Joy First®

Pantone just named white as their 2026 Color of the Year. And the internet is... not okay.When 'Cloud Dancer' was announced last week, I canceled everything to record this episode. Because like many of us, I simply could not wrap my head around how Pantone looked at the world and said: "You know what we need? More white."So let's get into it!In this episode, we're exploring:The hidden history behind Pantone's Color of the Year (spoiler: it has to do with The Devil Wears Prada)Who actually makes these decisions (and who gets put on stage to defend them)What color psychology actually says about white (hint: it's complicated)The rage-bait question: Did Pantone choose controversy on purpose?What the Pinterest trend report reveals about what we actually need right nowAnother take on the 'colour of the year' that I gotta admit, I like a lot better!My friend Natalie MacNeil's hot take on the colour of the year from an astrological perspective (this is what shifted my view)This isn't just about one color choice. It's about who gets to define what the world needs.It's about retreat versus revolution.. and it's about whether we're brave enough to choose colour in a world that's been training us toward grey for 400 years (more on that next week!)Mentioned in This EpisodePantone's 2026 Color of the Year: https://www.pantone.com/uk/en/color-of-the-year/2026 Pantone's Color Institute: https://www.pantone.com/eu/en/color-consulting/about-pantone-color-institute WGSN Trend Report on 2026 consumer behavior: https://www.wgsn.com/en/blog/colour-year-2026-transformative-tealEtsy's 2026 Colour of the Year: https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/color/a69676808/etsy-2026-color-of-the-year-patina-blue/Natalie MacNeil: https://nataliemacneil.com/Pinterest Predicts Trend Report: https://newsroom.pinterest.com/en-gb/news/pinterest-predicts-nonconformity-self-preservation-and-escapism-drive-21-trends-for-2026/CNET video featuring Sky Kelly: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EzYv2yxweGg

What if you don't need a bigger audience, or a bigger budget... but deeper resonance?In this episode, we're talking about why "trying to be everywhere" might be killing your impact, the psychology behind what makes brands instantly magnetic, and how to stand out without burning yourself out in the process.If you're tired of the content hamster wheel and ready for marketing that actually feels good (and works better), this one's for you.What We Cover:Why the "shout louder" approach creates diminishing returns (and what to do instead)The neurological difference between content that interrupts vs. content that resonatesFive specific tactics for creating deeper connection without burning outThe consistency vs. frequency shift that changes everythingHow to audit your marketing to see if you're resonating or just reachingResources:Ready to stop shouting and start resonating?Join Founders' Circle: our community of joy first founders who are learning to practiec marketing in a way that feels good and works for the long-term. With weekly co-working, monthly Q&A calls and planning sessions, private podcast, and our 2026 goal setting session coming up on December 18th.Learn more: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/jffcLooking for a rebrand? We are the home of psychologically consistent, emotionally resonate rebrands, for founders at all stages with all budgets:Learn more: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/brandingThis Wild Idea:https://www.instagram.com/thiswildidea/Podcast with Paige:https://joyfirstworld.com/blogs/joy-first-podcast/paige-brunton-focusThai Insurance Ad:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaWA2GbcnJUTara Lynn & Co.Website; taralynnandco.com/Fb post: https://www.facebook.com/taralynnandco/posts/pfbid02y6iW2pWFKwUFNkV7Y7WbM9cSZzJaJFbJk9vi7Bi3Ggg5i4qi4i1j9G3vzasVsovelThe Antarctic Experience: antarcticexperience.comTrader Joes Newsletter:traderjoes.com/home/ffGlorious Gravel: https://gloriousgravel.com/

Everyone keeps telling you to "push on the pain point"But what if that's exactly why your marketing feels so hard? What if that's why you freeze up when it's time to post, or why your sales copy makes you feel icky?Here's the truth: Not all purchasing decisions are driven by problem-solving.When was the last time you bought something expensive purely because it sparked joy? That weekend getaway you didn't "need." That dress that made you feel like your best self. The art piece that moved you.That decision came from a completely different place than booking an emergency plumber.In this episode, I'm challenging the biggest lie in marketing:That fear and pain points are the only way to sell. They're not.And for creative entrepreneurs, coaches, artists, and anyone selling transformation over transactions? Joy First marketing is often more profitable.What we're diving into:Why the pain-point formula works brilliantly for plumbers but might be killing your premium brandThe neuroscience behind joy-based purchasing (hint: happy people spend more generously)Real brands winning with positivity—from John Lewis's tear-jerking holiday ads to how Ryan Reynolds built a $14 billion empire through genuine enthusiasm and storytellingWhen joy-first marketing is your secret weapon (and the signs you're forcing the wrong approach)Why you get this intellectually but still can't implement it (and what actually helps)The truth nobody wants to say out loud:You're allowed to build a business that feels good. That leads with desire instead of desperation. That makes people feel better about themselves, not worse.And it can be more profitable than the fear-based alternative.Your work matters. Your joy matters. And showing up with genuine enthusiasm in a world drowning in manufactured urgency?That's how you stand out.Resources Mentioned:John Lewis 2024 Holiday Ad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1bRlnyQeDkWhite Stuff "Walkies" Campaign | https://www.whitestuff.com/life-stuff-style/episode-25Citrus 48-Hour Brand Refresh https://go.joyfirstworld.com/citrus (early bird pricing ends Friday)Joy First Founders' Circle https://go.joyfirstworld.com/jffc

Where Purpose, Product Market Fit, and Presentation CollideWhat makes Cheetos, Krispy Kreme and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup so dang addicting? These treats aren't perefction on accident, food scientists engineer them to hit what they call the "bliss point": the perfect balance of sugar, salt, and fat that makes your brain scream "more please" without you even consciously deciding.Your brand can hit this bliss point too.That sweet spot where what lights YOU up and what the market needs (and is willing to pay for) overlap so perfectly that people binge your content, buy whatever they can afford, and want to stay in your world long-term.Most founders I work with? They're operating with only one of the 'circles', which means they're either burning out doing work that pays but depletes them, or pouring their soul into something nobody will buy.In this episode, I'm breaking down the two foundational circles every brand needs, why most of us only nail one, and revealing the third circle that determines whether people stick around long enough to understand your brilliance.I'm also sharing my own painful story from 2024, how being out of alignment cost me big time, forced me to let go of team members, and nearly broke me. And what finally clicking back into my bliss point created (spoiler: it's Citrus).You'll discover:The ven diagram for sustainable business growthWhere "finding your why" fits into all thisWarning signs you're out of alignment (before it costs you big time)The third circle that makes everything clickHow AI is changing the game for founders who can articulate their bliss pointThis episode is for you if:You're making money but losing your soul in the processYou love what you're doing but nobody's buyingYou keep pivoting, second-guessing, feeling resentful about incoming workYou suspect there's a "next level" but can't quite see how to get thereYou're ready to stop bouncing between passion and profitThe founders who nail this now: all three circles aligned, are going to blow up in the next few years. Because AI is rocket fuel for amplifying what makes you unique. But if you can't articulate what that is? You can't use that fuel.Links & Resources:Citrus: 48 hr. brand refresh: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/citrusFree Masterclass Waitlist: Get the full framework + check-list for psychological consistency: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/future?utm_source=podcastBrand in a Week | Whyfinding® | Super Bloom® : VIP Brand Experiences using the Colour Brand® Method": https://go.joyfirstworld.com/brandingNext Week: The Profitability of Positivity: Why joy is the #1 strategy for small business success right now.

What Makes You Weird, Makes You WealthyYou've been trying to fit in. Learning the industry standards. Following best practices. Being professional. Being credible. Being like everyone successful.But what if you're optimizing for the wrong thing? What if instead of apologizing, you should be celebrating?Research shows industry outsiders drive breakthrough innovation at significantly higher rates than insiders. Not despite being different. Because of it.Sara Blakely (fax machine salesperson → Spanx). Yvon Chouinard (climber → Patagonia). Rihanna (cultural outsider → Fenty Beauty). None of them succeeded by fitting in. They succeeded by leveraging what made them different.Today: The four types of valuable outlier perspectives. And the exact framework for turning your "weirdness" into strategic advantage when building a brand.You'll discover:Why industry insiders are actually constrained (and you're not)The outlier type you probably are (and didn't know was an asset)Why neurodivergent thinking creates natural business advantagesThe four-step framework from hiding difference to leading with itWhy "what if I alienate customers" is the wrong thing to be worrying about How to price for uniqueness instead of competing on samenessListen if:You've been hiding parts of yourself to seem "professional"You don't have traditional industry credentials (and feel like an imposter)Your brain works differently than "normal"You've been told you're "too different" or "don't fit the mold"You're tired of trying to be like everyone elseLinks & Resources:Whyfinding® Sessions: Get Nic's help finding, defining your 'weird' : https://go.joyfirstworld.com/brandingThe 'troll' post on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQmC_0gDLR-/

Your Logo Isn't the Problem (and It's not the solution either)You have 0-7 seconds. In that time, three subconscious questions get answered:"Can I trust this?""Is this for me?""Is it worth it?"Obviously in this time, your clients are not consciously analyzing your logo. But they are feeling their way to their answers to these three questions.Today I'm breaking down the three elements that actually drive the feelings in your first impression, and uncovering what makes buying obvious or creates instant resistance instead. And why most brands are accidentally creating discord instead of harmony.You'll discover:Why color discord happens even when your brand colors are "right"The personality type mistake that makes premium pricing feel "too expensive"How imagery can undermine credibility before anyone reads a wordWhy sophisticated visuals with uncertain copy kills conversionsThe three-question harmony audit to check your own brandHow to fix the biggest gap without rebuilding everythingListen if:You've invested in beautiful branding but conversions aren't improvingPeople say "you're too expensive"Your brand feels "off" but you can't figure out whyYou're getting mixed signals about your positioningYou want clarity on what actually moves the needleLinks & Resources:Free quiz: Discover your brand personality type: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/quizWaitlist: 48 hr brand refresh program: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/weekend-waitlist

Humans Have Been Telling the Same Twelve Stories for Thousands of Years. Your Brand Should Too.From ancient Greek mythology to Marvel movies. From Shakespeare to Star Wars. The same patterns keep showing up because they're wired into human psychology.And when your brand taps into these universal patterns, you're not just creating marketing. You're activating something that bypasses conscious thought and goes straight to emotion, memory, and identity.And if you’ve been in my world a while, then you know just how important emotion is when it comes to building a successful business. It’s not ‘nice to have’ - it needs to be the core of your brand and all your marketing.Today, after many many requests for this episode, I'm breaking down the twelve Jungian archetypes and why they're one of the most powerful strategic tools you can use to create instant recognition, deep connection, and fierce brand loyalty.But here's what most people get wrong: They pick an archetype based on what sounds cool and end up with a stereotype instead of a strategy. The secret is understanding the four core motivations underneath the twelve archetypes. That's what transforms this from marketing gimmick into psychological strategy that runs all the way the way from your reels to your company’s vacation policies.You'll discover why brands with tight archetypal clarity grow 97% more than confused brands, how Founders like Richard Branson manage to infuse their archetypes across over 400 companies worldwide.What You'll Learn:The Four Core Motivations:The Four Core psychological Motivations driving all archetypesJung’s 12 Core Archetypes with Brand ExamplesThe difference between founder archetype, brand archetype, and product archetypeWhy combining primary and secondary archetypes creates depthWarning signs of archetypal dissonance and which archetypes and personality types clash (and what to do about it)How to translate archetypes into voice, visuals, and customer experienceCreating an archetypal strategy document for consistencyLinks & Resources Mentioned:"The Hero and the Outlaw" by Margaret Mark and Carol PearsonNic’s Color Brand Quiz: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/quizGet on the waitlist for our new course to build your brand with archetypes: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/weekend-waitlist

That Endless Tweaking of Your Brand? It's Not About Making it Better.When you spend hours researching the perfect font pairing over and over again, you're not actually working on your business. You're avoiding something scarier.This is what I call 'procrastibranding'. And if you just felt called out, stay with me. Because I'm not here to shame you. I'm here to help you understand what's actually happening and how to break the cycle.Today I'm breaking down why brand work feels so productive when it's actually sophisticated procrastination, what it's really costing you in money and opportunity, and the practical framework for finally committing to your brand and focusing on what actually generates revenue.You'll discover the three psychological drivers of procrastibranding, why "good enough" often outperforms "perfect" in today's market, and the one question that changes everything. Plus...What You'll Learn:The three warning signs you're caught in procrastibranding (and which one is keeping you stuck)Why repetitive creative work feels productive but what it's costing youThe hidden costs nobody talks aboutHow inconsistency kills word-of-mouth (your most powerful free marketing)Why imperfect authenticity builds more trust than sterile perfection right nowWhich 20% of branding actually moves the needleMy "good enough" checklist: four boxes to check before you launchWhen a rebrand IS worth the investment (and when it's not)Five practical strategies to break the procrastibranding cycle Links & Resources Mentioned:Free Brand Personality Quiz: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/quizJoy First World: https://joyfirstworld.com/Book a Brand Breakthrough Call: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/brandingJoy First Founders' Circle community: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/jffcThe truth? Your ideal clients aren't waiting for your logo to be perfect: They're waiting for you to show up and help them.

Picture this: A room full of 5 yr olds listening to 'Golden' - when that three-part harmony hits... their little faces lit up - they could feel the harmony (and I got about 1000 cool points from my kids for being the mum who not only came in for career day, but managed to work KPop Demon Hunters into my presentation about Colour Psychology) If your visual brand is as on-point right now as the Huntr/x high-notes - customers are doing the exact same thing as those kids. They're lighting up in your funnels, on your website and in your social feeds.But how do you know if you're peddling visual harmony or discord?In today's episode, I'm breaking down why some brands make you feel instant trust while others make you want to close the tab (even though you probably can't quite explain why).The neuroscience of how your brain processes visual harmony (and why your brand should care)What Gordon Ramsay and fine dining can teach us about brand consistencyThe five elements I adjust most often in Design Time hot seats (and how to audit yours)Why mixing colour groups creates the same discomfort as notes out of tuneHow to identify visual discord in your brand using the "scramble test"Real metrics: why harmonious brands show higher conversions, longer time on site, and better word-of-mouthThe biggest harmony pitfalls facing most Founders, and how to fix them LINKS FROM TODAY:Starling Bank rebrand analysis: https://www.tiktok.com/@joyfirstworld/video/7550797369546198294Free Brand Personality Quiz: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/quizBook a Call to talk about your rebrand: https://go.joyfirstworld.com/brandingDM me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jnicholesmith