The Futur

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

Graham Cochrane is an entrepreneur, YouTuber, and business coach whose mission is to help other people start their own businesses. You might be thinking, “Great. Another online business guru telling me to sign up for their seminar while they pose in front of a rented Lamborghini.” But you would be wrong. In 2009, right after the financial collapse, Graham was laid off. He and his wife had recently purchased a house and just had their first baby. Not a great place to be. After struggling to find work and being unable to make enough through freelance work, Graham saw an opportunity, and a side project was born. Graham had unintentionally founded The Recording Revolution, the world’s largest online audio recording and music production resource. Years later, that little side project evolved into a seven-figure business with over twenty-thousand customers. The magic formula? Serve others. In this episode, Graham shares how spending his time and effort serving others has served him well. He and Chris talk about no

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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