There's a subtle yet pervasive force that often goes unnoticed, yet it significantly shapes our work. It's the nagging feeling that no matter how much effort we put in, our work is never quite good enough. This isn't a conscious chase for flawlessness, but rather a relentless sense of dissatisfaction that keeps us trapped in a cycle of endless tweaking. It's that feeling that our work could always be better, leading us to labor over... read more ›
595 reads
Jan
15
Dec
04
If you often find yourself doubting your abilities and worthiness, despite the trail of achievements behind you. You're not alone. Imposter syndrome is a familiar foe to many. Let's set the record straight: these feelings, while normal, are not the truths that define you. It's crucial to distinguish between the natural emotions that accompany any ambitious journey and the reality of your accomplishments. If you pause and reflect on your path, you'll see that it... read more ›
552 reads
Sep
27
Have a minute to chat? Matt Abrahams and I sure do. It's always a pleasure having experts like him on the show to discuss big issues that impact so many of us. Today, we’re talking about the power of conversation and how it can be mastered and leveraged to your advantage as a creator. Five key teachings have been condensed for your convenience below. 1. Abolish Speaking Anxiety Palms sweaty? Knees weak? Arms heavy? Vomit... read more ›
706 reads
Aug
16
For some, the idea of being a perfectionist is desirable. "I'm so disciplined that it's a problem," says the person who wants you to respect their hard-working attitude. But for Thomas Curran, a man that has taught psychology at the London School of Economics for years, it's a trap. We recently sat down to discuss his book of a similar title, the arguments it makes about how perfectionism can hold us back, and what we... read more ›
1.8K reads
Aug
07
I was recently reminded that the fastest way to succeed is to fail. Literally. And yet the only reason this sounds a little weird, is because we’re constantly falling into a trap. There's No Perfect Plan In fact, I fell into this trap myself not too long ago. I was trying to make this little project work out perfectly (installing a golf simulator at the studio) I was doing all the calcs on paper… Making... read more ›
796 reads
Jul
24
In this episode, we dig into the importance of taking creative risks. We all know that some risk is necessary. Simply said, you cannot stand out and fit in at the same time. If you're not sharing your work, you're hiding, and this tends to compound on itself. Once you start hiding, you stop growing. Creativity requires taking risks and embracing failure. Failure is the forward propulsion toward success and the sooner we can change... read more ›
610 reads
May
22
There’s a saying that goes: Plan for Success, Learn from Failure While I’d anticipated a demand for frequent updates of Best Camera if we succeeded—I’d baked it into the contract—what I had not anticipated was the possibility of such incredibly rapid success. I’d structured an agreement with the developers based on the idea that the app would take a while to achieve liftoff. The revenue split favored me once their initial investment was repaid. That... read more ›
770 reads
May
08
As a creative entrepreneur, you know the importance of putting yourself out there and seeking new clients to help your business grow. Unfortunately, approaching potential customers can be intimidating – even if you’re confident in your work – because it requires you to put yourself on the line. Fortunately, with just a few simple steps, you can start building confidence and conquering your fear for good! Try these battle-tested tips designed to build self-assurance when... read more ›
527 reads
Apr
24
Are some people just born creative, or is creativity something that can be learned? Check this out: in 1968, George Land developed a creativity test for NASA to help them select innovative engineers and scientists. He then used the same test to assess the creativity of 1,600 Head Start program kids, and tested them again at ages 10 and 15. The results? Among 5-year-olds, 98% showed high levels of creativity. But by age 15, that... read more ›
813 reads
Apr
05
For Amanda Crew, art imitates life. While she is largely known for her role as Monica Hall on the HBO series Silicon Valley, she recently sat down with me to talk about the duality between her personal life and experience playing a woman who feels torn between the life she’s created and the life she really wants. It’s a thriller, Amanda tells me, but the underlying turmoil her character faces is something she can relate... read more ›
1.1K reads