This episode explores the true meaning of creativity, its universal importance, and how it can solve problems and inspire action in various fields, including corporate settings.

Marissa discusses authenticity in branding, emphasizing building a brand that resonates with the right audience, and shares practical advice for overcoming creative blocks and building resilient brand strategies.

Marissa is the Founder and CEO of Workday Creative LLC, where she joins clients, from early brand strategy development through brand design and implementation, building remarkable experiences that attract raving fans and loyal customers.

Sit back, and enjoy story time with Marissa!

Follow Marissa on Instagram @workdaycreative !

Check out her website here!

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don't skip leg day, meaning don't skip your brand strategy,

2

the creative process and how we

design, how we show up in the world

3

and how we show out in the world.

4

welcome back to the

rise and float podcast.

5

I'm Ray, one of your co-hosts from

info law group, and I'm thrilled to

6

have you join us for another inspiring

episode today, we have something

7

truly special lined up for you.

8

And this episode, we'll be diving

deep into the world of creativity

9

with Marissa Garcia, Workday creative.

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Marissa is a brand designer and strategist

helping women led businesses, right.

11

Design and bring to life their brand.

12

Marissa is the founder and CEO of

Workday creative, where she joins clients

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from early brand strategy development,

through brand design and implementation,

14

building remarkable experiences that

attract raving fans and loyal customers.

15

Plenty of insightful discussions await

as Marissa shared her experiences and

16

the lessons learned along the way.

17

This episode has something for everyone.

18

Don't forget to subscribe to

the rise and flow podcast.

19

If you haven't already and help us

spread the word by sharing this episode

20

with your friends and colleagues.

21

Let's get into the

conversation with Marissa.

22

Ray: Marissa, welcome to the show.

23

Thank you so much for joining us today.

24

Marissa: Hi guys.

25

It's so good to see you.

26

I miss you guys.

27

I miss being in San Diego and

being able to see you guys in

28

person, but I'll settle for this.

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Ray: Yeah, I know.

30

Thank you so much for getting

this scheduled with us.

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I know you've been busy.

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And I'm sure you'll share a little

bit about what you've been up to.

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But real quick workday creative before

we get into what workday creative

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is, I just wanted to ask you the

question about creativity in general,

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since it is part of your namesake.

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Basically what does

creativity mean to you?

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Because we work with a lot

of creative entrepreneurs

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who are creative in some way.

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And it's such an important concept

to dive into and understand.

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We would love to know what creativity

means for someone who is a brand

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strategist and creative engineer.

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Marissa: Yeah.

43

I think I was telling you

beforehand, I could talk your ear

44

off when it comes to creativity.

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I think we have, all of us have had a lot

of conversations surrounding this topic

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and we just kind of geek off and talk

about it, but I think the biggest thing

47

for me as a brand designer and strategist,

creativity is, a way to solve problems

48

and inspire people to take action.

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And there's a few misconceptions

that I'm constantly trying to work

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against when it comes to creativity.

51

And that is the first being, it is not

reserved for people who are in creative

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industries or creative positions, right?

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, you can be a numbers data guy in a

finance department and be creative.

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You can be a lawyer in the

legal industry and be creative.

55

I am a mom of four of a

four and six year old.

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And as a mom, the creative

communications that I heavily have

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to lean into to get my kids to do

the shit that I need them to do.

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I, you know, there's,

there's creativity there.

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And think we all need to remember

that from the moment we wake up,

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everyone is making some level of a

creative decision, whether it's from

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the mundane to elaborate, extensive,

intentional, creative decisions.

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So that's one of the biggest things

that, you know, I constantly hear

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from clients, I'm not creative enough.

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And that comparison is

truly a thief of joy.

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And I know it's cliche,

but it's very true.

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And I also think that it's

very subjective, right?

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Your creativity could look different

from someone else's type of creativity.

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A creative person in a finance department

might look incredibly different compared

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to an artist or a painter, right?

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So it's subjective , and , the

spectrum is very wide.

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The other Major misconception about

creativity is that or something

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you should be aware of is that if

you got to use it or you lose it.

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And , I don't think you completely ever

lose, you never ever lose creativity.

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But I do believe that if we reject

creativity constantly on the daily, I

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think it falls, I think it falls deeper or

sinks deeper within us, and it's harder to

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tap into creativity in our everyday lives.

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I like to use the analogy

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We see Peter and he's lost his

ability to tap into his imaginations

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because he's inundated with adulthood.

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Right.

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And when he returns to Neverland

and that iconic dining scene, right.

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Where they're all sitting at

the table with the lost boys

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and there's tons of plates and.

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Pots and pans and everywhere on the

table that are about to indulge in

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this feast and they start pretend

eating He's like what what's going on?

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Like there there's where's the real food?

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There's nothing here And I remember

I think Tink says like you you've

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got to use your imagination You got

to use your creativity like that.

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You're not gonna be Peter Pan if

you don't Tap into your creativity.

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And so they get into this

bickering fight, right?

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And i'm bringing this up I had to look

up the line because i'm bringing this

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up because you guys are lawyers and he's

like They get in this bickering fight.

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He's like I Don't mess with me.

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I'm a lawyer and he gets The spoon and

he's pretending he's humoring them, right?

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He gets the spoon.

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He pretends he's gonna flick some food

at rufio and he does that And I think

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that's a really great analogy that you

know It took the lost boys that took

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him to remind him of like you have it

within you It is in you you just have to

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be willing to lean into it and give it

space to flourish And so it goes along

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with our creativity Everyone is creative.

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And you have to Constantly tap into

it every day and with those With doing

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that you become a more creative person.

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You never lose it You just become more

powerful and you have the ability to

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tap into it and so that's why I named my

business birthday creative because I truly

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believe that We all as entrepreneurs,

as business owners, we need to, as,

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and not even entrepreneurs, business

owners, everyone in the workforce, we

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need to make creativity a key driver of.

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Every element of our workday, no matter

what line of work you do, no matter if

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you believe you are a creative person

or not, creativity is truly, truly

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the foundation of how we move through

this world and how we communicate.

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And so I'm the biggest advocate

for creativity and as a brand

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designer and strategist is my.

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Delightful, responsibility

to remind business owners and

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entrepreneurs, nothing's impossible.

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we just got to get a little

creative in how you show up

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and show out in this world.

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So, yeah,

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Ray: I love that.

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And that's , the reason I wanted

to start off with that question is

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because I knew like, look at that.

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It was like a manifesto, right?

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So I knew that I was going to set the

tone for the rest of the conversation.

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And I wanted to go back real

quick to what you mentioned about

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like tapping into it, right.

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And creativity.

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is a practice, right?

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Like it's just like meditation

is a practice, right?

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Like

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you're

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not going to sit down and

meditate for 10 minutes.

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It's going to, you're not going to have

all the benefits of meditation, right?

132

And same thing, like with working

out, you're not going to go to

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the gym one day and then have

your dream body the next, right?

134

It's a practice.

135

It takes time.

136

It's something that you work towards.

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And I think that's a lot of times what,

when people say they're not a creative

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person is probably because, you know,

they took an art class once and they

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tried drawing something and it didn't

come out the way they wanted it to.

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And they just said, you know

what, this isn't for me, right?

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They kind of have that fixed mindset

of, Hey, I'm not a creative person.

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I'm going to stick to sports

or I'm going to stick to

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Analytics or whatever it may be.

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But that's just a big misconception and

sometimes falls in that fixed mindset.

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Marissa: Yeah.

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Ray: And

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Marissa: I

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Gabe: I have a lot of

friends that are artists.

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Like they make some beautiful

artwork, like just amazing artists.

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And they're always reaching out to me

for social media Stuff because they

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claim that they're not creative enough.

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And I'm like, wait a second.

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Like, what are you talking about?

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Like you create this beautiful artwork,

but I think it's the mindset that a

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lot of people separate social media

and content as a different type of

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creativity, which it is, but at the same

time, , it is so subjective because there

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could be creators out there that are.

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Just filming like blog type content.

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And it's not like they're doing anything,

you know, traditionally creative.

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They're just filming themselves,

like doing their day to day work,

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but yet that is creating content.

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They are a creator.

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So I love the fact that you

brought up that it is subjective

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to each individual person.

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sometimes it takes someone

like yourself, right?

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That you help.

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People in businesses with breaking

out of that and really understanding

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that, Hey, you are creative.

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Let me show you how to

implement that creativity.

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Into social media marketing, right?

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So I love that.

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Marissa: Yeah.

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I think we definitely all own an area

of creativity or like our zone of

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genius, but I think we, what we all

need to remember and to your, both

175

of your points is that creativity

It doesn't take effort necessarily.

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It takes submission.

177

It takes that, you know, you

reframing your mindset and be like,

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okay, I can't do content creation.

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I'm not creative enough.

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Well, have you given yourself the

opportunity, the space to actually Tap

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into creativity and explore, you know,

I think we all limit ourselves when it

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comes to creativity because we're so we

put so much pressure on ourselves that,

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oh, my creativity has to look like this

person and my creativity has to be just

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as good when again, we need to remember

there is this creativity is subjective.

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There's A spectrum of creativity.

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I am not a data numbers person.

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Like that is not my zone

of genius of creativity.

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My zone of creativity falls

something completely different.

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But we need to remember

that we don't have to.

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Force out our creativity.

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We need to rather lean into what we

Our experiences what we know what

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we're good at and you don't have to be

a phenomenal painter to be considered

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creative so instead it's about

Surrendering to the creative process

194

if you will, in discovering like what

is creative My creativity and what,

195

what can I offer to this, this world?

196

And you'll find when you give yourself

that space, you actually have a lot

197

to offer because you have so many life

experiences your perspective, like that

198

all influences how we creatively show up.

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And so we need to let go of the control

of this or this need of having our

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creativity look like everyone else or.

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That experience that level of success

when you embrace vulnerability of like

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just welcoming and like being Suck

at something but like again with the

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repetition like we can get better We can

get to a point where we're really happy

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with the level of creativity and so I

think there's just an incredibly high

205

pressure put on entrepreneurs, especially

to creatively show outright because it's

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so much tied to our business success.

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And I think we just need to You

know, that high pressure comes

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from, Oh, let's just, do this trend.

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Let's do this, the soundbite.

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Let's just put everything out there.

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we don't know what our own creativity is.

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Let's just try everything.

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And in actuality, and some of the

things that I have to remind, like my

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clients and people who I work with,

it's like, we can actually save.

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Time we can save our energy.

216

We can save our money when we actually

slow down and embrace like that creative

217

process and discovering, like, what

kind of, we really own when it comes

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to our business and our creativity.

219

You know, in the long run, it's saving

us from having that learning curve or

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discovering, like taking a painting class

and discovering we're not good at it.

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If we can just slow down and Really

allow ourselves To embrace that creative

222

process and discovering our creativity.

223

I think that is where we want to go.

224

for me as a brand strategist,

when it comes to branding.

225

It's like, don't skip leg day, meaning

don't skip your brand strategy,

226

the creative process and how we

design, how we show up in the world

227

and how we show out in the world.

228

So I actually don't work with clients

until we have brand strategy in

229

place, until we have gone through that

creative process and discovering what

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is going to be our creative power.

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Behind

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our brand and our business.

233

And so we really need to tap

into that deeper, that creativity

234

to experience those levels of

ingenuity, new ideas and so forth.

235

And so, yeah, I think we all

need to remember those things.

236

Ray: Yeah.

237

Marissa: And

238

Ray: it's important to like,

Communicate that to people, right?

239

, let's peel the curtain back

on what, what you've done

240

before Workday Creative, right?

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Because a lot of people

understand creativity as being

242

like, , Oh, you're creative.

243

So you must be a painter and

artists and , you're not going

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to make any money doing that.

245

But a lot of people don't realize

that like every corporation has a

246

lot of creative departments, right?

247

Where literally creating like ad

creative and everything, right?

248

There is a corporate

route to being creative.

249

And I think, you know, you have a little

bit of history in that and tell us a

250

little bit about, that experience and

communicating to sometimes business

251

owners And understanding the professional

strategic thought processes that

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corporate America has to go through and

bringing that and democratizing it to a

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small business owner or a solopreneur.

254

Marissa: Yeah.

255

I've been very fortunate to, I've

been in corporate and working in

256

within branding and marketing for

about 14 years, actually, minus the

257

three years that I've been working

creative I lean into my experience.

258

I've worked in the Hollywood

scene, working with high profile

259

clients, celebrities, doing the

whole award show season, working

260

with a really high end brand.

261

I've worked in sports.

262

with the U.

263

S.

264

Army All American Bowl and

with brand sponsors and getting

265

Their name and brand out there.

266

I've worked in the food industry.

267

I've worked in ag Because there are

commodities that are needing to increase

268

the consumption of Their product.

269

I've worked in the school industry because

yes, even schools need to have creative

270

ways of engaging their students and have I

worked for a charter school system within

271

the San Diego Unified School District.

272

So even they needed to tap into creativity

to share about what charter schools bring.

273

With those line of successions, I've

realized that all these big brands

274

that I've had the opportunity to work

with, all of them are leaning into Or

275

prioritizing building their brand and

not just being, this is our product.

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This is our service, you

know, boom, this is it.

277

They are having to creatively

step out of just their products

278

and services and appeal to.

279

I always like to say that, creativity

is literally the very first step

280

in how we connect with our target

audience and brands are realizing

281

that, it begins with customers

being compelled by their creativity.

282

So you're, for instance, like you're

walking down the aisle of target.

283

And something catches your eye.

284

That is, creativity is what disrupts

our minds, it like, bops us in

285

the head, and, disrupts us from

the mundane, if you will, right?

286

So it's literally that first

communication avenue, and then,

287

They're like, oh, this is cool.

288

let me look into it.

289

And then from there more creativity is

used to Engage them and keep them coming

290

back wanting more and that's why i'm

so passionate about branding because

291

branding has a really big impact It's

not just about logos, fonts, colors,

292

but their experience with you and

your business those experiences with

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your business, that is all part of

the creative process that brands are

294

tapping into to grow their businesses.

295

And I think we need to realize

that there is with creativity.

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What I have seen throughout my entire

career is that it allows businesses to

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have this impeccable clarity to do the

work and to show up and show out in

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this world and to their audience, right?

299

It gives us that radical confidence to

Sell and gain that unwavering motivation.

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Like those are my first things

that I tell if you're wanting to

301

grow, like what a brand does for

your business, it's these things.

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Impeccable clarity to do to work

unwavering motivation to show up and

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show out and radical confidence to sell.

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And if we talk about the ROI, the return

on investment of being creative within

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our business, well, that looks like us

being able to stand out in the market.

306

Against our competitors.

307

you guys are a perfect example of that.

308

The way you guys are structuring

your business, that is a radical

309

difference to what most lawyers

would charge or offer their services.

310

And that's refreshing.

311

You have disrupted us from this stereotype

that we've always thought about lawyers.

312

You guys leaned into creativity to break

that mundane and that has is a direct

313

correlation to the growth of inflow

and the success you guys have been and

314

I think you guys recognize that too.

315

Otherwise, we wouldn't have this

conversation but yeah All begins at

316

one thing that is for sure in all

the industries that I've had the

317

privilege of being in all the major

brands that I've had the opportunity

318

to work with prioritizing creativity

is 100 percent the Reason for

319

brand growth and business growth.

320

And we need to recognize that as small

business entrepreneurs, when you start

321

prioritizing creativity, we need to

start prioritizing, building our brands

322

in a creative way, and not just having

to rely on the technical aspects of

323

our product or What we have to offer

324

Ray: And those things are part

of the brand strategy too, right?

325

Like they should be part of it.

326

Cause like that goes back to experience.

327

Marissa: be everything,

328

Ray: Yes.

329

And that's why that strategy

takes precedence, right?

330

To think about at least from the

get go, because if you want to offer

331

luxury services, then obviously that's

going to be implemented through the

332

technical aspects of the product.

333

But that's because branding wise, you

knew that you wanted the brand to be

334

a luxury product as opposed to, just a

commodity product or something like that.

335

Marissa: 100%.

336

Gabe: Yeah.

337

and Marissa, I want to, not only

are you a brand strategist, but

338

obviously you're a creator as well.

339

And you do such awesome content.

340

I've always been such a fan of your

content because you get so creative with

341

the layering and the colors and it just.

342

Your content just pops and it just such

a cool different way to promote it.

343

And I wanted to ask you because you

recently just got an award and I

344

wanted to ask you about that and your

experience and kind of maybe just if

345

you could talk a little bit about your

personal content creation and kind

346

of what led you to, receiving this.

347

Awesome award for your content.

348

Marissa: Yeah my entire life, Creativity

has been the foundation of who I am as

349

a person when I started my business and

I always recommend this to my clients

350

the first thing Before I even got dove

into my business plan everything The

351

first thing I did was go to my, the

closest people around me and ask them,

352

how would you describe me in three words?

353

Give me three adjectives that

how you would describe me.

354

And the one thing that was The

most prevalent was creativity.

355

And so when I started my business, I knew

I have to practice what I preach, right.

356

And content creation is one

of those outlets that allows

357

my creativity to flourish.

358

Flourish.

359

It is a hobby of mine.

360

It has been a hobby of mine for

decades now decades with an S yes.

361

Oh my God.

362

I feel old, but yeah, content creation

has truly been a huge communication

363

channel for me and how I market

my business and sell my services

364

and, and it's my way of showing.

365

My clients like, look, creativity

is really has a direct correlation

366

to our business success

and I am a example of that.

367

Now I had sent off a bunch of my reels

to this award show called the release,

368

which is highlighting content creation

by business owners and entrepreneurs.

369

I got five nominations and I

won the funniest real award.

370

Which is very much in alignment

with that tells me That the way I'm

371

creatively showing it was validation

for the way I'm showing up creatively

372

So when we are looking at our businesses

and how we want to creatively show

373

up to this world We have to know

like what does that look like?

374

What do I want people to know me for?

375

how can my creativity?

376

uniquely show up for my audience.

377

And for me, it's leaning into humor.

378

It's leaning into the bright colors.

379

I'm going to be dance.

380

I'm going to be one of the

people that dances in my reels

381

because music and dancing has

always been prevalent in my life.

382

That's authentic to me.

383

You are going to get outfit of the days

for me because fashion is prevalent.

384

it's important to me.

385

Those are like the foundations of,

that's how my creativity shows up.

386

That's how my

387

creative

388

Marissa: process is, is done.

389

I, in my brand and it shows

up in the work that I do.

390

So my brand design and my brand strategy,

I lean heavily into music for that

391

influence, for that creative inspiration.

392

And I lean heavily into fashion

for that creative inspiration.

393

That's unique to me.

394

Not all brand designers are like that.

395

And that's how I've determined in

my brand strategy, how I'm going

396

to show up differently and how

I can own my zone of creativity.

397

And it's worked out for me.

398

I am a true testament to how creativity

can show up for yourself, can grow

399

your business and really flourish.

400

So I'm so thankful for this award.

401

It was truly, truly an honor.

402

There are a lot of amazing,

amazing creators and creative

403

entrepreneurs that submitted.

404

So I'm just so happy.

405

Ray: No, congratulations again on that.

406

That's huge.

407

And that was, was that

in Atlanta, you said?

408

Marissa: Yeah, I traveled to Atlanta

for the in person award show, but all

409

the voting beforehand was done online.

410

It went through a panel of judges,

I think about like 20 judges.

411

There were thousands of submissions.

412

And then it went through the judges

and then it ended with an open

413

voting for everyone to vote on.

414

So very VH1 TRL.

415

Ray: Yeah.

416

Marissa: for your favorite.

417

Ray: That's super fun.

418

And I'm sure you had a blast.

419

And you know, we were following

along with the content you're

420

creating while you were there.

421

And that's like super exciting.

422

So now I

423

Marissa: have an award.

424

People think I'm funny.

425

Okay.

426

Just remember that.

427

Ray: I'm sure like when you went

around the office to ask like

428

people who you know, describe you in

three traits I'm sure funny showed

429

up a couple times at least right?

430

Marissa: Yeah.

431

Yeah people.

432

Yeah, I have a few of my

friends who Think I'm humorous.

433

I like to think that I'm very humorous

in some way, but you know That that's

434

another form of creativity and it's

subjective and not everyone will

435

find me funny, but that's okay Like

that's okay That is what's true to me.

436

And how I think about myself and

how I show up for my business.

437

So,

438

Ray: and I was going to just go

back to when you were emphasizing

439

how important it is to show up.

440

And do things that embody you, right?

441

And that's once again, strategic, right?

442

Because without even necessarily

trying to be strategic, right?

443

Because it attracts, right?

444

If you, and that's a lot of times

when we talk to other lawyers who

445

are sometimes afraid to, , show up

on social media or show up in their

446

branding, whether that's their website,

whatever avenue they're going down.

447

So just be themselves, right?

448

And that's basically or be who

they want to attract, right?

449

That's at the end of the

day, that's what it is.

450

Like your marketing is giving you the

chance to show people who you are and

451

if they can trust you or if they can,

you know, feel comfortable with you.

452

has that, been successful in

your experience of attracting the

453

type of businesses that you want

to work basically with, right?

454

Whether that's The purpose of what

they're doing or the products they

455

sell, the services they sell, or

just who they are at the core.

456

has that played out the correct way?

457

we just want to know it's

mirrored the same way.

458

Marissa: 100, 1000%.

459

Especially with branding.

460

You want your branding to attract the

people who resonate and relate and

461

can relate to how you're showing up.

462

But at the same time,

simultaneously, you are repelling.

463

Those that do not find you funny do not

resonate with your type of creativity.

464

And I think it goes back to.

465

The being authentic conversation,

we hear it all the time online.

466

You gotta be authentic.

467

You need to be authentic.

468

How do I grow?

469

You need to be authentic.

470

But what does that mean?

471

Like the conversation always stops there.

472

what does that mean?

473

And I think it goes in the same

way, going back to what I said about

474

creativity, it doesn't take effort.

475

It takes submission.

476

It's the same with authenticity.

477

If you're trying to be authentic, you're

probably not being authentic, right?

478

Authenticity is a natural

way of you showing up.

479

It's like without any effort, right?

480

Without having this feel like you're

forcing yourself to be someone or show up

481

in a way that people are expecting you to.

482

So in order for you to discover what that

looks like or what is, You need to give

483

yourself the space to really think about,

like, what is it I'm trying to do here?

484

Like what are the type of people

who are on the same page as me?

485

I don't remember which one

it was, but tracy ellis ross.

486

She's a celebrity She's one of my biggest

influences i'm probably her Vegas fan.

487

But she said something along the lines

of, like, God created, you know, these

488

barrels or these cauldrons and you have

people like every, he created everyone

489

different, but like, there's these

cauldrons that you probably put, you

490

know, the same people, the people that you

find, you know, you really connect with,

491

or you have, you share similar interests.

492

Share some of personalities like

you're my cauldron sister because

493

we're like we're like this We're like

we're like on on it and that's the

494

purpose of branding right there They're

not trying to appeal to everyone.

495

They're trying to appeal to

people who get them Who can find?

496

Residue or confines that their

community is a place for them.

497

Branding should serve as

a purpose of authenticity

498

branding.

499

Marissa: So the point of being

authentic, the point of being of

500

your branding is to develop this,

like almost like a safe space.

501

Like this was made for you.

502

I relate to you and because I relate

to you and because you resonate with

503

how I'm showing up in the world, you're

more likely going to stick around.

504

You're more likely going to value the

things that I have to say and the products

505

I provide and the services I provide,

despite algorithm changes, despite how

506

the industry economy is working, like

despite any pivots that I may make.

507

Because we are grounded on an authentic

level of, like, we get each other and

508

you, you know, we're in this community

they're more likely to stick around

509

and hang out and want to hear or

experience you more and more and more.

510

So that goes, you know,

that's a conversation about

511

branding in its simplest form.

512

Like, you're trying to develop

a community of people who relate

513

to you and find you authentic.

514

And so we just say remember that.

515

Don't try, don't force to be authentic,

because then you're not being authentic.

516

you need to give yourself space to

discover what it is you are here

517

for, what you're showing up as.

518

And, you know, do like me.

519

The first thing, my first step, and

one of the biggest recommendations

520

that I give to, New clients, as

you know, we're beginning the work.

521

I want you to go to people close

to you who know you and ask

522

them, how do you perceive me?

523

how would you describe me?

524

You know?

525

And maybe go to a stranger you've

only known not that long, and be like,

526

what's your first, what's the first

thing that comes to mind when you

527

see me or when you interact with me?

528

So.

529

Yeah, I think the authenticity

conversation, there's a lot of it online.

530

But the recommendations on how

to be authentic kind of halt.

531

And so, you know, there's a bigger

conversation to be had around what

532

authenticity is and means and, So forth.

533

Ray: Yeah.

534

Well, let's shed some more light on the

avenue you're just going down just now

535

with what it's like to work with you.

536

So that first question is important

understanding like who you are, right?

537

What are the next steps in that

process of , When someone's showing

538

up to you and saying, Hey, Marissa,

I really love the way you show up

539

online and how confident you seem and

like the branding of your business.

540

I feel like, you know, I started a year

ago and I kind of just went online, try

541

to figure it out myself and I just been

trying, but I feel like I'm a chicken

542

running around with his head cut off.

543

, what should I do?

544

So I'm sure that's like a number

of clients who come to you in

545

the past, but take us through

the next steps in that process.

546

Marissa: Yeah.

547

I love this question because a lot of

times what I'm discovering when I bring

548

on new clients the biggest struggle is

being able to communicate externally,

549

like what they're setting out to do.

550

As entrepreneurs, we have this

idea in our heads, a genius idea.

551

We start our business like,

yes, this is going to work.

552

I love this.

553

this is what I want to do.

554

But they're having a hard time

translating that externally and

555

communicating that externally.

556

So the first thing, you

know, aside from like.

557

You know, what do people think of you?

558

But the first thing it all

comes back to actually first

559

discovering like what is your story?

560

Like why did you decide that the world

needed what you're having to offer?

561

and this is all part of the

creative process, right?

562

we need to sit down with ourselves and

give us the space to Get all the stuff

563

that's in our head out of us once we

do that, we can take all that and form

564

it into a compelling brand story, form

it into an actual, sales page or your

565

messaging or, how your brand will show up.

566

Translating that how that

shows up visually in our brand

567

logo and colors and fonts.

568

the first part of working with

me is always, always, always

569

going to start with strategy.

570

Because that inspires the visual assets

that you'll need to market your business.

571

your strategy and your designs

are then going to work together

572

cohesively to inspire the experience

that you're trying to provide.

573

it always starts with brand

strategy and discovering how you

574

are going to operate your business.

575

And how you're going to

show up and show out.

576

The main thing that I like to

say to my clients, the strategy

577

is really the foundation for how

you're going to show up, show

578

out, bring value to your audience.

579

And so you don't want to

skip over that, right?

580

And so that's.

581

In working with me, we really deep dive.

582

And I think you know, because of

the high pressure we experience

583

in life and how busy we are, we

don't give ourselves that space.

584

So I pride myself and giving my

clients the opportunity to just dream

585

big, like they, you know, dream big.

586

Let me give you the space, the

safe space to really, establish,

587

why you're doing what you're doing

because we're always feeling rushed.

588

Like, I gotta, I gotta

hurry up and get this out.

589

I gotta create this product

so I can get it out and we're

590

rushing that creative process.

591

And so that first step is really

realizing the potential first and giving

592

us that space to creatively think.

593

And then we get into the deep

work of building our brands.

594

Ray: Okay, that's gonna be very

helpful for a lot of people listening.

595

Marissa: Yes.

596

Gabe: Absolutely.

597

Well, Marissa, I wanted to ask you to

like on, you know, brand strategist,

598

but content creator but also, you

know, you have a family, right?

599

And I think a lot of people with that

are content creators with the family.

600

it's a funny dynamic with

your household, right?

601

How,

602

right.

603

Gabe: How does, how do you balance that?

604

And how has that experience been

with your family and having them

605

understand, what you do and, the editing

process and the content creation?

606

Because I know me personally, my

kids see me, Creating this content

607

and they, tease me, about like, I'm

editing something out loud and it's

608

repeating or I have to do retakes and

they're just sitting there watching.

609

you're so weird.

610

Gabe: You know, how has that

experience been, you know, with you

611

and balancing your work and your

creative aspect and the family life.

612

Marissa: If I can be completely honest.

613

It is hard as fuck, okay?

614

Balancing all the things.

615

Now you're good.

616

Marissa: But yeah, I'm

not going to sugarcoat it.

617

I, this is hard.

618

I am a mom of two.

619

I'm a wife, friend, daughter.

620

All the things while also trying to

balance my branding clients, I'm a

621

speaker, I speak on stages about branding,

I do content creation, I'm building a

622

business locally here in Fresno just all

the things, and I'm, I'm not going to

623

say that it's been all dandy over here.

624

It has been hard, but one of the

things that has contributed to being

625

able to keep going comes literally,

I know I've been repetitive, but it

626

literally comes back to my brand strategy

because I know what I'm doing this for.

627

I have so much clarity in my mission.

628

I have so much clarity in my vision.

629

and why I'm here and what I'm setting

out to do, it is so much bigger than me.

630

that's the motivating factor

behind all the things that I do.

631

Not just brand design strategy,

but literally everything in

632

my life and the roles I take.

633

that's, what's missing from A lot of

entrepreneurs and business owners.

634

It's like that clarity of

what is my mission here?

635

What am I trying to do?

636

Once you have established and gain

like impeccable clarity to those

637

things, the showing up comes later.

638

The showing up comes naturally.

639

Once you've had the opportunity to really

hash out, you know, those mission, vision,

640

value statements, your purpose statement,

all, you know, all those things.

641

And so, you know, yeah,

I get the question a lot.

642

Like, how do you, how do

you show up the way you do?

643

I show up the way to do, because I

put in the work to really identify

644

like what the hell I'm here to do.

645

Right.

646

And now I feel, I feel like

I'm turning that corner.

647

I haven't turned it all the way yet.

648

I feel like I'm turning that corner

of content creation is coming easier.

649

Selling my services is

coming easier to me.

650

And so I'm always going to be

the first person to advocate.

651

You need a brand strategy.

652

You need brand design because that

will, then it goes back to the ROI

653

that I talked about with branding,

if you want to stand out in your

654

market, you gotta put in the work.

655

If you want to be seen as a clear

choice over your competitors,

656

you gotta put in the work.

657

If you want content creation to come

easier for you, if you want to be

658

invited on stages and to grab those

brand sponsorship deals to gain

659

a greater following, you have to

have clarity in who you are first.

660

Because if you're struggling to

communicate what you do, what you

661

have to offer, most likely people

outside of you are confused AF.

662

About what you do and

what you have to offer.

663

So I contribute you know, just having

impeccable clarity about what, who I

664

am and what I'm stand for, what I'm

sending out to do has contributed to

665

being able to balance a little bit

better, you know, all the things.

666

So yeah, every day, every time I

step into my studio, my office I

667

know what work lies ahead of me.

668

I know what I'm need to be doing.

669

In order to get to where I want to go.

670

Ray: So, okay.

671

sticking in the realm of challenges

and, you know, that was very helpful to

672

understand, like, , having clarity on who

you are and what you do so important.

673

Creative block, do you experience that?

674

And what are some things you

do to overcome that you would

675

like to share with the audience?

676

Marissa: Yeah, I think everyone

experiences creative block.

677

It could also come up

in the form of burnout.

678

I think people are lying to themselves if

they say they don't experience that and

679

as a creative as someone who It takes a

emotional and physical toll after every

680

creation after interacting with people

You know, I experienced this a lot,

681

probably more so than I'd like it to.

682

And the thing that helps me

deeper than, my mission of what

683

I'm trying to set up to do.

684

I think one of the things that

helped me move through the creative

685

block is music and dancing.

686

And that's unique to me.

687

Music has been such a huge part of my

life, and not only in just my work, just

688

as a human being and navigating this

life I turn to music, I turn to rest

689

to get myself out of those creative ru.

690

It takes me stepping away and not

being apologetic for having to step

691

away I appreciate when people come

on and be like, oh, i'm, sorry.

692

I haven't been on here in a while I

apologize like no, you don't need to you

693

don't need to explain like I get it like

we all Experience it at some level at some

694

point and we just need to give ourselves

a little grace and when you build a brand

695

You're more likely, your audience is more

likely to be like, yeah, that's okay.

696

Like, do you, I'm going to be here.

697

I'm going to be right

here when you come back.

698

I'm going to be here

right when you come back.

699

And you know, that changing that

frame of mind, like I've been.

700

building my personal brand that I've

developed a community of raving fans

701

and loyal customers, people who are

with you, regardless of you take

702

a little hiatus and you come back,

they're still going to be there.

703

You, I had built a level of trust with

my audience, so I can take those breaks

704

and they'll be right here waiting.

705

To experience whatever

I got going on next.

706

But that takes some time to develop.

707

You're not just gonna.

708

Expect them to do that right off the

bat right at the beginning it like

709

it takes Time for you to build that

relationship with your audience.

710

So my biggest advice when it comes

to those creative blocks is trying to

711

find something outside of what you do

Or you know that You can find rest in

712

that brings you joy to inspire you.

713

I know a lot of people, you know,

for instance, like to travel or

714

get out in community, you know,

to inspire their next move.

715

When I traveled to Atlanta.

716

I was meeting up with a ton

of new creators, creators that

717

I've been friends with online.

718

But it was like that in person

experience that really revived me.

719

Like, yes, I'm so inspired.

720

I'm so inspired.

721

I met with some people.

722

I'm like, I'm ready to get back to work.

723

Like, so many, you know,

my mind is going again.

724

And sometimes it takes

those Like, get offline.

725

Go be in person with someone.

726

Go be in community with someone.

727

So yeah, those are probably my biggest,

but I am no Expert because on this and

728

I don't think anyone is truly truly.

729

I think, you know, I, I still, I

still struggle with creative box

730

and burnout and you just gotta,

you just gotta hang on, you just

731

gotta keep going, just keep going.

732

Take your rest, return back to

it when you're feeling better.

733

It's something that you're always going

to probably have to face at some point.

734

just accept that, but Find ways to

get yourself out of it and no one can

735

tell you what that looks like You have

to do the work and figuring out what

736

is going to Heal me what's going to

get me out of this creative breath.

737

Ray: yeah, and a good I don't know

if you have to have you ever read.

738

The war of art

739

Marissa: I have not

740

Ray: Yeah, so I think that's a

good resource in general just

741

to understand resistance, right?

742

Like there's all these things out there

that are going to be resistance for you

743

to create what you're looking to create

or do the work you need to do, right?

744

Sometimes that is creative block, right?

745

And sometimes it means Maybe it's because

of burnout, or maybe if it's like you're

746

not burned out, you just came back

from what you normally gives you rest.

747

But there's other forms

of resistance, right?

748

Whether it's distress,

749

Marissa: imposter syndrome,

750

Ray: syndrome, or just like,

you know, just different forms

751

of like what resistance is.

752

And like the stories we tell

ourselves sometimes, Part of that

753

is like the, I'm not creative spiel.

754

Right.

755

Or I don't have it in me today and

things like that, but it just goes

756

back to, it's just a practice, right?

757

And everything we do, like every reel you

make, you're not going to get an award

758

recognition for but you're not going

to get the award recognition for it.

759

If you don't do it, don't do it.

760

Exactly.

761

Marissa: Yep.

762

Exactly.

763

100%.

764

I mean,

765

Marissa: You've been

doing this for how long?

766

You've been doing this for years, right?

767

And it goes back to the repetition

and really putting in the reps.

768

So, yeah,

769

Gabe: absolutely.

770

And sometimes it's even

just those shortcuts, right?

771

Like figuring out like, and it's

almost like, it kind of goes back

772

to that brand strategy, right?

773

Understanding your strategy and

especially your content your social

774

media strategy makes it easier because

then you kind of already know, the

775

type of content, how quick you can

make it, what the target audience is.

776

But yeah, no, absolutely.

777

So Marissa, since, we're

going to be wrapping up soon.

778

Definitely wanted to ask you kind

of what would be the three tips that

779

you would give, someone starting

out, someone starting their business.

780

That's, kind of right on that cusp of just

launching, Without a strategy, without a

781

plan, they're just like, I'm ready to go.

782

What would be three things

that you would give them.

783

Marissa: Okay.

784

Yes.

785

I love this question I actually

have a running notes app Note

786

of all my advice if anyone Asked

me this question i'd be ready.

787

So i'm gonna read some but the first

thing that comes to my mind That's always

788

going to be I constantly have to say

this myself, and excuse my language,

789

but Remember who the fuck you are.

790

Like, I think I have spent so many years

in corporate unfortunately having to work

791

against workplace racism, microaggression,

I've constantly had to code switch in

792

order for me to do my job, unfortunately,

It wasn't until I started Workday Creative

793

that I really started to lean in on who

exactly I am and remembering, like, I am

794

the reason my creativity is going to be

the reason people want to work with me.

795

So I need to honor myself

and show up as such.

796

I'm going to show up as me, and again,

it goes to like, you're going to attract

797

people, and you're going to repel people,

and you have to be okay with that.

798

You have to be okay with that, but

when you accept that, and when you

799

remind yourself of who you are, it

makes moving forward in your business.

800

A little bit easier.

801

Right?

802

And not having to worry

about the algorithm, oh, the

803

algorithm's out to get me.

804

Like these outside influences,

these outside things that

805

we have no control over.

806

You just have to remember who you are.

807

Mm-Hmm.

808

. And that is going to be one of

the, the things that are the major

809

obstacles that you're going to face.

810

The other thing I'm looking at my,

my thing right here brings, bring

811

some serious passion and you will

see your dream manifest in reality.

812

So you have to be able to

tap into like what you're

813

setting out to do your mission.

814

And when you start becoming

really, really passionate about

815

that, I'm going to do everything

in my power to make this happen.

816

And a lot of that decision also

falls onto Hiring help, hiring brand

817

designer to make your communication

hit quicker and easier, like, Oh, do I

818

want to invest in my business or not?

819

Like, I, should I invest in the lawyers?

820

Like when, but if you, if you

truly have passion about what

821

you're setting out to do.

822

And while you're your purpose, those,

you realize like those investments

823

are going to help you get there

faster, quicker in a bigger way.

824

So I need everyone to get to like, dig

deep into the serious passion behind your

825

business and see where that takes you.

826

People don't realize the power

of just like sheer passion.

827

Can have when you are operating your

business ain't nobody telling me no and

828

if someone tells me no i'm in another way

one of the things that i'm constantly i'm

829

battling like i'm making a huge priority

in my business Is advocating for black

830

women to grace the stages both virtual and

in real life Of these conversations around

831

marketing around content creation around

branding Cause we don't see it enough.

832

And that passion, like I don't care

if someone says no to an opera to

833

speaking opportunity, I'm going to

figure out a way to get my voice heard.

834

I will find out, I will figure out a way.

835

And that passion is driving

me so much in my business.

836

So those are probably be like.

837

I want everyone to remember when it

comes to their brand and their business.

838

Gabe: Perfect.

839

Well, thank you so much, Marissa,

for hopping on and joining us.

840

I mean, it's always so much

fun, chatting with you.

841

And we wanted to have you on

the show for a whole while now.

842

I know, it's been a minute, we

843

Marissa: We've had a lot of conversations

together, and we geek off every time.

844

I love just like being in community

with you guys, and I truly miss

845

it, not being in San Diego anymore.

846

But I just want to thank you

guys for inviting me, and for

847

this, Awesome conversation.

848

You know, I can always talk

about this like all the time.

849

It's really refreshing to be in

community with people who get

850

it, who like truly, truly get it.

851

Right.

852

Ray: Oh yeah.

853

Gabe: Where can people find you if

they need to, to reach out to you?

854

Marissa: Yeah.

855

So my main avenue of communication of

where you can find me is Instagram.

856

Instagram is where I post.

857

Thrive and flourish.

858

You can find me at Workday Creative.

859

I am also on LinkedIn for all my

business, corporate baddies that I still

860

like to connect with and communicate

with business owners and entrepreneurs.

861

But yeah, those are the places

862

you can keep up to date on everywhere.

863

You can find me at Workday

Creative along with you know, my,

864

my services as well for branding.

865

Ray: Awesome.

866

Well, thank you for the

awesome conversation, Marissa.

867

Always great hanging out.

868

Marissa: We'll chat soon,