Field Notes: In the Business vs. On the Business✏️

Energy preservation and mental load are two things that have been on my mind a lot lately. I’m specifically thinking about how I’m allocating my productive time working “in” the business vs. “on” the business.

For me, “in” the business means that I’m working in execution-mode, very much thinking about the day-to-day. What type of content to post, how to create the content, planning the podcast, and when I’m in this mode, I’m usually not thinking about any action further out than 24 hours from now.

“On” the business means that I’m taking a step back, slowing down, and generally thinking more strategically about what I’m building. Thinking about where I want to be in a year from now. I’ve historically been pretty bad at this mindset since I’ve been so execution-oriented about what’s directly in front of me, which has definitely left a lot of opportunity and growth on the table.

The most successful people I know are skilled at both ways of thinking. They prioritize their time in different buckets where they can dedicate mindshare to be both “in” and “on” the business at different times. This is my challenge for myself over the next few weeks; I want to get better at being “on” the business. I’m inviting you to do the same, as it’s so easy to push the “on” the business stuff to the bottom of the to-do list. Part of why I share my challenges with you all is that I believe that if I’m thinking about something a lot, there’s a good chance that some of you are too. If you’ve found a way to tackle both ways of thinking, let me know, and I can put it in next week’s newsletter. -Sammi

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

📢 Nike Teams Up with Kim Kardashian Shapewear Brand Skims as It Looks to Reach More Women Nike is teaming up with Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand, Skims, to expand its reach among female consumers as Nike faces fierce competition from brands like Lululemon, Alo, and Vuori. The partnership blends performance wear with Skims' signature body-hugging aesthetic. 🏃‍♀️👗(cnbc)

💰Steve Madden to Buy UK Shoe Brand Kurt Geiger for $360 Million Steve Madden is stepping into the UK market with a $360 million deal to buy luxury shoe brand Kurt Geiger. The acquisition strengthens its global footprint in high-end footwear. 💸👠(bof)

🎬 With a Slew of 'White Lotus' Collabs, Every Brand is Now Looking for Their 'Barbie' or 'Wicked' Moment With brands cashing in on White Lotus collabs, the race is on to find the next big cultural crossover—just like the pandemonium around Barbie and Wicked. Brands like Away, Abercrombie, and Supergoop are dropping White Lotus-inspired collections, while Nest New York debuts a resort-style candle. ☕🏝️ Even Coffee Mate is joining in with Thai iced coffee and piña colada creamers. 🌴🎬 (modern retail)

👑 Meghan Markle Renames Her Lifestyle Brand As Ever Meghan Markle is making a fresh start with her lifestyle brand, formerly known as The Tig. As Ever is expected to reflect her signature blend of wellness, fashion, and empowerment, signaling a sophisticated relaunch into the lifestyle space. Fans anticipate a mix of curated content, products, and Markle’s personal touch. (nyt)

⌚Oura Ring 4 Has Bridged the Gap From Tech Bros to Normies The new Oura Ring is gaining popularity outside the tech world, offering fitness tracking with sleek design and user-friendly features that appeal to a broader audience. ⌚💪 (bloomberg)

💄Inside The RealReal's latest Marketing Bet: a New Gossip Girl-esque Substack Newsletter Luxury resale marketplace The RealReal is taking a page out of the influencer playbook, launching a gossip-filled Substack newsletter to engage its fashion-obsessed audience. “Some people study the stock market, the RealGirl studies the resale market” 📰👗 (modern retail)

🥤Coca-Cola Takes on Olipop and Poppi with New Prebiotic Soda Brand, Simply Pop Coca-Cola enters the health-conscious soda game with Simply Pop, a prebiotic drink aimed at competing with the cult-favorite sodas Olipop and Poppi. My take: this will be a very expensive flop. 🥤💥(cnbc)

📺 How a Children’s Toy Company Launched a TV Juggernaut Spin Master’s PAW Patrol has become a global empire, seamlessly blending entertainment and merchandising. From toys and clothes to live shows and theme park attractions, the brand has mastered the art of keeping kids hooked—and parents spending. 💰🎁 While critics argue it prioritizes consumerism, its success proves that storytelling + smart licensing = a winning formula. 📺🔥(time)

👕 This T-Shirt Costs $550. Hear Us Out. A luxury brand is selling a $550 T-shirt, challenging traditional notions of value in fashion. Is it worth the price tag? Quality, exclusivity, and craftsmanship make it a hot ticket. For some consumers, paying more for a seemingly simple item makes sense if it offers greater cost-per-wear value in the long run. 👕💵 (wsj)

🧥What Happened to the Stigma of Wearing Fur? The stigma around wearing fur has softened, with some fashion houses bringing it back into style. Some people suddenly don’t seem to mind—especially when the fur is labeled “vintage,” since no new animals were harmed, and upcycling is seen as more sustainable than buying new. Is it a shift in attitudes or just a trend resurgence? 🦢🧥(nyt)

🍏 Apple Unveils Cheaper iPhone 16e Powerful Enough to Run AI Apple is set to release the iPhone 16e, a more affordable model designed to handle AI-powered features without the premium price tag. As AI integration becomes a must-have, Apple is making sure it’s accessible to more users. 🍏🤖(cnbc)

🍔 Shake Shack to Open Kitchen Innovation Lab in Atlanta This Year Shake Shack is opening a Kitchen Innovation Lab in Atlanta this year, a testing ground for new menu items, cooking techniques, and efficiency improvements. Expect next-level burgers, fries, and digital enhancements designed to shake up the fast-casual game. 🚀🍟 (restaurant dive)

💊 Inside the Rise of the Menopause Market Once ignored by mainstream brands, menopause care is now a multi-billion-dollar industry, with startups and legacy companies alike racing to offer supplements, skincare, and wellness solutions. As demand surges, companies are finally realizing that women over 40 are a powerful consumer base. 💊💃 (modern retail)

Concept of the Week: The Gruen Effect🧠

The "Gruen Effect" refers to the psychological phenomenon where a retail space is intentionally designed to subtly guide customers through a curated journey, often causing them to lose track of time and make impulse purchases by overwhelming them with sensory stimuli, like attractive displays and a confusing layout, ultimately leading to buying more than they originally planned.

Ikea’s winding pathways make you browse through a maze of products, often leading to various impulse buys.

Venture Capital, Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

🧠 Meta’s brain-to-text tech is here. We are Not Remotely Ready. Meta is pushing the boundaries of mind-reading technology, developing AI-powered brain-to-text tools that can decode thoughts into words. While the innovation is groundbreaking, privacy concerns and ethical dilemmas loom large. Is society truly prepared for this shift? 🤯📡(vox)

💔 Bumble Shares Tumble on Weak Outlook, Rebound Efforts Continue Bumble’s shares plunged after issuing a weak financial outlook, signaling challenges in growth and user retention. However, the dating app isn’t giving up—new product features and marketing strategies are in the works to attract more users and regain investor confidence. 📉💛(wsj)

🎵 Spotify’s HiFi Streaming May Finally Come Out This Year After years of anticipation, Spotify is set to launch its HiFi tier, "Music Pro," in 2025. This premium service offers lossless audio quality, AI-powered remix tools, and exclusive concert ticket access. It will be priced at an additional $5–$6 per month on top of the standard subscription. (gizmodo)

🛑 Amazon kills 'Inspire,' its TikTok-style Feed for Discovering Products Amazon is officially pulling the plug on Inspire, its TikTok-style video shopping feed, after it failed to gain traction. Despite social commerce booming elsewhere, it seems Amazon shoppers still prefer traditional browsing over swipe-heavy discovery. 📉🛍️ (tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

😃 This Brand Strategy Playbook for Winning Hearts and Minds I recommend reading through this playbook if you’re in the early stages of building out your brand strategy.

🖥️ This Facebook Ads Course This is a free SIX hour course on YouTube that teaches you about Facebook Ads. Transparently, I was recommended this course by a friend and haven’t dived in yet, but I’m planning on it.

💎 This Earring Cheat Sheet Will Change the Way You Get Dressed This WSJ style guide shelps you match styles to outfits, face shapes, and occasions—transforming the way you accessorize. From statement hoops to subtle studs, discover the secrets to effortless styling. ✨👂(wsj)

📚 America Needs You, Paired with Solid Lessons from Ikigai, Stoicism, Antifragility, Buddhism, and Ubuntu. America Needs You blends wisdom from Ikigai, Stoicism, Antifragility, Buddhism, and Ubuntu, offering a roadmap for resilience, purpose, and growth. Practical insights meet timeless philosophies to help you navigate life’s challenges. 🌱🧘

🐻 Start Right Before You Get Eaten By the Bear In her article, Wes Kao advises cutting unnecessary backstory to focus on the main message. By starting "right before you get eaten by the bear," you engage your audience immediately, making your communication more impactful. Trim the excess and dive straight into the action. ⏳🚀

🏝️The CEO of Four Seasons Offers 10 Takeaways About White Lotus Inspired by The White Lotus, the CEO of Four Seasons shares key insights into luxury hospitality, guest experience, and leadership in the high-end travel industry. From attention to detail to anticipating guest needs, these takeaways redefine excellence. 🌟🏨 (bloomberg)

💰Flippa #1 Platform for Selling Businesses Whether you’re flipping websites, selling e-commerce stores, or acquiring digital assets, Flippa is a go-to platform. With a booming online business market, entrepreneurs often turn to Flippa to sell their business. 📈💻

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