1091: Branding SHOULD equal revenue growth! (and how to save the creative industry in the AI world) w/ Joshua Fein

Joshua Fein’s story starts with designing packaging for his college friends’ side hustles and ends with redefining how creative services drive ROI in billion-dollar industries. From Disney to Domino’s to dominating the cannabis sector, Josh has seen firsthand how bold branding and performance-based marketing can scale companies fast. In this episode, he shares how he’s flipping the agency model on its head with his ventures Metafor and Highperbolic—and how YOU can bring more value to your business by focusing on outcomes, not just aesthetics.

Josh drops powerful insights on AI, strategic execution, brand positioning, and the future of creativity—and he does it all with transparency, wit, and a vision for what’s next.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

• 🚀 Why value-based pricing can unlock smarter growth (and bigger client wins)
• 🧠 How to use AI as your personal creative council—not a replacement, but an edge
• 💥 Why branding is about solving problems, not just “looking good”
• 🔥 How Highperbolic’s “pay if you win” model makes marketing a profit center
• 🎯 Why your target market should shape every creative decision you make
• 📦 Why packaging, perception, and positioning matter more than the product
• 💡 The exact mindset shift Josh used to bounce back after losing major clients

📝 About Joshua Fein
Joshua Fein has been selling weed since college—kind of. Before cannabis went mainstream, he was designing packaging for his friends’ ‘entrepreneurial ventures,’ unknowingly kickstarting a career in branding that took him from underground operations to shaping some of the biggest cannabis brands in the world. Over the past decade, he’s worked with Disney, Starbucks, and Domino’s, helping brands evolve, stand out, and sell a whole lot more.

Now, he’s putting his money where his mouth is with Highperbolic—a new venture built on the principle that to the victor go the spoils. With past campaigns driving 30% month-over-month sales growth, adding $600K in monthly revenue, and securing $10M+ in investor funding, Highperbolic flips marketing from an expense into a profit center. In a world where AI, Fiverr, and cheap international labor have commoditized creativity, real value comes from bold, strategic execution that moves the needle—with low upfront costs and profit-sharing incentives to ensure brands only pay for results.

🎯 Josh’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
“Just ask.”
Don’t overthink your pitch or try to appear perfect. Instead, lead with honesty and humility. Whether it’s reaching out to a potential mentor or landing your first client, most people are open to helping—you just have to ask.

📢 Memorable Quotes

“It doesn’t matter how good you are—what matters is how much value you bring back.” – Josh Fein
 “AI isn’t about replacing creativity—it’s about engineering an advantage.” – Josh Fein
 “If your brand doesn’t resonate with your customer, it doesn’t matter how cool it looks.” – Josh Fein

🔗 Links & Resources

• Visit Metafor Design’s Website
• Visit Hyprbolic’s Website
• Connect with Josh on LinkedIn
• Follow Josh on Instagram