You’re Not Bad at Marketing. You’re Playing the Wrong Game - with Hattie the PMM

Layoffs in tech feel personal.But most of the time, they’re not.In this episode of My Way Marketing, I sit down with Hattie the PMM to unpack why smart, hardworking marketers keep getting laid off — and why it’s rarely about talent or effort.The real issue?Most marketers are playing checkers in a world that rewards chess players.We talk about why marketing is still treated as a cost center, how people-pleasing quietly destroys careers, and the hidden rules that determine who survives when budgets tighten.This isn’t a motivational pep talk.It’s a clear-eyed conversation about career leverage, visibility, and ownership — and how to stop confusing hard work with real value.If you’ve ever felt undervalued, disposable, or stuck in a loop of burnout → layoffs → self-doubt, this episode will help you reframe the game you’re playing.What You’ll LearnWhy layoffs are usually structural, not personalThe difference between doing great work and being perceived as valuableWhy marketers are often trained to play the wrong gameHow people-pleasing keeps you invisibleWhat “career profitability” actually meansWhy soft skills now matter more than everHow to move from execution to ownership without burning outKey TakeawaysBeing busy is not the same as being valuableVisibility and judgment matter more than effort in downturnsCareers stall because of misalignment, not lack of skillPlaying the game consciously beats pretending it doesn’t existThe most resilient marketers invest in becoming, not just doingStandout Quotes“You’re not bad at marketing. You were just playing checkers in a chess game.”“The game is being played whether you play it or not.”“Careers don’t collapse because of effort. They collapse because of invisibility.”“If another person has done it, it means you can too.”Who This Episode Is ForB2B marketers with 5–15+ years of experienceProduct marketers, growth leads, heads of marketingAnyone expected to own outcomes, not just deliver workMarketers navigating layoffs, burnout, or career stagnationPeople who want leverage, not hustleMy Way PerspectiveMost advice teaches you how to execute better.This episode helps you think more clearly — and build a career that compounds instead of resets.ResourcesVisit www.productmarketers.comSubscribe to my newsletter: www.ivanburic.com/subscribe