A Million Ideas (2025)

08/04/2025

You know what's funny? As someone who loves blue and black and white stripes so much that they've become my personal brand, I've learned something important: visual storytelling isn't just about making things look good - it's about making them feel right.

Think about it...
When was the last time an image stopped your scroll? What made you pause?

After 28 years in graphic design (yes, really!), here's what I know works:

Make your graphics human connecting
Your visuals should feel like a conversation with a friend over coffee. If you're losing yourself in jargon and complex charts, you're probably losing your audience too.

Keep it authentic
Just like how I embrace my love for blue in everything I do, your visuals should reflect your brand's true personality. Forced perfection is out; authentic connection is in.

Use your graphics to tell a story
Every graphic should have a beginning, middle, and end. Whether it's a simple Instagram post or a full presentation deck, guide your viewer through an experience.

Make it actionable
The best visuals don't just inform - they inspire action. What do you want people to feel? What do you want them to do next?

⭐️ Here's your homework for today: Look at your latest social media post or some graphic you've created recently. Ask yourself, does it tell a story? Does it feel like YOU? If not, maybe it's time for a refresh!

Want to dive deeper into visual storytelling for your brand? Let's chat!

04/04/2025

There's one question that seems to follow me everywhere: "Where do all your ideas come from?" (Well, there is a reason I named my company A Million Ideas after all!)

But truly, after several years in both design and business, I've created a few keystone points in my personal creative process. And in true Christina fashion, this changes from season to season at times. But for now, the real (sometimes messy) ways I generate ideas are:

Daily "Drinking & Drawing" Sessions
This is sacred time for me - just my thoughts, a good cup of coffee, and often an audiobook playing in the background. No phone interruptions or digital distractions. These quiet moments let my mind wander productively.

Permission to Wander
Some of my best concepts emerge when I'm not trying to force them. Walking, driving, or simply allowing my mind to explore without the pressure of immediate decisions changes my perspective in surprising ways.

Playful Experimentation
Whether testing color combinations in a design or bouncing concepts off fellow creatives, I make time to play without judgment. This keeps my creative muscles flexible and ideas flowing naturally.

Capturing Everything
Perhaps one of the most crucial things is my habit of recording every idea - even the wild ones that seem impractical. That random thought scribbled at 2am might become next year's successful project!

The real secret? Creativity isn't about waiting for lightning to strike - it's about deliberately creating space for ideas to grow. When I carve out time to think without constraints, those "million ideas" actually show up.

What about you? How do you nurture your creative process? Share your approach in the comments!

02/04/2025

You know what I discovered recently? After years of crafting detailed business explanations (anyone else spent hours writing networking organization bylaws? 🙃), I've found that visual communication can be incredibly powerful.

During a coffee meeting last week, I was struggling to explain fractional CCO services when I started doodling simple icons on a napkin. The light bulb moment that followed was incredible! Sometimes we overcomplicate what we do when simple visuals tell the story better.

So here's a fun challenge for us all:
Can you describe your core business offering using ONLY emojis?

I'll go first: 👋💡📊✏️📈💼

Translation: A Million Ideas connects with clients, helps generate ideas, create strategies, design solutions, and ultimately helps businesses grow!

Now it's your turn! Drop your emoji business description in the comments. Then try guessing what other people's businesses do from their emoji sequences!

The unexpected benefit? This exercise forces you to identify the absolute core of what you do. And if you can communicate your value through simple symbols, you can explain it to anyone!

What will your emoji business story be? (Extra points for creativity that makes me laugh! 😉)

01/04/2025

Not sure where to start with your business communication? Swipe through to see how we can work together at ANY stage of your journey!

Whether you're just starting out and need a strong foundation for your brand or you're scaling up and need a Fractional CCO to handle all your communication channels, I've got you covered.

The best part? We grow together. I meet you exactly where you are and help you build the communication strategy that fits your unique business needs.

What's holding your business communication back right now? Let me know in the comments, and let's brainstorm solutions!

28/03/2025

Spring is Spring-ing (?) and so it's time for our favorite part of the season...Spring Cleaning!

Except today, we're focusing on how to Spring Clean your business's communication strategy - not so much your cupboards and closets...

Here are my three quick suggestions to refresh your communication strategy

Audit your communication platforms.
Take a critical look at your website, social media, email newsletters, and Google Business profile. Which ones are working hardest for you? Which ones need attention? Sometimes, we keep posting to platforms that aren't serving us while neglecting the ones where our audience actually hangs out. Trim what's not working and nurture what is!

Repurpose with purpose.
You don't need to create everything from scratch! That blog post from last year might make a fantastic email series or social media carousel with fresh graphics. Look at your best-performing content and give it new life across different platforms - it's like finding a favorite shirt at the back of your closet that suddenly feels new again.

Refresh your visuals.
When was the last time you updated your profile images, headers, or brand photography? Spring is the perfect time to capture fresh images that reflect where your business is now. Even small visual updates signal to your audience that you're current and attentive to details.

What part of your business communication needs the most spring cleaning? Let me know, below...

26/03/2025

And the award for "Most Caffeinated Connector" goes to... me, apparently!

Everyone sees the polished networking events and successful connections but rarely the 6am prep sessions or the late-weekend-night follow-up emails. The truth is, orchestrating meaningful business relationships for over 160 members across 13 groups sometimes feels like directing my own epic production!

This week started off with a far-too-early wake-up alarm, three tries to find the right outfit, and then out the door to help set up a morning meeting space while juggling communication with three group presidents about their respective groups. By noon, I'd already connected seven people, helped solve a networking crisis, and somehow forgotten to eat lunch. Networking is not for the weak of heart.

The challenging moments? When technology fails you mid-presentation or when a carefully crafted introduction just doesn't click. But then there are also the magical scenes – watching two businesses collaborate on a project they'd never have found without our network or receiving a message that someone landed a new client through a connection I helped facilitate!

Running ERN is rarely a glamorous job. But who's going to do it? (Oh yeah, me)

It's schedules, driving to various locations, and sometimes awkward conversations, too. But just like an Oscar-award winning film, the behind-the-scenes chaos creates something meaningful that makes a life-changing difference in people's stories.

What part of your business looks different behind the curtain than what others typically see? Tell me about the director's cut!

26/02/2025

Listen up, friends! Today, I'm about to give you permission to be the weirdest version of yourself in business. Yes, really. In fact, I insist.

As a self-designated Expert in Brand Weirdness (and yes, that's totally a thing I just made up), I've spent years testing just how much personality you can inject into a brand before people start giving you concerned looks. The verdict? WAY more than you think.

Take me, for example. I've turned my obsessive love of blue and stripes into a whole brand identity. People literally know me as 'the blue and stripes lady.' Is it weird? Maybe. Does it work? Absolutely.

Let me help you level up your weird game by giving you some hot tips on showing up weirder in your business:

⭐️ Have a random fun fact about yourself? Make it your thing. I mean REALLY your thing. Talk about it until people start finishing your sentences. (Like how I bring up blue in literally every conversation? Yeah, like that.)

⭐️ Have a totally unique take on something? Great! Build a whole content series around it. The stranger, the better. If someone says "Well...that's... different," you're on the right track.

My point? Your quirks aren't flaws to hide – they're your secret marketing weapons. They're what make people remember you in a sea of beige businesses playing it safe.

So what's your weird? 👀 You know, that thing you've been trying to tone down in your business? It's time to dial it up to an 11/10.

P.S. If someone tells you you're being 'a bit much,' consider it a compliment. Those are usually my most successful days.

24/02/2025

You know what they say about success creating your own success. Well, we are actively seeing it firsthand at ERN! After our record-breaking January group launch (20 seats filled in the first week! 🤯), something amazing started happening...

Two more groups stepped up, ready to chase that same energy and success. There's nothing quite like watching momentum build and inspire others to reach higher.

But here's what really lights me up: we're not just growing in numbers. We're growing in connections. More coffee meetups, more lunch gatherings, and more chances for our members to build real relationships that grow their businesses.

Because at its heart, that's what ERN is all about - creating a network where every new connection adds value, every conversation opens doors, and every member has the opportunity to thrive.

And we're just getting started...

What motivates you to grow your business? I'd love to hear what sparks your momentum!

21/02/2025

If you've spent this week staring at a blank document titled "Our Brand's Messaging" while the computer cursor blinks mockingly at you...you're not alone, we've ALL been there.

If you're starting to market your brand more widely or you're changing up the messaging of your business, developing (or redeveloping) your brand's voice can feel A LOT like attempting to write a NYT best-selling book on round one. 😅 No pressure, right?

Here's the secret I'm letting you in on today though. Hopefully, it lets you breathe a little easier. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) starts somewhere. It's 110% okay if your first draft isn't perfect. No one's ever is.

A great place to start is with your 'why' statement. I know, I know, it really is cliché, but hear me out. Start by answering these questions:
⚡️ Why does your brand exist?
⚡️ What gets you jumping out of bed in the morning and ready to work?

Now, think about WHO you're talking to in your business.
⚡️ What keeps them up at night?
⚡️ What makes them tick?
⚡️ What would make their lives easier or better?

This is crucial because your messaging is rarely ever about you—it's almost always about THEM.

Now, here's the best part! What is it about how you do, that is your secret sauce?
Get real with yourself. What about YOU and who YOU are is so unique and different from everyone else that people would trek across the country to work with you? Now, embrace that which makes you unique--because ultimately, that is what will make you memorable.

Finding your voice is another task on the list but we'll come back to that another day. For now, focus on the homework I laid out in this post and get started on drafting up the messaging for you new brand!

19/02/2025

I know it's been months. We've talked about it. But I want to throw it back and talk about what my "Fractional CCO" Offer really is.

If you've been following along for a while, I know that you've most likely heard me discuss my offer to serve as a Fractional CCO for your business. Let's break down what that actually means for you and your business...

Think of a Fractional CCO as your high-level communication expert but without the full-time salary. Love that! You are privy to executive-level strategy and implementation, perfectly scaled to what your business needs right now (not months from now).

But wait - why CCO (Chief Communications Officer) and not CMO (Chief Marketing Officer)? Good question, friend!

Here are the key differences in these two offers as I see them...
1️⃣ A CMO focuses primarily on marketing analytics, KPIs, and growth metrics. (That's just not me)
2️⃣ A CCO specializes in messaging, authentic branding, and building real connections with your audience. (That IS me!)

Basically, while both roles help your brand grow in very important ways, a CCO is your go-to for making sure your business truly connects with people. (And if you know me, you know I'm all about making meaningful connections!)

Which resonates more with what your business needs right now - the data-driven CMO approach or the connection-focused CCO style? Drop a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

18/02/2025

Online learning is great, friends, But here's what's even better...

You know what hits way different than your morning routine of a cute audiobook and coffee? Well, walking into a room full of (real-life) entrepreneurs who get it and chatting about business.

Don't get me wrong - I'm still obsessed with my business books! (I'm currently diving into some amazing business ones, which are giving me ALL the ideas!)

But here's the truth: The true magic happens when you take that book knowledge and connect it with real people facing real challenges.

Quick story: Just last week at an ERN meeting, I watched two members solve a pricing problem that had been stumping them both - all because they actually sat down and talked it through. No amount of podcasts or books could have created that solution!

That's why I'm so passionate about creating spaces where entrepreneurs can connect in real life. With over 100 members across our networking groups and new groups opening what feels like every other week, I've seen firsthand how powerful these connections can be.

Ready to step out of your learning bubble and into a room full of other business owners who get it?

Drop an emoji in the comments and I'll share the details with you about our next meetings!

17/02/2025

You know those moments when an idea just clicks into place? That's exactly what happened when I was looking through this year's Inspire Awards flyer. It hit me - we have these incredible award-winning and nominated businesswomen right here in our community, each with powerful stories to share.

Our first speaker in February absolutely lit up the room.

Her journey through business and life had everyone at the table completely captivated. But here's what really struck me - it wasn't just about business metrics or success strategies. It was about the real, human side of entrepreneurship.

And that's when it clicked: we need more spaces to talk about the things we usually don't discuss in business settings. The choices we make. The relationships we build. The love we pour into our work and lives.

I'm excited to create more of these genuine conversations, where we can learn from each other's experiences and connect on a deeper level. Because sometimes the most valuable business insights come from the most authentic conversations.

Have you ever had a conversation that changed your perspective on business? I'd love to hear about it!

A Million Ideas

08/04/2025

04/04/2025

02/04/2025

01/04/2025

28/03/2025

26/03/2025

26/02/2025

24/02/2025

21/02/2025

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18/02/2025

17/02/2025

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