Designing a Purpose and Strategy with Eric Ressler / Cosmic

This episode of The Purposeful Strategist features Eric Ressler, founder and CEO of social impact creative agency Cosmic. Host Belden Menkus sits down with Eric to discuss the work at Cosmic, what it takes to embrace and stick with a new purpose and strategy, and why doing so is both the toughest and best thing an organization can possibly do. Cosmic aims to move humanity forward through the social impact space, an effort that requires a continually evolving development strategy. Their conversation is filled with insights and lessons learned from Cosmic’s growth journey and Eric’s advice for shaping a more powerful purpose and strategy.

“There’s this transition period that’s really scary, but ultimately if you can bridge that transition, that’s when you start to really reap the benefits.”

Episode Highlights:

The inspiration behind Cosmic’s focus on the purposeful digital experience. [1:37]
Nailing the impact story is essential in presenting an organization's mission in a compelling and engaging way. [4:55]
What role does design play in creating positive social change? [6:40]
The development of Cosmic’s dedicated purpose of empowering other agencies. [8:18]
Cosmic’s process of moving humanity forward through the social impact space. [13:31]
Eric details Cosmic’s continually evolving development strategy. [17:48]
The hardest part of scaling awareness and impact efforts in the attention economy. [21:20]
The most surprising part of Cosmic’s growth journey. [23:24]
Lessons learned as he navigated strategic and bold growth. [27:23]
Eric’s advice for shaping purpose and strategy. [29:04]

Quotes:

“If you can bridge the transition period, that’s when you really start to reap the benefits.”

“We did not get to see the payoff for the work that we had done for years…that was the most challenging part.”

“All of our biggest growth points over this whole trajectory have always happened after some kind of bold leap of faith that could have failed.”

“If you don’t make those leaps and place those bets, even if they’re careful and considered, then there is no growth.”

“Your work is only effective if you can show up at your best. That’s the best thing you can do for the purpose of the work.”

Resources:

The Purposeful Strategist

Designing a Purpose and Strategy with Eric Ressler

Designing a Purpose and Strategy with Eric Ressler

“There’s this transition period that’s really scary, but ultimately if you can bridge that transition, that’s when you start to really reap the benefits.”

Episode Highlights:

Quotes:

Resources:

Storytelling for Complex Missions

Pros & Cons of Major Donors

Designing Impact Reports That Actually Work

How to Sell a Vision Before It’s Real

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