Make The Way: Culture Decoded

Are you actually stuck... or are you standing in your own way? In this episode of Make The Way , I share what I learned after teaching my recent OGSM strategy workshop—and how fear, overthinking, perfectionism, and self-doubt almost kept me from doing it in the first place. The biggest lesson wasn't that I was perfectly prepared. It was that action creates clarity. Confidence doesn't come before y...

Black Music Month deserves more than one month on the calendar. In this episode of Culture Radar , we're talking about why Black music isn't just entertainment—it's one of the most influential cultural forces in history. From jazz and gospel to hip-hop, house, R&B, Afrobeats, and beyond, Black artists have shaped the soundtrack of our lives. But celebration shouldn't stop on June 30. In this e...

What if the life you want begins with the words you choose today? In this episode of Make The Way, Mike Fair explores the surprising power of writing down your vision, speaking affirmations over your life, and rewriting the stories that hold us back. This isn't about toxic positivity or pretending everything is okay. It's about understanding that your thoughts become words, your words become belie...

We've been sold a lie. Work harder. Stay busy. Keep grinding. Sleep later. For years, hustle culture convinced us that exhaustion was a badge of honor and that productivity was the ultimate measure of success. But what if the problem isn't that you're moving too slowly? What if the problem is that you've never been taught to stop? In this episode of Make The Way, Mike Fair explores the hidden cost...

You can’t build a great brand without a real strategy. In this video, I break down the OGSM framework, the exact system I use to turn business goals into execution. Download and USE my OGSM framework here: https://www.mikeaustinmakes.com/shop/p/the-make-the-way-ogsm-system Everyone is shouting about marketing, content, and campaigns… But here’s the truth: If your business strategy isn’t clear, you...

You’re not just burned out from work… you forgot how to have fun. In this episode of Make The Way , we break down the real reason burnout is happening—and how to fix it. You’re not just burned out from work—you forgot how to have fun. Burnout isn’t only about working too hard. It’s about what’s missing: joy, curiosity, and real fun. Somewhere along the way, we replaced fun with productivity, scrol...

If you’re at the table… eat. In this episode of Make The Way , I break down the 5 R’s that help you overcome imposter syndrome and show up with confidence in the rooms that matter. Imposter syndrome will have you questioning your seat, second-guessing your voice, and shrinking in moments that actually require you to rise. But here’s the truth: You’re not in the room by accident. You’re there for a...

I finally found momentum—and it didn’t come from doing more. It came from changing how I show up every day. This year taught me something real: momentum isn’t about intensity—it’s about alignment and consistency. In this episode of Make The Way, I break down the 4 codes that helped me finally build real momentum—across work, content, and life. If you’ve been putting in the effort but not seeing pr...

Nobody cares about your brand - UNTIL you fix your audience relevance problem! On this episode of Make The Way, I break down the 3 codes to building a breakthrough brand that people actually care about. If you’re building a brand, creating content, or working in marketing, you’ve probably been told to “tell your story,” “build your brand,” or “create content.” Here’s the truth: people don’t care a...

Success isn’t a solo sport. In this episode of Make The Way , Mike Fair breaks down what the long-term creative partnership between Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler teaches us about the new Millennial and Gen Z code for success. From Fruitvale Station to Creed to Black Panther , their collaboration shows that the biggest breakthroughs don’t happen alone — they happen when talented people lock in...

Inspiration doesn’t happen in isolation. The truth is that the most inspired people are often surrounded by community, collaboration, and shared energy. In this episode of Make The Way , Mike Fair explores why community is the real unlock to inspiration and how the people around you shape your creativity, motivation, and purpose. We often think inspiration is a solo pursuit — a flash of brilliance...

Welcome to Make The Way. I’m Mike Fair — an award-winning brand strategist decoding culture, Millennials, and Gen Z in real time. I’ve spent 20 years helping brands, like Mars Inc., Chevrolet, and AutoZone through the years, understand cultural shifts and connect with audiences and emerging generations. On this channel, I break down: • Millennial and Gen Z insights • Cultural rituals and trends •...

Grief isn’t something you “get over.” Millennials and Gen Z are navigating loss differently — rewriting the cultural codes around grief, healing, and resilience. In this episode of Make The Way , award-winning brand and cultural strategist Mike Fair explores: • Why traditional grief models feel incomplete • How Millennials & Gen Z are redefining how we mourn • 3 new ways to navigate loss in a...

I'm celebrating Black Creativity! How are you getting inspired this week? What are you reading, watching or listening to? Share in the comments below and let's Make The Way together! Takeaways Black creativity Inspiration

Advertising doesn’t just have a diversity problem—it has a strategy problem. In this episode of Make The Way, I break down 3 actionable codes for building the next generation of Black strategists in advertising and communications—because culture doesn’t move without power, and power starts with strategy. As an award-winning brand and cultural strategist, I’ve spent two decades inside Adland watchi...

The Super Bowl is more than football: It is about Culture. In this episode of Make The Way, I break down what the Super Bowl 2026 ads and halftime show reveal about Millennial and Gen Z culture, from brand purpose and AI anxiety to nostalgia, representation, and togetherness. I’m Mike Fair, an award-winning brand and cultural strategist, and Make The Way is a culture vlog focused on decoding the n...

Millennials & Gen Z are redefining concerts as essential spaces for connection, belonging, and shared experience. In this episode of Make The Way, cultural strategist Mike Fair explores why concerts matter more than ever to Millennials and Gen Z. From rising ticket prices and fashion-forward fandom to the emotional power of being present together in a digital-first world. This conversation unp...

In this first episode of Make The Way, award-winning brand and cultural strategist Mike Fair breaks down the mindset shaping today’s culture and why traditional demographics no longer explain how people live, work, rest, create, and connect. After 20 years working on world-class brands across advertising, marketing, and public relations, Mike noticed one question kept coming up: How do we reach Mi...