Welcome to the Marketing for Business podcast! This is where we dive into everything marketing, copywriting, lead generation, traffic, and sales — especially for health and wellness businesses. Today, I’ll be sharing some powerful business lessons from one of my favorite shows, Suits.

Quick question — have you watched Suits, the Netflix show?

I totally get that! It’s nine seasons long, but it’s probably the only long show I’ve actually finished. Beyond being a great show, Suits is filled with valuable business lessons wrapped in drama and legal strategy. I’ve done an episode like this before, but there’s so much more to unpack. This episode continues that discussion because Suits really hits home with marketing, business strategy, and leadership insights.

For those unfamiliar, Suits is about a high-stakes law firm in New York. The show highlights how they acquire clients, navigate legal battles, manage internal politics, and build relationships. It’s a mix of power struggles, friendships, and the relentless drive to be the best.

Most of the lessons I’ll discuss today are inspired by one of the show’s key characters, Harvey Specter — a no-nonsense, confident, and strategic lawyer. He’s one of my favorites because of his sharp mindset. We’ll break down some of his quotes and scenarios to extract the business wisdom behind them.

If you haven’t watched the show, don’t worry! There may be minor spoilers, but nothing that would ruin the overall experience. Plus, these lessons are relevant whether or not you’ve seen the show.

Lesson 1: Nobody Likes a Show-Off

In Suits, on Mike’s first day at the law firm, Rachel, a paralegal, showed him around. She explained how things worked, but Mike, who has a photographic memory, wasn’t taking notes. When Rachel called him out, he recited everything she had just said, to which she replied, “Nobody likes a show-off.”

This is a crucial lesson in business. It’s easy to fall into the trap of bragging about what you can do for clients. For example, if your business helps people grow revenue, it’s tempting to market success with statements like, “We made $100,000 last month,” or “We made $50,000 this month.” Even if true, it can come off as boasting, creating skepticism.

People might start questioning the authenticity of your claims. Instead, let others do the bragging for you through:

• Customer testimonials — Instead of a vague compliment like “The book was really good,” go for specifics like, “This book helped me increase my revenue by 20% in three months.”
• Case studies — Walk through how you worked with a client, the changes you implemented, and the measurable results achieved.

Another way is to tell stories about your customer experiences. If you don’t have a direct testimonial, share a case study in a way that highlights the impact without coming off as self-promotion.

It’s not about endorsing yourself — it’s about letting your work and others speak for you. That makes it feel less like bragging and more like authentic proof of success.

Lesson 2: Play the Man, Not the Odds

There’s a scene in Suits where Harvey plays poker with Louis. Harvey bluffs and wins, telling Louis, “Poker isn’t about playing the odds; it’s about playing the man.” The client they were trying to win over was impressed by Harvey’s strategic thinking.

In marketing and business, success isn’t just about using the best strategies — it’s about understanding people. Many marketers focus solely on trends and techniques but forget they’re dealing with real humans who have emotions, desires, and needs.

If you only focus on playing the odds — meaning just following formulas — you may get short-term wins. But for long-term success, you need to play the man, meaning:

• Understand your audience’s real pain points.
• Build genuine relationships instead of just selling.
• Set realistic expectations and follow through consistently.

Successful businesses prioritize trust and relationships. Focus on the person, not just the transaction, and you’ll build lasting partnerships instead of one-time sales.

Conclusion: Suits is filled with powerful business lessons, and these are just a couple of them.

• Nobody likes a show-off — Instead of bragging, let testimonials, case studies, and indirect proof establish your credibility.
• Play the man, not the odds — Business is not just about strategies; it’s about genuinely understanding and connecting with people.

If you’d like to learn more, head over to https://ikonmedia.net/ to grab my free guide, Your Email List Is Your Wife. It covers 11–12 rules for building and managing your email list to maximize profits.

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