This issue of Social Currency™ is brought to you by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Michigan is one of the fastest growing startup ecosystems in the world – the state has abundant resources and funding for entrepreneurs, making it an amazing place to build a company. The MEDC provides businesses large, medium and small a one-stop resource for the relationship-building, site readiness, funding, placemaking investments and workforce development needed to succeed, connecting them to services and partners to help them thrive.

I posted this video about my experience in Michigan, and I’m so excited to hear about the businesses that flourish there over the next few years.

Field Notes: Flipping the Fear of Rejection ✏️

Like most people, I deeply fear rejection. As a chronic people pleaser, the idea of making people happy and excelling at the things that I do is something that I think about on a regular (okay, daily) basis. Avoiding this fear of constant rejection is something that I’ve been able to do to some degree, as I’ve been half-in and half-out of two worlds.

It’s been two years of me straddling my very corporate job and my separate world of social media. When I’ve had moments of rejection or when things haven’t gone my way in one world, I’ve been able to psychologically lean into the other world a bit more. Existing in two places at once has been a valuable monetary crutch as well as a mental one.

If you’ve been a regular reader, I’ve dropped hints here and there in this newsletter that I’m going to be fully shifting into social media/building a company at some point this year. This next step has been in the works for a while now, but if I can be honest with you all, I’m still anxious about what this next phase looks like.

I’m going to face a ton of rejection, and the stakes are a bit higher now. However, I’m experimenting with this new concept of gameifying rejection. I’m trying to take the emotions out of a rejection and instead, I’m choosing to see anything that doesn’t go my way as an opportunity to beta-test. I’m experimenting with what other levers I can pull to try to get to my desired outcome. I’m already doing this all the time with the Instagram Reel videos that I put out; when one flops, instead of taking it personally, I look at it as an opportunity to explore what I should experiment with next time. And I also frequently remind myself that no one else remembers or even notices most of the “failures” or stumbles that you have.

I believe that a large chunk of successful people are people who are delusional (in a good way) about their future/abilities or they’re just so persistent that they keep going up to bat… and eventually they figure it out. In order to get to my own version of a delusional future of my most successful self, I’ll be gameifying my way there. -Sammi

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

Instagram Debuts New Video-Editing App, as TikTok Deals With a Ban As TikTok battles bans, Instagram is seizing the moment with a sleek new video-editing app called Edits. I’m truly STUNNED that this did not happen earlier, but this obviously was a long-time in the making. Apple users can pre-order Edits from the app store starting next week and Android users can access it from February. This move positions Instagram to capitalize on video content creators seeking new platforms. 🎥🚀(nyt)

TikTok had an Incredibly Wild Whirlwind of a Weekend TikTok experienced a whirlwind weekend as it faced bans, protests, and intense scrutiny. Despite the chaos, the platform remains a cultural juggernaut, sparking debates about free speech, national security, and its global influence. 🌪️📱(cnn)

After 14 Years Selling One Product in DTC, AG1 is Ready to Expand AG1, known for its iconic greens powder and backed by well-known health influencers like Andrew Huberman, is finally branching out after 14 years. Having a single product has allowed them to maintain a clear focus and concentrate entirely on maximizing customer lifetime value rather than just gaining new customers. The wellness brand plans to expand its product lineup, aiming to become a household name in the health and nutrition space while staying true to its DTC roots. And as a side note, their current CEO, Kat Cole, is one of the best minds in all of CPG. 🥤🌍 (retail brew)

Gen Z’s New Rules for Appropriate Office Wear “Fun” and “edgy” are two words that Gen Z is embracing as they’re thinking about their office wear in 2025. 🧑‍💼 As a millennial whose first corporate job included wearing a pantsuit from Banana Republic every day for four years, I’m wishing that I joined the workforce about 10 years later than I did. 🕶️👟(wsj)

Netflix Explodes Into a New Era Netflix just reported a blowout quarter, adding 18.9 million(!!!) subscribers last quarter. This was nearly double the number that Wall Street expected. They’re revolutionizing streaming with bold moves, from ad-supported tiers to blockbuster acquisitions. (wsj)

How Dr. Squatch is Reaching Young Audiences Through Standup Comedy Dr Squatch, an organic soap brand, is tapping into Gen Z and millennial humor with standup comedy as it sponsors live comedy shows in partnership with Don’t Tell Comedy Network. Dr. Squatch's partnership focuses on boosting brand awareness rather than immediate sales, aligning with its humor-driven identity. 🧼😂 (modern retail)

The Crypto World Is Already Mad at Trump Donald Trump has launched $TRUMP, a memecoin that skyrocketed from $6 in value to $70. However, its value has since dropped by half, raising concerns about volatility and insider profit. With Trump, positioning himself as a crypto ally, the move fuels debate over the legitimacy and regulation of such tokens. (the atlantic)

Walgreens Replaced Fridge Doors With Smart Screens. It’s Now a $200 Million Fiasco  This story is too good, I obviously am working on a video about this story today to recap it in more detail. From a high-level, Walgreen’s attempt to replace fridge doors with AI-powered smart screens has backfired. They’re now entangled in a $200 million lawsuit. These internet-connected fridge panels, developed by a Chicago company named Cooler Screens Inc. frequently crashed and flickered. Customers found the tech clunky and invasive, proving that not all innovations are winners. (bloomberg)

Target Adds Peloton Apparel to Online Offering Target is teaming up with Peloton to offer its premium fitness apparel online. This partnership brings the popular activewear to a wider audience, blending style with performance for fitness enthusiasts.(wwd)

How Barnes & Noble is Writing its Own Success Story in the Age of Amazon Barnes & Noble is thriving despite Amazon's dominance, thanks to a back-to-basics dynamic strategy focusing on community, curated selections, and an indie bookstore vibe. The turnaround is a literary retail success story. 📚🚀(modern retail)

Jacquemus Spring 2025 Show To Be Shot Entirely on iPhone 16 Pro Max Jacquemus is embracing tech with its Spring 2025 show filmed exclusively on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. A custom installation at the venue will seamlessly incorporate iPhone into the scenography, offering guests an interactive experience. This groundbreaking move merges high fashion with cutting-edge mobile innovation, setting a new standard for runway creativity. 📸👗 (hypebeast)

Elon Musk Keeps Launching Rockets — and That's Causing Trouble for Airlines Elon Musk’s relentless SpaceX launches are disrupting airline schedules. The growing number of rocket launches is causing airspace closures, creating challenges for global aviation. 🚀✈️ (business insider)

MrBeast Joins New Bid, Assembled by Jesse Tinsley, to Buy TikTok YouTube star MrBeast is teaming up with Jesse Tinsley in an ambitious bid to buy TikTok. Tinsley’s group is one of several vying to buy TikTok after the Supreme Court upheld a law forcing its China-based parent, ByteDance, to spin off US operations over national security concerns. 🤝📱 (bloomberg)

Oreo is Releasing this Flavor for The First Time Ever Oreo, in collaboration with singer Post Malone, is releasing a limited-edition cookie featuring swirled salted caramel and shortbread creme. Each cookie showcases one of nine artist-inspired designs, including vinyl records and a guitar pick. The nostalgic twist is set to delight fans of the sweet, fluffy treat, showing Oreo’s knack for staying trendy while sparking excitement. 🍪✨(cnn)

Concept of the Week: Hedonic Treadmill 🧠🛋️  

The Hedonic Treadmill is the idea that an individual’s level of happiness tends to return to a stable level after any major positive or negative life events.

This theory claims that a person's baseline level of well-being, or "set point," is not universally neutral; for most individuals, it tends to be positive. Another thing to note is that this baseline is not uniform across individuals and may vary for different dimensions of well-being, such as overall life satisfaction versus the frequency of positive emotions experienced.

Venture Capital/Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

Allara lands $26 Million to Expand Women’s Hormone Health Founder Rachel Blank grew up with PCOS, and she struggled to find the type of healthcare that she needed. She was motivated by her personal experience and has founded Allara, a telehealth platform for women who suffer from hormone conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and hypothyroidism. In 2024, Allara grew its revenue by four-times, and has just raised $26 million in Series B funding led by Index Ventures, with participation of GV just 14 months after raising a $10 million Series A.

Livestream App Favorited, a New TikTok Alternative, Snaps up $1.3M The rising TikTok alternative, Favorited, has raised $1.3M to enhance its livestream app and attract a new audience. Favorited stands out with a competitive 70/30 revenue split for creators, offering a more favorable deal than TikTok’s ~50% cut. With more funding, it’s gearing up to further disrupt the social media scene! 🎉🌟 (tech crunch)

How Chinese A.I. Start-Up DeepSeek Is Competing With OpenAI and Google DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, is setting its sights on competing with AI giants OpenAI and Google. Their approach to AI development could soon shake up the industry and challenge established players. 🔍⚡(nyt)

Tom Brady's Autograph Merges with Digital Fitness Company Future Sports legend Tom Brady’s NFT platform Autograph is merging with digital fitness company Future, blending his influence with cutting-edge tech to transform the fitness landscape. This partnership could take the fitness industry to the next level! 🏈💪(Tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

How Brands Should Prepare to Operate Under a Trump Presidency Brands must brace for potential shifts under Trump's presidency. Key areas to monitor include trade policies, regulatory changes, and consumer sentiment. Staying agile and informed will be crucial for businesses navigating this new landscape. (adweek)  

The Business of Selena Gomez All hail Selena. This is some insight into Selena Gomez's diverse business ventures and entrepreneurial journey. 💼🎤 (vogue business)

Best Life Coaches for Navigating Any Career, Family, Personal Problem Top life coaches to help guide you through various niche life challenges. 🌱💼 (bloomberg)

REI Hoka Deals REI is offering some great discounts on Hoka shoes, making them more accessible for outdoor enthusiasts. I love my Hokas, I wear the Clifton style. 🏞️👟

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products: A great book and a guide to designing products that create lasting habits and keep users engaged. 💡📱 

Zadro Large Hot Towel Warmer A luxury towel warmer that delivers a spa-like experience at home. 🧖‍♀️🛁

Poplin Pajama Pant Set Comfortable and stylish old navy pajama sets made from soft poplin fabric- a perfect treat to stay in during winter. 😴🛋️

9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2025 and Beyond Key trends to watch in the future of work. 🚀💼 (hbr)

Trump Executive Order Tracker A real-time update on executive orders signed by President Trump. 📊📝 (akin)

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P.S. - If you see any typos in this newsletter, know that I did it on purpose just to make you giggle.

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