Empowering Female Designers In this special episode of The Futur Podcast, host Chris Do converses with Anna Dower and Emma Kate, founders of the Designer Boss Summit. They share their journey from graphic designers to successful mentors, revealing how they launched an empowering online summit for designers worldwide. Amid discussions on overcoming imposter syndrome, fostering community, and leveraging AI, they emphasize the importance of asking for opportunities and collaborating authentically. Their story is an inspiring testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of female entrepreneurship in the design industry. Sign up for your FREE ticket to Design Camp here! Summitdesignerboss.co When you use my affiliate link to snag your free ticket and consider upgrading to the Boss Bundle, I might earn a small commission. This helps me continue creating awesome free content for you. Thanks in advance for using my affiliate link!  Check out today's guests, Anna Dower and Emma Kate: ➤ Facebook Group | Website | Designer Boss Instagram ➤ Anna on Instagram | Emma on Instagram Check out The Futur: ➤ Website | Courses | LinkedIn | Podcasts ➤ Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Check out Chris Do: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ➤ TikTok | Threads | Zaap | Clubhouse | Behance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fundamentals of Sales In this engaging episode, Chris Do speaks with John Driscoll, CEO and co-founder of Naked Development. John shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his childhood entrepreneurial ventures to becoming an early adopter of mobile apps. They discuss foundational sales skills, the importance of being genuine and honest in business, and how to cultivate trust with clients. John also dives into the philosophy behind his company and the significance of knowing your customer intimately for effective inbound marketing. Check out today's guest, John Driscoll: ➤ LinkedIn | Website Check out The Futur: ➤ Website | Courses | LinkedIn | Podcasts ➤ Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Check out Chris Do: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ➤ TikTok | Threads | Zaap | Clubhouse | Behance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pricing Evolution In this episode, host Chris Do interviews Michael Angelo, the owner of San Antonio Video Productions, about his career transition from a salaried employee to a full-time entrepreneur. Starting at the age of 15, Michael gained experience freelancing while in college and eventually landed a gig in outdoor television. Michael discusses his journey, the lessons learned from holding a salaried position, and the skills he developed that helped him start his own business. He shares his blueprint for achieving a dream, using the acronym DREAM to outline the steps: Dedicate, Refine, Evolve, Activate, and Multiply. Michael also discusses his methods for acquiring clients through Thumbtack and Google Ads, and emphasizes the importance of evolving into a business owner and training others to scale the business effectively. Check out today's guest, Michael Angelo: ➤ Website | Instagram | LinkedIn Check out The Futur: ➤ Website | Courses | LinkedIn | Podcasts ➤ Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Check out Chris Do: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ➤TikTok | Threads | Zaap | Clubhouse | Behance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve listened to the podcast long enough (or watched enough videos), you will have heard the joke about Chris being a robot. That is to say; he always keeps his cool. But how does he do it? How does Chris regulate his emotions so well? Especially in the face of aggressive internet criticism. In part one of this two-part episode, Chris and Anneli discuss the art of detachment. By definition, detachment means being free from bias or prejudice. And that is key to Chris’s ability to remain objective. Sponsored by Wix - https://wix.com/partners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean Cannell is a YouTuber, international speaker, and the founder of ThinkMedia. His mission: help entrepreneurs build their influence and go full-time doing what they love through the power of online video. In 2022, Sean took a huge risk by throwing a live personal branding event in Las Vegas, NV. He booked guest speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Alex Hormozi, and Vanessa Lau, which put tremendous pressure on his team. Pressure to make this event memorable for guests and profitable for his business. Fortunately, it worked out for the best, but not without making a few mistakes. In this unique conversation, Sean shares why he hosted an event of this magnitude and what he learned from the experience. He and Chris talk about event marketing strategy, booking high-profile guests, and the value of putting yourself in a challenging situation. Sponsored by: Gusto - https://gusto.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kate Pincott is a product designer, design coach, and CEO/founder of Remote Design Coaching. Her mission: reconnect designers to their intuition and creativity. At the peak of her tech-design career, Kate burned out. She had been running at full speed in shoes that did not fit. But instead of taking a sabbatical or falling into distraction, she made an interesting choice. Kate took what worked (and what she had become quite good at) in product design and applied it to her life. She started prototyping herself. Think of it as taking incremental steps toward improving your life. For Kate, step one was simply working outdoors in nature. In this candid chat, Kate shares her process for prototyping herself and offers guidance about how you can reconnect with your body, mind, and intuition. It is a fascinating framework. Kate even coaches Chris during their conversation, so you can see how her coaching process works in real-time. Sponsored by: The Commercial Break - https://tcbpodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joana Galvao is the founder of award-winning branding and web design agency GiF Design Studios. She is also on a personal mission to help fellow creative service providers stay booked solid. In this special episode, Joana takes us through her entire marketing funnel. You will hear how it developed and how she automates nearly everything to maximize efficiency. Joana’s marketing process worked so well that she took four months of maternity leave and did not check her email once. If that doesn’t impress you, we don’t know what will. Better yet, Joana was kind enough to share this process as a free download to The Futur Podcast listeners. Download the document and follow along as you listen (or save it for later). Sponsored by Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brendan Kane is a bestselling author and influential marketing advisor to celebrities, pro athletes, and major brands. He’s helped clients like Taylor Swift, Paramount Studios, Vice, and IKEA make content that consistently goes viral. Despite how it may feel, the algorithms are not working against you. They are one of the keys to making viral content. In this episode, Brendan walks us through his process for creating quality content that appeals to a broad audience and makes our algorithmic adversaries happy. Want to know the secret to social media success? Effective storytelling. The best content comes from stories that resonate with people on many levels. According to Brendan, there are six different ways people perceive content. We can use that information to tell better stories with context that matters to our prospective audience. Brendan also dispels myths and outdated advice for how to “beat” the algorithm. For instance, unleashing a consistent torrent of content will not yield better engagement results because crappy content is still crappy. If you want to improve your content, be more strategic with social media, and connect with a wide range of people, listen closely to this episode. Sponsored by Gusto - https://gusto.com/futur Wix - https://wix.com/partners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Neil Hoyne is an author, researcher, and marketing executive working at Google as Chief Measurement Strategist. He is also a senior fellow at The Wharton School and an advisor for Capital G. Neil specializes in building strong customer relationships by analyzing data like customer lifetime value (CLV) and consumer psychology. In this informative conversation, Neil and Chris discuss the power and pitfalls of relying on data to make business decisions. They start by defining what “data-driven” means and how awkward current marketing tactics are when you think about it. It’s easy to get caught up in data analytics, which is why we like Neil’s advice: you don’t have to be the best; you simply need to be better than the alternatives. If you are confused by your customer data, this episode will help dispel some of that analytical haze. Sponsored by Peloton - https://onepeloton.com/app Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ryan Blair is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and most importantly, a dad. He is the founder and CEO of Alter Call, a multi-faith spiritual community that helps people accelerate personal transformation. Alter Call members value living a life of service and measurable impact. But before the philanthropy and fatherhood, Ryan had a very different life. After surviving an abusive childhood living in poverty, Ryan’s ability to adapt led him to join a gang. Though he thrived as an illegal entrepreneur, the lifestyle was taxing and dangerous. Miraculously, Ryan was able to leave that life and transition into legitimate entrepreneurship. And through hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance, he built a successful life for himself as a CEO several times over. Ryan lived that luxurious life, pleasurable vices and all until he couldn’t any longer. In this special episode, Ryan shares his incredible story and offers guidance for finding your way out of the wilderness and into a better life. Sponsored by Knack Bags - https://knack-bags.pxf.io/P0E0kz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Susana Chen is the founder of the Asian Creative Foundation (ACF). ACF is a community organization that helps entry-level creatives find opportunities, navigate their career paths, and help make the creative industry a more inclusive place. Roles get flipped in this episode. In this conversation, Susana interviews Chris for an ACF-hosted virtual event called Asian Creative Festival. And they cover a lot of ground. Like what inspired The Futur’s mission to teach 1 billion people, how Chris manages stress and the story of how Chris first learned about graphic design. The two also discuss an important and divisive topic: design school. If you’re new to the creative industry (or considering joining it), then you’ll enjoy this conversation. And if you’re not so new to it all, don’t fret. Chris offers advice for you too. Sponsored by The Angry Designer Podcast Gusto - https://gusto.com/futur BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daniel Priestley is an entrepreneur (several times over), but you may know him best from his book Key Person of Influence. Over the last decade, Daniel noticed a trend in successful businesses: visible (and often outspoken) leadership. Steve Jobs. Richard Branson. Elon Musk. These CEOs leveraged technology to wield influence and change how we think about the world and their products. In short, we buy into the people behind the business before we buy from the business. You may not aspire to be the next Elon Musk, but you can apply the same approach and hasten the growth of your own small business. In this episode, Daniel and Chris discuss the benefits of being a person of influence and study the five common things you need to do to become one. But before you start that process, ask yourself this: what kind of dent do you want to make in the universe? Sponsored by Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the final episode of our series on self-sabotage, we pick up where the conversation between Nidhi and Chris left off. If you missed the first two episodes, we suggest you go back and listen to those first. At this point in the story, Chris is betting his future (and the future of his staff) on pivoting into a new teaching venture then called The Skool. But to do that, he must abandon his design agency. Everywhere Chris looks, he sees doubt. Doubt from internal management, creative teams, and even his business coach. At the time, that doubt seemed reasonable. Why leave a business earning $4 million annually in favor of something that generated a mere $10K the previous year? What everyone didn’t know was that Chris had a plan. And a quantifiable vision of what success looked like for The Futur. Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Wix - https://wix.com/partners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Design, Technology, and the Future In this episode, host Chris Do and Ian Dawson explore the evolution of broadcast design from the 90s to the present, focusing on the impact of new technologies like artificial intelligence, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR). Ian shares stories from his early career at Novacom, discusses pivotal industry changes, and examines challenges faced by producers and designers. They also delve into the transformative potential of AR and VR across sectors such as advertising and education, the importance of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, and how technologies like Apple's Vision Pro could revolutionize creative and educational fields. Furthermore, they highlight the shifting dynamics between agencies, brands, and creatives, emphasizing accountability and achieving Return on Investment (ROI). Tune in for insights on how these cutting-edge technologies are reshaping the future landscape for designers, developers, and educators. Check out the Augmented World Expo 2024: ➤ Website ➤ Use the promo code SPKR24D to get a 20% discount on your AWE 2024 event tickets! Check out today's guest, Ian Dawson: ➤ LinkedIn | idgrafx website  Check out The Futur: ➤ Website | Courses | LinkedIn | Podcasts ➤ Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Check out Chris Do: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ➤ TikTok | Threads | Zaap | Clubhouse | Behance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part two of our three-part series on self-sabotage, Nidhi speaks with Chris about his decision to abandon Blind and start The Futur. Blind was Chris’s branding and design agency. He started it in 1995 primarily as a motion design studio. The company focused on creating design-focused video work like commercials and branded content. But after two decades of growth, Chris noticed a decline in work. He saw the inevitable writing on the wall and had to make a decision: stay the course or pivot. In this episode, Chris talks about how he made this life-changing decision. What he was thinking, feeling, and the uphill battle he fought to create what we know today as The Futur. Sponsored by Feedback Loop - https://go.feedbackloop.com/chris Dragon Ball Z - https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/dragon-ball-z-kakarot Gusto - https://gusto.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever worked so hard on something only to find yourself stuck and caught in what feels like a complete slog? At that moment, you may think: This isn’t working. It’s time to pivot. But what if, on the other side of that discomfort, awaits everything you want? More importantly: how do you know if it’s time to pivot or push through the discomfort? Welcome to part one of our three-part series tackling the concept of self-sabotage. Why we do it, how we do it, and finding the right balance between hard work and self-care. In this episode, mental health therapist Nidhi Tewari joins Chris to discuss the differences between an unhealthy grind and determined grit. While the two hold different perspectives on the path to proverbial success, they agree that many of us quit working before it gets good. If you’re at a crossroads and deciding whether to press on or pivot, this conversation is for you. Sponsored by Hubspot - https://hubspot.com Wix - https://wix.com/partners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Neville Medhora is best known as a copywriter. But that doesn’t mean he just writes copy. According to Neville, effective copywriting means communicating a message from your brain to millions of other brains using the best technology available. Hundreds of years ago, a carrier pigeon was the best option. Today, it’s probably a brief email that includes curated animated GIFs. In this episode, we talk with the author and copywriter about why he dropped out of college, his direct approach to helping clients, and why he actively keeps up with marketing trends. One universal tip Neville shared that might help you (and your business) is that familiarity ruins your ability to critique something. You can’t relive a first impression, so try introducing fresh eyes to your problem. It will almost always lead to better insights. If you’re interested in learning how to improve your copywriting, you might like Neville’s copywriting course. Sponsored by LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/futur Dragon Ball Z - https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/dragon-ball-z-kakarot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kyle T Webster is an award-winning international illustrator. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, TIME, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Nike, IDEO, and several other distinguished clients. Acclaimed industry publications like the Society of Illustrators, Communications Arts, and American Illustration have recognized his illustration work. Kyle also teaches at UNC School of the Arts and works for Adobe, hosting workshops and helping to make digital products like Adobe Fresco. But you may better know him by his best-selling Photoshop brushes. The Origin of KyleBrush As an illustrator, having a distinct visual style is a point of pride. But that's not something Kyle was interested in. He wanted to offer clients a range of illustrative styles. And to do that, he needed a range of flexible tools. As a result, KyleBrush was born. KyleBrush is a collection of thousands of high-quality digital brushes originally created for Adobe Photoshop. What started as a practical necessity transformed into a full-time business. Kyle's products became an industry staple. You could find his digital brushes everywhere, from Pixar to boutique animation studios. In 2017, Adobe acquired KyleBrush making all of his digital brushes available to anyone subscribed to Creative Cloud. They also hired Kyle to help their product team develop new digital drawing tools. In this episode We talk with Kyle about navigating the creative industry, price negotiation, overcoming anxiety, and the calculated career risks he took along the way. Beyond that, Kyle also offers a variety of practical tips that you can apply to your professional life right now. In particular, a clever way to connect with seemingly unreachable people. Sponsored by Hubspot - https://hubspot.com Superside - https://superside.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2017 Natasha Takahashi completed her first semester at the prestigious (and quite expensive) college, University of Southern California. She'd spent many nights writing essays and working tirelessly to attain any scholarship she could find to pay her tuition. But Natasha had a scary epiphany halfway into her second semester: This is not for me. Frustrated and unhappy with her USC experience, she decided to drop out. She even wrote a letter to her parents expressing her gratitude and reasoning. Five years later, Natasha sounds more than happy with her decision. She's started two businesses and is well on her way to achieving the goals outlined in the letter to her parents. In this episode, we discuss Natasha's business focus: messenger automation. Whether you were aware of it, you've probably encountered (and talked with) a chatbot. But have you ever thought about how messaging automation might help you and your business? If you get overwhelmed with DMs or want to learn more about how chatbots work and the benefits that come with them, then give this episode a listen. Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Wix - https://wix.com/partners Superside - https://superside.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just when you thought you had the internet figured out, new waves of technology approach. With them come a torrent of unfamiliar terms: non-fungible tokens, web3, DAOs, the Metaverse. Are they real, hype, or are they keys to solving the world's biggest problems? In this episode, we host investor and futurist Lisa Andrews. She's fascinated by this new technology and sees an opportunity in it to create a positive impact on humanity. As Lisa puts it, we are living in the phigital world. That is to say, a hybrid of the physical and digital world. Think about the life you lead online and the one you lead offline. They're not the same but are closely related. The Metaverse is where those two worlds start to converge. And therein lies a new opportunity for innovation, creativity, and of course, business. If you think you've missed this new wave of technology, think again. There is plenty more to learn and discover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Franklin is a filmmaker, photographer, and budding YouTuber helping clients, and fellow creatives meet their goals. He's also a Futur Pro Group member, which is where he met and connected with Chris Do. In this friendly conversation, Chris shares his career path and how he went from studying pre-med biology to now running a thriving video production business. Spoiler alert: it wasn't a straight line from point A to point B. It took Chris time and inward reflection to understand who he is and what drives his motivations. And that kind of introspection is never easy. If you're interested in video production or are unsure about your path forward, this conversation might help you. Sponsored by Better Help - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kindra Hall is a storyteller, acclaimed keynote speaker, and bestselling author of Stories that Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business. She's here to remind you how important storytelling is, especially for your business. We all recognize the need for connection, now more than ever. And telling stories is an excellent way to connect with people, but being a great storyteller is not easy. Like most important things, great storytelling requires strategy and effort. It's more than simply reporting information. You've got to feel it. By feel, we mean you have to care and communicate emotion in your story. That doesn't mean sharing your deepest, darkest, most private pieces of yourself. It could be fundamental, like feeling frustrated, nervous, or curious. In this episode, Kindra offers tips on what makes for good storytelling and how you can practice telling them. According to her, there are four critical components to storytelling, and you can start using them right now. Whether you give weekly presentations or are working on your very first, Kindra's advice for telling better stories can only help. Sponsored by Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Storytelling is one of the fundamental ways humans connect. It’s how we learn, exchange ideas, and entertain ourselves. At its core, storytelling is communication. This episode comes from a live Twitter Space talk Chris Do, and Anneli Hansson hosted. The topic: how to tell your own story. The conversation opens with how powerful good storytelling is. A well-crafted story is relatable and will draw you in, making the storyteller themselves inherently more interesting. Storytelling plays a crucial role in the world of branding and marketing. How you present yourself, your business, and your work tell a story. Often, that story looks and sounds like many other people’s stories, which makes it challenging for you to stand out in a crowded market space. The good news is that everyone has a unique story to tell. And by sharing it, you create a unique space for yourself. The challenge is learning how to be your true self and not the idealized version of you. To quote Emma Coates’ 22 Story Rules, “You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.” If you struggle with standing out or think that your story isn’t interesting, this episode is for you. Chris shares several valuable tips and methods for finding and telling your own stories. Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mika Saulitis is the Director of Creative Strategy at branding and design studio, Trollbäck+Company. But what does a Director of Brand Strategy do exactly? As Mika puts it, there are two core components: strategy and creativity. Strategy involves strategic thinking, writing positioning statements, and determining the brand’s voice—the invisible traits of a brand. Creativity arrives in more tangible forms, like campaigns, videos, concepts, and copywriting. In this episode, Mika shares how he navigated the design industry and transitioned from fetching lunch orders to facilitating high-profile strategy sessions. Mika and Chris delve into how brand strategy works. The process, the pitfalls, and why the last thing a client wants is a “yes” person. If you work in or are curious about brand strategy, what it is, or how it works, then give this episode a listen. Mika is generous with what he’s learned and how he learned it. Maybe his story can help you. Sponsored by: Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Power of Words In this episode, host Chris Do interviews Phil M. Jones, a renowned business communication and sales expert, and author of 'Exactly What to Say.' Phil shares his journey from young entrepreneur to successful author and speaker, discussing his creative strategies and frameworks developed from extensive experience in senior sales leadership, real estate, and sales training. Highlights include actionable advice on mastering influence and communication, the importance of continuous improvement, and specific language techniques for asking referrals and establishing authority. Phil also provides tips on impactful public speaking and the philosophy behind his evergreen success. Furthermore, the episode delves into the significance of inspiration over copying in creative industries, encouraging unique takes on existing ideas for innovative outcomes. Check out today's guest, Phil M. Jones: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Check out The Futur: ➤ Website | Courses | LinkedIn | Podcasts ➤ Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Check out Chris Do: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ➤ TikTok | Threads | Zaap | Clubhouse | Behance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Graham Cochrane is an entrepreneur, YouTuber, and business coach whose mission is to help other people start their own businesses. You might be thinking, “Great. Another online business guru telling me to sign up for their seminar while they pose in front of a rented Lamborghini.” But you would be wrong. In 2009, right after the financial collapse, Graham was laid off. He and his wife had recently purchased a house and just had their first baby. Not a great place to be. After struggling to find work and being unable to make enough through freelance work, Graham saw an opportunity, and a side project was born. Graham had unintentionally founded The Recording Revolution, the world’s largest online audio recording and music production resource. Years later, that little side project evolved into a seven-figure business with over twenty-thousand customers. The magic formula? Serve others. In this episode, Graham shares how spending his time and effort serving others has served him well. He and Chris talk about non-traditional ways to earn a living being creative, how to build a community, and why you don’t need to be an expert to teach. Graham was also generous enough to share the nuts and bolts of his business model and its financials. His first year in business, he earned $5,000, but by the end of his second, he was at $65,000, all from selling courses based on his experience. Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jason Fried is the founder and CEO of Basecamp. Once a web design firm (and operating under the name 37Signals), Basecamp unintentionally pivoted into building software with their namesake product. They also created the email app HEY, a fresh take on an old idea. As you can imagine, Jason is no stranger to change. In this episode, he shares how Basecamp accidentally came to be and the struggles they’ve encountered along the way. Like working remotely, building new products, and taking calculated risks that from the outside might look crazy. Change is inevitable, but it’s rarely easy, especially for a company where people are the driving force. Shifts in direction profoundly affect company culture, and how you manage that change can make or break your business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ron Baker is a writer, speaker, educator, and recovering CPA. He is the author of seven best-selling books, most of which cover economic topics—specifically, value and pricing. Throughout history, value has always tied itself to labor. These many work hours cost this many dollars, also known as billable hours. The counter to this method is value-based pricing. This thing costs this many dollars because it is valuable to you. So, which is correct? Which is fair? In this episode, Ron and Chris dive deep into value, pricing, and the relationship between the two. Ron shares some great stories that clearly illustrate why value is determined by the utility it provides the consumer. They also discuss the concept of subscription-based pricing and why that model may find its way into everything from cars to creative services. Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wes Kao is co-founder of Maven, a platform that helps creators build cohort-based courses. Before that, she co-founded the altMBA with acclaimed author and marketer Seth Godin. If you’re not yet familiar with them, cohort-based courses (CBCs) are a not-so-new way of learning with a group of other people. They take the best parts of traditional classroom education and blend them with online classes to create a rich learning experience. In this episode, Wes shares why CBCs are the best way to learn and why it’s crucial you always test (and validate) your course idea. Having a substantial social following doesn’t guarantee a courses’ success. If you have an idea for a course, give this episode a listen before moving forward. And be sure to check out Wes’s free course accelerator. Sponsored by Grin.co - https://grin.co Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futur Peloton - https://onepeloton.com/app Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daniel Savage is a lot of things. A director, graphic designer, illustrator, animator, musician, and artist. He’s spent the last fifteen years trying lots of creative things for both enjoyment and to pay the bills. Nowadays, he does a little bit of everything and makes sure he’s having fun while doing it. We talk with Daniel about connecting the dots in his career path and how he went from studying avant-garde percussion to designing animated patterns for Volvo. One through line in Daniel’s body of work is how he brings graphic design and hand drawn forms together. It’s a unique trademark that’s found a place in his latest experiment: Infinite Grid. A limited edition series of generative NFT animations that blend his sense of design, illustration, and rhythm together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jake Fellman is a self-taught 3D artist who spends his time making original, animated content for YouTube and TikTok. As of this episode, Jake has 10.9M YouTube subscribers and 11.7M TikTok followers—so whatever he’s making people enjoy watching. The videos Jake creates are anywhere from ten to thirty seconds long and often reference pop-culture and video games, like Among Us and Poppy Playtime. These animated shorts walk the line between comedy and horror and typically involve a surreal twist. In this episode, Jake tells us about how he got started making these animations, the meteoric rise in their popularity, and what his plans are for the future. If you are interested in making your own content for YouTube or TikTok, then don’t miss this one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicoline Douwes is a Dutch dream expert and sleep activist. Her mission? Show everyone how to wake up with new ideas and fresh insights. While our bodies sleep, our minds continue to work. Processing what we’ve experienced and what’s troubling us—all while making new, uninhibited connections between thoughts. In this fascinating Clubhouse conversation, Nicoline and Chris dive into what happens in our brains while we sleep. They get into a bit of science, explain why dreams get so weird, and share useful tips about how to process your own dreams. Sponsored by Grin.co - https://grin.co BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In final episode of our three-part passion versus profit series, Chris and Rodrigo agree to never have this conversation again. In exchange, Rodrigo makes a public commitment to remain focused on his business and sets a clear financial goal. But it doesn’t end there. Chris helps Rodrigo plot the course to achieve that goal and offers a useful equation that anyone can use to do the same. To wrap up this conversational trilogy, Chris reminds us that life is about making hard decisions. When things don’t work out, don’t change your goal. Change the plan. Sponsored by Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futur Jenni Kayne - https://jennikayne.com Peloton - https://onepeloton.com/app Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part two of our three-part passion versus profit conversation, Chris, Rodrigo, Mo and Niddy pick up where they left off: to succeed you need a clear goal and to remain focused on it. The benefits of living this way are clear. It’s how Chris built his design agency and ultimately The Futur. But at what cost? To quote Chris, “I worked like an animal.” That lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but to Chris’s point, you have the freedom to design your own life. Whether you achieve that goal depends on how committed you are to it. It’s tough to stay the course and resist new and shiny distraction, but it pays to play the long game. Sponsored by Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futur BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you make decisions about your life? Do you follow what brings you happiness and makes you feel good? Or do you remove emotion from the process and remain focused and objective? Most of us land somewhere in the middle on that spectrum. Juggling the pursuit of our ever-changing interests while working a job that pays the bills. But what happens when your time is equally split between the two and you’re unhappy with that juggling act? In this special three-part episode, Chris helps Rodrigo work through a dilemma. One that places him at an important fork in the road: keep working on the business he’s tirelessly built or give it all up and pursue his dream to become a YouTuber. Part one focuses on what the two options look like for Rodrigo. Which brings more joy, which brings more revenue, and ultimately which he should focus on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beyond Time Sheets In this episode, host Chris Do features a deep dive into the transformation of pricing and positioning strategies within the advertising and professional services industries, guided by insights from Tim Williams, founder of Ignition Consulting Group. Williams discusses the flawed nature of hourly billing and advocates for a value-based pricing model that focuses on the outputs or results rather than the inputs or time spent. He highlights how agencies can innovate by developing a product mindset, shedding light on the necessity of adapting to changes brought by AI and market demands. The discussion also explores the idea of agencies investing in or partnering with brands, shifting towards a model where creative services are productized, thereby solving specific client problems. Williams emphasizes the importance of agencies moving away from traditional billing methods to embrace a future where they price based on value delivered, not hours worked. Check out today's guest, Tim Williams: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Book | Blog Check out The Futur: ➤ Website | Courses | LinkedIn | Podcasts ➤ Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Check out Chris Do: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ➤ TikTok | Threads | Zaap | Clubhouse | Behance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich Cardona is a retired Marine, podcaster, and NFT enthusiast. In fact, his podcast NFTs for Newbies, is one of the most popular shows on the subject. In this fun and informative conversation Rich takes us into the budding world of NFTs. He explains what an NFT is, how they work, and helps make sense of the jargon associated with them—gas fees and all. It is a fascinating new world, filled with both potential and problems. Rich shares his experience with both sides of that coin. On the one hand, this powerful technology is relatively new and ripe with opportunity, beyond solely financial benefit. On the other, there is a massive energy cost that may have a size-able ecological impact. According to Rich, it’s too early to tell if the hype is real or a fleeting trend that will devastate our planet. One thing he’s certain of though: NFTs aren’t going away. Whatever your opinion on NFTs, give this conversation a listen and let Chris know (via Twitter) what you think of his idea. We won’t spoil it for you. You’ll just have to listen to the end of the episode. Sponsored by Feedback Loop - https://go.feedbackloop.com/chris Sponsored by Grin.co - https://grin.co Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Sponsored by Springobard - https://springboard.com (use code NYTHEFUTURE1250) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever tried improv? Neither had Chris, until he met Erin Diehl. Erin is a former experential marketer and veteran improviser that conducts workshops leveraging improv techniques to improve employees’ skills in corporate settings. That’s right. She brings improv to the corporate world. One of her many mottos: Inspire, don’t perspire. In this episode, Erin shares her story of starting out sweaty and terrified of trying improv, to then wielding it as a powerful communication and teamworking tool. It makes sense. Improv is about staying in the moment, listening, and—more than anything—making other people look good. Improv teaches you how to postpone judgement, think on your feet, and trust your gut. Not unlike some of the advice you may hear from Chris. If you’re shy or introverted, then give this episode a good listen. And in those moments of panic or distress, Erin suggests surrendering to that feeling so you can then move through it. Sponsored by Jenni Kayne - Visit jennikayne.com and use promo code FUTUR to save 15% Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aaron Duffy is the Executive Creative Director and co-founder of boutique creative agency, Special Guest. He also works as a director with acclaimed production company, 1st Avenue Machine. In this inspirational chat, Aaron shares the story of how a project he wasn’t excited about (and nearly turned down) propelled his career forward and landed him a coveted Super Bowl ad. Sponsored by Real Vision - https://realvision.com/crypto Sponsored by Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futur Sponsored by Skillshare - https://skillshare.com/futur Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick Harauz is a content creator, video editing expert, and student of the creative process. He's also a certified Adobe, Apple, and Avid trainer and founder of Creative 111; a company that specializes in video and motion graphics training. You might recognize him from instructional videos all over adobe.com. In this episode, Nick and Chris talk about the challenges of teaching (and learning) online, how they each prepare for presentations, and why starting is the hardest part of the creative process. Nick also shares an incredible (and kind of funny) story about how his camera was stolen during a shoot! Further proof that there is always someone watching. Sponsored by Real Vision - https://realvision.com/crypto Sponsored by Peloton - https://onepeloton.com/app Sponsored by Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futur Sponsored by Skillshare - https://skillshare.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carlos Segura is the founder of award-winning design firm, Segura Inc. He also founded digital type foundry T26, whose fonts you can find everywhere. Over the last 30 plus years, Carlos has built (and lived) an extraordinary life and career. And he’s done it on his own terms, whether you like it or not. In this candid conversation, Carlos shares what he’s learned along the way. From surviving the violence he faced growing up in Miami, to stumbling into what would change his life forever (spoiler alert: graphic design). Beyond his origin story, Chris and Carlos also discuss his business’ ethos and its unique creative contracts. Contracts that have stirred up controversy with some calling them arrogant, pompous, and even combative. But those words don’t matter to Carlos. Because if he’s not for you, that’s okay. At least he owns who he is. Sponsored by Nearside - https://nearside.com/thefutur Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Sponsored by Jenni Kayne - https://jennikayne.com (use code FUTUR) Sponsored by Springobard - https://springboard.com (use code NYTHEFUTURE1250) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tuna Bora is an acclaimed Turkish visual artist whose clients include Google, Nike, Netflix, and Coca Cola. She’s won awards for her unique design work on several VR and AR projects and continue to explore new creative spaces. In this conversation, Tuna shares her story of immigrating to the United States alone in hopes of pursuing a career working in feature film animation. But after graduating in 2008—right at the start of the financial collapse—was met with very few opportunities. She talks about unintentionally starting a daily drawing Instagram account (thats been going strong for seven plus years), directing projects with DreamWorks, and why she’s stoked about working in new, unexplored creative spaces like VR and gaming Tuna also shares her experience with the unhealthy downsides of working with extreme focus and why just because you put more hours in does not mean the work is better. Sponsored by Nearside - https://nearside.com/thefutur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You might better know Jen and Amy Hood by their clever business name: Hoodzpah. The California-born, Kentucky-raised twin sisters co-founded their brand identity and type design studio because they had to. And before they were ready to. In this episode, Jen and Amy talk shop with us about how Hoodzpah came to be, the source of their entrepreneurial spirit, taking joy in doing the work, and how they’ve landed coveted clients like Disney, Target, and Nike. The conversation gets even more interesting when Chris asks, “How much do you charge for a logo?” A question that ultimately leads to a spirited debate on pricing and relative value. If you’re a designer, or considering starting your own design business, then give this one a listen and learn from two helpful and acclaimed design pros. Sponsored by Charles Schwab - schwab.com/plan Sponsored by Springboard - https://bit.ly/springboard-the-futur (Promo Code: NYTHEFUTURE1250) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rochelle Moulton is a brand strategist and business coach that helps people (and their businesses) build authority. In this episode Rochelle shares how she prepares for important presentations, her experience self-publishing a book, the parallels of building a brand and building authority, and why having a vision for your business is imperative to its success. She also walks Chris through a niche-finding exercise that might help all your designers out there. Sponsored by Charles Schwab - schwab.com/plan Sponsored by Nearside - https://nearside.com/thefutur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A great presentation will inspire you. It will leave you feeling excited, energized and most importantly: wanting more. But a bad presentation will put you to sleep. Ashley Smithers specializes in presentation design. She's helped people prepare for TED talks, design important fundraising decks, and even worked with former vice presidents on their presentations. In this clubhouse discussion, Ashley offers five tips to help you step up your pitch game. And Chris matches her. Between the two of them you'll get over ten pro tips and techniques for giving dynamite presentations. From how to structure your deck, to telling a great story, and even what to do with your hands. After listening to this conversation, you'll be equipped to give an engaging and compelling presentation of your own. Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Sponsored by Storyblocks - https://storyblocks.com/futur Sponsored by Springboard - https://bit.ly/springboard-the-futur (Promo Code: NYTHEFUTURE1250) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We last we spoke with Anthony way back in 2018, in episode 148 to be exact. At the time, he felt stagnant at his current job. Though his needs were met, there wasn’t much opportunity for growth. Cut to three years later: the world is a different place and Anthony is now right where he wants to be. But where is that? Did he remove those golden handcuffs in pursuit of something more? Did he ride out the slow boat to nowhere? Or did he do something else entirely? In this episode we find out what path Anthony chose and ultimately what led him there. If you missed part one of this conversation, do yourself a favor and go listen to it. Then come back and hear the rest of the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s All About Embracing Your Authentic Self In this episode, Chris Do is interviewed on Omar El-Takrori’s podcast called The Dept. w/ Omar El-Takrori, and they explore the intricate labyrinth of personal branding, public speaking, and the role of AI in today's creative and marketing industries. Chris Do shares profound insights on the essence of knowing oneself and the power of emotional connections over aesthetics in branding, coupled with his vision to revolutionize creative education through AI integration. The discussion transitions into the significance of authentic engagement in public speaking, critiquing the prevalent mechanical delivery and advocating for a return to conversational, heartfelt interactions. They emphasize the importance of authenticity, leveraging AI for enhancing presentations, and the cultural impact on innovation. Central to the conversation is the philosophy of using branding to forge genuine connections and utilizing success to empower educational initiatives, embodying an ethos of acknowledgment, appreciation, and the transformative potential of human connections. Check out today's guest, Omar El-Takrori: ➤ LinkedIn | Website | The Dept. Podcast Episode 13 | The Dept. Podcast | Check out The Futur: ➤ Website | Courses | LinkedIn | Podcasts ➤ Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube Check out Chris Do: ➤ Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ➤ TikTok | Threads | Zaap | Clubhouse | Behance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our second installment of 5 rounds. In this episode, we welcome creative sales coach (and Futur Pro Group member) Ivy Malik to the show. Her mission: grill Chris Do with a series of five tough questions. And she does not disappoint. Ivy tasks Chris with questions about how to be your true self in both public and private, why he dislikes the current state of educational sales, the role emotion plays in his decision making, and the biggest one of all: is The Futur a cult? Sponsored by Skillshare - skillshare.com/futur Sponsored by BetterHelp - betterhelp.com/futur Sponsored by Storyblocks - storyblocks.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you were to order an expensive meal at a nice restaurant, but then asked if they could knock 50% off of the price, how would your waiter respond? Probably not well. Of all the possible replies, the most likely one would be, “I’m sorry, we can’t do that.” Which is not surprising. So then why do people in the creative business bend to such requests from clients? In this fun Clubhouse talk, Chris helps people with their pricing and negotiation troubles by roleplaying scenarios with them. When do you push? When do you pull? And what do you listen for? Following a pre-written sales script is easy, but when conversational curveballs are thrown at you, they fall apart. Hear how Chris approaches these delicate discussions and learn why being in the moment and listening is all you need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever read a lengthy paragraph from a book and then sort of woken up and asked yourself, “Wait. What did I just read?” You and us both. Reading is a fantastic way to learn, but if you don’t retain that precious information then what is the point? In this Clubhouse discussion Chris shares his approach to reading books. How he reads, his note taking method, and why he suggests you read a book three times. And he is joined by The Futur Pro Group members, Stephanie Owens and Rahul Bhogal. Whether you are a bookworm or not, you will pick up a few practical tips to get more out of what you read. So join us while we explore and discuss the powerful magic of language and written word. Sponsored by Skillshare - https://skillshare.com/futur Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices