How I (Accidentally) Poisoned Us and What It Taught Me About Marketing

How a mystery spice blend, joint pain, and a cup of coffee taught me about broken marketing strategies

You hit a certain age and suddenly your body starts filing complaints. Knees crack, joints stiff, back tightens up, and you can’t get through a workout without sounding like a bowl of Rice Krispies.

But we just keep going because that’s what we do, right?

We explain away the little aches and pains: “I’m tough, I can handle this.” “It’s just a part of getting older.”

We don’t stop to question if there’s a better way.

Then came the spice jar moment

One morning, I’m standing in my kitchen making my usual cup of coffee. I grab the little spice jar I’d been using every day, some trendy “anti-inflammatory” mix with turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, and a dash of cayenne. Supposed to be good for you. Boost metabolism. Help your joints. A biohack tip, the kind of thing you’d hear on a health podcast.

But for whatever reason, I looked at it and thought, Could this little mix be the problem?

Out of curiosity and a dash of skepticism, I cut it out cold.

The pain disappeared like magic

No joke, within three days, the pain was gone. Not “a little better.” Gone. My hands loosened up. My knees stopped protesting. It was such a fast turnaround, it was almost funny. The thing I thought was helping me was the exact thing making everything worse.

And that got me thinking, how often do we do the same thing in business?

What does this have to do with marketing?

Stick with me, because here’s where it all ties together.

A lot of advisors I talk to are in a similar kind of pain. But it’s not physical, it’s business pain.

Lead flow is sluggish. Referral activity has slowed. Your marketing “strategy” feels like a rotating guessing game. You’re putting in effort but not getting results, and it’s frustrating.

So, you explain it away:

• “It’s hard to get in front of the right people.”

• “Is anyone actually reading my content I’ve worked so hard on?”

• Or the classic: “We tried that once and it didn’t work.”

Sound familiar?

It might be one small thing throwing everything off

Just like my mystery spice blend was messing with my joints, there’s probably one part of your marketing that’s quietly sabotaging your results.

It doesn’t take much to throw things off. A slow-loading website. An outdated pitchdeck. A brochure that feels out of touch (think yacht and smiling couple).

These little things add up. And if you’ve been carrying them around for a while, it’s easy to confuse your “normal” with “numb.”

Awareness beats guessing

The mistake I made with my health? I assumed the pain was just part of life. I never stopped to think, maybe something I’m doing is causing this. That spice jar taught me something big: what you don’t know can hurt you. Not intentionally, but quietly, and over time.

And we see the same thing in marketing, advisors know something feels off, but they don’t pause to diagnose it.

Most advisors aren’t overwhelmed by too much marketing. Rather, they’re stuck in neutral, unsure of where to start or evaluate what matters. So, they default to inaction or wait for a magic bullet.

You might be one small shift away from traction

Look, if your growth feels stuck, don’t assume you’re the problem. Don’t assume marketing “just doesn’t work” for your type of firm. Instead, take a step back. Look under the lid.

When your marketing is clear and consistent, it feels easier. Clients “get” you. Referrals flow. Your online presence actually helps close business with a brand that says, “We’ve got our act together.”

Sometimes the fix is small. But the impact is life changing.

Don’t wait until the pain gets unbearable. Whether it’s your knees or your marketing funnel, sometimes a small change makes all the difference. You just have to stop long enough to notice.

Thanks for reading & Happy Marketing!

About Us

401(k) Marketing is the modern marketing agency for the retirement plan industry. We support our clients through custom engagements, content marketing campaigns, sales material innovations, and thought-leadership consulting. Our mission is to empower the retirement plan industry with high-quality marketing, ultimately inspiring Americans to become financially prepared for their future.

Retirement Plan Marketing is the solution for retirement plan advisors looking for a scalable marketing process. This process generates awareness, streamlines sales opportunities, and earns more 401(k) business. This comprehensive, strategy-driven program includes digital content and sales material designed to help retirement plan professionals attract the right decision-makers.