Ep 125: What is your success theme for 2023?

Subtitle:

How’s 2023 going so far? We start every year with successful themes and words; not resolutions. Approximately 80 percent of those who set New Year’s Resolutions give up at the beginning of February. This is why we at Agency Exposed believe that choosing a word to guide your year and give you something to focus on is a better way to achieve change and grow. In this week’s episode, we break down our themes for this year, our themes from last year, and AI.

 

Summary:

On this week's episode the guys break down their words from last year, their words for 2023, and AI. Ken explains the reasoning behind choosing a word or a theme for a year instead of having resolutions. He quotes basketball coach Tim Grover, stating that "The difference between winners and losers is that winners value the process of winning, and losers, only value the result." He emphasizes the importance of valuing the journey and not just the end goal. Bob then asks the guys to reflect on their words from the previous year, and how they put them into practice. Ken talks about his word from last year, leverage, and how it helped him to understand that by loosening his grip, he can achieve more. He also explains how he views his past words as building blocks and tools to continue to change and grow. Brad talks about his phrase for last year, more fun, and how it helped him to focus on doing more things that bring him joy and laughter. He also shares a conversation he had with his dad that inspired his word, where his dad regretted working too much and not spending enough time with his family. Bob shares his word for the previous year, simplify, and how it helped him to realize that the biggest journeys and adventures are not somewhere out there to conquer, but with the people he does life with. He also talks about his new business that he is launching and how he believes that collaboration is greater than competition. Ken shares his word for this year, belief, and how it has been unpacked for him in so many different ways. He emphasizes that the greatest human superpower is expectation, which is closely related to belief, and that if you change what you expect, you get what you expect, and not what you deserve. Brad talks about the process he used to arrive at his word for this year, transparency, and how he believes it applies not only to business but also to his personal life. He also talks about how he's been testing and using AI and how it's helped him and his business. Bob joins the conversation and talks about the importance of recognizing the things that AI succeeds at and the things that humans succeed at, and how to utilize them to our advantage. He concludes the episode by emphasizing the importance of creating value around our creativity and ideation, as well as our people and services.

 

Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode: 

 

1. Belief. Ken shares his word for this year and explains how it has been significant for him in various ways. He stresses that the greatest human superpower is expectation, which is closely related to belief. He states that if one changes their expectations, they will get what they expect and not what they deserve. “The greatest human superpower is expectation. If you change what you expect, you get what you expect. You get what you believe, you don't get what you deserve.”

2. Transparency. Brad explains that he arrived at his word for this year, transparency, through a process of reflection and it applies to both business and personal life. He believes that being transparent allows for deeper connections and trust and it also helps him to be more authentic in his interactions. “Clarity is the understanding of something but transparency is being able to see it as well.”

3. Collaboration. Bob’s word for the year is collaboration, and he emphasizes that it is more important than competition; especially for building his new business. Collaboration can lead to better problem solving, innovation and stronger relationships. “Collaboration is greater than competition.”

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About The Guys: 

Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob: 

• Bob on LinkedIn

• twitter.com/BobHutchins

• instagram.com/bwhutchins

• Bob on Facebook

Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad’s knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad:

• Brad on LinkedIn

• Anthem Republic

• twitter.com/bradayres

• instagram.com/therealbradayres

• facebook.com/Bradayres

Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world’s most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken: 

• Ken on LinkedIn

• Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team

• Growth Rebel TV

• twitter.com/iamKenOtt

• instagram.com/iamKenOtt

• facebook.com/iamKenOtt

 

Show Notes:

[0:39] Bob opens this week’s episode by introducing this episode’s topic, the guys’ words for 2023. 

[2:48] Ken talks about the reasoning behind choosing a word or a theme for a year instead of having resolutions. 

[5:05] Ken talks about a quote from basketball coach Tim Grover and applies it to setting goals. “The difference between winners and losers is that winners value the process of winning, and losers, only value the result.” 

[7:37] Bob asks the guys to break down their words from last year. “Why don't we talk about our words last year, briefly talk about what the experience was.. And how you live that out.”

[8:18] Ken talks about his word from last year, leverage. “You can lift more if you loosen your grip.”

[10:04] Ken your multiplier is someone who spends their time on something that actually makes more time in the future. It's like an investment.

[15:40] Ken says that he views his past words as building blocks and tools to continue to change. 

[16:23] Brad talks about his phrase for this past year, more fun. “I live with the goal of doing more stuff. But it's always for return on investment. And I realized that I'm best when I'm laughing.”

[20:29] Brad talks about a discussion he had with his dad that inspired his word and created a shift in his perspective. “I asked my dad, what is the one thing in life that you regret? And he said, "I regret working so much, because I wasn't around my family as much.”

[21:25] Bob talks about his word for last year, simplify.

[24:51] Bob opens with his word for this year, collaborate and talks about his new business that he is launching. “I know that collaboration is greater than competition.”

[27:32] Ken talks about his word for this year, belief. “Over the last year, that word keeps coming up in my life, and in different ways. And it's been unpacked, for me, in so many different ways…  the greatest human superpower is expectation, which you can say is basically a synonym of belief. But basically if you change what you expect, you get what you expect. You get what you believe you don't get what you deserve, you get what you believe.”

[32:13] Brad talks about the process he used to get to his word, transparency. “So first I, my word was clarity. I'm going to choose a different word. While clarity is the understanding of something, transparency is being able to see it as well.”

[33:45] Brad digs into the idea of transparency and authenticity and how it not only applies to business but also to his personal life.

[37:09] Ken starts a discussion about AI and how it is being used today.

[38:09] Brad talks about the ways he’s been testing and using AI and how it’s helped him and his business. “And so I will tell, I will kind of craft the initial idea of what I want. And they'll just ask it to refine, refine, refine, refine, refine, and then I'll say, Give me three alternatives to that. And it'll give you ideas.”

[42:25] Bob talks about the importance of recognizing the things that AI succeeds at and the things that humans succeed at, and utilizing those to your advantage.

[49:36] Bob wraps up this episode by saying, “you need to create value around your creativity and your ideation versus your people and your services.”