We were lucky to catch up with Rob Weinberg recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rob, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
That would be from my mother, who taught me that the worst thing that can happen is that you ask for something and the person you are asking says “NO!” At that point, you’re no worse off than when you started.
I was raised at a time when women were not supposed to work, but rather they stayed home, baked cookies, cleaned the house, and waited for the kids and their husband to arrive home. Only my mother was different; she was a very talented sculptor who pursued her art and persevered, despite countless doors being slammed in her face and gallery owners saying they’d only work with her if she slept with them. Mom always kept her integrity, eventually becoming one of the foremost artists of the 1920s Flapper Era, and her work is in collections all over the world today.
From her I learned that it costs you nothing to be nice, to never give up, and that the only one standing in my way of success is me.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My career started in New York City, where I worked for a small printing company that eventually transitioned into the sales promotion industry. My first job there (as a teenager) was as a foot messenger – a job that no longer exists – and I eventually rose to become president of the agency.
Meeting my wife on the New York City subway (that’s a story in itself!), we left New York for 12 years in Boston before landing in San Diego. I’m currently involved with several ventures:
1) Since 1996, I’ve been Chief Strategist for The MarketBuilding Team (www.marketbuilding.com); a full-service marketing consulting firm that is industry-agnostic and consistently solves brand/messaging challenges; delivers comprehensive corporate communications; and provides world-class marketing services – all while delivering unique marketing solutions & profitable results.
2) Three years ago I became Managing Partner of Write Away Books (www.writeawaybooks.com). We provide a full range of ghost writing, editorial, marketing and publishing services, helping authors in every genre to go from idea to manuscript to marketplace.
3) Two years ago I became a founding member of LITT (www.litt-app.co), a financial services app focused on helping freelancers to track their business dealings and taxes. Our global team of nine formally launched the app this about a month ago, and we’re now shifting gears to start what we anticipate will be significant growth.
4) I’m celebrating my 18th anniversary of writing the newspaper column Ask Mr. Marketing (www.askmrmarketing.com), currently appearing in The Coast News.
5) In my copious free time, I’ve just launched my third book, 5 Minutes to Better Branding (https://amzn.to/3tcH0WL). It’s a collection of the best Ask Mr. Marketing columns over the years.
In addition, I am the Vice-Chair of Marketing for Chairmen’s RoundTable (www.chairmensroundtable.com); an organization dedicated to helping San Diego businesses and non-profits with free professional mentoring from some of the top business minds.
Finally, I am celebrating 20 years in Rotary International, and am active with both the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary and Carlsbad Rotary clubs.
In my free time, I enjoy gardening, spending time with my bride, and attending opera performances featuring my daughter Emily.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I know it’s old-fashioned, but I read everything I can lay my hands on. And I talk with everyone, regardless of their position in life. Because I’ve found everyone has something to teach me and I can never know enough.
And you never know when those little tidbits you pick up will be of value for starting a conversation with someone you deem to be important to your career or other objectives.
Plus, because I’ve spent a lifetime talking with people and reading everything in sight, I’ve come away with a wealth of stories that have lent themselves in sales and marketing (and we’re ALL in sales in marketing…regardless of our business), as well as providing fodder for my newspaper column.
Oscar Wilde once noted, “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” It’s good advice that I’ve always followed.
I brand myself with a Panama hat, and have worn one (I’m on my 20th) since 1993. Over the years that hat and I have become so closely associated that people don’t recognize me now unless I’m wearing it. Which says to me that it’s WAY too easy to blend into the crowd, so develop a personal brand that suits your style, and commit to it daytime and night. Eventually, folks will see whatever it is (spats, rainbow suspenders, carnation in your lapel, etc.) and associate it with you…even if you’re 1000 miles away at the time.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
They taught me to just let the stupidity roll off my back like water off a duck.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.writeawaybooks.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robweinberg/
