Last episode, we approached the topic of having a team of advisors from a business perspective. Having advisors in your personal life is just as important, but looking at this topic from a personal perspective brings a whole new set of considerations. Owning a business demands having multiple people on your roster to handle different issues, and the same is true for your personal life. Identifying who to turn to for what issues, and knowing the difference between needing solutions and needing to be heard, are the first steps to securing a rock solid personal counsel. This episode, we discuss what we look for when identifying our own personal advisors, and why having a paid advisor who’s a good fit is just as important in your personal life as it is for your business.

For a lot of business owners, it can be hard to let go of the idea that you can do it all. However, as your business grows, there reaches a point where you shouldn’t be doing it all, and instead should be utilizing a team of advisors. In-house or outsourced, having a team of advisors you can turn to is a necessary investment for the health of your business (and your sanity). This could look like hiring an employee who will take on tedious admin tasks you struggle to make time for, or signing a contractor to handle big picture things, like accounting or IT infrastructure, that are outside of your wheelhouse. This episode, we discuss how we built our own teams of advisors, what we trust them with, and why you shouldn’t wait for a crisis to put together your own team.

For more than twenty years, Origami Rehabilitation has trusted Render Studios with capturing the stories of those affected by neurological conditions with compassion and nuance. Through this long-standing partnership, Render has mastered carefully navigating the intersection of marketing and human stories, and the ability to find a unique angle year after year to highlight the transformative impact of Origami’s work on their patients and their families. This week, we apply a case study lens to Render’s work with Origami, and explore the intricacies of maintaining a decades-long client relationship and the creative challenges that come with it. Join us as we chat about Render’s process for delivering fresh, engaging content that remains true to Origami Rehabilitation’s mission and values and examine the conditions needed for such lasting partnerships To learn more about Render’s work with Origami Rehabilitation, check out this case study: https://www.renderstudios.com/portfolio/origami

Setting expectations for your team is a crucial task. However, in our current work environment where the playbook seems ever-evolving, that process can seem easier said than done. For many business owners in the creative industry, defining these expectations comes with a boatload of questions — what should they encompass? Which expectations are outdated, and which need to be reiterated? How do we strike a balance between flexibility and productivity? This week, we discuss where we find ourselves in this ongoing process. Join us as we explore the nuances of expectation-setting in this new era, and why clear communication is the key to getting you and your team on the same page.

Tight marketing budgets are a reality for many organizations, including nonprofits and advocacy groups. Clients like these operate with limited resources, yet they play a vital role in addressing societal issues, driving change, and raising awareness about important causes. Oftentimes, when nonprofits and advocacy organizations struggle with ineffective marketing strategies, their biggest hurdle is how they approach marketing, rather than the budget they have to do it. For mission-based organizations, their marketing strategy is the connective tissue that furthers their efforts. Whether their goal is greater visibility, fundraising, coalition building, or volunteer recruiting, a strategic approach to communication is necessary for accomplishing their mission. In this episode, we talk about the common mistakes nonprofits and advocacy organizations make with their approach to marketing, and how they can develop an effective marketing strategy, even with financial constraints.

What do you do when you want to spread the word about free money for college to quite literally every graduating high school student in the state? A large-scale public awareness campaign with some pretty creative tactics, of course. This episode, we’re diving into a case study on The Michigan Achievement Scholarship campaign — a multi-modal marketing campaign complete with videos, billboards, mailers, social media, and more aimed at spreading the word about postsecondary education funding. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is a new source of funding launched in 2023 designed to help recent graduates from high schools in Michigan pay for college or continuing education. Eligible students could receive financial aid to attend a college or university with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, or for a career training program with the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship. Alongside the client leading this drive, Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), Redhead crafted a campaign that would drive audiences to take action, and Render produced some effective videos to drive these efforts. We discuss how strategic messaging, design, and videography converged to appeal to young audiences, simplify a somewhat-dense concept and make this campaign a success. Links: The Michigan Achievement Scholarship https://getmimoney.org/ Michigan College Access Network:

Navigating the complexities of caregiving for aging parents is an endeavor fraught with uncertainty and emotion. It's a journey that often catches us off guard, forcing us to confront the profound responsibility of guiding our parents through end-of-life care. In this episode, we delve into our personal experiences with aging parents, reflecting on the hurdles faced and lessons learned. From grappling with difficult medical decisions to finding the right support systems, we discuss the steps we wish we’d taken to prepare and share the candid realities of being members of the sandwich generation.

For better or worse, sometimes we are our job, or our brand, or our leadership role…you get the picture. When you’re in a situation where your job isn’t something you put down at the end of the day and walk away from, what does that mean in terms of work-life balance? If you’re in a position where your job follows you into the other aspects of your life, it could be helpful to view your job not as your life, but rather as your lifestyle. In this episode, we talk about when wearing many hats at once means a traditional approach to work-life balance doesn’t make sense, and the benefits that come from viewing your work as a lifestyle, rather than just a job.

Founded by David Such and Larry Bass in 2008, ScrapFest is a Lansing art festival that brings together artists from around the country to compete in a scrap metal sculpture competition. Earlier this year, Karen’s media production company, Render Studios, premiered their debut ScrapFest documentary. The film highlights various artists and their sculptures from the previous year's festival, offering viewers an immersive exploration into the creative journey of participating artists. For our second entry into our new case study series, we offer a deep dive into the documentary and its filmmaking process. This week, Karen shares what the creative process looks like for such an endeavor, why ScrapFest has a special place in Render’s heart, and the rich narrative potential inherent in documenting the stories of artists.

Whether intentional or not, sometimes a client is disingenuous about the end goals of a project. For whatever reason, they are not upfront with their initial objective, and massage the creative process through nitpicking and endless revisions to achieve an end product that is decidedly different from what was agreed upon. In situations like these, it’s the job of the creative to advocate for their team, and explain to the client why nitpicking creative or playing it safe doesn’t serve their audience, and doesn’t serve their message. This is a tricky situation to be in, and it takes experience to successfully explain to a stubborn client why being upfront allows you to build them the product they need. This week, we share our own experiences with the dreaded client “bait and switch”, and break down how we work towards a successful end goal when confronted with these situations.