Stop Solving the Wrong Problems in Your Business written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Catch the Full Episode: Episode Overview From the vault, a conversation that still hits home: it’s easy to default to blaming marketing when something in the business isn’t working. John Jantsch sits down with Kevin St.Clergy to talk about a pattern he calls “blind blaming”: defaulting to the most obvious explanation for a problem instead […]

Stop Solving the Wrong Problems in Your Business written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Catch the Full Episode:

Episode Overview

(image) From the vault, a conversation that still hits home: it’s easy to default to blaming marketing when something in the business isn’t working.

John Jantsch sits down with Kevin St.Clergy to talk about a pattern he calls “blind blaming”: defaulting to the most obvious explanation for a problem instead of digging for the real one. Marketing gets blamed for a sales problem, a team gets blamed for a leadership problem, the owner keeps working harder and getting the same results.

St.Clergy breaks down his RCD Method (Reflect, Connect, Decide) and why the businesses that break through are the ones willing to look at what’s actually broken. If you’ve ever felt stuck despite doing everything right, this one’s worth the listen.

Guest Bio

Kevin D. St.Clergy is an entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, and author of Beyond Blind Blaming: Stop Solving the Wrong Problems and Instantly Unlock Results. He built and exited his own marketing agency before shifting his focus to helping business owners uncover the hidden assumptions and misdiagnosed problems keeping them stuck. His RCD Method has become the core framework behind his coaching work with entrepreneurs and agency owners.

Key Takeaways

  • Most leaders aren’t failing from lack of effort. They’re getting very good at solving the wrong problem, which is why the same issues keep coming back.
  • Two cognitive biases drive the misdiagnosis: availability bias (the first explanation that comes to mind becomes the assumed truth) and confirmation bias (leaders then hunt for evidence to prove that assumption right).
  • The RCD Method breaks the cycle. Reflect on what you might not be seeing. Connect with an outside perspective, like a coach or mastermind group. Decide, and then act on what you learn.
  • A lead problem often isn’t a lead problem. St. Clergy has seen businesses blame their marketing when the real issue was a missed call, weak sales process, or poor customer experience.
  • Clients don’t want more services, they want transformation. Agencies that shift from transactional work to a growth partnership see stronger retention and better results.

Great Moments

  • [01:08] St.Clergy baseball story explains where the term “blind blaming” came from, and why the adults around him spent two years blaming his attitude for a problem that turned out to be his eyesight.
  • [03:36] St.Clergy introduces the RCD Method and breaks down what Reflect, Connect, and Decide mean in practice.
  • [06:18] St.Clergy explains the MFD concept (Make an F-ing Decision) and the client story that made the phrase stick.
  • [11:39] St.Clergy names the three fatal flaws behind blind blaming: availability bias, confirmation bias, and misdirected focus.
  • [18:58] St.Clergy explains why clients today want transformation instead of another service, and what changed when his agency made that shift.

Memorable Quotes

  • “Blind blaming is when we blame something completely out of our control, or something that isn’t even the real problem.” — Kevin D. St.Clergy
  • “If you keep solving the same problem over and over again and getting the same results, you’re probably solving the wrong problem.” — Kevin D. St.Clergy
  • “People don’t want more marketing. They want more money, more growth, and more impact.” — Kevin D. St.Clergy
  • “Build the business owner that builds the business.” — Kevin D. St.Clergy
  • “Transformation beats transaction every time.” — Kevin D. St.Clergy

Resources