Today’s guest has been named one of the Top 5 Social Media Influencers in the world by Forbes.com. He earned that title by telling the truth about social media marketing, with his signature sardonic humor. Namely that companies are largely using it incorrectly and getting distracted by every big shiny object that comes along. In an era where everyone is clamoring to sell you their social media marketing kit, he has nothing to pitch from the stage – so there’s no holding back. The stories about how we get it wrong help us get it right.

He and his wife are an amazing team as co-owners of UnMarketing Inc and co-hosts of The UnPodcast. They are also co-authors of four best-selling business books, including their latest, “UnSelling: The New Customer Experience” which was named “Sales Book of the Year” by 1-800 CEO-READ. They also released the 3rd edition of their first bestseller, with a new subtitle “UnMarketing: Everything Has Changed and Nothing Is Different.” All this while caring for their five children, two dogs, and two cats.

Prior to running his own business, he was a music industry marketer, national sales manager, and professor at a business school. Now he is solely focused on speaking at events for companies across a wide spectrum from PepsiCo, Adobe, and Red Cross, to Cirque du Soleil, Saks 5th Avenue and Fidelity Investments.

Please join me in welcoming Scott Stratten.

In this episode we explore:

• his thoughts on leadership “I don’t think leader is a self-given title. You only are a leader if people choose to follow you. Leading is a verb.”
• lessons he learned after the recession shut down his successful viral video company
• his “conscious decision to not go for endless growth.”
• the necessity of self-awareness: “If we can’t identify where we’re the hole or the weak spot, we can’t improve it.”
• the value of networking at events: “Nothing beats face to face. Virtual is not a substitute for face to face, it’s an addition or an enhancement.”

Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear what I thought were the key takeaways you could put into practice this week and benefit from for years to come.

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OntheSchmooze.com – episode 45.