Hi, I’m Seth Longhurst—a 6’7″ sensitive striver who probably looks more like an NFL player than a marketing professional. I’m a recovering people pleaser, lifecycle marketing geek, and someone who just got emotional in front of a college class (more on that in a second).
The Unexpected Tears
On Valentines Day, I stood in front of Westminster University’s Marketing Program Senior Seminar class to give my annual guest lecture. But something different happened this time. I started tearing up. Yeah, the big guy who looks like he should be playing defensive end got misty-eyed in front of marketing students. Here’s why: This was my last time speaking in Nancy Panos Schmitt‘s class before her retirement.
A Full-Circle Moment
Eighteen years ago, I sat in those same seats as a Westminster student. Nancy didn’t just teach me marketing—she changed my life with some straight-talk advice. When I was planning to double major and stick around campus longer than needed, she looked me in the eyes and said, “What are you doing! Get out there, start working. Start learning—and save the money buddy.”
Best. Advice. Ever.
The New 4 P’s
Marketing students learn about the traditional 4 P’s: Product, Place, Price, Promotion. But after nearly two decades in marketing and advertising, I’ve developed my own 4 P’s for career and life success:
- People: Build genuine connections. Your network isn’t just LinkedIn connections—it’s real relationships that matter.
- Problems: Look for real issues you can solve. Don’t chase shiny objects or jump on every trend.
- Process: Create systems that work for you. Whether it’s daily habits or workflow improvements, success is about consistent execution.
- Priorities: Know what matters most. Your career is important, but it’s just one piece of your life’s puzzle.
Why This Newsletter Exists
Looking at those students on February 14th, I saw the fear in their eyes. AI, layoffs, economic uncertainty—it’s a lot. But here’s the thing: We’ve been through massive changes before. When I was finishing college and starting my career, technology looked completely different. Amazon primarily sold textbooks, the iPhone didn’t exist, and Facebook was still just for college students (yeah, I’m dating myself here). I’m starting this newsletter because I want to help. Not with some polished, influencer-style content selling you courses or promising “10x growth hacks.” Just real stories, honest advice, and practical insights from someone who’s been in the trenches of marketing and advertising for almost two decades.
A Promise
Each month, I’ll share one piece of advice or insight. No fluff, no affiliate links, no ulterior motives. Just stuff I wish someone had told me when I was starting out.
Nancy, thanks for two decades of friendship and mentorship. You’ve shaped more careers than you’ll ever know. And to everyone reading this—let’s navigate this wild world of marketing together.
See you next month, Seth
P.S. If you’re wondering about that “sensitive striver” thing I mentioned earlier, we’ll get into that next time. It’s actually become a superpower in my career, but that’s a story for another day. Also, full disclosure: this is all me and my original thinking. However, Claude 3.5 Sonnet was used to help me improve the structure and flow of my draft while maintaining my authentic voice. I believe in transparency, and just like I tell students—AI isn’t going to take your job, but people using AI to their advantage will. Be one of those people.
