Latest posts
How to Evaluate Your Marketing Team
In my last post, How to Evaluate Your Marketing Leader, I laid out a rubric for managing partners to assess the performance of their marketing leaders. My approach delineated between my two schools of marketing thought in the professional services world--the...
How to Evaluate Your Marketing Leader’s Performance
In the hope of helping you, your firm, and your marketing leader succeed, I have put together a cheat sheet called How to Evaluate Your Marketing Leader’s Performance.
5 Steps to Get Buyer’s Journey Mapping Back On Track
Well, we’ve reached the point where Marketing has ruined a good thing once again. We did it to social media, buyer personas, podcasting, marketing automation, Christmas, Easter, and Memorial Day. What have we ruined this time? We’ve managed to ruin the critical,...
Measuring Professional Services Marketing Effectiveness
If I were to ask chief marketing officers (CMO) at professional services firms around the world to measure their teams' current marketing effectiveness on a scale of 1-5, I suspect that I might get a lot of 4s. Humility would keep many from saying 5 and ego would keep...
A Professional Services Marketing Self-Assessment
This professional services growth and marketing assessment allows you to self-score 11 critical growth-enabling areas, then, weights and prioritizes each area for attention.
Building Consensus in Professional Services
If you find yourself in a partner meeting having achieved consensus on a strategic choice without blood and guts having been spilled on the conference table, then you have probably not made a strategic choice. Professional services firms don't build consensus any...
How to Present to Executives
Over my career, I have received, given, or simply observed thousands of briefings, pitches, and proposals. There is a clear delineation between effective and ineffective presenters and business-development winners and losers. If you want to be an exceptional marketer...
Ready to Change
In the past, I've manned a suicide hotline. I've worked with troubled youth. I've spent time around 12-Step programs. Today, I work as a grief counselor. I have received much training to prepare me for each of these roles. I’ve been taught to listen, to ask...
8. What Is My Attitude Toward My Life in My Firm? 10 Questions Prudent Firms Ask Themselves
If your career with your firm ended today, would you be satisfied with the life you have led and your work's contribution to it? That's a big question. AND, perhaps one you might answer differently on a given day. Take a minute, look back at your...
Taking the Path of Least Resistance
Human beings love the path of least resistance. We want the easy route to success, fame, wealth or power. Time and effort are for chumps. Managing partners want a brand like Apple. Practice leaders want super-charged growth—today. Business developers want...
Identifying Market Opportunities
A growing number of Americans self-describe as “spiritual, not religious” or have given up on God and religion altogether. In fact, several empirical studies show that America is becoming less religious. For example, Pew Research shows that the Christian population...
The Generous Act of Marketing
For the past 20 years, the B2C marketing profession has been moving in the direction of professional services. These consumer-focused companies are finally learning what professional services firms have known for decades—dare I say centuries. Sales and Marketing are...
LISTEN to the Only Podcast Addressing “The BS of PS”
Rattle and Pedal, hosted by Jeff McKay and Jason Mlicki, offers divergent thinking on growing professional services firms. Be prepared for an unorthodox exchange on life in professional services.
Your Co-hosts
Jeff McKay
Founder and CEO
Prudent Pedal
Jason Mlicki
Principal
Rattleback
Latest episodes
- Building a Leaner, Smarter Marketing Organization for the AI Era with Bri Jones
How do you build a marketing team for the AI era? Stitch VP of Marketing Bri Jones shares how a lean team, business context, generalists, and smart AI investments are reshaping marketing. The post Building a Leaner, Smarter Marketing Organization for the AI Era with Bri Jones appeared first on Rattle and Pedal.
- The Future of the Marketing Organization: What Should Firms Build Now?
What should the marketing organization of 2030 look like? Jeff and Jason launch a research series exploring how AI, talent, client experience, and strategy will reshape marketing. The post The Future of the Marketing Organization: What Should Firms Build Now? appeared first on Rattle and Pedal.
- Why Every Professional Services Firm Needs a Better Story with Stephen Steers
Why do some firms stand out while others blend into the crowd? Stephen Steers joins us to explore how storytelling builds trust, differentiates firms, and drives business growth. The post Why Every Professional Services Firm Needs a Better Story with Stephen Steers appeared first on Rattle and Pedal.
- Selling Belief with Mat Zucker from Prophet
In an AI-driven world, expertise alone isn’t enough. Jeff, Jason, and Mat Zucker explore why professional services firms must move beyond trust to build buyer belief and win more business. The post Selling Belief with Mat Zucker from Prophet appeared first on Rattle and Pedal.
- Demystifying Case Studies: Why Most Firms Get Them Wrong
Most professional services case studies fail to influence buyers. Jeff and Jason explore the biggest myths and explain how to create stories that build trust, reinforce positioning, and win business. The post Demystifying Case Studies: Why Most Firms Get Them Wrong appeared first on Rattle and Pedal.