Marketing 911
Marketing 911, is the podcast where we tackle the toughest marketing challenges at the executive level.
Whether you're navigating complex strategies, trying to reach your target audience, or facing shifting market dynamics, we're here to provide you with actionable solutions.
From digital transformation to customer retention, if it's a marketing crisis, we're here to help you solve it—before it turns into a full-blown emergency.
Marketing 911
Behind the Mic with Brian Bakstran, Richard Bliss, and Jon Mellon
Ever wondered what happens when the mics stay hot after a podcast recording? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we pull back the curtain on an unscripted conversation between three successful executives as they reflect on what they genuinely admire about each other.
The conversation reveals fascinating insights about what truly matters in leadership. Jon Mellon's command of language and impeccable dress sense spark a discussion about how personal presentation becomes a professional differentiator—but only when used to extend respect rather than to impress. Brian Bakstran's authenticity, loyalty, and principled approach to business demonstrate how character forms the foundation of meaningful professional relationships. Richard Bliss emerges as a renaissance man whose gift lies in pushing others beyond their comfort zones toward growth opportunities they might otherwise avoid.
What stands out most is their shared commitment to vulnerability and continuous learning despite their senior positions. As Jon poignantly observes, "You are the company that you keep," highlighting how our professional networks shape not just our opportunities but our development as leaders. The executives agree that understanding personal branding early in one's career creates a significant advantage—yet it remains valuable at any career stage. For listeners navigating their own professional journeys, this rare glimpse into executive thinking offers powerful validation that technical skills may open doors, but authentic leadership, vulnerability, and personal branding ultimately define your legacy. Connect with us on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about building your own authentic leadership approach.
All right, for those of you who are listening, this is not our normal episode format. This is just a little behind the scenes. We just got done recording an episode with John Mellon having a little bit of fun and since we know each other, we're having conversations. We thought you, as the listening audience, would have a little fun, just kind of getting to know us as we get to let you know a little bit about ourselves. So, guys, you guys willing to chat just for a few minutes here, since we just got done?
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 1:Okay, so I'm here with John Mellon and I'm here with Brian Backstrand and then myself Richard Bliss, and so I'm going to ask Brian what's one of the memories you have of John? That kind of stands out what would you say if somebody's never met John? What do you think about John? Oh sorry, Don't answer that question. What's the impression? Don't answer what you think about John, because I already know that.
Speaker 2:Tell us about John. Tell us, ok. I always found John I have a jealousy of John Really command of the English language and the way he can answer a question in an, incredibly, what I sometimes find fascinating, and yeah, I'm really, really impressed with that. The other thing I always enjoyed he's an incredible dresser.
Speaker 1:Oh dang, you took, mine, you took. That's the only time. That was what I was going to use.
Speaker 2:Because that's typically. Typically, you're dressed up, richard, and people can't see this, but you've got a kind of a ratty sweatshirt on with a porta potty behind you.
Speaker 1:Oh come on.
Speaker 2:You kind of lose that, but John always was dressed to the nines and I was always impressed with that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, john, how about, how about?
Speaker 3:Brian. Well, let me explain myself before I go back on Brian here. My I'm the youngest of five kids. My mom was an English literature major, so proper grammar in the house was one of the things major, so proper grammar in the house was one of the things.
Speaker 3:And I'm 37 years, married to the love of my life, and she has been in the fashion industry for a long time, so I always get the stuff that doesn't make the travel team of her primary clients. But, again, just as an homage to her and the wonderful work that she does with her clients, I tend to dress properly and you know, I think the one thing that I would say as I segue into this feedback about Brian is these are both things that need to be managed in and around every other aspect of your career and your life. I think you know, being well-spoken and being well-dressed can indeed be a difference maker for you, as long as they're not misused. Yeah, you know, showing up inappropriately dressed just to impress can create a really, really bad signal for people that you want to have a trust-based relationship with really bad signal for people that you want to have a trust-based relationship with. And, frankly, using words that aren't necessary can have the same effect. And so I've found, through mentoring back to me, that, while these are things that I think are really, really important and I use them as accoutrements to extend respect to the people I work with. They've got to be managed. So that is a great message.
Speaker 3:And which brings me to my feedback about Brian is you know, I've known people like Brian. Brian's one of a kind, but I've known people like Brian almost my whole life. I gravitated toward them on a sports team, I gravitated toward them on the playground, I gravitated toward them in my faith community and my neighborhood. These are the people that are truly authentic, gritty and stand for stuff that's really important, and Brian has had many, many opportunities to fail himself and his friends in this capacity and he's never done it. So he's a loyal, hardworking, principled man and he stands out as a result of it.
Speaker 1:And that's where I'm going to, brian. We're going to embarrass you here. That's going to be my feedback. Also, john, is that, having known Brian for so long Brian and I've told you this, and I'm going to tell it to the listening audience I've never met a man with such and I've told you this and I'm going to tell it to the listening audience I've never met a man with such courage to be vulnerable, courage to be taught, courage to learn, courage to grow.
Speaker 1:And especially, brian, you were at growing and having huge responsibilities over a billion dollars of revenue as a CMO and I saw you just still being willing, and part of it was. You came to me hey, I want to learn something. Can you teach me and sometimes that's not exactly the characteristics that a lot of executives carry is come teach me. And, john, this is going to switch over to you now, because that's the exact same thing. I saw the two of you is that, while your personalities can be described as kind of different a little bit, you both struck me, when I got to know both of you, as individuals who are willing to be vulnerable, humble. Both of you are humble individuals and humility involves teachable, and that's what was so impressive is that here you were, driving these huge organizations and yet still would like teach me, help me, get better. And I was new in the organization and you both embraced that, and so both of you, I found that characteristic for both of you, so Well, brian, should we pile on about Richard?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I was just going to say.
Speaker 2:I'm much more comfortable throwing things at people than having compliments of me, so let's get started with Richard, who I would describe him as I have, as a renaissance man, I would say. Since the time I've known him, there have been so many topics that I have either brought up or have been brought up up or have been brought up, and suddenly he's talking as an expert with incredible. That's everything from podcasting, which he was doing way before most the game, board game industry. I could go on and on, and he's a fascinating guy who has helped me in my career so much and I really am impressed with him, but I also really enjoy his company.
Speaker 3:There's a lot you can talk about with Richard John.
Speaker 3:Listen, just in the interest of speaking to our audience. I imagine out there these are people that have done the kind of things we've done and faced many of the same challenges, or they're folks who are, you know, striving their careers and wanting to learn what to do, perhaps get new ideas, you know, take on things that push them out of their comfort zone. Take on things that push them out of their comfort zone and, frankly, richard, that's the role that you've played, certainly for Brian and I, for so many others, pushing us out of our comfort zone, and we need people in our lives that are going to do that. You know it's easy to keep score by what did you do against quota and how big is your organization and how much did you grow last year? But I think you push us into areas that are far more enduring than one year's results.
Speaker 3:They are how are you going to protect your own personal brand? How are you going to let people see your heart sooner in a relationship than you're comfortable with? So those are the things that I think you get out of having a relationship, certainly like I have with the two of you, but for the, for the audience, make sure you know there's, there's a. You are the company that you keep. It is undeniable and make sure that you have people in your sphere of influence that are like-minded and will push you out of your comfort zone. That's what I would tell you.
Speaker 2:Well, I know we have to, we have to wrap up. But one more thing. And what if I think about when I got out of college and was getting into the business world? This idea of personal brand for all three of us? I don't even think existed when we first started in the in the world. But the, the consulting and value that Richard brings in his consulting form, bliss Corp. If that was taught in college for people getting out, or when you just get out of college, it would have. I think all of us would have been so much further ahead or things would have been easier, because whether you are 30, 40, 50, 25, 75, what he teaches is so relevant and so critical to people's careers. Thanks, brian, reach out to him on LinkedIn, yeah thanks, yeah, thanks for that endorsement.
Speaker 1:This has been the Mutual Admiration Society You've been listening in in our little get-together clubhouse that we've had. So, hey, thanks to everybody for listening. We thought you would enjoy just a little bit getting to know each other us as we shared what we like about each other. Thanks for listening everybody. Catch our next episode, take care.
