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Entrepreneur
16-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Pride in Every Frame — Using Authentic Storytelling to Drive Growth
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. I didn't fully realize I could embrace my identity as a gay man until I discovered the power of storytelling, the power of being real. The realization that people do business with people, not brands, changed everything for me. I spent years filming other people's stories, helping them show the heart behind their business. But I wasn't showing mine and the day I finally did changed how I lead, how I sell and how I'm building a company that reflects who I really am. The story begins with me It started in Long Beach, California. Every Wednesday, I used to film on the beach. It was peaceful, personal and the perfect setting to start something different. I set up a camera and hit record for a "Who Am I" video. Then I filmed an "It Gets Better" video. In the middle of talking about my journey, I nearly cried. That moment showed me how much I had been holding back. Then, it hit me: If I'm going to help brands tell their stories with honesty, I have to start by telling my own. Before that moment, I kept my personal life mostly quiet. When people asked if I had a girlfriend or wife, I'd just smile and move on. I wasn't lying, but I also wasn't correcting them. Why should they care? Why should I? That's what I told myself. But what I've learned over time is that these little silences stack up. They build a wall between who you are and how you lead. So in 2018, I made the decision to show up fully. I filmed a series of "Meet the Team" videos. I talked about my story, my values and who I am beyond the CEO title. For the first time, I brought a boyfriend to the office. It felt like a huge deal. Not because anyone made it one, but because I had never done that before. It was personal, it was powerful and it was the start of my leading with authenticity. If your CEO can be honest about who they are, so can your team. It creates permission and builds trust. Being an LGBTQ+ founder has taught me that people follow real people. It is not about rainbow logos or a DEI checklist, it's about presence. If your CEO can be honest about who they are, so can your team. It creates permission and builds trust. It opens space for everyone else to be just a little more human. At FranchiseFilming, we do not embed inclusion through policies, we embed it through values. I do not hire based on labels, I hire people who are authentic and on time. People who care and who show up. If you are fake or just playing a part, you will not thrive here — that's our culture. Image Credit: Trevor Rappleye One of the moments I felt proudest was at a team quarterly dinner. My fiancé came with me. I looked around the table, watching my team talk, laugh and connect. There was no awkwardness, no performance. Just real people being themselves. That is what leadership looks like. It's quiet, human and real. I have learned that real and rooted kindness is stronger than judgment. That commitment to realness bleeds into how we do storytelling. We do not use scripts or rely on fancy jargon or forced soundbites. We film real people sharing real stories. That is why our content works. It's not flashy, but it's honest. That approach started with me — it had to. You cannot build a business rooted in authenticity if you are still hiding part of yourself, you have to go first. In my career, I have mostly been lucky. I have not faced much backlash in the professional world. But I remember one moment clearly. I was holding hands with my partner at Bubba Gump's in Long Beach. A couple pointed at us and laughed, even took a photo. If I could go back, I would not shrink. I would wave. Smile. Maybe even buy them a shot. I have learned that kindness, real and rooted kindness, is stronger than judgment. And thankfully, those moments are rare. If you are an LGBTQ+ founder, do not wait for permission, you don't need it. Your story is your edge. If you are an LGBTQ+ founder, don't wait for permission, you don't need it. Your story is your edge, your difference is your advantage. It might feel awkward. It might feel weird. But no one else can be you and that is your power. People do not buy what you do, they buy who you are and how you make them feel. They buy the story you tell — so start telling it. Here is a tip: Film your story this week. Hire a crew, or grab a camera and talk to yourself. Ask the hard questions. Talk about the real stuff. Cut it into a two-minute video and put it on your website. Add it to your email signature. I bet you will close a new deal within 30 days. That's the power of being seen. Being out, visible and proud in my business has taught me that authenticity is not just a value, it's a strategy that works. Those people who say business is not personal? I don't think they're being real with themselves. Because, for me, business has always been personal. And that's exactly what makes success.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Feig Donates $300,000 to Queer Youth Organizations as LGBTQ Rights Are Attacked Under Trump: ‘I Can't Sit Idly By' (EXCLUSIVE)
Paul Feig is opening up his checkbook for the LGBTQ community. The 'A Simple Favor' and 'Bridesmaids' director and his wife Laurie have donated $300,000 to three queer youth advocacy and support organizations: The Trevor Project, and It Gets Better. More from Variety Fashion TikTok Influencer Nicky Campbell on Gwyneth Paltrow Sliding Into His DMs and Hoping He Has a 'Juicy' Feud With Blake Lively: 'I'm OK to Have Some Clapback' Keke Palmer Didn't Learn Her SAG Awards Dress Was Worn By Jamie Lee Curtis in 1986 Until She Read About It Online: 'I Had No Idea' Storm Reid Says Leaving 'Euphoria' Is 'Bittersweet' but Zendaya Is 'My Sister for Life': 'I'm Sure We'll Work Together Again' 'In recent weeks we have witnessed the dismantling of crucial protections for the health and safety of the LGBTQ+ community and, particularly, the transgender community,' Feig tells me exclusively. 'I can't sit idly by and watch as my friends, colleagues and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole — our fellow citizens — are stripped of their rights. We should all do whatever is within our power and our means to ensure that every member of the LGBTQ+ gets the support and protections to which they are entitled. I hope that these contributions will help the teams at The Trevor Project, and It Gets Better to keep doing the life-saving work they do every day.' The donations come after it was reported that the Trump administration is ordering the removal of transgender troops from the U.S. military. One of Trump's first executive order stated that the government only recognizes two sexes, male and female, and has removed references to trans people and gender-affirming care from websites and databases. These and other anti-trans policies and directives are facing legal challengers from LGBTQ rights organizations and individuals. The Trevor Project is an LGBTQ youth suicide prevention hotline while the Trans Lifeline is a hotline that offers emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis. It Gets Better works to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ youth around the globe by sharing and amplifying stories about queer adults. In a statement to Variety, director of development Myles Markham said, 'In a year where anti-trans sentiment and federal marginalization is at an all time high, support and generosity for our community from powerful storytellers like Paul couldn't be more timely or valuable. Contributions like this not only mean critical services will reach more folks in need, they also send a message of hope and possibility to the tens of thousands of trans youth and adults feeling the doom and despair that comes with our current administration's rhetoric and policy.' Kevin Wong, senior vice president of marketing, communications and content at The Trevor Project, said, 'We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation we received from Paul Feig to support our life-saving work at The Trevor Project. Our research estimates that every 45 seconds, at least one LGBTQ+ young person in the U.S. attempts suicide. This gift will bolster our crisis counselors' ability to support the increase in young people who are reaching out with fears about how the current barrage of negative political news will impact their lives. Our work is about people, not politics.' It Gets Better executive director Brian Wenke said they were 'incredibly grateful for the Feigs' 'generous donation.' 'At a time when LGBTQ+ youth face relentless challenges, this support strengthens our commitment to uplifting their voices and ensuring they have the resources to thrive,' Wenke said. 'Paul's storytelling has long resonated with our community, a reminder that representation isn't just visibility — it's power. With this support, we remain focused on building a world where LGBTQ+ young people feel seen, supported, and can recognize their own limitless potential.' Feig's latest film, 'Another Simple Favor' will premiere at SXSW on opening night next week March 7 in Austin followed by its release on Amazon Prime Video on May 1. 'The Housemaid,' starring Sydney Sweeney, and Amanda Seyfried based on the hugely popular book of the same name, opens at Christmas. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
