Hi there, I'm Greg Merrilees from Studio One Design, and welcome to this episode of the Real Magic Design Podcast. I'm excited to be here today with my co-host, Alan from Pixel Partners HQ.

In this episode, we're going to dive into some incredible insights I recently gained from attending an event where the legendary marketing guru, Jay Abraham, was speaking. Now, I have to admit, the rest of the event was a bit of a "pitch fest" - you know, those events where the speakers are up there just trying to sell their products and services rather than actually delivering valuable content. But I knew Jay Abraham would be worth pushing through for, and boy was I right.

Jay's 90-minute presentation was an absolute masterclass. As someone who's been in the marketing and business consulting game for decades, he has an incredible ability to see through the blindspots that most people miss. He shared case study after case study of how he's helped businesses in all different industries think and act differently than their competitors - and that's really the key takeaway I want to unpack with you all today.

Too often, businesses just try to match or beat what their competitors are doing. But Jay showed how the real magic happens when you zig while everyone else is zagging. Whether it's finding strategic partnerships, leveraging technology in unique ways, or simply offering something your competitors aren't - that's where the big wins lie.

I'm really excited to dive into some of Jay's core principles and share how Alan and I are applying these concepts in our own businesses. There are so many practical, actionable insights that I can't wait to unpack. So sit tight, and let's get into it!

• Jay Abraham's Event: Value in Presentations vs. Pitch Fest Disappointment
• Creative Problem-Solving: Standing Out Through Unique Approaches and Competitive Differentiation
• Strategic Alliances: Differentiation and Business Growth Through Complementary Partnerships.
• Increasing Customer Value: Post-Sale Strategies, Targeted Marketing, and Boosting Purchase Frequency.
• Increasing Revenue: Maximizing Profit Through Customer Insights and Incremental Improvements.

Thinking Differently: The Secret to 10X'ing Your Business

As designers and business owners, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of trying to keep up with our competitors. We analyze what they're doing, tweak our offerings to match or beat their prices, and hope that we can capture a slice of the same pie.

But according to legendary marketing guru Jay Abraham, that approach is a surefire way to get stuck in the weeds, fighting for scraps. Instead, he advocates for a radically different mindset - one where you actively seek to zig while everyone else is zagging.

I recently had the opportunity to see Jay speak at an event, and his 90-minute presentation was an absolute masterclass in creative problem-solving. While the rest of the conference devolved into a "pitch fest" of speakers trying to sell their wares, Jay focused on sharing real-world case studies of how he's helped businesses in all different industries think and act differently than their competitors.

And the results have been nothing short of transformative.

One of the key principles Jay emphasized was the power of strategic alliances. He shared the story of a struggling motorbike company in China that was able to completely turn things around by partnering with a lawn mower manufacturer.

On the surface, these two businesses seemed worlds apart. But when Jay dug into the details, he realized they actually served the same customer base and had complementary strengths and weaknesses. The motorbike company had a killer product but lacked the manufacturing capacity and marketing muscle to really scale. Meanwhile, the lawn mower company had all the infrastructure and distribution channels in place, but was missing that standout product.

By joining forces, they were able to create a powerhouse that dominated their market. The motorbike company got the production and marketing support it needed, while the lawn mower company was able to diversify its offerings and reach a whole new customer segment.

It's a perfect example of how thinking differently about your "competition" can unlock massive growth potential. Rather than viewing other businesses as rivals to be defeated, Jay encourages his clients to see them as potential partners who can help solve each other's problems.

Another area where Jay challenges the status quo is in the realm of pricing and packaging. Too often, businesses get stuck in the mindset of "race to the bottom" pricing, constantly undercutting each other in a futile attempt to attract more customers.

But as Jay points out, there's a much more profitable path forward. By deeply understanding your customer's lifetime value, you can actually afford to invest a significant amount upfront to acquire them. And then, through strategic upsells, cross-sells, and subscription models, you can continue to extract value from that relationship over time.

The key is to shift your focus away from the one-time transaction and towards building long-term, high-value customer relationships. It's a mindset that Jay's clients have used to achieve incredible results - like the carpet company that started leasing their product instead of selling it outright, or the electrical retailer that pioneered interest-free financing to make big-ticket purchases more accessible.

Of course, implementing these kinds of transformative strategies isn't always easy. It requires a willingness to challenge your own assumptions and think outside the box. But as Jay's success stories demonstrate, the payoff can be massive.

And it all starts with that fundamental shift in perspective - from trying to beat your competitors at their own game, to actively seeking out new and innovative ways to solve your customers' problems.

As my co-host Alan and I discussed on the podcast, it's about "zigging when everyone else is zagging." It's about looking at your industry with fresh eyes and asking, "What is everyone else doing that I could do differently?"

Because that's where the real magic happens. That's where you'll find the untapped opportunities to 10X your business and leave your competitors in the dust.

So the next time you're feeling stuck in the status quo, I encourage you to take a step back and really challenge your assumptions. What are the unmet needs in your market that no one else is addressing? What creative partnerships could you explore? How could you package and price your offerings in a way that delivers exponentially more value to your customers?

The answers may not be obvious at first. But if you're willing to think differently, I can guarantee the results will be transformative.