ADWEEK’s Post

Entrepreneurs and marketers, take note! "The Founder" is more than just the story behind the golden arches. It's a captivating exploration of ambition, #innovation, and the dark side of hunger for success. Michael Keaton delivers a stellar performance as Ray Kroc, the man who saw the potential in a simple burger joint and franchised it into a global phenomenon. The film delves into Kroc's marketing strategies, highlighting the power of consistency, #branding, and efficiency. But it also exposes the ruthlessness that can fuel such rapid growth. As 3marketers, we can learn from Kroc's vision and creativity and recognize the importance of ethical #business practices. So, ditch the weekend #Netflix binge and add "The Founder" to your watchlist. It's a thought-provoking film that will spark conversations and fuel your entrepreneurial fire.

Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, turned a simple idea into a billion-dollar empire, starting with just $5,000 in savings. Blakely didn’t have any formal business training, and her path to success was anything but traditional. The inspiration for Spanx came when she couldn’t find the right undergarment to wear with white pants. She took a pair of pantyhose, cut off the feet, and realized she had created something that smoothed out her figure without the discomfort of full pantyhose. Blakely knew she was onto something, but the road to bringing her idea to life wasn’t easy. She spent two years developing the product and facing countless rejections from hosiery manufacturers, who didn’t believe in her vision. But she refused to give up. Eventually, she convinced a mill owner in North Carolina to make her product. What’s surprising is that Blakely had no experience in fashion, manufacturing, or even business. She wrote her own patent, designed the product herself, and personally handled the packaging and distribution. Her persistence paid off when Oprah Winfrey featured Spanx on her show, skyrocketing its popularity. Blakely’s unconventional journey taught her that you don’t need a perfect plan or an MBA to succeed—just a relentless drive and belief in your idea. Spanx became a multimillion-dollar company, making Blakely the youngest self-made female billionaire. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀: 1. Great ideas can come from personal frustrations—pay attention to your own needs. 2. Persistence is key, especially in the face of rejection. 3. You don’t need to be an expert to succeed—learning and adapting along the way is part of the journey. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮?

CELEBRATING THE VISIONARY BEHIND SNAP PINNEAPLE JUICE Reconnecting with Anna Namuli Muzaaya recently brought back memories of our first meeting at a women entrepreneurs' event four years ago. Her journey from a pineapple farmer facing market challenges to the visionary behind Snap drinks is nothing short of inspiring. I listened as she shared her idea to add value to her produce, after export hurdles and a saturated local market had almost derailed her. Skepticism mixed with hope filled my mind. Today, seeing Snap on store shelves is a testament to her determination, resilience and innovation. It was evident she had now figured it all out, with room for more growth. Anna’s story is more than just a business success. It’s about creating local jobs, extending product life, and building a sustainable ecosystem. Her commitment to sustainability aligns with my passion for driving positive impact through mentorship, events and capacity building. Today I celebrate entrepreneurs like Anna who are turning challenges into opportunities and driving positive change. #womeninbusiness #sustainability #entrepreneurship #inspiration #localeconomy

It’s never too late. 10 people who struck gold after 50: - 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Founded KFC and became a millionaire at 74. - 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗻: Gained wealth at 50 with “The Origin of Species.” - 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝘂𝘀: Opened the first Home Depot at 50. - 𝗥𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗿𝗼𝗰: Transformed McDonald’s into a franchise empire at 52. - 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘁: Launched her first magazine at nearly 50. - 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻: Started The Huffington Post at 55. - 𝗣𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼: Reached major success in his later years. - 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿: Published her first Little House book at 65. - 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱: Introduced the moving assembly line at 50. - 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝘆: Debuted her hit TV show at 54. These stories prove one thing: It’s not about how early you start... It’s about having the courage to start. If you’ve been holding back because you think it’s "too late", think again. The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time? Today. Which of these stories inspires you the most? And what’s holding you back from starting today? Share your thoughts below ⬇️ ----------------------------------------- ♻️ Repost to inspire someone in your network. Follow Mike Auton for more on growth and success.

Here’s a little secret I picked up from my conversation with health & wellness creator turned entrepreneur, Melissa Wood-Tepperberg: Creators need to own their audiences. Just look at what’s happening right now with the impending TikTok ban —where millions of creators and small businesses will lose the communities they’ve worked so hard to build. The reality is, relying too heavily on one platform is a big gamble. Melissa Wood-Tepperberg: recognized this early on in her entrepreneurial journey, and it became a key part of how she built her business. Check out the full article on Forbes—link in the comments! #CreatorEconomy #CreatorMarketing #BrandMarketing

Something new is on the horizon! 😊🤝 A fresh identity, the same mission. Can you guess what’s changing? Get ready to discover the new face of do N key! Stay tuned for the big reveal soon! #NewLookSameVision #doNkeyRebranding #LogoTease #FreshStart #doNkeyJourney #RebrandAlert #StayTuned #EntrepreneurshipRedefined

The problem: disliking handshakes + boring branded merch. The solution 👇 Branded merch with an inclusive, practical twist! 💅 Recently at Happy Autistic Lady, we partnered with EPIC Future, to embody their commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs. Why? Because all organisations should strive for inclusivity and plain branded merch with your logo slapped on is boring. Sorry, I had to say it. 👀 So, why are simple stickers like these a game changer? ✅ They foster inclusive networking, allowing attendees to express their needs without having to verbalize them. ✅ They’re a powerful tool that encourages self-advocacy and are ideal for people with sensory preferences or who prefer less physical contact in post-Covid times. ✅ They offer EPIC Future a distinctive branding opportunity highlighting their focus on inclusivity. Very excited to see the merch in action at the next EPIC event! 😏 Which sticker would you use? I’m definitely a big hugs kind of person. 🤗 #inclusivity #branded #merch #entrepreneurship

How big does your brand have to be to advertise on TV? . . This is a most popular question I get asked. The answer I want to give is really irritating - because I want to say there are no rules. Anecdotally I'm told Unilever won’t put brands on TV until they have hit the £25mil mark. Other scale ups use £10mil as a benchmark. The best answer is from Charlotte Langley of Bloom & Wild (source Up World) and it is to look at how much risk your business can absorb, and what the effect of investing in higher level creative looks like. Match a plan of action to each hypothesis, and take the plunge. #media #television #marketing #digitalmarketing #advertising #scaleup #entrepreneur #brandstrategy #tvmentor

No BS. No commitment (unless you want one). ThreeTwelvePR is disrupting the traditional PR model for the modern entrepreneurial journey. . . . . #ThreeTwelvePR #StartupSuccess #SmallBusinessMarketing #Transparency #NoStringsAttached #Brand #Entrepreneurial #CommonSense #PRKnowHow #StartUpPR #Disrupt #GameChanging #TransparentPR #Disruptor #NoBS #StartUpStrategy #GameChanger #BuildYourBrand #ShatterExpectations

When my daughter was a tween (around 9 to 12 years old, your child will enter their “tween” years), she fell in love with John Green’s novels. I remember watching her lose herself in his stories, reading late into the night. What drew her—and millions of others—wasn’t just the plots. It was the way he spoke to his readers as equals, with respect and understanding. Green once said, “I’m tired of adults telling teenagers they’re not smart.” That simple respect made his readers feel seen and valued. It reminded me of a Retrospective Celebration with our Tracking Wonder Inner Circle MasterMind members. They shared transformations that were as inspiring as any great story: - An entrepreneur let go of chasing every opportunity and shifted to serving a select group of clients at a higher level. - Another found clarity and courage to launch a retreat-based business. - A writer finished their long-awaited manuscript, and another brought their book to life with large-scale events. - A business owner expanded their vision and opened a new studio alongside their online offerings. What made all of this possible? A shift in perspective. These leaders stopped seeing their audience as customers to serve and started seeing them as heroes to empower. When we admire our audience as heroes in their own stories, everything changes. We stop selling and start collaborating. We stop focusing on transactions and start fostering transformation. So, I ask you: Who are the heroes in your business? How can you support their journey with respect and empathy? #EmpathyInBusiness #HeroJourney #CustomerConnection #RespectYourAudience #BusinessWithHeart #InspiredEntrepreneurship #AudienceAsHeroes #TrackingWonder #TransformativeLeadership #MeaningfulWork