native Deodorant:</strong> 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.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Amazon:</strong> 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.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>The Washington Post/Blue Origin:</strong> 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. </p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Meta (Facebook Ads):</strong> 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.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Walmart Plus:</strong> An alternative platform that may be getting a bump from customers dissatisfied with Amazon's business practices.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>USPS (United States Postal Service): </strong>A critical element in Daniel's shipping logistics strategy, particularly for small orders and flat-rate shipping.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Meow Wolf:</strong> 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. </p> </li> <li> <p><strong>St. Arnold's Brewery:</strong> 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. </p> </li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Chapters</strong></p> <p>00:00 Conference Insights and Personal Growth<br /> 03:35 Marketing Strategies and Team Development<br /> 06:21 E-commerce Challenges and Solutions<br /> 08:53 Shipping Economics and Customer Experience<br /> 11:46 Amazon's Business Model and Market Impact<br /> 14:33 Editorial Independence and Media Ethics<br /> 20:33 Cultural Experiences and Community Engagement<br /> 24:36 Reflections on Turning 40<br /> 25:28 Travel Plans and Celebrations<br /> 26:54 Culinary Adventures in Hawaii<br /> 29:13 Insights from Gabby Bernstein<br /> 31:44 Empowerment and Self-Reflection<br /> 33:41 The Challenge of People-Pleasing<br /> 35:27 The Value of Connection at Conferences<br /> 37:13 Understanding and Befriending Your Demons<br /> 39:55 Exploring Male Role Models<br /> 44:07 Traveling to the Philippines<br /> <br /></p>