Hey guys,
I’ve been thinking about getting booked on big stages (podcasts, speeches, JVs). It reminds me how strategies that look effective short-term often backfire dramatically over time.
Ads stop working when you stop paying. Content is a perpetual hamster wheel. But collaborations, when established once and done right, can be leveraged repeatedly.
Speaking of quick wins killing businesses…
Corporate America’s obsession with layoffs is the perfect example.
After 9/11, most airlines cut 15-23% of their workforce—81,000 jobs vanished. But Southwest refused. Co-founder Herb Kelleher believed: “Nothing kills your company’s culture like layoffs.”
Instead, Southwest delayed new plane purchases, canceled office renovations, and found creative cost-cutting solutions. They remained profitable while competitors struggled.
Today, this wisdom seems forgotten:
- 264,000 tech workers lost jobs in 2023
- Companies from BP to Starbucks announced major layoffs
- Even Southwest broke its 50-year no-layoff tradition in 2023
The puzzling part? Research shows layoffs rarely work:
- They typically result in neutral or negative stock returns
- Companies that layoff have TWICE the bankruptcy likelihood
So why do businesses keep doing it? The same reason many struggle with sustainable TRAFFIC—they focus on quick wins rather than long-term strategy.
Layoffs fail for predictable reasons (which also apply to visibility strategies):
- They treat symptoms, not causes
- Productivity declines with shortcuts
- Quality suffers when prioritizing quantity
- Reputation damage makes future growth harder
The most successful businesses invest in their people, even during downturns. The most impactful thought leaders do the same.
That’s why I’ve created 24 step-by-step courses about landing podcasts and speaking gigs—to help you build sustainable, real visibility.
What would having a network of people willing to promote you repeatedly do for your business?
No finicky algorithm, just access to audiences when you need them most.
Get started here:
www.TogetherGame.com/24-for-24
No layoffs for us,
Kathryn Jones Lish
