180: Jason Harris – The Soulful Art of Persuasion

“Whenever I hear a no, I think it’s a no for now.”
- Jason Harris
Hey, guys, welcome back to ONKEN RADIO (previously NION Radio), the podcast where we explore the body, mind, and soul of the creative entrepreneur. It's my goal to help you take your creativity, business, and life to the next level. I'm so glad you're joining me on this journey!

Let's face it, whether it be our boss, our spouse or friend, or that cute hottie at the bar, we've all had to persuade someone of something at some point in our lives. However, did you know that there's a right way and a wrong way to convince others? 

This is what we're discussing today as I sit down with Jason Harris, the founder of Mekanism, one of New York's top advertising agencies. As entrepreneurs, some of us might be natural persuaders. We find it easy to use our energy, knowledge, and personality to influence others and get people on board with our ideas. Yet, some might not be lucky enough to know the right way and a wrong way to persuade others. Despite these differences, Jason believes that anyone can improve how they connect with others and even master the art of persuasion. 

Are you ready to know how Jason started on his own journey and how to be more persuasive? If you are, then let's dive in!
Who Is Jason Harris?
Jason Harris is the co-founder & CEO of award-winning creative advertising agency Mekanism and co-founder of the Creative Alliance. He works closely with brands through a blend of creativity and performance. We call this approach Soul + Science. Iconic brands include Peloton, Ben & Jerry's, Jose Cuervo, Charles Schwab, and OkCupid, among others.

Under his leadership, Mekanism was most recently named Independent Agency of the Year by The Drum and ranked by the Effie Index as a top 10 Most Effective Independent Agency in the United States. Mekanism has also been named to Ad Age's Agency A-list and twice to their Best Places to Work. 

Harris was also named 2021 CEO of the Year by The Drum. He’s been a recipient of the 4A's 100 People Who Make Advertising Great and a 2020 Campaign US 40 Over 40 honoree for his noteworthy contributions to the advertising & marketing industry. His methods are studied in cases at Harvard Business School.

He is also the author of the national bestseller, The Soulful Art of Persuasion, a book about building soulful relationships that turn into creative and business collaborations. This has been an impactful book for my own career, business, and life, and I'm sure it can impact yours, too. 
How the Story Began
From extensive campaigns to viral videos, there's always someone who acts as a driving force behind some of today's most engaging and compelling ads. This person needs to possess a creative mind that few can match — and he leverages it daily to make brands happy and consumers think alike. This Mad Men-like characteristic is what Jason has always dreamt of having, even as a kid.
"I was 12 years old when I knew I wanted to go into advertising. I thought it was a good combination of business, like moving goods and services and promoting them."
- Jason Harris
Aside from that, he also grew up finding a passion for other things.
"I grew up as a creative. I was a comic book nerd and loved drawing all the superheroes and writing graphic novels. … Then I discovered the power of music, which opened up my mind in terms of creativity."
- Jason Harris
Jason played the bass for years. He had fun with it but realized it was not something natural to him. 
"I enjoyed it, but I realized that I don't want to go on tours. It's not like I want to be the next rock star."
- Jason Harris
Although Jason did not become a rockstar for music, he became the rock star of the ad world. But getting this new title came with many challenges — including convincing others to get on board with what he wanted them to believe.
Creative Spaces and Relationships
The truth is the world of advertising isn't easy.