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Who Eats First
How status roles impact your work
Jaime Solis
01 Aug
⏰ 5-Second Summary
The Red Thread – Why status isn’t fixed, but actually a story we can rewrite.
The Unlock – How to spot, question, and redesign the status scripts shaping your work.
Creative Edge – Your internal status narrative is optional.
Prompt Playground – Use AI to surface the status story you’ve been telling and shift it.
Industry Pulse – Label-backed music TV, K-pop on Netflix, trust beats scale, and more.
Creator Tools – Tools for clean writing, multilingual conversations, and AI-generated decks.
Open Opportunities – Spotify and RedCircle are hiring, plus podcasting and music job boards.
⏳Read time: ~5 minutes
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"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one."
— Dolly Parton
The Red Thread This Week
Who Eats First
Ever walk into a room and know—without a word—who's in charge?
A friend runs focus groups and told me something wild: within five minutes, total strangers start assigning roles. One becomes the informal leader. Others defer. Nobody says it out loud, but everyone plays along.
That's status.
It's the invisible force behind how a lot of decisions are made. Who speaks first. Who gets the benefit of the doubt. Who gets cut off.
And it’s critical to remember, we don't outgrow this—we just dress it up differently.
In the conference room, it's who we look to before anyone answers.
On social media, it's blue checkmarks and follower counts.
In life, it's who gets invited, who eats first, and who gets ignored.
We pretend we're above status games, but our brains are hardwired for them.
Back when we lived in tribes, status meant survival. Lose your place, and you risked being left behind. Get left behind, and you’re dead.
So today, when your idea gets dismissed or you're left off the email thread, it doesn't just sting—it registers subconsciously as near fatal.
A breath away from being cast out and eaten by wild animals.
But the mistake isn't feeling the influence of status. The mistake is believing it's permanent.
Because status isn't fact. It's a story. And every story can be rewritten.
This week's Red Thread is for anyone who's felt underestimated or overlooked—and is ready to change the narrative.
Let's dive in.
~ Jaime
🔑 The Unlock
Status is Tied to Context and Perception
A millionaire stuck outside the club’s velvet rope? Powerless.
The bouncer at the door? In control.
Here’s how to rewrite the status script on your terms:
1️⃣ Spot the Unwritten Rules
Every room has them. Who interrupts. Who gets credit. Who disappears.
Try this: Map the real power structure around you. Who's quietly running the show? Understanding the hierarchy in the game is the first step to changing it.
2️⃣ Question Your Internal Script
"I haven't earned it yet."
"Who am I to speak up?"
"People like me don’t get picked for things like this"
These aren't facts. They're old programming.
Try this: Flip the question. Ask "Why not me?" Then list three reasons your experience, values, or fresh perspective are exactly what's needed.
3️⃣ Share the Spotlight
Status isn't pie. Giving some away doesn't mean you have less—it actually means the opposite.
Try this: Use your next piece of content or team win to highlight someone else’s contribution. Status shared is trust (and status) earned.
4️⃣ Start Your Own Game
If the field you’re playing on doesn’t serve you, build your own. Status is fluid, which means there’s opportunity for freedom from “That’s how it’s done around here.”
Try this: Create a new field to play on. Maybe it's launching that newsletter. Maybe it's mentoring someone. Maybe it's showing up without editing yourself.
📌 Remember: Status isn't about claiming power. It's about reclaiming the story you tell yourself.
Choose the Right AI Tools
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💡 Creative Edge
Status Isn't a Ladder, It's a Story
That little voice in your head? The one whispering "Stay in your lane" or "Wait your turn"?
That's your personal status-story talking.
It's built on invisible rules and outdated hierarchies.
But here's the good news: you didn't write those rules, and you can tell yourself a new story.
Notice when you:
Shrink to seem more "professional"
Measure your worth on someone else's scoreboard
Dim your light for someone else's comfort
Then rewrite the script:
"I’ve built a small, mighty audience that trusts me and I’m proud of that."
"I choose to celebrate depth over reach, and substance over noise."
"I don't need permission to matter."
📌 Mindset shift: Status isn't granted from above. It's claimed from within.
🎲 Prompt Playground
Rewrite Your Status Story
Use this to uncover how status concerns might be holding you back, and to craft a new narrative.
Copy + paste the prompt below into your AI tool of choice and see what happens!
Prompt:
I want to explore how concerns about status or approval have shaped my choices without me realizing it.
Help me work through this step by step:
First, ask me to describe a specific recent moment when I held back an idea, played small, or toned myself down. Get details about the situation and what I was thinking.
Then help me unpack what I was really afraid of. What story was I telling myself about my place or worth in that moment?
Finally, help me reimagine that same situation. Walk me through how I might have acted if I wasn't worried about judgment—if I was guided purely by my values and vision instead.
Ask good follow-up questions to help me see patterns and create a new story to guide future decisions.
✅ Bonus Prompt:
"Given what you’ve learned about me, what might success look like if I stopped chasing external approval and started measuring progress by my own values?"
📡 Industry Pulse
Major Labels Bet on Music TV: ROXi, an interactive music TV channel, is launching on U.S. broadcast with backing from Universal, Sony, Warner, and Merlin. Read more
K-Pop Powers Netflix's Top Animated Film: K-Pop Demon Hunters is now Netflix’s most-viewed original animated movie ever. Read more
Content Needs Community: Stratechery breaks down why audience connection—not just quality—is the key to content success. Read more
In AI World, Trust Wins: In a sea of sameness, trust is becoming brands’ biggest advantage. Read more
78% of Advertisers are Active in Podcasting: Advertisers are turning up the volume on ad spend. Read more
ChatGPT Launches Study Mode: A new feature aimed at helping students learn concepts, not just capture answers. Read more
Attention Is the Final Scarcity: Content is everywhere. Time isn’t. The real battle is for focus. Read more
Podcasts Fuel Hollywood IP: Studios are increasingly turning hit podcasts into shows and films. Read more
🛠️ Creator Tools
Werd – A focused AI writing space that helps you think clearly and draft faster, without the clutter.
Fefi – Your AI financial analyst for tracking markets, spotting trends, and optimizing your financial planning.
Talk to Locals – A personal AI interpreter in your pocket, powering multi-lingual conversations.
AI PPT Maker – Instantly generate full slide decks from a single prompt—great for pitches and teaching.
💼 Open Opportunities
Partnership Manager, Podcasters – RedCircle, (Los Angeles) View Role →
Head of Creative Strategy, APAC – Spotify (Sydney, Australia) View Role →
Your next move in Music
Explore the MBW Job Board →
Crack into Podcasting
Check out the Sounds Profitable Job Board →
📌 Know someone looking? Forward this to them!
⚡ Your Next Bold Move
I run JMedia, an advisory firm helping companies and creatives bring their ideas to life. Here are a few ways we can work together when you’re ready:
Get 1:1 Support from Me: Need a thought partner to help shape what's next for your project or team? Let’s talk!
Audit Your Podcast: Get pro-level eyes on your podcast without hiring a full-time producer.
Speaking Engagements & Workshops: Looking for a speaker for your next live (or virtual) event? Or someone to lead your next strategic workshop?
Thanks you for spending time with Red Threads this week.
I’m glad you’re here :)
~ Jaime
P.S. My weekly Red Threads newsletter goes out every Friday. Move my emails to your primary inbox so you see the next edition!
💌 Know someone who should be growing with us? Forward this their way.