Chris Do

This post turned people off.
It’s also my highest performing tweet. Ever. By a long shot.

It triggered some responses like:
Oh. This is gross. Social media flexing. I thought you grew out of that phase as a teenager? Is this a D* measuring contest?

Or, I sure hope when I’m that age I’m no longer talking about social stats.

Some of the best comments come from TikTok. Like this one… and yet no one knows who you are. Haha. Or have you made $1000 yet?

And, isn’t this just promoting hustle culture and how toxic this can be?

I think they missed the point, but maybe it wasn’t phrased correctly. And I’ll take responsibility for that. I write from a place of positivity, optimism and empowerment (mostly). I have a blind spot for negative interpretations.

I turned 51 this year. In the past I’ve been reluctant to talk about my age. Not because I’m self conscious. I could care less. It was more about keeping some mystery about myself.

Then I realized that some people thought I was too young to be talking about business. That I was just some kid offering up bad business advice (more on that on another day) with no experience.

Or I’d hear about the frustrations that social media was a young person’s game. New tech can be confusing and feel exclusive to people who didn’t grow up with a smart phone.

Let me clear this up. Or at least attempt to.

Whatever your goal in life. However you measure success, joy, connection or find meaning, I’m here to tell you it’s not too late. You can start. Today. Or tomorrow.

Just don’t let anyone tell you, you’re too young, you’re too old, it’s too late.

That’s all.

I’m slightly embarrassed that despite having a following, I barely know how to use social media. I often wind up asking my much younger staff how to do “basic” stuff. My kids often roll their eyes when I post content. They laugh and call it “boomer” posts. Whatever. I’m gonna do me. You do you I tell them.

See you at the top, friends.

Here if you need help. You know, one old timer to another.

What are your thoughts?

#goalsetting #contentmarketingtips

Warning. This post is going to be a little spicy.
Skip it if you don't like spicy. I have been described before as a charismatic razor blade. I might earn it today.

Baskin-Robbins has 31 flavors and people lose their minds because they don't know what to pick. So many flavors. If the person in line picked vanilla and every other person after picked vanilla, they'd run out of vanilla. But more importantly, flavors like mint chocolate chip, rocky road, and cookie dough would go largely unappreciated.

As my design and carousels evolve, I can't help but notice how other “influencers“ are making similar changes. I even tried “ugly“ colors like pink, salmon, persimmon, hunter green and celery. Color combos I thought no one would use.

And then. copy. Paste.

It's gotten to a point that I'm feeling a little crowded like I can't breathe. I'm not telling you that I own any of this, or that it's original. It's not. But it did get me to think: being like someone else isn't good branding. It's not good business. It's not good for personal growth. Why not choose another color, typeface or illustration style?

So next time you are at the ice cream parlor, try going a little crazy. Try French Vanilla. Add some nuts. Find your own take on design. It's actually really fun.

If not, I've included every color, typeface and even the illustrator that I use. I want to make it easier to rip off. If anything, it'll force the conversation, if everyone is doing what you do, what will you do?

Better to be an imperfect you than a perfect someone else.

#branding #designprinciples #entrepreneurmindset

Good design can save lives.

Typography is thinking made visible. Before someone can understand your ideas, they must first be able to read the words.

I find this to be true with designers and non designers alike, when it comes to functional type vs display type, legibility is an after thought.

The human mind can recognize shapes before we can read the words. Experiments have been created where letters of words were scrambled and we can still decipher the meaning.

Setting type in all caps is good for some use cases like titles and headlines, but should be avoidable for body copy. Upper case is harder to read because the letterforms go from baseline to cap height line, making them harder to distinguish from one another.

Instead, use upper lower case, or all lower case for blocks of text.

Hope this helps. Let me know your thoughts below.

#graphicdesign #legibility #typesetting #typography

It’s better to fail in the pursuit of excellence than to be successful at being mediocre.

I think many of us settle for what we have because we are afraid of failure and rejection. So we choose to remain the big fish in the small pond. We are never forced to see how high we might go and therefore how far we might fall.

Be brave enough to find the edges of what you are capable of. Be the small fish in the big pond. Dream bigger. Be bold enough to think you can play at the highest levels against the very best in the world. You can.

Don’t be a settler. Be an explorer.

Tell me about how you are pushing yourself to find your edges. What are your big, hairy audacious goals? Mine is too change how people learn. I might not be successful, but the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.

#Entrepreneurial #successtips #businessquotes #mentorship

Having been in the business for 20+ years, I've had my fair share of clients from hell. Consider this a public service announcement for those of you that are still new to the game or haven't quite figured out why some relationships turn sour quickly. And, if you're a client, see if any of these rings a bell.\n\nMost of the time, if you're paying attention, you can see bad clients from a mile away, but all too often you're “temporarily blinded“ by the need to hit a sales quota, or have a stack of invoices that are unpaid. Alarm bells ring and red flags are raised, but fall on deaf ears. This is a tongue-in-cheek guide to help you quickly identify the sinners and see the light.\n\nCover image is designed by art director/concept artist james levy and used with permission. \n\n#nightmareclients #clientsfromhell #thewarningsigns #jameslevydesign #badclients #howtoavoid #entrepreneurship #clientmanagement #salestips #salesadvice #avoidatallcost #hellclients

Plan the work. Work the plan. Repeat.

Have a strategy for how you will achieve your goals. A clear goal will often reveal the steps necessary. Then, do the work. If the steps you take don’t bring you closer to your goal, adjust the plan.

It doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.

Are you working your plan?

#strategy #work

Why passion and purpose are essential to your goals.

Purpose—beyond money, the reason why you exist. Purpose determines priorities. Priorities determine courses of action. Purpose without action is fantasy.

Passion—what drives you. “Passion is energy.“—Oprah Winfrey.

Purpose sets direction while passion keeps you going when you the hit the the “dip“. You will need to draw upon your passion to stay committed, to not give up, to not get distracted, and to climb the hill towards your goal.

Passion without purpose is going nowhere fast. “Passion without purpose is like a shot without a target.“—Ifeanyi Enoch. Purpose steers, passion propels. Get clear on your purpose. Find your passion.

Here’s the secret—if you want to be successful, go places, make a name for yourself, go on an adventure, all you have to do is...
Start. That’s it.
Start.

Believe it or not, the hardest part is to just start. Everything else will work itself out.

What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t? What habit can you start today?

Original tweet by @wearenotwizards. Follow @werenotwizards on IG<<.
Unsplash photo by Ian Dooley @sadswim.

Futur European Tour Posters generated by #MidJourney v.4.
Two full day workshops. Business Clinic. Personal Branding.
See event for details.

Multi-ticket discounts available for teams.

Cities/Dates:
Manchester April 12
London April 14-15
Stockholm April 17
Amsterdam April 19
Berlin April 21–22
Bucharest April 24
Lisbon April 26
Barcelona April 28–29
Dublin May 03
Stavanger May 05 ← Just added

Get your tickets here:
https://lnkd.in/g8Jix5ek

See you in April!

#personalbranding #businessdevelopment #businessfundamentals

High quality writing beats high quality design. It's odd for me to say this considering two things: 1) I'm a designer 2) I don't consider myself a writer. After creating 100+ posts on Instagram, I've come to discover that the single biggest thing that will help you to grow is to learn how to write for the platform.

Short, clear, simple and honest writing that feels conversational outperform all other types of posts. Write from the heart. Share openly. Reveal your true, vulnerable self. Share what you've learned.

You can spend time to make your writing look better, but if the idea isn't there, it's the law of diminishing returns. Start with good writing. Finish with good design. Not the other way around.

What's been your highest performing post on Linkedin or Instagram? What was the key to your success? I want to know.

For more tips on how to write better for #instagram, check out this latest video: https://lnkd.in/gNcTMum     

#instagramgrowth #contentmarketingtips

It's been 8 years and 10 months since I've used the term to describe myself.

How we describe ourselves also shapes how others see us. There we must choose our titles with great care.

Let me show you what I mean.

A graphic designer designs graphics. 
An interior designer designs interiors. 
A fashion designer designs fashion.

Is that all you do?

In servicing clients, are we not helping them to design their:

Strategy, identity, messaging, marketing, funnel, culture, products, positioning, customer journey, packaging, user experiences, etc…?

Pick a title that is more representative of what you do. 
Let me know what title you use that accurately describes all that you bring.

Friends, I'm delighted to tell you that I'll be speaking (in real life) for the first time at Adobe MAX this year. I'm one of the “luminary“ speakers that will be on the big stage.

What's cooler than cool? So many of my friends and professional acquaintances are speaking as well: Aaron James Draplin, Adam J. Kurtz, Timothy Goodman, James Barnard, Monotype, Andrew Hochradel, Eran Stern, Annie Atkins and Kyle T. Webster. Sounds like a partay!

If you've never been, Adobe puts on an amazing multi-day event. Max bash doesn't disappoint with music acts like: 21 Pilots, Beck, and Vampire Weekend (past years). There will be thousands of creative types (just like you) roaming the hallways, jamming in sessions and workshops, or just slumming it with us on the exhibit floor.

Every year, we have a 10x20' booth where I'll be doing my #whiteboard sessions each day. We'll have posters, books, and a variety of merchandise for sale… but only for the die-hard DoNuts.

Are you planning on attending?

Price plays a big role in perception of value. Here's what you can learn from how luxury brands like Gucci price their products to attract the right type of customer. We buy on emotion and use logic to justify our purchase.

Did you need to buy the fancy import car? Or did you just want it because of how it made you feel? Do you reach out for the cheapest bottle of water or do you buy the fancy one because you question the provenance of the generic label? It turns out, our imbic brain (or gut) makes all of our decisions.

Before you comment on the background pattern as being more like Louis Vuitton, I'm aware of this and yes it was deliberate.

#pricing #marketing #positioning #value #perception #thefutur #carousels #pdf

What if no one likes me? What if people think I'm stupid, a complete fraud with no talent?

The fear of being disliked, ridiculed or hated on is enough for most people to never share their ideas in public. So they keep their ideas to themselves and therefore rob others the joy of learning from their stories of triumph and tragedy.

The greatest personal and professional transformation that I've had came from letting go of this need to be loved, supported, and popular. Once I leaned into my strengths and weaknesses and stopped caring what others said, I discovered my true voice in my 40s. Learn to turn the criticism into motivation. Embrace that if you have a point of view that others will not agree with you.

A quick and easy guide on how to lose clients. Simply do one or more of the following and watch your clients disappear, bookings suddenly cancel, and account balance dwindle.

If this has happened to you, you may be guilt of committing some of these “sins“. Did I miss any? Questions? Let me know what you think. Share with a friend who needs to see this.

#1BminusOne #howtogetclients #howtoloseclients #freelance #freelancer #tips #advice #bizofdesign

I often emphasize the importance of personal branding, the art of storytelling, and the power of vulnerability.

But perhaps I'm not walking the talk.

My friends encourage me to reveal more of myself. Maybe I've been too focused on creating value for others that I've been inadvertently hiding. Let me rectify that.

Hi. My name is Chris Do. I'm a loud introvert, husband, father, serial entrepreneur, charming razor blade, caring snob, refugee, and recovering graphic designer.

I used to run a company called Blind™.
Now, I run the Futur—a content and education company with a really big mission: Teach 1 billion people how to make a living doing what they love.

If you've been on this journey with me, thank you for your support, encouragement, and interaction. It would be a lot less fun for me without you.

I've shared with you my 9 lives. Having gone through so many evolutions, I think I'm going to stick with this one for a while.

What are some of your lives? How have you evolved/reinvented yourself over the years? Let me know in the comments.

ArtCenter College of Design

#selfbelief #brandmarketing #entreprenuerlife #growthmindset #beyourownboss #personalbrandingguide #personalbrand #personalbranding

You can lose yourself in the pursuit of some goals and pay too heavy a price. On social media, it’s designed to make you chase numbers: the amount of likes, followers and shares each post gets could make you happy or depressed.

It might even make you pretend to be someone who you are not. If that happens, then you need to find your way back. You do you. Cause no one else will do.

It is better to have a small following than to have a big following and lose yourself. Writing should be a process of self discovery, finding your own voice and sharing your personal stories with others as you learn.

Do you struggle with self acceptance? Do you feel like you can’t show up as yourself and be 100 percent you? Let me know.

The often quoted Jim Rohn is one of my favorite business philosophers. It's Tuesday here and if you need a push to finish the day strong, this might do it for you.

This is frustrating—to have a client that hovers, questions your creative decisions and plays pretend art director. It’s easy to hate the micromanaging client who wants to pixel push you off the design cliff.

Now if this keeps happening, it’s a sign that you are part of the problem. Here’s how to stop clients from playing the role of creative.

First, identify the problem. Then apply the appropriate solution. Let me know if this helps or if you have any suggestions.

#freelancegraphicdesigner #freelancedesigner #freelancelife #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurmindset #entrepreneurtips #micromanaging #designlife #business101

"We told you our budget was $100k. Why is this $118k?"

The client was pissed.
My producer was sweating.
I remained calm.

Here's what happened:

Big branding client. Mid-project, they need a video for the CEO's keynote.
"We have $100k for this," they said.
"Fine," I said.

When we built the bid, it came in at $118k.

My producer panicked. "Chris, they TOLD us their ceiling. We should come in at $100k."

"Submit it at $118k. I'll handle the blowback."

Twenty minutes later, he's in my office, exasperated, with that "I TOLD you so" look on his face. "They want to hop on a call. They're not happy."

We got on the call.

"We told you our cap. Why is this more?"

I took a breath, not out of desperation, but to slow things down, and ground the room.

In a calm, deliberate tone (Late Night FM DJ Voice) "I understand you might feel frustrated about this budget. Here's why it's higher:

I don't like nickel-and-diming clients.

Inevitably on projects like this, you'll ask for a change here, a tweak there, and I'll be forced to ask for overages. That hurts the flow. Creates friction. Kills momentum.

This budget anticipates those changes, so we don't have to stop mid-project to renegotiate—unless you have major changes.

Now, if you want me to submit it for $100k, I can.
But when those changes start creeping in, I'll hit you up for overages.

Your call. I respect your decision either way."

Silence.

Then a sigh (of relief).

"You're right. Let's move forward at $118k."

They hardly asked for any changes.
They were delighted with what we made.
The project flowed beautifully.

Everyone was happy (including the CEO).

Here's what this taught me:

The budget is never THE budget.
It's an anchor. A starting point. Not a ceiling.

If two parties want to work together, money is rarely the real problem.
They find a way. Always.

Premium clients want premium experiences.
Paying more for zero friction? Easy yes.

Your pricing signals your experience.
When you price to avoid problems, you're saying "this isn't my first rodeo."
That's worth $18k.

Most creatives would have caved at $100k.
In fact, they would often submit below, never wanting to create friction.
Then spent the project bleeding money on changes and the "we should've asked for more" regret.
Resenting the client.
Hating the work.

Instead, we made an extra $18k.
The client got a better experience.
Everyone won.

Your price isn't just a number.
It's a promise about how the project will feel.

Your price tells a story.
Price accordingly.

What's a time you held firm on pricing, or asked for more, when everyone told you to cave? How did it turn out? What did you learn?

#pricingstrategy #clientmanagement #businessgrowth

Mindset shift. Don’t sell what you do.
Sell how you think.
Because you are not what you make.
You are so much more.

When you sell what you make, you invite the world to compete with you. When you sell how you think, you only compete with yourself. Because there is no one else who thinks like you.

Today’s post is an excerpt from my book Pocket Full of Do. Bite sized pieces of things I’ve learned in my 20+ years as a creative entrepreneur.

Let me know what you think of this concept. Are you selling what you make or how you see the world?

Save this post for later.

Its jaws are menacing.
Its grip vice like.
It’s the mind killer and destroyer of dreams. It’s the perfectionism monster. Once it grabs a hold of you, it’s very hard to break free.

Perfectionism hides its true face—avoidance, and attachment. We hide behind “I want it to be perfect…“ as a way to avoid facing our biggest fear… proof that our idea either works or it doesn't.

It's more comfortable to be content with the reassuring story of “I could've…“ and not realize our goals, than to face the cold, objective reality of failure.

But the perfection monster, however formidable, has a major weakness. If you don’t believe in it, it dies. For it to live, you must want it to continue to live.

Your ally in this battle is to not run from failure, but to embrace it. Jeff Bezos said “Invention and failure are inseparable twins“. And, there's a mountain of evidence that the most innovative companies and individuals have had more failures than most people even try.

What do we say to the God of perfection?

Not today.

Tag a friend. Bookmark this post. Share it with someone who needs to reframe perfection and failure.

#perfectionism #mindsetshift #mindsetcoaching #businessadvice

Should you be alarmed of how #ai or #machinelearning will be a disruptive force to creative industries, in ways we have yet to imagine?

What you need to know to prepare for this paradigm shift:
• Machines are great at reverse engineering and pattern recognition
• Machines have access to the entirety of human knowledge. What can be seen, scraped, read, watched, listened to, referenced and synthesized can be done in mere seconds.
• Machines can analyze, review and grade creative work at velocity and scale that no human can do.
• They are getting exponentially more powerful and “human“ like in their ability to recognize natural patterns of speech and understand context.
• The machines can learn but do need to be “taught“ as to what you like/dislike.
• Machines can iterate on ideas and provide endless variations on concepts, themes, and styles.
• Machines can take boring, repetitive, labor intensive tasks from humans…freeing us up to do more creative things, like think, dream and direct.

Today, in less than 15 minutes after gaining access to #midjourney (with no help or instruction), I was able to generate over 20 “sketches“ for a cybernetic, robot, skull helmet/head. The results are included here for reference.

Are these works of art? No. But they are more than sufficient as #3d #ConceptArt for a potential character design. I can already see these crude ideas as a “Destiny“ game character or a Sith Lord in a Star Wars film. What is surprising to me is that the machine came up with concepts, in all honesty, that I would not be able to come up with.

“AI is going to change every single business and every single sector. It's going to be the most disruptive technology in the history of mankind.“ - Ginni Rometty, IBM CEO

Change is coming whether you like it or not. Progress, however, is a choice. There will be some that overhype what AI can currently do. Others will raise questions about ethics and paint a picture of a dark, dystopian future. How we use this technology will determine which future we manifest.

Here are just some of the things you can use AI/ML for today:
• Generate ideas for: headlines, book titles, taglines
• Write scripts or blog posts based on a headline or any text you feed it as a starting point
• Grade business ideas
• Evaluate open ended essays
• Automatically swap out assets in design systems
• Auto-populate websites with copy, brand elements
• Write brand manuals
• Sketch visual ideas for set designs, ad campaigns, video thumbnails, character designs, architecture, landscape paintings
• Write lyrics
• Compose songs
• Read text in any voice

The machine needs a good teacher. It works best with someone who knows how to articulate what they wants. We're heading into a future where there will certainly be fewer jobs for those in production. But there will be more opportunities for art directors.

Next post, I'll share a YouTube script that copy.AI wrote for me. You be the judge if it's any good. Questions? Comments?

I was in a mood…
Theory and action aren't enemies.
Theory and practice are two lovers.
They belong together.

One typography tip that will instantly separate you from non designers—use smart, not dumb quotes.
​​
​​This is an ongoing aggravation of mine when I see prime and double prime marks in lieu of the proper quote marks. My team knows this as well but these errors continue to slip through the cracks.
​​
​​Let me know if you want more design and typography fundamentals like this. And for goodness sake, please, please stop using the wrong mark.
​​
​​#typesetting #visualidentitydesign

As a full-time content creator, former designer, and director, I pay careful attention to the tools that I use in my daily life. Every piece of equipment I use is highly attuned for my specific needs and a balance of: performance, ergonomics, aesthetics, build-quality, and general ease of use. I create an insane amount of daily content, so I don’t leave anything to chance.

I get a lot of questions about what my workstation/home office setup is like. Here’s the breakdown: Apple iMac Pro, Logitech MX KEYS keyboard, MX Master 3 mouse, Zone 3 wireless headphones, Blue Baby Bottle Mic, Blackmagic ATEM mini, Rodecaster Pro, M-Audio speakers, BenQ secondary display, Sony FS5 camera, Ikan teleprompter, Intuous Pro, Elgato Stream Deck and Aputure 120d w/ Lightdome.

What is one piece of kit you can’t live without in your office setup?
https://logi.link/8fpcpw
#sponsored #Worklifeupgraded

When they say you're wrong,
simply agree.
What?!! Yes. Agree.

"You're too expensive."
"I hear you. From your perspective, what feels too expensive?"

No defensiveness.
No justification.

Lead with curiosity.

Here's what 30 years of client conversations taught me:
The moment you argue, you lose.
Even if you win.

Because nobody wants to be proven wrong.
They want to be understood.

"This isn't what I want."
"I understand I might've misunderstood. Can you redirect me?"

Notice what I didn't do?
Didn't defend the work.
Didn't explain my process.
Didn't make them wrong.

I made them right.

Hard truth. Gently said—
Your need to be right is costing you relationships.
And relationships are costing you money.

When clients object, they're not attacking.
They're communicating.
But you're too busy defending to hear them.

Here's the framework:

Step 1: Agree
"You're right to feel that way."
"Oh, I see."
"That makes sense."

Step 2: Get Curious
"Help me understand..."
"What specifically concerns you?"
"What would feel better to you?"

Step 3: Redirect Together
"Based on what you shared..."
"Now that I understand better..."
"Let's explore a path that works for you..."

The magic isn't in the words.
It's in the surrender.

You stop being the expert who knows better.
You become the partner who listens better.

Try this next time:
Client: "This timeline is unrealistic."
You: "I see. What part feels most unrealistic to you?"

Watch their shoulders drop.
Watch their guard come down.
Watch the conversation shift.

From combat to collaboration.
From defense to discovery.
From "you vs me" to "us vs the problem."

Agreement isn't weakness.
It's aikido.

Use their energy to move forward together.
Not to prove who's stronger.

What client objection do you instinctively fight against?
What would happen if you agreed instead?

Small Business Builders

#salestips #smallbusinesscoach #smallbizadvice
#clientmanagement #businessgrowth #salesstrategy

Some people have guts. And then there is Carlos Segura the founder of type foundry T-26.
​​
​​In design circles, his terms sheet is legendary for its bold, honest, direct and I don’t give AF approach.
​​
​​If you work with him, you know what you’re signing up for. Respect.
​​
​​Could you be this brave? Why? Why not?

My friend watched me work for 10 minutes and said:
“I think I’ve been using AI wrong this entire time.”

He’s an AI phenom. Years deep in platforms, prompts, and processes. A wizard with AI. There’s very little he can’t do with it.

Me? I’m an old-school Photoshop and Illustrator guy.

We spent the last week jamming on new projects. While making YouTube thumbnails, he hit a wall. The AI kept producing images that were almost right. Close, but not quite.

Weird facial expressions. Odd skin detail. Missed references. Strange lighting. No extra fingers anymore (progress), but mystery hands holding things up.

We laughed every time it output something absurd. Prompt. Re-prompt. Prompt again. Tokens burning.

After his 47th iteration, I said, “Let’s do this like it’s 1999.”
I jumped into Photoshop. Fixed faces. Adjusted lighting. Painted over the weird bits. Combined three outputs into one image.

Fifteen minutes later: done.

He stared at the screen. Then at me.
“I forgot I could do that.”

That’s when it hit us both. He’d become obsessed with one-shotting it. Slowly, conveniently, he outsourced judgment to the machine.

“Lost in the gloss” of shiny AI output.

There’s a "reported" Apple finding that AI isn’t intelligence. It’s sophisticated mimicry. Like a knock-off luxury bag. Good from afar. Far from good.

The irony of AI?
It reminds us to be human.

Back to craft.
Back to taste.
Back to judgment.

Not for nostalgia. But to get it right.
He thanked me—not for fixing the image—but for reminding him why he fell in love with design.

AI didn’t replace his creativity.
It just made him forget he had it.
AI is great for ideation. Terrible for precise, nuanced execution.

The ideal workflow:
Intent and ideas (you).
Repetitive labor (AI).
Judgment, refinement, editing (you).

The best work still happens when you don’t export thinking to the machine.

Are you trying to one-shot your work?
What skills have you let atrophy?
What happens if you pick them back up?

This post reflects how I use Stanley (AI):
Human input. AI output. Human refinement.

I’ll drop a link if you’re curious.
#sponsored #designthinking #creativity

251 comments later… (thank you)
I know where you struggle to tell stories.

You're trying too hard to be interesting. (Too self conscious.)
You're comparing yourself to others. (Comparison is the thief of joy.)
You're overly concerned with what others will think. (When you stop caring about what others think, others will start caring about what you think.)

Stop overthinking.
Stop second guessing.
Stop looking for perfection.

Start sharing your story.

After launching my Story Challenge, I spent hours reading every single comment. Three patterns kept showing up. Same struggles. Different words. Wrong solutions.

Here's what's you shared:

No. 1: "I don't know what story to tell" or "I don't have any stories worth sharing"
I can tell you unequivocally, with absolute certainty, you don't have one, not two, but infinite stories to share. Yes. Infinite!

Use my photo album technique. Look through your photo album. You know, the one with tens of thousands of images on your mobile device. Scan for anything that stirs up an emotion and favorite the photo.

This is your starting point.
Good stories tell.
Great stories move us emotionally.

No. 2: "My story isn't interesting"
It's because you've sanitized it.

Too corporate.
Too polished.
Too safe.

Boring.

Every story worth telling has tension. You lost a client. A project tanked. You doubted yourself. You almost went bankrupt. That's the good stuff. But you keep smoothing out the edges, removing the conflict, sanitizing the struggle.

Stop making yourself the hero who never fails.
Don't rush past the bumps and bruises.

Everyone loves an underdog story.
Give them someone to root for.

"The audience admires a character for trying more than for their successes." (Rule number 1 of Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling for a reason)

No. 3: "I can't find the point"
Because you're getting lost in the sauce. Too much context. Too much build up.

The lesson isn't some profound revelation you need to package with a bow. It's usually simpler. What did you do differently after that moment? How were you transformed? What did you learn? That's your point.

If you're stuck, do this.
Start at the end.
What is the point you want to make?

Now, build your story to land your lesson.
Lean into those moments.
Get rid of everything else.

Here's your homework:
Think of one moment this month when you felt uncomfortable in your business. Write about that. Don't pretty it up. Just tell us what happened and what you did next.

That's a story.

What uncomfortable business moment are you avoiding talking about?

We kick off the 5 Day Story Challenge on Monday.
If you've signed up, great. See you there!

I'll drop a link in the comments if you haven't joined yet.

#storytelling #businessstorytelling #contentcreation

Stop asking for the sale.
Start showing them the gap.

Here's how I close six figure projects in under 22 minutes. Not because I'm some sales genius. It's because I focus on what clients care about most.

Spoiler alert. It has nothing to do with what I do/make.

Here's the formula—

Don't skip the 2 B's between A and C.

**A = Asking** (Discovery)
**B = Baseline** (Where they are)
**B = Benchmark** (Where they want to be)
**C = Closing** (The decision)

Here's how it plays out:

Started with asking. Simple questions.
"What's the reason for our call today?"
Client: "I want to close more clients."

"What's your current close rate on proposals?"
Client: "38%."

"What about your competitors?"
Client: "The good ones? Probably 60-65%."

"So if you could hit 60%, what would that mean for your business?"
He did the math out loud while I followed along.

Then I laid out the 2 B's (Baseline & Benchmarks):

**Baseline (Their Reality Today)**
• Win rate: 38%
• Average deal: $400K
• Proposals per month: 8
• Monthly revenue: $1.2M

**Benchmark (Their Potential Tomorrow)**
• Win rate: 60%
• Same average deal: $400K
• Same proposals: 8
• Monthly revenue: $1.9M

"That's $700K per month you're leaving on the table. What's a reasonable amount to invest to achieve this?" Pause. "Does 10-20% sound fair?"

His response? "When can we start?"

No pitch deck.
No feature list.
No convincing.

Just clarity on the gap.

Here's what I've learned in running a service business for 24+ years.

The sale isn't in your solution.
It's in their realization.

When you focus on the 2 B's, you remove all the friction. They stop asking "why should I buy?" and start asking "why haven't I done this already?"

The gap sells itself.
You're just the bridge.

Most people go straight from A to C. They ask a few questions then jump into their pitch. That's like proposing on the first date.

Slow down.
Quantify their pain.
Show them what's possible.
Let the gap do the heavy lifting.

What's the biggest gap you've helped a client see between their baseline and benchmark?

What is the benchmark you help people with?
Is it specific, measurable, and time bound?

#salesstrategy #businessgrowth #clientmanagement

Revenue is vanity.
Profit is sanity.

The number one mistake small business owners make is to not understand how to determine their actual profit margin.

Often times, they believe they are more profitable than they really are.

You don't have to be a financial wizard or even love numbers. Just understand these 3 core concepts:

1. Revenue = the total amount of money generated (gross billings)
2. Gross profit = Revenue minus COGS (cost of goods sold). But don't stop there.
3. Net profit = Revenue minus all expenses (COGS, operating costs, interest, tax, etc…)

The most common mistake here is to not include your own salary in your calculations. Many small business owners determine profitability while subsiding their business with "free labor".

Here's how to do it instead.
Hypothetically, remove yourself from your business and hire someone to do the jobs that you do. After everyone has been paid, what money is leftover is your actual profit.

Once you understand this, you will probably realize that you aren't very profitable. In fact, without you doing the "free" or subsidized work, you would be operating at a loss.

Design your business to run without you so that you can determine your actual profitability. Then, if you elect to do the work yourself, you will have protected your bottom line.

Are you running a profitable business that isn't dependent on you doing "free" work? How did you learn to do this?

Run the calculation. What are your actual Net Margins? In percentages, and what industry are you in? Please share in the comments.

Got questions?
Here to help.

Small Business Builders
#smallbusinesscoach #smallbizmentor #freelancedesigner #smallbizcoach

You're negotiating against yourself
before the client even opens their mouth.

Fresh out of ArtCenter in '95, I did what every new designer does: quick math. $30/hour x 8 hours = $240/day. Seemed like real money to a 22-year-old with a bachelor's degree and zero business sense.

Clients booked me immediately.
Red flag #1 that I missed completely.

Here's what happened next:

I watched other designers work. More experienced, yet slower. Not as progressive. Their typography and visual communication skills weren't as sharp. Yet no one seemed to notice but me.

I think I might be undercharging.

So I played a game called "Go high until they say bye."
Every time someone would call to book me, I raised my rates.

$300/day. Yes.
$400/day. Yes.
$500/day. Yes.
$800/day. Still yes.

Within 3 months, I went from $30/hour to $100/hour. Same skills. Same output. Different price tag.

The only pushback came when I was raising rates weekly on the same client. The head of production at LA's top title design company called:

"Chris, I noticed you keep raising your rates. Not sure we can pay these rates. What's your reason?" she asked.

"I think it's a fair price. Can you do me a favor? Ask the creative director if he thinks I'm worth it. If not, have him call me."

Never heard back.
Kept the client.
Kept the rate.

Here's what established professionals need to understand:

Your avoidance of friction is you leaving money on the table.
Your fear of losing clients by raising rates means you'll never know your true worth.
Your neediness to land the client actually creates doubt.

The clients who balk at your price are savvy negotiators. They're testing your resolve. They don't feel good about themselves unless they push back to find the "real" price.

When you crumble like a house of cards, it reinforces the idea that you were overcharging.

Stop telling yourself stories about what the market will bear. The market hasn't rejected you—you've rejected yourself.

Test your ceiling. Create necessary tension. Make them stretch a little.

Because here's the thing: I was helping companies win projects worth hundreds of thousands. My hourly rate was pocket change compared to the value I created.

Eventually, I ditched hourly altogether.
Fixed fees based on outcomes. But that's another story.

What's the highest rate you've ever quoted—and what story did you tell yourself before lowering it?

#smallbusinesscoach #pricingstrategy #smbmentor #freelancedesigner

You're the bottleneck in your own business.

Yesterday someone asked me how I stopped being everywhere at once in my company.

Hard truth. Gently said—
You're not irreplaceable.
You just haven't taught anyone to replace you.

Here's how to "Buy back your time". (hat tip to Dan Martell)

Step 1: Time Audit
Track every task for a week.
Not what you think you do.
What you actually do.

That Instagram scroll? Write it down.
That "quick" email that took 47 minutes? Document it.
That client revision you should've delegated? Note it.

Step 2: Create Your Escape Plan (SOPs)
Record yourself doing the task.
Loom. iPhone. Whatever.
Just hit record and narrate your thinking.

"I'm choosing this font because..."
"I always check this metric first because..."
"When clients say X, I respond with Y because..."

Your brain on video.
Your process in pixels.
As Dan says, Camcorder yourself.

Step 3: The Three-Phase Handoff

Phase 1: "Watch me"
They observe. Take notes. Ask questions.
You're still doing. They're learning.

Phase 2: "Let's do it together"
They drive. You navigate.
Supervised practice with immediate feedback.

Phase 3: "You've got this"
They own it. Random quality checks.
Only escalate when stuck.

This isn't delegation.
This is how you clone yourself.

The result?
They get agency.
You get freedom.
The business gets systems.

Most founders think they're protecting quality by doing everything themselves.

You're not.
You're protecting your ego.

Your business shouldn't need you to function.
It should need you to grow.

Big difference.

What task are you doing this week that someone else should be doing next month?

Name it. Own it. Then delegate it.

Small Business Builders



#smallbusinessmentor #businessgrowth #delegation #buybackyourtime

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
—Maya Angelou

Stories are the operating system of the human brain. (Eric Edmeades)

Yet so many of us fail at doing what was once so natural as kids.

We tell stories to relate to each other.
We tell stories as cautionary tales.
We tell stories so we know who we are.

Kicking off a 5 Day Story Challenge
Oct. 27–31

What you’ll get:
• Daily prompts and short lessons from Oct 27–31
• One simple writing task per day (about 10 minutes)
• A completed story by the end of the challenge
• A live 90-minute workshop with me on Nov 1
• The Complete Story Planning Checklist Workbook for live attendees

FREE

Want to get better at telling stories?
Know someone who can use some help? Tag them.

Tell me what is the hardest part for you.
Link in comment below.

Carrie Green

Your best people are slipping through your fingers.
And you probably don't even know why.

If you don't want to lose brilliant team members, pay attention. They aren't leaving you for more money or a better opportunity. They are leaving because you might be suffocating them.

Here's the uncomfortable truth about keeping top talent:

1. Give them agency or watch them leave.
Micromanagers, this one's for you. Every time you hover, every time you dictate the 'how', you're creating dependent robots instead of empowered humans. The best people don't want to check their brains at the door. They want to know their decisions matter.

2. Tie their wins to their wallets.
Not always cash—sometimes it's time off, public recognition, or just a genuine "that was brilliant." Recognize your top performers or you train them to become indifferent.

3. Tell them what, never how.
"I need this to convert at 20%" beats "Use this font, this color, this layout" every single time. The moment you rob them of their process, you rob them of their pride.

4. Growth or goodbye.
Top talent has a ceiling allergy.
Small team → bigger team → client face time → financial decisions.
Show them the ladder or they'll find another building.

5. Treat them like family (the functional kind).
Look out for them. Actually care. Not that "we're a family" corporate BS, but genuine "how can I help you win?" energy.

Bonus:
In interviews, ask: "What would make you stay somewhere for 5 years?" Take notes. And actually follow through.

Already missed that chance? Sit down with your best people TODAY. "What gets you excited about coming to work? What would make you never want to leave?" 15 minutes. Could save you months of recruiting.

Who's the best person you ever lost?
What would you do differently now?

Small Business Builders

#leadership #talentretention #teambuilding

"Hey, you're a design celebrity!"

A what?!
No. Not me.

That was my reaction in 2018, four years into my content creation journey. I am a teacher, I thought to myself. Not an "influencer" and least of all a "YouTuber". My default was to stay in the shadows—quietly observing. Taking in the world around me, but not taking up much space.

This was my comfort zone.
It's not that I didn't have anything to say or contribute.
I did. But I was really uncomfortable being in the spotlight.

As time went on, the channel grew, and so did I.
I often tell people, the single most important decision (as a professional) that has had the greatest impact on my business and life was to say 'Yes' when I wasn't ready.

See, in 2014, an old ArtCenter College of Design classmate, José Abraham Caballer, invited me to do something unthinkable at that time. He said, "Let's make YouTube content together!"

Naturally, I resisted. No way… Jose.
#notracist

But Jose is a charming guy, and empathetic. He didn't take 'No' for an answer. So he made me a very generous offer. "I'll do all the talking. Speak only when you feel comfortable." (Music to an introvert's ears).

How could I say no to this?
So, I said, "Hell yeah!"
No, just kidding. I said, "Let's give it a try," and took a deep and heavy breath.

I was so bad. I couldn't even introduce myself so Jose did.
So I sat there. Leg nervously bouncing on the floor, jaw clenched, completely silent.

That was 11 amazing years ago.
So much has changed.

• I'm more comfortable in my own skin.
• My voice doesn't creep me out anymore.
• I stopped giving an F* about what people think.
• I'm exploring my identity through fashion.
• I've built a global community of friends and followers.
• My life and business are in 100% alignment.
• Free from client work.
• Speak on stages in front of hundreds, sometimes thousands.

You know what hasn't changed?

I am still a teacher. Different stage. Bigger scale. Greater impact.
I am now collaborating with authors I admire and brands I love.

It feels like a dream.
And if it is, don't wake me.

This is me.
100% unapologetically myself.
Namaste.

What's something you've been terrified to do, but know it's necessary for your personal growth? What's holding you back? What would it take for you to say 'yes'?


Photo:
Rodrigo Tasca 🎥
Tokyo, Japan



Hat: DSquared2, Shirt: Dries Van Noten, Trouser: Commes des garcons, Shoes: Adidas Y-3

Restless is the soul of an unfinished idea.
To find peace, I must release it into the world.

It isn't done.
It probably will never be "done".

But it will be shipping because—
Creativity expands and shrinks to meet a deadline.

I could toil with this workbook for months,
maybe even years more. You know. To get it PERFECT.

But then I would be falling down the trap
that so many creatives get caught in.

Stuck in a loop on endless edits and refinement:
the almost, nearly, final, final, final edit.

Two people lose when that happens—
You. And, the people you serve.

My buddy, Joel Pilger once shared a piece of advice that he got with me. We were in the green room at Digital Design Days Geneva, Day 1. Both of us would be speaking the next day. Both of us were still jamming on our decks.

He could see the stress. Maybe we saw it in each other.
He said, "Chris, you're stressed because you're trying to give them your 'top shelf' content. So you're reaching really high. But you know what? They'd be delighted with your mid to bottom tier content."

He was right.
My shoulders softened. I felt lighter.
That night, I went back to my hotel room, slightly less burdened by the weight of hitting a home run. I can hit a double. And that's good enough.

That was the lesson I needed to learn.
We should strive to give our best, unless our best prevents us from ever sharing our gifts with the world.

Perfect is the enemy of good.
Done is better than perfect.

Done sounds good.
Ship it, I will.

As promised, if you want to learn about my approach to #PersonalBranding, my workbook "Unbland Yourself™, The Unsubtle Art of Standing Out In A Noisy World: Foundation Level" is now available for pre-order.

Still some work left to do before it ships.
As a digital book with updates relatively easy to distribute, I feel a little lighter.

$59 now
$99 later

Digital PDF only. (V01 updates included)
Available worldwide

Print edition mid 2026

Link in comment.

Creativity doesn't require an audience.
Until it does.

The work happens in private. Quiet. Alone.
You sketch, write, design, build—for yourself.
No applause needed.

But the moment you want it to matter to anyone else?
You have to step into the light.

And this is where so many talented people get stuck.

There's a myth that floats around creative circles:
"If your work is good enough, you don't have to market yourself."

It's a Field of Dreams fantasy.
Build it and they will come.

Except they won't.

Someone out there—less talented, less experienced, maybe even less ethical—has a full inbox and a packed calendar.

Why?

Because they understand something most creatives resist:
People hire who they know, like, and trust.

Your work might be objectively superior.
Your visibility isn't.

I've watched brilliant designers, writers, and strategists struggle for years while average practitioners win deal after deal.

The difference wasn't talent.
It was presence.

So let's get over the guilt and shame attached to "self-promotion."

You're not a sell out.
But you could be selling out.

Show your work.
Teach people what you know.
Create value before you ask for anything.
Build expertise in public.

You deserve an inbox that's commensurate with your talent.

Stop hiding.

What's one thing you've been hesitant to share publicly?
Drop it below. This is your sign.

Let's get 2026 off to a bang!

If they don't accuse you of being gay, grandpa/ma, too fill-in-the-blank, you're not trying hard enough.

I asked the optometrist for the most obnoxious frames she had.
"Like geriatric world dictator sized."

My wife looked at me puzzled.

A few minutes later, the optometrist returned with a set of frames.
"No. Bigger. Do you have anything else?"

She disappeared again. This time she came back with something that caught my eye. Yes. That's it.

I swapped my old vintage Saint Laurent frames for these newer, Kim Jong-Il (at least in my mind) frames.

Big. Heavy. Angular tortoise with transparent flecks.

At first, it felt like too much. My eyes seemed to shrink when I put them on.

I turned to my wife.
"Too much?"

She paused. Gestured for me to step back. Tilt my head left and right.

"It's a lot of frame," she said. "Maybe too much."

The optometrist smiled.
"They look good on you. You can pull it off with your style."

I was skeptical. Of course she'd say that. She wanted the sale.

But something about the frames felt right.
Bold. Unapologetic. Unique.

A few measurements and a credit card swipe later—done.

It's weird how much these frames have become part of my identity. It's often how people recognize me. And it's inspired others to buy the exact same pair.

Remember my reluctant wife?

Now, when I approach her wearing my old glasses, she turns her head. Ewww, who this? She tells me to put on my "glasses" because she can't see me in anything else.

Sometimes the boldest choice becomes the most you.

I love my frames so much, I bought another pair.
Just in case…

What's something you've been hesitant to try because it feels "too much"?
What would happen if you just went for it?

What have you been eyeing, but haven't pulled the trigger on? And if you did, what pushed you over the edge?

You can't unbland yourself if you do what everyone else is doing.

In case you're wondering…
Frames: Dita
Style: Mastix

#personalbranding #unblandyourself

If you've ever said to yourself…
I want to go on one of those trips.

Then this is your call to adventure.
Will you answer it?

Just remember…
"Smooth seas don't make good sailors."

The 4th annual trip into the Canadian wilderness…

Ole's Hakai Pass
Salmon Fishing Lodge
July 30—August 3, 2026

Space is very limited.
Apply today.

Questions?
Please ask me below.

All experience levels are welcome.

Co-organized by Matthew Byrd

Link in comment below.

Ole's Hakai Pass Fishing Lodge

I get choked up just thinking about this.

When I'm asked, "What are you the most proud of professionally?"
The answer isn't what you think.

Of course my mind considers a few options:
Yes.
I have the privilege of running two successful businesses across 30 years).
I've built an international following across multiple platforms.
I've spoken on stages, been in the room with, and have had dinner with some of my favorite authors and entrepreneurs.

But… that's not it.

Somewhere along the way, a few special individuals have crossed over from stranger, to fan, to friend, to co-collaborators, to travel buddies.

It's a weird concept—professional travel friends.
I refer to them as the "International Travel Posse"—a nod to what Stüssy did many years ago.

(Tangent) In case you didn't know, when Stüssy was blowing up as a trailblazer in street wear, he toured the world with the IST (International Stüssy Tribe)—a select, global crew—a like-minded group of DJs, club kids, skaters, and artists.

Long before social media and "influencers", Stüssy "would send clothing out to individual creatives and tastemakers in various cities across the world—These were heavily customised." (excerpt edited from Hip article "HOW STÜSSY BECAME THE GODFATHERS OF STREETWEAR")

Many cite him as an influence including: James Jebbia (Supreme), Hiroshi Fujiwara, Virgil Abloh, Rick Owens, Marc Jacobs, X-Large, and Freshjive.

(Back to my story)

So when people see this really tight crew of friends (Rodrigo Tasca 🎥, Dave Katague, Rich Cardona, and Sebastian Zele) together, they will often assume they work for me.

Some do (sort of), and some don't.

These were people I had not met from the Futur community that kept showing up to events. They'd fly out knowing that I was speaking and would offer to help with capturing media (audio/video/photos).

In each case, I was initially cautious.
What was their agenda?
What did they want in return?
Could I trust them?

As time went on, each person, in their own way, kept showing up. They never asked for anything. They just helped.

We became a band of brothers.

We've traveled to many places: London, Singapore, New York, Austin, Tokyo/Kyoto, Brussels, Dallas, Stockholm, Berlin, Miami, Ontario, Barcelona, Warsaw, Raleigh, Taiwan, Dubai, Lisbon, Rovijn, Sydney, and Los Angeles (none of them live here, at least not until this year).

As an example, this photo was taken by Rich Cardona. He knew I was recording a podcast with Lakshmi Rebecca, and flew out last minute from Wilmington, NC. You know, just to help out and hang for a few days. Granted he is my podcast producer.

Did he have to do this? Did I expect him to?
Not a chance. But he did.

I can tell stories about each one of them, but I'm hitting my character limit.

Now, I am not Stüssy, and they aren't global tastemakers, but they are my posse, and I'd pick them first.

And that's what I'm most proud of.
What are you the most proud of professionally?
Share below.

Bye 25. Hello 26!

Success requires all of you.
I'll make the introductions.

Most people show up online as a fraction of themselves.

The curated version.
The "professional" version.
The version that won't scare off followers or—heaven forbid—offend the algorithmic gods.

They've muted the weird parts.
The opinions that might ruffle feathers.
The "look" that doesn't fit their niche.

So they post another "5 tips for productivity" and wonder why nobody cares.
They show up and do what everyone else is doing.
They chase the same trends that everyone is jumping on.

Yawn. Totally forgettable.

Congratulations. You've successfully blanded yourself into oblivion.

They say, "Stay in your lane, boy," lane, boy
But we go where we want to
They think this thing is a highway, highway
But will they be alive tomorrow?

(If you know, you know)

What makes you weird makes you wonderful (paraphrased from the inimitable James Victore).

The quirk you think is off-brand?
It's probably your brand.

Raw
Real
Unapologetic

Standing out doesn't come from polishing yourself into something palatable.
It comes from integrating everything you are.

The strategist and the poet.
The introvert and the provocateur.
The serious professional that cracks jokes.

You don't need to pick a lane.
You can be the lane.
In a lane of one.

All of you.

For me? As a 53 year old, being me includes:
• Funky designer eyewear
• Bold graphic prints/color blocking
• Baseball cap
• Different silhouettes (drop crotch pant, skirt, etc…)
• Jewelry
• Saying whatever's on my mind

So—what part of yourself have you been keeping off your feed?
And in real life?
What would happen if you let it in?

Drop it below.
This might be the introduction you've been avoiding.

Thank you to Chris Sergio for the line "Success requires all of you". (An unintended gift from our Japan Trip).

I don't typically share "Year in Review" content…
But I learned 2 interesting facts.
I've been on Linkedin since 2005. (I think)

And…
my very first connection ever is my buddy Jason T..

He's been a long time collaborator (designed and built most of our websites), friend, and all around good dude.

What's been one thing that has surprised you about your time on Linkedin?
Could be good or bad.