Reb Carlson

05/06/2026

Yes to anti-AI, all analog everything, and being intentional with consumption.

But I’m the biggest hypocrite of all, buying “actual books” and magazines with the intention of reading them. But after a 16+ hour day feeding my energy into other people and things, I find myself scrolling, looking for that dopamine hit while wondering what I missed that day. But now what am I feeding?

The hypocrisy continues - as a marketing strategist by day, I know all brands and businesses are trying to get your attention. I also know as a working mom, nonprofit leader and a (sometimes) practicing artist, the demand for productivity piles up and the will power gets weaker.

What’s the answer? How do we reset and choose to intentionally digest and even create, when we feel tapped out?

11/05/2026

.art is a curated art fair inside with galleries from all over the country and done local favorites.

I missed it last year because it ran over , so I was excited to check it out. is another Austin-based hotel that curates local art and hosts residencies with . Since culture and art is a huge draw for tourists, it only makes sense for hotels to partner with local galleries and art orgs to bring local culture and community inside.

And yes, any chance I get to bring the kids with me to enjoy art is one I’m going to take.

25/11/2020

Another reason to be mad about "The Witches" reboot.

Warner Bros. Pictures's reboot of "The Witches" has received backlash from the disability community for portraying Anne Hathaway's hands as "deformed" and "scary". Our client Annabelle Williams wrote a post about the portrayal of disability in pop culture and how importance the use of language is. Check it out for a guide on the right way to have a respectful conversation about disabilities.

https://www.annabellew.com/2020/11/23/notawitch/

12/11/2020

I'd sign up myself, if I didn't already write it myself...

Marketing Consulting for Working Creatives, Creative Businesses and Public Figures. Founded by Reb Carlson. Mad Focused Consulting LLC

20/08/2020

Our weekly newsletter goes out every Monday around noon and highlights our favorite consumer trends, marketing highlights, and internet obsessions. We lovingly refer to it as our "anti-marketing marketing newsletter". You can sign up at madfocused.com

Every Thursday we dip into the archives and highlight some of our favorite past newsletters. This one from a few weeks ago highlighted some collaborations we love and the rise of "comfort tv". https://shoutout.wix.com/so/d3ND8fBfz #/main

07/08/2020

Announcing the first digital product from Mad Focused, the Marketing Strategy Brief.

06/08/2020

Not gonna lie, I pour my heart and soul into these weekly email newsletters. It's my own weird corner of the Internet where I share my favorite trends and articles that I somehow always relate to marketing. If you're curious, sign up at MadFocused.com

Every Thursday we dip into the archives and highlight some of our favorite past newsletters. This one from a few weeks ago highlighted the illusion cakes viral obsession and the "utilitarian camper" style trend. https://shoutout.wix.com/so/e4NDiYdL4 #/main

Our weekly newsletter goes out every Monday around noon and highlights our favorite consumer trends, marketing highlights, and internet obsessions. We lovingly refer to it as our "anti-marketing marketing newsletter". You can sign up at madfocused.com

22/07/2020

I'm shifting the posts on my personal site to be less marketing and trend focused and back to my personal goal planning and balance work and the everyday - which will soon include le bebe.

My chosen profession in life is "strategist", which also happens to be called a "planner". This could not be more on the nose of who I am at the core. As a child, when my mom would tuck me in at night, I would ask her what the weather forecast was for the next day so I could fall asleep planning out...

21/07/2020

Working in marketing and brand strategy, I’ve frequently asked clients about their brand values. Sometimes it’s corporate jargon, sometimes it’s actually rooted in the founder’s beliefs. Now that I’m working with more entrepreneurs and working creatives, they often scratch their heads, wonder why they need values, and how to make it more authentic.

I decided to do my own exercise of my values inspired by some of the work I’ve done through the To Be Magnetic program. I used some of the results from the Authentic Code exercise and created an actionable framework of what I value and how I make it come to life through my projects, passions, and everyday life.

If you check out my website you’ll see how I took each one of my values and matched it with projects or content I regularly create. https://www.rebcarlson.com/

06/07/2020

While NYC was under lockdown during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, I started a weekly newsletter to curate the trends I thought were most relevant for working creatives and business owners today.

Less flashy ad campaigns by global corporations, more inspiration from art, culture, and entertainment. I try to share what I think is most relevant today, and try to predict what the future may look like, especially after COVID-19.

Mad Focused is a new kind of marketing newsletter that's inspired by culture, not corporations. See what you missed last week: https://shoutout.wix.com/so/eaNC0URM4 #/main