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What happens when you strip commerce down to its essence? In this thought-provoking conversation between industry veterans, we explore the fundamental truth that all business boils down to two people exchanging value—and everything else is just overhead.
Steve Clegg opens with a powerful framework: the economy only functions through human exchange, yet we've built towering hierarchies of "rent-seekers" atop these simple transactions. Through cryptocurrency and AI, he envisions a future where these layers disappear, returning power to buyers and sellers. His work with Zentoro has achieved remarkable 98% accuracy in predicting customer retention through transaction patterns, revealing that frequency matters far more than transaction value.
Venky Lakshminarayanan brings his expertise in value management, describing it as "orchestrating business functions to maximize customer value." He challenges listeners to question whether they truly understand what problems they're solving for customers. His insights on how value differs between enterprises (revenue, profits) and individuals (recognition, quality of life) provide a framework for aligning business objectives with human needs.
Nick Mavrick from Built Data completes the picture by exposing how poorly most organizations support their field personnel with actionable market intelligence. He describes a world where salespeople lack basic knowledge about customer prioritization and market coverage, resulting in missed opportunities and frustration on both sides of the transaction.
Among the most practical revelations is the "50-50 rule"—research showing that conversations where both parties speak equally are dramatically more likely to result in action. This golden ratio applies whether you're a doctor with patients, a manager with employees, or a salesperson with customers.
The discussion also touches on the legacy burden of enterprise systems like CRMs, which have become expensive obstacles rather than value creators. As AI enables more agile alternatives at a fraction of the cost, businesses face a critical decision point: continue with systems that deliver poor ROI, or embrace transformation?
Whether you're reconsidering your business model, evaluating technology investments, or simply trying to better understand customer behavior, this conversation offers clarity on what truly drives successful commerce in today's complex environment.

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