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28d •
Post #01.
Thank you, Sam & Hermozi! That one time when WeWork expressed interest in investing in my media agency and publications (circa 2017). — 🎥 My Story 👋🏼 Hello from Silicon Valley, I'm Joelle Cruz, the founder of Good Neighbor — Made Local. We are committed to empowering family-owned businesses in the Bay Area. Our vision is to build a thriving community where everyone feels supported and connected. I am passionate about combining creativity, strategy, and experience to help local business owners, while leveraging AI tools effectively. 🦄 🦄 Start-up Experience: A $317M Exit Fivestars by SumUp is a loyalty SaaS company. We helped over 14,000 businesses along the way. This accomplishment highlights the dedication and effort invested at a Y Combinator startup, from the seed stage through post-Series C, where I served as the company’s founding Brand/Marketing Designer and Creative Director. I have also designed for the legendary Warren Buffett and worked at Apple as a lead designer. 💔 💔 💔 Twenty-five years ago, I opened my dream café in Downtown San José. Sadly, it had to close due to the economic downturn after the tragic events of 9/11. I also lost two other businesses during the 2007 financial crisis: a printing company and a design company. In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I had just finished leading a branding project for Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett). Shortly after, I had to close down my agency. These experiences underscored the importance of standing out, branding, and marketing. They inspired me to start a media agency and publish local magazines and and we put a spotlight on struggling family-owned businesses. I also support local non-profits with free design services and marketing.
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🎯 This hits home for me, "Have fun. We’re all gonna die" - 💪🏼 ALEX
Hello, it's week ⑷ for me being part of Skool. I WILL HAVE FUN. I'm excited, anxious, can't sleep, hopeful, still anxious 😬, and taking action. 💔 Coming into this project, I wanted to give myself 2-3 years to build it out. After the tragic death of my friend, Chris (from 🔥🏢 Arson), last month, it made me realize we don't know if we have more time. 🙋🏻♂️ About my community: Good Neighbor, Delivering Happiness. Good Neighbor is dedicated to supporting small, struggling family-owned businesses in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley by helping them gain visibility and build support. I focus specifically on mom-and-pop, self-funded shops—not tech companies. My goal is to assist these family-run businesses that are fighting to stay open by offering services in design, branding, digital marketing, and guidance on using new A.I. tools. 🫵 🚌 I'm here because... 💔 My Why: 25 years ago, I lost my dream business—not once, but three times—due to 9/11, the 2008 recession when I met you at Santana Row, and the 2020 pandemic while designing for Warren Buffet. Closing a business is heartbreaking, and as someone who’s rebuilt after loss, I deeply understand the challenges entrepreneurs face. Seth Godin said it best: “The key to success is to stand out!” 🤓 Me: I’ve had the privilege of working at Apple, designing for Warren Buffett, and being a founding brand and marketing designer for a Silicon Valley startup that supported over 14,000 small businesses. As a designer by trade and a storyteller by design, I’m passionate about finding magic in the method. Creativity isn’t just about ideas — it’s about exceptional execution and flawless delivery. A ton of great stuff bouncing around in my mind since watching Hormozi and Sam. KEEP IT SIMPLE! 💪🏼 1. On focus and value creation (- $100M Offers). "The best way to get rich is to provide massive amounts of value quickly." 🙋🏻♂️❓Do you feel like I'm offering great value if my price is very low❓ I saw an ad that said, "Hire a $150,000 agency for only $29.95 per month"—how does that make you feel❓
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👀 “The key to success is to stand out!” – Seth Godin
Stand Out or Blend In? I Choose to Stand Out. As a designer by trade and a storyteller by design, I’m passionate about finding magic in the method. Creativity isn’t just about ideas — it’s about exceptional execution and flawless delivery. That’s where the real W🤩W happens. Seth Godin said it best: “The key to success is to stand out.” For me, standing out isn't just something I want to do; it's how I think. Whether I'm telling a great story or coming up with something fresh, I really want to think outside the box and create experiences that grab people's attention and leave a memorable feeling. Take motorcycles, for example. I love them — but I hated what I saw out there. Instead of settling, I designed my own. I had no idea how to build one, but one of my gifts is finding and working with talented partners and building lifelong relationships. Because standing out means designing your path, not following the road already paved. I work for wow 😮 — and honestly, I’m all about making sure you don’t just notice good design, but actually “feel” it. It’s about sparking that real connection where the story hits you deep, told with creativity that sticks with you, and delivered just right. #StandOut #DesignWithPurpose #ExecutionMatters #StorytellingByDesign Let's Connect! Ohh, I'm new here. Could you please provide your feedback on my profile and about page? Good Neighbor
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I help family-owned businesses in the Bay Area grow and stay open by guiding them with their marketing, standing out, and using custom AI tools.
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