118: Context, balance, and structure, Nigerian scams, the incredible Pia Klemp, meaning, and 2x4's
Hi there, and happy Saturday at the crux of the almost-end-of-Summer-2019.
In this edition of The World's Best Newsletter:
1. Context, Balance, and Structure - 3 B2B Marketing Trends from B2BSMX
2. "We can't arrest our way out of the problem."
3. Inspired by Pia Klemp
4. How do we define meaning and life satisfaction?
5. Black Women's Equal Pay Day
6. Why isn't a 2x4 actually 2" x 4" ?
7. Quote of the week: It's not giving up.
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1. Context, Balance, and Structure - 3 B2B Marketing Trends from B2BSMX
Thanks to the DemandGen Report team for having me at the B2B Sales and Marketing Exchange in Boston this month. I recapped my favorite takeaways and advice and highlighted the prevalence of context, balance, and structure in this year's programming.
2. "We can't arrest our way out of the problem."
This piece is wild. It first reveals that the state of the Nigerian email scam is actually a $1B+ industry that largely targets businesses:
... fraudsters learn about key personnel in companies who are responsible for the payments as well as the protocols necessary to perform wire transfers in various companies and then target businesses that regularly perform wire transfer payments,
One scammer was a Nigerian Businessman arrested by the FBI for a $11M fraud who had previously landed on the cover of Forbes Africa and was featured on BBC News Africa, CNBC, even TedX:
Can't wait for that documentary.
Bonus: James Veitch's TED talk "This is what happens when you reply to spam email" is a masterpiece if you haven't seen it.
To me, the most important point runs parallel to our modern day fake news misinformation culture, which needs a hefty dose of public education.
Alongside the FBI’s investigations to deal with the scams, Delacourt emphasized the need to educate potential targets about contemporary fraud tactics to prevent the scams at source. In his words: “We cannot arrest our way out of this problem.”
3. Inspired by Pia Klemp
"The next few minutes are going to be quite difficult for all of us, for me, because I really don't want to be here..."
That's how Pia Klemp opens her TEDxBerlin talk, posted four days ago amid a ton of press about her recent refusal to accept a medal offered by the city of Paris recognizing bravery.
As a ship captain, Klemp has rescued thousands of stranded migrants in the Mediterranean.
For her efforts, she reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison in Italy, where the hard-line anti-immigrant government accused her of assisting illegal immigration.
She faces imprisonment if she rescues another migrant.
The snubbing of the award was explained in a Facebook message which called it hypocritical, given this treatment of those who stand up for the rights of migrants/asylum seekers. She writes:
"It is time we call out hypocrite honorings and fill the void with social justice... We do not need authorities deciding about who is a 'hero' and who is 'illegal,' " she said. "In fact they are in no position to make this call, because we are all equal."
I am inspired by this brave woman's efforts to highlight the "reality of Europe's external borders... the deadliest border in the world."
Please watch her full TEDx talk.
"It takes more courage to show basic human decency... where it can be a felony to help people in need."
She lives the notion every day that solidarity is an act. Not lip service.
4. How do we define meaning and life satisfaction?
I hope talks like the above make you think, as I am lately, what good am I doing in this world? What meaning do my days have?
Our larger search for meaning was studied by Pew Research Center recently, who asked essentially - how do you define meaning? The study found that only four topics are universally associated with higher levels of life satisfaction:
a person's good health
romantic partner
friends
career
Regardless of age, income, religion and other demographic factors, Americans who mentioned these parts of their lives as meaningful were more likely to rate their lives as satisfying than those who did not, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of responses from 4,492 adults surveyed in September 2017.
5. Black Women's Equal Pay Day
This past week (August 22nd) marked Black Womens Equal Pay Day. Some tidbits you may not know (or choose not to believe as it is uncomfortable?)
Black women are more than 3 times as likely as white men to work in low wage service and sales jobs.
The amount of money a black woman loses over the course of a 40-year career on account of the wage gap is a staggering: $946,120.
Black women worked 233 extra days in 2019 to earn the same as white men in 2018.
This piece in Forbes by Brianne Garrett highlights one fix:
The Paycheck Fairness Act, which has passed through the House but is not yet through the Senate, is one step in the right direction. If passed, the legislation would prohibit employers from viewing job applicants' salary history, require companies to provide pay information by race and gender to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and allow employees to openly discuss salaries with colleagues without repercussions.
Other steps:
Raising the minimum wage to $15 (as black women are over-represented in low wage work)
Working to strengthen pregnancy and family-leave policies (to ensure affordable childcare, paid leave, and work-life balance for women who are more likely to be unmarried heads of the household.)
More uncomfortable truths.
6. Why isn't a 2x4 actually 2" x 4" ?
So, I own a house now. Exciting.
And I spend a lot of time at Home Depot.
And I've learned something that you maybe already knew, fine, don't judge, but a 2X4 IS NOT ACTUALLY 2 INCHES BY 4 INCHES.
And, naturally, I asked my good friend, spiritual advisor, and Key West 5-star rated tour guide Sara what the heck was going on.
We Googled a bunch and found our answer.
Turns out, when trees were cut into framing lumber BACK IN THE DAY, a 2x4 did actually measure more or less 2" x 4". With high production sawmills creating more smooth-surfaced lumber for high production builders, the former rough cut 2x4 was run through a planer to create said smooth surfaces. That and the drying process (which ensured dimensional stability and resistance to mold) left a finished piece of lumber which measured 1-58" x 3-5/8".
That happened in the late 1970s and now, well-intentioned but unfortunately clueless first-time homeowners like yours truly have to learn this the hard way.
You're welcome.
7. Quote of the week: It's not giving up.
"It's not giving up if you discover you've been chasing the wrong destiny." - Morley
Chase your dream. Don't let someone else's dream chase you.
Have a great weekend, and thank you as always for reading.
Katie
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