“We’re not doing marketing.”

Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard a small business owner say that 🙋

Even if you’re not “doing” marketing, every email you send, every sales call you make – really, every touchpoint with a prospect or customer…that’s all marketing. The question isn’t whether you’re marketing, but it’s whether or not you’re doing it intentionally.

David Cross spent years at P&G and Coca-Cola, ran marketing for private equity-backed B2B companies, and co-founded a startup that sold to a top 20 US healthcare system. These days, he's building his own practice as an Atlas Rose Licensed Fractional Marketer. In this episode, he joins Randi Beth, Monica, and Branden to talk about the marketing gaps in small businesses and ways to get it right.

They dig into the three factors that make or break a successful marketing strategy: knowing your customer, using data to make decisions, and effective execution. Marketing is both an art and a science, but most businesses tip the scales one way or the other. This episode unpacks how to balance both, and why every business, no matter the size, deserves to get there.

Episode Outline

(02:34) What moves the marketing needle across every industry and company size

(07:18) How to spot (and start to fix) a broken marketing program

(14:32) The "task at hand" exercise: how David earns trust in the first meeting

(26:58) Coaching small business owners through marketing imposter syndrome

(30:36) Three ways to define marketing that change how you run your business

(36:19) How to test your way forward and break out of the perfectionism loop

(38:44) Establishing core values vs. key differentiators

(45:33) Building a sustainable fractional practice with community support

Additional Resources

Learn more about becoming an Atlas Rose Licensed Fractional Marketer

Connect with David

Connect on LinkedIn

More From Atlas Rose

Learn more on the Atlas Rose website

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Follow Monica on LinkedIn

Follow Randi Beth on LinkedIn

Watch this episode on YouTube

The hardest part of being a fractional CMO isn't creating the strategy or even the tactical execution. It's building trust with clients who resist change, forget the ‘why’, and make you feel like you're constantly running defense.

Wendy Wilburn knows that dynamic well, but more importantly, she knows how to break the cycle. She's the founder of Wendistry, her fractional practice, and a Certified StoryBrand Guide. In this episode, Wendy joins Randi Beth, Monica, and Branden to talk shop about how to create a sustainable (and enjoyable!) career as a fractional CMO.

Together, they explore how to work alongside a client while maintaining the strategic “outsider” perspective that fractionals are hired for. Wendy shares tangible tips for how to drive results through education and storytelling. She also outlines exactly how she uses the StoryBrand framework to create ‘aha moments’. Plus, Wendy closes with direct advice to fractionals: trust your experience and stay radically consistent in your message and presence.

Episode Outline

(01:49) Wendy’s early entrepreneurialism and unconventional path to fractional marketing

(09:45) A simple way to stay grounded and reconnect with your North Star

(14:34) Communicating the value of the varied experiences you bring to the table

(20:54) How to work WITH resistance instead of AGAINST it

(25:21) Why business owners see marketing as a necessary evil — and what to do about it

(32:07) Challenging the the narrative that the CMO position is the least respected one in the C-suite

(35:18) The teaching side of the fractional role nobody talks about

(41:52) What we can learn from Lululemon about target customers and product iteration

Additional Resources

Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes Hardcover by Elizabeth Lesser

StoryBrand

Connect with Wendy

Connect on LinkedIn

Website

More From Atlas Rose

Learn more on the Atlas Rose website

Follow Atlas Rose on LinkedIn

Follow Branden on LinkedIn

Follow Monica on LinkedIn

Follow Randi Beth on LinkedIn

Watch this episode on YouTube

You grow companies for a living, but your own business gets the crumbs.

The fractional executive space has grown 57% since 2020, which means more competition, more noise, and more pressure to land clients while serving the ones you already have. Most fractional CMOs are riding revenue highs and scrambling through the lows, usually alone, with no real system and no one to call when a client goes sideways.

In this episode, Branden, Monica, and Randi Beth pull back the curtain on 14 years of building a multi-fractional practice. They cover the mindset shifts and systems that separate fractional marketers who build lasting client relationships from those who burn through them. Plus, the team speaks on hard-won lessons, like how to earn the CMO title and spot bad-fit clients before they drain your time and confidence.

Episode Outline

(02:35) Reflecting on how the ‘fractional’ role has evolved in the past 5+ years

(07:45) Shifting from consultant to integrated leader

(19:16) Tips for building trust through 12-month roadmaps, self-accountability, and servant leadership

(25:55) How to know when it’s time to break up with a client

(34:34) The simple shift turned a 2-year drought into 100 deals sold in a year

(39:27) Budget-friendly ways to scale through community

Additional Resources

The Snowball System by Mo Bunnell Join us Mondays at 2:30pm EST for Fractional Marketing Biz Dev sessions Join us Wednesdays at 12pm EST in The Bourbon Room

More From Atlas Rose

Learn more on the Atlas Rose website

Follow Atlas Rose on LinkedIn

Follow Branden on LinkedIn

Follow Monica on LinkedIn

Follow Randi Beth on LinkedIn

Watch this episode on YouTube

Too often, marketing is treated as the "department of pretty things" or quick fixes, rather than strategic drivers of business growth. In this episode of the Atlas Rose Podcast, we’re joined by Mitch Lewandowski, a Certified Pinnacle Guide, to discuss how to claim your seat in the boardroom by integrating into the business’s operating system rather than just pitching another campaign.

Mitch challenges the belief that marketing leaders need to be independent heroes who have all the answers. Instead, we discuss the freedom found in interdependence. For the fractional marketer, this means dropping the facade of being the smartest person in the room and leaning on a team (and a proven framework) to drive value.

Monica and Branden also reflect on how Atlas Rose operated before implementing a framework, describing the shift from frantic whiteboard sessions to strategic clarity. We wrap up with a reality check on vetting clients, discussing how to distinguish between business leaders who want a true strategic partner and those who simply want a vendor to execute on ideas.

Episode Outline

(02:16) How to click your marketing system into a business’s operating framework

(04:05) Mitch’s wake-up call: Why high revenue doesn't mean a healthy business

(10:58) Interdependence > independence

(16:45) Why trying to be the smartest person in the room kills your credibility

(25:54) Using structure to create the mental freedom to innovate

(32:24) Unpacking the objection that systems are too expensive

(43:33) How to respond to a client who is only looking for marketing magic tricks

Additional Resources

Learn more about Pinnacle

Learn more about Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

Connect with Mitch

Connect on LinkedIn

Website

More From Atlas Rose

Learn more on the Atlas Rose website

Follow Atlas Rose on LinkedIn

Follow Branden on LinkedIn

Follow Monica on LinkedIn

Follow Randi Beth on LinkedIn

Watch this episode on YouTube

Hey, small business marketers, ever feel like you’re chasing the next big thing—LinkedIn posts, lead gen tools, or some shiny new tactic—without a clear plan? In Episode 03 of the Atlas Rose Podcast, we’re diving into why that chaos happens and how a solid methodology can fix it. Monica Spieles, Randi Beth Burton, and I break down the trap of cookie-cutter marketing, the power of asking the right questions, and why you’ve gotta stop being a one-trick pony. We share hard-earned lessons from Atlas Rose’s journey, including how to surround yourself with experts and “fix it once” with tools that work. If you’re ready to lead your clients’ marketing with confidence and clarity, this episode’s for you. Hit play, subscribe, and let’s get strategic!

Guest Introduction: Alright, folks, I’m pumped to have Monica Spieles and Randi Beth Burton with me today. These two are rockstar fractional CMOs at Atlas Rose, bringing years of experience in guiding small businesses through the marketing maze. Monica’s a pro at untangling complex client challenges, while Randi Beth’s knack for asking the right questions cuts through the noise. Together, they’re here to share why a methodology beats chasing trends every time.

Key Takeaways: Stop chasing shiny objects—without clear goals, you’re just running in circles, and that’s a headache for any marketer. A methodology isn’t a rigid checklist; it’s a fluid framework that adapts to each client’s unique “broken arm.” Surround yourself with experts who are sold out for their craft—SEO, video, whatever—to strategically deploy the right tactics. Ask the tough questions, like a doctor diagnosing a patient, to uncover what clients really need, not just what they think they want. Fix problems once with reusable tools, so you’re not reinventing the wheel every time you face a challenge. Entertain and educate—make your clients excited to learn, or your strategy won’t stick, no matter how smart it is.

Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro 0:05 The Problem with Chasing Marketing Trends 1:08 Why Goals Matter in Marketing Strategy 2:30 Atlas Rose’s Journey: Moving Beyond Cookie-Cutter Plans 5:04 The Broken Arm Analogy: Fixing What’s Really Wrong 8:21 Asking the Right Questions Like a Good Doctor 10:41 Avoiding the One-Trick Pony Trap 13:34 Building a Support Network of Experts 19:20 Learning from Problem Clients and Fixing It Once 26:51 The Power of Educating and Entertaining Clients 30:25 Closing Thoughts and Key Lessons

Keywords: Branden O’Neil, Monica Spieles, Randi Beth Burton, Atlas Rose Podcast, fractional CMO, marketing strategy, small business marketing, marketing methodology, client goals, marketing tactics, business leadership, marketing tools, strategic marketing, marketing challenges, small business growth

Hey, small business marketers, ever feel like you’re chasing the next big thing—LinkedIn posts, lead gen tools, or some shiny new tactic—without a clear plan? In Episode 03 of the Atlas Rose Podcast, we’re diving into why that chaos happens and how a solid methodology can fix it. Monica Spieles, Randi Beth Burton, and I break down the trap of cookie-cutter marketing, the power of asking the right questions, and why you’ve gotta stop being a one-trick pony. We share hard-earned lessons from Atlas Rose’s journey, including how to surround yourself with experts and “fix it once” with tools that work. If you’re ready to lead your clients’ marketing with confidence and clarity, this episode’s for you. Hit play, subscribe, and let’s get strategic!

Guest Introduction: Alright, folks, I’m pumped to have Monica Spieles and Randi Beth Burton with me today. These two are rockstar fractional CMOs at Atlas Rose, bringing years of experience in guiding small businesses through the marketing maze. Monica’s a pro at untangling complex client challenges, while Randi Beth’s knack for asking the right questions cuts through the noise. Together, they’re here to share why a methodology beats chasing trends every time.

Key Takeaways: Stop chasing shiny objects—without clear goals, you’re just running in circles, and that’s a headache for any marketer. A methodology isn’t a rigid checklist; it’s a fluid framework that adapts to each client’s unique “broken arm.” Surround yourself with experts who are sold out for their craft—SEO, video, whatever—to strategically deploy the right tactics. Ask the tough questions, like a doctor diagnosing a patient, to uncover what clients really need, not just what they think they want. Fix problems once with reusable tools, so you’re not reinventing the wheel every time you face a challenge. Entertain and educate—make your clients excited to learn, or your strategy won’t stick, no matter how smart it is.

Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro 0:05 The Problem with Chasing Marketing Trends 1:08 Why Goals Matter in Marketing Strategy 2:30 Atlas Rose’s Journey: Moving Beyond Cookie-Cutter Plans 5:04 The Broken Arm Analogy: Fixing What’s Really Wrong 8:21 Asking the Right Questions Like a Good Doctor 10:41 Avoiding the One-Trick Pony Trap 13:34 Building a Support Network of Experts 19:20 Learning from Problem Clients and Fixing It Once 26:51 The Power of Educating and Entertaining Clients 30:25 Closing Thoughts and Key Lessons

Keywords: Branden O’Neil, Monica Spieles, Randi Beth Burton, Atlas Rose Podcast, fractional CMO, marketing strategy, small business marketing, marketing methodology, client goals, marketing tactics, business leadership, marketing tools, strategic marketing, marketing challenges, small business growth

Hey everyone, Branden O'Neil here from Atlas Rose. In this episode, we unpack why marketing got kicked out of the boardroom and turned into a crapshoot of tactics and false promises. From its roots in ancient Mesopotamia bazaars to today's self-inflicted wounds by overhyped marketers, we dive into how the industry broke itself and left small businesses frustrated and stuck. We talk real strategy: starting with business goals, aligning with personal vision, and adopting a proven methodology to make marketing a true growth engine again. No more Vegas bets – just solid frameworks that energize your business. If you're a small business owner tired of wasting money on shiny tactics, tune in and let's get strategic. Follow us on LinkedIn for more tips!

Guest Introduction: It's the Atlas Rose crew again: me, Branden O'Neil, with Randi Beth Burton and Monica Spieles. Over 13 years, we've seen the marketing trenches up close, from my Dave Ramsey days to coaching hundreds of small businesses. We're passionate about fixing what's broken in our industry and sharing methodologies that actually work.

Key Takeaways: • Marketing started simple – just communicating goods in ancient bazaars – but we broke it by turning it into overhyped tactics, removing it from real business strategy in the boardroom. • Don't treat marketing like a Vegas gamble; if it's just quick wins and low-hanging fruit without tying to business goals, you're setting up for failure and frustration. • Start with personal and business goals – marketing goals only exist to fulfill those, so misalignment creates inauthentic brands and wasted efforts. • Watch for red flags: If a marketer only pitches what they're good at, run – they're selling services, not strategy tailored to your needs. • Adopt a proven methodology like ours at Atlas Rose; it's built from years of reps, not guesswork, to make marketing efficient and growth-focused. • Even without a full plan, pause for 10 minutes on goals – it sparks clarity, blue ocean ideas, and aligns your team for real progress.

Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro and Defining Marketing 1:10 Prospect Calls and Mismatched Definitions 2:35 Origins of Marketing – Flintstones to Mesopotamia 5:17 Self-Inflicted Wounds in the Industry 7:21 Asking the Right Questions for Strategy 9:25 Instant Gratification vs. Big Picture 10:37 Marketing as a Gamble – Undoing the Damage 13:06 Parallels to Other Industries 18:10 Approaching Marketing Strategically 21:07 Starting with Business and Personal Goals 23:12 Client Story: Stretch Goals Redefine Plans 25:54 Wrapping Up – Align Goals to Avoid Chaos 26:01 Red Flags and Makeup Counter Analogy 28:07 Sponsor Shoutouts and Close

Keywords: Branden O'Neil, Randi Beth Burton, Monica Spieles, Atlas Rose Podcast, marketing history, marketing strategy, small business growth, business goals, marketing methodology, fractional CMO, marketing tactics, boardroom strategy, Dave Ramsey, Pinnacle Guide, marketing frameworks

Hey everyone, Branden O'Neil here from Atlas Rose. In this episode, we unpack why marketing got kicked out of the boardroom and turned into a crapshoot of tactics and false promises. From its roots in ancient Mesopotamia bazaars to today's self-inflicted wounds by overhyped marketers, we dive into how the industry broke itself and left small businesses frustrated and stuck. We talk real strategy: starting with business goals, aligning with personal vision, and adopting a proven methodology to make marketing a true growth engine again. No more Vegas bets – just solid frameworks that energize your business. If you're a small business owner tired of wasting money on shiny tactics, tune in and let's get strategic. Follow us on LinkedIn for more tips!

Guest Introduction: It's the Atlas Rose crew again: me, Branden O'Neil, with Randi Beth Burton and Monica Spieles. Over 13 years, we've seen the marketing trenches up close, from my Dave Ramsey days to coaching hundreds of small businesses. We're passionate about fixing what's broken in our industry and sharing methodologies that actually work.

Key Takeaways: • Marketing started simple – just communicating goods in ancient bazaars – but we broke it by turning it into overhyped tactics, removing it from real business strategy in the boardroom. • Don't treat marketing like a Vegas gamble; if it's just quick wins and low-hanging fruit without tying to business goals, you're setting up for failure and frustration. • Start with personal and business goals – marketing goals only exist to fulfill those, so misalignment creates inauthentic brands and wasted efforts. • Watch for red flags: If a marketer only pitches what they're good at, run – they're selling services, not strategy tailored to your needs. • Adopt a proven methodology like ours at Atlas Rose; it's built from years of reps, not guesswork, to make marketing efficient and growth-focused. • Even without a full plan, pause for 10 minutes on goals – it sparks clarity, blue ocean ideas, and aligns your team for real progress.

Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro and Defining Marketing 1:10 Prospect Calls and Mismatched Definitions 2:35 Origins of Marketing – Flintstones to Mesopotamia 5:17 Self-Inflicted Wounds in the Industry 7:21 Asking the Right Questions for Strategy 9:25 Instant Gratification vs. Big Picture 10:37 Marketing as a Gamble – Undoing the Damage 13:06 Parallels to Other Industries 18:10 Approaching Marketing Strategically 21:07 Starting with Business and Personal Goals 23:12 Client Story: Stretch Goals Redefine Plans 25:54 Wrapping Up – Align Goals to Avoid Chaos 26:01 Red Flags and Makeup Counter Analogy 28:07 Sponsor Shoutouts and Close

Keywords: Branden O'Neil, Randi Beth Burton, Monica Spieles, Atlas Rose Podcast, marketing history, marketing strategy, small business growth, business goals, marketing methodology, fractional CMO, marketing tactics, boardroom strategy, Dave Ramsey, Pinnacle Guide, marketing frameworks