Marissa Garcia: Creativity Is Everyone’s Super Power
This episode explores the true meaning of creativity, its universal importance, and how it can solve problems and inspire action in various fields, including corporate settings.
Marissa discusses authenticity in branding, emphasizing building a brand that resonates with the right audience, and shares practical advice for overcoming creative blocks and building resilient brand strategies.
Marissa is the Founder and CEO of Workday Creative LLC, where she joins clients, from early brand strategy development through brand design and implementation, building remarkable experiences that attract raving fans and loyal customers.
Sit back, and enjoy story time with Marissa!
Follow Marissa on Instagram @workdaycreative !
in|flow
Transcript
don't skip leg day, meaning don't skip your brand strategy,
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:the creative process and how we
design, how we show up in the world
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:and how we show out in the world.
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:welcome back to the
rise and float podcast.
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:I'm Ray, one of your co-hosts from
info law group, and I'm thrilled to
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:have you join us for another inspiring
episode today, we have something
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:truly special lined up for you.
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:And this episode, we'll be diving
deep into the world of creativity
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:with Marissa Garcia, Workday creative.
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:Marissa is a brand designer and strategist
helping women led businesses, right.
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:Design and bring to life their brand.
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:Marissa is the founder and CEO of
Workday creative, where she joins clients
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:from early brand strategy development,
through brand design and implementation,
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:building remarkable experiences that
attract raving fans and loyal customers.
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:Plenty of insightful discussions await
as Marissa shared her experiences and
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:the lessons learned along the way.
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:This episode has something for everyone.
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:Don't forget to subscribe to
the rise and flow podcast.
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:If you haven't already and help us
spread the word by sharing this episode
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:with your friends and colleagues.
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:Let's get into the
conversation with Marissa.
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:Ray: Marissa, welcome to the show.
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:Thank you so much for joining us today.
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:Marissa: Hi guys.
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:It's so good to see you.
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:I miss you guys.
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:I miss being in San Diego and
being able to see you guys in
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:person, but I'll settle for this.
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:Ray: Yeah, I know.
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:Thank you so much for getting
this scheduled with us.
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:I know you've been busy.
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:And I'm sure you'll share a little
bit about what you've been up to.
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:But real quick workday creative before
we get into what workday creative
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:is, I just wanted to ask you the
question about creativity in general,
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:since it is part of your namesake.
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:Basically what does
creativity mean to you?
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:Because we work with a lot
of creative entrepreneurs
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:who are creative in some way.
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:And it's such an important concept
to dive into and understand.
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:We would love to know what creativity
means for someone who is a brand
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:strategist and creative engineer.
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:Marissa: Yeah.
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:I think I was telling you
beforehand, I could talk your ear
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:off when it comes to creativity.
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:I think we have, all of us have had a lot
of conversations surrounding this topic
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:and we just kind of geek off and talk
about it, but I think the biggest thing
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:for me as a brand designer and strategist,
creativity is, a way to solve problems
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:and inspire people to take action.
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:And there's a few misconceptions
that I'm constantly trying to work
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:against when it comes to creativity.
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:And that is the first being, it is not
reserved for people who are in creative
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:industries or creative positions, right?
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:, you can be a numbers data guy in a
finance department and be creative.
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:You can be a lawyer in the
legal industry and be creative.
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:I am a mom of four of a
four and six year old.
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:And as a mom, the creative
communications that I heavily have
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:to lean into to get my kids to do
the shit that I need them to do.
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:I, you know, there's,
there's creativity there.
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:And think we all need to remember
that from the moment we wake up,
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:everyone is making some level of a
creative decision, whether it's from
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:the mundane to elaborate, extensive,
intentional, creative decisions.
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:So that's one of the biggest things
that, you know, I constantly hear
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:from clients, I'm not creative enough.
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:And that comparison is
truly a thief of joy.
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:And I know it's cliche,
but it's very true.
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:And I also think that it's
very subjective, right?
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:Your creativity could look different
from someone else's type of creativity.
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:A creative person in a finance department
might look incredibly different compared
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:to an artist or a painter, right?
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:So it's subjective , and , the
spectrum is very wide.
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:The other Major misconception about
creativity is that or something
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:you should be aware of is that if
you got to use it or you lose it.
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:And , I don't think you completely ever
lose, you never ever lose creativity.
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:But I do believe that if we reject
creativity constantly on the daily, I
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:think it falls, I think it falls deeper or
sinks deeper within us, and it's harder to
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:tap into creativity in our everyday lives.
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:I like to use the analogy
the:
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:We see Peter and he's lost his
ability to tap into his imaginations
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:because he's inundated with adulthood.
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:Right.
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:And when he returns to Neverland
and that iconic dining scene, right.
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:Where they're all sitting at
the table with the lost boys
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:and there's tons of plates and.
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:Pots and pans and everywhere on the
table that are about to indulge in
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:this feast and they start pretend
eating He's like what what's going on?
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:Like there there's where's the real food?
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:There's nothing here And I remember
I think Tink says like you you've
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:got to use your imagination You got
to use your creativity like that.
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:You're not gonna be Peter Pan if
you don't Tap into your creativity.
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:And so they get into this
bickering fight, right?
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:And i'm bringing this up I had to look
up the line because i'm bringing this
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:up because you guys are lawyers and he's
like They get in this bickering fight.
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:He's like I Don't mess with me.
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:I'm a lawyer and he gets The spoon and
he's pretending he's humoring them, right?
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:He gets the spoon.
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:He pretends he's gonna flick some food
at rufio and he does that And I think
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:that's a really great analogy that you
know It took the lost boys that took
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:him to remind him of like you have it
within you It is in you you just have to
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:be willing to lean into it and give it
space to flourish And so it goes along
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:with our creativity Everyone is creative.
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:And you have to Constantly tap into
it every day and with those With doing
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:that you become a more creative person.
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:You never lose it You just become more
powerful and you have the ability to
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:tap into it and so that's why I named my
business birthday creative because I truly
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:believe that We all as entrepreneurs,
as business owners, we need to, as,
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:and not even entrepreneurs, business
owners, everyone in the workforce, we
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:need to make creativity a key driver of.
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:Every element of our workday, no matter
what line of work you do, no matter if
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:you believe you are a creative person
or not, creativity is truly, truly
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:the foundation of how we move through
this world and how we communicate.
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:And so I'm the biggest advocate
for creativity and as a brand
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:designer and strategist is my.
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:Delightful, responsibility
to remind business owners and
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:entrepreneurs, nothing's impossible.
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:we just got to get a little
creative in how you show up
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:and show out in this world.
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:So, yeah,
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:Ray: I love that.
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:And that's , the reason I wanted
to start off with that question is
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:because I knew like, look at that.
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:It was like a manifesto, right?
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:So I knew that I was going to set the
tone for the rest of the conversation.
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:And I wanted to go back real
quick to what you mentioned about
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:like tapping into it, right.
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:And creativity.
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:is a practice, right?
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:Like it's just like meditation
is a practice, right?
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:Like
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:you're
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:not going to sit down and
meditate for 10 minutes.
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:It's going to, you're not going to have
all the benefits of meditation, right?
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:And same thing, like with working
out, you're not going to go to
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:the gym one day and then have
your dream body the next, right?
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:It's a practice.
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:It takes time.
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:It's something that you work towards.
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:And I think that's a lot of times what,
when people say they're not a creative
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:person is probably because, you know,
they took an art class once and they
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:tried drawing something and it didn't
come out the way they wanted it to.
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:And they just said, you know
what, this isn't for me, right?
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:They kind of have that fixed mindset
of, Hey, I'm not a creative person.
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:I'm going to stick to sports
or I'm going to stick to
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:Analytics or whatever it may be.
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:But that's just a big misconception and
sometimes falls in that fixed mindset.
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:Marissa: Yeah.
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:Ray: And
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:Marissa: I
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:Gabe: I have a lot of
friends that are artists.
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:Like they make some beautiful
artwork, like just amazing artists.
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:And they're always reaching out to me
for social media Stuff because they
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:claim that they're not creative enough.
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:And I'm like, wait a second.
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:Like, what are you talking about?
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:Like you create this beautiful artwork,
but I think it's the mindset that a
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:lot of people separate social media
and content as a different type of
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:creativity, which it is, but at the same
time, , it is so subjective because there
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:could be creators out there that are.
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:Just filming like blog type content.
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:And it's not like they're doing anything,
you know, traditionally creative.
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:They're just filming themselves,
like doing their day to day work,
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:but yet that is creating content.
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:They are a creator.
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:So I love the fact that you
brought up that it is subjective
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:to each individual person.
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:sometimes it takes someone
like yourself, right?
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:That you help.
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:People in businesses with breaking
out of that and really understanding
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:that, Hey, you are creative.
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:Let me show you how to
implement that creativity.
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:Into social media marketing, right?
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:So I love that.
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:Marissa: Yeah.
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:I think we definitely all own an area
of creativity or like our zone of
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:genius, but I think we, what we all
need to remember and to your, both
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:of your points is that creativity
It doesn't take effort necessarily.
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:It takes submission.
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:It takes that, you know, you
reframing your mindset and be like,
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:okay, I can't do content creation.
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:I'm not creative enough.
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:Well, have you given yourself the
opportunity, the space to actually Tap
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:into creativity and explore, you know,
I think we all limit ourselves when it
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:comes to creativity because we're so we
put so much pressure on ourselves that,
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:oh, my creativity has to look like this
person and my creativity has to be just
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:as good when again, we need to remember
there is this creativity is subjective.
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:There's A spectrum of creativity.
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:I am not a data numbers person.
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:Like that is not my zone
of genius of creativity.
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:My zone of creativity falls
something completely different.
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:But we need to remember
that we don't have to.
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:Force out our creativity.
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:We need to rather lean into what we
Our experiences what we know what
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:we're good at and you don't have to be
a phenomenal painter to be considered
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:creative so instead it's about
Surrendering to the creative process
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:if you will, in discovering like what
is creative My creativity and what,
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:what can I offer to this, this world?
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:And you'll find when you give yourself
that space, you actually have a lot
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:to offer because you have so many life
experiences your perspective, like that
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:all influences how we creatively show up.
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:And so we need to let go of the control
of this or this need of having our
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:creativity look like everyone else or.
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:That experience that level of success
when you embrace vulnerability of like
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:just welcoming and like being Suck
at something but like again with the
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:repetition like we can get better We can
get to a point where we're really happy
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:with the level of creativity and so I
think there's just an incredibly high
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:pressure put on entrepreneurs, especially
to creatively show outright because it's
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:so much tied to our business success.
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:And I think we just need to You
know, that high pressure comes
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:from, Oh, let's just, do this trend.
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:Let's do this, the soundbite.
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:Let's just put everything out there.
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:we don't know what our own creativity is.
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:Let's just try everything.
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:And in actuality, and some of the
things that I have to remind, like my
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:clients and people who I work with,
it's like, we can actually save.
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:Time we can save our energy.
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:We can save our money when we actually
slow down and embrace like that creative
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:process and discovering, like, what
kind of, we really own when it comes
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:to our business and our creativity.
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:You know, in the long run, it's saving
us from having that learning curve or
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:discovering, like taking a painting class
and discovering we're not good at it.
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:If we can just slow down and Really
allow ourselves To embrace that creative
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:process and discovering our creativity.
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:I think that is where we want to go.
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:for me as a brand strategist,
when it comes to branding.
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:It's like, don't skip leg day, meaning
don't skip your brand strategy,
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:the creative process and how we
design, how we show up in the world
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:and how we show out in the world.
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:So I actually don't work with clients
until we have brand strategy in
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:place, until we have gone through that
creative process and discovering what
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:is going to be our creative power.
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:Behind
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:our brand and our business.
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:And so we really need to tap
into that deeper, that creativity
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:to experience those levels of
ingenuity, new ideas and so forth.
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:And so, yeah, I think we all
need to remember those things.
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:Ray: Yeah.
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:Marissa: And
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:Ray: it's important to like,
Communicate that to people, right?
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:, let's peel the curtain back
on what, what you've done
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:before Workday Creative, right?
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:Because a lot of people
understand creativity as being
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:like, , Oh, you're creative.
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:So you must be a painter and
artists and , you're not going
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:to make any money doing that.
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:But a lot of people don't realize
that like every corporation has a
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:lot of creative departments, right?
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:Where literally creating like ad
creative and everything, right?
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:There is a corporate
route to being creative.
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:And I think, you know, you have a little
bit of history in that and tell us a
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:little bit about, that experience and
communicating to sometimes business
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:owners And understanding the professional
strategic thought processes that
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:corporate America has to go through and
bringing that and democratizing it to a
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:small business owner or a solopreneur.
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:Marissa: Yeah.
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:I've been very fortunate to, I've
been in corporate and working in
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:within branding and marketing for
about 14 years, actually, minus the
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:three years that I've been working
creative I lean into my experience.
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:I've worked in the Hollywood
scene, working with high profile
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:clients, celebrities, doing the
whole award show season, working
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:with a really high end brand.
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:I've worked in sports.
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:with the U.
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:S.
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:Army All American Bowl and
with brand sponsors and getting
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:Their name and brand out there.
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:I've worked in the food industry.
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:I've worked in ag Because there are
commodities that are needing to increase
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:the consumption of Their product.
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:I've worked in the school industry because
yes, even schools need to have creative
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:ways of engaging their students and have I
worked for a charter school system within
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:the San Diego Unified School District.
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:So even they needed to tap into creativity
to share about what charter schools bring.
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:With those line of successions, I've
realized that all these big brands
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:that I've had the opportunity to work
with, all of them are leaning into Or
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:prioritizing building their brand and
not just being, this is our product.
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:This is our service, you
know, boom, this is it.
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:They are having to creatively
step out of just their products
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:and services and appeal to.
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:I always like to say that, creativity
is literally the very first step
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:in how we connect with our target
audience and brands are realizing
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:that, it begins with customers
being compelled by their creativity.
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:So you're, for instance, like you're
walking down the aisle of target.
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:And something catches your eye.
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:That is, creativity is what disrupts
our minds, it like, bops us in
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:the head, and, disrupts us from
the mundane, if you will, right?
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:So it's literally that first
communication avenue, and then,
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:They're like, oh, this is cool.
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:let me look into it.
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:And then from there more creativity is
used to Engage them and keep them coming
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:back wanting more and that's why i'm
so passionate about branding because
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:branding has a really big impact It's
not just about logos, fonts, colors,
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:but their experience with you and
your business those experiences with
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:your business, that is all part of
the creative process that brands are
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:tapping into to grow their businesses.
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:And I think we need to realize
that there is with creativity.
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:What I have seen throughout my entire
career is that it allows businesses to
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:have this impeccable clarity to do the
work and to show up and show out in
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:this world and to their audience, right?
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:It gives us that radical confidence to
Sell and gain that unwavering motivation.
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:Like those are my first things
that I tell if you're wanting to
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:grow, like what a brand does for
your business, it's these things.
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:Impeccable clarity to do to work
unwavering motivation to show up and
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:show out and radical confidence to sell.
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:And if we talk about the ROI, the return
on investment of being creative within
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:our business, well, that looks like us
being able to stand out in the market.
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:Against our competitors.
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:you guys are a perfect example of that.
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:The way you guys are structuring
your business, that is a radical
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:difference to what most lawyers
would charge or offer their services.
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:And that's refreshing.
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:You have disrupted us from this stereotype
that we've always thought about lawyers.
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:You guys leaned into creativity to break
that mundane and that has is a direct
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:correlation to the growth of inflow
and the success you guys have been and
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:I think you guys recognize that too.
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:Otherwise, we wouldn't have this
conversation but yeah All begins at
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:one thing that is for sure in all
the industries that I've had the
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:privilege of being in all the major
brands that I've had the opportunity
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:to work with prioritizing creativity
is 100 percent the Reason for
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:brand growth and business growth.
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:And we need to recognize that as small
business entrepreneurs, when you start
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:prioritizing creativity, we need to
start prioritizing, building our brands
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:in a creative way, and not just having
to rely on the technical aspects of
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:our product or What we have to offer
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:Ray: And those things are part
of the brand strategy too, right?
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:Like they should be part of it.
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:Cause like that goes back to experience.
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:Marissa: be everything,
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:Ray: Yes.
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:And that's why that strategy
takes precedence, right?
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:To think about at least from the
get go, because if you want to offer
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:luxury services, then obviously that's
going to be implemented through the
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:technical aspects of the product.
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:But that's because branding wise, you
knew that you wanted the brand to be
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:a luxury product as opposed to, just a
commodity product or something like that.
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:Marissa: 100%.
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:Gabe: Yeah.
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:and Marissa, I want to, not only
are you a brand strategist, but
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:obviously you're a creator as well.
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:And you do such awesome content.
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:I've always been such a fan of your
content because you get so creative with
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:the layering and the colors and it just.
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:Your content just pops and it just such
a cool different way to promote it.
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:And I wanted to ask you because you
recently just got an award and I
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:wanted to ask you about that and your
experience and kind of maybe just if
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:you could talk a little bit about your
personal content creation and kind
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:of what led you to, receiving this.
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:Awesome award for your content.
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:Marissa: Yeah my entire life, Creativity
has been the foundation of who I am as
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:a person when I started my business and
I always recommend this to my clients
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:the first thing Before I even got dove
into my business plan everything The
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:first thing I did was go to my, the
closest people around me and ask them,
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:how would you describe me in three words?
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:Give me three adjectives that
how you would describe me.
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:And the one thing that was The
most prevalent was creativity.
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:And so when I started my business, I knew
I have to practice what I preach, right.
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:And content creation is one
of those outlets that allows
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:my creativity to flourish.
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:Flourish.
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:It is a hobby of mine.
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:It has been a hobby of mine for
decades now decades with an S yes.
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:Oh my God.
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:I feel old, but yeah, content creation
has truly been a huge communication
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:channel for me and how I market
my business and sell my services
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:and, and it's my way of showing.
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:My clients like, look, creativity
is really has a direct correlation
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:to our business success
and I am a example of that.
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:Now I had sent off a bunch of my reels
to this award show called the release,
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:which is highlighting content creation
by business owners and entrepreneurs.
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:I got five nominations and I
won the funniest real award.
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:Which is very much in alignment
with that tells me That the way I'm
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:creatively showing it was validation
for the way I'm showing up creatively
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:So when we are looking at our businesses
and how we want to creatively show
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:up to this world We have to know
like what does that look like?
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:What do I want people to know me for?
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:how can my creativity?
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:uniquely show up for my audience.
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:And for me, it's leaning into humor.
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:It's leaning into the bright colors.
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:I'm going to be dance.
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:I'm going to be one of the
people that dances in my reels
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:because music and dancing has
always been prevalent in my life.
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:That's authentic to me.
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:You are going to get outfit of the days
for me because fashion is prevalent.
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:it's important to me.
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:Those are like the foundations of,
that's how my creativity shows up.
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:That's how my
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:creative
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:Marissa: process is, is done.
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:I, in my brand and it shows
up in the work that I do.
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:So my brand design and my brand strategy,
I lean heavily into music for that
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:influence, for that creative inspiration.
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:And I lean heavily into fashion
for that creative inspiration.
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:That's unique to me.
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:Not all brand designers are like that.
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:And that's how I've determined in
my brand strategy, how I'm going
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:to show up differently and how
I can own my zone of creativity.
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:And it's worked out for me.
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:I am a true testament to how creativity
can show up for yourself, can grow
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:your business and really flourish.
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:So I'm so thankful for this award.
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:It was truly, truly an honor.
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:There are a lot of amazing,
amazing creators and creative
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:entrepreneurs that submitted.
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:So I'm just so happy.
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:Ray: No, congratulations again on that.
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:That's huge.
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:And that was, was that
in Atlanta, you said?
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:Marissa: Yeah, I traveled to Atlanta
for the in person award show, but all
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:the voting beforehand was done online.
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:It went through a panel of judges,
I think about like 20 judges.
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:There were thousands of submissions.
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:And then it went through the judges
and then it ended with an open
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:voting for everyone to vote on.
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:So very VH1 TRL.
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:Ray: Yeah.
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:Marissa: for your favorite.
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:Ray: That's super fun.
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:And I'm sure you had a blast.
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:And you know, we were following
along with the content you're
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:creating while you were there.
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:And that's like super exciting.
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:So now I
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:Marissa: have an award.
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:People think I'm funny.
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:Okay.
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:Just remember that.
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:Ray: I'm sure like when you went
around the office to ask like
428
:people who you know, describe you in
three traits I'm sure funny showed
429
:up a couple times at least right?
430
:Marissa: Yeah.
431
:Yeah people.
432
:Yeah, I have a few of my
friends who Think I'm humorous.
433
:I like to think that I'm very humorous
in some way, but you know That that's
434
:another form of creativity and it's
subjective and not everyone will
435
:find me funny, but that's okay Like
that's okay That is what's true to me.
436
:And how I think about myself and
how I show up for my business.
437
:So,
438
:Ray: and I was going to just go
back to when you were emphasizing
439
:how important it is to show up.
440
:And do things that embody you, right?
441
:And that's once again, strategic, right?
442
:Because without even necessarily
trying to be strategic, right?
443
:Because it attracts, right?
444
:If you, and that's a lot of times
when we talk to other lawyers who
445
:are sometimes afraid to, , show up
on social media or show up in their
446
:branding, whether that's their website,
whatever avenue they're going down.
447
:So just be themselves, right?
448
:And that's basically or be who
they want to attract, right?
449
:That's at the end of the
day, that's what it is.
450
:Like your marketing is giving you the
chance to show people who you are and
451
:if they can trust you or if they can,
you know, feel comfortable with you.
452
:has that, been successful in
your experience of attracting the
453
:type of businesses that you want
to work basically with, right?
454
:Whether that's The purpose of what
they're doing or the products they
455
:sell, the services they sell, or
just who they are at the core.
456
:has that played out the correct way?
457
:we just want to know it's
mirrored the same way.
458
:Marissa: 100, 1000%.
459
:Especially with branding.
460
:You want your branding to attract the
people who resonate and relate and
461
:can relate to how you're showing up.
462
:But at the same time,
simultaneously, you are repelling.
463
:Those that do not find you funny do not
resonate with your type of creativity.
464
:And I think it goes back to.
465
:The being authentic conversation,
we hear it all the time online.
466
:You gotta be authentic.
467
:You need to be authentic.
468
:How do I grow?
469
:You need to be authentic.
470
:But what does that mean?
471
:Like the conversation always stops there.
472
:what does that mean?
473
:And I think it goes in the same
way, going back to what I said about
474
:creativity, it doesn't take effort.
475
:It takes submission.
476
:It's the same with authenticity.
477
:If you're trying to be authentic, you're
probably not being authentic, right?
478
:Authenticity is a natural
way of you showing up.
479
:It's like without any effort, right?
480
:Without having this feel like you're
forcing yourself to be someone or show up
481
:in a way that people are expecting you to.
482
:So in order for you to discover what that
looks like or what is, You need to give
483
:yourself the space to really think about,
like, what is it I'm trying to do here?
484
:Like what are the type of people
who are on the same page as me?
485
:I don't remember which one
it was, but tracy ellis ross.
486
:She's a celebrity She's one of my biggest
influences i'm probably her Vegas fan.
487
:But she said something along the lines
of, like, God created, you know, these
488
:barrels or these cauldrons and you have
people like every, he created everyone
489
:different, but like, there's these
cauldrons that you probably put, you
490
:know, the same people, the people that you
find, you know, you really connect with,
491
:or you have, you share similar interests.
492
:Share some of personalities like
you're my cauldron sister because
493
:we're like we're like this We're like
we're like on on it and that's the
494
:purpose of branding right there They're
not trying to appeal to everyone.
495
:They're trying to appeal to
people who get them Who can find?
496
:Residue or confines that their
community is a place for them.
497
:Branding should serve as
a purpose of authenticity
498
:branding.
499
:Marissa: So the point of being
authentic, the point of being of
500
:your branding is to develop this,
like almost like a safe space.
501
:Like this was made for you.
502
:I relate to you and because I relate
to you and because you resonate with
503
:how I'm showing up in the world, you're
more likely going to stick around.
504
:You're more likely going to value the
things that I have to say and the products
505
:I provide and the services I provide,
despite algorithm changes, despite how
506
:the industry economy is working, like
despite any pivots that I may make.
507
:Because we are grounded on an authentic
level of, like, we get each other and
508
:you, you know, we're in this community
they're more likely to stick around
509
:and hang out and want to hear or
experience you more and more and more.
510
:So that goes, you know,
that's a conversation about
511
:branding in its simplest form.
512
:Like, you're trying to develop
a community of people who relate
513
:to you and find you authentic.
514
:And so we just say remember that.
515
:Don't try, don't force to be authentic,
because then you're not being authentic.
516
:you need to give yourself space to
discover what it is you are here
517
:for, what you're showing up as.
518
:And, you know, do like me.
519
:The first thing, my first step, and
one of the biggest recommendations
520
:that I give to, New clients, as
you know, we're beginning the work.
521
:I want you to go to people close
to you who know you and ask
522
:them, how do you perceive me?
523
:how would you describe me?
524
:You know?
525
:And maybe go to a stranger you've
only known not that long, and be like,
526
:what's your first, what's the first
thing that comes to mind when you
527
:see me or when you interact with me?
528
:So.
529
:Yeah, I think the authenticity
conversation, there's a lot of it online.
530
:But the recommendations on how
to be authentic kind of halt.
531
:And so, you know, there's a bigger
conversation to be had around what
532
:authenticity is and means and, So forth.
533
:Ray: Yeah.
534
:Well, let's shed some more light on the
avenue you're just going down just now
535
:with what it's like to work with you.
536
:So that first question is important
understanding like who you are, right?
537
:What are the next steps in that
process of , When someone's showing
538
:up to you and saying, Hey, Marissa,
I really love the way you show up
539
:online and how confident you seem and
like the branding of your business.
540
:I feel like, you know, I started a year
ago and I kind of just went online, try
541
:to figure it out myself and I just been
trying, but I feel like I'm a chicken
542
:running around with his head cut off.
543
:, what should I do?
544
:So I'm sure that's like a number
of clients who come to you in
545
:the past, but take us through
the next steps in that process.
546
:Marissa: Yeah.
547
:I love this question because a lot of
times what I'm discovering when I bring
548
:on new clients the biggest struggle is
being able to communicate externally,
549
:like what they're setting out to do.
550
:As entrepreneurs, we have this
idea in our heads, a genius idea.
551
:We start our business like,
yes, this is going to work.
552
:I love this.
553
:this is what I want to do.
554
:But they're having a hard time
translating that externally and
555
:communicating that externally.
556
:So the first thing, you
know, aside from like.
557
:You know, what do people think of you?
558
:But the first thing it all
comes back to actually first
559
:discovering like what is your story?
560
:Like why did you decide that the world
needed what you're having to offer?
561
:and this is all part of the
creative process, right?
562
:we need to sit down with ourselves and
give us the space to Get all the stuff
563
:that's in our head out of us once we
do that, we can take all that and form
564
:it into a compelling brand story, form
it into an actual, sales page or your
565
:messaging or, how your brand will show up.
566
:Translating that how that
shows up visually in our brand
567
:logo and colors and fonts.
568
:the first part of working with
me is always, always, always
569
:going to start with strategy.
570
:Because that inspires the visual assets
that you'll need to market your business.
571
:your strategy and your designs
are then going to work together
572
:cohesively to inspire the experience
that you're trying to provide.
573
:it always starts with brand
strategy and discovering how you
574
:are going to operate your business.
575
:And how you're going to
show up and show out.
576
:The main thing that I like to
say to my clients, the strategy
577
:is really the foundation for how
you're going to show up, show
578
:out, bring value to your audience.
579
:And so you don't want to
skip over that, right?
580
:And so that's.
581
:In working with me, we really deep dive.
582
:And I think you know, because of
the high pressure we experience
583
:in life and how busy we are, we
don't give ourselves that space.
584
:So I pride myself and giving my
clients the opportunity to just dream
585
:big, like they, you know, dream big.
586
:Let me give you the space, the
safe space to really, establish,
587
:why you're doing what you're doing
because we're always feeling rushed.
588
:Like, I gotta, I gotta
hurry up and get this out.
589
:I gotta create this product
so I can get it out and we're
590
:rushing that creative process.
591
:And so that first step is really
realizing the potential first and giving
592
:us that space to creatively think.
593
:And then we get into the deep
work of building our brands.
594
:Ray: Okay, that's gonna be very
helpful for a lot of people listening.
595
:Marissa: Yes.
596
:Gabe: Absolutely.
597
:Well, Marissa, I wanted to ask you to
like on, you know, brand strategist,
598
:but content creator but also, you
know, you have a family, right?
599
:And I think a lot of people with that
are content creators with the family.
600
:it's a funny dynamic with
your household, right?
601
:How,
602
:right.
603
:Gabe: How does, how do you balance that?
604
:And how has that experience been
with your family and having them
605
:understand, what you do and, the editing
process and the content creation?
606
:Because I know me personally, my
kids see me, Creating this content
607
:and they, tease me, about like, I'm
editing something out loud and it's
608
:repeating or I have to do retakes and
they're just sitting there watching.
609
:you're so weird.
610
:Gabe: You know, how has that
experience been, you know, with you
611
:and balancing your work and your
creative aspect and the family life.
612
:Marissa: If I can be completely honest.
613
:It is hard as fuck, okay?
614
:Balancing all the things.
615
:Now you're good.
616
:Marissa: But yeah, I'm
not going to sugarcoat it.
617
:I, this is hard.
618
:I am a mom of two.
619
:I'm a wife, friend, daughter.
620
:All the things while also trying to
balance my branding clients, I'm a
621
:speaker, I speak on stages about branding,
I do content creation, I'm building a
622
:business locally here in Fresno just all
the things, and I'm, I'm not going to
623
:say that it's been all dandy over here.
624
:It has been hard, but one of the
things that has contributed to being
625
:able to keep going comes literally,
I know I've been repetitive, but it
626
:literally comes back to my brand strategy
because I know what I'm doing this for.
627
:I have so much clarity in my mission.
628
:I have so much clarity in my vision.
629
:and why I'm here and what I'm setting
out to do, it is so much bigger than me.
630
:that's the motivating factor
behind all the things that I do.
631
:Not just brand design strategy,
but literally everything in
632
:my life and the roles I take.
633
:that's, what's missing from A lot of
entrepreneurs and business owners.
634
:It's like that clarity of
what is my mission here?
635
:What am I trying to do?
636
:Once you have established and gain
like impeccable clarity to those
637
:things, the showing up comes later.
638
:The showing up comes naturally.
639
:Once you've had the opportunity to really
hash out, you know, those mission, vision,
640
:value statements, your purpose statement,
all, you know, all those things.
641
:And so, you know, yeah,
I get the question a lot.
642
:Like, how do you, how do
you show up the way you do?
643
:I show up the way to do, because I
put in the work to really identify
644
:like what the hell I'm here to do.
645
:Right.
646
:And now I feel, I feel like
I'm turning that corner.
647
:I haven't turned it all the way yet.
648
:I feel like I'm turning that corner
of content creation is coming easier.
649
:Selling my services is
coming easier to me.
650
:And so I'm always going to be
the first person to advocate.
651
:You need a brand strategy.
652
:You need brand design because that
will, then it goes back to the ROI
653
:that I talked about with branding,
if you want to stand out in your
654
:market, you gotta put in the work.
655
:If you want to be seen as a clear
choice over your competitors,
656
:you gotta put in the work.
657
:If you want content creation to come
easier for you, if you want to be
658
:invited on stages and to grab those
brand sponsorship deals to gain
659
:a greater following, you have to
have clarity in who you are first.
660
:Because if you're struggling to
communicate what you do, what you
661
:have to offer, most likely people
outside of you are confused AF.
662
:About what you do and
what you have to offer.
663
:So I contribute you know, just having
impeccable clarity about what, who I
664
:am and what I'm stand for, what I'm
sending out to do has contributed to
665
:being able to balance a little bit
better, you know, all the things.
666
:So yeah, every day, every time I
step into my studio, my office I
667
:know what work lies ahead of me.
668
:I know what I'm need to be doing.
669
:In order to get to where I want to go.
670
:Ray: So, okay.
671
:sticking in the realm of challenges
and, you know, that was very helpful to
672
:understand, like, , having clarity on who
you are and what you do so important.
673
:Creative block, do you experience that?
674
:And what are some things you
do to overcome that you would
675
:like to share with the audience?
676
:Marissa: Yeah, I think everyone
experiences creative block.
677
:It could also come up
in the form of burnout.
678
:I think people are lying to themselves if
they say they don't experience that and
679
:as a creative as someone who It takes a
emotional and physical toll after every
680
:creation after interacting with people
You know, I experienced this a lot,
681
:probably more so than I'd like it to.
682
:And the thing that helps me
deeper than, my mission of what
683
:I'm trying to set up to do.
684
:I think one of the things that
helped me move through the creative
685
:block is music and dancing.
686
:And that's unique to me.
687
:Music has been such a huge part of my
life, and not only in just my work, just
688
:as a human being and navigating this
life I turn to music, I turn to rest
689
:to get myself out of those creative ru.
690
:It takes me stepping away and not
being apologetic for having to step
691
:away I appreciate when people come
on and be like, oh, i'm, sorry.
692
:I haven't been on here in a while I
apologize like no, you don't need to you
693
:don't need to explain like I get it like
we all Experience it at some level at some
694
:point and we just need to give ourselves
a little grace and when you build a brand
695
:You're more likely, your audience is more
likely to be like, yeah, that's okay.
696
:Like, do you, I'm going to be here.
697
:I'm going to be right
here when you come back.
698
:I'm going to be here
right when you come back.
699
:And you know, that changing that
frame of mind, like I've been.
700
:building my personal brand that I've
developed a community of raving fans
701
:and loyal customers, people who are
with you, regardless of you take
702
:a little hiatus and you come back,
they're still going to be there.
703
:You, I had built a level of trust with
my audience, so I can take those breaks
704
:and they'll be right here waiting.
705
:To experience whatever
I got going on next.
706
:But that takes some time to develop.
707
:You're not just gonna.
708
:Expect them to do that right off the
bat right at the beginning it like
709
:it takes Time for you to build that
relationship with your audience.
710
:So my biggest advice when it comes
to those creative blocks is trying to
711
:find something outside of what you do
Or you know that You can find rest in
712
:that brings you joy to inspire you.
713
:I know a lot of people, you know,
for instance, like to travel or
714
:get out in community, you know,
to inspire their next move.
715
:When I traveled to Atlanta.
716
:I was meeting up with a ton
of new creators, creators that
717
:I've been friends with online.
718
:But it was like that in person
experience that really revived me.
719
:Like, yes, I'm so inspired.
720
:I'm so inspired.
721
:I met with some people.
722
:I'm like, I'm ready to get back to work.
723
:Like, so many, you know,
my mind is going again.
724
:And sometimes it takes
those Like, get offline.
725
:Go be in person with someone.
726
:Go be in community with someone.
727
:So yeah, those are probably my biggest,
but I am no Expert because on this and
728
:I don't think anyone is truly truly.
729
:I think, you know, I, I still, I
still struggle with creative box
730
:and burnout and you just gotta,
you just gotta hang on, you just
731
:gotta keep going, just keep going.
732
:Take your rest, return back to
it when you're feeling better.
733
:It's something that you're always going
to probably have to face at some point.
734
:just accept that, but Find ways to
get yourself out of it and no one can
735
:tell you what that looks like You have
to do the work and figuring out what
736
:is going to Heal me what's going to
get me out of this creative breath.
737
:Ray: yeah, and a good I don't know
if you have to have you ever read.
738
:The war of art
739
:Marissa: I have not
740
:Ray: Yeah, so I think that's a
good resource in general just
741
:to understand resistance, right?
742
:Like there's all these things out there
that are going to be resistance for you
743
:to create what you're looking to create
or do the work you need to do, right?
744
:Sometimes that is creative block, right?
745
:And sometimes it means Maybe it's because
of burnout, or maybe if it's like you're
746
:not burned out, you just came back
from what you normally gives you rest.
747
:But there's other forms
of resistance, right?
748
:Whether it's distress,
749
:Marissa: imposter syndrome,
750
:Ray: syndrome, or just like,
you know, just different forms
751
:of like what resistance is.
752
:And like the stories we tell
ourselves sometimes, Part of that
753
:is like the, I'm not creative spiel.
754
:Right.
755
:Or I don't have it in me today and
things like that, but it just goes
756
:back to, it's just a practice, right?
757
:And everything we do, like every reel you
make, you're not going to get an award
758
:recognition for but you're not going
to get the award recognition for it.
759
:If you don't do it, don't do it.
760
:Exactly.
761
:Marissa: Yep.
762
:Exactly.
763
:100%.
764
:I mean,
765
:Marissa: You've been
doing this for how long?
766
:You've been doing this for years, right?
767
:And it goes back to the repetition
and really putting in the reps.
768
:So, yeah,
769
:Gabe: absolutely.
770
:And sometimes it's even
just those shortcuts, right?
771
:Like figuring out like, and it's
almost like, it kind of goes back
772
:to that brand strategy, right?
773
:Understanding your strategy and
especially your content your social
774
:media strategy makes it easier because
then you kind of already know, the
775
:type of content, how quick you can
make it, what the target audience is.
776
:But yeah, no, absolutely.
777
:So Marissa, since, we're
going to be wrapping up soon.
778
:Definitely wanted to ask you kind
of what would be the three tips that
779
:you would give, someone starting
out, someone starting their business.
780
:That's, kind of right on that cusp of just
launching, Without a strategy, without a
781
:plan, they're just like, I'm ready to go.
782
:What would be three things
that you would give them.
783
:Marissa: Okay.
784
:Yes.
785
:I love this question I actually
have a running notes app Note
786
:of all my advice if anyone Asked
me this question i'd be ready.
787
:So i'm gonna read some but the first
thing that comes to my mind That's always
788
:going to be I constantly have to say
this myself, and excuse my language,
789
:but Remember who the fuck you are.
790
:Like, I think I have spent so many years
in corporate unfortunately having to work
791
:against workplace racism, microaggression,
I've constantly had to code switch in
792
:order for me to do my job, unfortunately,
It wasn't until I started Workday Creative
793
:that I really started to lean in on who
exactly I am and remembering, like, I am
794
:the reason my creativity is going to be
the reason people want to work with me.
795
:So I need to honor myself
and show up as such.
796
:I'm going to show up as me, and again,
it goes to like, you're going to attract
797
:people, and you're going to repel people,
and you have to be okay with that.
798
:You have to be okay with that, but
when you accept that, and when you
799
:remind yourself of who you are, it
makes moving forward in your business.
800
:A little bit easier.
801
:Right?
802
:And not having to worry
about the algorithm, oh, the
803
:algorithm's out to get me.
804
:Like these outside influences,
these outside things that
805
:we have no control over.
806
:You just have to remember who you are.
807
:Mm-Hmm.
808
:. And that is going to be one of
the, the things that are the major
809
:obstacles that you're going to face.
810
:The other thing I'm looking at my,
my thing right here brings, bring
811
:some serious passion and you will
see your dream manifest in reality.
812
:So you have to be able to
tap into like what you're
813
:setting out to do your mission.
814
:And when you start becoming
really, really passionate about
815
:that, I'm going to do everything
in my power to make this happen.
816
:And a lot of that decision also
falls onto Hiring help, hiring brand
817
:designer to make your communication
hit quicker and easier, like, Oh, do I
818
:want to invest in my business or not?
819
:Like, I, should I invest in the lawyers?
820
:Like when, but if you, if you
truly have passion about what
821
:you're setting out to do.
822
:And while you're your purpose, those,
you realize like those investments
823
:are going to help you get there
faster, quicker in a bigger way.
824
:So I need everyone to get to like, dig
deep into the serious passion behind your
825
:business and see where that takes you.
826
:People don't realize the power
of just like sheer passion.
827
:Can have when you are operating your
business ain't nobody telling me no and
828
:if someone tells me no i'm in another way
one of the things that i'm constantly i'm
829
:battling like i'm making a huge priority
in my business Is advocating for black
830
:women to grace the stages both virtual and
in real life Of these conversations around
831
:marketing around content creation around
branding Cause we don't see it enough.
832
:And that passion, like I don't care
if someone says no to an opera to
833
:speaking opportunity, I'm going to
figure out a way to get my voice heard.
834
:I will find out, I will figure out a way.
835
:And that passion is driving
me so much in my business.
836
:So those are probably be like.
837
:I want everyone to remember when it
comes to their brand and their business.
838
:Gabe: Perfect.
839
:Well, thank you so much, Marissa,
for hopping on and joining us.
840
:I mean, it's always so much
fun, chatting with you.
841
:And we wanted to have you on
the show for a whole while now.
842
:I know, it's been a minute, we
843
:Marissa: We've had a lot of conversations
together, and we geek off every time.
844
:I love just like being in community
with you guys, and I truly miss
845
:it, not being in San Diego anymore.
846
:But I just want to thank you
guys for inviting me, and for
847
:this, Awesome conversation.
848
:You know, I can always talk
about this like all the time.
849
:It's really refreshing to be in
community with people who get
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:it, who like truly, truly get it.
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:Right.
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:Ray: Oh yeah.
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:Gabe: Where can people find you if
they need to, to reach out to you?
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:Marissa: Yeah.
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:So my main avenue of communication of
where you can find me is Instagram.
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:Instagram is where I post.
857
:Thrive and flourish.
858
:You can find me at Workday Creative.
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:I am also on LinkedIn for all my
business, corporate baddies that I still
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:like to connect with and communicate
with business owners and entrepreneurs.
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:But yeah, those are the places
that you can find me in:
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:you can keep up to date on everywhere.
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:You can find me at Workday
Creative along with you know, my,
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:my services as well for branding.
865
:Ray: Awesome.
866
:Well, thank you for the
awesome conversation, Marissa.
867
:Always great hanging out.
868
:Marissa: We'll chat soon,