Mark Schaefer

Tennessee

Podcast Host at The Marketing Companion Podcast

TED keynote speaker, marketing strategist, university educator, author of 10 books including "KNOWN" "Marketing Rebellion" and "Belonging to the Brand."

Articles

Finding Meaning in Suffering: Business Leadership When Your World Is Falling Apart

3 days ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

Each year, I read Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl. It is one of the greatest books ever written and a reminder of the best and worst of the human condition. The central premise of this famous book is that “to be human is to suffer,” and that how we handle our suffering defines us. This became an unexpected topic of conversation with my friend Dana Malstaff. We were speaking at the same event recently, and I took advantage of the opportunity to bring together some friends for dinner.
Why strategic imperfection is your essential strategy to beating the bots

1 week ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

This recent quote from tech analyst Shelly Palmer cuts to the heart of marketing’s existential crisis when it comes to our human role in the emerging AI World:The debate over AI and its role in creative industries often centers on one question: Can AI ever be as creative as humans?
Has the pressure of success made me less creative?

2 weeks ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

I’ve known Carla Johnson for many years and admire her book on creativity. I was lucky enough to have her sub-in as a co-host of The Marketing Companion to talk about the crisis of imagination in the marketing field when I had a revelation. She said that one of the things that derail our creativity is “living up to what we think is expected of us.” This hit me like a thunderbolt, and I think it unraveled a mystery for me. In the early days of my blogging, I was a nut.
When intelligence becomes worthless, marketing artists will survive

2 weeks ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

As AI approaches and exceeds human intelligence, I’ve been thinking a lot about where humans fit in the mix. I hope you’re thinking about this, too. Compared to any time in history, there are a few unique aspects about the technological change we’re facing. First, we’re not replacing a horse with a car, or a book with a Kindle. We are replacing intelligence. This has unparalleled consequences for the usefulness of human beings. Second, nobody knows what’s next.
The Thin Line Between Bold Marketing and Brand Suicide

3 weeks ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

Last week, I analyzed a fantastic promotional video from Apple through the lens of Audacious, a book that describes a framework for disruptive and bold marketing.
Six practical tips to stay ahead of the marketing learning curve

4 weeks ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

I have been going around the world giving two new speeches. One on “Harnessing AI for Your Business” and a new one based on my new book Audacious. In the AI speech I make an important point — The rate of change will impact us as individuals and businesses as much as the change itself. To thrive we need to adopt a new mindset, a mindset of continuous change at a scale that is unprecedented in the history of our planet. Think about it.
Dissecting Apple's disruptive marketing case study

1 month ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

A new Apple ad is a marketing case study taking the world by storm. As I write this — four days after the video’s debut — it has already been viewed 19 million times on YouTube. The visually stunning, cinematic long-form ad reunites Apple with Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Jonze, who directed the brand’s lauded “Welcome Home” in 2018. Like its predecessor, the new work—called “Someday”—leans heavily on inventive choreography, catchy music, and lavish sets.
Exploring the personal branding pivot

1 month ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

I think everyone should work on having an effective online presence — a personal brand. It’s like an insurance policy for your career. If you’re “known,” more doors will open, more calls will be returned, you’ll have more choices in your career. Like most people I know, Amanda Russell barrelled into her brand without a clear plan. When her career as an elite athlete was upended by injury, she took her re-hab exercises online and became one of the first YouTube fitness influencers.
The 10 biggest marketing challenges have nothing to do with AI

1 month ago | businessesgrow.com | Mark Schaefer

Are you tired of reading about AI? Me too. There’s a whole world of marketing disruption and opportunity to talk about, so let’s put GPT on pause for a moment and consider the State of the Nation and the 10 biggest marketing challenges. One of the best parts of my job is interacting with business leaders of all types. I get a broad, global perspective of marketing issues from the very largest companies to solopreneurs and startups.
From Work to What? Surviving the AI Utopia Narrative

1 month ago | linkedin.com | Mark Schaefer

I am a fan of internet pioneer Kevin Kelly. His futuristic projections and books have informed much of my work. And while I don't always agree with him, I pay close attention to his writing. Last week, Kevin wrote a blog post titled The Handoff to Bots, which thinks through the implications of two colliding megatrends: global de-population due to a rapidly declining birthrate and the inevitable rise of AI bots taking over human jobs.