The Inspire PodcastHosted by Bart Egnal, President & CEO of The Hump Author: The Inspire Podcast by the Humphrey Group
Hosted by Bart Egnal, President & CEO of The Humphrey Group, Inspire is THE podcast for anyone who wants to influence and lead others every time they speak. Each episode features a new guest who will share insights, stories and tips on how you can intentionally inspire others, both in work and in life. Our interviews skip the theory and provide you with practical advice to inspire others during every interaction. This first season includes insights from a former TOPGUN instructor, the CEO of a major North American Port, and our company's very own founder. Follow our page so you never miss an episode. Language: en Genres: Business Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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S7 E16: The Power of Differentiation with Barry LaBov
Tuesday, 25 November, 2025
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart speaks with Barry LaBov—CEO, founder, author, and former rock musician and producer—about his new book The Power of Differentiation. Barry explains why differentiation is critical for brands, businesses, and leaders, and how clarity around what makes you unique is essential in today’s crowded marketplace He shares stories from his early days in the music industry and his unexpected transition into marketing, highlighting how great bands, great companies, and great leaders all know what makes them distinctively unique, and they double down on it. Barry also walks through his approach to finding and naming your differentiators, and why leaders must launch and celebrate them by engaging the people who bring them to life. Whether you want your business to stand out or you’re looking to elevate your own leadership brand, Barry’s insights offer practical guidance for differentiating in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Shote Notes: 00:22 Show intro 00:56 Introducing Barry 02:05 What is differentiation? 02:53 It's so important today to have authenticity 03:15 Harley Davidson's differentiation 03:58 Elon Musk 04:42 Bart talks about differentiating brands 04:59 Music and unique artists 06:07 Barry's early days in a band and as a producer 06:58 Wrote songs for famous performers 07:19 Band members were all doing something unique 07:47 From music to marketing 09:49 Someone asked him to take on a marketing role – and he declined! 10:18 We trust YOU 10:49 Writing a book 11:09 Why write the book on differentiation? 11:48 How the COVID great resignation changed his thinking 12:11 Hearts, minds and market share 12:46 How can people discover their unique proposition? 13:20 Talk to humans about the brand 14:21 Observing the biz to see what is unique 14:53 Example of a unique process in a business 15:50 Jam session with the client 16:07 Taking the differentiators and executing in marketing and business 16:21 The Launch 16:26 Launch to the most important people first 16:58 You're often too close to your own work to see the differentiators 17:47 How to do this personally 19:08 These are things I do well — but it's not for everyone! 20:14 Celebrating your differentiators 24:03 Morale slipping — leaders need to reframe 25:26 How to maintain enthusiasm for your core strengths 25:57 Don't wait for the holiday party — tell them every day 26:28 Don't talk about profit unless you are sharing it 27:03 Cheerleading vs authentic celebration 28:41 Music acts that are unique today 30:53 Where can people get more 31:28 Thank-yous and outro








