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 ›
308 reads
Sep
27
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 ›
467 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 ›
306 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 ›
321 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 ›
470 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 ›
369 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 ›
473 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 ›
609 reads
Apr
03
Growing up, we build up layer after layer after layer of protection to keep ourselves safe. Every time we say something weird in class and the other kids laugh at us or we get picked last for a team, every time we put ourselves out there and fall flat on our faces, another layer of scar tissue is added. Eventually our real selves, and everything that makes us worth knowing, are buried. The central relational... read more ›
530 reads
Mar
06
Do you struggle with self-doubt and shame when it comes to sharing your creative work? In this episode, we explore how to cultivate a sharing mindset. Even if we are proud of what we’ve made, we still often feel an overpowering desire to hide. We might drop our work limply onto the floor and slink away, instead of holding it up for everyone to see. If self-doubt and fear of not being good enough have... read more ›
533 reads