Paco de Leon is the author and illustrator of Finance for the People , a practical guide to helping you navigate your financial life, no matter your situation. They also run a bookkeeping agency for creative professionals called Hell Yeah Bookkeeping. This episode focuses on helping creative professionals feel more confident about their finances. From applying value-based pricing to taking proactive steps for the financial health of your business. Biologically, humans have survived by having a s...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 229
In Part 1 of this series, we established that boredom is the precursor to creativity. It provides important moments of stillness that allow one's mind to wander. Or as Deepak Chopra puts it, to “dream, imagine, and reflect.” But is that what boredom really is? And why do we associate it with laziness? In Part 2 of this series, we try to make sense of why boredom has such a bad reputation, or if it’s just a matter of semantics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices ...
Feb 15, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 228
There is no shortage of work to do when you run your own business. However, just because you are busy does not mean that what you are doing is productive; hence the term “busywork”. In this two-part episode, Chris coaches Mo Ismail on how to better spend his time as a business owner. He provides management tips and shares frameworks for hiring, training, and creating time for yourself to think. To quote Chris, “Boredom is the precursor to creativity.” If you have no time for being bored, then yo...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 227
Jacob Cass is a designer, strategist, and the founder of branding agency, JustCreative. In this podcast episode we talk with him about how to use affiliate marketing and SEO to build a successful online business. Jacob emphasizes the value of search over social media, and how having a blog that uses affiliate marketing and attracts inbound clients can be a key part of building a business. He also talks about how to create effective content that will be seen as authoritative by Google, and the im...
Feb 01, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 226
Simon Ong is a personal development entrepreneur, coach, and public speaker. He is also the author of Energize , a book that will introduce you to the art and science of energy management. In this podcast episode, Simon and Chris talk about the role energy plays in our lives. Case in point: you can be ruthlessly efficient with your time, but without enough energy, your returns will be diminished. So, what is the best way to maximize your energy management? According to Simon: plan your day the n...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Season 4Ep. 225
In part two of this series, we are joined again by Nidhi Tewari and Mo Ismail to continue our conversation about the role emotion plays in decision making. As a therapist, Nidhi points out the importance of processing and allowing yourself to feel strong emotions. Chris counters with the argument that emotions cloud the data, especially in business. Science then enters the chat to remind us that most decisions people make are rooted in emotion. So, should you listen to your heart or your mind. W...
Jan 18, 2023•46 min•Season 4Ep. 224
This two-part podcast episode features Chris Do, Nidhi Tewari, and Mo Ismail discussing the merits of whether to make decisions with your mind, your heart, or a little of both. In part one, Chris shares how he processes his feelings, how they affect his decisions, and why leading with rational thought is the best path forward. Chris also explains his own scale of karmic equity and shares stories about how he diverted from the path of logic when making business decisions and how those stories pla...
Jan 11, 2023•59 min•Season 4Ep. 223
Lucy Werner wears many hats: public relations (PR) expert, business owner, author, coach, and mother. She is the founder of The Wern, a PR agency and design shop for startups, entrepreneurs, and independent brands. In her own words, she is a "nobody that helps people become somebody." This podcast episode is all about PR: what it is, what it isn't, and how to successfully use PR for your business (and yourself). Lucy shares her approach for creating meaningful PR and offers actionable tips for p...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 222
People love YouTube for a variety of reasons, but it's most popular use: search engine. Unsure how to cut that mango? Here are twelve videos that will teach you. But how do you become that coveted top search result? The best of the best mango-cutting videos, so to speak. The not-so-secret key to success on YouTube is understanding how it works. In this episode, Chris is joined by Tom Ross, CEO and co-founder of designcuts.com , and Benji Travis, a veteran YouTuber and influencer coach. If you ha...
Dec 28, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 221
When you run a business, you earn the right to make any decision you want with it. You also accept the responsibility and outcome—good, bad, or otherwise. The choice is truly yours. But how do you know if you are making the right decision? Welcome to part one of our conversation about decision making in business. In this two part series, Chris Do talks with Mo Ismail and Nidhi Tewari about how to make objective decisions and when to trust your gut. They talk about pattern recognition, quick-thin...
Dec 14, 2022•59 min•Season 4Ep. 219
Dakota Robertson is a professional ghostwriter. Businesses and influencers hire him to write tweets that go viral and amass an audience. And he is damn good at it. In this podcast episode, Dakota shares how he went from working as an electrician to becoming this invisible, content-writing hero for his clients. His ghostwriting business is so successful that he is turning down all new and potential clients. If you write copy or work in the content creation business, then do not sleep on this epis...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 4Ep. 218
What is the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence? And how do they affect who we are and what we believe we are capable of? In this candid conversation, Chris Do answers question from members of The Futur Pro Group. They tackle topics like supply and demand in the service industry, intrinsic beliefs versus extrinsic beliefs, and how to manage your self-talk. If you struggle with confidence or constantly chase external validation, then give this chat a list. Sponsored by: First Repub...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Season 4Ep. 217
In this special episode, Chris Do fields business questions and offers answers live and in real-time. Questions like: how do I raise my rates without losing clients, how do you measure creative impact, and what is the best way to price your service work? Chris is joined by several Futur Pro Group members including Drigo Tasca, Nidhi Tewari, and Anneli Hansson who also weigh in. If you run a creative service business then this episode will resonate with you. Get practical tips and valuable insigh...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Season 4Ep. 216
Adapt or die is the classic business mantra. To survive and thrive you must remain nimble and ready to pivot. To jump the curve, so to speak. If you could start your business all over again, what would you do differently? In this episode, The Futur CEO Chris Do and brand strategist Anneli Hansson discuss what the future holds for creative service businesses. How will technology like Ai and blockchain change how we run our businesses? What new opportunities will they provide? And how can you leve...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 215
Sarabeth Berk is a TEDx speaker and professional identity researcher. She is reshaping how we think about the workforce by shifting and expanding our definition of professional identity. What does that mean exactly? It means that you should not be limited to either/or titles (e.g. specialists vs. generalist). And that there is a third option: hybrid. But does that help or hurt your marketing efforts? Will potential clients and employers be intrigued or confused? In this episode, Sarabeth and Chr...
Nov 09, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 214
Do you have to suffer to build character? We get philosophical in part two of our conversation with Baronfig founder and author Joey Cofone. He and Chris continue their discussion about The Laws of Creativit y and delve into the role failure—and sometimes delusion—plays in the story of success. We like how Joey explains the concept of creativity: like a musical instrument, creativity is a practical trade that you can learn, develop, and improve over time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 213
Joey Cofone is the Founder and CEO of Baronfig , an award-winning designer and entrepreneur, and the newly minted author of The Laws of Creativity . If you have listened to our podcast long enough then you may have heard Joey’s voice before. Way back in episode 57. We are pleased to welcome him back to the show to share what he’s been working on for a long time: defining the laws of creativity. In part one of this conversation, Joey and Chris share some of their most poignant memories of creativ...
Oct 26, 2022•56 min•Season 4Ep. 212
Criticism is easily given, but rarely appreciated. At some point we have all had to critique someone else’s work or be critiqued by a client, manager, or teacher. The experience can be emotionally rattling. In part four of our design thinking talk, Eric Moore and Chris Do discuss ways to improve how you give and receive critique. A key component of constructive criticism is having a shared criteria to review the work. During their conversation, Chris and Eric share memorable stories of critique ...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 211
Now that we understand what design thinking is, it is time we learn how to use it. In part two of our design thinking discussion, app designer Deanna joins Eric and Chris to walk us through her practical application of the framework. We start by explaining the four phases of the design thinking process and follow Deanna’s story and design process for context. We also discuss how making empathy maps (and what they are), Eric’s cleverly named rose-thorn-bud concept, and where data analysis and con...
Oct 05, 2022•52 min•Season 4Ep. 209
Eric Moore is a communication strategist and champion of design thinking. In this episode, he and Chris debate an eyebrow-raising talk from Natasha Jen called Design Thinking Is Bullsh*t . For context, Natasha Jen is an acclaimed designer and partner at the renowned design studio, Pentagram. In her talk, Natasha criticizes the concept of design thinking, ultimately calling it B.S. But is that true? Is design thinking just a sticky note ladened buzzword, or is it woefully misunderstood? If you ar...
Sep 28, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 208
The word authentic gets thrown around a lot, especially when describing brands. But what is an “authentic” brand? And why do some brands garner loyal customers while others do not? In this episode, Anneli and Chris discuss the traits of what they refer to as magnetic brands. That is, brands that customers prefer over others and that have true fans. If you are interested in branding, brand strategy, or trying to figure out how to bolster your brand, then give this conversation a listen. Sponsored...
Sep 21, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 207
In part two of our discussion about detachment, Chris and Anneli dive deeper—and more personally—into how practicing detachment benefits your life. It's easy to attach your value and identity to your work. But that attachment then often becomes the root of your unhappiness. If your work is undervalued or criticized, then you feel personally undervalued or criticized. In this conversation, Chris shares his steps to practice meaningful detachment and explains key concepts that he follows. If you s...
Sep 14, 2022•52 min•Season 4Ep. 206
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 obje...
Sep 07, 2022•43 min•Season 4Ep. 205
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 busine...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 4Ep. 204
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 proto...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 203
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 i...
Aug 17, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 202
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” mea...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 200
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 manag...
Jul 20, 2022•53 min•Season 4Ep. 198
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 t...
Jul 13, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Season 4Ep. 197
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 ...
Jul 06, 2022•49 min•Season 4Ep. 196
