The 54th episode of the DesignRush Podcast brings you a conversation with Mitch Joel, a leading keynote speaker, bestselling author, and digital marketing guru.
Mitch shared some key insights on leveraging the latest advancements in technology to boost marketing efforts, the key factors to consider when selecting the right partners for business growth, and the psychological challenges that can accompany success.
Tune in to learn:
- How B2B agencies can effectively integrate generative AI into their content creation processes
- Why businesses should prioritize results over personality or price when outsourcing
- How impostor syndrome affects even the most successful individuals
Who Is Mitch Joel?
Mitch Joel is the Co-Founder of ThinkersOne, a platform providing personalized thought leadership from top global thinkers. A visionary and digital expert, he is an entrepreneur, investor, author, and speaker known for his insights on business transformation, innovation, and consumer behavior. He previously led a global marketing agency, authored business bestsellers, and spoke at major organizations like Google and Walmart.
With almost 70% of marketing executives reporting that AI has greatly improved their content creation processes, reducing workload by nearly 60%, businesses increasingly rely on AI tools to enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and focus on strategic growth opportunities.
According to Mitch, generative AI tools are not just a part of the hype cycle but they are practical and highly effective at handling repetitive, skill-intensive tasks, which can greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of content creation in B2B contexts.
"If you're not engaging with these tools, it becomes part of this weird hype cycle. And for me, it's not part of the hype cycle. It is a function of the work that I do," he notes.
He describes that he uses AI to challenge his ideas by training it to provide different perspectives while strengthening the final output by considering and addressing potential objections.
"Now imagine if I had somehow trained GPT to be not evil Mitch, but the opposing Mitch and that I've told it and showed it all the work that I do and how I think. But I've also trained it to think like a very strategic media theorist so that whatever I input into it, it would give me an opposing or different perspective," he explains.
Mitch emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with AI tools like ChatGPT and Descript, integrating them into the daily workflow rather than viewing them as mere trends.
A great AI company can help you make the most of these tools and strategically boost productivity and innovation.
Watch our video to learn how to avoid losing your content creation job to AI.
Focus on Results When Outsourcing Projects
When it comes to outsourcing projects, Mitch advises businesses to focus on results.
He emphasizes that they need to find a balance between liking the person and ensuring they have the necessary skills to deliver results, pointing out that just getting along with someone isn't enough if they can't meet the project requirements.
"It's hard because a lot of times we're hiring the person, which we think makes sense. Well, we get along with them. So that would be good. But sometimes that person doesn't necessarily have the skills to deliver," he says.
It’s a practical approach that many businesses overlook, often swayed by charm or low costs.
He also highlights the benefits of outsourcing to agencies that can efficiently handle the workload, even if it’s more expensive. The focus is on the results and the overall efficiency it brings to the business.
"It's all about engaging with agency partners, which we know is a more expensive strategy, but it just keeps us sane. Meaning I don't have somebody here asking me what to do today. I can just pass that off to agency work," he adds.
If you are looking for a professional partner to help you increase efficiency, our list of best outsourcing companies is a great place to start!
Impostor Syndrome Among Leaders
Even the most successful individuals, like Mitch, face impostor syndrome.
"If I'm being really honest, I think it only occurred a couple of months ago, and I'm not even being facetious or joking," Mitch confesses. It’s a reminder that self-doubt can affect anyone, regardless of their achievements.
He also shares how he has learned to recognize and value his skills.
"The value of thought leadership so much as I had been devaluing the skills that helped me communicate what I learn and think about in a way that I hope is both cogent and pleasing to some type of audience," he admits.
This is a powerful realization that many can relate to.
He also notes that he’s not alone in this experience.
"I've never met anyone who doesn't and I'm talking about really successful people," Mitch says, emphasizing that impostor syndrome is a common struggle.
I believe recognizing this can help individuals feel less isolated in their experiences and more motivated to push through their self-doubt.
For all this and more, be sure to tune in to the full episode over on Spotify.
