S3 E20: Taming Unrealistic Expectations: The Marketer's Survival Guide (Pt 1)

The Push

Welcome to the world of marketing – where the pressure to deliver results yesterday is real, but the time and strategy needed to create sustainable success is often overlooked.

In this episode, Alex and Jack get real about the constant tug-of-war between marketers and executives over unrealistic expectations. As consultants who work with both sides, they’ve seen it all: the demands for rapid growth, the frustration over missed targets, and the pressure that comes with it.

So why does this misalignment happen?

Marketers are asked to work miracles without the proper time, resources, or understanding of what actually drives long-term success. On the flip side, executives often don’t grasp the intricacies of the marketing process, expecting immediate results without recognizing that effective marketing is a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s a cycle that leads to burnout, frustration, and, ultimately, missed opportunities.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why marketing is about understanding—not just doing—and how that shifts unrealistic expectations
  
• Why the marketing team can’t be blamed for outcomes they can’t control
  
• Gain insight into the conveyor belt analogy, and how focusing on inputs can actually drive better outputs
  
• The reality of measuring marketing success—and why it’s not as easy as a quick ROI snapshot
  
• Practical strategies for marketers to manage the impossible demands and align expectations across the business
  
• Learn how to communicate the true value of your marketing efforts to skeptical stakeholders

This episode is co-hosted by:
- Brand Strategist Jack Ferguson
and
-Product Marketing Specialist Alex Urquhart
- Find Jack on LinkedIn here
- Find Alex on LinkedIn here
- Follow The Push on LinkedIn here
- Follow The Push on TikTok here
- Follow The Push on Instagram here
- Visit The Push website here
- Visit Jack’s personal website here
- Visit Alex’s website here

This is just Part 1, so don’t forget to hit subscribe and stay tuned for more insights in the next episode!