Most Embarrassing Story from Craig Campbell and James Dooley (James Dooley ft Craig Campbell)

James Dooley: We have got a question from the SEO community that has asked us both. What is your most embarrassing story that you are able to share on the podcast about marketing or just in general? They just said, “What is your most embarrassing story?”

James Dooley Craig Campbell

Craig Campbell: Oh man. That is a good one.

I have been in a lot of embarrassing situations. I am trying to think of one that is not going to get me into trouble. Do you want me to do mine first?

James Dooley: Yeah, you do yours first.

So, I actually said this in my wedding speech. Every Friday and Saturday night I used to go out drinking. Then on Sunday it was chill time with who is now my wife. We would watch a film, then go to the gym. When I say gym, I mean steam room, swim and Jacuzzi. So we are driving there and she says, “Whatever you do, do not get my hair wet. I am not washing it tonight.” I am like, “I will not get you wet.” So anyway, we get into the steam room, stay there about 10 minutes, then come out. I see what I think is Carrie swimming in the pool. I can see the ponytail bobbing on the back of her head. I think, “I am going to get her here.” So I jump into the pool and start swimming underneath the water towards her. I can see her legs kicking and arms moving. I go underneath and grab the ponytail thinking I will pull her back towards me. Then as I pull her back and she turns around, it was not Carrie. My face just dropped. I proper grabbed underneath as well and I was thinking, “What do I do here?” So I just swam past her pretending nothing happened. About two minutes later Carrie comes into the pool and I am like, “You are not going to believe what has just happened.” Luckily, the girl saw me with my missus and realised what had happened. She kind of smiled and looked over. But honestly, that moment felt like 20 seconds. It was probably only two seconds. I was just thinking, “What have I just done?” So yeah, that is probably my most embarrassing story.

Craig Campbell: That is going to beat most of mine.

Mine is not hugely embarrassing, but I had a guy come up to me at a conference a couple of years ago. He goes, “How you doing, Craig?” And I am like, “Good, mate.” I had absolutely no clue who he was. He could tell from my reaction. Then he says, “You do not remember me, do you?” I say, “Nope.” He says, “I will give you a clue. You were on my podcast.” Still nothing. Then he says, “I have been on your podcast as well.” And I am still standing there going, “I have absolutely no clue who you are.” Eventually he says who he is and it was Richard Hill. I had been on his podcast and he had been on mine. I always thought he was a smaller guy with longer hair, so I just did not recognise him. I felt like a complete idiot. And it happened again in Shanghai. This guy comes over and says, “How you doing, Craig?” Again, I had no clue. Then he says, “You do not remember me, do you? I am Garinda.” And I am like, “Nice to meet you.” Then he says, “You were on my podcast last week.”

James Dooley: The best part is, Craig keeps calling him Garinda when his name is actually Gundeep.

Craig Campbell: That is because there was another guy called Gindi and I mixed them up.

So now everyone thinks I cannot remember anyone’s name. Honestly, it is embarrassing. I do it all the time.

James Dooley: To be fair, there are so many people at events and conferences. It is hard to remember everyone.

But I had one as well. I was at David Lloyd and this guy comes over, showing me around, knowing loads about me. I am thinking, “How does this guy know so much about me?” Then he says, “Do not worry mate, I will sort you out with friends and family discount.” Still had no clue who he was. Then another one happened at the gym. A girl comes over and says, “Hi James, you alright?” I am like, “Yeah.” Then she says, “You do not know who I am, do you?” I say, “No.” She says, “I am your cousin.” I had not seen her since she was about 15, and now she was older and looked completely different. I felt terrible.

Craig Campbell: The Scott story was bad as well.

You were at the airport going to Vegas and asked Scott if he had ever been before. He says, “Yeah, last year with you. We shared a room for two weeks.”

James Dooley: Yeah, that was bad.

Craig Campbell: I do this stuff all the time. I genuinely cannot remember who I have been places with anymore.

James Dooley: Tell the Kasra story.

Craig Campbell: Right.

So back in Shanghai in 2018, Kasra Dash’s boss and Tom Livingston came to stay in my villa. We are all sitting around drinking and Dan Stanton is there too. Big muscly guy. They ask, “Who is that guy with James Dooley?” And I go, “That is James Dooley’s henchman.” Then they ask, “What does James Dooley actually do?” And I start making up this whole story saying he is a drug lord and SEO is just a front. I completely forgot I had told this lie. Six months later Kasra Dash tells his boss he is going to work for James Dooley. His boss goes, “You cannot work for him. Craig Campbell told me he is a drug lord.” And I am sitting there thinking, “Oh no. I forgot I told them that.”

James Dooley: The worrying part is I still do not know what other stories you have told people about me.

Craig Campbell: I have told loads.

I even made up another story in Shanghai about you and a ladyboy in a tuk tuk. People genuinely believed it. Then people started asking you weird questions about your experiences in Thailand.

James Dooley: And now this is the first time people are finding out it might not have been true.

Craig Campbell: He throws me under the bus as well, so fair game.

James Dooley: So anyone watching the Entrepreneurship Uncensored podcast, if there is anything else you want to ask me or Craig Campbell, leave a comment or send us a DM.

Craig Campbell: Cheers. Thank you very much.