Hello dear reader!
It's 60 degrees out and I am inexplicably happy for no apparent reason outside of THERE IS SUN!
There is something about the first real rays of sunshine and those soft spring rains that quietly shift everything. A gentle sense of hope settles in. The kind that feels less like a push and more like an invitation to begin again, intentionally this time.
Yet it is so hard to ignore the state of life outside my quiet bubble, as pretty as the outside is becoming, the world feels heavy. Global conflicts, political tensions, and first world problems are running rampant. Not to mention, getting slapped with a $2500 bill for what you think is just a flat tire, well, hurts (Mayor Mamdani, fix the potholes please I beg you). People are getting laid off, expectations are shifting, and it feels like everyone is trying to reinvent themselves overnight. There's a lot to hold space for.
All of this forced me to slow down. I'm writing this with a second coffee on my desk, a gym session done, and a hairwash day complete, which for old me would have been unheard of on a Wednesday. I'd already April, and with Spring cleaning being a theme in the air, I am asking myself: how am I evolving right now? What does a new beginning look like for me?
The answer was quieter than I expected. I have been growing already. I say no, a lot. This weekend I stayed in. I cleaned my space, reorganized my closet, handled the small mundane life things that I normally take for granted. When the world is at war, it's a privilege to get to fold laundry and cook a home cooked meal.
Success isn't always about the world travel, sexy dinners, and cool swag. Real success is defining boundaries, being selective with time and protective of energy.
I wonder, are you also reprioritizing, and resetting? How is spring cleaning going for you?
THIS WEEK’S MOOD <3
♡ This Week's Mood ♡
More than ready for this season
Traveling, exploring, and soaking in every moment
Spring is a fresh beginning and it could not come at a better time
Business & Marketing
The Ordinary Turns Education Into Experience With Its "Ordinary Dictionary" Pop-Up The brand brought its science-first positioning to life in Sydney (not with Sydney, sorry Sydney Sweeney Stans) with an immersive pop-up full of sensory experiences- where should they pop up next?
Emma Chamberlain Enters Home Design With a 100-Piece West Elm Collection The queen does it once again as she continues to bring her aesthetic to the masses. Ngl, I already wish of an entirely furnished West Elm home, so I may need to go check out her collab, as I also trust her impeccable taste.
OUAI Transforms NYC With a 20-Foot Shower Installation to Launch Bond Repair Balm I love me anything Jen Atkin puts out. If I met her I’d likely make a pun and ask her to show me the Ouai. In this case, she did with a massive installation in the heart New York City. I wonder how many people actually tried to shower in that thing.
Culture & Lifestyle
Chanel Casts Margot Robbie in a Campaign Inspired by Kylie Minogue's Iconic Era The queen of yearning has entered the chat. Margot can do no wrong.
McDonald's Leans Into K-Pop With Its "Hunter" Collection Drop Playing on the human inherent need to compete, Mcdonald’s is leaning into the heated rivalry that goes for both kids and adults. Are you going for HUNTR/X or the Saja Boys?
Jumping onto the Hannah bandwagon, not to mention that Malibu is one of Miley’s iconic eras, Airbnb made a solid business play by offering Hannah's Malibu Beach House for a Limited Fan Stay.
Tech & Leadership
The viral scents said to play with your phermonoes- in a good way, Salt and Stone, reaches $165M as Private Equity Bets on Its Growth.
I’m smelling desperation as Meta Offers Up to $3,000 a Month to Attract Creators as platform wars reach an all-time high.
The Future of AI video creation is at question with OpenAI Shutting Sora Down. The unexpected move points to deeper strategic shifts within OpenAI, who is struggling to make a comeback after their deal with the DoW. The AI landscape continues to evolve, pivot, and consolidate at rates we’ve never seen before.
The Bigger Pattern We're Watching
Brands are investing in physical, immersive experiences because digital alone is no longer enough to cut through the noise.
Creator-led everything is accelerating, from skincare to home design to platform strategy. If you are building a personal brand right now, pay attention. The window to carve out your space is open, and it will not stay that way forever.
Cultural memory is one of the most powerful marketing tools right now, and the smartest brands know exactly how to use it.
The AI landscape is moving faster than anyone can predict, and even the biggest players are pivoting in real time.
The platforms and brands winning the attention war are the ones willing to pay for it, literally and creatively.
ICYMTP (In Case you Missed the Pod)
Check out my chat with Sydney Addis, Founder of Pivota Marketing.
We talked all the things:
Hiring for values will always take you further than hiring for skill alone.
A 90-day onboarding checklist is not micromanagement. It is respect.
Building a global team is simpler than you think if you learn the room.
In Madrid, no one asks what you do for work, and that mindset shift might save you from burnout.
Real loyalty is built through genuine community, not forced team building.
As always, thanks for being here and reading us. Have a topic you think we should cover?
Leave a comment below!
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P.S. If you’re thinking “I wish my brand had content like this” good news: we can make that happen.
