The Futur with Chris Do

Latest Episodes:

151 - Round 2: Failure is the building block — with Mo Ismail Sep 14, 2021

Show notes

In round 2, Chris and Mo tackle the concept of ikigai. That is, how to live your life to it’s fullest potential.

Theoretically, it makes good sense, but when it comes to taking action so few of us have the courage to do so. We are creatures of habit and comfort. The hard work and failure that leads to fulfillment is not an easy sell.

But why is that? And how can you persevere in spite of that discomfort?

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150 - Round 1: Remove emotion from the equation — with Mo Ismail Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

To celebrate our 150th episode of The Futur podcast we are releasing a new episode every day this week for a total of 5 episodes. We call them 5 Rounds with Mo.

In each episode The Futur Pro Group member and friend of the show, Mo Ismail, will ask Chris a tough question and he won’t let him off the hook until he’s happy with the answer.

In round one, Mo asks Chris about how he’s able to break big, complex problems down into something that anyone can understand. And how he does it without letting his emotions interfere.

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149 - The Brand Doctor — with Henry Kaminski Jr. Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

Henry Kaminski Jr. is a self-taught graphic designer and brand consultant. Over the past decade he’s built a multi-million dollar design business.

But the road there was filled with rusty nails. Some of which were ready to force him off the road and into a ditch.

In this episode, Henry shares his origin story. From surviving his tumultuous youth to earning his first million. Since he and Chris are close, it feels like you’re listening to old friends having a sincere—and at times difficult—candid conversation.

Chris and Henry talk about the dynamics of business, family and how when the two overlap it can lead to a lifetime of trouble and heartache.

Think of this conversation as part business story, part therapy. It’s rare that we’re able to be this vulnerable on our show and a kind reminder that we can learn a lot when we do allow ourselves to be.

Sponsored by Storyblocks - storyblocks.com/futur

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148 - Golden Handcuffs — with Anthony Banks Sep 01, 2021

Show notes

Are you familiar with the term “golden handcuffs”? It’s a phrase that refers to financial incentives given to employees to make them stick around. Because when you have everything you need, why would you ever want to leave?

In this episode, we talk with illustrator, graphic designer, and Futur Pro Group member, Anthony Banks who—at the time this was recorded in 2018—was considering a big career move.

But he is conflicted. His job is stable. It pays well. All of which is good for his family.

For all intents and purposes, Anthony is doing just fine.

But is fine enough? Or, without any room to grow in his current position, is he riding a slow boat to nowhere?

The conversation you’re about to hear is from 2018. The world feels like a different place now, but our the dilemma remains the same: are golden handcuffs worth it?

We do the math and find out.

Sponsors

Skillshare - https://skillshare.com/futur

BetterHelp - https://betterhelp.com/futur

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147 - Hey Chris: How do I find my purpose? — with Chris Do and Greg Gunn Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to another special episode format we call Hey Chris. We take listener submitted questions and make Chris answer them on the spot. No reading them ahead of time. No preparation. No time to think. Just a candid conversation between Chris Do and Greg Gunn.

In this episode we answer four unique questions about topics like how to apply value based pricing (and when not to), positioning your business, whether to spend your time learning or doing, and and how to find your purpose.

Have a question for Chris? Visit thefutur.com/heychris and ask away.

This episode is sponsored by Storyblocks - https://www.storyblocks.com/futur

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49 - [Rebroadcast] Creative Strategy — with Douglas Davis Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

When he would get sent to detention, he’d spend his time there drawing for hours. And despite growing up in a super small town in South Carolina, he had access to an amazing art program. With the help of a nurturing mother, and a lot of talent and hustle, Douglas worked his way into a design career but always wanted more. He had spent a lot of his life creating, but came to a point where he wanted to explore the business side as well, and moved into strategy.

In this week's conversation, Chris talks to Douglas about growing up and going to school with very few resources, moving into the world of strategy and the value it has provided both for Douglas's clients and himself, and Douglas's hustle as a teacher, bringing up a new generation.

Douglas shares his unique perspective on life itself and how important it is to do what you love. “Life is long,” Douglas says. “Do you want to spend your life going to a job you hate?”

After completing an arts program from Hampton University, Douglas took his resume and experience and applied to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He studied communication design and discovered the problem-solving capabilities of graphic design. During his time at Pratt, Douglas was inspired to teach and work in the industry he had grown to love so much.

When he was just 22 years old, Douglas was found and hired at Juno Online Services, but lost the job a year later when a recession hit. Then, when he was kicked out of his apartment at 25 years old, he became an adjunct professor.

With so many forces going against him, Douglas persevered through curveball after curveball. He learned to hustle and keep going despite the scarcity of opportunities. Douglas’s story is nothing short of inspiring. We highly encourage you to listen and hear how he turned from designer to strategist, to now teach other creatives the business of design.

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146 - A fighter’s mindset — with Ognjen Topic Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

The internet can make people look very one dimensional. When in reality, they are far from.

Ognjen Topic is a great example of that. He is a graphic designer and also a three time world champion in the competitive martial art, Muy Thai.

You’ll hear about Ognjen’s tumultuous life journey as a Serbian born in Bosnia. Civil war forced his family to flee the country and ultimately immigrate to the United States where he fell in love with graphic design and developed a secret fighting career.

You might think that fighting and design don’t have much in common, and you’re probably right. But one important concept they do share is mindset.

So how do you prepare when your life (or serious injury) is on the line? What kind of training do you need? And how can you develop the mental fortitude it takes to survive?

Not to overdramatize creative work, but putting yourself out there and taking on jobs can be scary. Maybe not get punched in the liver scary, but emotionally just as frightening.

In this episode, our Ognjen shares his mindset for how to use your fear as a tool to help guide you through a scary situation.

Sponsored by Storyblocks https://www.storyblocks.com/futur

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145 - Why the world need creative thinkers — with Chris Do Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

This episode comes from a Clubhouse Q&A hosted by Billy and Glenn Lundy of Breakfast with Champions. During this candid chat, they ask Chris a series of questions about mindset and marketing.

Things like how and why you should be specific with your goals, what creativity really means (hint: it’s not just for artists and designers), and why our future is in the hands of creative thinkers.

Also, there is a great listener Q&A where people put Chris on the spot and he offers real time, personalized guidance.

If you have any interest in changing your mindset—especially about marketing—then you will love this one.

Thank you to Skillshare for sponsoring this episode: https://www.skillshare.com/futur

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144 - How to make yourself indispensable — with Kirsty Minns Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

We talk a lot about branding. What it is, what it means, and how it works. But Kirsty Minns lives it. And excels in it at the highest creative level.

Kirsty is the executive creative director at Mother Design in London. Mother is a world famous agency and you’ve probably come in contact with one of their incredible campaigns at some point.

In this episode, we follow Kirsty through her entire career and hear about the personal and professional choices she made that ultimately lead her to where she is today.

You’ll hear about what drives Kirsty’s endless curiosity, how she specializes in not specializing, and why playing the comparison game will only lead you to unhappiness.

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143 - Make enemies, gain friends — with Freddie Ost Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

If punk rock were a genre of design agency, then SNASK would be the Sex Pistols. As they state on their website, SNASK is a “creative agency of misfit geniuses conquering the world through fine lookin’ design and real emotions. To worry about what people think of us is a waste of time.”

Freddie Ost is the founder of SNASK and we were fortunate enough to have him on the show and really get to know the person behind the eccentric agency.

In the spirit of his business, the conversation oscillates between emotional vulnerability and playfulness. So if all goes well, you will laugh, cry, and be inspired in no particular order.

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