Hobbit-Based Marketing Lessons from Middle Earth
Mornin’. Gray skies here in Austin today—perfect weather for what I’ve been up to lately - diving back into Lord of the Rings.
You know how some books just feel like old friends? That’s LoTR for me. Every couple years, I find myself settling in with the hobbits and their adventures.
(Maybe it’s because we share an appreciation for good food, comfortable chairs, and the occasional pint. Though I’ll pass on the seven meals a day.)
And while I could geek out about the story all day, what really catches my eye are the marketing lessons hiding in plain sight.
So let me share some unconventional wisdom from the Shire:
Don’t Try to Do It Alone: Most marketers think they need to carry the whole load themselves. But even the “chosen one” needed a fellowship. Your marketing needs allies, whether they’re hairy-footed or not.
The Samwise Effect: Everyone’s chasing big, impressive numbers like Gollum after his precious. But Sam - ONE ride-or-die friend - made all the difference. I’ll take 100 true believers over 10,000 tire-kickers any day.
Weird Allies Can Bring Big Wins: Nobody was lining up to partner with Gollum. But that little cave-crawler helped save Middle Earth. In marketing, your most powerful allies might not be the obvious ones.
Shortcuts Are Tempting, But Toxic: Quick-fix “hacks” are like Pippin poking the Palantir. It looks shiny, but it’ll burn you faster than dragon fire.
If Your Goals Don’t Scare You, They’re Too Small: Frodo was terrified walking into Mordor. If your goals don’t make you at least a little queasy, you’re playing it too safe.
Do Right When Everyone’s Wrong: The Ring tempted everyone - but doing the right thing won in the end. Same goes for marketing. The shady path might look easier, but integrity wins the long game.
Look, building a business is a long journey. The obstacles are real, and some days you’ll want to pack it in and head for the safety of your hobbit hole.
That's when you have to ask, WWFD? (What would Frodo do?) And if you keep pushing forward, you'll surprise yourself with how far you can go.
Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for second breakfast…
Keep trekking,
Brad