That’s Obvious Stuff

That’s the general feeling about marketing.

Early this year, I was returning from a European trip. While waiting to board, spoke with a software developer who was on his way to a job interview.

We shared information on our respective profession and he confessed that he did not think much of marketing consultants because they command high fees to talk about obvious stuff.

I was taken aback by that comment although I admit that I have heard it before in different forms.

The conversation carried on and before I knew it, I was giving him some pointers on selling himself better during the interview to increase his odds of getting the job. He thanked me a lot and said that he’d spoken to professional career advisers and I’d given him more practical advice than all of them.

I played dumb and I replied: “But it’s obvious stuff! Anyone could have told you that!”

He got the message and we laughed it off.