Pull up a log, pass the snacks, and crack open the creative canteen! We’re trading stories by the campfire. Field Notes is where we share reflections on ethical marketing, creative ecosystems, and what it looks like to build work that cares for people and planet. These essays explore care-centered business, relational community building, and creative practices rooted in liberation and integrity. Think of this space as an evolving notebook, ideas gathered in the field and shared in community.
Field Notes
Reflections on Ethical Business and Creative Practice
Our 2026 Anti-Trend Report: What We Refuse To Participate In And What We’re Growing Instead
This 2026 Anti-Trend Report outlines the harmful cultural and industry trends conscious creatives and small businesses must reject in the year ahead—from colorism in design and gendered branding to extractive economics, hustle culture, and unethical AI. Instead, we explore the values, practices, and liberatory business models worth cultivating: human-centered marketing, ethical technology, circular and local economies, creativity-first entrepreneurship, embodied business practices, and community-rooted ecosystems. This article serves as both a manifesto and a field guide for creative entrepreneurs committed to values-driven work, justice-oriented branding, and sustainable business growth in 2026 and beyond.
Letting Go of “Scaling” for Scaling’s Sake
Forget the hustle myth. Explore a more meaningful approach to business growth—one rooted in sustainability, alignment, and creativity. This blog dives into slow entrepreneurship, anti-scale truths, and how to define success on your own terms.
How to Begin Again in Business: with Alignment, Not Pressure
After a year of intentional dormancy and creative reflection, I’m pressing reset—not from a place of pressure, but from a place of truth. This essay explores what it means to compost old strategies, trust your creative timing, and build a business that grows like a garden: with patience, presence, and care. If you're craving slower rhythms, deeper meaning, and a return to alignment—this one's for you.
Marketing That Makes People Feel Something: A Case for Going Analog
In today’s fast-paced digital world, marketing often feels like an endless cycle of chasing trends and algorithms. But what if we slowed down and returned to more human, meaningful ways of connecting? This blog explores how analog marketing—through tactile experiences, handwritten notes, pop-up events, and sensory-driven campaigns—can create lasting emotional connections with customers. By engaging multiple senses and fostering genuine relationships, analog marketing offers small businesses and creatives a sustainable way to build community and make a lasting impact.
Reclaim Your Business from the Attention Economy: Nature-Inspired Growth for Creatives
This blog explores how the dopamine-fueled attention economy is quietly burning out small business owners and creatives. Learn how to break free from social media dependency, recognize signs of digital burnout, and shift to nature-inspired business practices for sustainable growth, creativity, and well-being.
Do You Really Need Social Media to Succeed? Re-thinking Marketing for Small Businesses
Social media marketing is often touted as a must for small business success, but is it truly essential? In this blog, we dive into the common frustrations of social media for solopreneurs and small business owners, discussing why it might not be the right choice for everyone. Explore how to uncover your unique marketing style by aligning with your strengths, understanding your audience, and staying true to your values. Discover how alternative, sustainable marketing approaches can drive meaningful results and help you connect authentically with your audience.
Making Your Marketing Matter in 2025: Sustainable Strategies for Creative Small Businesses
Explore a refreshing approach to marketing that goes beyond social media. This blog shares actionable strategies like long-form content creation, PR opportunities, and authentic networking to help small businesses and entrepreneurs build lasting connections and achieve sustainable growth. Step into 2025 with intentional marketing that aligns with your values and vision.
Creating a Human-Centered Marketing Journey: How to Build Trust Without Salesy Tactics
Marketing doesn’t have to feel forced. If traditional sales funnels feel too cold or transactional, it’s time to rethink your approach. In this guide, we’ll break down how to build an ethical, sustainable customer journey that nurtures potential clients with care, thoughtful UX/UI, and seamless brand strategy. Learn how to create an experience that guides—not pushes—your audience toward working with you in a way that feels natural, aligned, and deeply human.
Thinking Beyond Sustainability: Why Businesses Must Embrace Regeneration and Restoration
Sustainability alone isn’t sufficient to address the challenges facing our planet and communities. This blog explores how small business owners can embrace regenerative and restorative approaches to create lasting impact. From ethical practices to rethinking waste, overconsumption, and community engagement, discover actionable steps to redefine success for your business while prioritizing people and the planet.
The Four Stages of Business Development: When to Seek Branding and Marketing Support
Discover the four stages of business development and learn when to hire branding and marketing experts to elevate your business. From startup to sustain, align your strategy, systems, and design with your goals for sustainable growth.
What It Means to Practice Sustainable Business and How To Build Sustainability Into Your Business Strategy
Learn what it means to practice sustainable business in 2024. This guide explores sustainability strategies, the Triple Bottom Line, and actionable steps to create lasting impact.
You’ll notice many of these essays circling shared questions around ethical marketing, creative ecosystems, and what it means to build business at a more human pace. We hope you enjoy.