The Futur with Chris Do – Episode 408

Designing a Life That Fuels Creativity w/ Mo Said
Release Date: December 27, 2025
Guests: Chris Do (Host), Mo Said (Founder & Creative Director, Mojo Supermarket)

Overview

This episode explores the intersection of creativity, personal development, and business with Mo Said, founder of Mojo Supermarket, one of the most buzzworthy creative agencies of the moment. The conversation, led by host Chris Do, dives into Mo's unconventional journey from humble beginnings in Pakistan to working with Fortune 500 clients, his philosophy on what makes people and brands “interesting,” mastering the art of pitching, blending creativity with business acumen, the role of structure in creativity, and his optimistic (yet realistic) take on the future with AI.

The core message: Leading an interesting life, filled with curiosity and action, naturally yields creative energy and business results.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mo Said’s Backstory & Approach to Risk

[01:26-04:21]

Mo introduces himself, his journey from Pakistan to the US, and how he “accidentally” founded Mojo Supermarket after leaving an agency as a senior copywriter without management experience.
Humility and preparation were his foundation: Instead of delusions of grandeur, he lined up backup plans (bartending, selling weed, freelancing) before taking the leap.
“Take the leap. The ground is bouncy.” (Mo, 04:21) — Mo likens risk to jumping in the Matrix: it's scary in theory, but reality is often more forgiving.
Emphasizes that the process of failing and trying new things makes you more employable, datable, and interesting: "You become more interesting through the things you try, not just your successes." (Mo, 05:22)

2. “Being Interesting” as a Personal & Brand Strategy

[10:05-19:55]

Mo points out that both individuals and brands become interesting by continually seeking and pursuing new curiosities.
“Interesting work and interesting companies come from interesting people living interesting lives.” (Opening quote)
Brands: The Mojo team identifies genuine points of fascination within companies, using these to craft campaigns (e.g., with Adidas: “What is genuinely cool about you?”).
People: Embrace shifting interests, experiment, and collect stories. Burnout often comes from a misalignment between what you do and what you’re truly interested in at the moment.
Mo shares his practice of writing to his 80-year-old self, ensuring he lives today in a way his future self will thank him for.
“The person with the most stories is the most interesting. So what story do you want to chase?” (Mo, 14:08)
“You don't have to be an interesting person; you just do interesting things. By virtue of doing interesting things, you become a very interesting person.” (Chris Do, 19:15)

3. Planning & Structure: Creativity’s Secret Fuel

[47:19-51:48]

Early on, Mo avoided business planning, chasing short-term interests. Recently, he’s adopted quarterly planning frameworks in both life and business.
Structure isn’t the death of creativity, but the enabler — it turns “potential” into “output.”
30-day/quarterly sprints instead of rigid year-long plans allow for agility & innovation, especially when the world changes fast.
“Knowing what you want in life is 95% of the game, and it's the 95% very few people play because it is so overwhelming.” (Mo, 47:49)
Constraints drive creativity: Limited time or budget (like putting out two deck chairs on the public beach at Cannes) forces novel ideas.

4. The Art of the Pitch: Winning with Interesting Ideas

[23:06-33:42 & 55:45-61:32]

Start with strategic insight: Ensure ideas solve real business problems, not just “look cool”.
Packaging and storytelling: Clients buy people and enthusiasm as much as the idea.
Radical candor: Mo recounts being upfront with a client, even exposing his agency’s survival was tied to their business, which fostered trust.
“Clients are buying the person and their enthusiasm. If you're excited about it, they buy it.” (Mo, 28:34)
Relationship-building at every level: Mo sought out agency lawyers and strategists, learned their disciplines, and integrated new skills.
Learning from “war stories”: Mo tells a remarkable pitch anecdote where, after being called out for strategizing in a public coffee shop, he stood his ground, owned the confrontation, and “presented the hell out of the work,” choosing confidence over retreat.

5. Creativity Meets Business: The Inner War

[38:35-42:16]

Most creative professionals struggle with the “artist vs businessman” duality. Mo urges creatives to let these sides “be friends and respect each other.”
Creative output on any meaningful scale requires embracing the business side — paint costs money, as he bluntly notes.
“You have to have the business guy buy your creative kid a piano... and the creative give respect to the business person.” (Mo, 41:08)

6. Curiosity and Action: The “ST-ART” Philosophy

[44:30-46:55]

Mo credits his progress to childlike curiosity — asking basic questions fearlessly, learning on the fly.
“Between stupid and smart people, you want to be both: a little bit smart and a little bit stupid. ST (for stupid) and ART (for smart) equals START. That's what you did.” (Chris Do, 46:55)
People overthink; just start and solve problems as they arise.

7. The Role of AI: What Matters Most in the Future

[64:25-74:49]

Mo is an AI optimist and sees imagination and taste as the currencies of the future. AI removes barriers to execution; ideas and discernment become invaluable.
“Creative people are going to be the athletes of this generation. We're about to get LeBron James money.” (Mo, 65:49)
Acknowledge displacement is coming (routine creative roles), but those who embrace and learn with AI tech will thrive.
“60% of your job will change, not disappear. If you learn, you’ll learn the new 60%.” (Mo, 73:17)
The challenge is psychological: overcoming fear, staying curious, and adapting.
The episode closes on an optimistic challenge: “The iceberg is splitting in half — get on the half that’s moving forward.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

[04:21] Mo: “Take the leap. The ground is bouncy.”
[12:38] Mo: “The interesting comes from what interests you.”
[14:08] Mo: “What is marketing? Get people interested in my product. The person with stories is interesting.”
[17:05] Mo: “I've just chased short-term interesting...Now I’ve started planning a little bit more, and I’m trying this EOS system in my business, and I’m trying to apply it to life as well.”
[32:52] Chris: “Owner vibes… When you’re an owner of an agency or a studio, you carry yourself a certain way…Your energy is infectious.”
[38:35] Mo: “It's the biggest war going on inside of creative people…The artist does not respect the business person. The business person thinks the artist is a child.”
[46:55] Chris: “Take the first two letters of stupid and the last three letters of smart, that's start. And that's what you did. You just gotta do the first step.”
[65:49] Mo: “Creative people are going to be the athletes of this generation. We're about to get LeBron James money. If anything is possible to do, what's left is imagination and taste.”
[72:25] Mo: “If you learn [AI], you will learn the new 60%.”
[74:49] Chris: “The iceberg is splitting in half. It behooves you to get on the half that's moving forward.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

[01:26–04:21] – Mo’s origin story and risk philosophy
[10:05–14:08] – Building “interesting” into life and brand
[19:15–19:55] – Core memories, misadventures, and story collecting
[23:06–33:42] – Extracting “interesting” for marketing/brands & pitching strategies
[38:35–42:16] – Artist vs. Business – blending two identities
[44:30–46:55] – Embracing childlike curiosity, the “ST-ART” philosophy
[47:19–51:48] – Why structure fuels creativity
[64:25–74:49] – The future of creativity in an AI world

Conclusion

Mo Said’s secret: Live an interesting life by acting on curiosity, embrace the business side as an ally, build the right structural “sandbox” for your creative pursuits, and never stop learning — especially as AI changes the world. The ones who do will not only stay relevant, they’ll flourish.

Memorable takeaways:

“Take the leap. The ground is bouncy.”
“If you want to be interesting, start chasing stories.”
“Structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s what sets it free.”
“In an AI world, the most human thing—the ability to imagine and select—will be the most valuable.”

The Futur with Chris Do – Episode 408

Designing a Life That Fuels Creativity w/ Mo Said
Release Date: December 27, 2025
Guests: Chris Do (Host), Mo Said (Founder & Creative Director, Mojo Supermarket)

Overview

The core message: Leading an interesting life, filled with curiosity and action, naturally yields creative energy and business results.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mo Said’s Backstory & Approach to Risk

[01:26-04:21]

Mo introduces himself, his journey from Pakistan to the US, and how he “accidentally” founded Mojo Supermarket after leaving an agency as a senior copywriter without management experience.
Humility and preparation were his foundation: Instead of delusions of grandeur, he lined up backup plans (bartending, selling weed, freelancing) before taking the leap.
“Take the leap. The ground is bouncy.” (Mo, 04:21) — Mo likens risk to jumping in the Matrix: it's scary in theory, but reality is often more forgiving.
Emphasizes that the process of failing and trying new things makes you more employable, datable, and interesting: "You become more interesting through the things you try, not just your successes." (Mo, 05:22)

2. “Being Interesting” as a Personal & Brand Strategy

[10:05-19:55]

Mo points out that both individuals and brands become interesting by continually seeking and pursuing new curiosities.
“Interesting work and interesting companies come from interesting people living interesting lives.” (Opening quote)
Brands: The Mojo team identifies genuine points of fascination within companies, using these to craft campaigns (e.g., with Adidas: “What is genuinely cool about you?”).
People: Embrace shifting interests, experiment, and collect stories. Burnout often comes from a misalignment between what you do and what you’re truly interested in at the moment.
Mo shares his practice of writing to his 80-year-old self, ensuring he lives today in a way his future self will thank him for.
“The person with the most stories is the most interesting. So what story do you want to chase?” (Mo, 14:08)
“You don't have to be an interesting person; you just do interesting things. By virtue of doing interesting things, you become a very interesting person.” (Chris Do, 19:15)

3. Planning & Structure: Creativity’s Secret Fuel

[47:19-51:48]

Early on, Mo avoided business planning, chasing short-term interests. Recently, he’s adopted quarterly planning frameworks in both life and business.
Structure isn’t the death of creativity, but the enabler — it turns “potential” into “output.”
30-day/quarterly sprints instead of rigid year-long plans allow for agility & innovation, especially when the world changes fast.
“Knowing what you want in life is 95% of the game, and it's the 95% very few people play because it is so overwhelming.” (Mo, 47:49)
Constraints drive creativity: Limited time or budget (like putting out two deck chairs on the public beach at Cannes) forces novel ideas.

4. The Art of the Pitch: Winning with Interesting Ideas

[23:06-33:42 & 55:45-61:32]

Start with strategic insight: Ensure ideas solve real business problems, not just “look cool”.
Packaging and storytelling: Clients buy people and enthusiasm as much as the idea.
Radical candor: Mo recounts being upfront with a client, even exposing his agency’s survival was tied to their business, which fostered trust.
“Clients are buying the person and their enthusiasm. If you're excited about it, they buy it.” (Mo, 28:34)
Relationship-building at every level: Mo sought out agency lawyers and strategists, learned their disciplines, and integrated new skills.
Learning from “war stories”: Mo tells a remarkable pitch anecdote where, after being called out for strategizing in a public coffee shop, he stood his ground, owned the confrontation, and “presented the hell out of the work,” choosing confidence over retreat.

5. Creativity Meets Business: The Inner War

[38:35-42:16]

Most creative professionals struggle with the “artist vs businessman” duality. Mo urges creatives to let these sides “be friends and respect each other.”
Creative output on any meaningful scale requires embracing the business side — paint costs money, as he bluntly notes.
“You have to have the business guy buy your creative kid a piano... and the creative give respect to the business person.” (Mo, 41:08)

6. Curiosity and Action: The “ST-ART” Philosophy

[44:30-46:55]

Mo credits his progress to childlike curiosity — asking basic questions fearlessly, learning on the fly.
“Between stupid and smart people, you want to be both: a little bit smart and a little bit stupid. ST (for stupid) and ART (for smart) equals START. That's what you did.” (Chris Do, 46:55)
People overthink; just start and solve problems as they arise.

7. The Role of AI: What Matters Most in the Future

[64:25-74:49]

Mo is an AI optimist and sees imagination and taste as the currencies of the future. AI removes barriers to execution; ideas and discernment become invaluable.
“Creative people are going to be the athletes of this generation. We're about to get LeBron James money.” (Mo, 65:49)
Acknowledge displacement is coming (routine creative roles), but those who embrace and learn with AI tech will thrive.
“60% of your job will change, not disappear. If you learn, you’ll learn the new 60%.” (Mo, 73:17)
The challenge is psychological: overcoming fear, staying curious, and adapting.
The episode closes on an optimistic challenge: “The iceberg is splitting in half — get on the half that’s moving forward.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

[04:21] Mo: “Take the leap. The ground is bouncy.”
[12:38] Mo: “The interesting comes from what interests you.”
[14:08] Mo: “What is marketing? Get people interested in my product. The person with stories is interesting.”
[17:05] Mo: “I've just chased short-term interesting...Now I’ve started planning a little bit more, and I’m trying this EOS system in my business, and I’m trying to apply it to life as well.”
[32:52] Chris: “Owner vibes… When you’re an owner of an agency or a studio, you carry yourself a certain way…Your energy is infectious.”
[38:35] Mo: “It's the biggest war going on inside of creative people…The artist does not respect the business person. The business person thinks the artist is a child.”
[46:55] Chris: “Take the first two letters of stupid and the last three letters of smart, that's start. And that's what you did. You just gotta do the first step.”
[65:49] Mo: “Creative people are going to be the athletes of this generation. We're about to get LeBron James money. If anything is possible to do, what's left is imagination and taste.”
[72:25] Mo: “If you learn [AI], you will learn the new 60%.”
[74:49] Chris: “The iceberg is splitting in half. It behooves you to get on the half that's moving forward.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

[01:26–04:21] – Mo’s origin story and risk philosophy
[10:05–14:08] – Building “interesting” into life and brand
[19:15–19:55] – Core memories, misadventures, and story collecting
[23:06–33:42] – Extracting “interesting” for marketing/brands & pitching strategies
[38:35–42:16] – Artist vs. Business – blending two identities
[44:30–46:55] – Embracing childlike curiosity, the “ST-ART” philosophy
[47:19–51:48] – Why structure fuels creativity
[64:25–74:49] – The future of creativity in an AI world

Conclusion

Memorable takeaways:

“Take the leap. The ground is bouncy.”
“If you want to be interesting, start chasing stories.”
“Structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s what sets it free.”
“In an AI world, the most human thing—the ability to imagine and select—will be the most valuable.”

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Designing a Life That Fuels Creativity w/ Mo Said | Ep 408

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Summary

The Futur with Chris Do – Episode 408

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mo Said’s Backstory & Approach to Risk

2. “Being Interesting” as a Personal & Brand Strategy

3. Planning & Structure: Creativity’s Secret Fuel

4. The Art of the Pitch: Winning with Interesting Ideas

5. Creativity Meets Business: The Inner War

6. Curiosity and Action: The “ST-ART” Philosophy

7. The Role of AI: What Matters Most in the Future

Notable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Conclusion

Summary

The Futur with Chris Do – Episode 408

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mo Said’s Backstory & Approach to Risk

2. “Being Interesting” as a Personal & Brand Strategy

3. Planning & Structure: Creativity’s Secret Fuel

4. The Art of the Pitch: Winning with Interesting Ideas

5. Creativity Meets Business: The Inner War

6. Curiosity and Action: The “ST-ART” Philosophy

7. The Role of AI: What Matters Most in the Future

Notable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Conclusion