One of the things that I’ve been looking forward to going into this new year is going back to “school.” With the hustle and bustle or running a business, managing a team, getting more business, I haven’t had the opportunity to be a student nearly as much as I would have hoped.
That’s changing. I picked up a few courses to go through with Udemy, some that I need to finish and bought This is Marketing by Seth Godin as well.
I’m working through this audiobook now and thought that this was right in line with a lot of the things that I speak about in relation to marketing.
It’s good to hear that some of my beliefs are in alignment with what Seth says especially related to some of the future trends in marketing that I just posted yesterday before I picked up the book.
Some early takeaways
- There’s no shortcuts
- What promise are you making?
- Who’s it for?
- Customer-centric is the best marketing philosophy
- Empathy is at the heart of marketing / Connection and change are critical
- Find people with a lock and create a key
- Focus on the hard work of making change happen
- When you know what you stand for, you don’t have to compete
- Everyone is right
- Find the smallest viable market
- Marketing that causes change, causes tension
I’m listening to the book like I listen to new albums. I’m just listening to it one time through and will go back and dissect each track aka chapter.
Gresham W. Harkless Jr.131 posts
https://iamgresh.comGresham W. Harkless Jr.
Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Helping founders and aspiring owners find franchise opportunities that match their purpose, finances, and lifestyle. Host of the I AM CEO Podcast with more than 1,600 interviews.
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About Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur and franchise broker based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. As founder of Blue Star Franchise, he helps aspiring and established business owners discover franchise opportunities aligned with their goals, skills, and long-term vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresham brings a consultative, client-first approach to franchise matching. Through his media company, Blue 16 Media, and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured more than 1,600 interviews, he has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners to accelerate growth and build scalable business models.
His mission is simple: to help people “run their race” by finding franchise opportunities that align with their purpose, skills, and lifestyle.
Credentials & Affiliations
Certified Franchise Broker - Franchise Broker Association (FBA)
Founder - Blue Star Franchise
Founder - Blue 16 Media
Host - I AM CEO Podcast (1,600+ episodes)
Featured in 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise & Influencer & Media Innovators (2022)
B.S., Business Administration - Howard University
How Gresham Helps
Franchise discovery & matching consultations
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Speaking engagements & media interviews
Business growth advisory through Blue 16 Media
I AM CEO Podcast
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Gresham shares real, actionable insights to help entrepreneurs grow, scale, and lead.
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