The Futur with Chris Do

Latest Episodes:

132 - When your plan fails — with Pat Flynn May 05, 2021

Show notes

“Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth.” We love that quote from Mike Tyson. It encapsulates life so well.

You can do everything right—even go above and beyond—and still be a fantastic failure. But as they like to say: failure is inevitable. It’s how you deal with it that matters.

Pat Flynn is an acclaimed podcaster, author, entrepreneur, and Pokémon card collector. Yes, you just read “Pokémon.” Growing up, he did everything right. Earned perfect grades. Landed the perfect, dream job. And then, was laid off.

But that crushing defeat was the catalyst to his success to come. You might say that getting laid off was the best thing that ever happened to him.

In this episode, Pat and Chris discuss failure’s role in success, the benefits of mastermind groups, and how helping others can truly change your life.

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131 - Why do you believe what you believe? — After Hours at The Futur Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

Why do you believe what you believe? How much of it was hardwired and how much of it did you inherit from other people? Like, for instance, your parents.

This episode comes from a unique event that we like to call After Hours. It’s a raw, revealing, and open-ended discussion with Chris Do and some our friends from The Futur Pro Group.

In this After Hours chat, we delve into how to reframe the way you think about goals. What they are, their meaning to you, and why looking to the past won’t help you today.

And things get deep in this vulnerable pep talk. Albeit sage wisdom, you will hear tough love doled out from Chris.

So buckle up, settle in, and please enjoy this deep chat, after hours at The Futur.

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130 - How to Price Your Work — with Tom Hirst Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

When it comes to talking about money, a lot of creative folk tend to get uncomfortable. Many of us believe that the work should speak for itself. And that the cost of something correlates with how long it takes to produce.

But that’s not always true.

There are plenty of ways to bill for your work. Hourly, daily, fixed price, value-based, and retainer. There’s even the good old barter system.

Which way is the best? And is it fair and ethical to not bill for the time you spend on something?

If these are questions you struggle with answering, then you are in the right place.

Our guest, Tom Hirst, is a freelance web developer, author, and mentor. Beyond building custom websites, his specialty is pricing. How to think about it and how to talk about it with your clients.

As much as we all want it to, talent alone will not magically get you work. No matter what business you’re in. You need to market, need to sell, and you certainly can’t shy away from talking about money.

Do yourself—and your business—a favor and listen up. Because we’re going to change the way you think about pricing forever.

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129 - Teaching the Business of Design — with Abby Guido Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

If you could go back in time and learn something new, what would it be? What thing would you study to better equip you for the world and you live in today?

In the business world, designers now have a seat at table. They do more than just make things pretty. Their decisions and actions have a direct impact on the bottom line.

Which means they have a responsibility to the business. Something that isn’t taught in art school.

Our guest in this episode, Abby Guido, is an assistant professor of graphic and interactive design at Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University.

She’s got an MBA, her own design practice, and one piece of advice for her students: focus.

Abby and Chris discuss teaching philosophies, the role teachers play in the creative process, and try to answer the question: what should we teach people?

The two don’t agree on every little thing, but they do agree on this portfolio advice: if they can’t figure out who you are and what you do in less than 60 seconds, they’re moving on to someone else.

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128 - How to Become a Creative Director — with Adam Morgan Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

What do you think it means to be a creative director? It’s not a trick question. Take a moment to think about it.

What does a creative director do exactly? What skills do they need to do it?

You might think that being a great creative director is all about honing your craft and having a creative vision for your work. In other words, it’s all about you and your creative decisions. But is that true?

This episode comes from a livestream we held in early 2019. It’s all about answering the question: how do you become a creative director? And it comes from good authority.

Our guest, Adam Morgan, is an Executive Creative Director at Adobe. Adam outlines nine steps to take on the path to becoming a creative director.

And guess what? Eight of them have little to do with the quality of your work.

We won’t spoil anything for you, but we agree with Adam. What makes you a great creative, won’t necessarily make you a great creative director.

So instead of asking, “How do I become a creative director?” The more important question might be, “Is this the right path for me?”

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127 - Quantity Leads to Quality — with Herbert Lui Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

When you hear the term “side hustle”, how does it make you feel?

Maybe you get excited and think of that one thing you’re passionate about. Or maybe it sends a cringe-filled chill down your spine.

We ask because this episode’s guest, Herbert Lui, really hates that phrase. And he’s not alone.

You may recall our conversation with Austin Kleon where he shared his own contempt for that same term.

When it comes to words and language, nuance is everything. Two people can say the exact same thing, yet each mean something quite different. That important nuance is often amplified in writing.

One person’s hustle, is another person’s cringe.

Herbert Lui is a writer and the editorial director at WonderShuttle.

If you’re an avid reader—and a Kanye West fan—then you may have already read some of his work.

He is the author of the unique ebook, The World According to Kanye. It’s really interesting and also free to read, so check it out when you get a chance.

What we enjoyed most about the conversation you’re going to hear is how much it challenged the way we think about creativity. And how important it is to make room for (and be receptive to) other perspectives.

That’s what creativity is, right? Finding unexpected and alternative ways to see things.

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126 - Deep Dive: Guide To Freelancing — with Jonathan Stark Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

Do you know the difference between a freelancer and a small business owner? We won’t spoil it for you, but there is an important mindset distinction. And it can change everything about the way you do business.

In tis deep dive episode, we talk with former software developer and author, Jonathan Stark. If you’re a long time follower of The Futur, then you’ll recognize that name.

Jonathan’s mission is to rid the world of hourly billing. And in this Q&A session, he explains how you can do that. Transcend the hired gun, competing on price, and become someone who’s paid for the quality of their ideas.

Jonathan also fields other questions about how to find new leads, figuring out who you should market to, and the pros and cons of specializing.

If you’re raking it in and loving life, then give this a casual listen. But the rest of us should listen more carefully and use these free nuggets of knowledge to help our creative business pursuits.

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125 - Find Your Creative Courage — with Mario Quezada Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear — not absence of fear.” This poignant quote from Mark Twain taps into the theme of this episode: grit. As in fortitude, guts, backbone

Think about the most accomplished people that you admire. What drives them? What is that endless source of fuel that keeps their fire burning? Especially through the darkest and coldest of nights.

Our guest today, Mario Quezada, is a brand strategist and owner of a small design and branding agency in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is also an alumni of Art Center College of Art and Design. The same prestigious design school that Chris Do attended.

In this episode, Mario and Chris talk about their experience growing up, feeling lost, and dealing with the ugly racism that the world showed them.

They also swap stories about their unique experience at Art Center. The culture, the smell of the building, and the teachers that challenged their thinking and opened their mind to the possibilities of graphic design.

Like Mr. Twain said: courage is resistance to fear. It builds character. And in this candid conversation, you’ll get to hear how two people navigate that fear. And how showing courage through it all got them to where they are today.

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124 - Deep Dive: Pricing Creative Work — with Michael Janda Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

This deep dive episode comes from a livestream we held way back in 2019 on The Futur’s YouTube channel.

Our guest, Michael Janda, is the author of the best-selling book Burn Your Portfolio. He’s also a seasoned ad agency executive who helps creative entrepreneurs make more money with less stress.

In this episode, we aim our focus on pricing creative work. A topic that every creative professional has struggles with. Michael walks you through a step by step process on how to price your work and how to parse all the variables that come with it. Things like production cost, market value, and client budget, to name a few.

If you ever find yourself lost in the bidding process or pulling numbers out of thin air, then get ready to get schooled. Because you’re about to get a crash course in pricing creative work.

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123 - How to Position Your Agency — with Jason Harris Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

Have you ever heard someone say that an idea “has legs”? What they mean is that the idea can endure and stay relevant over time. Because that’s what good ideas do—they stick around.

Jason Harris is the CEO and co-founder of acclaimed ad agency, Mekanism. They do fantastic and progressive work for some of the best clients around. Brands like Peleton, Jose Cuervo, and Ben & Jerry’s.

As a seasoned ad man, Jason knows a good idea when he sees it. And he knows how to present that idea to a client while be a true collaborator in the process.

In this episode, Jason shares what he’s learned from running an agency for over 15 years. He talks about the power of branding, building community, and why great storytelling is at the heart of his agency’s success.

It’s not often we get to speak with people in Jason’s shoes. If you work at agency—or aspire to start your own some day—then pay attention to this one. Because to survive and thrive, it takes more than just putting out great work.

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