The Million Dollar Napkin

Sep 29

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”

- SUN TZU

When Ryan walked into the Wizard’s Tower, he commanded immediate respect.

While credentials and reputation preceded him, there was something about his easy-going manner and shoot from the hip delivery that made a class of 22 adult learners lean in and listen. Right away, Ryan cut to the chase and outlined the 3 main reasons why marketing fails. He detailed 5 phases of technology that brought us to where we are today with Claude, Chat GPT and all the other A.I. tools.

Sitting in the front row for Ryan Deiss was like watching a latter-day Sun Tzu teach “The Art of War” and how it applies to business, marketing and life.

Few books have stood the test of centuries as the one written by a Chinese general somewhere around 500 B.C. as a dissertation on military strategy. Specific, tactical advice about horses and chariots may be outdated, however core principles from Sun Tzu are still very relevant today which is why Ryan Deiss is worth paying close attention to.

Entrepreneur, author, investor and father of four, Ryan is founder and CEO of The Scalable Company, DigitalMarketer.com and has launched over 200 companies. A sought-after keynote speaker, he has shared main stages with the likes of Sir Richard Branson, William Shatner, Gary Vaynerchuk, Martha Stewart, Tim Ferris, Daymond John, and Dave Ramsey.

In 2006, an algorithm update wiped out his entire business empire. At a Texas bar, he shockingly discovered he was $250,000 in debt and in that moment stared down the gun barrel of a bloody hard choice. Surrender or fight on. Throw in the towel or figure out a solution. Armed with a borrowed pen and a cocktail napkin, Ryan knuckled down and created an entirely new business operating system; a foundation for personal freedom within a multi-million-dollar juggernaut.

Pull up a chair, pour yourself a stiff drink and enjoy this conversation with Ryan Deiss and his story about The Million-Dollar Napkin on Leaders & Legends.

“Perhaps you are experiencing the dark side of entrepreneurship as you read this. The good news is that there is hope. You can conquer the chaos of small business ownership. You can have the business you’ve always wanted and still have a life”

- RYAN DEISS

Don’t let the subject of this class fool you.

"Marketing In An A.I. Powered World"

Ryan Deiss teaches this class only once a year at world famous Wizard Academy.

Ryan's super-power is to distill a most complex subject into simple, digestible take aways. What was most impressive was how he began with the high-level, strategic overview focused on the things that will NEVER change. In a world where it's freakingly impossible to keep up with the breathtaking speed of change, it helps mightily to know how A.I. can be aligned with timeless principles that provide a rock-solid foundation for any business or career.

A world-class speaker who commands the room with a very human touch is not something you encounter every day and it was a real treat to share this experience with Ray Seggern and Jim Gilbert as we reflected on the shared 20-year journey that created "Canada's Huggable Car Dealer". It all began with a decision to hop on a plane, head to Austin, TX and discover something we never expected to learn.

Two decades later, we're still learning.

Maybe ... that's what makes this place so magical.

PLANNING A CONFERENCE OR SPEAKING EVENT?

Could enduring principles from the origin of legends be applied to your company or industry association? In the face of frantic, unforgiving change? BIG LITTLE LEGENDS offers a deeper dive into timeless principles that NEVER change. If you have an in-person event on the 2027 or 2028 horizon, watch the ‘Movie Trailer’ and discover the endlessly fascinating, universally applicable message of BIG LITTLE LEGENDS.

“Heroes get remembered. Legends never die” - BABE RUTH

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For more information on scheduling an In-Person Conference Keynote or Executive Workshop, contact us here: bookings@gairmaxwell.com.

BIG LITTLE LEGENDS: SPOTLIGHTED IN FORBES 🌟

BIG LITTLE LEGENDS - Unveiling the Art of Crafting Magnetic Brands for Everyday Leaders - is at your fingertips anytime, anywhere, thanks to our esteemed distribution powerhouses, including AMAZON, AUDIBLE and Wal-Mart. Empower your leadership and brand with boundless insights! 📚🎧

Read: Dive Into Forbes here.

BRAND STRATEGY: ON PURPOSE & ON TRACK.

It’s been called a metaphorical road trip that is both journey and destination. THE BRANDING HIGHWAY is designed for larger companies and organizations looking to emerge as an undeniable, undisputed, "Category of One.” This proven, market-tested process is an avenue for Executive Teams to discover both a highly distinctive Brand Identity as well as develop the foundation for your own Media Company. Impossible to describe. Filled with many twists and turns, here is a quick preview:

“No one remembers who took second place. That will never be me" -ENZO FERRARI

FULL THROTTLE VIDEO:

Every week, someone asks a question about our videos and our media partner responsible for the storyboarding, production, and editing. Headquartered in Toronto, ON with a Western Canadian office in Calgary, AB, DEFIANT ASTRONAUT MEDIA is uniquely positioned to help business leaders all over the continent rethink what's possible with this art form.