#torontocomedy | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

laurafaritos · 5 days ago

Text

HDMS010. DTC Brands: A Short-Lived Fad or a Permanent Shift in Marketing?

For the past few weeks, I’ve been deep-diving into Harvard’s Digital Marketing Strategy course and breaking down everything I’ve learned—from a comedian and creative producer’s perspective.

So far, we’ve covered:

Why I took this course (Spoiler: The business of creativity is brutal, and I needed a strategy.)

The rise of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands and why they’ve completely changed marketing.

How DTC brands use customer insights, product design, manufacturing, and distribution to operate with agility.

The power of digital marketing and brand storytelling in growing an audience.

How comedians and creatives can steal these strategies to build sustainable careers.

Now that we’ve broken down each step of the DTC Value Chain, the big question remains:

🔥 Are DTC brands the future, or were they just a passing trend?

Some argue that DTC was a bubble—an experiment that worked well when digital ads were cheap but now struggles under rising costs and market saturation. Others believe that DTC brands permanently changed marketing and that companies must adapt or die.

This post is the conclusion of Module 1—where we reflect on whether DTC brands are a temporary trend or a long-term shift in how businesses operate.

And, of course, how comedians and creatives can apply these insights to their own careers.

I. The Case Against DTC: Was It Just a Fad?

While DTC brands shook up marketing, many argue that they were a short-lived trend rather than a sustainable business model. Here’s why:

1. Rising Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC)

When DTC brands first emerged, Facebook and Google ads were cheap. A brand could launch with a small budget and scale fast. But as more companies flooded digital advertising, costs skyrocketed. Today, CAC is so high that many DTC brands struggle to turn a profit.

Example: Casper (the mattress brand) went from an exciting DTC startup to struggling with profitability as digital ads became too expensive.

2. Easy to Copy, Hard to Defend

Most DTC brands don’t have proprietary technology or unique patents. Unlike legacy brands with years of R&D investment, many DTC brands just slap a logo on a generic product, market it well, and sell direct to consumers. The problem? Anyone can do the same thing.

Example: There are now hundreds of DTC razor brands, but none have been able to match Dollar Shave Club’s original success.

3. The Scaling Struggle

Starting a DTC brand is easy. Scaling it is hard. Many DTC companies hit a growth ceiling—they can reach $50-$100 million in revenue, but very few have grown into billion-dollar businesses like Nike or Apple.

Example: Warby Parker, Allbirds, and Glossier were once seen as the future of retail. But as they tried to scale, they struggled with profitability, forcing them to shift strategies.

4. The "Path to Profitability" Problem

Many DTC brands aren’t built to be profitable. They rely on venture capital funding to grow quickly, hoping to either:

Be acquired by a larger company (like Unilever buying Dollar Shave Club).

Go public and cash out before financial struggles catch up.

But for every success story, there are countless DTC brands that burned through millions in investor money and collapsed before turning a profit.

Example: Away Luggage was once the "future of travel," but behind the scenes, it struggled with mismanagement and unsustainable growth.

5. The DTC Bubble Burst?

A wave of DTC brand failures, layoffs, and acquisitions in recent years has led some experts to call the whole movement a bubble that has popped.

So… is that it? Was the DTC revolution just a temporary marketing trend that worked until digital ads got too expensive?

Not quite. Because while some DTC brands failed, others adapted and thrived.

Next, we look at the case for why DTC is here to stay—and how it has permanently changed marketing.

II. The Case for DTC: A Permanent Disruption in Marketing

Despite the struggles, DTC brands have changed the marketing landscape forever. Even if some fail, the principles behind them aren’t going anywhere. Here’s why:

1. Consumer Behavior Has Permanently Shifted

Customers are no longer brand-loyal in the way previous generations were. Instead, they seek out brands that feel: ✅ Authentic (not corporate giants pretending to care) ✅ Personalized (they want products made for them, not the masses) ✅ Community-Driven (they engage with brands like fandoms, not just buyers)

DTC brands understand this shift, while legacy brands are still playing catch-up.

Example: Glossier didn’t just sell beauty products—it created an online beauty movement, where customers shaped the brand’s identity. Even after its struggles, Glossier still represents what modern branding looks like.

2. The Lower Barrier to Entry Is Here to Stay

Launching a business once required millions in capital for production, advertising, and distribution. Now?

Shopify lets anyone build an online store in a day.

Amazon FBA allows brands to sell globally with zero inventory.

Facebook & Google Ads help brands reach their exact audience.

This means entrepreneurs no longer need a massive budget to compete—they just need a smart brand, a niche audience, and the ability to pivot fast.

Example: Pattern Brands turned their creative agency into a DTC powerhouse by building multiple niche brands, proving you don’t need a billion-dollar business to succeed.

3. The Retail Gatekeepers Have Lost Power

For decades, retail chains controlled who got to sell products. If Walmart, Target, or Macy’s didn’t want your brand on shelves, your business was doomed.

DTC broke that system by making it possible to: ✅ Bypass retail entirely (sell straight to consumers online). ✅ Control the brand experience (no need to fit into a retailer’s standards). ✅ Own the customer relationship (instead of letting Target collect all the data).

Even big legacy brands have noticed this shift and started selling directly to consumers.

Example: Nike cut ties with many retail partners to focus on its own DTC e-commerce strategy, proving that even global giants see the writing on the wall.

4. The Future of Marketing Is Personalization

Traditional brands rely on mass marketing (TV commercials, billboards, print ads). But DTC brands built their success on hyper-targeted, digital-first marketing.

This level of personalization and direct engagement is now the industry standard.

Subscription models (FabFitFun, BarkBox, Empress Mimi) create recurring revenue and personalized experiences.

Influencer & UGC marketing (Glossier, Perfect Diary) makes advertising feel organic.

Community-driven branding (Warby Parker, Allbirds) turns customers into ambassadors.

Even big brands now try to mimic this—but DTC brands do it best because it’s built into their DNA.

5. Legacy Brands Are Being Forced to Adapt

DTC isn’t just a trend—it’s a wake-up call to legacy brands that their old playbooks no longer work.

✅ DTC brands forced traditional companies to rethink marketing. ✅ DTC brands changed how customers interact with brands. ✅ DTC brands proved that authenticity and direct engagement matter.

Even if some DTC brands fail, the industry has been permanently transformed. The question now is how brands—big and small—adapt to this new reality.

III. The Future of DTC: Smaller, Niche-Driven, and Community-Led

If the early 2010s were about building billion-dollar DTC unicorns, the future is looking more like a landscape of smaller, hyper-targeted brands that thrive on community and personal connection.

1. The Era of the "Mega-Brand" Is Fading

For decades, companies like Procter & Gamble and Unilever built massive, category-dominating brands—think Tide, Gillette, and Dove.

But in the DTC era, niche is the new scale. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, brands now thrive by owning a specific identity and catering to a deeply engaged audience.

✅ Glossier built a minimalist beauty movement. ✅ Allbirds built a sneaker brand for eco-conscious millennials. ✅ BarkBox built an entire subscription economy around dog owners.

This shift isn’t just about product—it’s about culture. Consumers want brands that align with their values, aesthetics, and identity, not just solve a functional need.

This is a lesson for creators, too. You don’t need to go viral or appeal to millions—you just need to build a deeply engaged niche that feels seen by you.

2. The Rise of the Multi-Brand Portfolio

Instead of one company trying to dominate an industry, the next evolution of DTC looks more like a collection of smaller, targeted brands under one umbrella.

💡 Think of it as a “DTC House of Brands.”

Example: Pattern Brands didn’t just launch one DTC business—they built a portfolio of brands designed around “home enjoyment” (kitchenware, bath, home organization).

Why this works: ✅ Diversifies risk – If one brand slows down, others pick up the slack. ✅ Easier scaling – Smaller brands have lower overhead and can adapt faster. ✅ Built-in cross-selling – A customer who buys one product can easily be introduced to others.

For creatives, this model makes sense, too. Instead of focusing on one platform, one show, or one revenue stream, the goal is to build an ecosystem of creative products and offerings that serve a shared audience.

3. Marketplaces & Community-Driven Commerce

Another shift? Some DTC brands are no longer just selling their own products—they’re curating entire marketplaces.

💡 Instead of being just a brand, they’re becoming a platform.

✅ Amazon FBA → Brands use Amazon’s infrastructure for logistics. ✅ The Drop (Amazon) → Limited-edition fashion launches based on customer demand. ✅ Instagram Shops & TikTok Shopping → Social commerce blends content + buying in real time.

For independent creators and comedians, this shift is huge. It means you don’t just have to sell yourself—you can build a platform where your audience interacts, contributes, and even sells their own stuff.

4. The Future Is Omni-Channel

DTC brands started as digital-only businesses, but the ones that survive long-term are the ones expanding beyond digital.

✅ Warby Parker opened stores. ✅ Casper went into Target. ✅ Glossier (before its struggles) launched pop-ups and retail spaces.

💡 The best strategy is not just “DTC vs. Retail.” It’s BOTH.

For comedians and creatives, this is a lesson: It’s not just about being online or IRL—it’s about using both to fuel each other.

📍Your audience finds you online → but deepens their relationship with you through real-life experiences. 📍Your online content builds a following → but in-person experiences make people lifelong fans.

5. The Real Takeaway: DTC = The Creator Economy’s Playbook

The rise of DTC brands isn’t just about products—it’s about what the internet has made possible for small, independent businesses.

And that includes creators, comedians, and independent artists.

✅ Build direct relationships with your audience. ✅ Focus on authenticity & storytelling, not just sales. ✅ Create community-driven experiences that make people feel part of something. ✅ Monetize multiple revenue streams, not just one. ✅ Use digital-first marketing but don’t forget the power of in-person connection.

DTC brands proved that you don’t need a massive corporation behind you to build a business. The same is true for creative careers.

You are the brand. Your audience is your community. Your creative work is the product.

And the way you engage, build trust, and grow? That’s your marketing strategy.

IV. How I’m Making This Work Even with AuDHD

Let’s be real: this course is intense. The modules are dense, the case studies are complex, and Harvard doesn’t care that my AuDHD brain needs to take the scenic route through every concept before I fully absorb it.

So how am I making this work? By working with my brain, not against it.

1. My Study System: Structured Chaos 📚

Most people can read the material, take notes, and move on. I, however, need five tabs open, two highlighters in hand, and a YouTube video playing in the background just to get started.

Here’s how I’ve structured my study process to actually retain the information:

✅ Layered Learning – Instead of reading everything in one go, I skim first, then deep dive in multiple rounds. ✅ Pattern Recognition – I highlight themes across different lessons to connect the dots rather than memorizing isolated facts. ✅ Multi-Modal Input – I watch lectures, read case studies, and rewrite key concepts in my own words so my brain absorbs the material in different formats. ✅ Intentional Breaks – My brain does not do uninterrupted work marathons. So I batch my study sessions in 30-45 minute sprints to avoid burnout.

I’ve learned the hard way that forcing myself into “traditional” study methods is a disaster. The more I adapt the material to fit my learning style, the better I retain it.

2. Keeping My Dopamine Tank Full

AuDHD means if I’m not engaged, I’m not learning—it’s that simple. If the information isn’t interesting, urgent, or novel, my brain will not hold onto it.

So instead of fighting my need for novelty, I make the course as engaging as possible:

✅ Gamification – I turn modules into challenges, checklists, and milestones so I get small dopamine hits when I complete them. ✅ Storytelling Over Studying – Instead of rote memorization, I reframe everything as a narrative. Who are the key players? What were the stakes? How did they adapt? ✅ Sensory Stimulation – I study with music, fidget tools, and color-coded notes to make learning more immersive. ✅ Externalized Processing – I use voice notes and writing (like these posts!) to talk through concepts rather than just passively consuming them.

This isn’t just about making learning more fun—it’s about tricking my brain into retention.

3. Why I’m Taking My Time (and Not Feeling Guilty About It)

Harvard estimates 10 hours per module. I’ve spent 35+ hours on a single module so far.

Old me would’ve panicked, called myself slow, and spiraled into self-doubt. But I know now: that’s just not how my brain works.

💡 Depth over speed. If it takes me 3x longer to truly absorb the material, that’s fine. 💡 Sustainability over burnout. If I cram, I won’t retain anything. If I pace myself, I’ll actually use this knowledge long-term. 💡 Efficiency in my own way. Some people can memorize concepts fast, but I rebuild them from the ground up in my mind so I can apply them later.

I’d rather take my time and absorb the material fully than rush through it and remember nothing.

4. Translating This Into My Own Business & Creative Work

Studying this course through an AuDHD lens has made me hyper-aware of how I structure my own creative business.

✅ I design my marketing & content workflows to be dopamine-friendly. ✅ I create systems that work with my brain, not against it. ✅ I build flexibility into my schedules so I don’t set myself up for failure.

And most importantly? I’m learning to trust my own way of processing information. Just because my learning pace looks different from others doesn’t mean it’s wrong—it just means I’m building a stronger, deeper foundation.

This course is forcing me to rewire how I think about learning, productivity, and business strategy—and that’s a lesson I’ll carry with me long after I’ve finished these modules.

V. What I’ve Learned & How It’s Changing Me

If you had told me a year ago that I’d be taking a Harvard digital marketing course, breaking down business models, and applying these lessons to comedy, I would have laughed. Loudly.

Yet here I am, not only surviving but thriving in this intense course—despite every AuDHD struggle, every late-night deep dive, and every overcomplicated note-taking method.

This isn’t just about learning marketing. It’s about redefining how I approach my work, my business, and my creative life.

🔹 What I’ve Learned from This Module

✅ DTC brands have permanently changed marketing by cutting out middlemen and building direct customer relationships. ✅ Traditional brands still hold power, but they’re struggling to adapt to digital-first strategies. ✅ The DTC model is scalable, but only when done right—too many brands fail because they don’t know how to grow beyond the startup phase. ✅ Brand-building is about connection. Whether you’re selling razors, running a comedy show, or marketing yourself as an artist, your audience relationships are everything.

🔹 How This Has Changed Me as a Comedian & Creative

💡 I no longer see marketing as a “business thing” that’s separate from creativity. Marketing is storytelling. Marketing is connection. Marketing is art. 💡 I’ve started thinking like a DTC brand. I’m building my audience the way a startup would—directly, personally, with full ownership of my brand. 💡 I’ve restructured my business approach to work with my AuDHD brain, not against it. The strategies I’m learning aren’t just business hacks—they’re helping me build sustainable creative workflows.

I’m not just learning from this course—I’m actively applying it to my career in real time. And that? That’s pretty damn exciting.

🔹 Catch Up on the Full Series

In case you missed my previous posts, here’s what I’ve covered so far in this Harvard deep dive:

📌 Why I Signed Up for a Harvard Digital Marketing Course as a Comedian 📌 The Rise of DTC Brands: What Harvard Taught Me About Selling Directly to Audiences 📌 DTC Brands: A Trend or the Future? Harvard’s Take on Business Longevity 📌 Customer Insights: How the Best Brands REALLY Know Their Audience 📌 R&D & Product Design: What Comedians & Creators Can Learn from DTC Brands 📌 Manufacturing & Production: Why Comedians Should Think Like a Startup 📌 Marketing 101: Performance Marketing vs. Brand Building 📌 Distribution Strategies: What Comedy & DTC Brands Have in Common 📌 Customer Experience: Selling an Emotion, Not Just a Product 📌 You’re here! 🎉

🔹 What’s Next?

Next up, I’ll be diving into how traditional brands are adapting (or failing to adapt) to this DTC disruption—and what lessons creatives and comedians can take from it.

If you’ve been enjoying these breakdowns, follow me for more insights on business, comedy, and the wild intersection of the two. And if you’re in Toronto, come see me LIVE at one of my upcoming shows!

🎟️ Haunted Comedians – Spooky comedy, ghost stories & hilarious hauntings 🎟️ Failed by Sex Ed – Comedy meets relationships, dating fails & what we should have learned in school 🎟️ Foreigner Diaries – Comedy about immigration, culture clashes & the joys of being “the foreigner”

Let’s keep learning, laughing, and figuring this all out together. 🚀

Tchau, tchau!!

0 notes

laurafaritos · 5 days ago

Text

HDMS009. Customer Experience Is Everything: What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About Building an Audience That Stays

So, here’s the thing: selling a product is one thing. Getting people to stay? That’s a whole different beast.

This week, I’m diving into something every business (and, honestly, every comedian) needs to master: customer experience.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m taking a Harvard Digital Marketing Strategy certificate course, and I’m documenting everything I learn—not just from an academic standpoint, but how it applies to me as a comedian and creative.

So far, I’ve covered:

I Can’t Believe I’m Taking a Harvard Course—But Here’s Why I’m Doing It as a Comedian

Everything Harvard Taught Me About DTC Brands

DTC Brands: A Fad or the Future of Marketing?

What Harvard Taught Me About Customer Insights—And Why It Matters for Comedians & Creatives

Outsourcing vs. DIY: What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About Scaling Creativity

Comedy, Clicks & Customer Acquisition: Harvard’s Digital Marketing Breakdown

From Clicks to Comedy Clubs: What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About Selling an Experience

Now, we’ve arrived at the final stage of the DTC value chain: customer experience.

What happens after someone buys your product, buys a ticket to your show, or follows you online? How do you turn a one-time buyer into a lifelong fan? And most importantly—how can we, as creatives, build audiences that actually stick around?

Let’s get into it.

I. The Final Stage of the DTC Value Chain: Why Customer Experience Matters

At this point in the Harvard Digital Marketing Strategy course, we’ve covered how DTC brands create products, market them, and distribute them. But none of that means anything if the customer experience is bad. The final—and arguably most critical—step of the DTC value chain is customer experience.

For traditional brands, customer experience usually happens indirectly—through retailers like Walmart, customer service hotlines, or mass-market advertising. There’s little personal interaction.

DTC brands, on the other hand, bypass middlemen and own the relationship with their customers. They don’t just sell a product; they create a journey. The entire experience—from first Instagram ad to unboxing to post-purchase support—is designed to feel seamless, personal, and engaging.

How DTC Brands Redefined Customer Experience

Here’s how direct-to-consumer brands flipped the script:

1️⃣ They talk with their customers, not at them.

Traditional brands advertise; DTC brands interact.

Social media, DMs, email newsletters—DTC brands use two-way communication instead of just pushing messages.

2️⃣ They use direct feedback to improve constantly.

Instead of waiting for surveys and sales reports, they analyze real-time customer behavior (site visits, reviews, social engagement) and adjust fast.

3️⃣ They prioritize experience over just selling a product.

It’s not just about the thing you’re buying—it’s about how it makes you feel.

Think of brands like Glossier, BarkBox, and Warby Parker—the unboxing experience, personalized messaging, and brand communities are just as important as the product itself.

This shift isn’t just about good service—it’s a marketing advantage. A satisfied customer becomes a loyal customer. A loyal customer becomes free marketing. And free marketing becomes a competitive edge.

In other words? Customer experience isn’t an afterthought—it’s a strategy.

II. How DTC Brands Build Unbreakable Customer Loyalty

For legacy brands, customer loyalty is built through habit. You buy the same toothpaste because it’s the one your parents used. You grab the same cereal because it’s always on the shelf at the grocery store. The product is familiar, available, and reliable—so you keep buying it.

But DTC brands don’t have the advantage of shelf space or ingrained consumer habits. They have to create customer loyalty from scratch—and they do it by making their customers feel seen, heard, and valued.

1️⃣ They Make the Customer the Hero of the Brand

Traditional brands say: "We’re the best! Buy from us." DTC brands say: "You're the best. We're here to help you."

Look at brands like Glossier and BarkBox—they amplify their customers' voices through user-generated content (UGC). Instead of telling people what to buy, they showcase real people using their products. This creates community and belonging rather than just a transaction.

🛑 Lesson for Comedians & Creatives: Comedy fans don’t just want to watch your content—they want to feel part of it.

Encouraging audience interaction (polls, Q&As, behind-the-scenes content) fosters community.

Featuring user-submitted content (like fans reacting to your jokes or sending in funny stories) turns customers into collaborators.

Making inside jokes that your audience “gets” makes them feel like insiders.

2️⃣ They Reward Engagement with More Than Just a Product

A purchase isn't the end of the journey—it’s just the beginning.

DTC brands keep customers engaged through:

Loyalty programs (e.g., Sephora Beauty Insider—customers feel invested in the brand).

Referral bonuses (e.g., Uber’s “Give $10, Get $10” model—turns customers into marketers).

Personalized recommendations (e.g., Spotify Wrapped or FabFitFun's customized boxes).

🛑 Lesson for Comedians & Creatives: Your fans want more than just your content—they want to feel like they’re part of your journey.

Reward loyal followers with exclusive perks (early access to tickets, VIP content).

Turn engagement into a two-way relationship (shoutouts, audience polls, responding to comments).

Personalize experiences where possible (think: Spotify Wrapped but for your comedy shows).

3️⃣ They Master the Art of the Post-Purchase Experience

With traditional brands, the customer journey ends at checkout.

With DTC brands, checkout is just the beginning.

Fun packaging makes unboxing an experience (BarkBox’s packaging turns delivery day into an event).

Well-crafted email sequences keep customers excited about their purchase (Glossier sends beauty tips after you buy).

Fast, hassle-free returns build trust (Amazon’s seamless return system keeps people buying).

🛑 Lesson for Comedians & Creatives: The post-purchase experience applies even if you’re not selling a physical product.

After a live show, keep engagement going with thank-you emails, clips, or bonus content.

After a new video, engage in the comments and start a conversation.

If someone buys merch, make the experience memorable with a handwritten note or a bonus sticker.

In short? Loyalty isn’t just about what you sell—it’s about how you make people feel before, during, and after the purchase.

III. How This Applies to Me as a Comedian

At first glance, it might seem like customer experience is something only brands and businesses need to worry about. But in reality, comedy is a business, and audience experience is everything.

For comedians, our product isn’t just our jokes—it’s the entire experience we create for our audience.

Think about the last time you went to see live comedy.

What made the experience great?

Was it just the jokes, or was it the atmosphere, the energy, and the connection with the comedian?

Did you feel like the comedian was just performing at you, or were they engaging with you, reading the room, and making you part of the show?

This is where DTC-style customer experience thinking comes in.

1️⃣ Audience Engagement is Everything

DTC brands thrive by building relationships, not just selling products. Comedians thrive by building connections, not just delivering punchlines.

A good comedian doesn’t just tell jokes—they read the crowd, engage, and adapt. A good content creator doesn’t just post clips—they interact, reply, and build a community.

How I Apply This:

I don’t just put on live shows—I create experiences. I think about everything from the venue vibe to the post-show engagement.

I don’t just post comedy clips—I interact with my audience on Threads, Instagram, and YouTube to make them feel like they’re part of the journey.

I test material in real time (much like DTC brands test products) by seeing what gets laughs, what flops, and what needs tweaking.

2️⃣ The "Post-Purchase Experience" in Comedy

DTC brands don’t stop marketing once a customer buys something—they keep nurturing the relationship so that customer becomes a fan for life.

Comedians need to do the same.

When someone buys a ticket to your show, that’s just the beginning of their experience with you.

Are you keeping them engaged after the show? (Sharing clips, running polls, responding to comments?)

Are you making it easy for them to come back? (Email reminders, early ticket sales, loyalty discounts?)

Are you giving them a reason to tell their friends? (Shareable moments, referral perks, inside jokes?)

How I Apply This:

After every live show, I make sure attendees have a reason to stay engaged. Whether it’s a recap video, a social media post, or a follow-up email, I keep the experience alive.

I use social media like a DTC brand would—not just to promote shows but to build community.

I take note of what my audience responds to and iterate my content based on real feedback.

Comedy isn’t just about jokes—it’s about the relationship between comedian and audience. And if DTC brands can teach us anything, it’s that the best relationships aren’t transactional. They’re built over time.

IV. How I’m Making This Work Even with AuDHD

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from both this Harvard course and my own neurodivergent brain, it’s that traditional business models aren’t designed for people like me.

Most marketing strategies, business structures, and customer engagement frameworks assume: ✔ A linear way of working ✔ A neurotypical understanding of focus & consistency ✔ A predictable routine for audience-building

But here’s the thing: my brain doesn’t work like that.

1️⃣ The Chaos of Multi-Tasking vs. The Power of Hyperfocus

DTC brands thrive because they use real-time feedback loops to adapt fast. I thrive because my AuDHD brain loves hyperfixating on new ideas and testing what works.

How I Make It Work:

Instead of fighting my inconsistent energy levels, I lean into them—I batch content on my hyperfocus days and schedule it in advance.

I build engagement in ways that don’t require daily burnout—automated email sequences, scheduled posts, and bite-sized audience interactions rather than forcing myself to post long, structured content every day.

I set up systems so that even when my brain refuses to function, my business keeps running.

2️⃣ Rejection Sensitivity & the Art of Not Taking Bombing Personally

One of the biggest hurdles for comedians and entrepreneurs alike is handling rejection. For someone with AuDHD and rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD), that hurdle is a mountain.

DTC brands survive by iterating—they don’t launch a product once and never improve it. They test, adjust, and refine. Comedy works the same way—except instead of testing products, we’re testing jokes, timing, and audience reactions.

How I Make It Work:

I remind myself that a bombed joke isn’t a failure, it’s data. Just like DTC brands adjust based on customer feedback, I adjust my sets based on audience reactions.

I practice emotional detachment from immediate results—not every show is a hit, just like not every ad campaign is a success. The key is adapting, not quitting.

I give myself permission to step away when my brain needs a break, knowing that consistency is about long-term sustainability, not daily output.

3️⃣ Overstimulation, Understimulation & Finding the Right Environment

DTC brands curate customer experiences based on how people want to interact with them. I have to curate my work environment based on how my brain wants to interact with the world.

How I Make It Work:

If I can’t focus at home, I change environments—cafés, co-working spaces, different rooms in my apartment.

I use body doubling techniques (silent work streams, co-working with friends) to trick my brain into task-mode.

I don’t force myself to work in the 9-5 structure—I embrace my natural hyperfocus cycles and get weeks of work done in bursts.

Final Thought: The DTC Model is the AuDHD Model

DTC brands have revolutionized business by breaking traditional models. They adapt fast, they engage differently, and they meet customers where they are.

And honestly? That’s the only way I’ve been able to survive as a comedian with AuDHD.

I don’t fit into legacy business models, and I don’t force myself to work like a legacy employee. Instead, I build my own systems—ones that work with my brain, not against it.

V. What I’ve Learned & Why It Matters

If this Harvard course has taught me anything so far, it’s that the business world is evolving—and so am I.

✅ DTC brands are rewriting the rules of marketing. They don’t wait for retail approval or industry validation—they go straight to their audience and build relationships on their own terms.

✅ Customer experience is everything. Whether you’re a stand-up comedian, a podcast host, or a small business owner, people don’t just buy products or tickets—they buy experiences. They invest in the way you make them feel.

✅ Success doesn’t come from following outdated rules. It comes from adapting, testing, iterating, and finding what works for YOU. DTC brands thrive because they understand their audiences, engage directly, and create meaningful interactions. The same goes for comedy, content creation, and personal branding.

And most importantly?

✅ I am doing the damn thing. I am taking a Harvard course. I am learning, adapting, and figuring out how to apply these insights to my career. I am balancing this intense learning experience while running a creative business and managing AuDHD.

And I’m freaking proud of myself for it.

This wraps up Module 1 of Harvard’s Digital Marketing Strategy Course. If you’ve been following along, here’s what we’ve covered so far:

📌 HDMS 001 – I Can’t Believe I’m Taking a Harvard Course—But Here’s Why I’m Doing It as a Comedian 📌 HDMS 002 – DTC Brands Are Changing Everything: What Harvard Taught Me About Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 📌 HDMS 003 – Fad or Future? What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Says About the Sustainability of DTC Brands 📌 HDMS 004 – Customer Insights: What Harvard Taught Me About Understanding Audiences as a Comedian & Creator 📌 HDMS 005 – What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About R&D and Product Design—And How Creatives Can Apply It 📌 HDMS 006 – Outsourcing vs. DIY: What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About Scaling Creativity 📌 HDMS 007 – Comedy, Clicks & Customer Acquisition: Harvard’s Digital Marketing Breakdown 📌 HDMS 008 – From Clicks to Comedy Clubs: What Harvard’s Digital Marketing Course Taught Me About Selling an Experience

Next up? We’re moving on to Module 2: Digital Customer Acquisition.

Stay Connected & Support My Work

🎟️ Want to see me live? Come to my comedy shows in Toronto! Haunted Comedians, Failed by Sex Ed, and Foreigner Diaries are all happening soon.

📩 Love this series? Follow me here or sign up for my newsletter—I’ll be dropping more insights, behind-the-scenes content, and real talk about making it as a creative in today’s digital world.

💬 Let’s talk! What’s been your biggest takeaway from this series so far? Drop a comment, send me a DM, or just scream into the void. I’ll probably hear it.

Tchau, tchau!!!

0 notes