Marketing Beyond Translation: Why Real Connection Matters

When I moved to this country, I didn’t really speak the language.
Not in the way that counts.

I could get by.
Order a coffee.
Ask for directions.
Smile politely in meetings.

But that’s not the same as belonging.

Speaking is one thing.
Understanding—the tone, the timing, the unspoken rules—is something else entirely.

And I learned that fast.

The “Budget” Moment I’ll Never Forget

I was standing in a professional meeting, confidently presenting a proposal.
Everything was going well—until it wasn’t.

I meant to say budget.

What came out instead?

Butt-head.

Yes.
That actually happened.

Budget → butt-head.

And somehow, I just… kept talking like nothing happened.

Everyone stared.
I blinked.
We moved on.

But that moment stuck with me.

Because learning a language isn’t just about words.
It’s about rhythm. Culture. Context.

It’s knowing when “Let’s circle back” means “I hated your idea.”
And when “Sounds great!” really means “I’ll ghost you in 3… 2…”

Read more: migraine awareness

Why Marketing Works the Same Way

Marketing isn’t that different.

You can get the words right.
The strategy right.
The funnel, the audience, the tagline—technically perfect.

And still completely miss the moment.

Why?

Because if you don’t understand your audience’s culture, their behaviors, their unspoken rules…
You’re not connecting.

You’re just making noise.

Real marketing doesn’t just translate.
It resonates.

What Shapes the Way I Work

What shaped me—what still shapes me—is learning all of this from the outside in.

Every awkward pause.
Every misunderstood sentence.
Every meeting where I smiled while secretly Googling an idiom under the table.

That experience taught me how to listen beyond words.
To look for meaning, not just messaging.

And that’s what I bring to my work.

Not just copy.
Not just strategy.

Understanding.

Read more: negative space in marketing

If Your Brand Feels Lost in Translation…

Don’t worry.

Missteps are human.
What matters is what you mean.

And if I could survive a “butt-head” moment in a boardroom and still build the life—and career—I have today?

Your brand will be just fine.

xx
Lara

P.S. I still have an accent. People say it’s charming now. I say it’s lived-in—and that’s always in style.