

The Futur with Chris Do
The Futur
The Futur Podcast is a show that explores the interesting overlap between design, marketing, and business. Our host (and CEO of The Futur), Chris Do, hold candid conversations with inspirational people from the worlds of design, technology, marketing, business, philosophy and personal development. These conversations go deep. With the aim of understanding who these incredible people are, what drives them to do what they do, and what can we--the listener--learn from it all. Visit thefutur.com/podcast for show notes and additional information from each episode.
Episodes
Mentioned books

45 snips
Feb 22, 2023 • 1h
229 - Don’t trade time for money — with Paco de Leon
Paco de Leon, author of "Finance for the People" and founder of Hell Yeah Bookkeeping, empowers creatives with financial wisdom. They dive into the shift from scarcity to growth mindset, urging artists to redefine their relationship with money. Paco shares insights on value-based pricing, encouraging independence from traditional hourly rates. The discussion touches on the emotional aspects of financial management, emphasizing the importance of regular financial check-ins and the need for better financial literacy among creative professionals.

6 snips
Feb 15, 2023 • 49min
228 - Boredom is the key to creativity (Part 2)
Boredom is often misunderstood as laziness, but it can be a catalyst for creativity. The discussion explores the connection between boredom and productivity, encouraging moments of stillness for personal growth. It highlights the need to embrace intentional downtime and separate self-worth from constant achievement. By challenging societal norms around productivity, boredom can spark valuable insights and creative breakthroughs. Personal anecdotes underscore the delicate balance between reflection and the pressures of a busy lifestyle.

24 snips
Feb 8, 2023 • 59min
227 - Boredom is the key to creativity (Part 1)
Mo Ismail, a business owner focused on scaling his team, joins for a deep dive into creativity and productivity. They discuss how boredom fuels innovative thinking and the danger of busywork that fills schedules without adding value. Chris shares management strategies like time audits and effective delegation to enhance team output. The conversation also touches on asserting personal boundaries and the importance of fostering a culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. Embracing idleness may just be the secret ingredient to elevate one's business.

22 snips
Feb 1, 2023 • 1h 6min
226 - How affiliate marketing works — with Jacob Cass
Jacob Cass, founder of the branding agency JustCreative, shares his expertise in affiliate marketing and SEO. He emphasizes the importance of search over social media for lasting business success, encouraging bloggers to harness affiliate marketing for client attraction. Jacob explains strategies for creating authoritative content that Google loves and discusses the comparative benefits of active versus passive income. He also highlights the potential of affiliate marketing during events like Black Friday, calling for transparency and genuine product recommendations.

29 snips
Jan 25, 2023 • 1h 26min
225 - Energy is everything — with Simon Ong
In this engaging discussion, Simon Ong, a personal development entrepreneur and author of 'Energize', dives into the transformative power of energy management. He emphasizes that productivity transcends mere time efficiency; without energy, results falter. Simon shares practical strategies like planning ahead and prioritizing rest. He highlights the importance of maintaining gratitude and positive energy, particularly amidst challenges, and reflects on balancing personal goals with the demands of life, reminding us all to be our own Chief Energy Officer.

Jan 18, 2023 • 45min
224 - Feelings are unreliable (Part 2) — with Chris Do
Nidhi Tewari, a therapist specializing in emotions and decision-making, and Mo Ismail, a mindfulness practitioner, dive deep into the intricate dance between feelings and choices. They discuss the necessity of embracing a full emotional spectrum, emphasizing that both positive and negative feelings enhance self-awareness. The duo unpacks the tension between data and intuition in decisions, particularly for entrepreneurs, encouraging listeners to find a balance. Ultimately, they argue for the importance of processing emotions to achieve clarity and better decision-making.

Jan 11, 2023 • 58min
223 - Feelings are unreliable (Part 1) — with Chris Do, Nidhi Tewari, Mo Ismail
In this discussion, Chris Do is joined by Nidhi Tewari, a contributor focusing on the balance of logic and emotion, and Mo Ismail, who shares his personal decision-making insights. They tackle the tug-of-war between emotional instincts and rational thought in business. Chris elaborates on his karmic equity scale and personal stories of deviating from logic. The trio also explores corporate ethics and the responsibilities of leaders during financial struggles, emphasizing the need for integrating emotions into decision-making.

8 snips
Jan 4, 2023 • 1h 6min
222 - The art of PR — with Lucy Werner
Lucy Werner, a public relations expert and founder of The Wern, shares her insight on the art of PR. She discusses the transformative power of effective communication and how to align PR strategies with business goals. Nostalgically reflecting on vintage marketing tools, she emphasizes modern storytelling and authentic engagement. Lucy also highlights the importance of personal branding and offers practical tips for impactful headshots and bios, encouraging entrepreneurs to view themselves as magazines in the digital landscape.

21 snips
Dec 28, 2022 • 1h
221 - Making sense of YouTube — with Benji Travis and Tom Ross
Benji Travis, a seasoned YouTuber and influencer coach, teams up with Tom Ross, CEO of designcuts.com, to unravel the secrets of YouTube success. They dive into the platform's evolution, emphasizing its value beyond mere entertainment. The duo discusses the art of storytelling, the significance of engaging titles and thumbnails, and how to leverage YouTube's search capabilities. They also highlight the importance of setting clear goals and building trust through educational content, paving the way for meaningful connections with audiences.

11 snips
Dec 14, 2022 • 58min
219 - Trust your gut (Part 1) — with Chris Do
Entrepreneur Mo Ismail shares his quest for guidance in decision-making, navigating the tricky landscape of balancing service work with course creation. Mental health therapist Nidhi Tewari emphasizes the role of intuition shaped by early experiences, discussing how gut feelings can influence personal and business choices. They delve into the nuances of instinct versus data-driven decisions, explore the psychological impacts of confirmation bias, and highlight the necessity of integrating intuition for effective leadership.