Work Lessons We Didn’t Know We Were Learning
What do a legendary mullet, a keyboard full of exclamation points, and a 20-man wrestling match have in common? They were first "jobs" – and they taught us more about marketing, leadership, and being human than any textbook ever could.
In this episode of Meeting of the (Strong) Minds, Eric, Jenny, and Luke rewind to those early gigs that shaped how we work today. From high school broadcast bits and hospitality playbooks to crisis customer care and backyard production logistics, the team shares the real lessons that still guide Strong Minded Agency.
Listen to the Episode
Highlights from the Conversation
Luke’s Long-Running Bit That Started With a Mullet
High school Luke cut a ridiculous mullet for soccer season, then turned it into content with a weekly “mullet man” segment on the student broadcast. It became a two-year running joke tied to his “grammar tip of the day” foil character. Lesson learned – humor, callbacks, and recurring formats make ideas stick. When something resonates, turn it into a series and build anticipation over time.
Jenny’s Exclamation Point Era
As a 2002 marketing intern, Jenny proudly delivered a document where every sentence ended with an exclamation point. Her mentor’s feedback was simple – save the excitement for where it counts. That moment shaped her voice for press releases, emails, and presentation copy. Clarity first, tone second. Use excitement sparingly so your most important lines actually land.
Eric’s Backyard Wrestling Interview That Won The Job
Nineteen-year-old Eric sat in a promotion interview and chose honesty over platitudes. Asked about rallying a team, he told the story of orchestrating a 20-man “pinning rumble” in his backyard ring – scheduling entrances, timing quick costume changes, coordinating referees, camera ops, and commentators. It was the STAR method in real life. Situation, task, action, result – and most of all, authenticity. He got the job because passion and specifics beat safe and vague.
Bloomberg, Phone Rings, and Radical Goodwill
Luke later worked customer support at Bloomberg during the 2008 financial crisis. Leadership gave a clear directive – if a client said they lost their job or could not pay, extend a free 30-day trial and renew it if needed. That decision built trust during chaotic times and showed how customer care can be both ethical and strategic. In a crisis, do the right thing quickly. Goodwill spreads, and retention follows.
The Door-to-Door Websites That Never Launched
Back in 1999, Eric and classmates walked Main Street offering free websites to local shops. Everyone said yes. None went live. The owners did not yet want or value a site. The lesson stuck – if the client does not feel the need, the best build in the world will sit in a folder. Timing matters. Demand matters. Our job is to help when the business is ready, not force a solution they will never use.
Jenny’s “Confirm the Confirm” Rule
Years later, while managing events at a private business club in North Carolina, Jenny learned that hospitality is equal parts logistics and relationships. Coordinating florists, chefs, musicians, and hundreds of guests meant one thing: never assume it’s handled. She coined her personal rule - “confirm the confirm.” Whether it’s a vendor, an RSVP list, or a partner, double-checking avoids last-minute chaos. That habit now defines her approach to client work: polite persistence, built on trust.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How to turn a one-off idea into a recurring format that builds audience loyalty
- Why tone control in copy makes your strongest lines stand out
- How authentic stories beat generic answers in interviews and sales
- What crisis customer care looks like when you lead with goodwill
- Why solving a problem too early can be the same as solving the wrong problem
- Simple frameworks – STAR for interviews, “confirm the confirm” for events – that improve results
Who Is This Podcast For?
Creators, marketers, and business owners who believe real stories teach real skills. If you are building a brand voice, managing clients, or leading a team, these first-job moments will feel familiar and useful.
If you geek out over process and people – how a running bit becomes a series, how a tiny habit like “confirm the confirm” saves events, how passion translates into leadership – you will be at home with this episode.
Field Notes and Takeaways
- Make it a series - repetition and recognizable structure create memory.
- Edit your excitement - punctuation is seasoning, not the meal.
- Lead with specifics - detailed stories prove competence better than claims.
- Care loudly in a crisis - quick generosity builds long relationships.
- Match readiness - the right solution at the wrong time will not launch.
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