When I think of the power of community, I'm reminded of the electrifying experience of watching a megaband like Metallica perform live. While the spotlight shines on James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo, it's easy to forget the army of skilled individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes. From lighting artists to sound engineers, it's a collective effort that brings the magic to life. Similarly, as creators, we often find ourselves in the... read more ›
266 reads
Aug
14
Jul
25
Are you starting a new job? Making a career transition? I’ve received a number of inbound questions on this topic as new grads seek jobs and/or folks are in a career transition and a couple of the most common here: Getting Hired Without Experience Question 1: Entering an Industry Without Experience The first question comes from Anna, a fourth year architecture student. She says, “Hi, Chase, I'm realizing that I don't actually want to be an... read more ›
652 reads
Jun
20
Everyone wants a mentor, the wise little green creature who will teach us how to swing a lightsaber and use the Force. I was no exception when I started out in photography. I thought someone was going to take my outstretched hand and guide me along the path to greatness. They’d tell me what to learn, how to learn it, and what to do once I’d done so. As I’ve progressed along my creative path... read more ›
826 reads
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 ›
738 reads
Apr
11
What would it feel like to put your creative ambition out into the world? To share your work with others? Creative expression is a fundamental piece of human health. The more you create, the closer you feel to the truest version of yourself. Tapping into your own unique creative mojo feels good, and it’s life sustaining. But it doesn’t stop when you finish the work. Putting your work out into the world is part of... read more ›
788 reads
Feb
02
The Dark Side of Being World-Class In speed skating, a hard pivot is an aggressive turn that requires balance, focus, and courage. Blasting down the ice, shoulder to shoulder with another world-class competitor, blades on his feet, Apolo Ohno began his Olympic career in 2002, eventually winning eight gold medals and becoming the most decorated athlete in US Winter Olympics history. Stories about the commitment, sacrifice, and work ethic required to reach the pinnacle of... read more ›
425 reads
Apr
05
This is the age old question ... How do you get hired to do work that you've never been paid to do before because you need experience. But to get that experience, you need to do the work. Here are a three ways to overcome this chicken & egg situation: Listen to the Podcast Get Involved The fastest way to learn is to get involved in the community. It can lead to new partnerships, new opportunities, and... read more ›
7.3K reads
Nov
30
Fact: creativity is a team sport. Yes, the actual act of making the work is sometimes a solo activity (drawing, writing, editing a film, etc) but the real driving force behind every creative pro is their community: their clients, collaborators, peers and the rest of the humans in the complex web of symbiotic relationships that give us inspiration, support and (ultimately) an income. Creativity cannot live in a vacuum. We depend on each other, like... read more ›
3K reads
Aug
19
Ijeoma Oluo is a writer, speaker, and Internet Yeller. Her NYT bestselling book So You Want to Talk about Race has had a huge resurgence as of late, and it's no wonder given the times we are in. Ijeoma has been named The Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans, one of the Most Influential People in Seattle by Seattle Magazine and Seattle Met for her work on issues of race and identity, feminism, social and mental... read more ›
740 reads
Jul
11
Meet Jordy, a 23 year old soccer player and student, who’s trying to find his way and figure out what to shoot for after college and how to get there. He’s optimistic, excited, and at a crossroads in his life. He’s just like I was at his age, and is probably just like you are now or have been in the past. In this raw, gritty, intimate, and windy 28 minute conversation we talk about... read more ›
1.5K reads