1) Event Recap / Updates!

2) Who’s That Creator: An interview with an incredible creator in our community! A friend of mine who not only works in the agency space but is a creator and the host/founder of a doorman-themed media channel.

3) Brand Creative Strategy: While I normally do a hot take on a brand - this time I’m sharing a creative idea that popped into my head. I may start doing these as well! What if we watched the Olympics in silence?

The other week was the best event that we’ve held so far! If you missed it or we weren’t able to include you this time, hopefully, you can join us at the next one!

Here is a recap and a few pictures from the night!

Here’s who we had:

• Cam Colan from TikTok.

• Arden Franklyn from Fanatics and a creator with 100k followers on Instagram.

• Andreas Verrios creator with 2.5M followers @MrNYCSubway.

• Jesse Cannon podcast producer working with Rolling Stone and a creator with 100k subscribers on YouTube.

Shoutout to Araly Langomas for an incredibly insightful breakdown of the night. I actually couldn’t have written this better:

• Utilize Your Content Style with Brands

  Whether you’re a filmmaker on YouTube or a restaurant reviewer on TikTok, understand why your audience visits your page and the content format they prefer. Partner with brands that align with your personal brand and format. Let your personality shine in sponsored content just as it does in your regular content to create worthwhile ads.

• Hyperfocus on What Makes You Unique

  In an oversaturated market, it’s crucial to maintain your unique voice. Focus on offering new perspectives and engaging commentary rather than just reporting news. Ensure your content stands out amidst the daily influx on social media.

• Engage with Your Community

  Executives may misjudge their brand’s relevance and connection with consumers. Use trends and keywords, but more importantly, engage with your audience in spaces where they discuss your brand. Start conversations to understand their viewpoints and ask them directly about their preferences and perceptions.

We had some great partners for the event! If you’d like to contact any of them I’ve hyperlinked their emails:

• Symphony Studios (Ryan Knowles and Karen Ballou) and Podstream Studios (Chris Colbert) provided the venue.

• Live Life in 360 (Dimitri Kondilis) helped capture some photos from the night with their DSLR camera photo booth. Hopefully, we can include a 360 camera next time!

• A Gift Bag with incredible products from brands like Immunocologie (Karen Ballou and Corey Huggins), Womanness (Michelle Jacobs), and Ossa Oral Care (Camille). Immunocologie also provided a $75 gift card to all of our attendees!

• Beverages provided by Brooklyn Gin (Joe Santos).

• An incredible olive oil tasting by Vita Blu (Jessica Carro & Maurizio Citrolo)

If you’d like to download some of the photos to share on your social channels we would really appreciate it! Feel free to tag Social4TheWin and our partners as well!

Has anyone here been to New York Fashion Week? Well I haven’t, but I will this year. I have no interest in watching people walk in a line or wear clothes that look like they’re from an alien planet, but I am looking to host a cool creator-focused event for NYFW!

I’m also thinking more strategically about this event series, and how to cater it towards specific industries! I’m hopeful that over the next six months, we can build this to even better heights.

In the meantime. My friend Sam Katz from Crowdwork Media is hosting a creator-focused event with B&H Creators on August 8th for an evening of comedy and fun. Comedian @GabbyisBryan will share some tips and tricks on how to enhance your stage presence. There will also be a mixer with fellow creators and a chance to test out demo gear. I’ll also be there - if you want to chat with me since you know I’m running around every event.

IT’S SARA LEEDS!

Funny enough, Sara and I actually went to the same college, Tulane University and just recently met each other at an industry event earlier this year. We also found out that I lived with one of her best friends’ boyfriends after college, so I’m sure we probably met at some point too, and didn’t realize it! Since then, I've probably seen her at every other event I attend. The industry is crazy small sometimes—especially when you're a social person.

What I love about Sara’s experience is that she also sees this industry from multiple angles. While she works at an agency in the creative space she is also

• The founder & host of doorman stories

• A NYC lifestyle creator under her own name with about 60K followers. TikTok & Instagram

Increasingly, I’m noticing more people who are not only working at brands or agencies but also thriving as creators. This dual perspective, in my opinion, is the most valuable asset for anyone in our field.

I’m glad to have met someone so cool and ambitious in this space, who's quickly become a friend of mine!

Sara runs multiple channels. Here they are if you’d like to check them out.

Personal TikTok (42k) & Instagram (25K). Doorman Stories TikTok (60K) & Instagram (85k). All together she has roughly 200K followers.

So let’s get into what I believe are they key components of our conversation!

PIVOT OFTEN

One constant in my professional journey has been the necessity to pivot, a concept I've deeply embraced with my business, Social4TheWin. The idea that nothing is perfect at first is a fundamental truth. Identifying exactly what you want to do and how to approach it effectively takes time. A pivot doesn't signify a complete course correction or starting from scratch; rather, it means adjusting your strategy and leveraging the space you're already in. This approach allows for growth and adaptation, turning challenges into opportunities and refining your path to success.

FINDING YOUR INSPIRATION:

You never know when inspiration will spark or what will find success. Getting insight from others can be a double-edged sword; everyone has an opinion on even the smallest details. While perspectives are helpful, seeking too many can drown out truly valuable insights. It's crucial to find a few people you truly trust and respect for their perspective. This focused approach ensures you receive constructive feedback without overwhelming your creative process, allowing you to refine your ideas into something unique and impactful.

CREATE YOUR OWN IP (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY)

I often say this: no one will care as much as you do, or put in the same effort for your business. Don’t let someone else cancel something you believe has value. Build it on your own.

EMBRACE LEARNINGS FROM YOUR WORK AND LIFE

After leaving TikTok, I realized just how valuable that experience was. It taught me so much that I could bring into my own ventures. We, as people, don't just do one thing—we constantly learn and evolve. It's essential to find ways to take lessons from all aspects of life to help you become more effective in everything you do.

TAKE INITIATIVE WITH BRAND OUTREACH

Get comfortable with rejection. While change is often cited as the only constant, there's another: rejection. In work, life, and love, rejection is inevitable. The key difference lies in your willingness to put yourself out there and face rejection, and in your ability to become comfortable enough with rejection to overcome it.

I’LL ACTUALLY KEEP THIS ONE BRIEF

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're aware that the Paris 2024 Olympics are happening right now. Although I haven't watched much of the Olympics live, like many of you, I've been inundated with content on TikTok.

As with Tokyo 2020 and most previous Olympics, there are breakout stars, especially from a social media perspective. Numerous athletes are finding success online, from Team USA’s Women’s Rugby player Ilona Maher to Turkish shooting silver medalist Yusuf Dikeç. The range of individuals gaining popularity on social media is fascinating.

Yusuf's story is particularly compelling. In a sport characterized by unique gear and intense tactical training, Yusuf pulled up in jeans, no eye gear, and still took home a silver medal. I highly recommend looking into his story more if you haven't already seen him on TikTok.

The Strategy:

While this concept could apply to many athletes and has been utilized before, it is particularly evident during the Olympics that athletes need to block out distractions and focus entirely on their performance at the moment.

No athlete embodies this better at these Olympic Games than Stephen Nedoroscik, Team USA’s Men’s Gymnast and Bronze Medalist. Unlike many gymnasts who compete in multiple events, Stephen is a specialist. He competes in just one discipline—the Pommel Horse. You might be wondering, "What exactly is the Pommel Horse?" I had the same thought initially.

Whether it's for social media or a traditional commercial, I believe Bose should collaborate with Stephen Nedoroscik. This concept has the classic feel of iconic sports commercials, and given Stephen's current recognition, it would resonate well on social media. Here’s my mini-production write-up.

BOSE LOCKS IN WITH STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK

Campaign Name: "Sound of Silence"

Scene Opening: Thousands of fans scream at the top of their lungs at the Olympics.

Focus In: Stephen Nedoroscik stands up from the bench, removing his American jersey.

Stand Behind: From behind Stephen’s shoulder, we see him take off his glasses and mime putting on headphones. Although he isn't actually wearing them, the scene glitches, giving us a glimpse of his usual routine: jersey off, glasses off, headphones on, locking in.

Focus In: As soon as Stephen "puts on" his headphones, the deafening roar of the fans fades, plunging everything into silence.

Zoom In: The screen goes black, with only a spotlight illuminating the one thing on Stephen’s mind —the Pommel Horse.

Multiple Angle Shot: Stephen approaches the Pommel Horse, completely absorbed, as if the crowd and the world around him have disappeared, leaving only him and his trusted apparatus.

The Ride: Now donning Bose headphones, Stephen performs his routine in absolute silence. We hear only the crisp sound effects: hands striking the leather, grasping the handles, and the swoosh of his suit cutting through the air, culminating in the grand finale of his performance.

The End: Stephen walks back to the bench, the Bose headphones are no longer on, but the silence persists. He puts on his glasses, zips up his jersey, and as he removes the metaphorical headphones, the roar of the crowd returns in full force.

Title Card End:
"Bose - Focused Performance. Absolute Silence."