F*ck Business As Usual
a guided exploration on doing business in the times of the polycrisis
Nothing is normal.
And yet we are expected to act as if it is.
We are expected to continue our launches, our marketing, our sales pitches as if nothing is happening, and not even acknowledge the many crises facing us – from the climate collapse driven by capitalism, to wars and genocides… driven also by capitalism. We are expected to stay politely silent for fear of alienating our audience, or losing representation, of jeopardising our incomes, for fear of not knowing what to say, for fear of… being human.
We are conditioned to think that there is no other way, that we have to do it this way, or else.
If you’re a human who cares deeply about the world, you probably feel like you are in the Matrix. You can no longer sustain the extreme compartmentalisation that’s required to keep up with the charade… and yet you also have to work and earn money to survive all the above.
But what if we said, “f*ck this, let’s imagine otherwise!”
(An aside / context: I have been deeply inspired by Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, New Zealand’s youngest MP, who went viral after performing a haka to protest a proposed law that would re-interpret New Zealand’s founding legal document, the Treaty of Waitangi. If you haven’t seen it, find the full clip. It’ll move you.)
This is not a course but an exploration.
I do not claim to have all the answers – I’m still learning and my thinking is evolving every day and I won’t pretend otherwise.
I also think there are no one-size-fits-all answers; “magical” solutions and “follow this five step plan to a six figure week” influencer courses are a symptom of a system that is no longer sustainable (has never been, really).
What I will do is guide your own unlearning and re-learning by providing selected readings, prompts and reflections based on my own exploration of this topic over the past two years (and two decades of marketing and running a business experience prior). I will make it as manageable as possible while still providing plenty of substance.
This is a gentle exploration for those who know things could be different – have to be different! – but don’t know where to even begin. Think of it as a wayfinder map, a guide to inspire further exploration and re-imaginings.
How does this work?
F*ck Business As Usual is designed around five core modules combining readings and reflection prompts for you to explore in your own time. You will be able to access them all immediately but I do recommend taking them in one by one, and stopping for journalling and reflection. An online community space (away from Meta) is part of this exploration where you can share your thoughts, ask questions, workshop ideas and connect with like-minded people.
We will cover things like imagination, active hope, redefining what success looks like right now, reimagine pricing structures and rethink toxic and manipulative marketing approaches. We’ll question our colonial and capitalist conditioning and examine how they might show up in our work without us even noticing. We’ll flip the script and explore ideas of gift economies, more equitable pricing and honest marketing and see if and how you can use these ideas in your own work.
Who is this for?
This is for small business owners, and all big-hearted humans interested in building better worlds. Whether you’re a photographer, a writer, a designer, an artist, a holistic practitioner, a coach… all are welcome, and there is rich learning to be had in exchange of ideas from different background and disciplines.
However this space is NOT for you if you are racist, ableist, ageist, Islamophobic, antisemitic, homophobic, transphobic… you get the idea.
Enrolment opens very soon.
Make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter to be notified when it does.
Will you join me in this exploration?
F**k Business As Usual is hosted on The Portal, a new online platfrom on a mission to defund the bloligarchy.