The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show

Hey friends, Chase here Austin Kleon is back on the show, and this conversation is exactly the kind of reminder every creative person needs. You probably know Austin from Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going, the books that have helped millions of people rethink creativity, sharing, influence, originality, and what it actually means to make things in public. But Austin's new book, Don't Call It Art: 10 Ways to Create Like a Kid Again, goes somewhere even more fundamental. It asks a question that feels especially urgent for creators, entrepreneurs, artists, writers, photographers, parents, and anyone trying to make meaningful work in a world that wants to turn everything into content: What if the way back to your best creative work is not becoming more serious, but becoming more playful? That question matters because most of us have made creativity too heavy. We have wrapped it in identity, pressure, productivity, platforms, metrics, perfectionism, and the fear of being judged. We get stuck asking whether we are real artists, serious writers, successful creators, or legitimate professionals. We worry about the noun before we do the verb. Austin's message is simpler, deeper, and more freeing: "Don't call it art. Don't worry about being an artist. Forget the nouns. Do the verbs. Just make stuff." That idea is the center of this episode. We talk about what kids can teach us about creativity, why play is not frivolous, how to build the conditions for your best work, why attention is your most valuable resource, and why some of the most important ideas in your life might come from goofing off. This conversation is about loosening the grip. It is about getting back to the part of you that makes before it judges, explores before it explains, and follows the energy before it knows exactly where the work is going. Why This Conversation Matters Right Now We are living in a strange moment for creative people. On one hand, there has never been more opportunity. An individual with a laptop, a camera, a newsletter, a sketchbook, a phone, a point of view, or a weird little idea can reach people directly. That is extraordinary. But it also comes with a cost. The pressure to turn every interest into a brand, every hobby into content, every project into a product, and every creative impulse into a strategy has never been stronger. We are constantly being asked to define ourselves: What do you do? What is your niche? What is your platform? What are you building? How are you monetizing it? What is the plan? Those questions can be useful at the right time. But when they show up too early, they can suffocate the very thing they are trying to organize. Austin's

Hey friends, Chase here Eric Ries is back on the show, and this conversation goes far beyond startups, venture capital, or the mechanics of building a company. You probably know Eric as the author of The Lean Startup, the book that changed how founders, creators, entrepreneurs, and teams think about building something new. His work helped popularize ideas like continuous innovation, validated learning, experimentation, and staying close to the customer instead of getting lost in theory, ego, or endless planning. But this episode is not just about how to start something. It's about how to protect the thing you've built once it starts working. Eric's new book, Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad…and How Great Companies Stay Great, asks a question that feels especially urgent for creators, entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders right now: How do you build something that can grow without being captured, corrupted, or hollowed out? That question matters whether you're running a company, building a personal brand, growing a creative practice, launching a product, choosing clients, working with sponsors, or trying to do work that actually reflects your values. Because success is not neutral. Success brings attention, opportunity, money, investors, partners, platforms, algorithms, expectations, incentives, shortcuts, and people who may not share the reason you started in the first place. One of Eric's most powerful lines in this conversation is this: "Success is not a source of strength. It is a liability, because success attracts predators." That idea is the center of this episode. If you've ever built something that started to work, you know exactly what he means. The thing that made your work powerful can become the thing other people want to capture. The trust you built can become something others want to monetize. The values that made your community believe in you can suddenly feel inconvenient when there's more money on the table. This conversation is about how to stay awake in the middle of that pressure. We talk about defining what you stand for, making decisions before the pressure arrives, treating trust as an asset, saying no to misaligned opportunities, and building something that can grow without losing its soul. Why This Conversation Matters Right Now We are living in a strange moment for creators and entrepreneurs. On one hand, there has never been more opportunity. An individual with a laptop, a camera, a newsletter, a product, an idea, or a point of view can reach people directly. You can build an audience, launch a business, compete with massive companies, and create a brand around your name, your work, your taste, your values, and your trust. That is extraordinary, but it also comes with a real cost. The forces shaping our work have never been more intense. Plat

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about golf. And before you check out because you're not a golfer, hang with me for a minute — because this episode isn't really about golf. It's about life. It's about what happens when things don't go according to plan. When the ball lands somewhere ugly. When you're stuck behind a tree, buried in the sand, sitting in a divot, or staring down a shot you didn't want and didn't ask for. In golf, there's a phrase: play it as it lies. You don't get to move the ball just because the situation is inconvenient. You don't get to pretend the shot is easier than it is. You don't get to rewrite reality so it matches the version you had in your head. You look at what's in front of you. You accept the lie. And then you play the next shot. That idea has become one of the most useful metaphors in my life. Because life, like golf, rarely unfolds exactly the way we imagined. Even our best-laid plans run into rough patches. The course changes. The weather shifts. The terrain surprises us. Sometimes the thing we thought would be straightforward turns into the hardest shot of the day. And the question becomes: Can you stop fighting reality long enough to respond to it? That's what this episode is about. Not golf tips. Not swing mechanics. Not how to lower your handicap. It's about resilience. Presence. Ego. Preparation. Adaptability. Learning from mistakes. And remembering that the little things — the short putts, the quiet choices, the small daily actions — often matter just as much as the big dramatic swings. Here's the thing golf teaches you fast: You can do almost everything "right" and still end up in a bad spot. You can prepare. Practice. Visualize. Get coaching. Set goals. Build routines. Show up with the best intentions. And still, eventually, you're going to hit one sideways. That's not failure. That's the game. And more importantly, that's life. The people who keep growing aren't the ones who never hit bad shots. They're the ones who learn how to recover. They're the ones who don't let one ugly moment become the story of the whole round. They're the ones who can take a breath, look at what's real, and ask: What's the best next move from here? The Core Idea You don't get to choose every lie. But you do get to choose how you play it. That's the heart of this episode. In golf, the course is full of imperfections. A root here. A bunker there. A weird patch of grass. A branch that grew out at exactly the wrong angle. A divot you didn't create but now have to deal with. You don't get to pretend those things aren't there. You have to confront the reality of the shot. Life works the same way. Sometimes you get the clean fairway lie. Sometimes you're in the rough. Sometimes you're blocked. Sometimes the conditions change overnight. Sometimes you di

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about hustle. Not the old-school definition of hustle — as in working hard, caring deeply, staying committed, and doing the reps. That kind of effort still matters. It always will. I'm talking about what hustle has become. The kind of hustle that glorifies exhaustion. The kind that mistakes motion for progress. The kind that tells you if you're not burning the candle at both ends, you're not serious enough about your dreams. And I want to say this clearly: You don't need more hustle. You need more capacity. Because without focus, vision, rest, and self-awareness, working harder doesn't necessarily move you closer to the life you want. It can just leave you burnt out, disconnected, and unable to do the work that actually matters. For years, I bought into the myth. I slept five or six hours a night. I worked ridiculous days — sometimes up to 20 hours. I thought that was what commitment looked like. I thought grinding myself down was the price of building something meaningful. And then I hit a point where my body and mind gave me a wake-up call. On a vacation in Hawaii, with nothing on my schedule for the first time in what felt like forever, I slept 14 hours a night for nearly a week. Not because I was lazy. Not because I lacked ambition. Because I was empty. And once I finally rested, everything changed. I was nicer. More creative. More self-aware. More connected to what I actually wanted and needed. I felt more alive. That experience changed the way I think about work, creativity, ambition, success, and fulfillment. This episode is about that shift. It's about why rest is not the enemy of ambition. It's about why capacity beats constant motion. It's about why the most fulfilled people I know aren't the ones who grind themselves into dust — they're the ones who learn how to stay in the game. Here's the thing most high performers eventually learn: You can't build a meaningful life on depletion. You might be able to push through for a season. You might be able to sprint through a launch, a deadline, a hard chapter, a creative breakthrough. There are absolutely moments when the work requires intensity. But intensity is not the same as sustainability. And if your only strategy is to keep pushing harder, eventually the cost shows up. In your body. In your relationships. In your creativity. In your sense of meaning. In your ability to actually enjoy the thing you've worked so hard to build. That's why the question isn't, "How do I hustle more?" The better question is: How do I build the capacity to do great work for a long time? Capacity includes energy. It includes sleep. It includes focus. It includes emotional bandwidth. It includes self-awareness. It includes the ability to know when to push, when to pause, when to recover, and when to come back s

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about one of the most important questions every creator eventually asks: How do I find my creative voice? Or maybe you've heard it framed another way: How do I develop a personal style? How do I make work that actually feels like mine? How do I stop copying what everyone else is doing and start creating from a place that is uniquely my own? This question comes up all the time because it sits at the center of the creative life. Whether you're a photographer, designer, writer, filmmaker, musician, entrepreneur, or someone who simply feels called to make things, there comes a point where technical ability is not enough. You can know how to use the tools. You can understand the software. You can study the masters. You can follow the trends. You can learn the settings, the systems, the formulas, the workflows. But eventually, you hit a deeper question: What makes this mine? That is what this episode is about. And I want to be clear from the start: finding your creative voice is not about inventing some perfect brand identity overnight. It's not about locking yourself into one narrow lane forever. It's not about deciding, intellectually, "This is my style now," and then forcing every piece of work to fit inside that box. Your creative voice is much more organic than that. It is your fingerprint. Your point of view. Your taste. Your history. Your instincts. Your lived experience. Your way of seeing the world, translated through the things you make. And the only way to find it is to make. Not once. Not occasionally. Not only when you feel inspired. Again and again and again. The Big Question: What Is Personal Style? Personal style can sound like one of those vague creative phrases that floats around in the universe without ever becoming useful. People say things like, "You need to find your style," or "You need to develop your voice," but what does that actually mean? At its simplest, personal style is the thing that makes your work recognizable. It's the equivalent of your handwriting. You don't have to think about your handwriting every time you write your name. It's not something you consciously construct letter by letter. It just comes out of you because it has been shaped by repetition, history, muscle memory, and identity. Your creative style works the same way. It is the unique aesthetic fingerprint that you unconsciously put on everything you make. Think about music. You can hear a Prince song for just a few measures and know it's Prince before his voice even enters. There's a signature there. A rhythm. A tone. A sensibility. A way the work announces itself. Think about photography. You can look at an Ansel Adams landscape and recognize the scale, the drama, the tonality, the reverence for nature. It has a point of view. That's personal style. It's not just what you make. It's how you see. It's what you notice. It's what you repeat without realizing you're repeating it. It's the pattern behind the work

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about reality. Not the abstract, philosophical version. Not the version you argue about over coffee or read about in some dusty book. I mean the reality you wake up inside every day. The job. The schedule. The obligations. The story you tell yourself about what is "practical." The version of your life that everyone around you seems to agree is reasonable. And then there's the other thing. The thing you can see in your mind that does not exist yet. The book. The business. The body of work. The new way of living. The creative practice. The conversation. The project. The identity. The version of your life that keeps tapping you on the shoulder, quietly asking, "Are we ever going to build this?" This episode is about that tension. It started with a Nietzsche quote I love: No artist tolerates reality. But the point is not Nietzsche. The point is you. Because too many of us spend years — sometimes decades — living inside somebody else's plan for our one precious life. We inherit the well-worn path. We internalize the "shoulds." We mistake convention for truth. We tell ourselves that creativity is indulgent, impractical, selfish, lofty, or naive. And the more we repeat that story, the more it starts to feel like reality. But here's the thing I want you to hear clearly: Reality is not fixed. Reality is shaped. And one of the most powerful ways you shape it is by creating. This is the heart of the episode: You are not here to simply accept the world as it has been handed to you. You are not here to blindly follow the plan someone else wrote. You are not here to wait until the world gives you permission to make something, become something, or live in a way that feels more true. You are here to create. And I don't mean that in a soft, decorative way. I mean it in the most practical way possible. Creativity is not just painting, writing, photography, music, or design. Creativity is the foundation underneath every act of making anything in the world. A conversation is co-created. A relationship is co-created. A business is co-created. A life is co-created. You cannot build anything meaningful without creativity. Which means creativity is not extra. Creativity is your birthright. The Core Idea Stop asking permission to create your life. That's the message. Not because you should abandon responsibility. Not because every idea you have will work. Not because the path is easy, obvious, or guaranteed. But because waiting for permission is one of the most common ways we avoid our own agency. We wait for someone to tell us it's okay. We wait until the timing is better. We wait until we have more money, more confidence, more clarity, more proof. We wait until the world gives us a clean, logical reason to begin. <

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something that gets romanticized way too much in the creative world: inspiration. We've been taught to wait for it. To trust it. To believe that the best work comes when lightning strikes, when the muse shows up, when the feeling is right. And while inspiration is real — and beautiful when it arrives — it's also wildly unreliable. That's the trap. If you build your creative life around inspiration, you build it around something you cannot control. And anything you can't control is a dangerous foundation for a meaningful body of work. This episode is about a better way. A steadier way. A more durable way. It's about why creativity doesn't really grow from waiting for a feeling — it grows from compounding action. Small acts. Repeated over time. Daily deposits into the account of your craft. Tiny efforts that don't seem like much in the moment, but eventually become impossible to ignore. Because the truth is simple: you do not need to feel inspired to make something meaningful. You need to begin. And then begin again tomorrow. The Real Problem With Waiting for Inspiration At the start of the episode, I ask a question that's worth sitting with for a minute: When was the last time you made something just for the sake of making it? Not for a client. Not for social media. Not because someone was expecting it. Not because it was due. Just because you felt a pull to create. For a lot of people, that question lands hard. Not because the desire to create is gone — but because somewhere along the way, the conditions got heavy. The pressure increased. The stakes changed. Creation stopped being play and started becoming performance. And once that happens, inspiration starts to feel like a requirement. Like you need the right mood, the right window of time, the right environment, the right burst of confidence before you can begin. But that's backwards. Inspiration is not the engine. It's the byproduct. The people who make meaningful work consistently are rarely sitting around waiting to feel magical. They're working. They're practicing. They're trying things. They're showing up on ordinary days. They're making imperfect things and learning from the process. They understand that action creates momentum — and momentum often creates the feeling we mistakenly thought had to come first. The Core Idea: Creativity Compounds Most people understand compounding in the context of money. You invest a little. That investment earns returns. Then those returns start earning returns of their own. If you stick with it long enough, the early effort starts to multiply in ways that seem almost disproportionate to the original input. That same principle applies to creativity. Every day you make something, you are making a deposit into your creative future. You're not just producing one photo, one page

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something that looks responsible on the surface — but quietly steals momentum from your life underneath it. I'm talking about overplanning. Not thoughtful preparation. Not healthy strategy. I mean the kind of planning that masquerades as progress. The kind that lets you feel productive without actually moving. The kind that sounds smart, looks disciplined, and gets praised by the world… but keeps you from starting the thing that matters most. That's what this episode is about. Because there's a hidden cost to overplanning, and most people don't notice they're paying it until years have gone by. It shows up in the projects you never started. The ideas you softened so they'd be easier to explain. The creative risks you talked yourself out of because the timing wasn't quite right, the plan wasn't complete, or the path wasn't clear enough yet. And here's the truth I want to put on the table right away: clarity is not a prerequisite for action. It is a reward for action. That's the heartbeat of this episode. If you've been waiting until you know more, until you feel more confident, until the uncertainty settles down… this one is for you. What This Episode Is Really About This micro show starts with an idea I've been thinking about a lot lately: there's a kind of tax we pay in life, and it doesn't come out of our paycheck. It comes out of our potential. It's the tax of sensible decisions. The choices that seem wise from the outside. The decisions other people approve of. The instincts that keep you safe, polished, prepared, and socially acceptable — but also slightly removed from your own real life. That tax compounds quietly. And one of the biggest ways it shows up is through overplanning. Because overplanning gives us the emotional comfort of movement without the actual vulnerability of motion. It lets us say, "I'm working on it," while avoiding the part that actually asks something of us. It keeps us in research mode, optimization mode, comparison mode, information-gathering mode — anything except the one mode that changes our life: doing. The hidden cost of overplanning is not just wasted time. It's delayed becoming. It's the version of you that only appears once you start — and never gets a chance to exist if you stay in your head too long. The Core Idea Research can become a very convincing form of avoidance. That doesn't mean research is bad. Planning matters. Preparation matters. Reflection matters. But there's a line — and once you cross it, planning stops serving the work and starts replacing it. That's the dangerous part. Because when planning becomes a substitute for action, it starts to feel noble. It feels mature. Responsible. Strategic. It gives you a reason to postpone the scary part while telling yourself you're still being productive. But in reality, wha

Hey friends, Chase here. I want to talk about something that might be uncomfortable — but if you're willing to really look at it, it can change everything. What if you're working incredibly hard… at the wrong thing? This is one of the scariest patterns I've seen — not just in the creators I coach, but in my own life. People are climbing. Grinding. Achieving. But they're climbing a mountain that isn't theirs. What's Really Going On Most people don't realize they're succeeding at the wrong thing. From the outside, it looks like progress: Momentum Validation Money Status But internally? There's a low-grade unease. Something you can't quite name. You tell yourself: "I just need one more win." "One more level." One more external yes." But what if that feeling isn't about not being there yet? What if it's because you're on the wrong mountain entirely? Why This Happens We humans are mimetic creatures. We learn what to want by watching what other people want. In a world optimized for visibility, comparison, and performative success… that instinct goes into overdrive. We chase what's celebrated. We optimize for what's rewarded. We pursue what looks like a "good life" from the outside. And somewhere along the way, we stop asking the most important question: Why am I doing this? Not the polite answer. Not the resume answer. Not the Instagram caption. The honest one. The Core Idea When you're unclear on your why, you default to someone else's. And when that happens, success becomes incredibly easy to misplace. You can chase: 100,000 followers A bigger team More money A certain lifestyle But if you don't know why… You can end up winning a game you never meant to play. What You'll Hear in This Episode Why we unknowingly adopt other people's goals How mimicry shapes our definition of success The danger of chasing external validation without internal clarity Why "one more win" can actually be a trap How to start defining your own version of success Timecodes (So You Can Jump to What You Need) 02:00 – The idea of climbing the wrong mountain 03:02 – The feeling of low-grade unease 03:27 – Mimetic behavior: why we want what others want 04:16 – The most important question: why? 05:21 – Why people succeed at the wrong thing 05:47 – The reframe: you might be pursuing the wrong end 06:13 – That restless feeling is actually alignment 07:06 – Clarity over chaos: small shifts, not big resets 07:33 – Interrupting mimicry 08:06 – Trading achievement for energy 08:29 – Choosing one honest action 09:16 – Stop o

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something that quietly holds a lot of people back — something we've been taught to believe for most of our lives: Talent. The idea that some people are just born with "it." The gift. The spark. The thing that makes them exceptional. And if you don't have it? Well… maybe you just weren't meant for this. Let me be clear: That idea is mostly a lie. Not because people don't have natural inclinations or perspectives — they do. But because what we call talent is usually something much more accessible, much more practical, and much more within your control. This episode is about breaking that illusion — and replacing it with something far more empowering. The Myth of Talent We've built an entire mythology around the idea that greatness is reserved for a select few — that some people are simply born with abilities the rest of us don't have. But here's what most people don't see: From the outside, confidence and competence can look exactly the same. And from the inside? It often feels like you're just barely holding it together. There was a time in my own career when things were moving fast — faster than I could fully explain. Big investors. Big opportunities. Big rooms with people who had built massive companies. And the whole time, I had one thought running on a loop: "If they could hear what's going on inside my head right now… this meeting would be over." Because I didn't have it all figured out. I didn't have a perfect plan. I didn't have a polished roadmap. I was just… figuring it out as I went. And yet, from the outside, it looked like talent. That's the disconnect. What Talent Actually Is What we call talent is usually this: Practice — repeated over time Reps — more than most people are willing to do Early attempts — messy, imperfect, often embarrassing Consistency — showing up again after a bad day Resilience — continuing when it's not rewarding yet Talent is practice with better PR. That's it. It's the willingness to: Make things before you feel ready Be bad at something long enough to get good Keep going when yesterday didn't go your way That's what creates the gap between where you are and where you want to be. And here's the part most people miss: The gap is usually much smaller than you think. The Real Gap Most people assume they need: More time More money Better tools More connections But the real gap? It's reps. More practice. More attempts. More time actually doing the thing. Ask yourself this: What skill can you develop without practice? There isn't one. And yet, so many people sit on the sidelines waiting to feel "ready" — waiting for confirmation that they're talented enough to begin. That confirmation never comes. Because it doesn't exist. The Question That Actually Matters So if the question isn

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something that might feel uncomfortable at first — especially if you've spent years trying to get better, sharper, more polished, more "professional." Perfection is dead. Not metaphorically. Not eventually. I mean right now. And if you're paying attention to what's happening in the creative world — especially in an era of AI, automation, and endless content — you're starting to feel it too. The things that used to signal quality… now feel generic. The things that used to impress… now barely register. And the things we used to hide — the rough edges, the quirks, the imperfections — are quickly becoming the only things that actually stand out. This episode is about why your flaws — the very things you've been trying to smooth out — might actually be your greatest creative advantage. The Shift: Why Perfect Doesn't Work Anymore We are living in a moment where perfect is easy. AI can generate flawless images. Software can smooth every imperfection. Templates can make anything look "professional." And that's exactly the problem. Because when everything is polished… everything starts to look the same. Even the platforms themselves are saying it out loud now: authenticity is becoming scarce — and therefore more valuable than ever. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} That means the bar has shifted. It's no longer: "Can you make something good?" It's: "Can you make something only you could make?" The Biology Behind Why Imperfection Wins This isn't just a creative opinion — it's biology. Your brain is wired to ignore predictable patterns and notice disruptions. A perfectly uniform image? Your brain tunes it out. A slightly off note. A crack in a voice. A strange framing choice. A human moment that feels a little too real. That's what grabs attention. Because deep down, your brain is constantly scanning for something unexpected — something that might matter. Perfect is predictable. Imperfect is alive. The Trap: Safe + Skilled = Invisible Here's where a lot of creators get stuck. You develop skills. You learn the tools. You refine your process. And then… you start playing it safe. You aim for clean. You aim for polished. You aim for "what works." And without realizing it, you drift into something dangerous: You become technically good… but creatively forgettable. Because: You + safe choices + powerful tools = something that looks like everything else. The Core Idea Your imperfections are not flaws to eliminate — they are signals to amplify. Think about what we love: Film grain in photography Light leaks in old cameras Vinyl crackle in music A live performance that almost falls apart A handwritten line that isn't quite straight These aren't mistak

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something that quietly holds a lot of creators back — the belief that your work needs to resonate with everyone. It feels natural. We're wired for connection. We want to be seen, appreciated, recognized. That's human. But when that instinct starts driving your creative decisions, it can pull you further and further away from the very thing that makes your work meaningful in the first place. So here's the truth I want you to hear clearly: You don't need everyone. Not their approval. Not their attention. Not their validation. In fact, trying to get all of that is one of the fastest ways to dilute your voice and disconnect from what matters most. This episode is about what happens when you stop chasing everyone — and start creating from a place that's actually true to you. The Core Idea If you try to make something for everyone, you end up making it for no one. I see this all the time — creators, entrepreneurs, builders of all kinds trying to shape their work so broadly that it appeals to the widest possible audience. And on the surface, that makes sense. More people should mean more opportunity, right? But in practice, the opposite tends to happen. When you aim at everyone: Your message gets softer Your point of view gets less clear Your work becomes harder to connect with Because the things that actually resonate — the things that stick — are specific. They're personal. They come from a real place. The goal isn't to be liked by more people. The goal is to be meaningful to the right people. What You'll Hear in This Episode This is a short, focused episode, but it cuts right to the heart of what matters: Why we're wired to seek approval — and how that instinct can quietly shape our creative decisions The hidden cost of trying to please everyone — and why it leads to weaker work The simple framework for creating work that actually resonates Why authenticity isn't a buzzword — it's a requirement for connection How small audiences can create big impact when the alignment is right Timecodes (So You Can Jump to What You Need) 01:51 – Why creators feel pressure to be liked by everyone 02:21 – The problem with trying to appeal to everyone 03:22 – Why pleasing everyone leads to weaker results 03:45 – The three-step framework: create, share, repeat 05:01 – Why people can feel whether you love your work 06:19 – Stop looking sideways and start creating from within 07:08 – Why you don't need a massive audience to succeed 08:13 – Finding your people through consistent creation The Shift That Changes Everything There's a subtle but powerful shift at the center of this conversation: Stop trying to get your work liked. Start making work y

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something every creator experiences — but almost nobody talks about openly. Rejection. If you're pursuing anything creative — photography, writing, design, building a business, launching a project — you already know the truth: you hear a lot more no than you hear yes. But here's the twist. Most people think rejection is the signal to stop. In reality, rejection is often the signal that you're doing the work. In this episode, I'm unpacking why hearing "no" isn't something to avoid — it's something to learn from, grow through, and ultimately embrace as part of the creative path. Because more often than not, "no" doesn't mean never. It means not yet. Let's start with a simple truth: If you're putting your work out into the world — pitching clients, submitting work, applying for opportunities, launching ideas — you're going to hear "no." A lot. And while that might feel discouraging at first, it's actually a sign that you're in the arena. That you're taking risks. That you're moving forward instead of sitting safely on the sidelines. The reality is that creative careers are built through repetition — through attempts, through iteration, and yes, through rejection. You don't get ten yeses without hearing a whole lot of no along the way. That's just the math of putting your work out there. The trick isn't avoiding rejection. The trick is learning what rejection is trying to teach you. The Core Idea "No" serves a purpose. In fact, it serves several. First, rejection can be a powerful motivator. If you're competitive — and most creators are — hearing no doesn't mean the door is closed forever. It means there's an opportunity to learn, adjust, improve, and show up stronger the next time. Every pitch that doesn't land teaches you something. Every opportunity you miss reveals something about the craft, the market, or the way you're presenting your work. And if you treat rejection as information rather than judgment, it becomes one of the most valuable feedback systems you have. Second, rejection naturally filters out the people who aren't committed. Most people hear "no" a few times and decide the path isn't for them. They interpret rejection as proof that they're not good enough — instead of recognizing it as part of the process. But if you keep showing up, learning, refining, and improving, you start to realize something important: Persistence quietly reduces the competition. The longer you stay in the game, the more people fall away. Not because they lacked talent. But because they lacked the willingness to keep going. Rejection Is a Signal — Not a Verdict Another powerful reframe is this: A "no" usually doesn't mean your work will never succeed. More often, it means you

Hey friends, Chase here If you're a creator who's ever wondered why someone with "less talent" seems to get more opportunities… this episode is for you. Because here's the truth: being great at your craft is only the price of admission. It gets you in the door. But what happens after that? That's where your career is made. In today's micro-show — Craft Is the Entry Fee — I'm talking about the things that matter most in the work you do… and the things that matter just as much in the way you do it. The stuff you can't always point to on a resume. The stuff you can't show in a portfolio. The stuff you can't always "prove" — but everyone can feel. Because what you can't see matters. The Big Idea Let's start with a reframe that will save you years of frustration: Great work is the "get in the door" fee. Yes — you have to be good. You have to practice. You have to care about the craft. You have to put in the reps. But if you're trying to get hired, land clients, build long-term relationships, or get re-hired again and again… then your craft is only one part of the equation. Because hiring isn't just about output. It's about the total package someone brings to the table: experience, energy, passion, intensity, positivity, wisdom, technical knowledge… and the unspoken, unmeasurable stuff that shapes every interaction. What You Can't See (But People Hire For) Here's a vivid example from the episode: Imagine you're an art director or a client. You're going to spend ten days on set with a photographer or director. Now ask yourself: Do you want to spend ten days with a jerk? No. You don't. And neither do they. You might be incredibly talented. Your work might be objectively excellent. But if you're difficult, unpredictable, late, disorganized, or hard to trust — the next job goes to someone else. And it's not personal. It's practical. People hire to solve problems — and they also hire to reduce risk. The Basics Are the Differentiator This is the part creators often skip. We obsess over craft (and we should). But we forget the simple things that determine whether someone wants to work with us again: Are you hard working? Are you enjoyable to be around? Are you on time? Can you deliver on budget? Do you exude integrity and thoughtfulness? Do people feel confident and safe around you? Those are not "nice-to-haves." Those are career builders. I call them "the basics." You might call them the X-factor. Whatever you call them, they're real — and they matter. Soft Skills Are Still Skills This is one of the most important reminders in the episode: Soft skills are still skills. They can be learned. They can be practiced. They can be honed. And the best part is: you don't need to be born with them. You can build them the same way you built your creative ability — with intention, repetition, feedback, and self-

Hey friends, Chase here There's a myth that quietly messes with a lot of us — especially if you're a maker, builder, or artist. It's the myth that creative fulfillment is something you find. That if you just get lucky enough… brave enough… talented enough… you'll stumble into "the thing" and everything will click. But here's what I want to remind you today: Your path isn't discovered. It's designed. Not as in "perfectly planned." As in: you choose it. You shape it. You tend it. You build it on purpose — even when you don't feel ready. This episode is a short one, but it's dense. It's about why wildly creative careers aren't an accident… and how to return to what makes your heart sing. Here's what this episode explores: Creative lives don't happen by accident. They happen intentionally. They're designed. The Core Idea Creative lives are built on purpose. The "lucky ones" didn't just stumble into it. In some way, shape, or form, they created a vision and worked toward it. This episode is about doing that — deliberately. What You'll Hear in This Episode This one moves quickly, but here are the ideas worth listening for — and revisiting when you need them. Why creative careers are designed, not accidental What it really means to start from scratch How to identify what makes your heart sing Why you shouldn't judge your curiosity by commercial potential The garden metaphor — and how it reframes your life Why separating yourself from your art increases freedom and resilience The power of building a creative habit Timecodes (So You Can Jump to What You Need) 00:00 – Weekly email intro 02:11 – Creative lives are designed 03:20 – Start from scratch 04:22 – What makes your heart sing? 04:51 – Don't judge it by commercial potential 05:43 – The garden metaphor 06:40 – Let go of cultural assumptions 08:14 – "You are not your art" 09:13 – Create without focusing on the outcome 10:09 – Turn the gears 11:11 – The creative habit is what matters Read This If You Feel Stuck If you've been waiting for clarity before you move, here's your reframe: Clarity often comes from motion. Design doesn't require certainty. It requires participation. Questions to Ask Yoursel

Every creative journey starts the same way. Excitement. Possibility. Momentum. And then — somewhere between the spark and the breakthrough — it gets hard. The novelty fades. The results slow down. Doubt gets louder. And that's when most of us go looking for certainty. Better gear. Better tactics. The "right" answers. But what if the discomfort isn't a sign you're off track? What if it's proof you've finally reached the part that actually matters? In this episode, I break down why the messy middle — that stretch between starting and mastering — is where your identity gets forged. Why we hide in measurable answers when we're uncomfortable. And how to reconnect with the love that made you begin in the first place. Because the middle isn't a detour. It's the proving ground. In this episode: Why creators obsess over tools when the work gets uncomfortable The psychological comfort of "right answers" What the messy middle really is How to develop internal clarity instead of chasing certainty Why remembering your origin story can reset everything If you're in a season where the work feels heavy, this is your reminder: discomfort doesn't mean you're failing. It often means you're growing. Until next time, stay close to the craft — and remember, the part you're tempted to escape might be the part that's shaping you most.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on a truth most of us spend years trying to outgrow: playing it safe has a cost. Not just a financial cost. Not just an "I didn't take the leap" cost. I'm talking about the hidden cost — the slow trade of your originality for approval, your curiosity for compliance, your honest voice for whatever feels least risky. A lot of us were trained early to optimize for fitting in. To sit still. To follow directions. To avoid disrupting the room. And to be clear: the people who guided us usually meant well. But the system most of us came through wasn't designed to help you uncover what you're here to make — it was designed to produce consistency. Efficiency. Predictable outcomes. Over time, that training can dull the very thing that makes your work matter: your vitality. Your weirdness. Your edge. The parts of you that feel a little too honest, too quirky, too intense, too much. Here's the core idea: The price of playing it safe is your creative aliveness. Because safety doesn't just keep you from failing — it keeps you from telling the truth. It keeps you from risking rejection. It keeps you from letting the messy, human parts of you show up in your work. And ironically, those are the parts that make your work unmistakably yours. This episode is about noticing what you avoid — not to judge yourself, but to learn from it. What are you most reluctant to share? What do you hide because it feels weird or embarrassing or "not polished enough"? Those uncomfortable pockets of truth are often where your most compelling work is waiting. In today's episode I cover: Why "playing it safe" quietly drains originality and momentum How early conditioning teaches us to trade creativity for approval How to use what you avoid as fuel for your most honest work If you've been feeling stuck, uninspired, or like your work isn't quite you, this episode is an invitation to look in the direction you usually look away from — not to blow up your life, but to reclaim the parts of yourself you've been filtering out. Until next time, be brave enough to be seen — and don't forget: the safest path often costs the most.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that quietly changes everything once you see it: You don't get paid first for the work you want to do next. You build it first. Most people wait for permission. They wait for a client, an investor, or an opportunity to show up before they start creating. But in my experience, it works the other way around. The next chapter of your career is built in parallel with the one you're already in. I've always balanced paid work with deeply personal exploration. The commercial projects put food on the table. The personal work is where curiosity lives. And it turns out, that curiosity-driven work is where every meaningful breakthrough in my career has come from. Here's the core idea: Build the next chapter before you're paid. Your portfolio becomes your future. The work you make on your own time — without guarantees — becomes proof of what you're capable of next. Clients don't hire potential. Investors don't fund intentions. They respond to momentum, prototypes, and evidence. Whether you're trying to pivot creatively, grow your business, or step into a new role, the path forward is the same: start making the work now. Use what you already do to fund exploration. Let your community become your laboratory. Create first. Refine along the way. This isn't about reckless leaps or quitting your job tomorrow. It's about building in parallel — putting money in the bank while you develop the skills, projects, and ideas that point toward where you actually want to go. In today's episode I cover: Why your personal work drives your biggest professional breakthroughs How prototypes open doors faster than pitches Why your portfolio is the roadmap to your next chapter If you've been waiting for someone else to greenlight your growth, this episode is an invitation to start now — to explore what you're curious about and build something real before expecting the world to catch up. Until next time, create first — and remember: your next chapter starts with what you make today.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that runs counter to how most of us try to solve creative problems. When we feel stuck, uncertain, or restless, our instinct is usually to think harder. To analyze. To wait for clarity. But here's the truth I've learned the hard way: you can't think your way forward. Clarity doesn't come from sitting on the couch running mental simulations. It comes from action. From making. From trying things in the real world and paying attention to what happens next. Early in my career, I hit a real creative rut. I questioned whether photography was truly my thing, or whether some other medium might be a better fit. And I could have stayed stuck in that loop for months — thinking, debating, second-guessing. Instead, I ran experiments. I tried painting. I learned from it. And just as importantly, I learned what wasn't my path. Here's the core idea: action beats intellect. Thinking has its place, but it's a terrible primary strategy for getting unstuck. You don't reason your way into momentum — you move your way into it. Volume creates insight. Making creates feedback. And feedback is what quiets doubt. This episode is about why experimentation isn't a distraction from commitment — it's how commitment is formed. It's about turning down the noise in your head by turning up the work. In today's episode I cover: Why you can't think your way out of a creative rut How action creates clarity faster than analysis Why making more work often leads to better work If you've been waiting to feel "ready" before you move, this episode is a reminder that readiness follows action — not the other way around. Until next time, default to action — and remember: you can't think your way forward.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and practical — and it centers on a simple idea that tends to hit a little deeper once you really sit with it: you are not your goals. You are not your intentions. You are what you do repeatedly. Around this time of year — or anytime you feel the urge for a reset — it's easy to assume the problem is motivation. That you just need to want it more. In my experience, that's almost never true. Most people aren't stuck because they lack drive. They're stuck because their daily habits aren't aligned with what they actually want. Goals matter. Vision matters. But goals don't run your life — habits do. How you move your body. How you eat. How you focus. How you rest. How you show up for your work and your relationships. Those small, repeatable behaviors quietly shape everything. Here's the core idea: You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your habits. This episode is framed as a mid-January check-in, but it's not really about the calendar. It's about pausing long enough to look honestly at the patterns running your days — and deciding whether those patterns are helping you become who you want to be. I share a simple three-part framework I've refined over the last decade: reviewing what worked and what didn't, setting a clear "more / less" compass for the next chapter, and translating that clarity into a short list of daily habits. Nothing fancy. Nothing rigid. Just a system that makes it very hard to drift off course. The power here isn't intensity — it's consistency. When your habits are right, progress becomes almost inevitable, even when life gets hard. In today's episode I cover: Why habits matter more than goals How to review what's actually working in your life How to build daily habits that support focus, energy, and creativity If you've been feeling behind or frustrated that good intentions haven't turned into real change, this episode is a reminder: you're not broken. You just need better systems — and you can start building them today. Until next time, remember: you are your habits. Choose them wisely.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that quietly changes everything once you really see it: most people aren't stuck because they're lazy or unmotivated. They're stuck because they confuse urgency with importance. We've been trained to react. To answer what's loud, immediate, and demanding. Emails. Notifications. Small fires that feel productive simply because they need attention right now. But being busy isn't the same thing as making progress — and activity is not the same as effectiveness. What I've learned over time is that the best work of your life rarely feels urgent in the moment. It's the work you could put off. The work that doesn't break anything if you ignore it today — but quietly shapes everything if you commit to it consistently. Here's the core idea: Real progress lives in the important, not the urgent. When you prioritize what actually matters — even if it doesn't scream for your attention — chaos starts to fall away. You still work hard. You still show up. But you stop letting urgency dictate your life and start choosing your direction instead. This episode is about stepping off the hamster wheel, building systems that protect your time and energy, and learning how to focus on the work that moves your life forward — not just fills your days. In today's episode I cover: Why being busy is often a distraction from what matters most How to think about urgent vs. important work Where your biggest creative and life gains actually come from If you've been working hard but feeling like you're spinning your wheels, this episode is an invitation to slow down just enough to aim better — and to make space for the work that truly counts. Until next time, choose what's important — not just what's urgent.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that's easy to overlook: rest isn't something you earn after the work is done. It's a skill you have to learn while you're doing the work. Most of us don't struggle because we lack motivation. We struggle because we don't know how to manage our energy over time. We push past the point where the work is actually getting better and mistake exhaustion for progress. What I've learned is that rest isn't about quitting or losing momentum. It's about staying in the game long enough to do meaningful work without burning yourself out. Here's the core idea: Rest isn't a break from discipline — it's part of it. Learning when to pause, step back, or reset isn't a sign of weakness. It's awareness. And like any skill, it gets better with practice. This episode is about recognizing those signals earlier, respecting them, and building a pace you can actually sustain. In today's episode I cover: Why rest is a skill, not a reward How to avoid burning out without losing momentum What sustainable effort really looks like If you've been feeling run down or stuck in cycles of overwork, this episode is an invitation to rethink how you pace yourself — not to do less, but to work in a way you can keep doing. Until next time, protect your energy — and remember that rest is a skill.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it's built around a question I think most of us care about more than we admit: what actually makes a great friend? Friendship is often treated as something casual. Easy. Automatic. But as life gets fuller — work, family, responsibility, distraction — the quality of our friendships can quietly slip into something surface-level. Not because we don't care, but because we stop being intentional about how we show up. What I've learned is that great friendships aren't defined by history or proximity. They're defined by behavior. Being a great friend isn't about always having the right words or fixing someone's problems. It's about presence. Courage. And a willingness to show up in ways that actually matter — even when it's uncomfortable. Here's the core idea: Great friendships aren't built on convenience — they're built on intention. That intention shows up in a few specific ways. In the courage to be vulnerable instead of polished. In choosing shared growth over staying comfortable. And in offering real, actionable support instead of vague good intentions. One of the biggest differences between casual friends and lifelong ones is the kinds of conversations you're willing to have — and the kinds of moments you're willing to share. Depth doesn't happen by accident. It happens when someone goes first. This episode is about closing that gap. About turning "let me know if you need anything" into actually showing up. About asking better questions. About becoming the kind of friend you'd want to have in your own corner. In today's episode I cover: Why vulnerability is the foundation of real friendship How shared growth experiences deepen connection What it looks like to offer meaningful, specific support If you've been thinking about the people who matter most in your life, this episode is an invitation — not to do more, but to show up differently. And to remember that the strongest friendships are built through small, intentional acts done consistently over time. Until next time, show up with intention — and be the kind of friend you'd want in your own corner.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it's built around a simple idea I've come to believe deeply: the most important creative tools are free. Most creators assume they're stuck because they don't have the right gear, the right resources, or the right opportunity. But after decades of making work, interviewing hundreds of top creators, and studying the lives of artists across disciplines, I've noticed a different pattern. What actually holds people back isn't a lack of tools — it's a lack of the right conditions. Creativity doesn't break down because you don't have enough. It breaks down because you don't give yourself what the work requires. Here's the core idea: The foundations of great creative work aren't things you buy — they're things you practice. Experience. Space. Reflection. Discipline. Rest. These aren't nice-to-haves. They're the infrastructure that makes creative work possible. And most of them don't cost a thing — but they do require intention. One of the biggest mistakes I see is creators waiting. Waiting for inspiration. Waiting for clarity. Waiting for permission. But creative momentum doesn't come from waiting — it comes from engaging. From living. From making room to think. From showing up on a schedule. From giving yourself a break when the work gets hard. This episode is about stepping back and asking a better question: not "What do I need to buy?" but "What am I not giving myself?" In today's episode I cover: Why creative work depends on conditions, not inspiration The invisible tools behind consistent creative output How to support your creativity without adding more noise If you've been feeling stuck, this isn't a call to do more. It's an invitation to focus on what actually matters — and to remember that the most powerful tools you have have been with you all along. Until next time, give yourself the tools that matter — and give yourself a little grace along the way.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct: most creators don't struggle because they lack talent — they struggle because they quit at 95%. They get the work to "pretty good," ship it, and move on. And for a lot of things in life, that's fine. The 80–20 rule works. But when it comes to your core creative craft — the thing you want to be known for — good enough is the trap. The last 5% is where the details live. It's uncomfortable, slow, and often invisible. Which is exactly why most people stop before they get there. Here's the core idea: 80–20 works for most things — but mastery lives in the final 5%. If you keep shipping at 95%, you're training yourself to miss the point. When I worked with Apple to help create the foundation for Today at Apple, the first draft came together fast. In less than a week, we were 95% there. But Apple doesn't hire creators for "pretty good." Pushing through that final 5% took nearly ten times as long — and it set the standard for creative education across hundreds of stores worldwide. Two common mistakes I see: Misusing the 80–20 rule: applying it to the work that defines you. Confusing shipping with finishing: stopping because it's hard, not because it's done. This isn't about perfectionism. It's about discernment — knowing when the work actually matters and being willing to go all the way when it does. In today's episode I cover: Why the last 5% takes as much effort as the first 95% How mastery separates pros from amateurs A simple way to decide when to go all in Most people quit too early on the wrong things. When it matters, don't ship at 95%.

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and honest: if you don't love the work you're making, don't ship it — or better yet, figure out how to love the work before you ship it. I know that sounds blunt, but the market — and more importantly, your audience — can smell half-hearted work a mile away. You can't fake the stuff that matters. Loving the work isn't about perfection. It's about clarity, curiosity, and being willing to do the uncomfortable thing: choose a direction, commit to it, and then grind the craft until you actually love the result. That's the difference between noise and meaning. Here's the core idea: If you're not excited to promote what you made, you probably didn't make what you love. Shipping is great — but shipping love is better. Two common traps I see: Approval chasing: You try to design for everyone and end up designing for no one. Activity without affection: You're busy making lots of stuff, but it never lights you up. That work will struggle to find real fans. So what do you do about it? Make the work you can't not make — and build a tiny system to ship it. In today's episode I cover: Why loving what you make makes promotion natural instead of gross Three practical moves to fall back in love with your craft: pick one obsessive idea, do the research that excites you, and iterate publicly How to find the small group (10–50 people) who will sustain you — and why that's all you really need A quick playbook to ship work you love: Choose one thing: narrow the focus until you feel a pull, not a push. Make it daily: small consistent steps beat sporadic heroics. Share early: get feedback from the right 10 people, not the loud crowd. Listen, then iterate: love grows when you respond to the craft (not the vanity metrics). If you want to make a living doing what lights you up, stop designing for a mythical "everyone." Build for the people who get it — and love the work enough to tell others. Thanks for listening. Tag me with what you're shipping next — I read as many replies as I can. And remember: ship less stuff, but love the stuff you ship.

Hey friends, Chase here This time of year, I get a lot of messages from folks ready for change — they've declared an intention, they want the next chapter, but something's holding them back. Some have the ideas and energy but no system to ship. Others have the systems but aren't listening to the quiet that tells them what to build next. Different gaps, same problem: without space to reflect and a mindful plan to act, momentum stalls. Here's the truth most people ignore: Intentions are the spark — but they won't transform your life without quiet, synthesis, and daily practices that turn ideas into meaningful work. You can declare you're "a creator" all you want, but without adventures that feed your curiosity, habits that produce work, and a practice of listening and asking questions, your intentions stay inspirational notes instead of real projects. If you only scribble ideas and never synthesize, they evaporate. If you only measure outcomes and never give yourself quiet, you miss the intuition that points to what's worth doing. In today's episode: Why setting an intention matters — and how to approach it mindfully instead of rushing into action The seven practical steps to turn end-of-year reflection into real momentum: adventures, consuming culture, making, scribbling, sharing, asking, and listening A simple way to track your work so progress becomes inevitable, not accidental Enjoy — and remember: this season of reflection is not for doing nothing; it's for slowing down just enough to do the right, often uncomfortable, work that actually moves you forward.

Hey friends, Chase here This week I had back-to-back coaching calls with two different clients. One had the skillset but not the mindset. The other had the mindset but not the skillset. Different people, same roadblock — they were both stuck at the edge of their next level because they were avoiding the hard stuff. Here's the truth most people don't want to hear: You don't level up because you "get discovered." You level up because you build both your skillset and your mindset — and that requires doing the uncomfortable work you've been dodging. Skillset without mindset? You become the talented person who keeps getting passed over. Mindset without skillset? You're inspiring, but not shipping meaningful work. You need both. And the only way to build both is by leaning into hard things. In today's episode: The real difference between mindset and skillset (and why both matter equally) How avoiding difficult work quietly caps your potential The simple practice that makes doing hard things a habit, not a hurdle Enjoy — and remember: the hard thing you're avoiding is the key to your next level.

Hey friends, Chase here You put the work in. You make something you're proud of. You hit publish… and then? Crickets. Tumbleweeds. A handful of likes from your mom and your college roommate. If you've ever wondered why some creators seem to explode overnight while your (arguably better!) work struggles to get traction, today's episode is for you. Because here's the truth: Making great work is only 50% of the job. The other 50% — the part no one told you about — is community. Community is the force multiplier behind every breakout launch, every viral post, every "overnight success." It's the difference between work that disappears and work that spreads. In today's episode: What "the other 50%" actually means Why community is the foundation of every long-term creative career Exactly how to build yours (step-by-step, online and offline) Enjoy — and remember: what you give is what you get.

Hey friends, Chase here. If you're a creator, here's a hard truth: most of us don't charge enough. We look around, see what others are doing, and call that "the going rate." But that's not how value works. There's no upper limit on creativity — you can charge whatever someone is willing to pay. The key is learning to positionyourself and negotiate with confidence. Your job isn't to fit perfectly into "industry standards." It's to understand the value you bring and price accordingly. It takes the same effort to sell something for $100 as it does for $10,000 — the difference is who you're talking to. Here's what we get into in this episode: There's no ceiling on art: you can charge whatever someone will pay Value over time: move from hours and day rates to creative fees Positioning is everything: look enough like the standard, then add your unique premium Right clients, right price: the same work can pay 10x with the right audience The takeaway? Pricing is a creative act. Know your worth, say it with confidence, and find the clients who see it too. Take a quick listen, then go charge what you're worth. :)

Hey friends, Chase here. Here's an important reminder:  you'll never feel ready to start.  But you've got to do it anyway. And the operative word there is "do." Just start. This episode is the kick in the ass you need.  Too often we get bogged down in the dreaming, the research, and the preparing - without the DOING.  Feel me on this?  It's a common excuse that most of use…that we just need a little more planning…  Wrong. This is not to say that planning isn't necessary, just that it shouldn't be the crutch that prevents you from executing.  And for most it is. Let's change that. If you've ever felt stuck - or heck - you're feeling stuck now, this episode is for you.  We talk about the right balance between the planning and executing in a way that will get the results you want. Take a quick listen, and then get back to work. :)

In this week's episode, we're revisiting a powerful conversation that originally aired back in 2015 — one that feels even more relevant today. Brené Brown joined me to talk about courage, connection, and what it really means to find true belonging in a divided world. Her insights on creativity, loneliness, and the power of standing alone have only become more urgent as we navigate today's culture of comparison and noise. Since our original conversation, Brené has continued to expand this body of work through her bestselling books — including Atlas of the Heart and Dare to Lead — and her podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. She remains one of the most trusted and transformative voices on leadership, belonging, and vulnerability in the modern era. Whether you're hearing Brené for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, this episode is a reminder that belonging isn't something we negotiate with the world — it's something we carry within us. It's about having the courage to stand alone, create from your truth, and use your art to help others feel seen and connected. Some highlights we explore: Why true belonging starts within — and how creatives can hold space for both solitude and connection. How art transforms loneliness into shared humanity and despair into hope. The four practices of true belonging — from speaking truth to BS (with civility) to holding hands with strangers. Why every creative must be willing to be misunderstood and stand alone in the wilderness. How boundaries and self-worth protect your creative energy and integrity. This conversation reminds us that the path to connection begins with courage — the courage to show up, tell the truth, and make something real. As Brené says: "Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don't belong… because you will always find it." Enjoy the revisit!

Hey friends, Chase here. If you've ever found yourself hesitating to start a project because it didn't feel "portfolio-worthy," this one's for you. I've fallen into that trap more times than I'd like to admit — obsessing over whether something I'm making is polished enough to represent me. The irony? That mindset kills the very creativity that fills a portfolio in the first place. The Portfolio Trap Somewhere along the way, we started treating our portfolios like prisons instead of playgrounds. We only want to show our "best work," so we start *only* making work we think will fit that box. Every idea gets judged before it's even born. That's not curation — that's fear dressed up as professionalism. Here's the shift: Separate creation from curation. Create Wildly. Curate Ruthlessly. When you're creating, you're exploring. You're playing. You're trying things that might fail — and that's where originality lives. When you're curating, you're editing. You're selecting what best represents your voice *after* you've made a lot of things. These are two different modes, and mixing them up is where people get stuck. Let yourself make a mess. Create hundreds of sketches, photos, prototypes, or drafts that no one will ever see. Then, later, curate like a maniac. The discipline is in the separation — not in perfection. Why the Messy Stuff Matters Some of the best gigs of my career came from "throwaway" experiments — the projects I almost didn't share because they weren't polished enough. Those experiments showed curiosity and risk-taking. Clients and collaborators see that energy and think, *I want that.* You don't need every piece of work to land in your portfolio. You just need to make enough to find the pieces that truly speak for you. Here's what we get into in the episode: The portfolio trap: how obsessing over "shareable" work limits your creativity Separate creation and curation: freedom in process, discipline in presentation Messy work = momentum: why experimentation builds better portfolios Play over perfection: creativity thrives when the stakes are low The big idea? Your portfolio should reflect your growth — not restrict it. Make more. Edit later. The only "wrong" project is the one you were too afraid to start. Until next time—stay curious, stay playful, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. I'm back with a little reflection that's been brewing for a while—one that hits right at the heart of what it means to be a creator right now. Lately, the number one question in my inbox (and probably yours too) goes something like this: "What happens to creativity now that AI can do so much?" If that question sounds familiar, you're not alone. We've seen this movie before. Back in 2006, I wrote a post responding to photographers who were terrified that point-and-shoot cameras would "steal" their jobs. Fast forward to today, and we're hearing the same fear—just swap "AI" for "amateurs with a camera." For a trip down memory lane, check out that original post, "Don't Worry, Just Focus. Please." — it's wild how the same conversation echoes through time. Different tools, same creative truth. The Creative Edge Isn't Vanishing — It's Moving. Here's the thing: every new tool feels like a threat at first. Digital cameras. Instagram. Smartphones. Now AI. Each time, a slice of the market shifts. The low-end work gets automated or absorbed by cheaper, faster tools. But the top quartile—the creators who bring taste, originality, and human nuance—don't vanish. They adapt, evolve, and expand what's possible. If you're worried about being replaced, you're probably looking at the wrong part of the playing field. The real creative edge has just moved—it's waiting for you to catch up. Here's what we get into in this episode: History repeats: from point-and-shoot cameras to AI, every leap in tech stirs the same fear—and the same opportunity Stay out of the bottom tier: low-margin work gets eaten first; creativity built on depth, taste, and expertise always finds demand Leverage the tools: don't compete with the machine—learn to wield it to multiply your output and sharpen your ideas Mindset as the real skill: the belief that you can evolve is what keeps you in the game when the rules change The big idea? Your creative advantage isn't disappearing—it's evolving. The tools may change, but what makes your work matter has always been the same: curiosity, courage, and a willingness to play with what's next. AI isn't the end of creativity. It's an invitation to a new chapter. So pick up the tools, experiment, and move with the edge—because that's where the real art happens. Until next time—stay curious, stay evolving, and keep creating.

In this week's episode, we're revisiting a powerful conversation that aired back in 2021 — one that's just as relevant today as it was then. Mel Robbins has continued to inspire millions with her practical, science-backed approach to behavior change and personal growth. Since our last chat, she's released a brand-new bestseller, The Let Them Theory, which builds beautifully on the ideas we explored together in this earlier episode. Whether you're new to Mel's work or a longtime fan, this replay captures timeless insights into managing anxiety, regulating your nervous system, and finding your creative flow — lessons that feel even more essential in today's fast-paced, always-on world. Mel is a global thought leader, an international bestselling author of The High 5 Habit and The 5 Second Rule, and one of the most trusted voices in personal development. Her TEDx talk, "How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over", has reached over 30 million viewers worldwide. In this conversation, we explore how anxiety and overwhelm affect creativity and productivity — and how small, consistent actions can help you reset your nervous system, quiet fear, and get back to meaningful work. Some highlights we explore: Why understanding your nervous system is key to unlocking focus and creativity. Mel's practical tools for beating overwhelm and reigniting motivation when you're stuck. How The High 5 Habit laid the groundwork for her new philosophy in The Let Them Theory. Simple daily practices — from mindfulness to micro-goals — that build momentum and self-trust. Why now might be the best time ever to create, even when the world feels uncertain. This episode is a reminder that growth doesn't come from control — it comes from courage, consistency, and letting go. If you've been navigating stress, self-doubt, or creative fatigue, Mel's wisdom will help you reset and reimagine what's possible. Enjoy the revisit!

Hey friends, Chase here. I'm writing you today from the south of France, where I've been taking a little breather before a busy fall. This episode is a reflection on some of the most popular questions that came up around the launch of Never Play It Safe. In the particular lies the universal — and the questions from our community reflect challenges so many of us face. Burnout, Side Hustles & Tiny Experiments Matt asked about starting a coaching/consulting side hustle. My answer? Don't try to solve everything from the couch. Start small. Run tiny experiments. Serve people by solving the problems you've already solved for yourself. From there, Dylan jumped in with a question about making a film project with a comedian friend. We dug into what it means to treat creative collaborations like real businesses — agreements, responsibilities, financing, and the all-important element of play. Here's what we get into in the episode: Side hustles that stick: why solving your own past problems makes you a better coach or consultant Tiny experiments: the fastest way to test ideas and get real data instead of planning forever Collaboration as play: how operating agreements and clear roles keep partnerships fun instead of frustrating Burnout recovery: why rediscovering play is the antidote to grazing through work like a cow instead of hunting like a lion The big idea? The best way forward isn't overthinking — it's showing up, experimenting, and rediscovering play in the process. Until next time—stay playful, stay curious, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. At the height of my career—awards, startups, celebrity collabs—my wife stopped me cold with one question: "How much is enough?" I didn't have an answer. From the outside, life looked perfect. But inside, I was chasing "more" without knowing why. The Illusion of More The culture around us says: keep climbing, keep grinding, keep stacking. But more for the sake of more eventually costs you—your health, your relationships, even your sense of self. Without defining what "enough" looks like, ambition becomes a treadmill you can't step off. Why Constraints Set You Free Here's the twist: constraints aren't limitations, they're freedom. When you know what's enough—whether that's money, recognition, or time—you can stop running in every direction and start building the life you actually want. Here's what we get into in the episode: The trap of "more": why unchecked ambition always demands a bigger price Defining enough: how boundaries create focus, energy, and freedom Hustle vs. challenge: the difference between busy work and meaningful growth The big idea? If you don't define your "enough," the world will do it for you—and you probably won't like the result. Ask the question. Write it down. Revisit it often. That's how you turn ambition into a compass instead of a trap. Until next time—stay intentional, stay clear, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. If social media feels heavier than it used to, you're not imagining it. Infinite feeds, algorithm whiplash, and the pressure to post "one more thing" can drain the very creativity we're trying to share. Here's the shift: treat social media like a stage you step onto with intent—not a sofa you collapse into by default. Social Media as a Stage, Not a Sofa A stage has purpose: you arrive prepared, you deliver, you connect, you step off. A sofa invites scrolling, numbing, and losing track of the most precious resource you own—your attention. When you design systems that honor the stage, you get 90% of the upside with a fraction of the noise. Create before you consume. Get your ideas out of your head and into the world first. Then study the landscape with clear eyes: What worked? What didn't? What can you improve next rep? Here's what we get into: Systems resist their systems: your schedule, not the algorithm, sets when and how you show up Frameworks, not feeds: reusable prompts and formats that make creation repeatable Stagecraft: show up to present, connect, and move the ball forward—then step off The big idea? Social platforms are powerful—when they serve your purpose. Use them as a stage: step on with intention, deliver your best, connect with your people, and step off before the sofa starts calling your name. For the full playbook—including how to set boundaries that stick—check out this week's episode of the show. Until next time—stay intentional, stay bold, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. If you're feeling anxious about money right now, you're not alone. Shrinking budgets, AI headlines, and general chaos have a lot of us questioning our value. The default move? Grab the nearest paycheck. But here's the truth: trading your dreams for short-term security is the fastest way to kill the life you actually want. Don't trade your dreams for security. Paying the bills matters—we've all been there. I waited tables in the early days of my photography career just to get by. But that was never the goal. The real goal was building a life with freedom at its core. Because freedom is what fuels creativity. It's what lets you chase the projects, the art, and the opportunities that light you up. Your future self is begging you not to settle. Fear says play it safe. Freedom says create. Every time you choose freedom—whether that's carving out an hour to shoot, write, or build—you're moving closer to the life you want. Here's what we get into: Why chasing paychecks without purpose keeps you stuck How designing for freedom fuels creativity (and opportunity) What Paris taught me about building a framework for creative living Why clarity + momentum are the secret weapons for designing your life How to balance short-term security with long-term vision The big idea? Money matters. Security matters. But if you sacrifice your vision just to feel safe, you'll never build the life you know you're capable of living. Freedom isn't something you wait for—it's something you design, one intentional choice at a time. Until next time—stay free, stay bold, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. I'm writing this from the beach, staring at the ocean, and I've got one big reminder for you today: You are your future. Sure, AI is everywhere. New tools pop up daily. You've probably seen the tweets: "Anyone can type a prompt and become a world-class designer, writer, photographer." Sounds nice. But let's be real—that's not how this works. You make the work. Not the tools. AI is powerful. No doubt. But it's still just a tool. A $10,000 camera won't make you Ansel Adams. And a shiny new AI app won't magically give you taste, vision, or experience. Those come from the reps—from showing up, failing, refining, and creating again. So if you've spent years honing your craft, here's the truth: You're at an advantage. Your taste, scars, and hard-won skills can't be downloaded. And no AI prompt can replicate them. Here's what we get into: Why your creative vision is the differentiator that separates pros from amateurs How fluency in your craft helps you direct tools (instead of guessing with them) Why every new tool—from Photoshop to AI—is just another layer on the same creative job How to flip the "AI makes me obsolete" narrative into fuel for your next chapter Why your fundamentals—taste, style, voice—matter more now than ever The big idea? The tool is the least important part of the work. You don't need to become a "prompt engineer." You just need to keep showing up as the creative badass you already are—one who adapts, experiments, and leads with vision. Keep pushing, keep experimenting, and above all—make work only you can make.

In this episode, Jim Murphy shares how training your mind for inner excellence leads to peace, confidence, and extraordinary performance. Jim is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and Performance Coach to some of the best athletes and leaders in the world. He began his career as a professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization, later coaching with the Texas Rangers and the South African Olympic baseball team. Jim has worked with world champion golfers, FedEx Cup champions, and world #1's — and most of his clients experience the best year of their careers in their first year with him. In addition to coaching professional athletes and executives, he leads Inner Excellence retreats worldwide and serves as president of the Inner Excellence Freedom Project, dedicated to alleviating spiritual and physical poverty. We dig into Jim's remarkable story — from giving away half his possessions and heading into the desert to discovering the principles that became his life's work. Along the way, he unpacks how courage, presence, and letting go of the past are key to unlocking human potential. Whether you're an athlete, a business leader, or just someone who wants more peace and confidence in your life, this conversation will expand what you believe is possible. Some highlights we explore: The moment AJ Brown was filmed reading Inter Excellence during every NFL playoff game, including the Super Bowl. Why Jim says "selfless is fearless" — and how the greatest need of the human heart is unconditional love. The BFF formula: belief, focus, and freedom — and why courage is the most common trait of high performers. The four daily goals of inner excellence: learn and grow, be present, gratitude, and focus on what you can control. Enjoy!

Hey friends, Chase here. If AI has you wondering whether your work will still matter—you're not alone. The pace of change is dizzying. New tools drop daily. "Good enough" work is getting automated before you can even refresh your feed. But here's the good news: This is not the end. It's the beginning—if you choose it. The future belongs to those who lean into what machines can't replicate: your taste, your story, your weirdness, your voice. In this episode, I unpack what it takes to stand out right now—not by running from the tech, but by using it while building a body of work that's unmistakably yours. Will your work still matter when everyone else is using AI to create? It's a real question. And let's be honest—it's one a lot of us are quietly asking. Every day, new tools make it easier (and faster) to generate content, art, writing, music—you name it. The machines are learning. Fast. So where does that leave you? At an advantage—if you bring your point of view to the table. Because here's the truth: AI can copy the output. But it can't copy you—your soul, your story, your weirdness, your taste. The things that made you a creative person in the first place. That's where the opportunity lives. Here's what we get into: Why your point of view is your ultimate differentiator How to make your portfolio future-proof (and unmistakably yours) The shift from pressing buttons to telling stories Why taste, style, and voice matter more than ever How to make work that's irreplaceable—not just impressive The big idea? Anyone can generate something. But only you can create something with heart, with history, with soul. This isn't about fearing the future. It's about shaping it—on your terms. Use the tools, yes. But lead with your voice, your vision, your humanity. Trim the generic. Amplify the real. Build a body of work that says something no AI ever could: "This is me." Until next time—stay human, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. If AI has you wondering whether your work will still matter—you're not alone. The pace of change is dizzying. New tools drop daily. "Good enough" work is getting automated before you can even refresh your feed. But here's the good news: This is not the end. It's the beginning—if you choose it. The future belongs to those who lean into what machines can't replicate: your taste, your story, your weirdness, your voice. In this episode, I unpack what it takes to stand out right now—not by running from the tech, but by using it while building a body of work that's unmistakably yours. Here's what we get into: Why your point of view is your ultimate differentiator How to make your portfolio future-proof The shift from pressing buttons to telling stories Why now is the time to trim the generic and amplify the real The big idea? Anyone can generate something. But only you can create something with heart, history, and soul. Until next time—stay human, and keep creating.

In this episode, Ben Uyeda shares how chasing purpose instead of scale can transform your creative career — and your life. Ben is a designer, entrepreneur, and creative force who left behind a successful architecture firm and an Ivy League teaching gig to bring high-design concepts to the masses through media. His free, widely shared designs have reached over 50 million people and are being built around the world. We dive deep into the tension between scale and meaning in the creator economy — and how Ben has escalated from designing vases on YouTube to building a 65-room hotel in the desert, all without losing his creative soul. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or just trying to figure out what's next, this conversation will challenge you to rethink your relationship with risk, money, and mastery. Some highlights we explore: "Scaling is just repeating. Escalating is growing." The mindset shift that changed Ben's career. Why Ben believes nature is becoming a luxury good — and how that shaped the Reset Hotel. The key difference between creatives who thrive in AI disruption and those who panic. Enjoy!

Hey friends, Chase here. Will your work still matter when everyone else is using AI to create? It's a real question. And let's be honest—it's one a lot of us are quietly asking. Every day, new tools drop that make it easier (and faster) to generate content, art, writing, music—you name it. The machines are learning. Fast. So where does that leave you? If you're a creator, this moment isn't the end. It's the beginning—if you choose it. Because here's the truth: AI can copy the *output*. But it can't copy *you*—your soul, your story, your weirdness, your taste. The things that made you a creative person in the first place. And that's where the opportunity lives. In this episode, I unpack how to stand out in the age of AI—not by competing with it, but by doubling down on what makes your work unmistakably human. Here's what we get into: Why your unique POV is now your most valuable asset How to build a portfolio AI can't replicate The difference between pressing buttons and telling stories Why taste, style, and voice matter more than ever How to make work that's irreplaceable—not just impressive The big idea? Anyone can generate something. But only you can *create* something with heart, with history, with soul. This isn't about fearing the future. It's about shaping it—on your terms. Using the tools, yes. But leading with your voice, your vision, your humanity. Because that's what will make your work matter tomorrow—even when machines are everywhere. So take a hard look at what you're making. Trim the generic. Amplify the real. And build a body of work that says something no AI ever could: *"This is me."* Until next time—stay human, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like life's just… happening to you? You wake up, check your phone, go through the motions. Weeks blur into months. You're busy but not fulfilled. Productive but not progressing. Here's the hard truth: If you're not intentional about what you're building, you'll drift. And drift leads to regret. But here's the good news: You can choose to stop drifting—today. You can start building what actually matters most to you. In this episode, I break down 10 core principles for doing just that. These aren't quick hacks or lofty theories. They're hard-won lessons from world-class performers, artists, and makers who've mastered their craft and their lives. Here's a taste of what we get into: Why simplicity beats complexity every time (stop overcomplicating your goals) How to harness resistance instead of fighting it Why passion isn't optional—it's fuel for the hard stuff The hidden cost of "bad" practices you don't even realize you're repeating How to ditch autopilot and consciously design your days The big idea? You are what you practice. Every choice, every habit, every action is shaping your future. The question is: are you practicing the life you want—or one you'll want to escape? This isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters. On purpose. So take a breath. Look around. And ask yourself: What am I really building? This episode will help you answer—and take the first steps toward it. Until next time—stay intentional, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like you're waiting for someone to hand you the map? You know—the step-by-step plan for building a creative life you actually want. The rules for how to get unstuck. The playbook for doing meaningful work without burning out or selling out. Here's the truth: That rulebook doesn't exist. No one's coming to hand it to you. Not your boss. Not a guru. Not even me. And honestly? That's a good thing. Because if there's no rulebook… you get to write your own. In this episode, I share 11 lessons that have helped me (and countless others) carve a path when there wasn't one. They're not "rules" in the traditional sense—they're more like signposts. Principles you can remix into a guide for your own life. Here's a taste of what we cover: Why "get sh*t done" beats overthinking every single time How to make your own rules—and know when to break them Why practicing your craft relentlessly matters more than chasing shiny shortcuts Why helping others isn't just nice—it's a success multiplier The big idea? Stop waiting for permission. Stop looking for the perfect plan. The only way to build the life you want is to start where you are, with what you have, and figure it out as you go. There's no perfect path. Just your path. So grab a pen. Start drafting your rulebook—messy, incomplete, and uniquely yours. Because the life you're craving? It won't come from playing by someone else's rules. Until next time—stay bold, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like you're working your ass off but not really getting anywhere? You're putting in the hours. Practicing. Grinding. But the needle isn't moving. Here's the truth: The best in the world aren't just clocking more time—they're practicing differently. They're ruthless about the basics. They've fallen in love with the process. And most importantly? They've built their identity around their craft. In this episode, I break down the 3 pillars of practice that separate masters from the rest of us—and how you can use them to level up. We'll cover: The 3 pillars every top performer lives by Why mastering the fundamentals beats chasing flashy skills How to make practice something you crave, not dread The secret link between identity and growth most people miss Enjoy!

In this episode, Rory Vaden shares how your past pain may hold the key to your future impact. Rory is a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Brand Builders Group, where he's helped shape some of the most influential personal brands in the world—including Lewis Howes, Ed Mylett, and Amy Porterfield. We explore why so many people chase fame and followers but still feel empty—and how shifting your focus to serving others can radically change everything. Rory opens up about his own journey from self-centered success to purpose-driven impact, and breaks down the surprising path to finding your unique voice and turning it into lasting influence. If you've ever wondered what really makes your work matter, this one's for you. Rory is also giving away the entire audiobook of his new book, Wealthy and Well-Known, for free. Get it at freebrandaudiobook.com/chase. Some highlights we explore: "You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were." Rory's core idea for finding your purpose. Why multiple income streams don't build wealth—but focus does. How Lewis Howes 10x'd his podcast by cutting nearly everything else. A blunt truth: "If you have diluted focus, you get diluted results." Enjoy!

Hey friends, Chase here. Ever scroll through social media and feel like you're falling behind? You see someone crushing it—their work looks flawless, their videos are sharp, their life seems effortless. And then that voice creeps in: "I'm not doing enough." "I'll never catch up." Yeah. That feeling? That's comparison doing its thing. But what if I told you the scroll doesn't have to suck the life out of you? What if it could do the opposite? Here's the truth: Social media is one of the most powerful learning tools on the planet—if you use it right. Not for validation. Not for endless distraction. But as a living library of creative technique, storytelling, and craft. The trick? You've gotta stop watching like a fan—and start studying like a student. See a photo that grabs you? A reel that feels electric? A post that hits hard? Instead of asking "Why not me?"—ask "How'd they do that?" Break it down. Steal the structure. Take notes. Try your own spin. It's not about copying. It's about collecting ideas. About seeing what works and remixing it with your own flavor. I call it the DEAR Method: Deconstruct what caught your eye Emulate the parts that resonate Analyze what works when you apply it Repeat the stuff that sticks It's a creative cheat code hiding in plain sight. So yeah—social media can mess with your head. But it can also level up your skills if you stop letting it run the show. Turn the scroll into study. Flip envy into energy. Let the work you admire teach you something real. Because guess what? You're not behind. You're just one honest rep away from getting better. Until next time—stay curious, and keep creating.