Why I'm on Social Media in the First Place

What is Experiential Hospitality with Isaac French?

This is the audio version of my weekly newsletter, Experiential Hospitality, where I share stories and insights to help you craft unforgettable spaces and experiences through design & hospitality.

This past week I was poignantly
reminded of why I'm on social

media in the first place.

You put a signal out there through
the things you share, then you

connect and maybe message back and
forth with people who care Over time.

That builds a kind of relationship,
but it's the real life interaction

face to face that creates the
magic, the fulfillment, and the

unexpected friendship and comradery.

That's the true value
we're all looking for.

Social media, in my mind, at its
best, is an invitation to real

relationship, not a substitute for it.

I just got home from Columbia, Missouri,
where I attended Main Street, summit

and Capital Camp for the first time.

Let me tell you about it.

Over 1200 founders, investors, artists,
athletes, flew in from all over the

country for this three day event.

As a hospitality nerd, I couldn't help
but marvel at the orchestration of

every detail and the genuine warmth
radiating through every person.

I've spoken at a dozen events
this year alone, and this one

was hands down my favorite.

The talks were incredible
actionable from the trenches.

Business insights mixed with faith-filled
admonitions about what really matters.

Tim Tebow made me want
to jump through a wall.

I gave a couple of talks on hospitality
building beautiful spaces, and being

an artist with your work sessions
were spread across cinemas, theaters,

coffee shops, and university lecture
halls throughout the gorgeous downtown.

Plenty of walking and
talking in the crisp fall.

Air Columbia itself is stunning.

A perfect frame breaker for anyone
who thinks the Midwest is boring.

Let me repeat what I've
said so many times before.

Rural America is a gold mine of
untapped beauty and untold stories.

We should be building cool stuff here
and redeeming old stuff, not despite

the location, but because of it.

But it was bumping into strangers and
friends alike and getting lost in both

business building and deep soul nourishing
conversations that impacted me most.

Here are a few distilled insights I came
away with from the whole experience.

Number one, people crave real
connection like never before.

Build accordingly.

Two.

In the age of ai, the pendulum
is swinging hard towards the

analog, simple, and human.

Obviously, a core premise of my work.

More on this in upcoming letters
three companies should be media first,

building trusted scale and product.

Second four, happiness is
all about expectations.

Know what is enough.

Five.

Taste is everything, and it's
not about personal preference.

It's about understanding the
underlying truths of beauty.

Acquire good taste, acquire good judgment.

Christian's incredible talk on this,
reinforce so many beliefs I hold dearly.

Thanks, Clayton, Brent, and
team for an incredible event.

I can't wait to be back tomorrow.

I'm off to New Zealand for a micro
resort, charette and consultation,

and then finally home until Christmas.

Speaking of events, we're now in full
swing prep for our biggest event of

the year, the Homestead Fair here
in Waco over Thanksgiving weekend.

We have an incredible lineup of
talks on intentional community

craft and sustainable living.

I'll be giving one with my siblings on
family entrepreneurship and education.

There's fantastic food, hands-on
experiences and concerts filled

with beautiful wholesome music.

I'll also be giving Orchard
tours for those interested.

We've had up to 20,000 folks in previous
years, and there's a reason for that.

You don't wanna miss it, but if
you must consider coming either of

the following, two Saturdays for
Christmas markets, festivities and

an evening concert, let me know if
you're coming, and I'd love to see you.

PS thank you so much to everyone
who watched the short film I made

for Helen on our anniversary.

It was deeply personal, but your
response has encouraged me so much to

keep going on this filmmaking journey.

So stay tuned.

Until next week, Isaac.