The Speak Easy Podcast

In our latest episode, we talk about why social media ads might not be delivering, when they can be effective (hint: brand-building > promotion), and why it's critical to stop thinking of social media as your only marketing plan. We also challenge you to consider how you'd communicate your message if social media didn't exist at all. From Super Bowl spots to smart, scrappy strategies — this one's full of tough love and practical insight.

Every brand has its own unique challenges — but not every brand should be approached the same way. In this episode, Jen shares four brand categories she and her team at Redhead work with most often: corporate, place-based, boutique, and entrepreneurial. From the layers of stakeholder input in corporate branding to the emotional nuance of placemaking, we break down how each type calls for a tailored approach to strategy, voice, and visual identity. We talk about how understanding your brand's category can help you choose the right creative partner, avoid costly missteps, and ultimately build something that resonates with the people who matter most — whether that's leadership, customers, peers, or influencers. Inspired by Redhead's blog post “The 4 Types of Brands We Build (and Why the Distinction Matters)”, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the world of brand strategy or rebranding. For more on this topic, read the blog post here: https://redhead.studio/blog/4-types-brands-we-build-and-why-distinction-matters

No one likes a boss breathing down their neck — but when you're the one in charge, knowing how much oversight is too much can be tricky. In this episode, we dig into the blurry line between healthy control and full-blown micromanagement. From trust issues to outcome-based leadership, we explore how leaders can maintain structure and accountability without disempowering their team. Drawing on insights from Harvard Business Review's “The Anxious Micromanager,” we look at how anxiety and lack of preparation often fuel micromanaging behaviors — and what you can do instead. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just stepping into a management role, this episode offers a thoughtful and practical take on how to lead without smothering. Read "The Anxious Micromanager" here: https://hbr.org/2023/09/the-anxious-micromanager #growth #micromanging #lettinggo #smallbusiness #creativeindustry #podcast #midwestpodcast #michiganpodcast #workpodcast #marketing #videography #career #cocktail

As entrepreneurs, creatives, and business leaders, we're constantly making decisions — about strategies, budgets, and even where to focus our energy. But how often do we pause to ask: "Do I need this, or do I just want it?" In a world filled with tempting new tools, trends, and shiny distractions, knowing the difference can be the key to growth — or the reason we stay stuck. In this episode, we put that question to the test with a mix of lighthearted and thought-provoking scenarios. From the practical to the absurd, we explore the gray areas of what truly counts as a necessity. Tune in for an entertaining and insightful conversation that just might change how you prioritize what really matters.

Whether you're crafting a brand message, delivering a speech, or simply trying to make an idea stick, the way you tell your story matters. Knowing your audience, embracing personality, and making messages actionable ensures that stories don't just entertain — they inspire and drive real impact. Using Gustav Freytag's classic story arc as a guide, Karen takes us through Render's process for engaging an audience from start to finish. Join us as we dissect how the right storytelling approach can transform communication and leave a meaningful impression.

Many organizations rely on small, overburdened marketing and communications teams, expecting them to do it all and inadvertently setting them up to fail. In this episode, Jen and Karen challenge the traditional hiring model and explore why a fractional or agency-based strategy could be a smarter, more cost-effective solution. Tune in as we break it down: why the “comms department of one” is never a magic fix; why adding another full-time hire isn't always the answer; and how leveraging agency expertise can provide more value, creativity, and strategic support. From avoiding burnout to accessing top-tier talent across multiple disciplines, we offer a fresh perspective on rethinking capacity and maximizing marketing impact.

This week's topic is all about appreciation. After all, who do we love more than our clients? Their trust, collaboration, and vision make our work possible, allowing us to take on impactful projects that drive real change. Beyond just delivering services, we're deeply invested in their success, fostering relationships built on communication and shared goals. Listen in as we dive into the ripple effect of small business support, how each investment circulates through communities, and why working with bold, mission-driven clients makes our work so fulfilling. From economic development to transformative initiatives, we'll explore how these partnerships create lasting impact — and why we're so grateful to be part of the process.

In this episode, Jen and Karen reflect on Redhead's 25-year path of growth and reinvention, from its beginnings as a small freelance graphic design business to a powerhouse of strategic brand consulting. They explore how the company has evolved while staying true to its core belief: that a strong, authentic brand identity is the foundation of success. Redhead's story is one of adaptation, growth, and enduring commitment to the power of branding. For Redhead, a brand goes beyond visuals or slogans — it embodies an organization's identity, values, and purpose, shaping how it connects with the world. Tune in as Jen shares lessons learned from 25 years of helping brands thrive.

Pet projects are more than hobbies — they're a lifeline for creativity and connection. In the fast-paced world of deadlines and deliverables, carving out time for passion-driven work can energize teams, spark innovation, and foster camaraderie. These pursuits allow space to experiment, fail, and grow, creating a culture that values more than just productivity. In this episode, we unpack the importance of pet projects and how they build stronger teams and businesses. Karen shares insights from Render's creative ventures, while Jen explores how small traditions and shared experiences deepen workplace bonds. We also discuss the decline in generosity and why contributing to culture and community is a collective responsibility. Join us for a conversation that highlights why passion projects are more than just side hustles — they're essential.

It's a new year, which means culture is telling us it's time to write resolutions. But hard refreshes aren't for everyone. (We believe cold turkey is best served as a sandwich after Thanksgiving instead.) For some, however, this can be an ideal time to set intentions and plot paths for growth. So: What's on the horizon for 2025, and what do we want to put into the universe? This episode, we discuss our own goals and the process of setting thoughtful intentions. The new year should be a season for reflection, not restriction, and it's important to remember that fresh starts can happen long after January has come and gone. But what goes into a strategic (or, SMART) goal? How can we organize our hopes and dreams around a central theme or word to guide our direction? We discuss our process for new year goal-setting across all areas of life: work, family, hobbies, and personal growth. Whether you're looking to embrace new opportunities or release old habits, we have a few practical tips to craft resolutions that inspire, empower, and stick. Mentioned in this episode: “The Psychology Behind New Year's Resolutions That Work,” Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/decisions-and-the-brain/202212/the-psychology-behind-new-years-resolutions-that-work

Traveling across the country to collaborate with clients and bring their visions to life through expert storytelling and dynamic production? That's Render Studios's bread and butter. That said, coordinating large-scale film projects across multiple locations is a process that goes far beyond capturing great footage alone. From managing remote location scouting and navigating local rules to maintaining a strong network of trusted producers and crew members, the success of any traveling production hinges on experience and careful preparation. In this episode, Karen shares how Render manages remote location scouting, secures teams across the country, and stays at their best even when working in unfamiliar environments. It's a fascinating look at the talent, skill, and partnerships that make it all work.

Have you ever met an entrepreneur who views networking as a solo sport? It's surprising, especially in the service business world, where relationships are the foundation of success. In this episode, we explore how collaboration and generosity can strengthen your network, your reputation, and ultimately, your opportunities. Sharing a "give first" approach can transform your entrepreneurial journey and demonstrate that opportunity isn't a zero-sum game. Building community happens one relationship and one effort at a time. By being kind and supportive — not just to your immediate network but to their networks, too — you create a ripple effect that comes back tenfold. Join us as we discuss the power of big-picture thinking, generosity, and why, in business, success isn't a limited resource.

There's an art to navigating tricky projects while maintaining high standards and delivering exceptional service. Whether you're navigating a tight deadline or dealing with evolving client demands, success in these scenarios often comes down to communication and trust. When tasked with a project that's more of a sprint than a marathon, maintaining clear, consistent team communication saves time, reduces confusion, and minimizes wasted effort. In this episode, we share our strategies for leaning on strong workflows, maintaining team communication and staying client-focused to ensure a seamless experience for clients — even when things get hectic behind the scenes.

A lesson shared by many entrepreneurs and parents is this: Time is limited, and you can't do everything all the time for everyone. Combine that truth with the knowledge that every stage of your children's development requires an entirely different playbook of parenting skills, and it's easy to lose sight of any plans you made to intentionally showing up for all of life's responsibilities. Pulling from our own experiences as mothers and entrepreneurs, this week's episode explores how focusing on values over tasks can help you make thoughtful decisions about family time and foster independence in your kids. Join us as we talk through the complexity of balancing work, motherhood, and personal well-being.

Creative burnout is something many face. In this episode, we dive into how to recognize the signs and navigate through it. Whether it's struggling to focus, feeling uninspired, or simply pushing too hard without taking time to recharge, burnout can stop creativity in its tracks. Learning the tell-tale signals that it's time to step back and refuel not only helps you better look after yourself, but it also stops you from burning energy producing work that's below your own standards. Whether mixing up your routine or trying a new hobby, refilling your creative tank is essential to staying engaged and productive. Tune in for practical advice on how to avoid burnout and keep your creative spark alive.

In our latest case study, we dive into Redhead's work supporting the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) on marketing for the Michigan Children's Savings Account Network. The Network, consisting of 17 programs across the state, aims to help students save for their postsecondary education through Children's Savings Accounts (CSAs). Recognizing the marketing capacity challenges faced by program leaders, Redhead developed a comprehensive CSA Program Marketing Toolkit, complemented by instructional videos and regular tips in newsletters, to ensure effective implementation. Jen shares insights on building marketing resources that go beyond teaching skills and set clients up for success — even when time and capacity are limited. Join us as we dive into how thoughtful, long-term solutions help organizations make a lasting impact.

In this episode, we're exploring the difference between task-oriented and objective-oriented thinking. Focusing on the task at hand may feel like less mental labor, but it's important to remember that tasks are only one part of addressing a larger challenge. By aligning your work with the larger objective, you'll not only accomplish more but also approach your tasks with greater purpose and ownership. On the flip side, there are risks to focusing solely on tasks, like losing motivation or missing key issues. Whether at work or home, taking a step back to consider the bigger picture ensures that your efforts are moving you closer to your goals. Tune in to learn how thinking strategically about your tasks can lead to more meaningful outcomes.

In this episode, we dive into the dilemma of reaching the top and wondering, "Am I done yet?" Spoiler alert: not quite. We explore that feeling of having climbed the career ladder, only to find the horizon still stretching far and wide. When you've hit your goals and the view from the top is fantastic, what's next? We discuss the signs of burnout, the pressure that comes with success, and how to keep moving forward. Whether it's learning something new, mentoring others, or taking on a fresh challenge, there's always another peak to summit. So, what's your next move?

When it comes to video marketing, the key to maximizing reach and enhancing brand visibility is starting with a solid distribution strategy. Whether earned, owned, or paid, each channel requires a different approach to craft a video that resonates with a distinct audience. Measuring the effectiveness of these strategies is crucial to ensuring that each video effort achieves its intended impact. In this week's case study, Karen provides listeners with a peek behind the curtain of video production and walks us through Render's strategies for successful video distribution.

Carving out your own path as a business owner demands a little rule breaking from time to time. Whether it's a social norm or personal directive, it's easy for our ways of being to spiral down the rabbit hole from routine to rule to barrier to success. If you find yourself stuck in that place, it's time to start poking holes in your modus operandi. We'll be the first to admit this process isn't easy 一 breaking rules is an exercise in resiliency. Routines can be comforting, but placing the rules and assumptions you operate from under a microscope allows you to uncover new approaches to old problems and hidden roadblocks. This episode, join us as we explore the lessons we've learned by not playing by the rules.

Marketing is a lot like starting a garden. It's all about planting a seed and knowing that with careful planning and attention, you'll reap the results of your harvest. Even those of us with the furthest thing from a green thumb know that you can't plant a seed one day, then expect to be able to pluck fully grown fruit from it the next. Organic growth takes time, and just like with gardening, if you only think about your marketing strategy when you want to reap its results, you risk having little to show for your efforts. Rather than leaving development of a marketing strategy to the last minute, marketing works best when thought about at step one. This episode, join us as we break down what it means to view marketing as *the* strategy, and why this process of working backwards is a recipe for success.

When helping a municipality identify their brand, it's not always about resident attraction. Sometimes, it's about reminding residents of all the various amenities that can be found right outside their front door. Pulling that off is a two-part challenge. First comes the creative work of developing the identity of the brand, then comes the technical work of ensuring the brand's visual identity and messaging are designed to remain consistent across different uses. In short, there's a lot to consider when branding a city. This week, we're continuing our case study series by breaking down Redhead's recent rebranding of the City of Trenton. Located 30 minutes southwest of Detroit, Trenton needed a new brand that better spoke to the city's offerings: a location on the Detroit River, plenty of green spaces, and numerous options for outdoor recreation. Join us as we chat about the strategy behind this rebrand and dive into the creative and technical challenges of branding a city. Read more on Trenton's rebrand here: redhead.studio/studies/trenton

Last episode, we approached the topic of having a team of advisors from a business perspective. Having advisors in your personal life is just as important, but looking at this topic from a personal perspective brings a whole new set of considerations. Owning a business demands having multiple people on your roster to handle different issues, and the same is true for your personal life. Identifying who to turn to for what issues, and knowing the difference between needing solutions and needing to be heard, are the first steps to securing a rock solid personal counsel. This episode, we discuss what we look for when identifying our own personal advisors, and why having a paid advisor who's a good fit is just as important in your personal life as it is for your business.

For a lot of business owners, it can be hard to let go of the idea that you can do it all. However, as your business grows, there reaches a point where you shouldn't be doing it all, and instead should be utilizing a team of advisors. In-house or outsourced, having a team of advisors you can turn to is a necessary investment for the health of your business (and your sanity). This could look like hiring an employee who will take on tedious admin tasks you struggle to make time for, or signing a contractor to handle big picture things, like accounting or IT infrastructure, that are outside of your wheelhouse. This episode, we discuss how we built our own teams of advisors, what we trust them with, and why you shouldn't wait for a crisis to put together your own team.

For more than twenty years, Origami Rehabilitation has trusted Render Studios with capturing the stories of those affected by neurological conditions with compassion and nuance. Through this long-standing partnership, Render has mastered carefully navigating the intersection of marketing and human stories, and the ability to find a unique angle year after year to highlight the transformative impact of Origami's work on their patients and their families. This week, we apply a case study lens to Render's work with Origami, and explore the intricacies of maintaining a decades-long client relationship and the creative challenges that come with it. Join us as we chat about Render's process for delivering fresh, engaging content that remains true to Origami Rehabilitation's mission and values and examine the conditions needed for such lasting partnerships To learn more about Render's work with Origami Rehabilitation, check out this case study: https://www.renderstudios.com/portfolio/origami

Setting expectations for your team is a crucial task. However, in our current work environment where the playbook seems ever-evolving, that process can seem easier said than done. For many business owners in the creative industry, defining these expectations comes with a boatload of questions — what should they encompass? Which expectations are outdated, and which need to be reiterated? How do we strike a balance between flexibility and productivity? This week, we discuss where we find ourselves in this ongoing process. Join us as we explore the nuances of expectation-setting in this new era, and why clear communication is the key to getting you and your team on the same page.

Tight marketing budgets are a reality for many organizations, including nonprofits and advocacy groups. Clients like these operate with limited resources, yet they play a vital role in addressing societal issues, driving change, and raising awareness about important causes. Oftentimes, when nonprofits and advocacy organizations struggle with ineffective marketing strategies, their biggest hurdle is how they approach marketing, rather than the budget they have to do it. For mission-based organizations, their marketing strategy is the connective tissue that furthers their efforts. Whether their goal is greater visibility, fundraising, coalition building, or volunteer recruiting, a strategic approach to communication is necessary for accomplishing their mission. In this episode, we talk about the common mistakes nonprofits and advocacy organizations make with their approach to marketing, and how they can develop an effective marketing strategy, even with financial constraints.

What do you do when you want to spread the word about free money for college to quite literally every graduating high school student in the state? A large-scale public awareness campaign with some pretty creative tactics, of course. This episode, we're diving into a case study on The Michigan Achievement Scholarship campaign — a multi-modal marketing campaign complete with videos, billboards, mailers, social media, and more aimed at spreading the word about postsecondary education funding. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is a new source of funding launched in 2023 designed to help recent graduates from high schools in Michigan pay for college or continuing education. Eligible students could receive financial aid to attend a college or university with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, or for a career training program with the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship. Alongside the client leading this drive, Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), Redhead crafted a campaign that would drive audiences to take action, and Render produced some effective videos to drive these efforts. We discuss how strategic messaging, design, and videography converged to appeal to young audiences, simplify a somewhat-dense concept and make this campaign a success. Links: The Michigan Achievement Scholarship https://getmimoney.org/ Michigan College Access Network:

Navigating the complexities of caregiving for aging parents is an endeavor fraught with uncertainty and emotion. It's a journey that often catches us off guard, forcing us to confront the profound responsibility of guiding our parents through end-of-life care. In this episode, we delve into our personal experiences with aging parents, reflecting on the hurdles faced and lessons learned. From grappling with difficult medical decisions to finding the right support systems, we discuss the steps we wish we'd taken to prepare and share the candid realities of being members of the sandwich generation.

For better or worse, sometimes we are our job, or our brand, or our leadership role…you get the picture. When you're in a situation where your job isn't something you put down at the end of the day and walk away from, what does that mean in terms of work-life balance? If you're in a position where your job follows you into the other aspects of your life, it could be helpful to view your job not as your life, but rather as your lifestyle. In this episode, we talk about when wearing many hats at once means a traditional approach to work-life balance doesn't make sense, and the benefits that come from viewing your work as a lifestyle, rather than just a job.

Founded by David Such and Larry Bass in 2008, ScrapFest is a Lansing art festival that brings together artists from around the country to compete in a scrap metal sculpture competition. Earlier this year, Karen's media production company, Render Studios, premiered their debut ScrapFest documentary. The film highlights various artists and their sculptures from the previous year's festival, offering viewers an immersive exploration into the creative journey of participating artists. For our second entry into our new case study series, we offer a deep dive into the documentary and its filmmaking process. This week, Karen shares what the creative process looks like for such an endeavor, why ScrapFest has a special place in Render's heart, and the rich narrative potential inherent in documenting the stories of artists.

Whether intentional or not, sometimes a client is disingenuous about the end goals of a project. For whatever reason, they are not upfront with their initial objective, and massage the creative process through nitpicking and endless revisions to achieve an end product that is decidedly different from what was agreed upon. In situations like these, it's the job of the creative to advocate for their team, and explain to the client why nitpicking creative or playing it safe doesn't serve their audience, and doesn't serve their message. This is a tricky situation to be in, and it takes experience to successfully explain to a stubborn client why being upfront allows you to build them the product they need. This week, we share our own experiences with the dreaded client “bait and switch”, and break down how we work towards a successful end goal when confronted with these situations.

Youth might be a limited period in life, but youthfulness is a mindset that transcends age. When it comes to opportunities for career growth or probleming-solving, qualities like open-mindedness and curiosity are critical for success. But what are those qualities if not the characteristics of a youthful mindset? Maintaining a youthful mindset doesn't mean rejecting maturity or experience. Instead, it's all about balancing the wisdom gained through experiences with the enthusiasm and curiosity that's encouraged in youth. In this episode, we discuss how adopting a youthful mindset in our careers allows us to approach our work with knowledge, experience, and perpetual curiosity.

Last month, the Detroit Free Press's editorial page editor ran a piece about moving the state capital to Detroit, deeming Lansing a “sad little town.” It caused quite the stir, to say the least. Lansing residents and Detroiters alike sounded off on social media, the comments sections grew tense, and water cooler conversation was fueled for days. As buzz around the article grew, people in the Lansing community latched onto the phrase “sad little town” with a sense of tongue-in-cheek pride. Thus, an anonymous “Sad Little Town” account on Twitter/X popped up overnight, accompanied by a website with t-shirts and hats proudly displaying the phrase. Almost overnight, “sad little town” evolved from a phrase unfairly maligning Lansing to a rallying cry for unity. (Because who doesn't love a good t-shirt?) At this point, it's no secret that Jen harnessed the team at Redhead to put together the materials and skills for this on-the-fly opportunity. But what can this endeavor teach us about making the most of a moment to help bring a community together? This week, Karen talks to Jen about the project, why they chose to remain anonymous at the start, and how an unkind jab was reclaimed as an inside joke, all for the benefit of our beloved city.

For many entrepreneurs, the end of the year is a time for holiday get-togethers, meeting deadlines, and – the big one – goal setting. We take time to visualize where we see our organization in the coming year, in five years, or even a decade down the line. We carefully map out our business's progress and trajectory. But are we focusing on what's most important? While it's pretty clear how to identify these quantitative metrics (like finances or organizational growth), it's less clear whether our goals are aligned with the top priorities in our lives. Don't be fooled: Goal setting is not a one-size-fits-all situation. At work and at home, the factors your competitors, neighbors and friends are focusing on this year shouldn't necessarily be your priorities. You've got to write your own path. This episode, we discuss how we can complete a soul-searching audit to identify goals that are personally meaningful throughout the new year.

‘Tis the season for gratitude, but, in fact, it's healthier to practice grateful thinking all year long. When we think about what's missing, rather than what's present, we invite anxiety, frustration, and bundles of other negative emotions to flood our minds. If you think about it, brains are like kindergarten classes: without some discipline, chaos will ensue and somebody is gonna end up in tears. A daily gratitude practice, however simple, can significantly improve your outlook. Everyone's practice looks different, whether it's journaling or letter-writing or making mental notes on a morning walk. Join us as we share what we're thankful for, our own gratitude practices, and all the benefits that come from some good ol' fashioned grateful thinking.

We frequently talk about balance on the podcast and the truth is that something has to give when life becomes hectic. But don't worry, we'll return to the regularly scheduled programming in January. For now, we're rebroadcasting some episodes that are hitting especially close to home right now. Enjoy Another Round – Ep. 164: Burnout and Overwhelm! Burnout often comes in waves — so to prepare, we need to have tools ready to counteract the feelings of stress and anxiety when they hit. Being overwhelmed and experiencing burnout is a toxic duo that weighs down all professionals from time to time. To cope, we often go on autopilot hoping we'll overcome these stressors over a few weeks or months; but this isn't an adequate long-term solution. These feelings surpass the general sense of busyness, and have the potential to spread into all areas of our lives. So, what can we do about it? Does anyone really know how to get out of a burnout cycle? Is there a solution in sight? We may not have a singular, magical answer, but we have some strategies for addressing general feelings of overwhelm. Join us as we discuss our own experiences with combating burnout.

If you've got anxiety about reaching “midlife” or stumbling into the dreaded “midlife crisis,” just know that it's not an inevitability. “Midlife” is a construct. By taking a proactive approach to life, you can avoid general monotony and the tired cliche of a “midlife rut.” By embracing change and staying curious about new possibilities, you can avoid succumbing to that sense of stagnation many of us fear as we age. The experience and wisdom we've gained by reaching midlife means that, when confronting new challenges or considering reinvention, we have hard-won resources to pull from. In this episode, we talk about why we hate the phrase “midlife”, and the ways we try to pursue growth in the name of evolution and reinvention instead.

Hiring people who have skills that differ from your own adds additional challenges to the recruitment process. When a potential new hire's skill set is outside of your wheelhouse, it's essential to remember why you are hiring, and that diversifying the skills of your team is necessary for growth. It expands what you can offer your clients, and brings different thought processes to the table, strengthening your team's ability to problem solve. As for determining the quality of a potential new hire's skillset, it comes down to establishing a hiring process that confirms the legitimacy of their skills and establishes their dependability as a team member. In this episode, we talk about the processes we've developed for hiring employees with skill sets different from our own, and why we're not afraid to hire people who might just be smarter than us.

When it comes to supporting clients whose mission, if accomplished, would make the world a better place, strategy has shifted over the years. The divisive nature of politics today requires much stricter demands for how we can effectively create tools for clients who do advocacy work. Now more than ever, the tools you create must lay the groundwork for your audience to understand an issue before you start advocating for change. This work demands more transparency and nuance than ever, but that's not a bad thing. The struggle lies in the strategy needed to help clients walk the tightrope between advocacy and lobbying, and crafting messages that remain true to the client's mission and spirit without opening them up to a maelstrom of vitriol. In this episode, we talk about the ways the culture surrounding advocacy work has changed over the years, and the ways we've adjusted our work to meet these demands.

When talking about quality and standards in the creative industry, it can be easy to miss the fact that producing work that's “good enough” is often the result of a capacity issue. When firms have a limited budget or staff for a project, not every product can be made with expert care, so they have to settle for a deliverable that's “good enough.” This can be a tricky cycle to get out of, as it affects every part of a business, from internal processes to the outward perception of the organization. This is where creative tools like Canva or AI-generated work come in. These tools are intentionally intuitive so beginners can start building the muscles needed for high quality work, but when used as shortcuts to achieve “good enough” work, they stunt creative growth and quality. This week, we discuss breaking the “good enough” cycle, how to wield beginner-friendly tools effectively, and consider how much value is placed on quality in the creative industry.

When thinking about habits that are time wasters, it's easy to name things like scrolling TikTok or doing superficial “reorganizing” because those feel like conscious time wasters. It's the unconscious time wasters that are much more insidious and hard to kick. Things like indecision, lack of planning, or even overplanning result in time wasted, whether we mean to or not. Recognizing these things as time wasters allows us to start figuring out how to create new processes that better serve our productivity. By working to create new processes, we also give ourselves the chance to change the way we look at things previously labeled as time wasters that are actually worth our time, like a solid nap or connecting with others. This week, we consider what counts as a time waster, and what it looks like to stop defaulting to unhelpful habits and processes.

Life can feel like a mess even on good days. The personal responsibilities of life that bring us joy often start to feel overwhelming when the demands for our time and energy surpass what is possible for us to give. For many people, this is where shame and self-judgment kick in, because dealing with every layer of life all at once shouldn't be that hard, right? Oh, if only it were that simple. Despite our best efforts, sometimes life is a shitshow, but the mess is easier to wade through when you accept it for what it is. This week, we talk about giving ourselves more grace when it comes to our expectations for the balancing of life's layers.

RFPs, or Requests for Proposals, are a common way of soliciting work in the creative industry — and they can be an equally challenging (and often painful) process for everyone involved. In a written description alone, it can be difficult for a buyer to clearly articulate what service or product they're looking for in an RFP. This can leave folks in the creative industry pouring hours into a proposal that isn't actually what the client needs, which is a lose-lose situation for everyone. Personally, we think RFPs work best when treated like a job interview. Injecting a human-centric, communicative approach to the RFP process helps buyers find vendors who will be a good fit for their organization, and takes the hoop-jumping guesswork out of the process for the creatives in the vendor position. This week, we share strategies for making RFPs effective for both clients and vendors, what we think makes certain RFPs “junk,” and our best and worst experiences with responding to RFPs.

Leadership can be as overwhelming as it is rewarding. To view leadership as a ladder to climb ignores the aspects of the job that are far from a reward. Whether it's a plumbing issue at the office, concerns about this quarter's budget, or a conflict between staff, when you're in a leadership position, the tough decisions are yours to make. In our case, we chucked out the idea of leadership being glamorous a long time ago. This podcast is affectionately described as “real talk about leadership and sanity in the creative industry,” so it seemed long overdue to have another episode on the topic of leadership. This week, we talk about how we keep going when wading through the challenges of leading.

Talking about creativity and the creative process can be necessarily abstract, but it doesn't have to be. There is value to looking at creativity as an investment. Creativity takes a willingness to challenge yourself to break down what already exists and start from scratch. This process requires a lot of trust in yourself or your team, and that can feel uncomfortable at first. While creativity can feel like a gamble you don't have time for, the pursuit of creativity can help you avoid falling into the trap of limiting yourself to the first answer you encounter when trying to problem-solve. As you become more comfortable navigating the creative process, it becomes easier to differentiate where you should be creative and where you should rely on a formula or a pre-existing procedure to help you reach your intended outcome. You won't always have the capacity to explore beyond the first answer you receive when problem-solving, but you'll have gained an understanding of what creativity and the creative process needs to look like in order for you and your team to be successful. This week, we talk about creativity and the processes we've found success in.

The question of when to hire and when not to isn't about neglecting your team's capacity needs. Rather, it's about taking a more meditative approach to the hiring process. Beyond determining if your business has the budget to hire and what the capacity needs of your team are, it's important to consider if your organization needs to change and how it needs to change with the addition of a new hire. Instead of immediately focusing on filling a role, waiting to hire allows you to let go of the expectations you had for the previous team member and their process and make space for the development of new relationships and ways of working. It also allows your team to stretch their skills (within reason) and gives them the chance to grow before you determine what skill sets your business is missing. This week, we talk about our thought process behind hiring and how we've navigated recent questions of expanding our own teams.

As leaders, we can't (and shouldn't) do it all. Bringing your team into the decision-making process is important to the health and wellness of your organization. No part of the organization benefits from being overprotective of decision-making, and being excluded from this process limits a team's growth potential. All that said, putting this delegation into practice can feel overwhelming. Preparing yourself and your team for a shift in the decision-making requires transparency and, overall, trust in your team. Trusting your team can cut down on decision fatigue and burnout, and results in better decision-making throughout the organization. This week, we talk about the strategies we've used to find the why and how of handing over decision-making tasks to our own teams.

Long description: How often does it actually serve us to have our expectations set in stone? Even when the circumstances of a project change, the work still needs to be done. This is where “going with the flow” comes in. Instead of becoming mentally invested in things happening a certain way, it takes a lot less energy to focus on the things that can be controlled. Even when a process is rigid, adaptability still plays a major role in the end result. Sure, this mindset takes bravery and a dash of risk-tolerance, but you might find there's an opportunity for more creativity when going with the flow. This week, we talk about letting go of strict expectations and seizing the unexpected opportunities that come our way.

What difference would it make in your work if you celebrated the success of others? Being happy for someone who has something you want takes practice. It also takes patience with yourself. When we shift away from envying our competition, we abandon a scarcity mindset that brings pressure and negativity into our work and prohibits our own growth. At first, it feels easier to critique somebody else's win, but it ultimately takes less energy to acknowledge their achievement. By abandoning an “us versus them” mentality, you might find yourself in a healthier headspace. In this episode, we talk about how practicing this mindset makes it much more fun to watch someone thrive than it is to watch them fail.

Cheers to our 150th episode! What better way to celebrate than with a topic we both have challenges with? Bandwidth. There are only so many tasks you can work on at any given time, even for us multitaskers. And when overwhelmed, it takes an emotional toll on how we organize cognitively. In our experience, it's essential to acknowledge your bandwidth and stick to it. There's no denying that the to-do lists can often feel never-ending. But we can't let our stressors affect our quality of work. It takes boundaries to ensure that there is just enough on your plates, both in our personal and work lives. How can we identify our maximum bandwidth, and set boundaries? Join us as we discuss our strategies and goals for keeping it all balanced.