A Blog On Marketing, Sales and Business Development

enjoyed all your posts, subscribed and read 'What is Marketing (and why most people do not know)?' twice! Thanks!

http://macromental.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-is-marketing-and-why-most-p...

FTA: "Marketing’s real objectives include reducing the friction in sales..."

That's a very good way to put it. I will remember that.

Having been "in marketing" for 35 years, it is certain that marketing is a mystery to many people. Once you get passed those who equate marketing with selling (or shopping), that is where the nuances begin. When looking at the question posed, "What is Marketing (and why most people do not know)?" so much depends on your perspective. Just the other night (at the Door64 mixer), I was speaking to a friend who is also a "marketing" person. Yet, when I commented to her that while I was a marketing person too, I was more of a "strategy geek," she looked at me and said, "yeah, you are." Your blog is correct, in my opinion, that marketing is a science and an art (you can be educated in the science, but only experience provides the art). But at the same time, I disagree with being able to learn everything you need to know about marketing in a day, but it will take you a lifetime to master.

I was already involved "in marketing" before I got my masters degree. When I got my masters degree, I hadn't learned much more than what was in the books. When I worked in a true marketing and strategic planning function from 1976-1980, I began to understand the meaning of marketing and strategy. I'm still learning today, because the markets are constantly changing. There is more and more information available, and more "white papers" on strategy being written/published. Marketing is a complicated subject area. It includes the strategic and the other elements of the "plan." But it also reflects how you think and innovate.

All my opinions of course, but it is what I do, even though these days I'm involved in "high-tech."

Dear Jay, thank you so very much for your insights. I love to hear back from kindred spirits in marketing. I totally concur about your comments. My statement about “learning everything about marketing in a day…” has to do more about the mechanics. Sort of like “learning” about the rules of baseball, i.e. 3 strikes, 3 outs, 9 innings, etc., in a day, but being a good player is totally another matter.

What has irked me to no end, has be the numerous people who have MBA’s and not one iota of knowledge about marketing or sales! Without those two critical elements, there is not “business” to administer.

Anyway, I am amazed how much I learn about marketing everyday. I may know a lot, but I know, there is a lot more that I do not know, and that is what makes getting up every day so very exciting. The day I learn and know everything, will be a very boring one indeed.

Since the marketing process and strategic thinking is internalized (in me), the process is one of constant updating of the knowledge base. Maddeningly, the other day, I met with a group of angel investors who (aside from turning me down), questioned if I actually understood or knew my company's market and marketplace. Astonishing actually since I'm considered one of the "experts" in the field. I'm also someone who has...well, it hardly matters here (in public for this blog). The point is that there are all too many people who have no clue what they don't know, but often impute on others, their own lack of knowledge (or is that "ignorance?").