<p>Layoffs in tech feel personal.</p><p>But most of the time, they’re not.</p><p></p><p>In this episode of <i>My Way Marketing</i>, I sit down with <b>Hattie the PMM</b> to unpack why smart, hardworking marketers keep getting laid off — and why it’s rarely about talent or effort.</p><p></p><p>The real issue?</p><p>Most marketers are playing <b>checkers</b> in a world that rewards <b>chess players</b>.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>This isn’t a motivational pep talk.</p><p>It’s a <b>clear-eyed conversation about career leverage, visibility, and ownership</b> — and how to stop confusing hard work with real value.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><h2><b>What You’ll Learn</b></h2><ul><li>Why layoffs are usually <b>structural</b>, not personal</li><li>The difference between doing great work and being <b>perceived as valuable</b></li><li>Why marketers are often trained to play the wrong game</li><li>How people-pleasing keeps you invisible</li><li>What “career profitability” actually means</li><li>Why soft skills now matter more than ever</li><li>How to move from execution to ownership without burning out</li></ul><p></p><p></p><h2><b>Key Takeaways</b></h2><ul><li>Being busy is not the same as being valuable</li><li>Visibility and judgment matter more than effort in downturns</li><li>Careers stall because of misalignment, not lack of skill</li><li>Playing the game consciously beats pretending it doesn’t exist</li><li>The most resilient marketers invest in <b>becoming</b>, not just doing</li></ul><p></p><h2><b>Standout Quotes</b></h2><blockquote><p>“You’re not bad at marketing. You were just playing checkers in a chess game.”</p><p></p><p>“The game is being played whether you play it or not.”</p><p></p><p>“Careers don’t collapse because of effort. They collapse because of invisibility.”</p><p></p><p>“If another person has done it, it means you can too.”</p></blockquote><p></p><h2><b>Who This Episode Is For</b></h2><ul><li>B2B marketers with 5–15+ years of experience</li><li>Product marketers, growth leads, heads of marketing</li><li>Anyone expected to own outcomes, not just deliver work</li><li>Marketers navigating layoffs, burnout, or career stagnation</li><li>People who want leverage, not hustle</li></ul><p></p><h2><b>My Way Perspective</b></h2><p>Most advice teaches you how to execute better.</p><p>This episode helps you think more clearly — and build a career that compounds instead of resets.</p><p></p><h2><b>Resources</b></h2><p>Visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.productmarketers.com" target="_blank">www.productmarketers.com</a></p><p>Subscribe to my newsletter: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.ivanburic.com/subscribe" target="_blank">www.ivanburic.com/subscribe</a></p><p></p>