March 28, 2023
Episode 50: Lisa Hennessy - Designing a Love-Based Life of Purpose

Meet Lisa Hennessy! Lisa is a Creative Director and Designer from Berlin, Germany, now living in Kauai, Hawaii. For over 16 years, Lisa lived a fast-paced life, working in the world’s top ad agencies. But over time, she began to believe that the ad industry didn't align with her values. She recognized exploitive, fear-based practices that caused people to feel unworthy. So she started her own creative studio, focusing on love as a business model. Enjoy the listen!
Lisa's Links:
The Human Beauty Movement's Links:
- Official Website
- Community
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Twitter
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Pinterest
Jennifer Norman's Links:
- Lnk.Bio
- LinkedIn
- Instagram
- TikTok
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Pinterest
- YouTube
- Medium
Thank you for being a Beautiful Human.
Transcript
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Hello, beautiful humans.
Welcome to role models podcast.
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Where I have to see
conversations with beautiful
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humans for your weekly dose of
inspiration, I'm Jennifer,
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Norman founder of the human
Beauty movement and your host.
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It's my life's work to show you
how radical self-love and
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radical self-acceptance will
lead you to manifest your most
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fulfilling life and these days
It's very common to hear the
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words Purpose Driven now.
More than ever, people are
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striving to align their own
personal core values.
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With their professional work to
leave the most fulfilling lives.
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My guest today has a fascinating
story to tell Lisa, Hennessey is
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a creative director and designer
from Berlin.
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Germany now living in Los
Angeles and Kauai Hawaii for
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over 16 years.
Lisa worked in the world's top
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ad agencies and her work.
Brought her numerous industry
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Awards but She felt a calling,
and she's here to talk about
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what happened.
Next, welcome, Lisa.
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Hi.
Thanks so much for having me.
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It's a pleasure to have you and
from Hawaii.
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No less.
I love that.
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Yes.
Yes I'm sure you'll hear a
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chicken, at least once
throughout our conversation.
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I Can't Nobody Do.
That's fantastic for now, I'd
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love to win it back to the start
of your career.
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Can you tell us what it was
like, in your early days of
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advertising?
Oh my, it was exciting when
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you're in your early twenties
working.
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All the time and flying around
the world.
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Working with the coolest
directors and photographers.
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It's super exciting.
It took me a moment.
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I think to realize what was
actually happening.
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I was into it.
I was really good at what I was
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doing.
I had so much fun.
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Everyone was just working
nonstop and lots of parties were
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had and lots of travel and then
it a while and I think I
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realized that I'm missing all my
friends, birthdays and weddings
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and I'm sick.
And I still pushed through
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because I feel like if I don't
do it, One can do it.
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It's just this dance of, they
got me with the exciting stuff
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and then they don't you don't
realize how the agency owns you
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basically and takes over your
whole life and you think it's
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everything you do for your
career.
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But it's it's just not
sustainable for human said, not
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quite the way work should be, I
think.
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Yeah, you know, I can relate so
much because I remember being in
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my late twenties and was working
in the beauty industry, and you
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develop this obsessive, Of kind
of behavior when it comes to
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work because you feel that
there's like the tie to glamour,
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you feel yourself worth
associated with doing well, in
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your career and you're working
hard and you're playing hard
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burning, the candle at all sorts
of ends and not necessarily
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being as healthy as you can be.
I at that time was living in New
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York City.
And I just remember there was
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very, very little sleep to be
had.
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Definitely.
That was a thing.
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Yeah, I think it was cool to
have yet another all-nighter at
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the agency.
Mmm.
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And so tell us what kind of ads
were you working on?
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What kind of campaigns were
they?
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It was a lot of the big car
companies that worked.
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I was head of art
internationally 4vw for four
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years and after that worked on a
bunch of other car companies and
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then moved from Europe to LA and
worked on Apple and Netflix and
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Sony and other big companies
Target.
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So a lot of those big players
for sure which sounds really
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exciting, but when it comes to
the work, once you start looking
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behind the curtains, not as
fulfilling as it.
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Might sound interesting.
Now you've traveled all over the
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place for work and London and
also the United States over in
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Berlin and Amsterdam.
And I'm just curious, was it the
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same everywhere or were there
differences depending on where
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you might be in the world?
I think the industry is, is much
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smaller than it sounds.
So yes, it is pretty much the
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same.
I think, the major difference I
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felt was while I was studying at
an internship in Vienna, and
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that was the first My experience
agency life, what people didn't
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come in on the weekends and
instead he talks about skiing
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and the theater and what they
would do on the weekends, it was
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super strange to me.
Yeah, looking back.
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I think that was the only time I
experienced that in advertising
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and then comparatively, maybe
Europe.
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Versus Allah I think the biggest
difference is size there in l.a.
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agencies are just much much
bigger than in Europe, right?
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So I think a big difference was
in Europe.
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My skills would really
appreciate it.
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I have a design background But
I'm creative director, so the
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Strategic and conceptual
thinking plays into that.
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And when I came with that skill
set, there was highly in demand
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in Europe, to La, people wanted
to put me in a box and they
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wanted to know how you design
director, creative director and
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it became clear why.
When I saw the size of teens, it
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felt very unreasonable to me to
have 50.
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People sitting in a room,
working on the same pitch, or
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the same product and then when
it comes to the production of
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that concept, money was super
tight so it didn't add up for
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me.
Interesting.
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Interesting.
Now, we're along the way because
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I know that you started to feel
a bit disheartened about the
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nature of advertising itself.
Maybe not necessarily just the
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fact that you were burning the
candle at every end but also the
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fact that there seems to be a
bit of exploitation involved.
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And so I'm just curious like
we're in the process or what was
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it?
That really all of a sudden was
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like, you know what, this is the
straw that breaks the camel's
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back.
I really need to rethink, you
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know how I am working in my
life.
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Yeah, I think it was many many
moments over time.
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Time.
But certainly the realization
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that internally was always
treated like we're saving the
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world and you can't miss this
deadline, it's so important.
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Just the fact that it's called a
deadline for really started to
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feel that disconnect more and
more with how people were
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treated internally and pushed
past their limits.
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And then externally, when you
look at it, why is this so
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important?
What we're doing essentially is
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lying to people to buy more
things in the world that clearly
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doesn't need more things.
So much of what's happening on
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that side felt wrong.
To me the fact that you like
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most concepts are based on the
fact that you make people feel
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inadequate if you make them feel
not good enough unless they buy
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this thing, or they belong to
this club, whatever it is that
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felt said like such a big
disconnect and I was really
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frustrated with it to a point
where I thought.
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All right, I'm just going to
walk away from it, become a
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starving artist or do something
completely different and then a
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friend of mine, convinced me to
go to a festival.
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Like, an advertising Festival
one.
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Last time I was very reluctant
But I ended up going and saw a
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wonderful human speak.
And they used to Stage to only
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talk about their side project,
not their phenomenal career.
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They kept saying, we have the
superpowers creatives and we
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have to just learn to use that
super power for good because
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what we can do is change
behaviors and educate people in
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a way that shifts behavior, that
shifts Productions and all
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Industries.
If we do good with that skill.
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And I think that was my big.
Aha moment of, oh wow, I can do
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this.
I can use all those big brand
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knowledge that I've And over the
years and apply it for good with
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people who are set out to make a
difference in the world with the
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planet with their communities
with the way they work and treat
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each other.
So I think that was my big
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moment if you want to bring it
down to that one.
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Wow, and that's fascinating too.
Because after having worked for
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years in the industry selling
products and using your
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creativity to sell more
products, to actually hear you
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can actually use this as good.
I mean, it seems like it's so
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simple and something that they
would teach you or that you
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would like Learn early on but
it's not.
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And that's the the surprising
and perhaps sad thing about it
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is that sometimes, you know,
people can go their entire
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careers thinking like no, no, I
work for business and we're in
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business to make money and I
need to figure out how to make
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more money for the company.
And this deadline is here
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because if we miss it, then we
missed the launch or we miss
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this opportunity and then I'm
you know, that'll be the end of
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my career you know.
And so we put all of this
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pressure on ourselves because
we're chasing, you know, results
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from previous years or trying to
get to these goals.
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We have, which almost always
fiscally based in many, many
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companies, unless you're a very
different kind of company, which
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is the Purpose Driven company,
or the business that chooses not
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to be.
So that leads us into the next
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phase of your life.
And so, can you tell us what you
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did after that?
Yes, I am left advertising
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industry that the agency world
for good and started my own
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company.
Van v where I built ethical and
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sustainable Brands.
And I do this from a place of
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love and empathy.
The rather than when the agency
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always felt like this is all
happening from a place of ego.
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It was all about, we know best.
We are so cool.
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This is what we now do is we
always start from a place of
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knowing nothing.
And I believe that the people we
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work with, the founders pulled
all of the magic, they hold all
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the knowledge.
So, our job is to just chip away
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at almost like the rock that
holds the sculpture on the
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inside, right?
So with that empathy and with
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that strategic thinking
understanding people, and what's
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going on, World at that
particular time a cultural
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moment, if you create from that
place, you can create something
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that's connected on an emotional
level with people.
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So, instead of selling you see,
how can I be of service, how can
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I make someone's life?
A little better today and it
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doesn't have to be like
life-changing can just be a
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little added smile, a little
educational piece, a little bit
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of service that can help someone
in that day.
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Yeah, and I think that that is
really very telling when you
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boil it down and you're thinking
about that, Decisions that
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you're making when you walk into
a store or anything in your
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life, is it fear-based or is it
love based?
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And it really can boil down to
those two very things.
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And you can feel in your body,
the difference between making a
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decision, which is fear-based
versus love basis, typically
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constriction or this tightening
in your body.
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And then, when you're making
this decision based on love, you
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feel more open and flowing and
sometimes it's a very small
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thing that you can just pay
attention to.
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But it's fascinating, how we
Then and trained in advertising,
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and in business to put together
campaigns based upon fear, not
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necessarily based upon love
based upon ego of.
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Oh, if I don't look this certain
way, or if I don't have the car,
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or if I don't have the brand, or
if I don't have this, then
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people will think less of me.
And I fear that I want to be
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socially accepted, and a lot of
times it gets confused because
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you're like, okay, I want to be
accepted.
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I want to be loved, but it's
different from me.
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Making a decision first and
foremost gung-ho about who I
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want to be accepted versus I'm
doing this because I love it.
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I'm buying this because I love
it.
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There's a very different kind of
emotion that comes out.
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And so, yeah, the advertising
shift is one that I think is
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interesting, how it's starting
to happen, but it happens more
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slowly because it's not as
manipulative, you know, you
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don't get that deadline, like,
time's running out.
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You got to buy this or else and
so, you know, that's what
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usually gets people to buy.
And that's where the
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exploitation come in.
And so if you move away from
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that, yeah, it's a long game,
isn't it?
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It's a little bit different when
you make those sorts of
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decisions as a business owner,
definitely a long game and a
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never-ending game.
I think that's sometimes the
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scary pot.
We can't just do brand and be
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done with it, right?
You'll always have to evaluate.
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You always have to see what's
going on in the world right now.
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What's going on?
I always see brand more as like
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The Guiding Light of that North
Star that you can use as a
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check.
Checklist for every decision
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that you make going forward.
And that's never done, right?
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You always have to realign a
little bit and like, but you can
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only do that when you get clear
to begin with about why you do
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what you do and what the goal is
like, what is the mission?
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The vision, the values that
drive this business and then
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Translating that into visuals
and language that really
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connects with people on an
emotional level I think is so
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much better than following
Trends and telling stories that
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are made up.
I'd rather tell truths.
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It's rather find what really is
already there.
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And uncovered that in the most
beautiful way possible.
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Hmm.
It is interesting.
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How advertising has shifted
course?
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And I would say over the course
of your career, thus far, where
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I mean it's like people barely
read magazines anymore, there's
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so much online, and there's so
much fast-paced, you know,
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scrolling scrolling scrolling.
And so it becomes one of those
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things where it's like, okay how
do you catch somebody's
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attention then?
Do you find that struggle when
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you're dealing with people and
Brands and Trying to get those
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values across when you only have
a nanosecond to do.
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So, yes it.
No, I believe that if you really
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get clear on the values and you
align behind them, it doesn't
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feel as pressing anymore.
So, what we usually do, we stay
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away from the fast content, the
Disposable content, we try to
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create something that's really
meaningful life, stories, that
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really matter.
And I think if you do that, as a
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company from that place of care,
and from that place of the
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shared Mission like if you think
about that and you re The about
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out in the world, people who
care about the same thing will
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find you and they will want to
be connected.
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And I think what's even more
important in such a fast pace
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mass-market World.
They want to tell their friends
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about it and that's so much more
valuable than any AD spend.
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You can have have.
Yeah, because that's what people
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need these days, they want
trust.
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They want curation in a sense
and they get that mostly
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nowadays.
I believe from friends from
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micro influences, from people
who they feel connected to
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rather than the big guy.
Glamorous Kardashians or whoever
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it is, who just do it for
different purposes.
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I want to say, right?
Okay.
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So then with your business when
you say that you're doing things
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differently.
Can you describe like what would
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be the main characteristic
differences?
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Between what you as a creative
director, in your company is
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doing versus what ad agencies or
what not have done in the old
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model.
Yeah, love to we usually
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describe our process as valuates
branding, or circular branding
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sometimes.
So In the sense that it's never
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done, right?
That you always one piece
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influence the other, the biggest
difference, I think to an ad
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agency from my experience, is
that a client comes in, as a
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briefing, as a big thing, it's
all exciting and then the client
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gets sent away and the agency
works on something for three
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months and then comes and
presents the thing.
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And sometimes that's a hit and
sometimes it just doesn't
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connect.
What we do instead is we see
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ourselves as the partner of a
Founder.
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It's a really scary time to
launch something.
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We want to be there for someone
and do something together.
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Like I said, I leave that we
start from a place of empathy of
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not knowing anything and really
trying to uncover together that
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common truth that emotion that
value.
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I think it's such a beautiful
partnership.
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I've truly believe in
collaboration and the beauty of
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that and adding to something
playing with something and
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sharing that Vision.
So we usually always start with
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strategy for no matter what we
do.
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If it's a brand campaign, a
launch of a new brand.
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So if someone comes and says, I
just needed logo, I want
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something that looks like this
because it's beautiful.
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I'm Before German on them and
say I'm sorry but no I'm just
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saying I don't want to waste
anyone's time on money and I
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don't enjoy doing something that
someone else has done already
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because I don't believe that
it'll work for that particular
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other brand than I think, unless
you really get clear on your why
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and your values and who you
connecting with and what's going
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on in their lives, you don't
need to start, you don't need to
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do anything because there's so
much like you said, there's so
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much content out there ready, so
that strategic understanding, I
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think sets us apart.
Because once that is really
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clear, it's easy to then
visualize that and it's less
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subjective to write.
I don't just say well I like
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this or I like pink or like
green, but instead we can check
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back with.
What do we want?
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People to feel?
If it's Safety and Security,
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then we're probably going to go
with the blue tone because
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that's why Banks and insurance
companies are blue, blue evokes,
316
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the feeling of safety and all of
a sudden, it becomes
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psychological and very logically
clear.
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00:15:55,500 --> 00:15:58,500
And of course, you still want to
feel excited and proud about the
319
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visuals that we create.
Put out in the world but it's so
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much easier to do it from such a
place of a common understanding
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of.
Here's what we're creating is
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what we set out in the world to
do.
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Let's visualize that hmm how
fascinating.
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00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:17,700
So now you decided to have found
was certified as a b
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Corporation, can you tell me
what is it B Corporation and
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what would compel an ad agency
or a company like yours to
327
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become one?
Yes, I'd love that we're
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failing.
You become certified.
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I'm very proud of it.
So I'm always thrilled to talk
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to your fellow B Corp and to
talk about that subject for us.
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It was just a matter of we've
been talking about care.
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We've been trying to be more
sustainable.
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We've pushed every client.
We had to look at Alternatives
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and packaging to look at their
brand as an all-around circular
335
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thing.
That doesn't get communicated
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00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,000
out, really only but also
reflects internally and how they
337
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treat their employees their
production, where they
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00:16:56,300 --> 00:16:59,400
manufacture and how so that the
crop was just the stamp of
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approval.
Rule that we actually series
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about what we're talking about
and to ask a wonderful way to
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connect with fellow, Be Cops
with other people who care.
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And it's just this wonderful
network of humans where it
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finally feels.
Like we all have this common
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goal, right?
We all want to support our
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planet and our community.
So why not work together on
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that?
There's a wonderful book that
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Unity is to share knowledge to
share.
348
00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:26,300
Best practices to learn from
each other that I value so much
349
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as a small company.
We often it feels like your
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style.
Load, especially now that we're
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on Kawaii, most of the time,
there's not that many other
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people who built businesses in
this way.
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So it feels really nice to be a
part of this big movement of
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striving to be better and to
find ways to improve and to care
355
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for this beautiful planet and
its people right.
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Right.
And so what are some of the
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action points that your company
has instilled in terms of your
358
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commitments to the planet or two
people?
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Can you give us some examples?
Yes, absolutely.
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00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,200
And it was It's funny because we
didn't have to change it a lot.
361
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Actually, we just had to get
serious about quantifying it
362
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again.
And when I left advertising
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agencies, I thought I'll never
write a single time sheet in my
364
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life.
But one of the main things we do
365
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now is we dedicate 5% of our
billable hours to nonprofit
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organizations and we've been
doing that ever since we started
367
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,300
we just like I said, never
Quantified it.
368
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,200
That's one big thing.
We also part of 1% for the
369
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:29,500
planet so we donate 1% of our
profits or more sometimes too.
370
00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,800
Two local organizations, very
keen on supporting a local
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00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,100
community here, especially
during covert.
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A lot of people move to this
magical Island and not a lot of
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00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,300
them are trying to integrate in
the community in the way that
374
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supporter for not just an
extended vacation.
375
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And I was really trying to go to
community work days to support
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some of the organization's here.
There's a lot of fantastic
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00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:56,100
things happening in regenerative
agriculture and practices in
378
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creating more awareness around
traditional.
379
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Knowledge we call it
permaculture now but I think
380
00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:04,500
they've been doing it for a
really, really long time.
381
00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:07,600
So building that bridge of how
can we support.
382
00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,600
But also amplify these voices
and tell these really important,
383
00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,400
stories means a lot to us.
And I think that's what we build
384
00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:17,500
our b-corp nests around and
overall, I guess best practices.
385
00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:18,900
And how can we produce
something?
386
00:19:18,900 --> 00:19:21,200
That's more sustainable.
So, that's mostly for our
387
00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:25,000
clients do as an advisor in that
space because we don't make
388
00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:26,700
anything worse service based
company.
389
00:19:26,700 --> 00:19:29,900
So, when we work with, we have
one client who we're really
390
00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:32,300
excited to start become
certified as well with a
391
00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:34,900
sunscreen brand.
That was a really long process
392
00:19:34,900 --> 00:19:38,600
and researching the best
packaging for that brand because
393
00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,900
the planet and sustainability,
and reef regeneration was so
394
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important to them.
We had a really hard time to be
395
00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,900
honest finding the right
materials because it's not as
396
00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:50,000
good as you would wanted to be
out there.
397
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:53,000
And for most people, what
happens then is that decision
398
00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,300
weighs a lot, because doing the
right thing is usually not as
399
00:19:56,300 --> 00:19:59,500
easy and more expensive.
So, doing that dance, and
400
00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,000
Heading in the right direction.
It's a guest.
401
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:03,800
Something we try to do as much
as we can.
402
00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:06,700
Excellent, excellent.
Well, congratulations on being a
403
00:20:06,708 --> 00:20:09,700
certified, B Corporation, not an
easy feat whatsoever.
404
00:20:10,300 --> 00:20:12,500
Yeah.
It's definitely notable because
405
00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:16,200
there's only I want to say about
6,000 companies worldwide
406
00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,500
roughly about that.
They are continuing to add more
407
00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:22,200
but not very many but these are
companies that have met the
408
00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,300
highest standards in terms of
Social and environmental impact,
409
00:20:26,300 --> 00:20:29,400
and it's not just a seal that
people pay.
410
00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,200
Pay for and some units, there
are plenty of seals that people
411
00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,800
just pay for, but you really
have to prove yourself through
412
00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:40,300
auditing and through paperwork
and through all sorts of
413
00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:43,100
substantiation, to make sure
that you're living up to the
414
00:20:43,100 --> 00:20:46,000
standards that are set forth.
So it is rigorous and it is
415
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,600
something that is a commitment.
So I certainly applaud you for
416
00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,800
that and you won't.
Yeah, thank you, thank you.
417
00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,100
You know, I would say more than
ever people are really starting
418
00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:59,500
to get a little bit Jaded by Big
Business by building
419
00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,300
Corporations and by the fact
that, you know, they're longing
420
00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:06,000
for more purpose and longing for
more fulfillment, having gone
421
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,400
through that process, are there
any words of wisdom that you
422
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,900
would impart to anybody that is
interested in, you know,
423
00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:16,400
searching for either greater
meeting within their own lives
424
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:19,900
or something that aligns more
closely to what their own
425
00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:23,200
personal values are mmm.
Yes, always.
426
00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:25,600
I'm a big fan of lots of lots of
questions.
427
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,100
I think that process of
investigating your own.
428
00:21:29,100 --> 00:21:31,000
Why?
Why is really, really important
429
00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,300
and meaningful thinking about
what got to where you're at now?
430
00:21:34,300 --> 00:21:37,700
What gets you excited like, what
sparks the most joy in your
431
00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:39,600
life?
And then, if you combine that,
432
00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:43,200
with a sense of care and
sustainability, not just
433
00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,800
outwardly and like, how much
plastic do you waste and produce
434
00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,500
every day?
But also, for yourself that
435
00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:53,500
whole, we talk about love as a
seat for our business or every
436
00:21:53,500 --> 00:21:56,000
decision that we make every
action that we take.
437
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,800
But it always starts and
especially with love, I feel
438
00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,400
like it always does.
With yourself to, it's that
439
00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,900
analogy of the airplane oxygen
mask, right?
440
00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:07,600
Unless you give it to yourself
first, you can't serve other
441
00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,300
people.
You can't serve the planet.
442
00:22:09,300 --> 00:22:13,000
You can't sustain yourself one
of my favorite really silly
443
00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,700
points of advice.
I got long time ago, was the
444
00:22:15,700 --> 00:22:18,700
first rule of business, it's to
stay in business, which I think
445
00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:22,300
means to be profitable.
But to me it means to not burn
446
00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:25,300
out to take care of myself and
now if and that excitement that
447
00:22:25,300 --> 00:22:28,900
got me to this place to sustain
that for me as a Creator, that's
448
00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:31,100
a lot of it.
His play like, I have to come
449
00:22:31,100 --> 00:22:34,200
back to, what gets me excited,
what does that creative process?
450
00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,500
That inspires me so much, I love
beauty.
451
00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:38,900
I love beauty.
Not in the sense that you've
452
00:22:38,900 --> 00:22:42,600
spent so much time in a beauty
in the sense of like uncovering,
453
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,900
what's beautiful in the
situation in a person that's not
454
00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:49,200
maybe, not beautiful to everyone
else, but finding the beauty
455
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:53,200
within that I got some, you
really excited in my work and a
456
00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,900
lot of that requires us to step
away from work.
457
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,200
I think, when I started my own
company, everything all of a
458
00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,400
sudden Like, it has to be for a
purpose because you need clients
459
00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,100
to pay bills, but I get lit up
when I get to work with people
460
00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:09,400
who really make a difference.
And a lot of that means telling
461
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,700
me stories, without thinking
about work, telling these
462
00:23:11,700 --> 00:23:14,800
stories and working with these
people and collaborating with
463
00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,100
people in ways that will never
be profitable for us.
464
00:23:18,100 --> 00:23:20,900
So finding that balance I think
is really important.
465
00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:24,200
And first of all understanding,
what is it that lights you up
466
00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,500
personally?
That gets you so excited and
467
00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,100
allowing a little bit of space
for that and your life.
468
00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,800
Beautiful Elisa Hennessy.
Thank you so much for joining me
469
00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:37,400
today on this episode of role
models and best wishes for great
470
00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,500
success and what you're doing
because you are fulfilling a
471
00:23:40,508 --> 00:23:44,600
purpose and you have a very
strong mission in what you're
472
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,100
doing with your business.
So thank you very much.
473
00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,000
Thanks so much for having me.
It was a Joyce.
474
00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:49,600
Talk to you.
00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:10,900
Hello, beautiful humans.
Welcome to role models podcast.
2
00:00:10,900 --> 00:00:13,200
Where I have to see
conversations with beautiful
3
00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,700
humans for your weekly dose of
inspiration, I'm Jennifer,
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00:00:16,700 --> 00:00:20,100
Norman founder of the human
Beauty movement and your host.
5
00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,900
It's my life's work to show you
how radical self-love and
6
00:00:23,900 --> 00:00:27,700
radical self-acceptance will
lead you to manifest your most
7
00:00:27,700 --> 00:00:31,400
fulfilling life and these days
It's very common to hear the
8
00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,500
words Purpose Driven now.
More than ever, people are
9
00:00:34,500 --> 00:00:38,000
striving to align their own
personal core values.
10
00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,300
With their professional work to
leave the most fulfilling lives.
11
00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:45,100
My guest today has a fascinating
story to tell Lisa, Hennessey is
12
00:00:45,100 --> 00:00:48,200
a creative director and designer
from Berlin.
13
00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,000
Germany now living in Los
Angeles and Kauai Hawaii for
14
00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,300
over 16 years.
Lisa worked in the world's top
15
00:00:55,300 --> 00:00:58,700
ad agencies and her work.
Brought her numerous industry
16
00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:03,000
Awards but She felt a calling,
and she's here to talk about
17
00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,099
what happened.
Next, welcome, Lisa.
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00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,100
Hi.
Thanks so much for having me.
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00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:10,700
It's a pleasure to have you and
from Hawaii.
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No less.
I love that.
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Yes.
Yes I'm sure you'll hear a
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00:01:13,900 --> 00:01:16,400
chicken, at least once
throughout our conversation.
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00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:19,300
I Can't Nobody Do.
That's fantastic for now, I'd
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00:01:19,300 --> 00:01:22,300
love to win it back to the start
of your career.
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00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:24,900
Can you tell us what it was
like, in your early days of
26
00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:28,000
advertising?
Oh my, it was exciting when
27
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:29,800
you're in your early twenties
working.
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00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:32,300
All the time and flying around
the world.
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00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:35,000
Working with the coolest
directors and photographers.
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00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,500
It's super exciting.
It took me a moment.
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00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:40,600
I think to realize what was
actually happening.
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00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,700
I was into it.
I was really good at what I was
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00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:44,700
doing.
I had so much fun.
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00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:48,300
Everyone was just working
nonstop and lots of parties were
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00:01:48,300 --> 00:01:52,000
had and lots of travel and then
it a while and I think I
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00:01:52,008 --> 00:01:55,600
realized that I'm missing all my
friends, birthdays and weddings
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00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,300
and I'm sick.
And I still pushed through
38
00:01:58,300 --> 00:02:00,900
because I feel like if I don't
do it, One can do it.
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00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:05,000
It's just this dance of, they
got me with the exciting stuff
40
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,900
and then they don't you don't
realize how the agency owns you
41
00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:12,600
basically and takes over your
whole life and you think it's
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00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,000
everything you do for your
career.
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00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,700
But it's it's just not
sustainable for human said, not
44
00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:19,400
quite the way work should be, I
think.
45
00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:24,100
Yeah, you know, I can relate so
much because I remember being in
46
00:02:24,100 --> 00:02:27,900
my late twenties and was working
in the beauty industry, and you
47
00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:31,400
develop this obsessive, Of kind
of behavior when it comes to
48
00:02:31,408 --> 00:02:34,600
work because you feel that
there's like the tie to glamour,
49
00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,700
you feel yourself worth
associated with doing well, in
50
00:02:37,700 --> 00:02:40,800
your career and you're working
hard and you're playing hard
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00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,900
burning, the candle at all sorts
of ends and not necessarily
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00:02:43,900 --> 00:02:47,400
being as healthy as you can be.
I at that time was living in New
53
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,100
York City.
And I just remember there was
54
00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:52,500
very, very little sleep to be
had.
55
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:54,800
Definitely.
That was a thing.
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00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,600
Yeah, I think it was cool to
have yet another all-nighter at
57
00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,300
the agency.
Mmm.
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00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:02,500
And so tell us what kind of ads
were you working on?
59
00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:04,100
What kind of campaigns were
they?
60
00:03:04,100 --> 00:03:07,100
It was a lot of the big car
companies that worked.
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00:03:07,100 --> 00:03:10,300
I was head of art
internationally 4vw for four
62
00:03:10,300 --> 00:03:13,500
years and after that worked on a
bunch of other car companies and
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00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:18,500
then moved from Europe to LA and
worked on Apple and Netflix and
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00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:20,900
Sony and other big companies
Target.
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00:03:20,900 --> 00:03:24,600
So a lot of those big players
for sure which sounds really
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00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,600
exciting, but when it comes to
the work, once you start looking
67
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,800
behind the curtains, not as
fulfilling as it.
68
00:03:29,900 --> 00:03:33,600
Might sound interesting.
Now you've traveled all over the
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00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,800
place for work and London and
also the United States over in
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00:03:37,808 --> 00:03:41,000
Berlin and Amsterdam.
And I'm just curious, was it the
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00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,300
same everywhere or were there
differences depending on where
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00:03:45,300 --> 00:03:49,100
you might be in the world?
I think the industry is, is much
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00:03:49,100 --> 00:03:52,900
smaller than it sounds.
So yes, it is pretty much the
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00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:55,000
same.
I think, the major difference I
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00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,900
felt was while I was studying at
an internship in Vienna, and
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00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,200
that was the first My experience
agency life, what people didn't
77
00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,200
come in on the weekends and
instead he talks about skiing
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00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,400
and the theater and what they
would do on the weekends, it was
79
00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,000
super strange to me.
Yeah, looking back.
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00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,500
I think that was the only time I
experienced that in advertising
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00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:16,500
and then comparatively, maybe
Europe.
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00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:20,899
Versus Allah I think the biggest
difference is size there in l.a.
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00:04:20,899 --> 00:04:24,100
agencies are just much much
bigger than in Europe, right?
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00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:26,500
So I think a big difference was
in Europe.
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00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:28,600
My skills would really
appreciate it.
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00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,400
I have a design background But
I'm creative director, so the
87
00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,600
Strategic and conceptual
thinking plays into that.
88
00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,700
And when I came with that skill
set, there was highly in demand
89
00:04:37,700 --> 00:04:40,800
in Europe, to La, people wanted
to put me in a box and they
90
00:04:40,808 --> 00:04:43,300
wanted to know how you design
director, creative director and
91
00:04:43,300 --> 00:04:46,500
it became clear why.
When I saw the size of teens, it
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00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:48,700
felt very unreasonable to me to
have 50.
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00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:51,900
People sitting in a room,
working on the same pitch, or
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00:04:51,900 --> 00:04:54,900
the same product and then when
it comes to the production of
95
00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,600
that concept, money was super
tight so it didn't add up for
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00:04:58,600 --> 00:04:59,800
me.
Interesting.
97
00:04:59,900 --> 00:05:02,600
Interesting.
Now, we're along the way because
98
00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,800
I know that you started to feel
a bit disheartened about the
99
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,600
nature of advertising itself.
Maybe not necessarily just the
100
00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,300
fact that you were burning the
candle at every end but also the
101
00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:15,700
fact that there seems to be a
bit of exploitation involved.
102
00:05:15,700 --> 00:05:19,100
And so I'm just curious like
we're in the process or what was
103
00:05:19,100 --> 00:05:20,500
it?
That really all of a sudden was
104
00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:23,000
like, you know what, this is the
straw that breaks the camel's
105
00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,200
back.
I really need to rethink, you
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00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,400
know how I am working in my
life.
107
00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:29,700
Yeah, I think it was many many
moments over time.
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00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:32,000
Time.
But certainly the realization
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00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,600
that internally was always
treated like we're saving the
110
00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,400
world and you can't miss this
deadline, it's so important.
111
00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:42,600
Just the fact that it's called a
deadline for really started to
112
00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,800
feel that disconnect more and
more with how people were
113
00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,100
treated internally and pushed
past their limits.
114
00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:50,600
And then externally, when you
look at it, why is this so
115
00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,300
important?
What we're doing essentially is
116
00:05:52,300 --> 00:05:55,200
lying to people to buy more
things in the world that clearly
117
00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,300
doesn't need more things.
So much of what's happening on
118
00:05:58,300 --> 00:06:01,800
that side felt wrong.
To me the fact that you like
119
00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,700
most concepts are based on the
fact that you make people feel
120
00:06:04,700 --> 00:06:08,400
inadequate if you make them feel
not good enough unless they buy
121
00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,700
this thing, or they belong to
this club, whatever it is that
122
00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:15,100
felt said like such a big
disconnect and I was really
123
00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:17,300
frustrated with it to a point
where I thought.
124
00:06:17,300 --> 00:06:19,100
All right, I'm just going to
walk away from it, become a
125
00:06:19,108 --> 00:06:23,300
starving artist or do something
completely different and then a
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00:06:23,308 --> 00:06:26,100
friend of mine, convinced me to
go to a festival.
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00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:28,000
Like, an advertising Festival
one.
128
00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,900
Last time I was very reluctant
But I ended up going and saw a
129
00:06:31,900 --> 00:06:35,100
wonderful human speak.
And they used to Stage to only
130
00:06:35,100 --> 00:06:37,800
talk about their side project,
not their phenomenal career.
131
00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,300
They kept saying, we have the
superpowers creatives and we
132
00:06:41,300 --> 00:06:43,900
have to just learn to use that
super power for good because
133
00:06:43,900 --> 00:06:47,200
what we can do is change
behaviors and educate people in
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00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:51,700
a way that shifts behavior, that
shifts Productions and all
135
00:06:51,700 --> 00:06:54,000
Industries.
If we do good with that skill.
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00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,100
And I think that was my big.
Aha moment of, oh wow, I can do
137
00:06:57,100 --> 00:06:59,000
this.
I can use all those big brand
138
00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,800
knowledge that I've And over the
years and apply it for good with
139
00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,800
people who are set out to make a
difference in the world with the
140
00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,700
planet with their communities
with the way they work and treat
141
00:07:08,700 --> 00:07:10,500
each other.
So I think that was my big
142
00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:12,500
moment if you want to bring it
down to that one.
143
00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:16,200
Wow, and that's fascinating too.
Because after having worked for
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00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,900
years in the industry selling
products and using your
145
00:07:19,900 --> 00:07:23,400
creativity to sell more
products, to actually hear you
146
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,600
can actually use this as good.
I mean, it seems like it's so
147
00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,500
simple and something that they
would teach you or that you
148
00:07:29,500 --> 00:07:31,600
would like Learn early on but
it's not.
149
00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,200
And that's the the surprising
and perhaps sad thing about it
150
00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,700
is that sometimes, you know,
people can go their entire
151
00:07:37,700 --> 00:07:40,600
careers thinking like no, no, I
work for business and we're in
152
00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,200
business to make money and I
need to figure out how to make
153
00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,500
more money for the company.
And this deadline is here
154
00:07:45,500 --> 00:07:47,800
because if we miss it, then we
missed the launch or we miss
155
00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,400
this opportunity and then I'm
you know, that'll be the end of
156
00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,600
my career you know.
And so we put all of this
157
00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,200
pressure on ourselves because
we're chasing, you know, results
158
00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,700
from previous years or trying to
get to these goals.
159
00:07:59,900 --> 00:08:04,000
We have, which almost always
fiscally based in many, many
160
00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,000
companies, unless you're a very
different kind of company, which
161
00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,600
is the Purpose Driven company,
or the business that chooses not
162
00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,600
to be.
So that leads us into the next
163
00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,100
phase of your life.
And so, can you tell us what you
164
00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:19,500
did after that?
Yes, I am left advertising
165
00:08:19,500 --> 00:08:23,200
industry that the agency world
for good and started my own
166
00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,800
company.
Van v where I built ethical and
167
00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,800
sustainable Brands.
And I do this from a place of
168
00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,200
love and empathy.
The rather than when the agency
169
00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,700
always felt like this is all
happening from a place of ego.
170
00:08:33,700 --> 00:08:36,500
It was all about, we know best.
We are so cool.
171
00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:39,799
This is what we now do is we
always start from a place of
172
00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:41,900
knowing nothing.
And I believe that the people we
173
00:08:41,900 --> 00:08:45,600
work with, the founders pulled
all of the magic, they hold all
174
00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,700
the knowledge.
So, our job is to just chip away
175
00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:51,900
at almost like the rock that
holds the sculpture on the
176
00:08:51,900 --> 00:08:55,300
inside, right?
So with that empathy and with
177
00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:59,300
that strategic thinking
understanding people, and what's
178
00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:02,100
going on, World at that
particular time a cultural
179
00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:05,300
moment, if you create from that
place, you can create something
180
00:09:05,300 --> 00:09:07,700
that's connected on an emotional
level with people.
181
00:09:07,700 --> 00:09:11,000
So, instead of selling you see,
how can I be of service, how can
182
00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,400
I make someone's life?
A little better today and it
183
00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,100
doesn't have to be like
life-changing can just be a
184
00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:20,700
little added smile, a little
educational piece, a little bit
185
00:09:20,700 --> 00:09:23,200
of service that can help someone
in that day.
186
00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:26,900
Yeah, and I think that that is
really very telling when you
187
00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:30,300
boil it down and you're thinking
about that, Decisions that
188
00:09:30,300 --> 00:09:32,700
you're making when you walk into
a store or anything in your
189
00:09:32,700 --> 00:09:36,000
life, is it fear-based or is it
love based?
190
00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,000
And it really can boil down to
those two very things.
191
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,000
And you can feel in your body,
the difference between making a
192
00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,800
decision, which is fear-based
versus love basis, typically
193
00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,700
constriction or this tightening
in your body.
194
00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:50,900
And then, when you're making
this decision based on love, you
195
00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:55,200
feel more open and flowing and
sometimes it's a very small
196
00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,300
thing that you can just pay
attention to.
197
00:09:57,300 --> 00:10:02,700
But it's fascinating, how we
Then and trained in advertising,
198
00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:07,900
and in business to put together
campaigns based upon fear, not
199
00:10:07,900 --> 00:10:11,300
necessarily based upon love
based upon ego of.
200
00:10:11,300 --> 00:10:15,300
Oh, if I don't look this certain
way, or if I don't have the car,
201
00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:18,400
or if I don't have the brand, or
if I don't have this, then
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people will think less of me.
And I fear that I want to be
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socially accepted, and a lot of
times it gets confused because
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you're like, okay, I want to be
accepted.
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I want to be loved, but it's
different from me.
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Making a decision first and
foremost gung-ho about who I
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want to be accepted versus I'm
doing this because I love it.
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I'm buying this because I love
it.
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There's a very different kind of
emotion that comes out.
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And so, yeah, the advertising
shift is one that I think is
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interesting, how it's starting
to happen, but it happens more
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slowly because it's not as
manipulative, you know, you
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don't get that deadline, like,
time's running out.
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You got to buy this or else and
so, you know, that's what
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usually gets people to buy.
And that's where the
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exploitation come in.
And so if you move away from
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that, yeah, it's a long game,
isn't it?
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It's a little bit different when
you make those sorts of
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decisions as a business owner,
definitely a long game and a
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never-ending game.
I think that's sometimes the
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scary pot.
We can't just do brand and be
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done with it, right?
You'll always have to evaluate.
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You always have to see what's
going on in the world right now.
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What's going on?
I always see brand more as like
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The Guiding Light of that North
Star that you can use as a
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check.
Checklist for every decision
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that you make going forward.
And that's never done, right?
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You always have to realign a
little bit and like, but you can
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only do that when you get clear
to begin with about why you do
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what you do and what the goal is
like, what is the mission?
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The vision, the values that
drive this business and then
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Translating that into visuals
and language that really
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connects with people on an
emotional level I think is so
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much better than following
Trends and telling stories that
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are made up.
I'd rather tell truths.
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It's rather find what really is
already there.
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And uncovered that in the most
beautiful way possible.
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Hmm.
It is interesting.
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How advertising has shifted
course?
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And I would say over the course
of your career, thus far, where
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I mean it's like people barely
read magazines anymore, there's
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so much online, and there's so
much fast-paced, you know,
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scrolling scrolling scrolling.
And so it becomes one of those
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things where it's like, okay how
do you catch somebody's
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attention then?
Do you find that struggle when
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you're dealing with people and
Brands and Trying to get those
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values across when you only have
a nanosecond to do.
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So, yes it.
No, I believe that if you really
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get clear on the values and you
align behind them, it doesn't
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feel as pressing anymore.
So, what we usually do, we stay
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away from the fast content, the
Disposable content, we try to
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create something that's really
meaningful life, stories, that
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really matter.
And I think if you do that, as a
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company from that place of care,
and from that place of the
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shared Mission like if you think
about that and you re The about
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out in the world, people who
care about the same thing will
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find you and they will want to
be connected.
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And I think what's even more
important in such a fast pace
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mass-market World.
They want to tell their friends
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about it and that's so much more
valuable than any AD spend.
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You can have have.
Yeah, because that's what people
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need these days, they want
trust.
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They want curation in a sense
and they get that mostly
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nowadays.
I believe from friends from
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micro influences, from people
who they feel connected to
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rather than the big guy.
Glamorous Kardashians or whoever
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it is, who just do it for
different purposes.
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I want to say, right?
Okay.
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So then with your business when
you say that you're doing things
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differently.
Can you describe like what would
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be the main characteristic
differences?
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Between what you as a creative
director, in your company is
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doing versus what ad agencies or
what not have done in the old
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model.
Yeah, love to we usually
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describe our process as valuates
branding, or circular branding
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sometimes.
So In the sense that it's never
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done, right?
That you always one piece
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influence the other, the biggest
difference, I think to an ad
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agency from my experience, is
that a client comes in, as a
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briefing, as a big thing, it's
all exciting and then the client
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gets sent away and the agency
works on something for three
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months and then comes and
presents the thing.
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And sometimes that's a hit and
sometimes it just doesn't
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connect.
What we do instead is we see
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ourselves as the partner of a
Founder.
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It's a really scary time to
launch something.
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We want to be there for someone
and do something together.
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Like I said, I leave that we
start from a place of empathy of
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not knowing anything and really
trying to uncover together that
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common truth that emotion that
value.
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I think it's such a beautiful
partnership.
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I've truly believe in
collaboration and the beauty of
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that and adding to something
playing with something and
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sharing that Vision.
So we usually always start with
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strategy for no matter what we
do.
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If it's a brand campaign, a
launch of a new brand.
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So if someone comes and says, I
just needed logo, I want
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something that looks like this
because it's beautiful.
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I'm Before German on them and
say I'm sorry but no I'm just
300
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saying I don't want to waste
anyone's time on money and I
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don't enjoy doing something that
someone else has done already
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because I don't believe that
it'll work for that particular
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other brand than I think, unless
you really get clear on your why
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and your values and who you
connecting with and what's going
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on in their lives, you don't
need to start, you don't need to
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do anything because there's so
much like you said, there's so
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much content out there ready, so
that strategic understanding, I
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think sets us apart.
Because once that is really
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clear, it's easy to then
visualize that and it's less
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subjective to write.
I don't just say well I like
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this or I like pink or like
green, but instead we can check
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back with.
What do we want?
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People to feel?
If it's Safety and Security,
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then we're probably going to go
with the blue tone because
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that's why Banks and insurance
companies are blue, blue evokes,
316
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the feeling of safety and all of
a sudden, it becomes
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psychological and very logically
clear.
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And of course, you still want to
feel excited and proud about the
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visuals that we create.
Put out in the world but it's so
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much easier to do it from such a
place of a common understanding
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of.
Here's what we're creating is
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what we set out in the world to
do.
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Let's visualize that hmm how
fascinating.
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00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:17,700
So now you decided to have found
was certified as a b
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Corporation, can you tell me
what is it B Corporation and
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00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,000
what would compel an ad agency
or a company like yours to
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00:16:25,008 --> 00:16:27,600
become one?
Yes, I'd love that we're
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failing.
You become certified.
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I'm very proud of it.
So I'm always thrilled to talk
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to your fellow B Corp and to
talk about that subject for us.
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It was just a matter of we've
been talking about care.
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We've been trying to be more
sustainable.
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We've pushed every client.
We had to look at Alternatives
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and packaging to look at their
brand as an all-around circular
335
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thing.
That doesn't get communicated
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out, really only but also
reflects internally and how they
337
00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,300
treat their employees their
production, where they
338
00:16:56,300 --> 00:16:59,400
manufacture and how so that the
crop was just the stamp of
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00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,100
approval.
Rule that we actually series
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about what we're talking about
and to ask a wonderful way to
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connect with fellow, Be Cops
with other people who care.
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And it's just this wonderful
network of humans where it
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finally feels.
Like we all have this common
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goal, right?
We all want to support our
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planet and our community.
So why not work together on
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that?
There's a wonderful book that
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Unity is to share knowledge to
share.
348
00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:26,300
Best practices to learn from
each other that I value so much
349
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as a small company.
We often it feels like your
350
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style.
Load, especially now that we're
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on Kawaii, most of the time,
there's not that many other
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people who built businesses in
this way.
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00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,500
So it feels really nice to be a
part of this big movement of
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striving to be better and to
find ways to improve and to care
355
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for this beautiful planet and
its people right.
356
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Right.
And so what are some of the
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action points that your company
has instilled in terms of your
358
00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,700
commitments to the planet or two
people?
359
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Can you give us some examples?
Yes, absolutely.
360
00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,200
And it was It's funny because we
didn't have to change it a lot.
361
00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:06,100
Actually, we just had to get
serious about quantifying it
362
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again.
And when I left advertising
363
00:18:07,900 --> 00:18:10,700
agencies, I thought I'll never
write a single time sheet in my
364
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life.
But one of the main things we do
365
00:18:13,500 --> 00:18:17,100
now is we dedicate 5% of our
billable hours to nonprofit
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organizations and we've been
doing that ever since we started
367
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,300
we just like I said, never
Quantified it.
368
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,200
That's one big thing.
We also part of 1% for the
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planet so we donate 1% of our
profits or more sometimes too.
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00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,800
Two local organizations, very
keen on supporting a local
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00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,100
community here, especially
during covert.
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00:18:36,100 --> 00:18:39,800
A lot of people move to this
magical Island and not a lot of
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00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,300
them are trying to integrate in
the community in the way that
374
00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:45,300
supporter for not just an
extended vacation.
375
00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,000
And I was really trying to go to
community work days to support
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00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,900
some of the organization's here.
There's a lot of fantastic
377
00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:56,100
things happening in regenerative
agriculture and practices in
378
00:18:56,100 --> 00:18:59,500
creating more awareness around
traditional.
379
00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,300
Knowledge we call it
permaculture now but I think
380
00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:04,500
they've been doing it for a
really, really long time.
381
00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:07,600
So building that bridge of how
can we support.
382
00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,600
But also amplify these voices
and tell these really important,
383
00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,400
stories means a lot to us.
And I think that's what we build
384
00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:17,500
our b-corp nests around and
overall, I guess best practices.
385
00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:18,900
And how can we produce
something?
386
00:19:18,900 --> 00:19:21,200
That's more sustainable.
So, that's mostly for our
387
00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:25,000
clients do as an advisor in that
space because we don't make
388
00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:26,700
anything worse service based
company.
389
00:19:26,700 --> 00:19:29,900
So, when we work with, we have
one client who we're really
390
00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:32,300
excited to start become
certified as well with a
391
00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:34,900
sunscreen brand.
That was a really long process
392
00:19:34,900 --> 00:19:38,600
and researching the best
packaging for that brand because
393
00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,900
the planet and sustainability,
and reef regeneration was so
394
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important to them.
We had a really hard time to be
395
00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,900
honest finding the right
materials because it's not as
396
00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:50,000
good as you would wanted to be
out there.
397
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:53,000
And for most people, what
happens then is that decision
398
00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,300
weighs a lot, because doing the
right thing is usually not as
399
00:19:56,300 --> 00:19:59,500
easy and more expensive.
So, doing that dance, and
400
00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,000
Heading in the right direction.
It's a guest.
401
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:03,800
Something we try to do as much
as we can.
402
00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:06,700
Excellent, excellent.
Well, congratulations on being a
403
00:20:06,708 --> 00:20:09,700
certified, B Corporation, not an
easy feat whatsoever.
404
00:20:10,300 --> 00:20:12,500
Yeah.
It's definitely notable because
405
00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:16,200
there's only I want to say about
6,000 companies worldwide
406
00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,500
roughly about that.
They are continuing to add more
407
00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:22,200
but not very many but these are
companies that have met the
408
00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,300
highest standards in terms of
Social and environmental impact,
409
00:20:26,300 --> 00:20:29,400
and it's not just a seal that
people pay.
410
00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,200
Pay for and some units, there
are plenty of seals that people
411
00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,800
just pay for, but you really
have to prove yourself through
412
00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:40,300
auditing and through paperwork
and through all sorts of
413
00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:43,100
substantiation, to make sure
that you're living up to the
414
00:20:43,100 --> 00:20:46,000
standards that are set forth.
So it is rigorous and it is
415
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,600
something that is a commitment.
So I certainly applaud you for
416
00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,800
that and you won't.
Yeah, thank you, thank you.
417
00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,100
You know, I would say more than
ever people are really starting
418
00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:59,500
to get a little bit Jaded by Big
Business by building
419
00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,300
Corporations and by the fact
that, you know, they're longing
420
00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:06,000
for more purpose and longing for
more fulfillment, having gone
421
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,400
through that process, are there
any words of wisdom that you
422
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,900
would impart to anybody that is
interested in, you know,
423
00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:16,400
searching for either greater
meeting within their own lives
424
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:19,900
or something that aligns more
closely to what their own
425
00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:23,200
personal values are mmm.
Yes, always.
426
00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:25,600
I'm a big fan of lots of lots of
questions.
427
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,100
I think that process of
investigating your own.
428
00:21:29,100 --> 00:21:31,000
Why?
Why is really, really important
429
00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,300
and meaningful thinking about
what got to where you're at now?
430
00:21:34,300 --> 00:21:37,700
What gets you excited like, what
sparks the most joy in your
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00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:39,600
life?
And then, if you combine that,
432
00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:43,200
with a sense of care and
sustainability, not just
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00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,800
outwardly and like, how much
plastic do you waste and produce
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00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,500
every day?
But also, for yourself that
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00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:53,500
whole, we talk about love as a
seat for our business or every
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00:21:53,500 --> 00:21:56,000
decision that we make every
action that we take.
437
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,800
But it always starts and
especially with love, I feel
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00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,400
like it always does.
With yourself to, it's that
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00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,900
analogy of the airplane oxygen
mask, right?
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00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:07,600
Unless you give it to yourself
first, you can't serve other
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00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,300
people.
You can't serve the planet.
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00:22:09,300 --> 00:22:13,000
You can't sustain yourself one
of my favorite really silly
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00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,700
points of advice.
I got long time ago, was the
444
00:22:15,700 --> 00:22:18,700
first rule of business, it's to
stay in business, which I think
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00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:22,300
means to be profitable.
But to me it means to not burn
446
00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:25,300
out to take care of myself and
now if and that excitement that
447
00:22:25,300 --> 00:22:28,900
got me to this place to sustain
that for me as a Creator, that's
448
00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:31,100
a lot of it.
His play like, I have to come
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00:22:31,100 --> 00:22:34,200
back to, what gets me excited,
what does that creative process?
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00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,500
That inspires me so much, I love
beauty.
451
00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:38,900
I love beauty.
Not in the sense that you've
452
00:22:38,900 --> 00:22:42,600
spent so much time in a beauty
in the sense of like uncovering,
453
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,900
what's beautiful in the
situation in a person that's not
454
00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:49,200
maybe, not beautiful to everyone
else, but finding the beauty
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00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:53,200
within that I got some, you
really excited in my work and a
456
00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,900
lot of that requires us to step
away from work.
457
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,200
I think, when I started my own
company, everything all of a
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00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,400
sudden Like, it has to be for a
purpose because you need clients
459
00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,100
to pay bills, but I get lit up
when I get to work with people
460
00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:09,400
who really make a difference.
And a lot of that means telling
461
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,700
me stories, without thinking
about work, telling these
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00:23:11,700 --> 00:23:14,800
stories and working with these
people and collaborating with
463
00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,100
people in ways that will never
be profitable for us.
464
00:23:18,100 --> 00:23:20,900
So finding that balance I think
is really important.
465
00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:24,200
And first of all understanding,
what is it that lights you up
466
00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,500
personally?
That gets you so excited and
467
00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,100
allowing a little bit of space
for that and your life.
468
00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,800
Beautiful Elisa Hennessy.
Thank you so much for joining me
469
00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:37,400
today on this episode of role
models and best wishes for great
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00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,500
success and what you're doing
because you are fulfilling a
471
00:23:40,508 --> 00:23:44,600
purpose and you have a very
strong mission in what you're
472
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,100
doing with your business.
So thank you very much.
473
00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,000
Thanks so much for having me.
It was a Joyce.
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00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:49,600
Talk to you.

















