What Separates Amateurs from Pros?

Nov 20

Lately, I've been pondering a concept that's crucial for any creative professional: accountability. It's a bold statement, but hear me out. When I talk about being a professional, I'm not just referring to earning money from your craft. It's about the satisfaction of completing and excelling in your work. That's what separates the pros from the amateurs. The Essence of Creative Autonomy In the realm of creativity, Patti Smith stands as a beacon of self-driven... read more ›

Nov 15

Mark Manson: Hope in an Sea of Endless Calamity

In this episode, Mark Manson shares insights on his creative process and inspiration. Mark is a three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, known for his book "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck." He has sold millions of copies of his books worldwide and has become a prominent figure in the field of life advice. During the conversation, Mark discusses the challenges of following up on a highly successful book and the pressure... read more ›

Nov 13

The Buyback Principle: Unlocking More Time for Your Art

Time. We all have more things we want to do than hours in the day. As a creative, I've often grappled with how to best allocate my hours, ensuring that I'm not only productive but also fulfilled. The idea of "buying back your time" isn't a new concept, but a recent conversation with seasoned entrepreneur and coach, Dan Martell, helped galvanize this idea for me. While Dan's insights are primarily tailored for business leaders, I... read more ›

Nov 08

The Winning Mindset: Is your Mental Game Holding You Back? | Michael Gervais

Look at high-achieving individuals from Olympians to business mavericks and you'll quickly notice one thing they all have in common - a strong mindset. As the command center for the actions we take, our brains play an undeniably critical role in the pursuit of success. It's one thing to set goals, but another to have the mental strength to stay committed to them when things don't go as planned. To that end, any individual, whether... read more ›

Nov 06

The Power of Structure for Boosting Creativity

Pablo Picasso once said, "Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There’s no other route to success." This sentiment resonates deeply with anyone who has ever grappled with the challenge of balancing creativity with structure. At first glance, creativity might seem like a free spirit, unbound by rules or routines. But in reality, even the most spontaneous... read more ›

Nov 01

Navigating the Funding Maze: How to Raise Money for Your Business | T.A. McCann

What does it take to build a successful business? Hard work? Grit? Determination? Those are all essential ingredients, but they're unfortunately all wasted without one magically formative element: money. The world runs on it, and there's no escaping the fact that you need a lot of it when starting an entrepreneurial venture. That's especially true in the creative field, where aspiring founders face the challenge of selling their vision in a competitive market, and often... read more ›

Oct 30

The Quest for Personal Style

Today we’re diving deep into a topic that’s close to my heart and crucial for any artist’s journey: developing your personal style. It’s the golden ticket, the secret sauce, the unique fingerprint that sets you apart in a world saturated with creativity. Let’s get into it. Finding Your Personal Style You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “Find your style.” But what does that really mean? It’s more than just a way of doing things;... read more ›

Oct 25

Create for Yourself: How Poet Whitney Hanson Turned Passion to Profession

The creative field is one that's driven by intrinsic passion. While there are certainly opportunities to make it big and get paid well, most would tell you it's not the reason why they do what they do. Passion is. Whitney Hanson is one of those people. https://youtu.be/qF6YNWKSYX0 The university student is a poet and creative entrepreneur who got her start sharing poetry on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic. While most home dwellers bread-making careers didn't... read more ›

Oct 24

10 Things Every Creative Person (That’s YOU) Must Learn

Here is a list of 10 things I've learned the hard way that every photographer, designer, creative--hell, every creative person--should know. 1. Experts aren’t the answer. The blogs, the teachers, the mentors, the seminars aren’t the answer. They’re not there to tell you exactly what you need to know. If they’re good, then they are there to give you some ideas, some guidelines, or some rules to learn and subsequently break. This isn’t about the... read more ›

Oct 18

6 Crucial Lessons on Resistance, Resilience, and Reaching Your Dreams from Steven Pressfield

Some of us have always known our dreams, while others discover them through life's twists and turns. But regardless of their origin, these dreams ignite a passion within us. 1. Dreams are not just fleeting thoughts; they're a compass guiding us towards our true purpose. Following your dreams might sound idealistic, but it's about taking tangible steps towards them. As Steven Pressfield's book title suggests, "Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be." If... read more ›