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 ›
84.6K reads
Oct
24
Feb
06
Getting personal and a little scientific here... Once our basic three needs are met (and often even when they're not), there exists within the human species a hard-wired desire to pursue happiness. For me, happiness has always been inextricably linked with creativity, the two enjoying a direct relationship. The happier I am, the more creative I am. Or more metaphysically speaking, the happier I am, the more open I am to inspiration and creativity. As... read more ›
4.5K reads
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 ›
1.3K reads
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 ›
1.3K reads
Apr
20
If you're pursing a photography career, you'll want to lean into my latest conversation on the Chase Jarvis LIVE show with Chris Burkard. I have had the great privilege of knowing Chris for darn near a decade now. As an accomplished photographer, explorer, author, creative director, and speaker, he has travelled to some of the most remote places on earth capturing stories and images that connect us to nature and the importance of protecting... read more ›
1.5K reads
Apr
13
What sets memorable stories, presentations, and speeches apart from the ordinary? If you think it has to do with the speaker's innate ability, you'll be surprised to learn that it doesn't. Fortunately, Victoria Wellman knows how to craft compelling messages and overcome our fear of public speaking. Victoria is the Co-Founder of The Oratory Laboratory, a Manhattan-based boutique creative agency for public speakers. Formerly a journalist, copywriter, producer, a trained actress and voice-over artist, Victoria... read more ›
1.3K reads
Apr
06
Pain and suffering are fundamental to the human experience. We come into this world with the belief that there’s a better, more beautiful world out there, and we long to return to it. This pain can consume you if you let it, but it can also be a potent catalyst for creativity. Questions to get things rolling: Do you typically repress the pain, internalize it, and let it damage the way you treat yourself and... read more ›
1.5K reads
Mar
02
Building Charisma with Non-Verbal Cues Is charisma a born trait? Or can it be learned? On today’s episode, Vanessa Van Edwards—a renowned expert on social skills and interpersonal intelligence is in the building with a toolbox of techniques and non-verbal cues that will supercharge your communication. "I used to think you're either born with charisma, or you're not. Then I stumbled upon research that showed highly charismatic people have a very specific blend of two... read more ›
3K reads
Feb
23
HOW TO GO FROM TRAUMA TO FREEDOM AND INNER PEACE Deep in the grips of drug addiction, Gabby Bernstein was sitting in her beaten-up white Toyota Corolla playing a cassette again and again and listening to a psychic saying to her, “You have two choices in this lifetime: You could stay addicted—and that’s not going to be good—or you can get clean and make a major impact on the world.” In that moment, she couldn’t... read more ›
2.5K reads
Feb
16
HOW PASSION DRIVES BUSINESS SUCCESS The first day Payal Kadakia moved into her apartment before starting her job at Bain & Company, she attended a Bollywood dance class that happened to be just three blocks away. Payal, who has an Indian-American background, studied operations research and economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but she was always determined to keep dance in her life—both during her college... read more ›
1.3K reads