The Creative Cartel

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Are You Practicing Safe AI? In the ever-evolving landscape of business and personal endeavors, AI is rapidly gaining momentum as an ally, or even personal-assistant empowering innovation, streamlining processes, and unlock new possibilities. However, with great power comes great responsibility. In a world where data is abundant and algorithms are omnipresent, being smart and safe with AI isn't just a suggestion—it's a necessity. It's about respecting privacy, mitigating biases, and prioritizing ethical considerations in every decision. Let's be smart. Let's be safe. Let's protect human creativity and ingenuity. Otherwise, we’ll all get lazy and end up living the end of Wall-E. (only half kidding) #AI #EthicalAI #Innovation #TheCreativeCartel #SmartUsage #SafeUsage #ThoughtfulTechnology

7 Facts about Earth Day: 1. Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, founded Earth Day in 1970 to raise public consciousness about environmental concerns such as pollution, oil spills and vanishing wildlife. He tapped into the energy of the anti-war movement, framing Earth Day as a “national teach-in on the environment.” 2. April 22 was chosen as the date for Earth Day because it fell between spring break and final exams, and organizers wanted to maximize student involvement. 3. Twenty million Americans, or about 10 percent of the country’s population at the time, took part in events and demonstrations on the first Earth Day. 4. The first Earth Day pushed environmental concerns onto the national agenda. That same year, Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 5. The first Earth Day in 1970 inspired the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts, according to the EPA. 6. The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. 7. Around 1 billion people take part in Earth Day activities around the world every year.

"Stories are memorable because of the images and emotions contained in the story ... The lesson of the story sticks because it’s embedded in an image. The image isn’t a still picture; it’s a motion picture, a movie. While you’re listening to a story, you’re simultaneously watching the story on the movie screen in your mind, in your imagination. Furthermore, a motion picture – a movie – works better than a still picture image." - Doug Stevenson Corporate Storytelling in Business Expert It's a consumers that people remember stories, but not facts. They are bombarded by facts all day and all night. Computers, phones, POS, billboards, print ads (yup, occasionally still in the mix), spam calls and email. The only way you can survive is by ignoring all the voices people are trying to put in your head. But a good story, images and words that paint a picture that you actually want to see and hear ... that's what people connect with, pay attention to and -- most important -- respond to. There needs to be emotion connected to your brand and offer, or there isn't any reason to embrace it. You can try as hard as you want to sell what you're selling by forcing facts on people. And things that matter to you and your company. But if you want that proverbial home run ... you need to start selling what people are buying. They're not looking for a surfactant to remove dirty, oils and contaminants from their skin. They want a nice soap that will leave them feeling clean and smelling wonderful. And while a motor head may be totally into a robust 4.0-liter V8 supercharged engine, delivering an exhilarating 550 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. Your potential buyer may just want a sexy new car that will turn heads and let everyone know she's made it in life the second she pulls into her 20th high school reunion. We tell stories that consumers want to hear. Stories they want to be part of. What's your brand's story?

Want to Restore Your Faith in Humanity? It only takes 2 minutes and 29 seconds. During a recent "Moments in the Mission" production for Navy Federal Credit Union, we encountered another extraordinary person. His thoughtfulness and empathy reminding us of the good in the world. Originally, we set out to capture one story, but as the interview unfolded, a powerful, unexpected narrative emerged, leading us to two remarkable videos. The video shared here touched everyone on set—many of us swallowing hard or removing invisible dust from our eyes. Collaborating with our client Michelle Schoening, a remarkably talented creative, and directing this video series takes effort, but doesn’t feel like work. It reinforces how rewarding it is when people are passionate about their work and genuinely care for others. An important reminder of how wonderful the world can be. https://lnkd.in/e_SeHRuY

Want to Restore Your Faith in Humanity? It only takes 2 minutes and 29 seconds. During a recent "Moments in the Mission" production for Navy Federal Credit Union, we encountered another extraordinary person. His thoughtfulness and empathy reminding us of the good in the world. Originally, we set out to capture one story, but as the interview unfolded, a powerful, unexpected narrative emerged, leading us to two remarkable videos. The video shared here touched everyone on set—many of us swallowing hard or removing invisible dust from our eyes. Collaborating with our client Michelle Schoening, a remarkably talented creative, and directing this video series takes effort, but doesn’t feel like work. It reinforces how rewarding it is when people are passionate about their work and genuinely care for others. An important reminder of how wonderful the world can be. https://lnkd.in/e_SeHRuY

A very shooty Friday.

'Thanks' go out to Cade Martin for the reminder that we are not our own rulers in this business. https://lnkd.in/eCVuzjyq

Understanding Your Audience in a Desert of Demand In the vast landscape of today’s marketplace, where options are as plentiful as grains of sand in a desert, the key to quenching your audience's thirst lies not just in what you're offering, but in understanding exactly what they are searching for. It's not always the abundance of choices that matter, but the relevancy of the option provided at the precise moment of need. Today, your brand's strength is measured not by the volume of your voice, but by the clarity with which you listen to and understand the needs of your audience. The essence of a successful brand lies in its ability to be the beacon of relief in the consumer's most dire moments, to offer the exact solution they need – when they need it most. You must shift your focus from selling to serving, to listening intently to the narratives of those you aim to serve BEFORE telling them your story. Understanding the consumer goes beyond demographics and purchasing patterns; it's about empathizing with their challenges, recognizing their immediate needs, and providing solutions that resonate with their current reality. Insights are more valuable than facts. Success means committing to being the brand that doesn't just fill the shelves with options but fills a gap in the consumer's life with meaningful solutions. In the desert of demand, the most precious resource isn't your product; it's your ability to understand and quench the consumer's thirst. #paradoxofchoice #branding #advertising #TheCreativeCartel #understandingtheconsumer  

Through our work with Navy Federal Credit Union, we have the pleasure of working with many active-duty soldiers, Veterans, their families and the people who make them all part of their important mission. So, we couldn't pass up the chance to offer even more help where it's truly needed. We're doing the hard part (laying down a minimum of 400 miles on motorcycle during the month of April). We invite you to join in the easy part: contributing to a very important cause, which you can do here: https://lnkd.in/e8dy5tGj