In this episode, Dan dives deep into some of his favorite topics with seasoned marketing pro, thought leader, podcaster, and fellow denizen of the RISE Community, Aaron Hassen. An Air Force veteran with decades of corporate B2B sales and marketing experience, Aaron is the founder and Chief Marketer of AH Marketing, his consultancy focused on helping B2B clients multiply their annual growth. Never afraid to chase down a new idea or pursue a theory, Aaron’s bold stance on current marketing matters has led him to become “the founder’s best friend and secret weapon.” As a founder-turned-marketer, he knows what owners and founders need to market their businesses and stay connected to customers.  He and Dan explore some of that as they discuss how trust and emotion are absolutely necessary to make the kinds of connections that will shape the current and next generation of business. Listen to their conversation, and you will: Discover the essential role of trust and connection in marketing for strengthening customer relationships. Understand how to utilize personal branding to establish a formidable bond with your target audience. Unearth the potential of communities in fostering trust and creating a solid connection with your customer base. Recognize the impact of face-to-face interaction in building an authentic connection and lasting trust. Learn the significance of aligning your brand values with consumers to reinforce your brand identity and build trust.  Notable Quotes: “I learned from sales to listen and to really listen deeply with empathy and understanding.” (10:31), Aaron.  “Servant leaders and great entrepreneurs embody the same things.” – (13:17), Aaron.  “Sometimes we get behind these closed doors and we start to think selfishly and that’s the worst thing you can do in terms of acquiring customers in my view.” - (14:40), Aaron.  “Consumers have control of a brand’s reputation, and they have access to product information like they never have before.” – (16:55), Aaron.  “Personal brands help companies become more than a product or solution.” – (27:16), Aaron.  “People do not trust companies the way they used to.” (28:30), Aaron.  “Customers are looking for integrity that somebody is going to be consistent and reliable to their values, purpose, and vision.” – (32:03), Aaron. “You’ve got to go through the process of understanding who you are and what your role and relevance is in the market.” – (33:17), Aaron. “Different people will have different perspectives based on how they’re traversing different challenges at their company.” – (42:44), Aaron.  On AI. “How do I know this is a real person behind it, how do I know the information isn’t false.” – (44:45), Aaron. “People are seeking human beings and they ‘re looking for solutions through trusted sources.” (45:38), Aaron.  “Relationships are built on trust and trusted relationships drive referrals.” – (54:31), Aaron. “You can’t buy trust.” – (57:16), Dan. About Dan Nestle  The Dan Nestle Show (libsyn.com) Daniel Nestle | LinkedIn The Dan Nestle Show | Facebook Dan Nestle (@dsnestle) | Twitter/X About Aaron Hassen Aaron Hassen – Website Aaron Hassen - Linkedin Aaron Hassen – YouTube Aaron Hassen - Twitter/X  The key moments in this episode (as generated by my AI buddy, Capsho) are: 00:00:00 - Introduction,  00:02:10 - The Value of Deep Conversations, 00:06:17 - The Emotional Side of B2B Marketing, 00:09:00 - The Journey to Becoming a Marketer, 00:12:32 - Being a Servant Leader in Marketing, 00:17:19 - The Power of Community in Building Brands, 00:18:28 - The Importance of Being Human and Building Trust, 00:20:30 - Personal Branding for All, not Just Entrepreneurs, 00:21:59 - The Success of Personal Branding, 00:28:30 - Building Personal Brands to Go Beyond Products, 00:35:01 - The Importance of Brand Identity, 00:36:07 - The Danger of Losing Focus, 00:38:01 - Trust and Connection in Marketing, 00:40:03 - The Challenge of Writing Frequency, 00:41:48 - Trust and Conne