SPEAKER_00 0:14

We bring you incredible gifts to share their real life experiences of being an entrepreneur so you can have your whole life work now. Here's your host, Amber Howard.

SPEAKER_02 0:26

Welcome back everyone to What Would Amber Do? It's my real privilege this morning to have Dave Dick on the show. Dave is the creative genius behind Human Folk, a boutique creative agency in Toronto who's focused on end-to-end solutions that solve business problems for brands, businesses, and people. Dave has decades of experience in marketing and in human-centered design, which has included being in a teacher at George Brown College. I'm so thrilled to have you on the show this morning, Dave. Thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Oh, thanks for having me. I'm excited. I love this.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Yeah, and you know, just to give people a little bit of context about my relationship with Dave, I've been coaching Dave for, well, I've known Dave for years. I coached and worked with him in a leadership training program for a personal development company. You know, I've been coaching him in his business for a few months, which has just been a real privilege. And uh now Dave's coaching and supporting me and has been really uh making a huge difference for me in developing myself as a brand for the world. So so great to just have this new way to connect with you and share you with other people, Dave.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

Yeah, thank you. I'm excited to be here today.

SPEAKER_02 1:41

Yeah, really great. So we always kind of start with how did how did we get to today? What's the journey been like for you? And and what had, you know, what had you choose to go into marketing and branding, you know, what what's it been like and and what had you choose to to kind of step out and create human folk?

SPEAKER_01 2:03

Yeah, I think so it it's an interesting story of of change and constant transformation, right? I think um when I when I first started out in this realm of of design and and advertising and marketing, it was very much centered around art. You know, I started out in in you know, creativity and and art, and I loved um sculpture and and drawing and painting. And um my aunt was uh a graphic designer, um, still is a graphic designer. And um it was just kind of a joke that we always had that, you know, as an artist, you can't really make much money until you're dead, um, which was kind of the the you know, all the great artists that I loved were were dead, and and you know, they weren't really big until they were in those museums. So I was like, well, that's really interesting. Well, well, how can I make a difference with my art now? Like, how can I be creative as a job? And you know, she introduced me to graphic design and and I went down that path. And right out of the gate, it it was very much about the creativity. But as I went through the industry, I ended up kind of skewing more in the advertising world. And the advertising world was fast-paced, it was a lot of idea generation. Um, you really had to rely on your creative skills and your instinct to make things happen because businesses were trying to solve problems and they needed big ideas to connect with people. And that always really resonated with me rather than sitting there and developing, you know, a 50-page annual report, um, which I've done as well. And those are fine. Um, but as I as I was in the advertising world, I became more and more interested in the business side of things and became more and more interested in how does creativity actually elevate a business? Um, and you know, even in my time at George Brown College, uh, my teaching even started to skew that way. Was trying to get students into the realm of like, okay, that's great, that's a great typeface, that's a great overall creative work, but how do we actually put that into the market? How does it make a difference for people? How does it create the connection that the business needs? But at the same time, how does it actually transform a result that business people understand? And so as I continued in the industry, it became a real challenge to step into um being a leader in a much bigger context. As a designer, you're kind of always relegated to the back room, you know, the art department, as they used to call it. And I just it never really sat well with me. And at a certain point, I got a job with Shaw Media, which was a very large media company. I think, you know, at one point our team was responsible for 21 brands on television, and we were a very small team. So you had to step into these leadership roles. You had to work in a team of two or three people on a big massive campaign. And so I really got the opportunity there to see the difference that creative thinking and design thinking can make in the in a much grander context. And so at a certain point, I I wanted to lead my own team. And I and I didn't really want to have to earn that in a corporate structure. And um, it kind of it's funny how the universe works. Um, you know, I was in this context of like, I really want to lead my own team, I really want to have my own shop. Um, but you know, I have a I have a four-month-old baby at home, you know, my wife's at home, she's not working, I gotta keep this machine running. And then uh Shaw Media was um acquired by Chorus Entertainment, and they laid off a lot of the senior creative team. And so it's funny how the universe kind of shows up and is just like, oh, here you go, and kicks you out the door. And, you know, Andrea, my wife, was really great. She was like, I want you to do nothing for a month. So I did nothing. I built garden beds in my backyard. I gardened and grew vegetables and I did some art and I worked for a couple clients. And after that, I realized I just didn't want to go and sit in an office for someone else ever again. Um, and I really wanted to kind of forge my own path and be able to make a difference for people in the way I wanted to. And so human folk was born, and that was about three, four years ago, about four years ago. And um from there, it it really is a comeback to that word leadership because now I was the leader. Now I was the head of the whole shebang. And you know, when you're a young person in a corporate structure being like, I want to be at the top, I should have this like grandiose title and everything, then suddenly you have it because you created it for yourself. And I'm like, holy shit, I I need leadership, I need someone to lead me, right? So what I've discovered in this, in you know, in in having my own business is is when you're the leader, you need to cause leaders for yourself, whether that's people to lead arms of your business or whether it's people to give you leadership. You know, that's why, you know, you're you've been coaching me as well, because I need I need that leadership. Every time I cause a leader in an area of my life, my life expands, my business expands, um, my relationship with my kid expands. Um, so it is this story of constant reframing, recontextualizing, transforming different areas and always looking at where I can find that leadership. And today, you know, we get to make a difference for some really great clients. And again, it's because we provide leadership to the clients where they need it, and they provide us the leadership so we can make the difference for that.

SPEAKER_02 8:18

I love just now and what you were sharing, Dave. I really started to kind of get this picture painted of creativity and leadership. And I don't know that I ever really saw it clear. I mean, now it's kind of funny when you say something, you're like, oh, no, that makes sense. But I don't necessarily know that I really thought about leadership as a creative expression. And I know I had a conversation a few months ago with one of my with one of my mentors who said, like, you, you know, people who, you know, the the Richard Bransons of the world, the, you know, the Bill Gates, like whatever, you know, well, um, you know, Mr. Buffett, all of these people, they, you know, they spend very little time working, like in the traditional sense of the world. The majority of the time they're spending strategizing, creating, thinking, coming up with ideas. And so you know, it makes a lot of sense. But I I think I I really kind of like the analogy of leadership is creativity. And and and and what I heard in what you were saying as well is like you, and I think that's why a lot of people become entrepreneurs. Like, if we really look at it, is there's some expression that they want that we want to have in the world that isn't gonna get fulfilled upon working inside of someone else's vision, even you know, and and there's lots of great companies to work for and great corporations with great visions and and and the rest of it, and and that's amazing. I don't think entrepreneurship is for everyone. And but I think there for those of us that choose this path, often we choose it because there is some vision of our leadership that we want to, you know, that we have for the world or for our community or whatever that just is not gonna get expressed working for someone else.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

Yeah. And I think that's, you know, it seems to be this common thread amongst entrepreneurs as I as I meet more and talk to more and connect with more entrepreneurs. We, you know, we talk about in a corporate environment sometimes that we just want people to listen to our ideas, you know, and I hear that a lot from young people. I just want people to listen to my ideas. And the people who who seem to go into entrepreneurship, it's it's not about the one idea, like I want to have the right idea for this project. The entrepreneur mindset to me is someone who actually has an idea of how the whole shit should go. Like a unique point of view that they actually, and this is the thing is there's no right or wrong there. And you're right, there are tons of incredible companies to work for. I mean, my wife works for Shopify, one of the most incredible companies I've seen from a brand culture and operations perspective, as well as just a great product. Um, but if you have a unique point of view that you feel is stifled inside of your job, that's because it may not be the point of view of the company you work for. Because they have their own unique point of view. That's why whoever started that company is an entrepreneur and started that company. So I think oftentimes this this creativity in in leadership is sometimes jobs are finite. But if you have an infinite mindset, then of course you're gonna feel stifled there.

SPEAKER_03 11:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:54

Yeah, and I and I also hear like bringing creativity, like because we're leaders, like you know, I have a Facebook group, leaders, leaders in life, like we're leaders in our own lives as well. Whatever that looks like, whether we choose to be entrepreneurs or or work for a corporation, like whatever, however, we choose to be of service to other people. Um, and like bringing creativity to your leadership of your own life.

SPEAKER_03 12:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:17

And what does that look like? Right? Like, what does it look like to bring creativity to leading myself?

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Yeah. Well, you know, one of my favorite designers, Steven Sagmeister, um, he has this great line where he says, seek discomfort. Right. And I and I've always sat with that, right? Seek discomfort. And I think it is like creativity and leadership, creativity and and kind of leadership in your life is I think everybody's looking for answers. And that's where it can become really overwhelming because we feel like we don't have the answer. And it's something I used to say to my students all the time is stop being attached to the outcome and start finding joy in the journey. Because every day there's an outcome. You take an action and there's some kind of a result, whether it's a you know, you take an action, you get a result, or you take no action and there's still results. They may not be the results you want, but there's still results there. And I think the that the creativity comes from the the infinite mindset of playing this never-ending game. If you're just getting up every if you're excited to get up every day and just keep playing the game, you're winning in whatever way your game looks like.

SPEAKER_02 13:43

Yeah, and like, and for me, anyway, like where I'm at in that conversation is what what has me excited to get up every day is to get up and being living inside of fulfilling on why I was created. Like my unique, my unique contribution to this planet. And and that doesn't mean that I necessarily leap out of bed every day, although I leap out of bed way more days than I used to. But it really is that opportunity. Um Nietzsche where he says, you know, if you have, and I'm paraphrasing, he says, if you have a strong and you know, if you have a strong why, you can persevere through almost any how, right? So it's like that idea that like when I am deeply connected to what fills me up, what I want, how I want to express myself in the world, how I want to make a difference and be of service to others. And you know, because that is a belief of mine, and I invite people listening to to choose to to try that on. That actually what has human beings' lives been meaningful is being of contribution and service and to others. And and that's how we actually experience being satisfied and fulfilled, whether that's our families or our coworkers or some community that matters to us.

SPEAKER_01 15:04

Yeah. Well, and it's the thing, like it's all about people. And I think it's really easy to forget that. I mean, you know, the the analogy I always use, um the analogy I always use is like dog collars and leashes, right? If if you have that product, that's great, but you're not selling them to dogs, so it can be the most comfortable leash in the world for a dog. But why as a human being should I care about that? How does that collar and leash serve me as a dog parent? Right? And I think that's something that, you know, when you know you say getting you know, excited to get out of bed and you know, be of service to people and and live your purpose, I think too often we get stuck in this world of like, well, how can I do it? And how can I have this and how can I do all these things rather than where can I get connected? Where what can I be a part of that will actually move this forward way faster than I could by myself. And it is a thing with entrepreneurs a lot is we fall into this, like, I have to do everything myself mindset.

SPEAKER_02 16:19

Yeah, well, I think part of that is often we start out, and I was just thinking about that yesterday, right? Like, so I'm like trying to grow my Facebook group. And every day I get invited to join another Facebook group of another entrepreneur, and I'm like, why are we not doing this together? Like, why are not a group of us who are coaches or content providers who are in this similar space or share a similar audience? Why are we not creating a Facebook group together as opposed to each of us? And then we're like, and it never comes from a competition with me, but it's like people only have so much attention and there's so much content. And what about, you know, what why not build that connectivity and that creation with within, you know, as as content providers and influencers, right? Versus like, oh, I'm gonna have my group. You know, how could we create a group that would fulfill on on all of these purposes and and serve other people, right? Uh I just had that idea yesterday. I just thought it was funny. Um yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

And that's and it seems so huge when we think about it, because it is it is a global problem, right? And really, like when you look at it, is what's missing is is community. Like community is is so powerful when when everyone is actually supporting each other. You know, we talk about like the design community in in Toronto, but I've never seen a more ruthless cutthroat community, quote unquote, um, in my life. And I read this great article on uh it was on a blog called The City, and um it was written by a DJ who talked about how when he was in Toronto, it was so hard to book gigs, so hard to get exposure, everyone was in competition, nobody would support him. And a friend of his was uh spinning a set down in New York and said, Hey, you should come down to New York and open for me. And he's like, So I just you know packed a bag, jumped in my car, drove to New York, and he did his set. And the article ended with him saying, He's like, I walked out of that party with more business cards, more connections for for new bookings. He's like, and now 75% of my business is in the States. And he's like, and there was this real community there of artists supporting artists and and people wanting to help you and help you grow your community. And it's something that I've noticed, especially in the creative community, is missing here. There is this idea of competition.

SPEAKER_02 19:02

Yeah, it's interesting. I it wasn't necessary, you know, on on the what would Amber do show, we like kind of dance in conversation, and and so this is where we're dancing right now. And I and I think, you know, as an instructor, having instructed in both the US and and in Canada and having clients in both um what is it about Canadian culture? Because look, I've lived here for 32 years. I love, I love Canada. It's the second home to me. I and you know, I have some of the most incredible tribe and friendships with people here who are just, you know, and there seems to be something about Canadian culture where there, you know, it may not be, and it's so funny. I find myself wanting to mince my words here because I'm like, I don't want to upset anyone, right? What I mean about this. It's one of my defaults. But why don't we support each other more as Canadians? Why don't we um why don't we support small businesses more? Why don't we um you know really have each other's backs? And and what is it, what, you know, and I and I don't necessarily think either, you know, you might have an answer, but like what's missing that is present, because so many things you hear about the United States, you know, like all of the conflict that happens there, you would think that community would be absent from the the way the media and what you hear about the media, but this is not the first time I've heard this.

SPEAKER_03 20:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:32

And you know, and and not just in the creative community, in different communities.

SPEAKER_01 20:38

Yeah. Well, I think there's, you know, I and I I it's not just Canada. I mean, it happens elsewhere too, but I think predominantly when when I see it, and and even when I see it in businesses as like an internal culture, there's this competition, there's you know, there's no real collaboration, there's no real community. Um, there's a lack of identity. There's no understanding of who we are in the world, and this is this is the stake in the ground, this is the deep truth about us, this is our core belief as an identity, and I think that's very much rooted in um, you know, the US, like they have a real identity of what it is to be American and the American dream. Um, you see it in the UK of like Great Britain and what it is to be British, right? And you see it in in other countries too that have this real identity to it. And I think, you know, I think that it's a strength for Canada that we have so much um diversity here. But I think because we were a Commonwealth country and there's a lot of um there is a lot of diversity and we celebrate that, I think there is a lack of understanding of like what it is to be Canadian. Right.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

Yeah, I think about New Zealand, you know, there's a real strong, you know, identity with being a Kiwi. Right. Like people really identify. New Zealanders identify that. Other people understand, you know, no matter where you go. Like you think for a country of three million people in the in the South Pacific, like way down under, people know who New Zealanders are, right? Like, and and you know, not just for rugby and some of the other things that that country is famous for, but our prime minister, you know, like policies, um, you know, just who we choose to be as leaders in the world. So yeah, and thank you for saying that. I I mean it's interesting because if we tie it back to this, and I think it's a great segue into, you know, the relationship between design and connection, because I think, you know, this is this is my deep truth that, you know, my core belief that you've helped me get discovered and you know, so many conversations with you is like, what is it that you really believe? Like, what's at the core of it? And like having to do that inquiry and that like that deep work of like, who am I? Who am I as a leader? What do I represent? And and what is my core belief? Like, what is it that no matter where I go, I want to be identified with and I want people to understand that that's who I am and what I stand for and what I'm committed to anywhere in my life, but you know, especially through you know, the business the businesses that I operate in and I work in. And that's that you know, love, connection, and belonging are fundamental to well-being and success. And I know for you, there is a deep relationship between design and connection.

SPEAKER_01 23:35

Yeah. I mean, I think you know, it's I come back to that, you know, that infinite game. And I think oftentimes design is looked at as a noun, but to me, design is a verb. That it's a it's a constant inquiry, it's a it's a process by which we arrive at an opinion, and really an opinion of how to take some kind of action. And I think the moment that we the moment we stop the inquiry and and assume that we've arrived, quote unquote, arrived, um, we lose that connection because it becomes about us. And this is, you know, I'll go back to like my history in the design field and what we were just talking about. Identity is is oftentimes the design industry is so much about the designer, the person who's creating the work. And this is why it can be challenging to work with a designer and creative person, is because it's very much a creative art from that point of view. And the thing for me is that if design's the noun, then the moment we make something, you know, we're done. But if design is a verb and it's an inquiry, then it's a constant conversation of empathy and and and how to solve problems for people. And the only way that design can can create connection or or empower connection is if we lead with that empathy and we prioritize people. Because again, that's what it's about. Even if you sell dog collars, the dog doesn't care what collar it's wearing. It's the reason, it's it's the reason that that person wants the dog collar that makes the difference. You know, my dad used to say, um, this he had this quote from me where he always said, if I can see through David's eyes, then I can sell what David buys. And it always sat with me where it's like, you know, you some people might interpret that as like, oh, well, it's just like capitalist rhetoric, right? Where it's like, I want to be able to make money. But if you actually care about people, you actually build that connection and lead with that empathy, those people will return to your business over and over and over, no matter what you do. You could be a charity, it could be a not-for-profit, it could be a product, it could be a service. But you actually have to get interested in what people care about.

SPEAKER_02 26:12

Yeah, I love that. I mean, that's one of the brand values of Amber Hard and Associates. People first, I think, you know, we talked about selling this week in our coaching call, right? And it and it's like, well, what if you you substituted selling with service and like just chose to try on that we're always selling something, right? Like, whether it's like I want to be in a relationship with someone, so I'm I'm like on mundating websites right now, so this is my reality. Like I'm selling Amber to a potential partner, right? Like who is Amber that like, but not like who's Amber through his eyes, right? As a potential partner, as someone who wants, you know, whether we're selling a product, a good or a service, like we're always it's if you if you come from that, and it's authentic, you come from that place of like genuine interest and curiosity and care for because people want to be sold to. If you're selling things that solve their problems and make a difference for them in their lives, they want that. Because, you know, and and it's interesting because I I was like leading my leadership class last night and we were talking about problem solving and decision making. And this this quote from Bob Proctor came up is like, you don't sell the drill. People don't want to buy the drill.

SPEAKER_03 27:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:26

When they go into the hardware store, they want a solution to be able to hang the pictures from their vacation in their home. And if you know, they don't want the drill, they want the transformation because each of us as entrepreneurs is selling some kind of transformative experience. Someone's in a current state right now where they have a problem and they want to get to some future state. And we're providing a service or a good or a product that's gonna have them fulfill on what what they want.

SPEAKER_01 27:59

Yeah. Well, and I'd even I'd even go a bit deeper with the analogy of the hanging the picture on the wall. It's like, yes, they want to hang the picture on the wall, but really from you know, if we get into the human condition, they want to be able to celebrate the memory. Yeah. Yeah, so true. And even and even, you know, idolize it by putting it in a frame and putting it on a wall. You know, like there's there's something so much bigger at that point, is is the immortalization of this memory in my physical space. I want to relive this memory every day when I look at that picture.

SPEAKER_02 28:36

Well, especially in like today's day and age where each of us, you know, I I've I'm of the generation where I still have some, you know, some physical film that I never developed from my kids' childhood, which I should probably so I've gone through, you know, taking actual pictures and getting film developed to, you know, the first digital cameras, to now having, you know, thousands of pictures on my phone and like pictures everywhere digitally. So if I'm taking the time to actually print one of those pictures and get it framed, then that tells you something about the importance of memorializing that moment for me, right? And wanting to be surrounded by it. Um, because we just don't do that very much anymore, right? Like we we only really create physically, anyway, the most important memories, whether they be our families or vacations or pieces of art or, you know.

SPEAKER_01 29:39

Yeah, and I mean, especially, you know, to your point about printing the photo, like especially now, you know, I've never had so many. I I mean, I came across photos the other day, I completely forgot I took. But even when you start to get when we get interested in the people and the human condition of it, like as as primal beings, we are formulated to conserve calories, to to conserve energy. And so the amount of energy and brain power and intention that it takes to take that photo from your phone now and go and get it printed. Sure, it might be at a shopper's drug mark, right? Which there's one a block away from me, but I still have to take that time and do that. So the intention that's gone into that photo, it's it's so much more significant than just putting a photo on the wall. And that's what I'm interested in, right? When it comes to businesses and how they connect to their customers, and that's why human folk exists and why we keep running this machine and trying to scale this machine is because the inquiry of that intentionality that human beings will put into something so seemingly insignificant is fascinating.

SPEAKER_02 30:58

Well, yeah, and if you you expand upon that, like how much intention and energy it takes to create that that photograph and then the birthing of a business. And like how how much energy and and resources and and how much of ourselves that we pour into, you know, this thing that we've created that we're we want to be of service or contribution in some way to other people. Um you know, like you could really just be mind blown by that, right? Like, yeah. And like how we put ourselves at issue in the process, because I think that's that's a part of it. Like we really do put when we put ourselves out there as creators of businesses and as entrepreneurs, we we put ourselves out there in a way that you don't do when you show up to a nine to five job and you live inside someone else's vision. And I'm not saying one is better than the other, but just acknowledging, um, acknowledging that.

SPEAKER_01 32:01

Yeah, and I think that just comes down to motivation for people. Is like what really is like your motivation in life. I mean, uh, you know, a lot of my friends are are really happy in their jobs, they have great jobs. My wife is very happy in her job because she gets to fulfill on the thing that she loves to do, which is you know, coach and mentor and develop people, and she gets to do that as a team lead, um, you know, over at Shopify. And like if if that if you found your purpose and the job that you're working, man, that's that's incredible. I just never found that. So I created my own chip.

SPEAKER_03 32:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:41

And you know, there's a lot of other things that come with that that aren't as exciting. But at least, you know, for me, I'm at the I'm at the helm.

SPEAKER_02 32:52

Yeah, and over time we, you know, we get to firm out some of those parts of the business that we don't love as much. And, you know, I mean, I know that's a bit of a challenge for most entrepreneurs at the beginning. You're wearing so many different hats, and you know, and and this is part of the reason why my company exists is to be able to help give people the the tools and and guidance and knowledge to be able to make that easier for them because where do you learn a lot of the things that you need to know in order to operate a business if you you know if you've never done that before? It's not something we teach people in school. So, you know, you you've said, Dave, that brands are only influence, they cannot be controlled. They are the opinion of you and the minds of people around you. And I think there's something fairly profound in that. Could you maybe expand a little bit around what what you mean by that?

SPEAKER_01 33:45

Yeah, well, again, you know, I come back to that that conversation of the infinite game, right? The the infinite mindset is that the moment that you think that you've got your brand handled is the moment your brand will start to die. Because who we, you know, in what you just said there is it is it's the the opinion of us in the minds of people around us. And you know, a perfect example is Volkswagen, right? The moment that it came out that they had put technology in the car that understood when it was being tested for emissions and it would reduce the emission so that it could pass emissions tests. Um, but really when it was out on the road, it was a gas guzzler and and polluter. Um, it didn't matter how great their logo is, it didn't matter how great their website was, it didn't matter how awesome their mission statement or their deep truth was, how they showed up in the public destroyed their brand. And the opinion and the belief in who they are was shattered. And it took it it's taken a lot of work for them to come back, and they haven't even really come back as powerfully as they ever were before because the opinion in the public's eye was was well, the the public's trust was abused. And it is, you know, I think too often brand the word branding is thrown around a lot, and people talk, you know, it's used interchangeably in terms of design products where people create color palettes and mood boards, and that's a brand strategy, or people talk about brand, but really they're talking about an identity, the logo, whatever. And to me, your brand branding is nothing more than the process of shaping and influencing the opinion in the minds of the people, it is a constant practice and a constant inquiry into what resonates with people from the perspective of who you authentically are. So, you know, even in your conversation with Christian, um your previous podcast, you know, he talked about working on your personal brand. Um, and I really love that because it's so true. Like, you know, the way that my friends see me is really who I am in that community. You know, I can be who I am over here with me, but if people don't believe that I'm of service or a nice guy or willing to help, then that's not who I am in the world. And so we can say who we are, and I think it's a really powerful thing. And and we use design thinking and human-centered design to articulate who you are in a way that resonates with people. Um, but it's up to you to say what you mean, do what you say, and show up consistently for them, that will ultimately establish and solidify your brand.

SPEAKER_02 36:49

Yeah, it's so great. I'm like reminded of you know, who we be show like shows up in the other people's experience of us, right? So it's like, you know, if I'm and I can say whatever I want, but if and and I think what you're pointing to here, especially in the Volkswagen example, is congruence, right? We have to be congruent, you know, and and we have some really amazing examples throughout history, leaders like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, you know, the ones that kind of always come top of mind to me of people who were really congruent with what they said, what they did, and what they believed and and what they thought. And and people experience that. So as a as a business owner, as a as a brand out there in the world, are you showing up for people everywhere in your life? And as CEOs of our own companies, that you know, it if we're not showing up the way, you know, consistently we say we have this company and this we're this this is a you know a representation of us, and that we have these values, like for me, people first, growth, partnership. I've got to be that in my life for the people in my life. Because I can't just have this company that's out there, right, that's saying these things, and then the people around me are like, well, you know, that's that's not that's not who Amber is. Amber doesn't put people first. You know, like so it's like I think that that congruence is is really, really important.

SPEAKER_01 38:17

Yeah, and I think that's you know, if there's if there was anything that I would want people to take away from an interaction with me about branding, is that you know, you can you can spend all the money on the world on the most beautiful creative artwork to represent your business. But if you're not clear in what powerfully calls you forth every day to say, do, and be for people in the world, no amount of work behind the scenes is gonna help you build that brand. Right. And it is that constant inquiry of who are we, how can we say this in a way that makes sense. Because I think oftentimes our philosophies and our ideas are they're very convoluted, they sound great in our head. Um, and then the moment we say them, they're they're very conceptual, right? And so, and we've talked about this a lot, um, you know, and I'm I'm reminded of a quote from Ramdas um where he says, only the me which is in you can hear what I have to say. And so there it's like I really have to give space to the people I'm trying to serve to understand how they can see themselves in what I'm saying. Right? It's the only way that that the brand will resonate with them. Because actually, you actually have to care about the people. That's that's the trick. You actually have to care.

SPEAKER_02 40:02

It's gotta be genuine and coming from a place of like authenticity. It's not, you know, and we can feel it. And you know, I invite everyone listening to this, like you know the difference, you've experienced the difference when someone is reaching out to you to have a conversation about their business or their product, good or service, and it's coming from a genuine desire to serve you versus coming from uh, you know, and and I like I've I've done both, right? Like as an entrepreneur, I've had moments where I come from scarcity and it is about making a bucket and feeding my children and like, and that's not what I'm committed to, but it's like, you know, I think there's a responsibility as entrepreneurs to be managing that right for ourselves and like really getting um before every sales conversation, like getting connected to our intention, right? Like, what is my commitment? My commitment is to be of service, my commitment is and and you know, be on a touch. Maybe what I have to offer is or isn't for this person, but and um, but leading and and communicating and coming from you know that genuine intention of being of service versus like the scarcity of like, oh, look at my bank account and the rent is due at the end of the month. And uh, I think so great. So, you know, Dave, I'd love to hear what does it mean? Because I talk a lot about, you know, getting people in the driver's seat of their own mind, having people be able to create their own life or create a life of their own design. Um, what does that actually mean for you? Because I think sometimes people, it could be a little bit abstract for people, what but what does that mean to live a life of your own design for you?

SPEAKER_01 41:43

You know, I again I come back to that conversation of we were having about creativity and leadership. Um and I think creativity is the answer to everything. And I think we look at creativity as this like fun thing that we can just do and play in and dance in, and you can, but I think it's remembering that that creation is the the bringing into existence that which has never existed before, right? And you know, I'll I'll super cheesy, but it's like my favorite quote from Kung Fu Panda, and it's Master Ugwe, right? And he says, Tomorrow is history, sorry, yesterday is history, and tomorrow is unknown, but today is a gift, that's why they call it the present, right? And it's so it's super cheesy, but it's such a great line because what is living life by your own design is that every day you have the gift and the privilege to wake up and and create what today is for you. And I think too often we have so much significance about what that has to look like. But if if what today is for you is a an opportunity to watch a rom-com and eat a pint of ice cream and have a good cry, and that provides you something, man, that's a great day. You know, I think it's really waking up in the morning and and not being so so worried about what has happened or what's going to happen, and and just getting that you're the master of today, and whatever you do today is part of your life. It's not an escape from life. You know, my my business partner and uh and I have this line that we say is is we find it such a joke when people talk about work-life balance. Well, there's no such thing as work-life balance, it's all just life. Today it just happens to be called Friday.

SPEAKER_02 43:47

Yeah, I so right there with you, right? It's not about the results, it's about the journey to get to the results. And and that's life. Like, this is our life right now. This, like, and like how blessed are you and I that like at nine o'clock on Friday morning, you know, part of what it is to serve people for us is to have this incredible, lovely conversation and and share um our experiences and who we are with with humanity. I mean, it doesn't it doesn't get any better than that for me. And um, Dave, just thank you so much. Thank you for being on the show. I know it's not going to be the last time, and I still really think it'd be a lot of fun to have you and Christian on the show together. Uh, so maybe we can look at creating that in the in the coming months. And, you know, just from the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you've you've contributed to me and and to the people I serve through uh the conversations that we've had and the inquiries that we we've been in around who I am as a leader. Um, I'm I'm so grateful for that. And and just, you know, love, love, love being your coach. It's just such a gift. And for anyone who's interested in learning more about human folk and about what Dave and Paul are up to in the world, the information will be in the show notes. And just uh thank you for for this conversation this morning.

SPEAKER_01 45:04

Yeah, thank you so much for having me. And I mean, same, you know, I love having you as my coach. I love working with you on your brand. It's it's my favorite phone call of the week. Um, and you know, just this has been awesome. And I will come back every time you ask me to come back because this is really fun. So thank you.

SPEAKER_02 45:24

You're so welcome. For everyone listening, have an amazing weekend and uh thank you so much. Have a great day.

SPEAKER_00 45:32

Thank you so much for joining us for this week's episode. For show info, visit what what amberdo.com. And for information about Amber Howard and Associates' offerings and services, visit amberhowardec.com.