• #fridayintroductions time, brand visuals edition. As I prepped for my all day brand shoot last month, my brand evolved in ways I never imagined I muted the color trends and advice on what the cool kids were doing. I turned off tech and yes, that included no Pinterest until I had a clear direction nailed Curating a years worth of props and planning gave me a great start but the answers were so much deeper, intertwined with history, legacy and story. The images clients have reflected back to me in their feedback, and innovations that surfaced in market gaps. And like all things creative, one day it clicked and fell together and I looked at my little creative business and cried. It carried a bit of my Dad (he built templates of wood, I build them of words and pixels), my Mom (she’s woven throughout just like she was in real life), my geography and quirks and dreams, the old world interior Florida of antiques, springs and literature, hospitality and gardens and oranges for as long as the eye can see, well-storied hidden coastlines, places far off the tourist map, classic and timeless and yes, a French touch or two (can’t wait to visit again) - If you had to create a board with just images and items that reflected the heart of your brand story, what would be on it? Tell me in the comments and if you make it and post it pretty please tag me so I can cheer you on - #mycreativecommunity #savvybusinessowner #smallbizsquad #herestothecreatives #imperfectboss #brandstorytelling #storybrand #creativecommunication #effectivecommunication #copywritingforcreatives #communicationstrategy #brandcommunication #visualstrategy #verbalstrategy #wordsthatwork #whybehindthewhat #risingtidesociety #storymatters #communicationsstrategy #designedtothrivecreative #purposemeetsprofit #creativedirection #creativedirector #daringgreatly #wearethecreativeeconomy #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #brandvisuals
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    #fridayintroductions time, brand visuals edition. As I prepped for my all day brand shoot last month, my brand evolved in ways I never imagined I muted the color trends and advice on what the cool kids were doing. I turned off tech and yes, that included no Pinterest until I had a clear direction nailed Curating a years worth of props and planning gave me a great start but the answers were so much deeper, intertwined with history, legacy and story. The images clients have reflected back to me in their feedback, and innovations that surfaced in market gaps. And like all things creative, one day it clicked and fell together and I looked at my little creative business and cried. It carried a bit of my Dad (he built templates of wood, I build them of words and pixels), my Mom (she’s woven throughout just like she was in real life), my geography and quirks and dreams, the old world interior Florida of antiques, springs and literature, hospitality and gardens and oranges for as long as the eye can see, well-storied hidden coastlines, places far off the tourist map, classic and timeless and yes, a French touch or two (can’t wait to visit again) - If you had to create a board with just images and items that reflected the heart of your brand story, what would be on it? Tell me in the comments and if you make it and post it pretty please tag me so I can cheer you on - #mycreativecommunity #savvybusinessowner #smallbizsquad #herestothecreatives #imperfectboss #brandstorytelling #storybrand #creativecommunication #effectivecommunication #copywritingforcreatives #communicationstrategy #brandcommunication #visualstrategy #verbalstrategy #wordsthatwork #whybehindthewhat #risingtidesociety #storymatters #communicationsstrategy #designedtothrivecreative #purposemeetsprofit #creativedirection #creativedirector #daringgreatly #wearethecreativeeconomy #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #brandvisuals
  • Y'all, @kait_masters tireless example of advocacy (she contacted me to tell me about a possible opportunity to get vaccine access in my state that was shut down in hours due to our state's current policies... ) and @drtatonetti's encouragement in the DMs got me thinking, our voices are needed now, not when it someday becomes magically convenient. So I did something show-up-in-the-dang-arena brave, to lean on @brenebrown's incredible Netflix special for terminology. I stayed up way past my should-be bedtime to write this letter. And I sent a version of it to one of our local stations. Fingers crossed. I have no idea if it will get seen or picked up. But if you'd like something easy you can do that will be enormously helpful, please share it with anyone who might listen, especially in the media. Literally, anyone with an inbox and influence who might be concerned enough to bring light to what is going on in order to help those most at risk have early vaccine access and priority to have the most effective and protective vaccines, currently by Pfizer or Moderna. I don't care if they talk to me specifically. I just want them to talk about the issues in a way that moves the needle for those affected by them. I chose to go straight to the media because the history of how the pandemic has been (mis)handled here in Florida, makes it likely that writing state leaders would be ineffective in causing change. You might have more of a chance writing to your leaders if you don't live in Florida, so give that a go too. Thank you in advance for sharing this. * * * * * #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #inthearena #daringgreatly #dobravethings #covidvaccinediscrimination #ableism #covidvaccine #ableist #creativeandchronicallyill
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    Y'all, @kait_masters tireless example of advocacy (she contacted me to tell me about a possible opportunity to get vaccine access in my state that was shut down in hours due to our state's current policies... ) and @drtatonetti's encouragement in the DMs got me thinking, our voices are needed now, not when it someday becomes magically convenient. So I did something show-up-in-the-dang-arena brave, to lean on @brenebrown's incredible Netflix special for terminology. I stayed up way past my should-be bedtime to write this letter. And I sent a version of it to one of our local stations. Fingers crossed. I have no idea if it will get seen or picked up. But if you'd like something easy you can do that will be enormously helpful, please share it with anyone who might listen, especially in the media. Literally, anyone with an inbox and influence who might be concerned enough to bring light to what is going on in order to help those most at risk have early vaccine access and priority to have the most effective and protective vaccines, currently by Pfizer or Moderna. I don't care if they talk to me specifically. I just want them to talk about the issues in a way that moves the needle for those affected by them. I chose to go straight to the media because the history of how the pandemic has been (mis)handled here in Florida, makes it likely that writing state leaders would be ineffective in causing change. You might have more of a chance writing to your leaders if you don't live in Florida, so give that a go too. Thank you in advance for sharing this. * * * * * #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #inthearena #daringgreatly #dobravethings #covidvaccinediscrimination #ableism #covidvaccine #ableist #creativeandchronicallyill
  • To all my currently single sisters, To all of you who haven’t yet found the right soulmate for your journey, to you who have been rejected, who learned too early that trusting can be dangerous. To you who have walked through the wasteland of betrayal and abuse. To you who have lived through the dark night of loss. To you that have had your hearts and your worlds split open by grief, by goodbyes that never should have come that soon— or at all. To my sisters who are overwhelmed by aloneness and the happy pictures of other people living your dreams filling your feeds. Beloved if you were ever told you need another person to complete you, it just isn’t true. You don’t need another half to become who you are meant to be. I’m 43. And my story is a little weird... like all of our stories. I have never been on a date. Any marriage proposals came with offers of cattle overseas. People told me for years, to put myself out there, believe harder, manifest more, someday my prince would come. He still might. But he better be ok with a woman with strong edges, who knows who she is. Falling in love takes time and emotional energy and another person’s heart isn’t anything to be taken lightly. At 43, I’m learning it is perfectly OK to say I just don’t have space for that right now. I’m happy that my “prince” has four paws and a tail. If the right person walks into my world, I am also open to exploring what that looks like at some point in the future But not because I need that person to complete me. Or fix my world. Or give me worth. Loving someone else in a way that might lead to a forever after starts by learning to love myself right now. You are enough. You are seen + deeply loved right where you are - #wordnerd #storykeys #thrivecontentco #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirectiondesign
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    To all my currently single sisters, To all of you who haven’t yet found the right soulmate for your journey, to you who have been rejected, who learned too early that trusting can be dangerous. To you who have walked through the wasteland of betrayal and abuse. To you who have lived through the dark night of loss. To you that have had your hearts and your worlds split open by grief, by goodbyes that never should have come that soon— or at all. To my sisters who are overwhelmed by aloneness and the happy pictures of other people living your dreams filling your feeds. Beloved if you were ever told you need another person to complete you, it just isn’t true. You don’t need another half to become who you are meant to be. I’m 43. And my story is a little weird... like all of our stories. I have never been on a date. Any marriage proposals came with offers of cattle overseas. People told me for years, to put myself out there, believe harder, manifest more, someday my prince would come. He still might. But he better be ok with a woman with strong edges, who knows who she is. Falling in love takes time and emotional energy and another person’s heart isn’t anything to be taken lightly. At 43, I’m learning it is perfectly OK to say I just don’t have space for that right now. I’m happy that my “prince” has four paws and a tail. If the right person walks into my world, I am also open to exploring what that looks like at some point in the future But not because I need that person to complete me. Or fix my world. Or give me worth. Loving someone else in a way that might lead to a forever after starts by learning to love myself right now. You are enough. You are seen + deeply loved right where you are - #wordnerd #storykeys #thrivecontentco #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirectiondesign
  • When @abbygracephoto said she wanted to make sure to capture the fact I had crutches, I hesitated for half a nanosecond TBH I’ve grown comfortable not sharing that part of my story in zoom world. Growing up, it defined me. Everything I achieved was *extra* because I had one leg. Can't do that has always been an invitation to watch me I was born with birth defects that wracked up 20+ surgeries by the time I was a tween. In my 20s-30s I started + ran a children's work in a conflict zone in Africa + raised 7 figures for its growth and operation while I was there. Spoken to 1000s internationally, danced on a national stage in C Asia, + then stepped away from it all to care for my health + parents. Built a business around stationery + design, then a car accident injured my wrist + my brain, costing me what I had worked so hard for. I decided if I was going to start from scratch all over again it had to be something I loved more than everything I lost. Now I’m 43 + doing just that in the face of invisible odds I didn’t have before. My brain no longer lets me speed read or obsess for hours over pixel placement in design. But nothing I have learned doing that will be wasted. My wrist no longer lets me do fine detailed lettering work, but I’m not giving up on paint. Writing + finding words for me is no longer like flying. Now it’s battered fingers clinging to a rock face I'm free climbing without ropes. Dreaming is dangerous. You fall on your face 1000 times, but get up 1001. Yes, it's scary + hard. But dang it the world needs what you’ve got. The world needs your dream. So don’t you give up. Small steps still lead to big dreams - Shout out to my friend @ashlynscarter who played the long game on her dreams + just landed a fabulous feature by @heystephanieburns in @Forbes this week. Be encouraged here: http://ashlynwrites.com/forbes - #wordnerd #storykeys #thrivecontentco #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #risingtidesociety #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #wearethecreativeeconomy #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection
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    When @abbygracephoto said she wanted to make sure to capture the fact I had crutches, I hesitated for half a nanosecond TBH I’ve grown comfortable not sharing that part of my story in zoom world. Growing up, it defined me. Everything I achieved was *extra* because I had one leg. "Can't do that" has always been an invitation to "watch me" I was born with birth defects that wracked up 20+ surgeries by the time I was a tween. In my 20s-30s I started + ran a children's work in a conflict zone in Africa + raised 7 figures for its growth and operation while I was there. Spoken to 1000s internationally, danced on a national stage in C Asia, + then stepped away from it all to care for my health + parents. Built a business around stationery + design, then a car accident injured my wrist + my brain, costing me what I had worked so hard for. I decided if I was going to start from scratch all over again it had to be something I loved more than everything I lost. Now I’m 43 + doing just that in the face of invisible odds I didn’t have before. My brain no longer lets me speed read or obsess for hours over pixel placement in design. But nothing I have learned doing that will be wasted. My wrist no longer lets me do fine detailed lettering work, but I’m not giving up on paint. Writing + finding words for me is no longer like flying. Now it’s battered fingers clinging to a rock face I'm free climbing without ropes. Dreaming is dangerous. You fall on your face 1000 times, but get up 1001. Yes, it's scary + hard. But dang it the world needs what you’ve got. The world needs your dream. So don’t you give up. Small steps still lead to big dreams - Shout out to my friend @ashlynscarter who played the long game on her dreams + just landed a fabulous feature by @heystephanieburns in @Forbes this week. Be encouraged here: http://ashlynwrites.com/forbes - #wordnerd #storykeys #thrivecontentco #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #risingtidesociety #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #wearethecreativeeconomy #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection
  • Well I couldn’t think of a better photo that says: hey world, it’s #fridayintroductions time! I’m Michele, a content strategist, creative director and marketing educator with a passion for great communication, @flodesk emails, creativity, and nerdy books. If learning was a love language, it definitely would be mine. Right up there with coffee. So, there’s a LOT of noise out there to be heard over. If you ever feel less than confident when it comes to where to start or how to organize all the content that you know you need, you aren’t alone. But you don’t have to figure it out on your own, especially when the DIY route starts to imitate trying to tackle Mt. Everest in flip-flops. I'm the friend who puts coffee on and pulls up a chair to walk you through the content tools and tactics you need to build a values-driven business that thrives with strategy and heart. You don’t have to go it alone. I never in a million years would have thought to put a stack of books on my head and take a picture. But it couldn’t be more perfect. THAT’s why you need a branding photographer that understands storytelling just as much as photography. This photo features a few favorite books artfully captured by the one and only @abbygracephoto who also gave me a crash course in book balancing for free. So grateful for this last week! Now, tell me about you... comment below or shoot me a DM... if you could put one book on your head and learn by a magic download, what book would it be? I really want to know! - #wordnerd #storykeys #thrivecontentco #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection
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    Well I couldn’t think of a better photo that says: hey world, it’s #fridayintroductions time! I’m Michele, a content strategist, creative director and marketing educator with a passion for great communication, @flodesk emails, creativity, and nerdy books. If learning was a love language, it definitely would be mine. Right up there with coffee. So, there’s a LOT of noise out there to be heard over. If you ever feel less than confident when it comes to where to start or how to organize all the content that you know you need, you aren’t alone. But you don’t have to figure it out on your own, especially when the DIY route starts to imitate trying to tackle Mt. Everest in flip-flops. I'm the friend who puts coffee on and pulls up a chair to walk you through the content tools and tactics you need to build a values-driven business that thrives with strategy and heart. You don’t have to go it alone. I never in a million years would have thought to put a stack of books on my head and take a picture. But it couldn’t be more perfect. THAT’s why you need a branding photographer that understands storytelling just as much as photography. This photo features a few favorite books artfully captured by the one and only @abbygracephoto who also gave me a crash course in book balancing for free. So grateful for this last week! Now, tell me about you... comment below or shoot me a DM... if you could put one book on your head and learn by a magic download, what book would it be? I really want to know! - #wordnerd #storykeys #thrivecontentco #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection
  • When you wake to a house filled with light and props post most-epic all-day branding shoot ever with @abbygracephoto and her pup-whispering assistant @tiffanyamcclure... You of *course* grab your camera and the gorgeous 🍊🍊🍊oranges complete with leaves my amazing friend @brandygracephotography artfully picked and overnighted so they could waltz in stage right just on time and steal the show, along with florals by @loriparkerfloralstudios... hi 🙋🏻‍♀️ if you need me I’ll be over here lost in endless color details. But seriously. The photos are going to be incredible. But the value of investing in the right brand photographer who happens to have the soul of an artist, mind of a strategist, and the storytelling skills of a creative director on top of being the incredible photographer she is... it goes so much deeper than just the pictures. I am walking away with a better understanding of my own brand because of the process I went through to prepare and being able to see my business through another professional’s lens. Pun totally intended. 📸 One of the many takeaways (takeaways you will probably be hearing about for months to come) was the reminder that: Pretty doesn’t make a photo brand worthy, purpose does. ** drops mic ** Confession... I love pretty. Everything. But pretty without purpose doesn’t make the cut for intentionally telling your brand story. It has to have a purpose, or it’s visual clutter and it won’t move your business forward. I’ve shared that with clients, but dang it I get image tipsy and don’t always apply the same curation standards to my own business. Say it with me & let’s remind each other: Pretty doesn’t make a photo brand worthy, purpose does. (Photo by me, today) * * * #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #visualstrategy #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection #thrivecontentco
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    When you wake to a house filled with light and props post most-epic all-day branding shoot ever with @abbygracephoto and her pup-whispering assistant @tiffanyamcclure... You of *course* grab your camera and the gorgeous 🍊🍊🍊oranges complete with leaves my amazing friend @brandygracephotography artfully picked and overnighted so they could waltz in stage right just on time and steal the show, along with florals by @loriparkerfloralstudios... hi 🙋🏻‍♀️ if you need me I’ll be over here lost in endless color details. But seriously. The photos are going to be incredible. But the value of investing in the right brand photographer who happens to have the soul of an artist, mind of a strategist, and the storytelling skills of a creative director on top of being the incredible photographer she is... it goes so much deeper than just the pictures. I am walking away with a better understanding of my own brand because of the process I went through to prepare and being able to see my business through another professional’s lens. Pun totally intended. 📸 One of the many takeaways (takeaways you will probably be hearing about for months to come) was the reminder that: Pretty doesn’t make a photo brand worthy, purpose does. ** drops mic ** Confession... I love pretty. Everything. But pretty without purpose doesn’t make the cut for intentionally telling your brand story. It has to have a purpose, or it’s visual clutter and it won’t move your business forward. I’ve shared that with clients, but dang it I get image tipsy and don’t always apply the same curation standards to my own business. Say it with me & let’s remind each other: Pretty doesn’t make a photo brand worthy, purpose does. (Photo by me, today) * * * #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #visualstrategy #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection #thrivecontentco