Yo! Welcome back to The Reeder Newsletter — your weekly dose of content strategy and growth advice. First time reading? Subscribe here.
AI Marketing School is finally here. And class is in session.
I've sat through enough "AI for marketers" webinars to know the difference between theory and practice.
This isn't another ChatGPT demo.
AI Marketing School is where CMOs and operators from OpenAI, Zapier, and Salesforce teach senior marketers how to integrate AI into workflows—not just discuss it.
September 2nd. 9am-12pm PST. 3 hours that could change how you work.
The marketers who show up will have a serious advantage.
I hired LaRussell (an upcoming Bay Area rapper) to be on my podcast. I didn't go as expected.
A few weeks ago, I saw an ad on his Instagram offering to book him for a show or a podcast interview. I was in the middle of planning Season 3 of Reed Between The Lines in Las Vegas, and the theme is all about betting on yourself and taking creative risks. So I was like, you know what? I ought to take my own advice and book a big guest outside my usual marketing sphere. He's all about independence, growing an audience of raving fans, and playing by his own rules. Just like me. So I DM'd him and got the email address to his manager. We had a quick back-and-forth, and she told me to make an offer for the appearance. But I didn't have budget on hand for this. So I texted my CFO, Shali, and I was asked if I could offer him $5,000. She didn't respond right away. And I got kinda nervous, so I was like, you know what? How's $3,000? I'll ask for forgiveness later. They accepted.
We signed a contract. I paid the $1,500 deposit. Then he no-showed, took the cash, and went completely dark.
I’m a huge fan of his music. (Or, was). So getting ripped off like this stings.
This isn't investor money nor a "victimless crime."
I paid for studio time, production costs, and his fee out of my own pocket. And I was left with nothing except empty studio time I'd already paid for and one hell of a story to tell.
There's no sugar on this coat. It f-ing sucks.
If you've ever been played, let down, or just took a loss...
So. Have. I.
And that's just part of taking creative bets.
Sometimes you swing and miss... whether it's fair or not. I know making a bet like this and "losing" might discourage a lot of people. I'm sharing this because I wanted to be very honest and show the "whole iceberg" here. So you can see what it's really like when you put chips in and you walk away with nothing.
For me, it was $1,500 that I'm never gonna get back. But here's the stone cold truth: I would make this bet again. And I want my team at the The Reeder to keep pushing the envelope and making bets, even if there is risk.
Because where there's risk, there's also upside.
So don't let that prevent you from doing your best work and betting on yourself. Because sometimes it does work out, and those are the things that make your career and make your reputation. All in all, I'm scathed, but not down. And we're gonna keep shooting our shots and making big bets at The Reeder. I hope you do too.
Holler at you later, Devin PS: I got a lot of feedback when I shared this story on LinkdeIn. But Ding's LinkedIn diss track was BY FAR the most creative — and vengeful.
