The Futur with Chris Do

A website is an amazing sales tool. It can tell people who you are, what you do, and act as a sort of virtual handshake to begin a relationship between you and a potential customer. Often times, a website might be someone’s first point of contact with you or your business. So how do you optimize it to boost its ability to convert potential clients? There’s a lot of data that you can pull from a website, but are you using it effectively? Amanda Webb is a Digital Marketing and ROI consultant and trainer, who has mastered the ins and outs of analytics and data, and now uses her knowledge and resources to help others better understand and better utilize the information their site gives them. In this episode, she’ll be talking to Chris about data and how it can be used to improve your business, what kind of steps you can take to improve your website conversion rates, and why a well executed “About” page is so important. You don’t want to just grow your email list, you want to get the right people on it, and Amanda will discuss why analytics tools can provide invaluable insights into the potential of your digital marketing endeavors. So tune in, and let Amanda explain why, in her own words - “Once you start measuring something, you can become obsessed by it”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI has become such a buzz term lately. It was the mainstay of sci fi books and movies, for the longest time, and was something everybody thought of as being far in the future. And then Midjourney happened, and Stable Diffusion and ChatGPT. AI is definitely here, right now, and is growing almost exponentially, every single day. Through all of this, we’ve seen people create magical, non existent worlds, wild characters, and some very… weird stuff with AI like Midjourney. People have used ChatGPT to help them develop, research and write all kinds of projects. But what is the next step? This week’s guest thinks the next step is creating the AI of you. Sho Rust was a former student of Chris at Art Center. Growing up in Japan, he was coding from a young age, so technology was second nature to him. This eventually led him to creating Sho.ai, which creates (in their words) an “AI platform that continuously evolves with your brand, automates tedious tasks, seamlessly allowing experts to scale their story”. Sounds pretty cool, right? And when they had perfected the system, Sho knew exactly who he should try it out on - His old instructor, Chris Do. Thus was born the Do Bot. In this weeks conversation, Chris will talk to Sho about how he got to Sho.ai, how they created the Do Bot, and what both of them have learned in this process. It’s a fascinating conversation that feels like a glimpse into the future. Want to test out the Do Bot? It will be coming soon in The Futur Pro Group. For more info, check out: https://thefutur.com/pro-group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s common sense to think “I have a business. I should sell as much of my product to as many people as I can”. So why do companies, like Rolex or Ferrari, make so much money by limiting the amount of product that they sell? Why would anyone throw up road blocks in front of their own potential customers? And why is creating tension in the supply and demand equation a way to get people to want to buy from you? Daniel Priestley returns to talk with Chris about his concept of being “Oversubscribed”. Daniel asserts that many marketers have forgotten the number one rule of marketing - An imbalance in supply and demand sets both the price and the profit of a product. An “oversubscribed” business, then, is simply one that has limited or constrained supply, and there are more people that want that supply than is available. Daniel argues that you can create this tension between supply and demand by creating an official capacity, make sure people know what it is, and understand that it’s in hot demand. But that’s just simple supply and demand, right? Well, yes, but Daniel is going to take you through some of his methods for artificially creating the tension between supply and demand, so that you can get your business to the point of being oversubscribed. He’ll discuss the three ingredients you need to get people to buy, why “signal collecting” is so important, and the five phases of a bullet proof campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orly Israel is a communicator who wanted to improve his conversational skills, and realized the best way to do that was to learn how to listen. His concept to achieve his goal, The Listening Table, is just that - A table that he has set up in various cities across the country, where he sits and listens to anyone who wants to talk. His goal is to create a space where the other person can share whatever they need to, in a zone that is free of advice and free of judgment. Those two things are in plentiful supply in almost any conversation people have today, but Orly found out, very quickly, that those two things aren’t what people need. In fact, advice and judgment must be put aside to be a good listener. So what else makes a good listener? And what has setting up and inviting people to this table, over and over again, taught Orly? In this conversation, Chris and Orly will talk about the life changing power of these conversations, not just for the person speaking, but for the listener, as well. Orly will share the lessons he’s learned after having dozens of conversations, sometimes with friendly people, and sometimes not so friendly people. It’s an adventure that he has embarked on to understand his fellow humans more, and one he thinks all of us could benefit from. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Voss is a former FBI negotiator who is using his decades of knowledge to teach others how to negotiate in both life and business. His book Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It is a Wall Street Journal Best Seller, and Chris is teaching negotiation in classrooms, workshops, and through a popular series on the MasterClass website. In this episode, the two Chris’s (Do and Voss) talk about how negotiation works, whether it’s on a personal level or in sales. Chris Voss discusses the importance of being a straight shooter, why emotional intelligence is such an important part of being able to talk to someone, and the most important question to keep in mind in negotiating with family - Are you negotiating WITH someone, or AGAINST them? They also discuss the power of the “What” question, The Oprah rule, and the power of different tones of voice in negotiation. There’s SO MUCH to understanding negotiation, and while they couldn’t touch on it all, this episode is a fantastic primer led by a master in the subject. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final discussion on the 5 Core Business Principles, Mo Ismail returns to talk to Chris about Attraction Marketing. In todays world, few people are looking at your social profiles by random chance. They’re looking to see who you are, and what you’ve done. One of the strongest way you can attract potential clients is to use those profiles to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in your area of expertise. That way you’re not just building an audience, you’re building trust. In this episode, Mo and Chris talk about a couple of different approaches to creating content and building value to attract the perfect person into your ecosystem. While you may start your career working in a more transactional way, using your time to create trust and expertise through content creation will help establish your personal brand and create an environment where, as Seth Godin say’s, you can “turn strangers into friends, and friends into customers”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second part of Chris’s discussion with Mo Ismail on the 5 Core Business Principles, he’ll be talking about The Irresistible Offer, and how to create it. It’s natural to feel like “the work should sell itself”, but competition has risen to a level where you have to start creating a product, or service, that is SO attractive to a potential customer or client, that they want to buy from YOU. So how do you do create The Irresistible Offer? Two ways - Either lower the price, or create more value. Since we all know that none of us wants to lower our price, and doing so comes with its own perils, Chris and Mo are going to spend their time talking about how to raise the value of what you do, so the client will utter those magic words - “Take my money!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For much of human history, mankind didn’t have very much in the way of resources. If there was food to eat, we ate it, and we would eat as much as we could, because we didn’t know when our next meal was going to come. Fast forward to the 21st century, and we have an abundance of food and mass produced goods which gives us choice. With this multitude of options, we start to ask ourselves “Why do we choose one over the other?”. Why do people buy? What are the core, psychological elements that get people to choose one brand over the other? In the first episode of a multi part series, Chris is joined by Mo Ismail for a masterclass in the 5 Core Essentials of Business. They’re going to talk about what it means to “decrease the pain, and increase the gain” for a client, so you, as a seller, can provide them a bridge from their current reality to their desired reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you’re just starting out in a creative business, or pivoting to a new specialty, finding those first clients is one of the biggest hills you have to climb. So how do you build up your skills and get yourself seen by potential clients? If you’re adding a skill or a specialty, how do you get potential clients to see you as someone who can do more than just what you have already done for them? Mo Ismail returns to talk to Chris about how he went from being a student to landing clients as a freelancer, and how Chris found his first clients while he was still in school, and later found clients when pivoting from Motion Design to Branding. In this conversation, Chris lays out a step by step method to help you build your skills, expand your portfolio, and connect with potential clients, which Mo will summarize as the “5 C’s”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Money. How does that word make you feel? Some people hear it and think opportunity, success, maybe even happiness. Others have a much more complicated reaction. Chris has fielded a lot of questions and comments about money over the years, and the one thing that is consistent with these questions is that there is a surprising amount of negative attitude towards both money, and the people who have made a fair share of it. But, as Chris argues, money is simply “a score card of how much you are able to create value”. In this episode, Mo Ismail returns to prompt a conversation with Chris about money that’s really about mindset. Chris discusses his work history, and how both needing money, and making money, has effected him in different ways. The two also discuss how your thoughts and ideas, not just about money, but also about success, career, and so much more, are governed by an inner monologue that is ultimately trying to protect you, sometimes to your detriment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back with our second episode with YouTube pro and entrepreneur Sean Cannell. Sean is the driving force behind ThinkMedia, a company focused on YouTube strategy and growth. He is also an international speaker and coach that helps entrepreneurs build their influence and income with online video. In this episode, Sean and Chris continue their conversation about the importance of YouTube for entrepreneurs and business owners. Sean goes into topics like building a team, figuring out what to focus your content on, attracting the right audience, and why some of ThinkMedia’s most popular videos work. They also touch on “ethical” clickbait and why a mix of creating value, while also being polarizing, works for content creators, including The Futur. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Cannell returns to the podcast to talk to Chris about why YouTube is the most undervalued social media platform, and how to take advantage of its amazing features. Sean is a successful YouTuber, and founder of ThinkMedia, an organization and YouTube channel focused on helping creators understand new technology, devise strategies, and create more success on YouTube. In the first part of a two part conversation, Sean and Chris talk about why being able to communicate is the most important skill in content creation, and why it must be a life long pursuit. They also discuss other important skills in content creation, why Sean thinks YouTube is the “forgotten” social media platform, and more tips on how to perfect your skills in content creation. As the saying goes, “Attention is a form of currency”, so get ready to take some notes as Sean lays out some truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Victore is a designer and fine artist, who’s work is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. His stunning, expressive typography has helped to define his work, and is born out of the passion that he feels for the act of creating. He’s always known what he wanted to do, and has spent years whittling away the perfection so many of us suffer from to deliver work that is authentic, vulnerable, and bold. Because personality and humanity are the most important parts of his work. In this episode, Chris talks to James about his life and work - From being given paper, pencil, and old design annuals as a child, to leaving school because he had a vision for his life and work, to a career with an ultimate goal of “being James Victore” and being paid for it. James and Chris talk life, work, and the push and pull between commercialism and artistry, and, more importantly, why James feels you don’t have to separate the two. Interested in James's course on creativity and finding your voice? Head on over to Your Work Is A Gift to learn more, and use code DO50 for $50 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Williams is a designer and entrepreneur who runs DesignJoy, a design subscription service. He is essentially a one-man design agency that operates at scale and earns upwards of $1 million in annual revenue. In this podcast episode, Brett gives us a peek into how his business operates, the tools he uses, and what he’s learned after running a design subscription service for six years. It’s not for everyone, but to make something like this work you need two things: to be good and to be fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Ventura is the founder of Sub Rosa, a strategy and design firm that works with some of the world’s largest brands, organizations, and startups. He is also a board member and advisor to several organizations, including Behance, The Burning Man Project, and The Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. As if that weren’t impressive enough, he also owns a globally recognized design store in New York’s West Village and is a visiting lecturer at institutions like Princeton University and the United States Military Academy at West Point. In this podcast episode, Michael shares his experience as an entrepreneur, how he spends his precious time, and why his calling is helping other people overcome the obstacles in their way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this inspiring podcast episode, we welcome magician, father, and keynote speaker Vinh Giang to the show. Vinh walks us through his fascinating life and career path, sharing powerful personal stories from both along the way. We hear about how Vinh struggled as a shy and seemingly invisible kid and how the allure of magic and showmanship helped instill confidence and paved the way for an even bigger, worldly presence for him. Beyond the craft of magic, Vinh is a teacher at heart. And his topic of choice is communication. Throughout the conversation, Vinh offers actionable tips for how to use your voice and body to become a more effective communicator. Whether you’re presenting on stage, in a board room, or via video call we think you will takeaway at least three valuable communication tips from this episode. So, listen up and enjoy. This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh - https://hellofresh.com/futur50 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Emmanuel Probst is Global Lead of Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos, a leading market research agency in the world. He is also a WSJ bestselling author and adjunct professor at UCLA. We invited Dr. Probst on the show to share his deep understanding of consumer psychology, discuss how branding has evolved throughout the 21st century, and what it means for businesses to connect with their audience. In this episode, Emmanuel shares his thoughts about what a brand is and what a brand is not. Put simply: brands are not static. They are a dynamic co-creation that live in the hearts and minds of people. Whether you're a part of a small business or a large corporation, Dr. Probst's insights will give you a new perspective on how to connect with your audience and build brand desire that lasts. This episode is sponsored by Factor - https://factormeals.com/futur50 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vince Lebon is a husband, father, and a curious design collaborator. He founded the experiential footwear brand Rollie Nation, where he has designed for and collaborated with celebrities. In this episode, Vince discusses the importance of pursuing what makes him happy instead of chasing money. He shares how he honed his product design skills and started his own footwear brand from scratch. Vince also talks about Rollie Nation's future as an experience-centric brand and how he plans to blur the line between online and offline customer experience. If you aspire to design products people will love or build a brand that resonates with your audience, then this episode is a must-listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we are joined by Marshall Davis Jones, TEDx Speaker and founder of MindBodySpeak. Marshall is a competitive slam poet and world-bridger, known for his voice tone techniques that help people win negotiations, deescalate conflicts, and build business relationships across multiple industries. Throughout the conversation, Marshall emphasizes the importance of voice work in communication and how tonal decision making can impact behavior in others. He explains how mastering words and tone can help individuals read the room, modulate their tone, and communicate effectively, whether they're trying to be assertive, move things along, or slow things down. Marshall draws on his experience with slam poetry and battle rap to explain how he learned to read the room and grow from these live communication mistakes. He also discusses the importance of treating our words with care and understanding that our tone can either be a controlled explosion or a delicate dance, depending on the situation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and connect with others through spoken language. This episode is sponsored by by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/FUTUR and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phyllis Williams-Strawder is a certified brand strategist, life and business coach, and psychology marketing specialist who is known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother®. She has a passion for guiding people and helping them become brand leaders. Phyllis began her career in the food industry. She started by delivering lunches from her dining room table to eventually owning two restaurants and a catering company that generated millions in revenue. Her personal brand at that time was Mrs. Mista, where she was known for her motherly vibe. As her business grew, Phyllis herself grew out of the role and began coaching. She got her certification as a brand coach, and brand strategy allowed her to embrace her ghetto-country roots and find her real voice. And The Ghetto Country Brandmother® was born. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Finn is a TEDx speaker, advisor, internationally recognized branding designer, and author who works with individuals and groups dedicated to creating a positive impact at scale. With 30 years of international experience, Kevin emphasizes that not every business is a brand, and that businesses become brands only when society says so. As an advisor, Kevin challenges his clients' assumptions objectively. He questions their identity in comparison to how their customers perceive them. In this conversation, he shares six fundamental questions that make up the basis of his brand advisory work: What value do you provide? Who are you talking to? What are you saying to them? You’ll have to listen to the episode to hear the other three. This episode is sponsored by Better Help - https://betterhelp.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of our discussion on when to quit and when to push through, we hear stories from listeners about perseverance and strategic quitting. Joining us again are Nidhi Tewari and Stefan Bucher, who both remind us that joy is an important factor in deciding whether to stay the course or not. If there’s one thing you take away from this conversation, it’s that sacrificing your personal well-being for professional success rarely works out in the long run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said, "Winners never quit and quitters never win." It's a motivating and catchy sentiment, but famed marketer Seth Godin begs to differ. In his book, The Dip, he argues that quitting can be the best strategy. In this two-part episode, Chris is joined by therapist Nidhi Tewari and designer Stefan Bucher to discuss knowing when to quit and when to persevere. Like it or not, the free market rewards exceptionalism. Success goes to the obsessed. But where is the line between intense focus and toxic hustle? And how do you determine if what you're grinding away on is worth it? This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/FUTUR and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 scarcity mindset, but a growth mindset can take us further. Paco emphasizes the importance of observing our own thoughts and how others talk about money in order to better understand our relationship with it. Here's a quick financial tip from Paco: take 20 minutes (or up to an hour) once a week to check in on your finances. Doing this regularly will improve your relationship with them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 you have no time for being creative. And that’s not good for business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 importance of experimenting and analyzing data to optimize performance. If you’re not already using affiliate marketing, then you are leaving money on the table. Take Jacob’s advice and start today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 night before and prioritize rest. If you struggle with accomplishing tasks or are feeling burned out then give this episode a listen. Simon will teach you how to be a better CEO—Chief Energy Officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. We think you should listen to this episode and decide for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 played out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 presenting yourself. Like what makes for a great headshot, how to write a concise bio, and why you should think of yourself as a magazine. If you're considering hiring a PR agency or looking for meaningful ways to break into publications and trades, then listen to what Lucy Werner has to say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 haven't guessed already, this episode is all about YouTube. Specifically, how to find meaningful success on the platform. If you struggle with YouTube, aren't seeing the results you'd like, or are looking for a deeper understanding of how YouTube works, then grab your headphones and hit play on this episode. Sponsored by: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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-thinking versus slow-thinking, and how to decipher the quality of the data you base a decision on. Sponsored by First Republic Bank - firstrepublic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 episode. Dakota and Chris discuss the three content pillars and share five actionable tips for writing better copy. Here's a quick example: use simple language and short sentences. Sponsored by First Republic Bank - https://firstrepublic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Republic Bank - firstrepublic.com Ladder - ladderlife.com NordPass - nordpass.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 insights from Chris Do’s years of business experience. Sponsored by: Masterclass - https://www.masterclass.com/futur HolaBrief - https://holabrief.com/thefutur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 leverage these tools for your business? Sponsored by First Republic Bank - https://firstrepublic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Chris Do define and debate the merits of hybrid professional identities. Spoiler alert: Chris is not immediately sold on the idea. Sarabeth argues that what we do professionally is difficult to categorize into simply one box. Many of us find fulfillment and excel at the intersection of several disciplines. Just as our names are unique to us, our titles and what we do follow suit. However, the trick is knowing how to communicate that intersection clearly. If you struggle with the decision of specializing versus generalizing or find yourself living somewhere in the middle then you will enjoy this conversation. This episode is sponsored by by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/futur and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Creativity 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 creativity. They discuss the importance of remaining curious, following your instinct, and why what makes you weird also makes you wonderful. Sponsored by Masterclass - https://www.masterclass.com/futur Hookpoint - https://goingviral.pro Ladder - https://www.ladderlife.com/futur The Commercial Break - https://tcbpodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 from their experience as students, teachers, and professionals. Pro tip: grab a pen and paper before you listen to this one. You will want to take notes. Sponsored by First Republic Bank - https://firstrepublic.com HolaBrief - https://www.holabrief.com/thefutur Hookpoint - https://goingviral.pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 confirmation bias come into play. Sponsored by First Republic Bank - https://firstrepublic.com HolaBrief - https://www.holabrief.com/thefutur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 are unsure what design thinking is (and whether it is a tool worth learning), this episode is for you. Sponsored by BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur First Republic Bank - https://firstrepublic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 by: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 struggle with criticism, perfectionism, or taking ownership of your response in a situation, this episode might help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices