It’s not the idea that gets you anywhere. It’s the consistent commitment to the idea that makes all the difference. 

This week we’re checking out Vans’ lifestyle product photo carousel ads. These are interesting because they simultaneously achieve brand and performance in their approach and strategy.

Life is a non-stop conveyor belt of tasks, meetings, lunches, chores, bills, holidays, obligations–you’ll never reach the end. Meanwhile, your dreams are somewhere in the mix.

If you’re the first to suggest a price point in a rate negotiation, that conversation will only stray so far from the original number you present.

The longer you wait to pull the lever, the longer the lever gets, the easier it is to pull.

There’s an ailment that befalls many creators when they begin searching for inspiration: They feel like they aren’t good enough. Inspiration can either serve as a motivational launching pad, or a soul-crushing bench press bar that’s too heavy to get out from under.

I never know where the inspiration for a blog post could come from, but by reading content often, I know it will come from somewhere.

We overestimate the impact our success will have, and we underestimate the impact our daily actions, human to human. Every simple, selfless act of service has positive ripple effects on our communities in ways we could never begin to imagine.

Plenty of ads these days are in the moment, but they aren’t tasteful. We’ve all had our fill of major corporations offering a benevolent discount in these “unprecedented times.” (Looking at you State Farm). This ad recognizes COVID-19, but it doesn’t disrespect the viewer with fake empathy.

Most pro athlete endorsement deals have athletes using a broadcast personality. The great ads with Lebron James and Peyton Manning that we all remember aren’t perfect models for digital personalities.

Two coffee shops in the same small town is better than one coffee shop in a small town. Why? Because now the town’s customers are forced to think about where they should get their coffee. The consumer palate is developed, and everyone learns to like coffee more.

I’ve developed a quick way to have a personal call with each creator, while still getting my message across efficiently. Here’s how.

Thoughtful promotion is a generous act. If you’re a freelancer or an entrepreneur, letting people know what you offer is a generous thing to do. When you do it well, people will be really glad you did.

Want to know how I choreographed a music video that has over 120 million views? Want to know how I storyboarded a national broadcast campaign? Well, it looked a lot like the arts and crafts projects I did in the third grade.

“Am I hunting antelope or field mice?” –Tim Ferriss

In 2018, MVMT was acquired by Movado for $100 million. In 2021, they film clips of their watches on iPhones, add text on top, and run them as Facebook ads. Are we missing something here? Do they know something we don’t?

Often, we feel tied into our current situations. We went to school for our profession, or we bought a lot of gear for it, or we’ve spent a lot of time on it, so it would be foolish to change. But this isn’t true.

You’ll do peripheral work that doesn’t accomplish things. You’ll sweep the floor of the shop and rearrange window displays instead of standing outside and inviting customers in.

There’s a cap to how much you can make as a freelancer working on day rates. The way to make exponentially more money is to either specialize in something super niche, or pitch bigger projects.

Consider how you can design a portion of your day around your biggest goals. How can you design a work sessions in which you stack the most amount of bricks in the shortest amount of time?