I switched up my morning routine. I tried meditation and I've upped my Omega-3 intake. It seems like no matter what I do, my Google results haven't given me an adequate solution to my lack of focus and productivity problems during quarantine and according to our good sis Issa Rae, she can totally relate.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Insecure star explained that although she's been able to check a lot of items off of her to-do list, the side effects of the pandemic have fumbled her focus in a major way.
"I've been getting a lot done; I turned in two scripts and I'm working on the third one. But it's like, you don't even know if we're going to be able to shoot these anytime soon. So now I'm like, 'Am I working for nothing?' I've reached that phase where it's like, 'Let me just be sad and wake up sad and not do anything.' I'm trying to get back into my groove again."
In an attempt to overcome her self-isolation-induced sadness, the multihypenate hustler says that she seeks comfort in one of her favorite classic movies, but at this point, even that isn't enough to get her out of her mid-quarantine slump.
"Yesterday in my depression I was like, 'What can I watch right now?' And I was flipping and that made me sadder because I was like, 'I don't have anything that I turn to.' I think 'Groundhog Day' is my comfort movie. I think that's gonna be my happy place — but it may feel too familiar. I don't want to come out of this hating 'Groundhog Day' so I also have to be precious with my s---."
The actress, who made the decision to release her latest feature film, The Lovebirds on Netflix instead of in theaters, explained that while the quarantine has thrown a wrench in her plans, now, more than ever is the time for professionals to level up their creative toolboxes:
"I get anxiety about it. Like I know my internet is s—-y, and I'm gonna be frozen on the screen in a stupid position. I feel like internet connections are gonna have to step up. I think people are going to try to get creative in terms of how they're showcasing talent, and they already are — but I know as a viewer I'm not trying to watch a split-screen of Zoom that I also use on all my conference calls. That's not appealing to me."
To read Issa's full interview, click here!
Featuring image by Matt Baron/Shutterstock.
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While an evolution is a natural progression that happens as businesses grow, a rebrand is a total change. Lola tells xoNecole, "A total rebrand is necessary when a business’s current reputation/what it’s known for is at odds with the business’s vision or direction.
"For example, if you’ve fundamentally changed what your product is and does, it’s likely that your brand is out of alignment with the business. Or, if you find your company is developing a reputation that doesn’t serve it, it might be time to pump the brakes and figure out what needs to change.
She continues, "Sometimes you’ll see companies (especially startups) announce a name change that comes with updated messaging, visuals, etc. That usually means their vision has changed or expanded, and their previous branding was too narrow/couldn’t encompass everything they planned to do."
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The Brand Doula was born in 2019, and its focus is on putting "the experiences, goals, and needs of women of color founders first," as well as brands with "culture-shifting missions."
According to Lola, culture-shifting is "the act of influencing dominant behavior, beliefs, or experiences in a community or group (ideally, for the better)."
"At The Brand Doula, we work with companies and leaders that set out to challenge the status quo in their industries and communities. They’re here to make an impact that sends ripples across the market," she says.
"We help the problem solvers of the world — the ones who aren't satisfied with 'this is how it's always been' and instead ask 'how could this be better?' Our clients build for impact, reimagining tools, systems, and ways of living to move cultures forward."
The Brand Doula has worked with many brands, including Too Collective, to assist with their collaboration with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Balanced Black Girl for a "refresh," aka rebrand. For businesses looking to rebrand, Lola shares four essential steps.
1. Do an audit of your current brand experience — what’s still relevant and what needs to change? Reflect on why you’re doing the rebrand in the first place and what success would look like after relaunching.
2. Tackle the overall strategy first — before you start redesigning logos and websites, align on a new vision for your brand. How do you want your company to be positioned moving forward? Has your audience changed at all? Will your company have a fresh personality and voice?
3. Bring your audience along the journey — there’s no need to move in secret. Inviting your current audience into the journey can actually help them feel more connected to and invested in your story, enough to stick around as changes are being made.
4. Keep business moving — one of my biggest pet peeves is when companies take down their websites as soon as they have the idea to rebrand, then have a Coming Soon page up for months! You lose a lot of momentum and interest by doing that. If you’re still in business and generating income, continue to operate while you work on your rebrand behind the scenes. You don’t want to cut existing customers off out of the blue, and you also don’t want so much downtime that folks forget your business exists or start looking for other solutions.
While determining whether the rebrand was successful may take a few months, Lola says a clear sign that it is unsuccessful is negative feedback from your target audience. "Customers are typically more vocal about what they don’t like more than what they do like," she says.
But some good signs to look out for are improvements in engagement with your marketing, positive reviews, press and increase in retention, and overall feeling aligned with the new branding.
For more information about Lola and The Brand Doula, visit her website, thebranddoula.com.
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