You’ve heard the phrase, “you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Relationships are significant because they influence and shape our experiences, success, and repetitive cycles that hinder our performance in other areas of life. However, when we learn to navigate relationships with mindfulness and compassion, they can also be rewarding and bring us closer to who we want to be. Listen to the Podcast Sheleana Aiyana is driven by... read more ›
Jun
22
Jun
20
Everyone wants a mentor, the wise little green creature who will teach us how to swing a lightsaber and use the Force. We crave that guiding hand, the cryptic wisdom spoken in riddles, the long training montages where we finally learn to lift rocks with our minds. It's part of the mythos we’ve all internalized: the hero's journey doesn't start until someone older, weirder, and significantly more cryptic gives us a push in the right... read more ›
Jun
15
Happiness and health are two topics that have been widely researched throughout history but only in recent years have become scientifically linked. As the connections between mental health and physical health have become undeniable, doctors and researchers alike are beginning to examine the impact of our mental well-being on our physical bodies. The study of happiness extends to the decisions people make that lead them down the path they have chosen for their lives. Enter... read more ›
Jun
13
Reality is malleable. The world would have you believe that creativity is an indulgence. That instead, you should follow a more “practical” enough to invest your time and resources in. But these beliefs were invented by people trying to organize the world the way they saw it, not how it really was. “No Artist Tolerates Reality” Friedrich Nietzsche expressed a novel observation: "No artist tolerates reality." Throughout my life's journey, there have been countless instances... read more ›
Jun
08
There is the path that society influences us to take in our journey towards purpose and success, and there is the voice that may call us to an unbeaten path when we don’t quite fit the mainstream mold. This was the case with Nabil Ayers, who, at two years old fell in love with music when he was given his first drum set. Though Nabil did end up going to college, his marks did not... read more ›
Jun
06
Early on in my career, I had to make an important distinction between what it means to be a photographer, and what it means to be a professional. Yes, a photographer takes photos and a professional photographer sells photos. You know what else a professional does? They show up every day, even when the inspiration isn't hitting them. Do the Verb to Be... read more ›
Jun
01
Everybody has regrets No matter how your life plays out, there will be situations that don’t go your way, things you wish you would have done, and words left unspoken. Yet, in a society where "no regrets" is culturally celebrated, we don't often talk about how we reckon with those feelings. It's one of the reasons why author Daniel Pink became interested in the subject. He was actually writing another book at the time.... read more ›
May
30
Have you ever found yourself in a creative rut? How did you get out of it? And if you’re in one right now, what tools can you use to create change? I recently received a question via the text community (206-309-5177) asking about overcoming hard days. As we close mental health awareness month, I wanted to share a few thoughts based on what’s worked for me, with the hope to bring some value to you.... read more ›
May
25
Money and financial planning can be a looming dark cloud for some people. With money being the biggest stressor and leading cause of divorce, it can sometimes be a tricky topic to navigate. My longtime friend Chris Hutchins joins me as we discuss ways you can optimize your life. Chris and I both worked as photographers and have grown our professional careers in parallel. Chris is a Life Hacker, Product Builder at Wealthfront—a company that... read more ›
May
23
I recently received two insightful audience questions around the topic of taking the next step in career or life. These questions have many layers, so it's always helpful to hear someone's specific situation we can explore. Let's dive in. Listen to the Podcast How do I grow my current client base and improve my pricing? Brian Asks: “Hey, Chase. My name is Brian Vogel. I'm a professional commercial photographer out of Houston. I'm right about... read more ›