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The Marketing Millennials is a look inside what’s working right now for other marketers. No theory. No fluff. Just real insights and ideas you can actually use—from marketers who’ve been there, done that, and are sharing the playbook.

Every newsletter is written by Daniel Murray, a marketer obsessed with what goes into great marketing. Expect fresh takes, hot topics, and the kind of stuff you’ll want to steal for your next campaign.

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I have so more great news, we have a new addition to your listening pleasure.
It’s called Daily Sip with Marcel.
And It’s FREE to listen to daily, available to listen on iHeart Radio Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, and of course Youtube.
You can also listen to Daily Sip with Marcel every day on Spotify HERE

Read our guest Writer E. Gordon Mooneyhan’s take on
Brewing Words: The Cultural Symbiosis of Coffee Shops and Bookstores.

Why do coffee shops and bookstores pair perfectly? Explore the rich cultural history and cozy ambience of this legendary duo.
READ MORE

The market mood this week was less "bullish rally" and more "cautiously sipping champagne from a cracked glass." The main narrative remains the Great American Divergence: AI-powered mega-caps continue their gravity-defying climb, with the S&P 500 stretching its winning streak, fueled by yet another strong quarter of corporate earnings. But the view from Main Street is distinctly foggier. A combination of persistent corporate layoffs and the chaotic hangover from the recent 43-day government shutdown has depressed consumer sentiment to a multi-year low. The Federal Reserve, already having cut rates once in October, is now driving blind, admitting that the data "fog" from the shutdown makes any December rate decision an immediate toss-up. Keep an eye on the commercial real estate sector, it’s the market’s next looming credit risk, a quiet tremor beneath the soaring tech valuations. Thank you pandemic!

The global order is limping, marked by fragmentation and defensive posturing. The high-stakes chess match between Washington and Beijing tightened another notch as the U.S. expanded its extraterritorial export controls, effectively putting a new chokehold on certain Chinese technology sectors. Meanwhile, the geopolitical temperature in Eastern Europe is heating up again, with diplomatic stalemates leading to an erosion of investor confidence in global energy stability. Perhaps most tellingly, Europe is moving forward with aggressive ESG legislation (Environmental, Social, and Governance) the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, that will force international companies to answer for their entire supply chain's environmental and human rights records. The message from Brussels? If you want to do business here, clean up your global act.

Washington spent the week mopping up after the longest federal government shutdown in modern history, a 43-day political spectacle that concluded just days ago. While essential services are grudgingly returning to normal, the political fallout is just beginning. With economic data delayed and morale plummeting among federal workers, the focus has abruptly shifted to relief. President Trump is using the momentum to heavily promote his proposed $2,000 "Tariff Dividend," a direct cash payment to most Americans, funded by new tariff revenues. The proposal is creating predictable legislative friction on Capitol Hill, but the political calculus is clear: after weeks of political dysfunction, a direct deposit could be the most effective way to restore public faith, or at least change the subject. You won’t see this in time for the holidays, but maybe a little extra for that summer vacy you’re thinking about.

In the NFL, the Eagles won a low-scoring game vs. the Packers (10-7). Drake Maye became the MVP favorite as his Patriots won their seventh straight. The Giants fired coach Brian Daboll.

The NBA was defined by injuries. The Lakers relied on Luka Dončić as LeBron James (sciatic nerve) remained sidelined but was progressing toward a mid-November return. Stephen Curry returned for the Warriors on a minutes restriction, and both Joel Embiid (knee soreness) and LaMelo Ball (ankle) missed time.

College Football saw Baylor preparing for a Big 12 clash against Utah.

Forget box office receipts, the real power play this week was on the Nasdaq. Netflix stole the financial spotlight by announcing a surprise 10-for-1 stock split, immediately fueling buzz that the streamer is gearing up for a potential entry into the hallowed Dow Jones Industrial Average—a move that signals its definitive transition from disruptor to blue-chip heavyweight. In the content wars, the battle for the attention economy is now the battle for AI licensing: Reddit soared after unveiling its massive data deal with an emerging AI search company, proving that legacy user-generated content is now the most valuable commodity in the world.

Meanwhile, in Tinseltown proper, the long-awaited sequel to Cosmic Reckoning finally dropped its teaser trailer, instantly shattering all global viewing records and reminding us that spectacle still sells, even if the financial model behind it is written in code.

Please support our new advertising sponsors. We’re thrilled to welcome brands who believe your morning coffee should come with a side of wit, warmth, and a wink.

Check out Lucas Gifts, Specializing in custom-made items like leather keychains, engraved wallets, wooden nursery signs, and name necklaces. Each product is crafted with attention to detail, ensuring a unique and heartfelt gift for any occasion.

Find out about Afuera Coffee and try their specialty coffee.

I hope this Sunday finds you caffeinated, calm, and not standing in a puddle of your own bad decisions. I, unfortunately, cannot say the same.

Earlier this week, I set out to make a peaceful, meditative pour-over—one of those quiet morning rituals that makes me feel like a barista named Marco who whispers things like notes of citrus and slow-drip serenity. Everything was going beautifully.

Until the coffee filter betrayed me.

And I mean betrayed. It collapsed in on itself like my self-respect after replying to a text I definitely should’ve ignored.

Suddenly, grounds were everywhere. Water overflowed. My countertop looked like the aftermath of a caffeine-themed natural disaster. And that’s when it happened—my brain left the building, and my anger took over.

Fueled by equal parts frustration and delusion, I tried to “fix it” by pouring water faster—as if gravity, physics, and common sense would suddenly bend to my emotional meltdown.

Spoiler alert: they did not.

The mess got bigger. The filter ripped even more. My dignity dissolved faster than instant coffee.

So I stood there, in my self-created coffee swamp, realizing a truth I should have known long ago:

Anger makes us stupid. Every single time.

Once I calmed down, I made a second cup—slowly, gently, like someone who had just had a spiritual awakening delivered by paper filters and boiling water.

And honestly? It tasted like redemption.

Anger never improves the situation—it only brews a bigger mess. Breathe first. Pour later.

With warmth, humor, and a slightly cleaner countertop.

Thank you.
Marcel

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