One tiny word is quietly killing your team’s creativity—and you’re probably using it. Find out how to drop the “just” and start unlocking real innovation.

Here’s a harsh truth: Your logo is not your brand. Yep, I said it. Somewhere along the way, “branding” became synonymous with logos, color palettes, and slick websites. And sure, all of that stuff matters—but if you’re obsessing over your logo more than your customer experience, you’re missing the point.

I did the heavy lifting (a.k.a. watched a lot of Netflix “for research”) and compiled a list of the top 10 Netflix shows every creative should stream—along with a few of my hot takes for good measure. Because what’s the point of watching if you can’t drop some spicy, unsolicited opinions afterward?

So, why does clout matter? Because it’s leadership currency. You can’t buy respect and influence with silence—you earn it by showing people what it actually takes to lead and deliver results. Clout opens doors, gets you a seat at the table, gets you represented at tables you’re not invited to but where decisions are made, and—let’s be honest—makes people stop underestimating you.

If your team’s creative energy has hit a wall, the problem might be closer to home than you think. I’m sharing the four brutal mistakes that killed my team’s creativity—and the steps we took to break free.