Person of Honor: Holly Johnson

In honor of National Grammar Day, we went straight to the source: a favorite teacher/ writer/ friend of HCC. And we’ve got answers. 

Honor Code Creative: When we met I was a fashion/ beauty editor and you were my beauty writer. Do you still write about beauty or freelance right at all?

Holly Johnson: I rarely write about beauty these days. I miss it! Researching skincare was one of my favorite things to do. Now, my days are mostly spent correcting comma splices and dangling modifiers. 

HCC: When did you become a teacher, and what was your motivation?

HJ: When I was in the first grade, I won the “Most Likely to be a Teacher” award. I still have it. I have always loved teaching as it is a way to impact the next generation. I have spent a decade working with high school students. The best part about teaching is that it is different every day. Never a dull moment. 

HCC: As someone who’s been both of these things, teacher & writer, I bet you have a lot to say about grammar. What are some of your pet peeves?

HJ: I despise SMS language or textspeak. Many adults use it in emails and it is unprofessional. If my students can avoid using it in their writing, adults can too. I think that the only acceptable textspeak outside of text is “LOL.” It seems to have crossed the divide gracefully and is well accepted in emails with friends or close colleagues. Along the same lines, the use of  a lower case “ i” when referring to oneself is ridiculous. You are a proper noun. Use capital letters. ( Yes, even when texting.)

HCC: How do you feel about some of the expressions we use today like..."lean into"?

HJ: I think that we are more aware of our overuse of expressions in writing as most people proofread. One should not be using a common expression more than once in a piece of writing. It loses impact. 

HCC: Please settle for once and for all: Does the period really always go inside the quotation marks?

HJ: To keep it simple, yes. 

HCC: How do you feel about intentional grammar breaches? Like a purposeful fragment. (See what I did there?)

HJ: I think they are fine in colloquial writing. If you are unsure, craft a full sentence to avoid it. 

HCC: Do you ever see ads where the grammar makes you nuts?

HJ: I actually haven’t in a while. I have seen some word choice errors in Instagram stories from influencers. For example, “insure” was used for the word “ ensure.” Both are verbs and it is easy to do. Insure, think insurance or to secure. Ensure means to make sure it will happen. 

HCC: What's a grammar deal breaker on a resume?

HJ: Spelling errors on a resume are unacceptable. We all make mistakes, but resumes are typically your first impression and need to be perfect. Always enlist a friend to take a look at your work. 

Additionally, word choice errors are unfortunately common. Be sure to know the difference between their/there/they’re and affect vs. effect. 

Also, please don’t use emojis. Ever. 

Words of Wisdom: How Writing Prepared Me to Fight My Son’s Rare Disease

Complex orbital tumors. A mysterious pediatric dysautonomia case. Comparative effectiveness research. Know anything about those things? At some point in my career as a writer who routinely tackles impermeable topics, I knew enough to write cogently and reliably about each of those examples and more. I have a ravenous appetite for the wonders and intricacies of medicine and health care and may have become a physician had my eighth-grade algebra course—led by a 1980s relic who thought girls should not be STEM-literate—not gone so terribly awry. 

Doctors and nurses routinely ask me during personal appointments whether I am a health care provider, and I usually take that as a compliment. My medical literacy shines through, apparently, and it makes clear I’ve read up on the latest, thank you, if only with a novice eye. But I wasn’t prepared for the same question when it came to one of my children. As a parent, you’re wired at a cellular level to keep your children alive, so when one of them is on an exam table, it’s high stakes. The questions are more urgent, the answers deeply analyzed. Those patients you wrote about, especially the kids, have faces and names. They have worried parents. Because when you’re reading or hearing about a serious condition affecting your child, it’s no longer fascinating—it’s mercilessly frightening. 

It was this fluency in medicine that led me to understand that my son Charlie needed a creatine kinase (CK) test as he approached his third birthday last summer. It’s a simple blood test to measure the level of an enzyme that leaks into the bloodstream at higher levels when muscles are suffering damage at an outsized rate, and it should be given to any boy with developmental motor delays and low muscle tone. Because there’s about a 1 in 3,500 chance that boy has a condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. My boy does. But I’ve got him.

I wish with every exon in my DMD gene (that’s the one that makes your muscles work, the one that doesn’t work right in Duchenne) that I didn’t need the skill of schooling up quickly on a rare and complex disease for a little person I love beyond measure. But since I do, I’m grateful that what I do for a living could help my boy live longer and better.

To learn more and follow along as Jennifer and Charlie tackle Duchenne (with us cheering them on), visit curecharlie.org

Person of Honor: Leslie Kerns

Leslie Kerns is the founder and CEO of 1235 Strategies. Her work centers around the merging of communications, advocacy and campaigns, and understanding which tools to apply in order to affect change. She’s someone whose strengths complement ours at HCC, and we’d like to think vice versa. We always look for opportunities to work with Leslie. But rarely do we get a chance to sit down and ask her all our pressing questions about the work she does and her path there, all of which we really admire. So we jumped at this chance.

Honor Code Creative: You’re a veteran of the law. (ed note: like Rachel). Any regrets about your departure?

Leslie: No regrets! A really good lawyer -a really good anything, to be honest- feels the work in their bones. They have a confidence that makes you want to work with them. I never felt being a lawyer in my bones and the confidence I had during that chapter of my life felt manufactured. Once I moved out of law and into communications, and eventually, social change consulting, I realized what it was like to have genuine professional confidence. And never looked back.

HCC: Anything you lean on from your law days?

LK: I gained a ton from law school and my ten minutes of practicing law. How to prepare extensively for every moment that matters, and realizing there are very few moments that don’t. How to think expansively about a problem and the solutions I come up with. Those habits and that discipline are vital in law… it’s vital when developing and running a winning advocacy campaign or communications effort.

HCC: When we met, you were in PR, also like me, but very focused on mission-based organizations. Will you speak to that transition? What were some of your crystallizing moments in PR?

LK: I knew I wanted to do something good with my career, to have an impact on people’s lives, but I didn’t really know what that would look like or the specific job I wanted. So I did the obvious thing and went to law school! I gave myself two years to practice law and if I didn’t love it after two years, I’d jump. Two years came and I jumped. But that drive to do something good and impactful was still there. 

I started to think about, and research, the big people and jobs that seemed the most interesting to me; Press Secretary, White House Communications Director, campaign director, heads of foundations or advocacy organizations -- and two through lines were communications and Masters in Public Policy or Administration. So I went from my cush law firm job to an entry-level PR position to learn the ropes and started applying to MPA programs. My first PR firm (sadly, the now-closed Schwartz Communications) was not mission-focused -- it was a Boston-area technology and healthcare PR powerhouse--but I moved up quickly (ed note: three promotions in two years!) and along the way learned the nuts and bolts of media relations and how to use it to insert people, ideas, and organizations into the public conversation. One of our law firm clients did pro bono work for the New England Innocence Project. I did the press around how two men were wrongfully convicted, why they should be exonerated, and what needed to change about the system, and loved every minute of it. Around that time, I got accepted to Columbia University’s and NYU’s MPA programs. But a Boston-based PR firm I had my eye on for a while -- the now Solomon McCown & Cence - because of their growing nonprofit practice supporting affordable housing, community development, and other issues -- offered me a job. I accepted the job, and again I’ve never looked back.  

HCC: You’ve been a pivot master! Got any tips?

LK: Dive in headfirst and with both feet fully in the water. I did that when I moved from law into communications, and from Cleveland to Boston, and from Boston to Washington, D.C. I worked really hard, got to know the cities, and did what I needed to meet and get to know people (threw parties, started social clubs, volunteered, found yoga studios). When I moved from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, I tried to keep one foot firmly planted in D.C. and just dangle one toe in L.A., and it was a big mistake. It made it much harder and took me a lot longer to understand my new home and what it had to offer. Once I stopped traveling back to D.C. every month and prioritizing those ties and connections over those I could make in L.A., things fell into place.  

Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. Change is the one constant thing in life. Still, change can be very uncomfortable. There’s no way around that. So embrace being uncomfortable. Otherwise, you’ll miss the good stuff that comes with change.

HCC: You’ve worked well with so many leaders, and you’ve been one. What are some leadership takeaways we can act on right now?

LK: Everyone wants to be respected and appreciated. So many problems can be avoided or resolved if you truly communicate both.

Apologizing or acknowledging you were wrong is a sign of strength, not weakness. A genuine acknowledgment of “I was wrong, you were right, and here’s how I propose we move forward” allows everyone involved to receive or show respect and appreciation and, more often than not, do a needed reset.

People might create conditions that are challenging or frustrating, but only you control how you respond. Hands down, when I have remembered and applied this advice, I have succeeded as a leader; and when I haven’t, I’ve failed.

And that’s the last takeaway...everyone fails. There will be those in your career who believe or make you feel like every mistake or failure -- real or perceived -- is a disaster or an indictment of your ability or character. Those people are wrong. And I’m no psychologist, but that way of thinking says a lot more about them than you. It’s about whether, and how, you get back up. 

HCC: When we’ve worked with you at HCC, we’ve noticed you are very thorough and able to see the big picture without missing any of the moving pieces, either. Is it a learnable skill?

LK: Preparing extensively and thinking expansively is something I learned from law. But it’s also something I’ve had reinforced through studying improv (ed note: Leslie took this up as a hobby after moving to L.A.). Don’t let her earnestness fool you; humor is her secret weapon.

In improv, you constantly ask yourself “and what that means is….” Your scene partner identifies themselves as a banana? and what that means is...I’m in a grocery store…and what that means is...I’m an apple…and what that means is...bananas and apples are very different from one another…and what that means is...we’re star-crossed lovers…and what that means is...we might have a very silly but funny take of Romeo and Juliet on our hands. 

So no, you don’t need to go to law school to see the big picture and move or manage all the pieces. Just apply some “and what that means is” to your project, campaign, problem, etc. and it’s a start.

HCC: Any surprises in starting your own business? 

LK: Accounting is really hard! Maybe not surprising, but still very true! More importantly, how substantive going small can be. I’ve worked for big and mid-sized firms and learned a ton. But those firm models often require senior people to touch an issue or client only for so long, and then they move on. You’d think that means you learn a lot about a lot of different things but since going out on my own, I work deeply with only a few organizations at a time, often over an extended period of time, and I’ve realized how narrow my previous world and professional views were. I have a much greater understanding of advocacy and its various forms, what narrative change means and how different organizations can participate in various ways, how nonprofits operate and their different communications needs, and what it means to help deliver impact in order to meet those needs.

I suspected some of this might be true when I started my own consultancy practice, but I am pleasantly surprised with the robust and actual reality.

HCC: Can you give me a couple of examples about campaigns you’ve worked on since striking out on your own?

LK: Yes! For the last four years, I worked with the amazing Vera Institute of Justice on a campaign to expand access to postsecondary education for incarcerated students. A real personal and career highlight. The long-term objective was to lift the federal ban on Pell grants for people in prison, a relic from the 1994 Crime Bill. We thought it would take us six to eight years and we did in four! Thousands of individuals and their families will have greater access to opportunities, which will in turn strengthen communities.  

Prior to starting 1235 Strategies, I was one of the original architects of Vera’s advocacy campaign. This included leading an issue assessment and opinion research, crafting messaging, designing the overall strategy (i.e. media, state and national partners, state organizing, and federal policy), conceiving of narrative-shifting content (i.e., Investing in Futures), and participating in efforts to secure initial funding. After starting 1235 Strategies, Vera asked me to re-join the campaign to provide strategic direction and management. Like all successful campaigns, it was a real team effort. For one, it was Vera’s effort, and they, and their various righteous partners, were the true experts and leads. We also had robust lobbying, organizing, and media teams to help execute and give good advice. 

HCC: How did you fit into this mix?

LK: My job was to serve as Vera’s overarching campaign strategist -- making sure the federal lobbying, state organizing, and media strategies were integrated and implemented in a way that responded to and stayed ahead of the legislative state-of-play. Day-to-day, this meant running weekly campaign meetings with the full crew, participating and weighing in on legislative and media team meetings, leading quarterly strategy check-ins and adjustments, reviewing all media and grasstops organizing materials, and providing partner, funder, and other advice along the way. I loved working with Vera and when you add up the impact and the day-to-day, again, a real highlight.

I’ve also had the good fortune of working with the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge for a number of years, and I currently sit on its advisory counsel. Another highlight has been partnering with an initiative at the Harvard School of Public Health. We developed messaging for state advocates trying to get dangerous diet pills out of the hands of kids. I loved the issue and the clear aim of giving advocates what they need to push for change. And as a bonus, I got to work with one of my favorite opinion research partners, GQR. They’re so smart and so easy to work with!

HCC: Onto some of the softer stuff! We can’t help but notice your work set-up on our calls. Will you give us a quick desk tour?

LK: Just the basics: My standing desk and chair for when I’m tired. My Mac and my old-school notebook with various to-dos and other lists. Family photos and tchotchkes. And (if you look really carefully) Wonder Woman sticky notes.

HCC: What are you reading?

LK: I just finished Luster by Raven Leilani, and I am about to start Reconstruction by Eric Foner. 

HCC: Who inspires you?

LK: My Mom! She passed away in early 2016, but she still inspires me. Single mom, went to college in her early 40s and entered the workforce in her mid-40s to pull herself and her six kids out of poverty AND to make sure she had a third and fourth act in life. She was very brave and strong, but also very warm and loving. Whenever I think, “Shoot, I don’t think I can do this” I can hear her say, “Yes you can.”

Handle This Week

Regardless of your political leanings, you have to admit the new prez did a lot in his first three days. 

What if you set out to treat this week like it’s your first few days in office?

Instead of getting overwhelmed, or just reacting, think about a few key, high impact things you can do, whether immediate or fact-finding for the future. 

Here’s a sample 3-day playbook:

1. Examine the commitments you made when you posted a black square to honor BLM. If balls are being dropped, assign a lead to each one and ask for scheduled progress reports.

2. Check-in on your most recent employee. Ask for a 4x4. Four things they think are working well and 4 they have suggestions around. 

3. Update your first three communications to clients/customers. Easy and impactful. (We can take this one for you and have it back in a day.)

Happy to help.

Cancel Culture Is Cancelled

Once upon a time, just after the siege on the Capitol, I was scrolling on Instagram, as one does, and noticed a fellow friend/ teacher/ activist, re-post something that stopped me in my tracks. In the re-posted content, a decolonization educator had explained the term “banana republics” and Samuel Zemurray’s role in the creation and development of the historically predatory and exploitative business practices during this period. It wasn’t this information that shocked me (although if you are not already familiar with the term “banana republic” I encourage you to look up the history behind the term) but the way it was being shared; identifying Zemurray as Jewish. 

As I scanned the post, I looked for the context as to why his religion mattered. Surely there would be some other ethnoreligious reference to provide meaning behind this otherwise anti-Semitic, dog whistle. But as I’ve come to expect all too often when bias is at play, there was not. And to make matters worse, when gently called in, this writer blamed their research on identifying him as such instead of taking responsibility for their problematic storytelling. 

Quickly, I checked my ego and reached out to my friend, the re-poster, because as a friend, a creator, and an educator herself, I believed that she would welcome a discussion about the harm of reposting something written so irresponsibly. And I was right. What came next was a hearty conversation around using religious identifiers when there is no need for othering. We both agreed that there is an inevitable confrontation in being “called in” to examine words and/ or actions but that it’s all in the delivery of the “caller” and choice of action by the “called in”. We agreed to unpack these observations in an Instagram Live, one where we could honestly discuss the events at the Capitol, how racism and antisemitism are both being given much-needed attention in the work against white supremacy right now and how influencers and brands are responsible for speaking up about it. It was thorough, it was cathartic but most of all, it helped to shed light on parts of “doing the work” that we don’t often think about and the potential to do that work in a way that invites change, not shame.

The difference between this conversation and what you might imagine would happen if someone said to you “I don’t like that you said *this*” is the difference between being asked to be accountable for an action you may, or may not, realize is harmful and the impulsive (oftentimes explosive,) ego-driven response that can come from feeling shame for making a mistake. The reality is that as we continue to do the work to be better global citizens, we’re not going to get it right all the time. But this doesn’t mean that we need to be publicly shunned or forced into a self-imposed exile and refuse to ever try again.

Watch our Instagram Live conversation here and commit to continuing this conversation, and the work, together over on Instagram. I have lots of ideas.

Editorial note: Vanessa is Honor Code's social media expert and creates content and other social media magic over at Pretty Creative Co.

How To Read the Paper

I’ve been reading newspapers regularly since it became mandatory when I was in PR. There, our president would not take kindly to someone unaware of a big headline or who wrote what Globe editorial. Today, I do it to be a more aware human and to serve clients better. (It sparks lots of ideas.) And I’ve learned how to do it better, too.

Here goes:  First of all, get the paper. The paper paper. There is something about the tactile nature that just doesn’t translate. I think you’ll fall in love with the ritual and make it your own. I get The New York Times, only on Sunday. (And I don’t always even get to it on Sunday.) You’ll then develop your own rituals, but here’s what I do with it:

1. Get my mise en place ready. I read the paper with an open brown paper bag by my side to recycle as I go. And scissors and a pen to clip things for others.

2. Separate by section. I pull each section apart and stack them all up. If I’m going anywhere, I fold a section and take it “to go.”

3. I start according to mood. Sometimes I escape into Style. (Though it’s not a total escape because I do get client ideas there.)  Sometimes I’m desperate for information about the world and I start with the front page. I read every headline, first paragraph, and last paragraph first. Then I go back and finish anything I want to get more from.

4. Once I start the front page, I go through that whole section cover to cover, pretty much the same way. If an editorial is especially thought-provoking or complicated, I cut it out and save it for a time when I have the right brain space. 

5. I sometimes save the Book Reviews until I build up several weeks’ worth. Then I go through at once. Anything I want to read goes into my Books app on my iPhone under “want to read.” Some books I buy in print, generally used, or I recommend Mahogany Books, which is family-owned and I feel good about. Things I want to mark up (like Me and White Supremacy) or poetry books I want to keep (like Three Poems,' by Hannah Sullivan) I buy in print.

6. My favorite sections are Modern Love and Metropolitan Diary; both have been with me for decades. I cut these out and save them for when I want to relish them. Sometimes I bring a bunch on a trip.

7. As a business owner and often advisor to businesses, I give special attention to things like HR matters and interview techniques. I find Business more relevant than I used to. 

8. The Magazine goes right in my “Saturday Box” where I store things for future Saturdays. I often get lots of typography and layout inspiration there that I save to share with designers on our team. 

9. And the ads! The full-page ads, especially, are really interesting examples of copy and representations of how companies are thinking. I often share them on our HCC Instagram stories when they’re notable.

10. When there’s a really fun looking full page spread (sometimes even an ad) I roll it up, push on a rubber band, and save it in my wrapping paper bin to become gift wrap. 

11. Finally, I annotate and pass on. Things my husband would like (politics, cats, food) or that I might convince my teen son to read and talk about (tech, sports) get their name or a circle. I cut them out and drop them somewhere they’ll get seen. 

Would love to know how you read yours and what you read! Share here or on Insta. 

“GIVE JOY!”

If you follow us on Insta you know that I (Rachel here) have an addiction to giving gifts. During the pandemic, Susanne and I have sent each other regular care packages filled with everything from newly discovered chocolate bars to hand sanitizer holders made from Vuitton scraps to Frankie Shop sweaters and slides from M.Gemi. The idea of a friend or a colleague holding something in their hands that’s a tactile representation that you care, fills me with joy in what’s been a joyless year.

We love working with clients to conceive special gifts as part of their overarching approach to the holidays. Recognizing people we work with (clients, partners, team members) in a thoughtful and non-rote way is like a thank you that lasts and that they can return to whenever they like or, in the case of comestibles, share with their families and friends.

It’s not too late for a meaningful gesture that boosts the morale of both the getter and the giver. We turned to an expert on all things giving, Melissa McCray, one of the owners of Two Webster, an online and pop-up business selling a curated collection of home accessories for her inside tips.

HCC: You are a thoughtful person who knows the right things to say, and I can see how that translates into gifting. Did you always like choosing gifts or want to go into items that could be gifted?

MM: You are so sweet, thank you! I love giving gifts, I love looking for gifts and I love choosing gifts that I think the giftee will appreciate. My Mom always had a stocked gift closet. She bought things for people when she saw them and kept them for the perfect occasions. 

HCC: You curate some amazing giftable items I don’t see anywhere else. How do you decide what makes the cut?

Melissa: We find special pieces that make your house or apartment feel like home. We work with makers who are experts in their craft, many of whom are women in small villages around the world. Most pieces we sell are unique to us. The pop-up shops are seasonal and located in Wellesley and Osterville. I fill the shop with other women-owned and local brands that complement Two Webster. 

HCC: It’s a side note, but our readers are mostly business people and this is not your first biz venture. Tell me a little about what you learned in your T-shirt business? 

MM: No, this is not my first small business/ entrepreneurial rodeo! With my previous business, everything happened so quickly. We hustled to build an online business because of some exciting press we received (hello, GOOP holiday list, US Weekly spotting, and more) so our entire online presence was reactionary. We were early adapters to Shopify, Square, and Facebook Shopping (the precursor to Instagram selling). Our intent was to sell wholesale, which we did, but we also wound up with this exciting online retail business that we literally learned how to do on the spot. 

HCC: And with Two Webster?

MM: We started out with pop-up shops and then built the website, we wanted the site to be thoughtful and not rushed. I learned that if the website does not function correctly, you are always playing catch-up and trying to right mistakes. The pop-up/in-person part of the business is still our backbone as we have learned the value of “here today and gone tomorrow.” People like the chase, they like to support small businesses and they like to get something they can’t easily find. 

HCC: What are a few gifts right now to stock a gift closet for emergencies?

MM: Oh gosh, so many! We have these custom, beautiful woven wine/ champagne bottle holders. They look so pretty on a bar or a table and make a great hostess gift – with or without the bottle. We sell these great handmade candles that come in a beautiful origami-type box. Another great gift is a Brumate MargTini or Can Cooler. These are fun-colored, thermal cups or can holders – perfect for the outside cocktail or can of High Noon. Another favorite is a pretty piece of pottery – a small trinket bowl or little plate.

HCC: Is it appropriate to gift your boss? If so, what are some recommendations?

MM: I think it is a nice touch, but I don’t recommend going overboard. This year it is especially nice to give the gift of local. A gift card for a restaurant, or favorite café near the office. I like giving the wood-toned Swell water bottle or a succulent plant in a cement container.  

HCC: How about your team? Do you give the same item for a team across all ages, genders, etc?

MM: I think what I would do is give a plant and a gift card to everyone who worked for me. A nice succulent in a gender-neutral vessel and a gift card to places people like to shop/ eat. 

HCC: How can people do gift shopping safely right now?

MM: Besides shopping online, I think shopping small and local are easy ways to shop safely and support the small businesses in your community. At our popup in Wellesley with five other local, female businesses we found a big, airy space where people can move freely (masked) and not feel crowded. 

HCC: What makes a good last-minute gift?

MM: A bottle of wine or tequila, craft beer with a good looking bottle opener, a nice container of nuts, or some local chocolate. Fastachi nuts and Lake Champlain Chocolates are delicious and sold at Whole Foods so they can be picked up in a rush. I like to pair chocolate or nuts with a nice bowl. That’s a perfect item to have on hand in a gift closet.

HCC: If you end up giving gift cards, is there any way to special it up?

MM: I love to wrap a gift card in colorful tissue and a small cellophane bag with grosgrain ribbon. I tie to the ribbon a nice hand cream or lip balm as a little something to make the gift card feel a bit more personal. 

HCC: Can busy people knock off all their shopping with you?

MM: YES! At the pop-up shop, aside from Two Webster, we have vintage barware, women’s clothing, jewelry, and permanent botanicals. From sweaters and gold-filled jewelry, a vintage shaker, a beautiful serving piece, hostess gifts, and holiday décor that lasts forever. 

Find Two Webster at twowebster.com, and - for a moment - at Melissa’s pop-up alongside the other female local shops she’s brought together, at 50 Central St in Wellesley. 

Veteran's Day Is Here

There are certain jobs I know I could just never do. And I am in awe of them. Fighting for our country is one of those. The level of bravery it takes to go to battle is to me, unfathomable. 

Today on Veteran’s Day we honor soldiers who have served our country, and I always feel overwhelmed by the idea and how to even think about it. 

So I asked a veteran. I’m lucky, he’s also our friend and trainer, Jason Sarbacker, of JFit360. He trains my husband and me twice a week. And sometimes that includes a story from when he served. But this time he agreed to answer a few more questions.

HCC: When and where did you serve? What was your role? 

Jason: From 2001 through 2004. I was stationed with the First  Battalion, Second  Marine division located in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for the bulk of my time with the Marines. First  Battalion, Second  Marine was deployed to Kuwait early in 2003 and we proceeded to invade Iraq once Operation Iraqi Freedom kicked off. My role in the Marines early on was that of a basic infantryman, also known as an 0311 in military occupational specialty coding. After filling that role for some time I was offered the opportunity to join the First  Battalion, Second  Marine Division’s Scout Sniper Platoon, and not long after went to Sniper School. 

HCC: What inspired you to serve your country?

Jason:  Growing up I was definitely a G.I. Joe kind-of-kid and was fascinated with movies like Rambo and played war games in the woods with my brothers and neighborhood friends. Like a lot of teenagers, I had very little interest in school, and going to college was not very high on my to-do list, so I started looking into the Marines towards the end of my senior year. I ended up signing all the paperwork in mid-August 2001 and had orders to leave for boot camp in November. Not long after signing my life away, so to speak, September 11th happened, and I never had reservations or regrets about joining.

HCC: What were some of the most difficult parts of your experience?

Jason:  Up to the time of deploying to Iraq, my only experience with death was that of a grandparent. That all changed on March 23rd, 2003. We took heavy casualties and lost a lot of young men. 

HCC: What was an accomplishment you feel proud of? 

Jason: That I completed Sniper School on the first go. Scout Sniper School is very difficult to pass and has a very high failure rate. I think we started with 26 Marines and after 12 weeks only 14 graduated. 

HCC: I know you don't like to be called a hero. Why is that?

Jason: I am not a hero. Heroes give the ultimate sacrifice, or they attempt to and by some miracle, they live to tell about it but usually don’t talk about it. Others do for them.

HCC: Is there something you think people who really value our veterans can do to show that, today or on any other day?

Jason:  I think the best thing for people to do is to not forget about the men and women who are currently serving. The homecoming I had when I got back from Iraq was insane! Thousands and thousands of people showed up at Camp Lejeune to welcome us back. I will never forget how good that felt, and I am afraid current service members are not getting that. They are risking just as much as I was when I served. 

Editor’s Note: If you’re inspired by Jason to welcome returning vets home, here is some information on groups you can work with to do that: www.operationwearehere.com/AirportArrivalDepartureWelcomeSigns.html 

If you want to train with Jason, he may not have any openings, but you can ask! jay@jfit360.com

"Let It Out."

Scaling the ladder can be an exercise in repression. It’s one of the reasons Susanne and I jumped ship and started Honor Code. With all the politics, you often have to hold your tongue, pick your spots, and parse the way you ask a question with the care of a neurosurgeon. It can be exhausting! 

But the time we’re living in right now might just be second to none when it comes to keeping things inside. We can’t burst into tears when we’re overwhelmed - with our kid at a computer right there. We can’t scream mid-meeting at the irrelevance of all of it when Black lives are being lost in front of our eyes. We can’t opt out of a day full of Zoom meetings because we’re worried about our parents getting COVID. Not when we’re the primary provider. 

So we keep it in. And maybe you’re thinking, “well work always means keeping some emotions inside.”That’s life.” Sure. But right now we’ve all been doing it for a long time. A longgggggg time. Maybe longer than ever before. 

Yes, it’s a big deal.

According to Marilyn Newman LICSW, a therapist and executive coach in Wayland, a lot’s at stake if we keep it up. In addition to what popped into my head (heart disease, headaches, snapping at loved ones) she calls out “depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug abuse and addiction, back problems, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders, insomnia, compulsive shopping, compulsive exercising.” Wow. (And hmmm, compulsive shopping?) Oh, and let’s not forget: “Chronic stress affects the body’s immune system and leaves one more vulnerable to disease of all kinds.”

Be aware. Be very aware.

So you know all the problems. And I’ll be on Instagram @honorcodecreative all month with ideas around how we can all “let it out.” But Newman suggests that all progress hinges on one thing. “The key is simple; not easy, but simple, and sometimes life-saving,” she says. “It is self-awareness. If you allow yourself to look honestly at your feelings and try to accept them and understand them rather than deny, avoid or bury them, they can be a resource for you; an emotional roadmap to help you recognize what you truly want and then figure out what to do or not do about them.”

After splitting from my first husband, I had a therapist who taught me something really valuable. That I would live with sadness. Without trying to ditch it (going out, shopping, drinking, etc.) but instead, calmly accepting it. So I started this practice of walking around my house when I was alone and blue, and saying, “Okay, Rach, that’s sorrow. And it’s ok. It’s evidence that you’re human and everything is working as it should.” It made me feel less afraid of it.

“Denying feelings only postpones this recognition and acceptance,” Newman says. “And leaves you in the difficult position of being controlled by strong emotions which you don’t understand, it’s akin to walking around wearing a blindfold.”

Recognize your feelings by looking for signs in your body (stomach clenching stress, jaw-throbbing anger). I do get that cliché lump in my throat when I’m sad. Sometimes I notice the feelings in the way I overreact to something small. Getting pissed because my son won’t use a plate to eat a sandwich is a sign I’m actually angry about other, bigger things.

K. I’m falling apart. Now what?

“Once you become aware and accepting of your feelings,” says Newman, “you can make choices as to how you want to manage them; you can choose to act on them or not; talk to a friend or therapist about them. Journaling, meditating, analyzing, confronting, sharing.” Ok, you say, but these feelings (fear is another biggie) are bubbling up at work. “If you are in a work environment,” Newman says, “you may need to delay dealing with it directly in the moment, but that is a conscious choice, a strategy, which is not the same as sweeping them under the rug.”

What can you do to work around work? I used to go on a morning or afternoon crying walk, where I’d put sad songs on and walk and cry for an hour. Who cares if someone looks at you? Another friend does a sad movie on a weekend day with a box of tissues, knowing she plans to let.it.out. One of my favorite ways to deal with anger, especially during a workday, is to text a forever friend. It always starts the same: “I hate everyone. Go.” We have an understanding that it’s a no holds barred vent that can go back and forth all day whenever we have breaks. And always ends in “Thank G for you!” with a great sense of relief. 

How about exercise? Endorphins and all? “Walking is good; speed walking and timing yourself and turning it into a competition with yourself is not,” says Newman. “I recommend doing something you love each day, such as reading, listening to music, gardening. But not as a competition, and not compulsively.”

Take a breath. Actually. 

I’ve also been turning to what Newman calls “one of the most effective ways to reduce stress.” It’s breathing. “It costs nothing; you can do it anywhere or any time; and you are always doing it anyway, so you might as well take advantage of it,” she says. “All you have to do is to listen to it and pay attention. It can work wonders; it slows the heart rate; it can lower blood pressure. Ten minutes of it can relax you leaving you feeling relaxed and rested. Doing this simple exercise twice a day can literally change your perspective and your life.”

Honestly, I used to think the whole conscious breathing thing was overrated. Hippie dippy. But I don’t anymore. I generally don’t do it for ten minutes, more like 2. But I do feel the effects. I think of it as a mini spa I get between meetings and before bed, and I just close my eyes and drag a deep, long breath in, focusing on my belly rising and falling, and then let it out slowly while lowering my shoulders. At the very least it buys me some time not to yell about something dumb like eating a sandwich without a plate when I’m actually afraid about where the country is going or if he’ll actually be able to go to college. 

Got any #letitout ideas? Would love to hear them here or on insta @honorcodecreative

It’s All About the Brief: Creative Brief Secrets, Unlocked

So the last thing you want to do is write a creative brief. Who has that kind of time? After the downsizing, you’re doing three people’s jobs. And you just want an email done. It’s not brain surgery.

I understand the feeling. I have to write briefs myself for our creative teams.

But I can 100% tell you that investing time in a good brief saves time and frustration later. When we have a good brief, a good creative will get the work right (or close to it) the first time. When the brief is incomplete or not thought through, you end up adding rounds to the process. It adds more emails, more meetings, more reviews versus a focused 20 minutes writing a great brief.

So what makes a great brief? I went to two people who have written some of the best briefs HCC has ever received and asked for their tips, tricks and perspective. You’re welcome. Now put it to good use. 

Meet Ed Castillo, former CSO of TBWA\Chiat\Day NY, current Founder of Brand Disposition, Inc. (www.BrandDisposition.com). @xandnotx

HCC: Ed, why is a good brief important?

Ed: Creatives (and other makers) should be free to create with informed-direction without also having to navigate the politics and biases of clients and agency management. While briefs certainly can be "inspiration" for creating communications, my 25 years in the business suggest that they are more likely to be 'political' documents that keep the confusion of rapidly changing points of view - among those commissioning the work and those overseeing the work - at bay and focused in a particular direction. What's most important is that the agency actually does something beyond discussing the situation; briefs help ensure that that something actually happens.

HCC: How did you learn to write a good brief?

Ed: By writing a lot of bad ones and taking the feedback from creatives seriously. 

HCC: Any brief war stories from your past?

Ed: In 2002, I wrote my first real brief ('real' in that I was solely responsible for its content and work developed on its behalf). When first-round ideas came back at a meeting with the agency CEO, CCO, and the CSO - my boss - in attendance, it was clear that they had little connection to the brief. 

Trembling a bit with anger I picked up the brief, turned it to its blank back-side and said "There must be something wrong with the printers here...you all must have received this [gesturing to the blank page]; I'll make sure this doesn't happen next time."

The meeting ended abruptly after my comment, and the CCO was visibly upset with me.

Later that afternoon - over agency-sponsored beers (remember those?) - I mentioned to the CEO that I was now worried about my relationship with the CCO.

His response: "[The CCO] doesn't pay you - I do. Keep it up!"

HCC: How long do you think it should take to write a good brief?

Ed: Briefs are a means to an end and nothing more. If you make a passing observation about the world and it helps the creatives make something effective, you've delivered a "good brief" even if it took you 3 minutes to arrive at the observation. That said, I typically write something, put it away, re-read it, and then remove 30%-50% of the unnecessary language before delivering a brief (this, of course, assumes I've been thinking about the problem and know something about the brand, its marketing needs, the target, and the cultural context for the ask).

HCC: What’s a sign that a brief isn't where it should be?

Ed: If you can't write it on a single page it isn't a "brief".

Meet Amanda Weymouth, VP, Marketing at Tinyhood.

HCC: Why is a good brief important?

Amanda: A brief is the “contract” between a marketer and the creative team. It is the source of truth that is the foundation for any great creative - whether it’s a big idea down to a tactical execution. Without one, creative quality will be impacted - and the entire marketing process will likely be less efficient.

HCC: How did you learn to write a good brief?

Amanda: My first “crash course” was during my time on the Campaign Management team at the Ad Council, a non-profit that has an incredible mission of using communications to solve social issues at scale (think “Smokey Bear” to more recent movements such as Love Has No Labels). As a Campaign Manager, I was responsible for working with top-tier ad agencies to develop “from scratch” branded marketing campaigns. I saw firsthand how meaningful consumer insights drive strategy, which drives “the big idea,” which then drives compelling and meaningful marketing communications. I had incredible mentors and bosses at the Ad Council who pushed me to think with a consumer-first mindset, and be rigorous about “going deep” into everything from consumer pain points to specific creative requirements so that everyone was on the same page and working from the same set of knowledge.

HCC: Any bad brief war stories from your past?

Amanda: Ha! Where things would “go wrong” was when clients would come into a kickoff with not a lot of direction, and say they are “open to anything” in terms of creative ideas -- only to have the breaks MAJORLY pumped when they actually see “the work.” Then, you get into a sticky place where the client just “doesn’t like it” and can’t really articulate why. It is always important to get a full understanding of the client/ lead stakeholders’ expectations and requirements, while still leaving room for creative ideation and letting the creative teams “push” the clients -- but one step at a time. Knowing what you “don’t want” is almost as important as knowing what you “do want.”

Another thing that can go wrong is when brands or marketing teams try to dive head-first into working with a creative team without really grounding the creative team in the overarching brand strategy/ voice. I think it is super important to “over-educate” creative teams to help them understand the full picture of the brand, not just the specific marketing campaign goal, so that when you see the creative work it feels aligned to what the brand really stands for. 

Knowing your brand and having a strong point of view in terms of “what makes you different” is really the foundation for any and all creative briefs.

HCC: Tell me about your brief process and timing. 

Amanda: It depends on the complexity of the project, but even if something “seems straightforward” - chances are it isn’t, especially if the project is with a creative team you haven’t worked with before. You of course want to be clear and concise, and avoid being too prescriptive, but the more creative teams can “get in your head,” the more they can deeply understand your brand product, and customer -- and this will always save time down the line. And, chances are it will improve your creative product!

HCC: What are some common pitfalls? Signs that it isn't where it should be?

Amanda: One, being too prescriptive. Focus on “what you want” not “how you want it.” The second you start getting into the “how,” you are impeding creativity and frankly this is a huge de-motivator for creative teams. 

Two, creative “doesn’t feel right.” Most of the time, if you get round one creative back from a team and it just feels “all wrong” -- sorry to say but that’s probably on you! Instead of getting into nitty-gritty revisions, maybe take a step back and say “hey, let’s take a look again at the brief and make sure there isn’t anything that’s confusing / unclear/ missing.” Or, maybe your creative team just doesn’t have a strong enough understanding of your brand (or maybe you don’t!). Again, this having a clear, well understood brief always saves time in the end and delivers a better creative output.

HCC: Any “secret sauce” Amanda tips?

Amanda: Think in extremes. Don’t just think about what your customer likes -- also think about what they “dislike.” Similar to this, when talking to a creative team about your brand voice/ tone, thinking about what you do NOT sound like is sometimes as helpful as thinking about what you do. This will help to create more opportunities for “tension” in creative, which really creates greater differentiation for your brand and product.

[And] a great brief needs no kickoff meeting. OK, maybe that’s a little extreme. But the point is, if you are in a kickoff meeting to review a brief and you find yourself responding to questions from a creative team with lines like, “oh yes I still need to add this detail” or “I hadn’t thought about that” or “oh I was just going to speak to that but didn’t think I needed to put it in writing” - then chances are it wasn’t a great brief. Before submitting a brief, pretend like you are going to present it. Think about: “What questions might people ask? What haven’t I included?” This will force you to put a little more meat on the bones and make the brief more “self contained.”

HCC: Would you share a sample briefing form?

Amanda: Briefs can take many forms and depending on the scope of the project or specific deliverable, there may be other elements to consider. However, the below brief is a great foundation for the questions you should be answering for the creative team:

Overarching Brand Platform: What do we stand for? What do we stand against? What kind of business are we? Who is our primary customer? What do we offer to customers that no one else can (value proposition + positioning statement)? What emotional benefits does our brand deliver for our customer? What is our brand personality/ tone? 

• Audience: Who are we talking to for this particular marketing campaign/ asset?

• Objective: What is this marketing asset about and what is in it for our brand?

• Customer insight: For this topic, what do we know about the customer’s pain points/ needs?

• Customer enemy: For this topic, what is our consumer most afraid of?  

• Call to action: What action do we want the customer to take and why should they care? What is the landing experience?

• Primary/ secondary messages: What do we want to say? (NOTE: *Not* copy “how we want to say it.”)

• Deliverables/ creative assets needed: Specific needs for marketing asset/ campaign, including visual and copy requirements. 

• Creative references/ other things to know: Include any details from competitive brands, inspiration, references to another visual that has worked well in the past, etc.

• Timing: Due date for round one, round two revisions plus drop dead date for launch

Sunday gut check. Are you being bullied at work?

Don’t let some monster shut you down at work. Photo by HCC staff @epmphotography.

#Sundayscaries are one thing. But #Sundayterrors are another. If around 3PM your stomach starts to seize up, maybe the reason is workplace bullying.

Bullying isn’t just for kids. Adults are better at it. And the workplace (aka the grownup version of school) too often makes the perfect breeding ground for this kind of regression.

This Inc. article lays out work bullying really clearly. It often takes the form of the “passive-aggressive and covert” stuff like “negative gossip, negative joking at someone’s expense, sarcasm … mimicking to ridicule, deliberately causing embarrassment and insecurity, the invisible treatment, social exclusion, professional isolation, and deliberately sabotaging someone’s well-being, happiness, and success.”

It may also be more tangible/material: “When the bully uses power or position (I’m your boss) to control the victim” or verbal “anything from ‘teasing’ to threats to gossip to sexist language. These bullies use their words to torment.”

Super senior creatives, especially, can be bullies. I’m not sure why. I don’t know whether someone made them feel it was ok because they were creative (She’s quirky; she’s just not good at the soft skills.) and talented (so, we’ll let it go). But it’s not worth it. Plenty of killer creatives aren’t bullies. Yet I’ve worked in places where creative leads made team members cry on the job and experience extreme anxiety.

At the (non-creative) leadership level, leaders may reinforce the behavior by elevating/rewarding those creatives and/or failing to address it. Or they may be bullies themselves.

“Do you play favorites? Intimidate and threaten? Do you talk about one of your employees’ faults with a different employee? Do you betray confidences? Then you’re part of the problem.” says Inc.

Leaders who bully may do it for a bunch of reasons, but almost always the result is an eroding of employees’ sense of self and all that comes with it. “Most organizations spend far more time focused on generating external value than they do attending to people’s internal sense of value,” says this Harvard Business Review article. “The irony is that ignoring people’s internal experience leads them to spend more energy defending their value, leaving them less energy to create value.”

Even when you’re not the one being bullied, the whole vibe sucks. Being in a meeting where a leader is tearing someone down yet again (that would be the “deliberately causing embarrassment and insecurity” piece) is uncomfortable and unproductive.

If you’re the bully, don’t decide that it’s just part of your personality, everyone has their flaws, etc. (That’s your “inner lawyer” talking. Fire her.) Instead, get a coach and work on it. Do it because the internet has made your reputation available for anyone to see on Glassdoor and loads of other places. Do it because churn costs you money. But more than that do it because you don’t want to be that fourth grade asshole.

If you’re being bullied, it’s either unlivable or on it’s way to being unlivable. Here are some suggestions for how to get out of it.

1. Say something in the moment. It’s hard. And use with caution. But sometimes a bully stops when you stand up to them, even a little. And it can feel really good. The key is to be totally even, calm and audible. What you actually say is crucial — it has to sound like you. And don’t make it a joke, which puts you on their level and doesn’t help change the behavior. But you could try: “Yikes, that’s unnecessary.” Or “I don’t like that.” “Or “let’s stay on topic.” Or: “That’s not productive.” (A friend once said, in a very straight voice: Why would have to be so unkind?”) You will feel so brave.

2. Step outside. In the moment, right when it happens, say “excuse me.” And literally step outside. There, take a few deep breaths and come back when you’re ready — without an excuse. You shouldn’t be subjected to bullying. Period full stop. Stepping away is a quiet way to say a lot about your expectations. It also gets you some time and space to gather yourself.

3. Talk to someone. HR. Or a work mentor. Be unequivocal. I once had a friend who’d say to a street harasser: “That’s harassment. Women don’t like it. So stop.” It worked because she was unequivocal. If you’ve decided to speak up, speak up. It’s not a feeling or an opinion. You’re not “feeling” bullied. You’re being bullied. Try something like “I’m being bullied here. It’s intentional, it’s repeated, and there’s an imbalance of power. I love what we do, but this treatment is eroding my confidence and making me feel sick to my stomach.”

4. Refuse to work with the person. If you can (even if it seems fairly impossible) state that you can’t work with the bully. Say it really straightforwardly. Suggest someone else you feel comfortable working with or reporting to. (Enough of these requests also will start to say something.)

5. Plant the seeds of a job search. Say yes to networking opportunities. Gently probe what’s out there. Get your web site or resume together. Why? It’ll make you feel strong and respected. It will help you decide if you’re in the right place.

6. Quit. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again? Written in a completely different job market. In this gig economy, where everyone wants flexibility and freedom, it’s hard for companies who want good full-time hires. Sure no one is irreplaceable, but a full timer holds power and generally has options. If you’re being bullied at work, it’s ok to quit if you want to. You’ll say to yourself that you shouldn’t have to, that the bully should leave. And you’re right. But you don’t have a duty to right the world’s wrongs. You do have a duty to protect you, and not wake up every day and subject yourself to inhuman treatment.

If you’re a bully, we have coaching, and you’re about to feel sleep better at night and lead a stronger workplace. But more importantly, if you’re being bullied, get in touch if you want to talk it over. We’re here!

The New Newbury Street

By HCC intern, Jack Tuttle

We all have some idea that this pandemic we’re in has caused problems not only only for the average person but also for businesses of all sizes all over the world. Companies you’d never have thought would go bankrupt have started declaring for bankruptcy. And so have the “Main Streets” where big brand outposts generally live alongside some smaller brick and mortars. Boston's Newbury Street has been hit hard. And it’s a representation of what’s happening around highly trafficked retail streets all over the country. So I interviewed a few people about their opinions on what the new Newbury Street will look like: a president of a regional real estate investment company, my grandfather, Barry Solar, who has lived in Back Bay for 18 years, has been a real estate broker for 20 years, and previously worked as a real-estate lawyer for 33 years, and HCC Founder Rachel Solomon (Note: She is also this writer’s mom.)

Price Pressure

The high prices on Newbury Street pre-Covid, was an issue even pre-pandemic. One that led to fewer and fewer independent shops and a growing (and vanilla) representation of big brand outposts. With Covid keeping us all home and restraining our spending, rental prices on Newbury Street have become too high for a growing number of businesses. “Any clothing stores, small local quality stores, can’t afford rent so they won’t be able to maintain a spot on Newbury Street,” said Solar. “Both the sale prices and the rental prices have gone up so much.”  If landlords want to see their spaces rented (and nothing’s worse than a bunch of boarded up shops in every way) something has to give. Once, high rental prices of properties could force businesses to start charging higher prices for their products. But in a world where buyers are price sensitive with new urgency and able to click off to a better deal, it's all on the landlords to make changes.  “Landlords are going to have to be more flexible on rent and I’m sure they will start to get pressure from retail brands,” Solomon said. In all likelihood, even if landlords adjust, smaller shops will likely be priced out.  

A Unique Experience

With people now content to staying home and order online,  all of these businesses are stuck trying to compete with online prices, which often reflect the lack of overhead. So there’s renewed pressure to give consumers a reason to go out at all.  “The stores with demand are what will do well if they are priced competitively or their stores have unique experiences that can’t be achieved online,” our real estate expert says. Companies that will succeed with in-store retail, will offer the combination of safety precautions and an experience that can’t be matched online. “Retailers have to get more creative about the way they view these spaces,” Solomon says. She wants businesses to start using the space they have access to to give a shopper a totally new shopping experience. “There could be in-store opportunities to customize product. A deeper dive into the history of a brand. Changing in-window art installations with an impetus to capture and share. Already many of these stores are a brand play rather than a sales play. Brands want to say they have a Newbury Street store. People go to experience the brand, touch product, and then still buy online. So what’s the way to deepen and innovate that brand experience right now?” 

A Temporary Takeover  

We know that the current state of Newbury Street is partially open and partially closed. But what’s next? “There will still be a desire to be on Newbury Street because of the location and great architecture,” our real estate expert says. This might bring comfort to some people knowing Newbury Street will never fall off, but what’s going to happen until things start to normalize again?  Solar says things like chain “restaurants, nail salons, and banks” will take over, businesses that can afford rent even in this time because they are larger corporate businesses. Solar also believes that there will be a growth of art galleries before things become normalized again; landlords may get flexible on rent because of the desirable crowd they bring to the street. 

So what’s next? For retailers,  “they may have to look differently at their cost benefit analysis overall, and whether it makes sense to maintain space on a desirable street as a showplace for innovation and an opportunity to be disruptive,” Solomon says. On the landlord side, it’s time to think about making deals that drive traffic; nothing’s worse than an empty street. One approach is to make these spaces more influencer-friendly with inviting photo features like the Wynwood Walls in Miami, giving influencers and their followers a reason to come. 

Trapped, But Make It in a Museum. And Make It Interesting.

By Jack Tuttle, HCC intern

Quarantine’s got everyone trapped, missing out on the things we all love. Maybe you’ve been told to go on a virtual museum tour, and you may have thought about the ones you’ve been to before. But one of the few ups in these hard times is that museums all over the globe are opening for virtual tours, so why limit yourself to what’s just around the corner? Suddenly you can travel the world and see all these great museums without moving from your couch. (Keep your pajamas on while getting inspired? We’re in. )

The Broad (Los Angeles, CA)

Our first stop on our journey takes us to L.A. where we visit The Broad, a contemporary art museum. This museum offers a view into their “infinite mirror room.” Youtube videos take you on a lightshow experience, where the viewer can be fully immersed in the show. Music in the background provides more and more ambience, as if you were there in person.

National Museum of China (Beijing, China)

Our next trip takes us all the way to China (No passport needed.) In the National Museum of China, take a fully immersive 360 tour of exhibits of  their Resplendence of the Tang Dynasty and Sunken Silver exhibitions. The Augmented Reality experience allows the viewer to get up close to the art. Walk around these exhibitions in Augmented Reality, looking in full 360 at all of the different displays. One of my favorite discoveries? A mural the size of a full wall that looked like an old piece of art depicting people entertaining royalty. 

National Museum of Korea ( Seoul, South Korea)

Our next stop is a short hop to South Korea (no hop, really, stay right on that couch) where at the National Museum of Korea we are able to take 3D tours of 8 different exhibitions such as 1000 Years of Korean Design or Korean Dynasties like the Joseon Dynasty.  Despite not being able to eat your favorite barbeque and pan chan, a wide range of exhibits will keep you interested.

Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam,  Netherlands)

Two different types of tours make Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam a necessary stop on our trip around the globe. Two separate links allow you to take different tours showing off different parts of the museum. One of these is a trip via Google maps which shows all different pieces of art. This first tour shows the entrance of the museum and all sorts of statues. The other tour, provided by the museum, is a more thorough one allowing the user to select one exhibit to see in depth. You can get surprisingly close to the different art pieces and see a good amount of detail in each painting. Some of the works have an accompanying audio feature where you can learn about the piece as opposed to just seeing it. 

American Museum of Natural History (New York, New York)

This classic museum you might know from childhood is turning over a new leaf for the times. Exploring the natural history of the world is fun for children as well as adults looking to further their knowledge. Having access to both present and past exhibits gives hours of exploration and learning. (If you were going there in person, you would only be able to see the current exhibits, which you may have already seen.) Access to voice guided tours provides another layer of relaxation. All you do here is throw your feet up, let the tour do its thing, and soak it in.

National Museum of Computing (Bletchley Park, England)

Last up: England. This final stop seems fitting, with quarantine making us all more tech reliant than ever. Our last stop brings us to the National Computing Museum. Here you’re able to walk around looking at all different types of computing machines from throughout the years. Some come with links to learn even more about these inventions. One thing that really caught my eye was the world's oldest working computer all the way from 1951!  This museum provides a look at how old technology really is and inspires you to think about what’s next.

Imagine...

I’ve never heard so many predictions. Everyone’s talking (endlessly) about the new normal, but the most innovative and successful leaders and companies I’ve worked with haven’t just moved the needle on normal. It can’t just be about adjusting business-as-usual to fit what the changing world sends our way.

The great leaders have been the ones making the changes. They haven’t just thought outside-the-box, they’ve been willing to blow it up entirely with brave questions and bold ideas.

" ‘Hitting the Ceiling’ ” is that point in every business when you're going along, evolving, growing and then BAM! there is some revolution at the company, department, or individual level that prevents you from continuing to evolve,” says Monica Justice, an expert business advisor with 20+ years of experience leading some of the biggest and most successful digital media and e-commerce brands with wildly successful results. (More on Monica to come.) “I think just about every business is hitting the ceiling right now.”

Ok, I buy it, you say. Think big. Blow it all up. But how? I’m under huge pressure. The team is small, being paid less to do more. And we can’t get out of our own heads. 

Not going to lie, It’s not easy. But those who do the work now have the best chance to stand out, make an impact, do the right things, and become beloved among consumers.   

Here are a few ways to spark the kind of imaginative thinking you need right now:

1. Get a “blue sky” team together. Assemble a team of meaningfully diverse people in your org who are great with innovative ideas. Explain why they’ve been selected. This team has to include someone from leadership and someone who is a do-er and will hold them accountable. They should be held to a regular meeting — say every other week  — and present monthly to management and the full organization. From there, assignments can be handed out to push the best thinking forward. 

2. Survey customers. Engage a marketing/survey expert to do a lite survey of clients/customers. Even just some great anecdotes + insights will spark new thinking. Consider how findings can be played back to the whole org and ask for ideas from this session “no matter how crazy.”

3. Say yes. If you don’t say yes when you hear ideas, you’ll stop hearing them. You also will encourage a climate where people don’t want to collaborate to further anyone’s ideas except their own. There’s always a way to say yes. Ask that person to partner with someone who has a shared avenue of interest. Find a way to test the idea. Ask them to redirect it, consider another angle or look deeper.

4. Create a WFH Big-Idea-a-Thon. Like a hackathon, but not just for hacks. Freed thinking is one of the advantages of being out of the office. Make the most of it. Set the table - no idea is too “out there.” Create partner teams of different skills or encourage people to “hire” from among peers. Have teams present ideas on Zoom. Consider having a third party (say an angel investor who's also a friend) evaluate them and ask questions. 

5. Lift the Lid. If you’ve gotten yourself stuck in a box, it helps to bring someone else in to lift the lid on it. HCC and our coaching partner Sally Marrer (a retail trailblazer and biz dev expert) have been doing 3 hour coaching sessions for businesses, designed to redirect thinking, ask penetrating questions, get you unstuck, and help create an action plan. (Email me for more info rachel@honorcodecreative.com)

6. Rethink the players. Monica Justice, a leader from my former days at Rue La La, has a consulting business called Allele that specializes in a process you may have heard of: EOS. She helps businesses rethink the way they work, and it includes a wholly fresh take on roles and skills. “It's so helpful to have someone on the outside to see things clearly and help you work out of a rut,” she says. “When I facilitate EOS sessions, one of the first things we work on together is the Accountability Chart. What I do often unearths ‘aha’ skills and passions that make people much stronger contributors and better able to collaborate fruitfully on new ideas. Leaders should be looking at their structure to determine how it may need to change given changing business dynamics and economic forces.” 

7. Question everything. Instead of recreating the way it used to be as closely as possible, get yourself and your team in the habit of asking what could be. How it should be. A few questions to get you started:

• What should the role of fashion be in the future? (Or food, or sports, or education, or…)

• How can we have a human relationship with our consumer? What if our customer were a close friend who was feeling a little lost and confused. What would we want to say to them right now? This year?

• What did we individually take the time to learn during this challenging moment. How can we as a business continue to educate and inform?

• How are we treating all of our employees? Can we listen better to the people who work for us, respect our differences and different experiences, and advance diverse ideas? What do I need to sleep well at night as a person and a leader?

• If our business is a person, do we like who this person is? Who do we want this person to be in the ideal world? 

Ready to Lift the Lid? Want more questions to spark big thinking? Happy to help anytime. rachel@honorcodecreative.com (If you are a small business facing difficulties right now, such as layoffs, we can talk about donated services.) Also, we’ll be sharing lots of ideas on #IMAGINE over on instagram @honorcodecreative.com - hope you’ll follow along.

Person(s) of Honor: Dom and Allyson Gunn

(by Jack Tuttle, HCC intern)

I have known Dom for a long time. Ever since he worked with my mom at Rue La La, starting when I was 3 (in 2006). One memory I have with Dom is when I was young and held my hand up next to Dom's arm and said “We’re the same! He’s like me!” (I’m Korean; he’s Black.)  

First I knew him as my mom's friend and co-worker and the next thing I know, he is in my house working out with my mom. (Dom is a UX designer who has also explored fitness and personal training.) It always seemed like he was having fun while working, playing, or just hanging out. He met and married Allyson, who is currently working to get her graduate degree at University of Denver. Allyson previously worked at Crossroads, an organization that supports and mentors young people as they become economically independent citizens, socially responsible leaders, and emotionally connected adults. Now Dom and Allyson are living in Colorado with two children, one biological and one who is adopted and is also Black.

I thought this family would be very interesting to interview because they are a biracial couple with children of color, Dom is in a creative field, and Allyson has worked with mission-based organizations. 

Honor Code Creative: Being a Black man, how do you feel the issues in the news have more deeply affected you?

Dom: Before these events I wasn’t entirely on board with Black Lives Matter. I didn’t get what it meant. Did it mean that Black lives mattered more than gay lives, for instance? Was this a movement for Blacks that were angry and wanted reparations? I’m not an angry person, and as for reparations, I don’t need anything given to me that I didn’t earn. It didn’t make sense for me to support BLM. Because of the recent events, I’ve learned that BLM is not saying that Black lives matter more than White or blue lives. I get that Blacks want to be seen as equals as opposed to lesser beings. I get that some Blacks have suffered terribly simply because of the shade of the rainbow they were given. So to answer your question, I feel sad, and angry mostly at the people leading the country but more than that I feel educated. I feel motivated. I feel ready to help.

HCC: How did attending a march feel? 

Dom: Marching made me feel like I was in a small way contributing to the fight for equality for everyone, not just Black, Browns but everyone who’s ever been discriminated against. It’s time we’re all perceived as equal no matter our age, hair texture, accent, social status etc. In the past when events like this took place, I had a hundred excuses as to why I couldn’t be bothered. I was too busy, my kids needed me home, or it’s just not my fight to fight. This time I want in. I want a seat at the table to share my points of view. I want to be counted as another person who’s trying to make the world a better place for everyone. 

During the march, we were all in the middle of the highway lying face down, hands behind our backs for 9 minutes, chanting “I can’t breathe.”  A moment I’ll remember forever. I tried to put myself in George’s shoes, thinking is there anything else he could have possibly done to get the police to let up. He called for his mother. He said he could not breathe. He peed on himself. There’s nothing else George could have done. I quickly came to realize: were it me lying on the ground, I would be dead too.

Another thing I’ll never forget is that there were maybe 25% Brown people and all the rest were not people of color, screaming, chanting, singing, and praying for equality. And that was a beautiful thing.

HCC: Being a designer, do you think you can express your feelings through your work? 

Dom: Yes. But I’m not big on communicating my feelings. One of my goals this summer is to find a creative way to express my feelings to further the movement. 

HCC: How do you plan on expressing yourself?

Dom: Late summer I plan to start a podcast called Chasing Fear. I have yet to finalize all the details, including the topics I’d like to cover but it’s slowly coming together.

HCC: What has had the biggest effect on making change?

Dom: I can't say one thing had the biggest effect. It’s more of a collection. Unfortunately, humans tend not to change unless there’s enough pain forcing us to. We don’t stretch until our bodies are experiencing pain. We decide to quit smoking when the pain of watching loved ones die scares us into [it]. We only change our diets and lifestyle when the doctor gives us a painful diagnosis. In my opinion, the reason we’re beginning to change as a society now is because of the pain caused by all the recent events. Without those events, life would continue on as usual.

HCC: What's your biggest fear after the discussion dies down?

Dom: That if and when the discussions die down I will also lower my voice. I can’t control if the rest of the world goes back to normal. I can't control if some people never accept the change that's happening as we speak. But what I can control is what I say and do. What I can control are the conversations I choose to have. What I can control is if I do my part to keep the discussions going.

HCC: Being a web designer, do you think there is a way that web design can be used to promote change? 

Dom: Absolutely! The web is the fastest tool for communicating with large, diverse, populations around the globe. And with the spread of COVID at least for the next year most people will be at home engaging with the world via their smartphone or laptop. The web is the ultimate platform to promote change, but I think many people are searching for exactly how.

HCC: How has being in a biracial marriage and raising children of color affected you through these times?

Dom: If you were to tell Stella [ed note: his biological child] that she’s part Black, she would deny it. And multiple times a month Nevaeh tells Allyson that she (Allyson) doesn’t like kids that are Nevaeh’s color. And that we only adopted her to trick her. So what’s happening in the world is bringing our family together by forcing us to continue having necessary conversations. We let the kids watch the news and explain what they’re seeing.

HCC: What adversity have you faced if any as a Black creative? 

Dom: To my memory I have not faced any adversity as a Black creative. Perhaps it's because I’ve lived/worked in the North East primarily. Or maybe it’s because I’m a shade of brown that is more “acceptable.” Or maybe it’s pure luck. Whatever the reason, I haven’t experienced much adversity. In the future I hope that does not stop me from fighting for other people who have.

“I can’t control if the rest of the world goes back to normal. I can’t control if some people never accept the change that’s happening as we speak. But what I can control is what I say and do.”

Allyson

Honor Code Creative: How has being in a biracial marriage and being a mother of children of color affected you recently?

Allyson: I think being in a biracial marriage and a mom of children of color affects me all the time; it’s just a bit more magnified right now.  While I have always tried to reflect on my place and my privilege as a White woman mothering Black and biracial children, I think this space we are in now reminds me and pushes me to stay uncomfortable, to not become complacent, and it has placed me in a space where I am far more aware of how much work I will continue to need to do as my daughters grow, in order to be as much of a support for them as possible, and to work to ensure their lives are seen as valuable as mine.

HCC: What has been the toughest challenge?

Allyson: Feeling paralyzed. Feeling like there is so much to do, that it is so big, so all encompassing that I don’t know where to begin. And then it’s not letting that feeling stop me from taking another step forward.

HCC: What do you find useful when expressing your views and feelings?

Allyson: I read, a lot. Sometimes there are words, videos, songs, voices that can express what I am feeling better than I can. Having those quotes, ideas, and facts as back up can be helpful.  I also try to think about how engaging with others who have differing opinions than you, or calling someone out for being offensive or biased, that you should stay centered on you, and the steps you're taking by engaging to develop and grow, versus focusing on trying to change the person you're engaging with. This re-centering on myself and my growth make the conversation feel less weighted, if that makes sense.

HCC: How does this affect your studies? 

Allyson: Most of the work I’ve been doing as I prepare to write my dissertation has centered on critical theory and examining the systems and structures within higher education that marginalize and oppress. So, from a studies standpoint, this current world we live in has allowed me to dive even deeper into those understandings, and examine them as inequities in access to education during a pandemic, in a lack of understanding privilege by faculty during a time of trauma for their students.  

“...My whole purpose of pursuing my doctorate is to impact the systemic racism preventing students of color from accessing and persisting in higher education at the rates of their white peers.”

Personally, the work has been harder to continue to slog through. I find myself feeling like there are more pertinent issues to focus on  What I try to do in those moments is remember that my whole purpose of pursuing my doctorate is to impact the systemic racism preventing students of color from accessing and persisting in higher education at the rates of their white peers. I made the choice to step into this fight many years ago. I just have to remind myself that for me, the work has always been a marathon, even when everyone else starts to sprint.

HCC: What was your biggest takeaway from attending a march?

Allyson: For me, attending the march was my reminder of who this is all about - the young people who will take the torch from us. The protest we attended was run by high school students. Being there and watching them create such a powerful moment re-energized me in a way that I didn’t even realize I needed.

HCC: How does having experience at Crossroads shape your point of view?

Allyson: Crossroads is a powerful place for young people to grow and lead. I have learned more from the participants of Crossroads about life, connection and relationships than I will ever learn from other adults. It has impacted my worldview tremendously, particularly as I have come to know how different my experiences have been in comparison to the young people I’ve worked with.  

HCC: Where does your desire to make a difference come from?

Allyson: That’s a tough one! I think it’s always been in me, and it was something my parents nurtured from when I was very young. I have been so fortunate to have the life I have, I feel like it’s important to support others in achieving their dreams as well, even when the cards are stacked against them.

HCC: Have you been informing your children about what’s happening? How?

Allyson: We’ve been trying to, yes. We took them with us to the protest, so they could understand how people are trying to make a difference. We’ve tried to talk through the things that happen. Some of it they understand, some of it they don’t. It will continue to be a big part of how we parent them as they grow. Waiting to show them the world will only support their growing up with a muted or narrow understanding, which as we can see, isn’t helping anyone.

HCC: What's your biggest fear after the discussion dies down?

Allyson: That nothing will really change. That 20 years from now my children will be doing the same things we are currently to try and change the world. 

HCC: What do you hope changes?  
Allyson: All of it. Just about everything. I hope it all gets peeled apart, from our inner understandings to the biggest systems and structures of government. And then I hope we put it back together in a way that brings a whole new meaning to the word justice.

Say What You Mean

Words, their meaning, and the message they convey are both critical in our community and a critical part of what we do at HCC. And so we go.

“The words you say and the words you don’t say. Both have power.”

We became abundantly aware of this after taking time to mute and listen. There’s a lot to be said for listening and we’re taking a cue from Maya Angelou who said, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

Here’s what we know so far when it comes to the language of race:

1. Why getting the words right matters (and can’t our heart just be in the right place?)

Our research led us to this: “It is a euphemistic linguistic model that intends to center humanity separate from situation or identity, and it is a model that creates new terms that are supposed to, as John McWhorter wrote for Slate in 2016, ‘rise above pejorative connotations that society has linked to the thing in question.’” In other words language has an important role in unlinking long-held assumptions.

Another thing we learned is that it’s about impact, not intent. And while we may be attempting to be inclusive when it comes to some shorthand terms, our impact is that we are actually generalizing anyone non-white thereby not celebrating exclusivity when and where it matters. In this case, less is not more.

The reality is that white privilege, however overt or covert, is the root of our society and also our language. The problem with this is that it has become the norm to identify people as white and non-white with broad terminology that disregards ethnicity and heritage. But what do we mean and how do you keep up with terms that seem to be ever-changing? 

We have a collective responsibility to write what comes next with accuracy and authenticity and that starts with saying what we mean, taking the risk that we will sometimes get it wrong and apologizing when we do and doing better the next time.

(2) It starts by simply listening. 

When we tune into what people are saying and engage in active listening (which means not listening for the purpose of preparing an immediate response), we can absorb more information and take appropriate, well-informed and deliberate action as opposed to our regular knee-jerk reactions. From the Annie E. Casey Foundation we learned, “Active listening involves paying full and careful attention to the other person, looking [them] in the eye, avoiding interruptions, reflecting your understanding, clarifying information, summarizing the other person’s perspectives and sharing your own.”  You’re going to make mistakes because being perfect is not the point, unlearning problematic things takes time and loosening our ego in the name of being a better friend and human is what this moment calls for.  

(3) when identifying race Its biggest success story (in terms of a phrase that was called for and has taken hold) might be the phrase people of color.” (Slate.com, 2/13/19) What we know now, just a year since this story by black Slate staff writer Rachelle Hampton ran, is that this generalization actually strips the focus of its identity. 

In short, when we say BIPOC (the newest term for black, indigenous and people of color) we really ought to just identify which groups we are specifically talking about, thereby giving them credit for their specific perspective. 

From The BIPOC Project, “We use the term BIPOC to highlight the unique relationship to whiteness that Indigenous and Black (African Americans) people have, which shapes the experiences of and relationship to white supremacy for all people of color within a U.S. context.” We unapologetically focus on and center relationships among BIPOC folks. Another way to think about this is in challenging the term “African-American” because unless you would categorize a white person as being “European American,” simply assuming the ethnicity and/ or heritage with which someone primarily identifies misses the mark of identifying them at all in the first place.

(4) other areas where we might get the words bungled We know we won’t get it right all the time but here’s where we might have the opportunity to be proactive about the words we say:

• Treating George Floyd’s death as the reason for the movement. While the circumstances surrounding George Floyd’s murder have certainly been impactful in the Black Lives Matter movement, it would be wrong to state that his death is the reason for the revolution now. His story is tragic but not unique except for the fact that this time a camera was on. Which brings us to our next point…

• Say their names. Trayvon Martin. Dontre Hamilton. John Crawford III. Michael Brown. Eric Garner. And the countless others whose lives have been taken as a result of discrimination and did not make the news. Each life mattered and is reason enough to fight for justice. As often as possible, say their names.

• This isn’t a “new problem.“ The trauma of being a black person in American goes back for generations. And for indigenous people, even further. Whether intentional or not, white privilege is as part of America’s history as Columbus claiming land that “belonged” to those that came, settled and built civilizations long before him. To acknowledge that history of entitlement is the first step in recognizing how much work we have to do.

• Other things:

  • “I know how you feel.”: Put simply, unless you have the same heritage, you actually don’t. This goes back to intent versus impact and while your efforts may be pure, likening the trauma of being black in America is not, and never will be, like anything else.

  • Use of the words “urban”, “inner city” or “minority.” These are all examples of avoiding what we really mean, and often the connotation behind what we’re trying to say. If you’re replacing the word “black” with “urban,” to make a generalization about a specific group of people, now might be a good time to take a look at the prejudices and biases you hold and an opportunity to reflect instead of speak.

  • While we’re at it, about your “girlboss tribe”... We’re going to go out on a limb here and guess that no one in your networking group has similar, legally-recognized tribal affiliation so scratch calling yourself a “tribe.” Using terminology that derives from other cultures while appropriating the meaning and significance is just that, appropriation. And it’s not cute.

Feeling overwhelmed by all the work you need to do to get it right? Good. That’s the homework of being an ally. Which, by the way, is a verb not a noun, in the sense that it takes constant, active work. And it doesn’t have a due date, you’re in it for life. After you’ve listened to friends, family, co-workers and complete strangers you learn from on the internet about what you need to do to support them, positioning yourself as an ally by understanding your privilege, doing your homework and speaking up (not over) are the next few ways you can be an active participant in effecting change at the micro level. Show up, listen, do the work, we’re in this together.

Want more tips? Rachel Cargle’s free 30 day course “ Do The Work” is available for anyone here.

Always learning.

And thank you to Amanda Goedde for the quote that inspires this call-to-action in doing the work.

Reading List:

• Guidelines For Authentic Conversations About Race, https://www.aecf.org/m/blogdoc/Authentic_Conversations_About_Race.pdf

• The BIPOC Project: https://www.thebipocproject.org/

• The Language of Race: https://www.poynter.org/archive/2002/the-language-of-race/

• Which People?, https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/02/people-of-color-phrase-history-racism.html

Rachel Cargle’s recommended list of resources: https://linktr.ee/1thatgotawayy

Listen. First, listen.

This is what I whisper to myself.

Storytelling is my stock and trade. I’m inclined to talk talk talk. But it’s not time for business as usual.

The best advice I got was from two (notably: younger) social media experts on our Honor Code team who asked “Do you want to mute this week?”

Yes, yes I did. 

Lots of white people are speaking right now about the modern-day lynchings and other publicized racist offenses that culminated in the death of George Floyd, and many before him. But as a person of white privilege, it’s been my turn to talk since forever. 

I suggest the same to all of us who are not black. Listen. 

I’ve only just begun the learning process I need to undertake to add to this conversation. Listening doesn't mean silence. But there are plenty of brilliant black and brown voices out there. I can use my voice and my platform to share and support theirs. 

I suggest all leaders consider using this moment to train ourselves to be better listeners. Ask more questions. Read more. Work to let BIPOC voices be heard. Same with brands. How can your platforms become tools for hearing, really hearing? Who is longing for the space to be heard?

There’s this desire to jump right to change, to talk about all the things we’re doing. I applaud the desire to ACT. I am acting immediately on what I know to be right. But also, I think you have to listen. And talking about all the things you’re doing—I’m not sure about that. I’m not sure if it’s just great and inspiring or if it feels a little closer to talking than doing. I know it feels disingenuous for me right now. I feel more urgency than ever to be authentic. And when I can’t be, to hold on talk and to listen. 

Don’t Forget to Crack the Basics, Stat

There are certain things right now that might seem obvious, but that in the hubbub of stress, fear and long ago formed habits, we’re finding consumer-facing  businesses aren’t thinking about. 

So I thought I’d spell them out here.

1. Check your voicemail. Remember voicemail? Chances are you have a phone number and a message of some kind. And believe it or not, especially in these strange times, customers will call it. Be sure you have a clear message that expresses empathy, stays up to date on what services you’re offering and not offering when and how (e.g. curbside pickup), and clearly references that you are strictly following all CDC safety policies (or similar).

2. Use outdoor space. People are going outside! Are they ever. And they have time to read and digest out there. If you have a brick and mortar space (even a closed one) use the area outside to message. We have found simple sandwich boards (especially if you can make someone laugh like this one we did for Follain) get lots of traction. Add your web address.

3. Put your windows to work. If you are a bricks and mortar, open or not, your windows are valuable real estate for passers-by. Make sure people know where they can shop you (web, instagram) and that your windows are engaging, change regularly, and feature things you find get noticed or have sold well.

4. Go old school -- Traditional media is less expensive now than ever. Consider more basic media especially for a 40+ demo that is versed in digital but still goes old school to “escape the screens” especially right now. Radio ads voiced by the right (very aligned) radio personality could be a place to start.

5. Make the most of your home page. So many people start at a home page when they want to get basic news on a brand, versus clicking through email to shop. Make sure yours is clear about your safety measures and what you’re offering right now. And classic mistake - don’t start with “We are closed because of….” Start with “We are open online with curbside delivery.” 

6. Oh, and go digital. If you haven’t taken that plunge, do it now. Reopening or not, we will not be returning to the way things were. Cobble together whatever you can and whatever budget allows, but get online. If you can’t get a site up, allow shopping via instagram/DM to purchase until you can.  If you’re a digital business, and you still have barriers to shopping, remove them now. A few basics that come to mind:

   1. Not taking Paypal, or if you do, requiring that the user fill out a billing address

   2. Making sign in or password retrieval/reset hard

   3. No seamless shopping through instagram

   4. Offering a discount for newsletter sign-in, then making the shopper go back to email for it versus showing it in a popover.

7. Ignore what’s been done before. If you’re a more established business, all the rules have changed. Marching along the same path won’t work. Those who know less may succeed more right now because they think like consumers and aren’t as likely to get stuck. Check out this Times story about a group of friends who won over more established competitors by knowing less and going with their human instincts.

8. Be authentic. Especially right now, consumers crave it. When you don’t know if you’re doing the right thing, say so. If something warms you as a person, share it. Your key audiences aren’t necessarily you. But they’re humans. Your human instincts count for more than you might think. 

Have more ideas? Share them with me. I’d love to hear. Also, we’re sharing more on instagram @honorcodecreative

We Lifted the Lid ...

 … on retail + COVID. Here’s what we found.

It’s incredibly hard to find words for what we’re all feeling right now. 

I was talking to my longtime friend, partner and coworker, Sally Marrer. We met at Rue La La over a decade ago. Where HCC’s focus is creative/marketing, Sally’s is the business development and merchandising side. We often team up on in-person coaching sessions. And we put our heads together to think about how we could help now.

Mostly, we didn’t want to feel powerless. So we started reaching out to clients and friends and seeking out new ways to be helpful. Respecting budgets and fears, we went looking for new ways to be true partners that are fast and either low-cost, or just on us.

In It … Together

One of the things we’ve found is that in this crazy time, clients are longing to bounce ideas off someone else. Some of the questions we heard:

• We don’t want to sound tone-deaf in our communications. Are we hitting it right?

• We’re getting a lot of pressure to hit the ground running when things normalize(ish). But I don’t even know how to think about that.

• We know that when we come out on the other side of this things will look different -- can we talk through some ideas to get ahead of it?

What we decided to do are short sessions we called Lifting the Lid. People are boxed in right now, literally and figuratively. In highly distilled, reasonably priced 3-hour, virtual sessions we started helping clients get out of the box, talk through ideas, and emerge with concrete next steps.

Because we know that there are small businesses struggling to survive, for whom this is a make or break, we made this a one for one; for every Lift the Lid session completed, we donate a session to those who need them.

Unboxing a Plan

Our Lift the Lid sessions so far have focused the retail and events spaces. We’ve worked with really skilled and respected leaders who have experienced a sudden and complete shift of their entire business landscape.

Here are a few highlights (and they form a common theme):

• There are low hanging fruit solutions that are visible to us on their face but clouded to even the best leaders who are very invested and embroiled in the day-to-day.

• It’s crucial to look at the things that work best for you as a business and find ways to rework them for the current climate (i.e. translate actual into virtual within the spirit of your brand).

• Consumers can smell inauthenticity. If you’re speaking to your audience as if it were business as usual, you’re leaving opportunity on the table (and likely alienating them).

• Telling the truth to employees and customers is really important right now. Just be straightforward. It gets everyone on your team.

• The success stories in this climate are realistic about their priorities and where they can win.

This is not a time to throw up your hands, put everything on hold, and decide that there’s no place for your business to advance right now. We know from experience at Rue La La during a recession that there are people (lots of people) who want the joy of retail therapy. It’s a question of who will be creative enough to deliver on that joy in ways that resonate right now.

 1 + 2 is … limitless

 Sally and I wrap each session with a written game plan, which typically includes a prioritization of next steps (1s, 2s, 3s…)

And we have been grateful to also get feedback on what the experience means to participants. A few things we’ve heard:

• “Insight, advice, and motivation to get new projects moving forward.”

• “Your ideas have birthed more ideas!”

• “It’s amazing to realize how much I could learn in those 3 hours!”

• “In 3 hours you gave me a whole new perspective and concrete, actionable ideas I hadn't thought of on where I can take my business right now and make an impact.”

If this sounds interesting to you, or if you know someone who needs an assist right now, please reach out. We want to keep being helpful. It makes us feel less helpless.

*You can email rachel@honorcodecreative.com to get started or to suggest a small business who needs this kind of help right now.

And … cut!

10 things you should Marie Kondo from your life. And our how-tos.

Marie Kondo taught us to let go of anything that doesn’t spark joy. And boom, a tsunami of stuff flooded into Goodwills and consignment stores all over the country. But what about the non- “things” that deserve to get the Kondo kibosh? We’ve extended the concept to some of the less tangibles — and found even more joy ensues.

1. Friends who are hard on you all the time. I’m not tallking about your tried and true friends who give you the tough love you need once in a while. I’m talking about friends who regularly criticize, judge (overtly or underhandedly), or who otherwise make you feel less-than. Friends aren’t family, and these relationships aren’t unconditional. They’re supposed to be additive. Say “The way you’re talking to me now doesn’t feel good. I don’t want this in our friendship.” If there’s no sign of improvement, you’ve already said enough, and you don’t need to make plans or spend more time on this person. Ignore. (Does that sound harsh? So is judging our friends.)

2. Judgement. And heal thyself, too. There’s no bigger suck of your time and energy than time spent judging others for their choices, friends or strangers. If your brain starts heading in that direction, force yourself to instead ask, “Why do I care?”

3. Jobs that make you dread Monday. If you’re staying up later and later on Sunday to avoid starting the work week, it’s a sign. I’ve stayed in jobs past their prime, and it was such a relief to move on. In the moment it feels impossible and dramatic, but I’m here to tell you that life’s too short to live for Fridays. Rip off the band aid. Save money, start taking people out to lunch to build your networks, get active on LinkedIn if you aren’t already, and set an exit date in your mind.

4. Clients or customers who bully you. The customer is always right is definitely a thing. Except for the always part. We’re people. And we all have the right to be treated humanely. That means no screaming, no lying, no blaming, no name calling, no drama. If it’s not ok in pre-school, even a client/customer doesn’t get to do it.

5. Toxic team members. A number of clients I’ve consulted with start off by saying “I’ve been thinking about letting X go.” I always wonder — what’s stopping you? If someone isn’t pulling their weight, if they’re toxic, chances are the whole team is feeling it. The longer it lingers, the more infectious it can be. And getting let go may actually be a deep breath for this person. We often provide coverage in this situation while a search is undertaken, and I’m amazed at the impact a team feels to have fresh perspective.

6. Words. With a background in copy, you’d think I love words, and I do. But fewer words. Too often we want every single message in one communication. But then there can’t be a hierarchy. Writers need to kill even the phrases they love. And as a client, be willing to prioritize, or at the very least, to test.

7. TV shows you’re watching and books you’re reading just because you started them. Knee deep into The Bachelor when you realize it’s time you’re never.getting.back.? Let it go. Seriously. You’ll find out who won on E. But time spent on “fun stuff” is time you’re not being productive, so if it stops being fun, say goodbye instead of wasting more time because you’ve come this far. Also, you don’t need to finish a book you hate just because everybody loves it. Dump that thing like a bad habit and move on to something you look forward to reading!

8. Second guessing yourself. You made the best decision you could with the information in front of you at the time. You have to let it go now. Stop going over and over it in your mind. Stop going over it with friends, which only makes you dwell on it longer. If you go there, tell yourself: “I did the best I could. I learned something. Now I’m going to think about how to move forward.”

9. The fantasy life that makes you feel like you failed. You were going to bake bread. You were going to play tennis. You were going to start taking pictures. Now the stuff lurks around your space, reminding you that you never did these things. So you never did these things. So what! You did other things. Give yourself a break. Clear the space out mentally and physically (here’s where you can send the things) for the future and newer possibilities. Don’t worry, if one day you do take up tennis what you had will be outdated anyway.

10. Complaining. And complainers. I once had a friend who complained about her (mentally abusive) boyfriend all the time. She’d ask for advice; I’d spend hours counseling her, she’d end it, then she’d go back to him, and the cycle would repeat. I just couldn’t stay friends with her. It was too draining, and it took up the entirety of our friendship. If you’re complaining about something constantly, it’s a sign you need to do something about it. Or just suck up the fact that you’ve decided not to or can’t. But no one can take constant complaining without action. And when you’re complaining all the time, it feels like a release, but that’s a mirage. In fact just hearing yourself say it over and over makes you feel worse. (Trust me.)

We’d love to hear what you’re cutting from your life, here or on insta (@honorcodecreative).