Stay ConnectedThe Side Hustler’s Perspective Podcast is fuel for your mind and creative grind.
Each week, Coach Scotty Russell puts you in a position to get paid to play creating work that lights you up…
All while navigating a day job, family life, the inner critic, and more.
This is for those who want to master the art of healthy hustling while growing their creative business.
You can follow Scotty on Twitter @ScottytheCoach and IG @CoachScottyRussell for all things coaching and art.
Copyright: © All Rights Reserved 2020
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/257
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Welcome to Round 9 of the Student Spotlight Special—a podcast series that highlights my 12-week coaching program students.
This round features The Dream Team, AKA my Fall 2023 class of Mary Moegenburg, Marc Steir, and Joonie Kay.
In a nutshell, consider this a Creative Business 101 Mastermind designed to help you take the next giant step of professionalism with your creative pursuits.
Establishing a growth mindset is the primary focus as each student builds an indestructible foundation centered around habits, systems, routines, and self-promotion.
In this episode, each student also shares the insane hurdles they've overcome in past years to tap into the incredible results they're experiencing today.
Want to join the 12-week program and be on the next student spotlight episode in Spring 2023?
Join the waitlist today at sidehustlerscoaching.com and let’s connect!
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RESOURCES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/256
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We’re picking back up where we left off with Part 2 of the Side Hustler’s Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Spring 2022 students.
I suggest hitting pause and going back to Pt 1 - Ep. 255 to learn more about what this series and the 12-week coaching program is all about…
Along with enjoying the overall flow of the full convo.
Part 1 featured:
1. Sylvah – @sylvahart
2. Tommy Morrell – @hightidelowcountry
3. Morgan Zion – @morganzion_
Part 2 today will feature:
4. Hoang Truong – @hoangtruong
5. Caleb Crisp – @crisp_artanddesign
6. Jonathan Palmisano – @jpalmisanoart
7. Britt Hoffman – @britthoffman128
If you want to be a part of a future 12-Week Spring or Fall Program, I highly recommend joining one of the Quarterly 3-Week Boot Camps first to get a more accessible taste of what to expect.
Join the waitlist for first dibs at an upcoming session at http://bootcampsidehustle.com/
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RESOURCES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/255
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We’re back for season 8 with a back-to-back Student Spotlight featuring my current 12-week Spring 2023 students.
Consider Side Hustler’s Coaching Program as a premium alternative Creative Biz 101 Master’s Degree.
You’ll learn everything from Mindset, Business Fundamentals, and Marketing to thrive in this digital creator economy.
This is what traditional education won’t teach you and you can avoid the insane price tag and years of debt!
Within the program, 4-6 creatives like yourself work together building their creative dream all while navigating day jobs and the curveballs of life.
Part 1 today features:
1. Sylvah Art – @sylvahart
2. Tommy Morrell – @hightidelowcountry
3. Morgan Zion – @morganzion_
Part 2 will feature:
4. Hoang Truong – @hoangtruong
5. Caleb Crisp – @crisp_artanddesign
6. Jonathan Palmisano – @jpalmisanoart
7. Britt Hoffman – @britthoffman128
If you want to be a part of a future 12-Week Spring or Fall Program, I highly recommend joining one of the Quarterly 3-Week Boot Camps first to get a more accessible taste of what to expect.
Join the waitlist for first dibs at an upcoming session at http://bootcampsidehustle.com/
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RESOURCES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/254
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Looking to take the full-time creative leap one day—or just take yourself and your craft more seriously?
It’s easier said than done, as most people only share the highlights of self-employment.
This is NOT your typical “end-of-year recap flex” where I boast about highlight reels.
This episode allows me to document my 3rd year of working for myself—which has been the wildest by a landslide.
I want my experiences to help position you as a creative professional who’s prepared to take your biz full-time one day—or just take yourself more seriously in general.
The following are 5 Tips for Surviving & Thriving as a Self-Employed Creative (Year 3 | 2022 Recap).
Each section will have a specific takeaway baked in that you can apply ASAP to your own pursuits.
As always, keep an open mind, take notes, and follow up with action.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/253
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We’re back for season 7 of my Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Fall 2022 students.
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is a 12-week Creative Biz 101 Master’s Degree.
You’ll learn everything you’d need to build a long-term, fulfilling, and thriving creative career in this modern era…
This is what traditional school won’t teach you and you can avoid the insane price tag and years of debt!
Within the program, 4-6 creatives like yourself work together toward:
Above all else, it’s truly the art of healthy side hustling as self-care, longevity, and sustainability are the top priority.
Today, you’ll get to meet the following Fall Roster hitters:
1. Walker Howard “AKA WD” – @Walking_Designs
2. MacKenzie Twardus – @Balanced Letters
3. Casey Duke – @CaseyDukeDraws
4. Jason Brauncowski – @Brauncowski
5. Alex Godziszewski “AKA Gorb” – @Gorbstrator
If you want to be a part of a future 12-Week Spring or Fall Program, I highly recommend joining one of the Quarterly 3-Week Boot Camps first to get a more accessible taste of what to expect.
Join the waitlist for first dibs at an upcoming session at BootCampSideHustle.com.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/252
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We’re picking back up where we left off with Part 2 of the Side Hustler’s Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Spring 2022 students.
I suggest hitting pause and going back to Part 1 - Ep. 251 to catch the program overview, action items, insights, and overall flow of the full convo.
We’re back for round 6 of a 2-Part Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Spring 2022 students.
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is an intense 12-week course where 8–10 creatives like yourself master the art of:
This batch of students you’ll fall in love with is broken into 2 Groups of 5…
Part 1 features:
Part 2 features:
If you want to be a part of a future 12-Week Spring or Fall Program, I highly recommend joining one of the Quarterly 3-Week Boot Camps first to get a more accessible taste of what to expect.
Join the waitlist for first dibs at an upcoming session at BootCampSideHustle.com.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/251
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We’re back for round 6 of a 2-Part Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Spring 2022 students.
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is an intense 12-week course where 8–10 creatives like yourself master the art of:
This batch of students you’ll fall in love with is broken into 2 Groups of 5…
Part 1 features:
Part 2 features:
If you want to be a part of a future 12-Week Spring or Fall Program, I highly recommend joining one of the Quarterly 3-Week Boot Camps first to get a more accessible taste of what to expect.
Join the waitlist for first dibs at an upcoming session at BootCampSideHustle.com.
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
If you’re a consistent listener or a newbie to the podcast, you know that I’m currently on a 2-month break…
This was supposed to be a quick little Bonus episode to update you on what to expect next…
As I started writing, it ended up turning into a journal…
NOT to explain to you why I’m taking this break…
But more to work out how things got to this point, while also convincing myself it’s OK (and necessary) to hit pause and reset.
It gives you a front-row seat in my head to understand how all this started as a passion project and the possibilities of what this could evolve into.
Let’s dive in.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/247
Support for this episode comes from BuzzSumo.
Supercharge your side hustle content strategy today with a FREE 30-Day Trial.
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Two hurdles I hear consistently holding creatives back are the:
When, in reality, we’re holding ourselves up with these internal conflicts that we can choose to sidestep at any time.
The people you look up to often deal with these—yet they refuse to let them distract them from chasing what they want.
Today’s guest, Elizabeth Gray of The Grayter Good, is living proof that finding success with your style is an ever-evolving process.
She’s an absurdly talented lettering artist, muralist, and illustrator with a combined audience of 750K+ followers (IG + TikTok).
Her biggest talent is showing herself in her content and in an incredibly entertaining, yet valuable way.
She’s also the author of her upcoming book: The Happy Homebody: A Field Guide To The Great Indoors. (Which is all about empowering the introverted creative.)
In today’s episode we talk shop on:
The Goal: To provide a little insight on how to find your style and groove while setting yourself for breakthroughs along the way.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH LIZ
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/249
Support for this episode comes from BuzzSumo.
Supercharge your side hustle content strategy today with a FREE 30-Day Trial.
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Looking to start your creative side hustle and take the next steps in scaling it?
Say less, I got you…but I highly suggest checking out Pt. 1 of this series for the first 6 steps!
The quick skinny…
An email subscriber asked for tips on how to build his photography pursuits outside his day job and family life…
All while navigating the head games that come with the pursuit of something you care about.
Hence this 2-part series of 12 Steps for Starting & Scaling Your Creative Side Hustle.
Again, there is no one-size-fits-all framework that’s perfect for everyone.
This is solely based on my experience over the past decade and countless conversations I’ve had with industry-leading creatives.
Soak up and apply what you feel works best for you!
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
---
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/248
Support for this episode comes from BuzzSumo.
Supercharge your side hustle content strategy today with a FREE 30-Day Trial.
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I get hit up a lot with questions of, “How do I get started with my creative side hustle?”
There’s no one-size-fits-all instruction manual— it requires a lot of patience, experimentation, failure, and figuring it out along the way.
Hence the inspiration behind this 2 Part Series of How to Start & Scale Your Creative Side Hustle.
Many of these tips are interchangeable and overlap within different seasons of your creative hustle—it’s not necessarily a linear progression of each 12 steps in a row.
This is simply a framework to guide someone on a path that:
Overall, take what applies to you as everyone’s path is unique.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/247
Support for this episode comes from BuzzSumo.
Supercharge your side hustle content strategy today with a FREE 30-Day Trial.
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The majority of people listening to the podcast aim to become their own boss one day.
To do so takes years of failing, experimenting, developing systems, and finding what works.
It’s not supposed to be easy—but the struggle is hella rewarding when things begin to click.
Today’s guest—Jimmy Bryant of Atomic Child Design—is a nature-inspired artist/brand slanging millions in merch across the land.
To say Jimmy’s story of “Washing dishes for $10/hour to becoming his own boss and making a killing off selling his work” is inspiring doesn’t do it justice.
I think you’ll find it fascinating as well.
In today’s episode we talk shop on:
The Goal: To empower you with motivation and actionable steps for becoming your own boss one day.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH JIMMY
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/246
Support for this episode comes from BuzzSumo.
Supercharge your side hustle content strategy today with a FREE 30-Day Trial.
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Struggling to get started or taking the next steps in your professional freelance pursuits?
These tend to be the 4 biggest challenges holding back your sick gains:
In my opinion, these challenges are the behind-the-scenes work necessary to unlock your big breakthroughs and long-term success as a creative.
Today’s guest—James Martin of @Made.By.James—is a brand-by-hand-building juggernaut reigning in the UK.
He’s a wizard at showcasing his process within his content, which has helped him build client demand while educating his hungry, massive community (currently 220k+ on Instagram as of recording).
He’s also the author of his upcoming book: Your Honest Guide to Creativity and Logo Design.
In today’s episode we talk shop on:
The Goal: To provide you with the next steps of flipping the switch from hobbyist to professional and taking control of your business.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH JAMES
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective/245
Support for this episode comes from BuzzSumo.
Supercharge your side hustle content strategy today with a FREE 30-Day Trial.
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Fear, self-doubt, anxiety, creative ruts, and frustration are all a part of pursuing your creativity on your own terms.
It’s an undisclosed waiver you sign when you pour your time and energy into building toward the unknown.
Just know you’re not alone with your struggles, and trusting the process is worth it!
Today’s guest—Peggy Dean of The Pigeon Letters—is a self-taught artist, author, and educator impacting the masses with her crafty talents and brilliant business brain.
She’s been featured by and worked with some of the biggest brands in the game: NBC, Martha Stewart, Skillshare, Google, Vogue, and more.
What I respect the most is her focus on serving and empowering the creative community.
In today’s episode we talk shop on:
The Goal: To let you know you’re not alone with your fears and struggles as you build your creative biz brick by brick.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH PEGGY
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/244
Support for this episode comes from BuzzSumo.
Supercharge your side hustle content strategy today with a FREE 30-Day Trial.
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Whatever it is you want to pursue, a side hustle is a testing ground to make it happen.
You never know when all your weird quirks, interests, passions, and strengths will overlap into something far bigger than you imagined.
That seems to be the pattern with today’s guest—Peter Deltondo, Product Designer, Design Director, plus Partner with Unfold—a digital design agency crushing work for progressive industry-leading brands.
Peter also happens to be a crypto nerd and NFT collector like I am too.
It’s funny how these interests overlap with his work at Unfold and community-building through the Creative South Conference…
To create a one-of-a-kind, super hyped, but zero-shill, upcoming NFT project called Dronies.
In today’s episode we talk shop on:
The Goal: To show you how to take control of your future by combining passions and interests through the power of side hustles.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH PETER
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/243
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NFTs seem to be the rage these days…
I’m more experienced as a collector, and I’m obsessively learning and studying how others navigate their launches and collections to plan my NFT attack.
This is why I bring talented creators on the show who have found success in this space and are more qualified to speak on this topic.
Hence bringing back–for the third time–my brother, Eric “Efdot” Friedensohn, a wickedly talented illustrator, muralist, NFT artist, and educator in our creative community.
He’s worked with—as well has been featured by—Apple, Hypebeast, Topps, Coca-Cola, and Adobe.
He’s also found success as an NFT artist with his collections on the marketplaces Foundation, OpenSea, and Nifty Gateway.
In today’s episode we talk shop on:
The Goal: To spotlight the massive new opportunities for creatives now and on the horizon with actionable steps to get you started!
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH ERIC
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Looking to take the full-time creative leap one day?
It’s easier said than done, as most people only share the highlights of self-employment.
Yes, this is a recap, but it’s so much more than that.
If you want to pursue the side hustle to self-employed route…
Then this lesson-loaded Year 2 review will be both extremely beneficial and insightful.
Essentially, I’m sharing the ugly via an audio journal to document the lows behind the highs as a self-employed creative.
The Goal: To use my moments of stumbles to help position yourself as a professional who’s prepared to take the leap when your time comes.
So here are 9 Tips for Surviving and Thriving as a Self-Employed Creative (Year 2 | 2021 Recap)
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
If you were created to create, but you’re not creating…
Then, essentially, you must be passively existing and dying, right?
I want to chat about how creating is one major key I’ve found that unlocks:
It’s more than just creating art…
Here are the 5 Branches of Creating (I’m sure there’s more) to get the most juice from the squeeze out of your finite existence.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
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To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/240
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If your creative work isn’t fun, it just becomes another mundane, soul-sucking day job.
There’s gotta be a source of enthusiasm, energy, and borderline obsession for your craft to build a creative career around doing what you love long-term.
Today’s guest is a great example of how curiosity, experimentation, and play are compounding catalysts for big opportunities.
Tad Carpenter co-runs Carpenter Collective—a powerhouse design and branding studio—with his wickedly talented wife, Jessica.
They slay brand strategy, identities, illustrations, etc. for behemoths like MTV, Ray-Ban, Target, Macy’s, and more.
Tad’s also illustrated a gaggle of children’s books that have become staple reading material for my kiddos each night.
Not only do we nerd out over the power of personal projects, like his latest Sunday Suns book release... (Listen to the outro as I’m giving away 2 copies of his book!)
But we also talk shop on:
The Goal: To convince you to carve out time to create for yourself—you never know what big breaks it could lead to.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH TAD
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Why is pricing so damn difficult to wrap your mind around?
If you’re a beginner or even have been in the freelance game for a minute…
This pricing conversation is what I wish I learned when I first started freelancing.
Today’s guest—former rockstar student, Jasmine Holmes—is a 6-figure creative entrepreneur who crushes designs for clients…
Who also serves up powerful pricing mindset tips and resources for us hungry creatives.
In this episode, she so generously hooks up podcast listeners with a killer free tool—you’ll get that link during our convo, during the outro, and in the shownotes.
In this episode, we talk shop on value-based pricing formulas, how to charge your worth, setting privately hourly rates, and more.
The goal: To simplify the macro and micro game of pricing, so you can charge what you’re worth.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH JASMINE
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/238
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Ready to bet big on yourself and boost your social presence?
Today’s guest—Steven Mellor—is a powerhouse social media growth coach and marketing wizard with sage-like business acumen.
He thrives in helping grinders and hustlers like we are grow our personal brands and social followings organically—aka NO cold paid ad traffic.
In this episode, we talk shop on seasonal niching and pivoting, planning your day job escape, growing your social following, and more.
The goal: To light a fire under your biscuits to bet big on yourself and not give two shits what anyone else thinks.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH STEVEN
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
---
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/best-hits-122
---
We’re back with another BEST HITS special for you today as we dig into the archives to replay a listener fave you maybe haven’t heard yet!
Today, I’m resharing episode 122 featuring my design and illustration homie, Joshua Noom.
He has a killer story of taking his education into his own hands and exploding his creative career.
Taking his career by the horns led to him becoming a highly sought-after designer/illustrator working with a list of his dream clients.
This episode is going to give you permission to do things your own way and embrace your story and unique style.
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH JOSHUA
---
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
We’re picking back up where we left off with Part 2 of the Side Hustler’s Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Fall 2021 students.
(Go back and listen to Part 1 - Episode 236 first to follow the flow of the conversation!)
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is an intense 12-week boot camp where 8–10 creatives like yourself master the art:
The Fall 2021 students you’re going to love fall into 2 Groups…
Last week, part 1, featured Group 1:
This week, part 2, features Group 2:
This is a major commitment in terms of your time, energy, and yes, money...but the growth and mindset shift within your creative pursuits during the 12 weeks speaks for itself.
If you’re stuck in your own way and want to bet big on yourself, then you’re going to find a lot of gold in this 2-part series.
Wanna be a part of a future Fall or Spring program? Then join the A-List Waitlist at SideHustlersCoaching.com to get first dibs for an upcoming program.
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
---
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/236
---
We’re back for round 5 of a 2-Part Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Fall 2021 students.
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is an intense 12-week boot camp where 8–10 creatives like yourself master the art:
The Fall 2021 students you’re going to love fall into 2 Groups…
Today features Group 1:
Part 2, next week features Group 2:
This is a major commitment in terms of your time, energy, and yes, money...but the growth and mindset shift within your creative pursuits during 12 weeks speaks for itself.
If you’re stuck in your own way and want to bet big on yourself too, you’re going to find a lot of gold in this 2-part series.
Wanna be a part of a future Fall or Spring program? Then join the A-List Waitlist at SideHustlersCoaching.com to get first dibs for an upcoming program.
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
---
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Looking for your next big creative opportunity?
Betting on yourself, your creativity, and your future is scary AF.
You have to dive into the unknown without knowing the end outcome: that’s where opportunities and community live.
That’s the story of today’s guest—Justin Mezzell—a modern-day savant in the realms of illustration, digital art, UI/UX design, and copywriting.
He’s also one of the ring leaders and the artist behind the rapidly growing Grim Syndicate NFT community.
But it’s Justin’s story, perspective, empathy, humor, and drive that you’re going to love today. He’s carved out his own lane to success all outside of a full-time day job and being a family man to a wickedly supportive wife and 3 kiddos.
In this episode, we talk shop on opportunities for creators in the NFT space, community building, experimenting, crypto, and all-out focus for a season.
My goal with this episode is to show you how trusting the process and rooting your work in play will lead to your big break one day if you stick with it.
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH JUSTIN
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/ade-hogue-tribute
My brother, Broderick Adé Hogue, sadly passed away this Halloween weekend.
(There is a GoFundMe to help his family here.)
The creative community has been robbed from witnessing an up-and-coming juggernaut that was making a powerful dent in this world…
We’ve not only been robbed by his one-of-a-kind, industry-leading talent…
But by his presence and kind-hearted spirit.
My goal with this episode/blog post is to:
Rest easy my dude—keep inspiring the masses in your next life.
Love ya brother. 😭
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/234
Support for this episode comes from Adobe Max. Register here for free for their virtual, global creativity conference taking October 26th– 28th.
---
Is your creative work feeling like another mundane day job?
That’s how I’ve felt the past 2 years of being self-employed—my creative biz has become a grind.
Today, I want to share a bit of the shit storms I’ve been navigating this year, as I certainly don’t have it all figured out.
I’m hoping that being vulnerable and sharing what I’m learning about myself may reveal some of your own blind spots while you’re building your creative business.
Within this episode could be the missing link you’ve overlooked or abandoned to get you out of a funk.
The goal: Don’t forget how to play and work your life away…
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/233
Support for this episode comes from Adobe Max. Register here for free for their virtual, global creativity conference taking October 26th– 28th.
---
Looking for a proven strategy to land clients that feels like play?
This is the power of personal projects and the doors they can open.
That’s the story of today’s guest—Kiel (Keel) Mutschelknaus (Mut•chick•nouse)—a sorcerer of code, animation, motion graphics, and type.
He’s the wizard behind the Space Type Generator, a personal project that’s helped land him big-name clients like the New York Times, MIT Tech Review, Wall Street Journal, and Apple.
What fascinates me the most is that he has built this success all outside his teaching day job and being a family man to three little nuggets at home.
In this episode, we talk shop on niching down and hiring yourself for a season, focusing on play over making cheddar, showing the work you want, and more.
My goal with this episode is to show how building personal projects around your strange and weird interests are the key to attracting big opportunities.
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH KIEL
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/232
---
Looking for new opportunities to get more reach with your art and design?
I’d like to introduce you to the new and exciting space of NFT’s (aka Non-Fungible Tokens).
Today’s guest—Artist/Illustrator Bert of Musketon—is one of those artists I’ve been watching, and I wanted to bring him in to share his experience so we can get ahead of what’s to come.
Through Bert’s insane attention to detail, his witty/comic relief approach to global/difficult topics, and usage of dynamic color palettes, texture, and depth…
All of this combined has helped him amass a large following with big reach on Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, and YouTube.
Creating consistently and building communities through these platforms has helped him explode onto the NFT art scene this year.
In this episode, we talk shop on rooting your work in play, building your brand, and keeping your radar on the new wave of NFT’s, and more.
My goal is to educate you and provide hope for new opportunities in a digital-collecting realm focused on creators. (That way you can jump on early and get a piece of the pie.)
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH MUSKETON
---
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/best-hits-184
---
We’re back with another BEST HITS special for you today that’s all about making money!
As always, every 7th week, I take a mental health break to recharge the batteries—as well as dig into the archives to replay a listener fave you maybe haven’t heard yet!
Today, I’m resharing episode 184 where I dish out 30+ ways that you can make extra side hustle money!
I break down both quick and mid-to-long-term options that you can act on with or without your creativity.
The goal is to help you:
This episode is also formatted as a blog post that I’ve slowly added more ideas to over time.
👉 Read the full blog post episode shownotes here. 👈
Stack this episode with a more recent 3 Part Side Hustle to Main Hustle Series (Episodes 225, 226, and 227) for max motivation and action steps!
If you have an idea to add after listening, just hit me up in my IG DM’s!
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
---
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/231
---
Struggling to see progress and stay creative during these uncertain times?
We can take advantage of a lot of opportunities buried within the shit storms of life.
Today’s guests are no strangers to making moves despite the chaos.
We’re back for Round 2 featuring my creative collective of bearded brothers: Jason Craig, Josh “Grizzly” Wheeler, and Matt Dawson.
In this episode, we talk shop on keeping the creative spark alive during uncertain times, breeding a professional mindset, leveraging day jobs, and more.
My goal with this episode is to emphasize there are always opportunities to unlock new levels if you stay in the game.
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH GRIZZLY, MATT, AND JASON
---
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/230
---
Does the thought of creating a six-figure creative biz feel extremely out of reach?
Today’s guest has paid his dues to tap into incredible, lucrative results with his creative business.
I’m talking about my brother Austin Saylor, a full-time lettering animation/motion graphic artist operating under the name Full Harbor.
His story and determination will definitely light a fire under your biscuits to play the long game versus seeking overnight shortcuts.
Today, we discuss his journey of making $200k this year as a freelance motion artist and 4 big tips on how he’s accomplishing it.
We also talk shop on niching down, normalizing money talk, and playing the slow and steady grind.
My goal with this episode is to get you think bigger, take action, and improve your relationship with money.
---
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH AUSTIN SAYLOR
---
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/229
Support for this episode comes from Adobe Max.
Register here for free for their virtual, global creativity conference taking October 26th - 28th.
There’s no one specific career path that leads to creative success…
HOWEVER, if you’re sold on chasing the freelance and/or merch path, then you might as well learn from some of the best...
As today’s guests knock out work for both small and big brands while also crushing the merch/product game.
I’m talking about Jen and Amy Hood of Hoodzpah Design and Joshua Ariza of Chomp...or the 3 Hood Triplets as some may call this terrific trio.
Today’s format is a Q&A ripped from Twitter questions submitted by creatives like you.
We talk shop on carving out time to play, creating merch, working with small-to-large clients, and more!
My goal with this episode is to prove that there’s room for everyone at the table as you carve out your own unique path.
CHOMP PROMO: Listeners can use code PERSPECTIVE at checkout for 20% off some fresh Chomp drip!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH HOODZPAH + CHOMP
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/228
Struggling to gain traction as you obsess over likes, followers, money, and clients?
What if personal development, mindset, and habits are the keys to attaining the results you’re seeking?
Today’s guest, Jeremy Mura, has put a huge focus on doing the internal work at an early age—and because of that—he’s experiencing the external results many of us dream of living out.
He’s a full-time brand designer + strategist who’s collaborated with brands like American Express and Skillshare.
He also educates and creates resources for thousands of creatives worldwide through his digital products, courses, and Mura Academy.
In today’s episode, we share the power of personal development, tips for consistency, creating multiple income streams, and more.
My goal with this episode is to spotlight the importance of first doing the internal work before getting wrapped up in the external results.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH JEREMY
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/227
---
It’s time to close up shop on this 3-Part Side Hustle to Main Hustle Series.
We’re picking back up from Pt. 2 and the simple 5-step system for getting your money right:
I want to stress the importance of getting out of debt first and controlling your money habits in Pt. 2 before you set your sights on what we discuss in Pt. 3.
Today, we’ll tackle steps 4 and 5 and get started with saving and investing.
My goal for this episode is to plant some seeds to attain time and financial freedom and begin to build generational wealth.
Money isn’t everything, but it’s a powerful tool that can change the game for you and your family's future family!
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
Ep 225: Side Hustle to Main Hustle Pt. 1
Ep 226: Side Hustle to Main Hustle Pt. 2
Ep 184: 30+ Ways to Make Side Hustle Money
Book: I Will Teach You to Be Rich
Book: The Simple Path to Wealth
Book: You’re a Badass at Making Money
Join the Side Hustler’s Coaching Waitlist
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/226
---
Is your poor relationship with money holding your dreams hostage?
Last week, we kicked off this 3-Part Side Hustle to Main Hustle Series.
Part 1 (Ep 225) focused on rewiring your mind to win, make bold decisions, and take action.
In Part 2 (Ep 226) and 3 (Ep 227), we set you up for financial success with a 5-step system:
Today, we will focus specifically on getting started with budgeting, spending, and getting out of debt.
These areas will radically impact your side hustle pursuits and your dreams of making the full-time leap one day like they’ve done for me.
My goal with this is to help you get control of your money and use it as a tool to create your future side hustle freedom.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/side-hustlers-perspective/225
---
Struggling to make gains with your creative side hustle?
Chances are you’ve skipped the major first step that long-term success is built on...
We’re entering a new season of this show (Side Hustler’s Perspective Podcast) where my mission is to put you in a position to turn your side hustle into your main hustle outside your day job, family, and life responsibilities.
Today, we kick off a 3-Part Side Hustle to Main Hustle Series. I’ll break down my journey as well as the mindset and money practices I’ve put into place to turn my side hustle into my main hustle (and HOW you can do it too).
Part 1 focuses on rewiring your mind to win, make bold decisions, and take action.
Part 2 focuses on getting control of your money.
Part 3 focuses on putting you in a position to attain financial freedom.
Today will specifically highlight how the future success of yourself, your business, and your net worth all depend on the level of investment you make in your personal development.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Need a heavy dose of inspiration for a mid-week boost?
We’re back with another BEST HITS special for you today.
As always, every 7th week, I take a mental health break to recharge the batteries, as well as dig into the archives to replay a listener fave you maybe haven’t heard yet!
Today, I’m resharing episode 82 featuring spoken word behemoth Jason Petty of Propaganda (AKA Prop Hip Hop).
Not only is he an incredible lyricist, but he also has a brilliant mind and knows how to make an impact with his words far beyond music.
He’s the Host of The Hood Politics Podcast and recent author of the Book: Terraform: Building a Better World.
You’re definitely going to be fired up and a fan of Prop after listening to us talk shop.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH PROP
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/224
Feeling like the only way to gain clout is to be a successfully self-employed creative?
I’m here to dispel the bullshit and show you examples of people crushing it in the industry AND proudly slaying a 9–5 as well.
That’s what you can expect from today’s guest, Sam Bledsoe, who throws down under the alias of Samborghini.
Sam clocks in at his day job at Universal Music Group knocking out dope tee designs for some of the biggest artists in the music industry like Migos, Pop Smoke, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, and more.
On the side, his personal work is being slung all over the US in Tillys, Zumiez, and PacSun.
He’s also co-founder of KernClub, a type foundry that consistently kicks out fresh fonts to spice up your design work.
In today’s episode, we share side hustle tips for making shareable work, building routines, managing your time, making merch and fonts, and more.
With this episode, I’m here to prove you can make big waves with your personal work outside a day job.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH SAMBORGHINI
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/223
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I’ve learned over the years that my No.1 culprit for anxiety, stress, and burnout is...
DOING TOO MUCH.
For years, I've always felt like I had to do ALL the things ALL the time.
This stemmed from feeling like I got a late start, and/or I wasn’t doing enough compared to everyone I looked up to.
I saw quick growth early on by saying YES to everything...
But then it led to some seriously defeating plateaus.
I want to share today how I’ve been able to constantly get myself “unstuck” over the years.
It’s all about my daily mindset and motto that’s helped me explode my once-hobby and side hustle into a full-time dream job.
The goal of this episode is to show you how to reduce the overwhelm and increase your focus, so you can experience more results.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/222
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Looking for actionable ways to improve your wellness while simultaneously growing your creative biz?
Today’s guest is on a mission to help us become more physically fit, so we can become more creatively fit.
I’m stoked to bring on the show today my Nutrition and Training Coach, Aaron Straker of Straker Nutrition Co.
He’s a Digital Nomad who is growing his popular Metabolic Protocol Program and Eat. Train. Prosper. Podcast
In today’s episode, we talk about the power of investing in yourself, as well as talking shop on boosting appearance, mood, productivity, and more!
My goal is to inspire you to start putting your wellness and self-care first, so you can reap the rewards in the creative (and confidence) department.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH AARON
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/221
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Struggling to flip on the creative business switch to scale your business and make more profit?
Today’s guests, Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo of Loomier, help artists take the fear out of business.
They’ve created a one-stop-shop with helpful tools, courses, resources, and community to put you in a position to crush your creative biz.
Katie and Ilana still grind on the side doing freelance and licensing while selling their own product lines and resources that brings in that appealing passive income.
In today’s episode, we talk shop on the basics of licensing, repurposing your work, getting good at selling, and more!
The goal of this episode is to help you become more profitable with your creative craft!
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH LOOMIER
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/220
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One of the hardest pills for me to swallow while playing this creative game is this:
Not everyone will love you OR your work…
(Maybe you’re one of the lucky souls whom this shit doesn’t bother.)
But, if you’re a recovering people-pleaser like I am, it’s a hard truth that takes time to embrace.
Hence why my forever motto is, “You can’t make everyone happy, you’re not pizza!”
In today’s episode, I'm going to break down why it’s GOOD for people to unfollow you (or unsubscribe).
That way, you’re in a better mindset to embrace it and use it as a springboard to take your creative pursuits to the next level—where your foundation is solely built on producing and sharing work that’s true to your core.
I’ll also share some of my biggest lessons learned on how to shift this into a more positive and productive perspective.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/219
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Stressing out because you haven’t figured out how to grow your hobby into a profitable side hustle?
Kill the pressure and give yourself a break—it takes time to find your groove.
Today’s guest took her sweet time to find her groove, too. Karen Nguyen of the Sweet Afternoon Bake Shop has patiently scaled her baking hobby into a profitable side hustle (while growing a large following around it).
She’s known for dishing out desserts on the daily and treating Canadians to tasty treat boxes.
In today’s episode, Karen goes deep on how to slowly monetize your side hustle, create and repurpose content, manage your time more effectively, and more!
If you’re ready to take the next steps to taking yourself seriously and scaling your side hustle, you’re going to eat this one up.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH KAREN
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
We’re back with another BEST HITS special for you today.
As always, every 7th week, I take a mental health break to recharge the batteries, as well as dig into the archives to replay a listener fave you may have never heard!
Today, I’m resharing episode 117 featuring the James Freakin’ Victore.
This dude brings an absurd amount of bold, tough love and extremely empowering energy to the table.
Your earholes and heart will be grateful after listening.
We’re back next week to feature my homegirl Karen Nyguen of Sweet Afternoon Baked Goods!
Stay tuned and let’s get into this banger featuring James Victore.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH JAMES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Does trying to price your creative work stress you out?
What if there was a way to simplify the game, especially in terms of usage, rights, and licensing?
We have the Magnificent Maggie Enterrios of the Lovely LittlePatterns back on our show today.
She’s been a hired weapon for clients like Drake, Apple, Alpro, and for alcohol, beauty, and food-related brands seeking her proprietary botanical illustration skills.
In today’s episode, Maggie goes deep on how to price your illustration work, usage rights, negotiating, and more.
If you’re ready to step your game up, communicate your value, and charge what you're worth, then you’re going to love this one.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH MAGGIE
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
I’ve learned in my 11-ish years of grinding on the side post-college there is no “one-size-fits-all” creative career path.
I used to try and follow in my idol’s footsteps the realms of art, design, podcasting, speaking, etc.
However, following someone else’s path only made me feel like an unfulfilled and unsuccessful version 2.0 of them.
Instead, I decided to bet on myself and do things my way OUTSIDE a day job, family, and life responsibilities.
That’s what blazing your own path is all about:
My goal with this episode is to put you in a position to do your thing full-time one day.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Struggling to get people to care about you, your work, and your vision?
Today, we have a previous guest back: my brother Tom Ross, CEO of Design Cuts, and Co-Host of The Honest Designers and Biz Buds podcast.
He’s a marketing wizard who helps entrepreneurs (and even creatives like you and I am) build engaged communities!
In today’s episode, Tom drops a TON of helpful/tactical info on defining your audience, getting people to care, creating super fans, and more!
If you’re ready to flip on the marketing switch and build an engaged community around what you do, then this one you’ll wanna listen to this one TWICE.
DOWNLOAD THE COMMUNITY MANUAL
If you want to support Tom and go deeper on what he shared today, go and grab his book for FREE here: http://communitymanual.com/
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH TOM
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Struggling to gain traction on social media?
If you want to inject a spark into your work, you’ll love today’s guest, Allan Peters of Peters Design Co.
He’s worked with major brands like Nike, Star Wars, Dream Works, ESPN, and Patagonia while being recognized by design behemoths like Communication Arts and How Magazine.
In today’s episode, Allan and I talk shop on:
You’re going to want to take notes AND listen twice!
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH ALLAN
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/214
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Consistent Action Over Time = Big Results
We’re back for round 4 of a back-to-back Side Hustler’s Student Spotlight Special featuring my Spring 2021 students.
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is an intense 12-week boot camp where 12 creatives like yourself master the art:
The Spring 2021 students you’re going to fall in love with are:
This is a big commitment of time, energy, and yes, money...but the growth and mindset shifts students experience in their creative pursuits speak for themselves.
If you’re tired of playing it safe and ready to take consistent, uncomfortable action, then you’re going to dig this 2-part series.
Wanna be a part of a future Fall or Spring program? Then join the A-List Waitlist at SideHustlersCoaching.com to get first dibs for an upcoming program.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/213
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We’re back for round 4 of a back-to-back Side Hustler’s Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Spring 2021 students.
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is an intense 12-week boot camp where 12 creatives like yourself master the art:
The Spring 2021 students you’re going to fall in love with are:
This is a big commitment of time, energy, and yes, money...but the growth and mindset shifts students experience in their creative pursuits speak for themselves.
If you’re tired of playing it safe and ready to take consistent, uncomfortable action, then you’re going to dig this 2-part series.
Wanna be a part of a future Fall or Spring program? Then join the A-List Waitlist at SideHustlersCoaching.com to get first dibs for an upcoming program.
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RESOURCES & REFERENCES
Fall 2021 Program Dates - Sept. 5th - Dec. 13th
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
We have another BEST HITS episode for you today.
Every 7th week, I take a little mental health break to recharge the batteries.
Today, I’m resharing episode 116 featuring the Magnificent Maggie Enterrios of the Lovely LittlePatterns.
To date, this one easily ranks as one of the top 3 most shared episodes...that’s because Maggie is a rockstar and packs an absurd amount of McValue Nuggets for freelancing artists and designers.
We’re back the next 2 weeks with a 2-Part Side Hustler’s Coaching Student Spotlight followed up by Allan Peters of Peters Design Co!
We’re getting sprung as we end spring with tons of gold.
Stay tuned and let’s get into this banger featuring Maggie of LittlePatterns.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH MAGGIE
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Today’s guest, Belinda Kou, took control of her destiny early on and turned her interests in lettering into a full-time creative business…
She built her lettering business all outside a day job while being a rad mom to two kiddos.
Not only has she done work for big brands like NPR, Coach, Trader Joe’s, and Washington Post, but her educational content is quickly building a hyper-engaged and hella-hungry community.
Belinda shares tips for preparing yourself for the full-time leap, managing your time effectively, creating your content strategy, and more in today’s episode.
If you’re looking for a heavy dose of inspiration to start taking yourself and your work more seriously, this episode will give you the fix you need!
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Today’s guest, Michael Fugoso “AKA Fugstrator,” epitomizes everything I preach in terms of leveraging a day job to fuel the dream job.
He’s freelanced with behemoths like Space X, Nasa, and Boeing (to name a few).
However, while he went BACK to working a day job, he’s still finding his side hustle groove and focusing on educational content for the Fugstrator brand.
You can take his Digital Illustration: Paper Pop-Up Style Skillshare class here.
In today’s episode, Mike and I talk shop about how full-time freelance is over-glorified, the pressures of social media, quantity leading to quality, and more!
If you need some validation and encouragement to leverage your day job to chase your dream job, this episode was made for you.
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Today’s special episode is all about motivating yourself.
I’m hella humbled and extra jolly to bring back Jason Craig, Grizzly Wheeler, and Matt Dawson—all on one episode.
These are some of the most driven, talented, and down-to-earth humans I know.
In today’s episode, we’re going deep on:
If you need to light a fire under your biscuits and have someone keep shit real and shoot it straight, you’re going to dig this one.
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FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/209
---
I’m in the seed planting business.
(And, no, I don’t mean that I’m literally out here slangin’ sacks of seeds on corners.)
I’m planting seeds in the content I create and in the mindset I plant in my students.
As the episode artwork states: You don’t reap the rewards the day you plant the seed.
Today, I’m going to convince you to join me and my students in the seed planting business.
It’s about mastering the mindset of:
Let’s plant some seeds, shall we?
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https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/208
Today’s guests have built boomin’ empires both solo and together by creating side projects outside their day jobs.
I’m talking about Femke van Schoonoven and Charli Prangley who make waves in the digital world of design, marketing, and education.
When they’re not crushing their day jobs, they’re building engaged communities via their solo Twitters, YouTube Channels, and notable podcast: Design Life.
In today’s episode, Femke, Charli, and I chat about leveraging side projects outside a day job and how to scale those projects with consistency.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and looking for a sign that you’re on the right path, then we got you covered like a blanket today.
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----
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We welcome Becca Courtice of The Happy Ever Crafter back to the show today.
She’s been building her calligraphy and lettering empire over the years by way of education, digital products, community building, client work, and marketing.
Becca is a beast in the social media world. She’s amassed audience totals of over 200k on both Youtube and Instagram, almost 100k as of recording on TikTok, plus a large, engaged community on Facebook.
In today's episode, Becca and I chat about simplifying pricing for creatives, making the mindset shift from hobby to creative biz, communicating your value, and more.
She also has a killer free webinar you can attend if you’re craving more.
If you’re ready to turn pro, monetize your creative talents, and take yourself more seriously, this episode was made for you.
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----
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Chris’s mission is to empower creatives to make money doing what we love without selling our souls through his educational platform called The Futur. You’ll find a goldmine of business, design, and inspirational resources to help you thrive on your creative grind (he’ll tell you more about this and where you can get more info on your own, after this episode of course).
The content he and his team have dished out has amassed a global, loyal, and engaged tribe of over 600k on YouTube, 140k on The Futur’s IG, almost 200k on his personal IG, and 100k on Facebook.
Do a few hand exercises to loosen up so you can rack up your notes because we diving deep on topics like:
This episode is so much bigger than design, branding, increasing your rates, etc.
This one is the epitome of why it’s called the Perspective Podcast because Chris is going to:
Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/206
---
Do you ever feel like:
If so, you, my friend, are dealing with Imposter Syndrome…but you’re not alone.
This show has always been a form of journaling where I can work through shit I’m dealing with.
I always want to peel back the curtain and vulnerably share the season I’m in.
My hopes are to timestamp this moment and show you that EVERYONE second guesses themselves.
I’m also going to bake in some light bulb lessons, tips, and tactics I’ve learned to leverage these phases of imposter syndrome.
I want you to finish this one seeing Imposter Syndrome as:
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To view the full episode show notes, visit:
https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/205
---
Today’s guest, my good friend Eric Friedensohn, AKA Efdot, has blazed his own creative path over the years.
He’s a Brooklyn-based muralist, educator, merch slanger, fine artist, skateboarding savant, and freelancing wizard who’s collabed with big baller brands like Topps, Vayner Media, Pat Flynn, Skillshare, ConvertKit, and more!
More importantly, he’s a critical thinker and incredibly supportive friend.
In today’s episode, Eric talks shop on creating value with your work, getting started selling your work, and more.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and looking for a sign that you’re on the right path, then we got you covered like a blanket with this one.
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----
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FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/204
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
We all know the story of the Turtle and the Hare, right?
But I want you to remember, more specifically, how the Turtle took his sweet ass time and still won the race.
Today, I’m here to convince you to embrace your inner turtle. I’m sharing 3 benefits of taking the slow and steady turtle pace along your creative path.
Then I’ll top off this turtle sundae with some bonus tips. That way, we can hasten your pace to more quickly reach the end of your race.
So get out of your shell, and get ready to soak up these 3 Benefits of a Slow and Steady Turtle Grind.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
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FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/203
SPONSOR
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today’s guest, Ben Jenkins of One Fast Buffalo and Warstic has done a lot of things over his career.
But he went from playing professional baseball as his bread and butter to building brand identities in the beverage, hospitality, and outdoors.
He has a pretty wild story, and there’s a lot of nuggets tucked away that you can apply to your creative grind.
In today’s episode, Ben goes deep on turning your side hustle into your main hustle, having patience, having work-life alignment, and more.
If you’re ready to stop asking for permission and start planting seeds you wish to reap on your own terms, then you’re going to vibe to this one.
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----
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Today’s guest is my new creative brother from another artistic mother, Mikey McKennedy of Boss Dogg Art Department.
Mikey, and his partner-in-crime, Sam, are an independently owned and operated artist brand slanging some of the most incredible artwork plastered on the best merch in the universe.
When they’re not partnering with behemoths like Zumiez, they’re creating one-of-a-kind designs that are sure to inspire you to start living a life that’s true to yourself.
In today’s episode, Mikey goes deep on setting up a plan to escape the 9-5, pouring yourself in your brand, selling merch, and more!
If you’re ready to embrace yourself in your brand to make an impact work that feels like play, then you’re going to dig this one.
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----
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If your social media game is boring, and your audience growth and engagement is basically non-existent...then we have on the perfect guest for you.
We have the insanely talented, introverted, cat-and-coffee loving lettering queen Elizabeth Gray of @TheGrayterGood on the show today to share her story. She’ll also blow your mind with her unique approach to building her online empire with a following of approximately 150k when this was recorded.
Today Elizabeth and I break down:
If you’re ready to dig deep into embracing and showing your true self in your work to attract like-minded souls in your tribe, then this episode was put into the universe for you.
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----
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FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/201
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today’s guest owns the choice of living through love and not fear. He’s laser-focused on making an impact through spreading the message of love through art.
We welcome Ruben Rojas back to the show today. He’s a creative jock, fine artist, muralist, and a master slanger of motivational merch. He’s partnered with the likes of BMW, Reebok, Taco Bell, Anheuser-Busch, and more.
In today’s episode, Ruben goes deep on the importance of being you in your brand, navigating haters, selling merch, and more.
We also talk about his latest book: Living Through Love….which I’m giving away a copy to one lucky listener who simply shares this episode!
Tired of playing it safe and ready to make an impact with your work? Then you’re going to dig this one.
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----
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FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/200
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
Thanks for vibin’ with me over the past 200 episodic adventures. Let’s celebrate with a monumental audio experience with today’s guest...
We welcome today, the new homie, Don of Invisible Creature, on the show.
He and his brother Ryan are backed by 4 Grammy nominations for packaging and have long list of big-name clients like Nasa, Lego, MTV, Xbox, Nike, and more.
Their toys and products are showcased major retail stores, and they’ve designed album art for some of the biggest musicians in the world.
In this episode, Invisible Creature talks about creating what you want to see, the evolution of your style/voice, creating toys, and their latest book, Face the Music: 20 Years of Album Art.
If you’re ready to say yes to hiring yourself to create the type of work you want to create, then this episode was crafted specifically for you.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH MORNING BREATH
----
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FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/199
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
Today’s guests, Doug and Jason of Morning Breath, own the print design game out of Brooklyn, New York.
When they’re not slaying work for brands like Stussy, Nike, Vans, Pepsi, and Adidas (to name a few), they’re bringing their ideas to life by throwing down on personal projects...which lands them more big projects.
Today, Morning Breath and I chat about:
If you’re a fan of old school vibes with a new wave twist, then you’re going to dig this.
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----
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FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/198
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
Who doesn’t want that massive, cult-like celebrity following, right?
The old me dreamed of fame. The new me, if I’m being honest, is more like 23.3% “I want it” and 76.7% “Not at all.”
I’m more focused on building super-engaged small-to-medium-sized communities.
To grow one, it literally takes attracting ONE person at a time.
As we wrap up Part 3 of this Community Building Series, I’m giving you 3 questions to ask yourself for finding the RIGHT person that your work is PERFECT for.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
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CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/197
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
Do you consistently share anything and everything, but people don’t seem to notice?
It’s hella easy to feel frustrated and defeated trying to get people to care about what you’re doing.
However, there’s one little secret I learned that radically shifted the way I create and share on social media.
That’s what today’s episode and part 2 in this Community Building Series is all about—leveraging the 3 Buckets of Value to start getting people to care about what you’re doing.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/196
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
Tired of feeling isolated and want a support system of people who care about you and your work?
Then you, my friend, are seeking to build an engaged community around you.
That’s why we’re kicking off a 3-Part Building an Engaged Community Series.
This series will:
Let me show you how your community can be your most powerful asset like it has been for me.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/195
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
Being self-employed is super dope, but it’s also over-glorified and insanely hard.
To be honest, most people aren’t cut out for it...and that’s okay!
That’s why, today, I want to recap the top lessons I’ve learned in my first year of doing Perspective-Collective full-time.
I’m going to keep this super raw and hella transparent—while, at the same time, planting seeds of hope and actions for you to slowly implement over time.
That way, you can take the necessary steps to prepare for this venture if that’s what you want to pursue.
So here are my top 11 Lessons to Survive & Thrive as a Self-Employed Creative.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOW NOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/best-hits-123
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
When you’re on your creative grind, it’s important to get your hands dirty, make mistakes, and get lost in your work. This helps you develop your style, find your voice, and carve your niche. That, in turn, attracts commissions and people to your artistic mission and vision.
Jon Contino is someone who’s been doing cool shit before it was cool and unapologetically pours themselves into their work.
He’s a designer, letterer, illustrator, and branding sorcerer hailing from New York who conjures up dope work for massive brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and AT&T through his Contino Studio Agency.
Today, Jon and I peel back the layers of:
If you need a boost to go the extra mile in showing your true self in your work, then this episode was made for you.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH JON
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOW NOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/194
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
Today’s guest is an expert in generating passive income off digital products and wants to help empower you to make it happen too.
We welcome Molly Jacques back on the show today. She’s made a name for herself in the commercial art/design world creating work for clients like Target, Nike, The New York Times, and Disney.
She’s made some significant shifts in her business to focus on helping creatives like you and me make good money creating digital products that make an impact on others.
In today’s episode, Molly and I cover:
If you’re ready to break the starving artist mentality and turn on the marketing/biz switch, then this episode is for you.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH MOLLY
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/193
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
Today’s guest is my brother Josh, AKA Grizzly Wheeler.
He’s crushing the screen printing game, and he’s the creative connect for big names slanging merch in our industry.
You’ve most likely seen him in your feed through your favorite artist’s posts of their new patches, pins, and screen printed goods.
How has he put himself in this position? It’s all about the grind.
In today’s episode, Grizzly and I cover:
If you’re ready to risk it for the biscuit and shoot your shot, then this episode is for you.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH GRIZZLY
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/192
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
---
The homie Winston Churchill stated, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
Today’s guest could’ve quit, and no one would’ve blamed her. Then again, she wouldn’t be able to bask in the spotlight that she lives in today.
I’m talking about my new friend and family of the podcast, Maddie Poppe. You may know her as American Idol’s Season 16’s winner.
Not only is she an insanely talented singer and performer, but she still carries that approachable, down-to-earth, small-town Iowa vibe that makes her a fan favorite.
In today’s episode, Maddie and I cover:
If you’re ready to accept that location doesn’t matter and you can chase what you want on your own terms, then you’re going to dig this episode.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH MADDIE
----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
FULL SHOWNOTES
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/191
SPONSOR
Visit https://garmcompany.com/scotty and use code Pizza20 to take 20% off their premium textures, brushes, fonts, and courses. This even works on SALE items!
-----
If there’s something you want to do in life, then do that shit.
The beauty of having a job that covers your expenses is that it frees you up to pursue what you want on the side.
Today’s guest, Emir Ayouni, is a prime example of someone who doesn’t make excuses and relentlessly makes the time to grind on his creative dream.
Not only is he one-third of the power trio, The Forefathers Group, but he’s the mastermind behind G.A.R.M. Company: a newly opened boutique-style shop for designer tools, resources, and goods crafted together with some of the most talented designers in the business.
In today’s episode, Emir and I cover:
If you’re tired of settling and ready to make time to grind on what you want, then this episode is for you.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH EMIR
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/190
-----
We’re picking back up where we left off with Part 2 of the Side Hustler’s Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Fall 2020 students.
I suggest hitting pause and going back to Part 1 to catch the program overview, action items, insights, and overall flow of the full convo.
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is an intense 12-week boot camp where 12 creatives like yourself master the art:
The Fall 2020 students you’re going to fall in love with are:
Today’s episode is a recording from one of our weekly, intense 3-hour Hot Seat calls broken into a 2-part series.
If you’re feeling stuck and isolated trying to figure out the next steps you need to take, I know you’re going to find a ton of valuable takeaways tucked in this one.
If you feel like this is something you want you to be a part of, sign up for the coaching A-List Waitlist at SideHustlersCoaching.com for details on the upcoming Spring 2021 fourth installment.
RESOURCE & REFERENCES
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/189
-----
We’re back for round 3 of a back-to-back Side Hustler’s Student Spotlight Special featuring my current Fall 2020 students.
The Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is an intense 12-week boot camp where 12 creatives like yourself master the art:
The Fall 2020 students you’re going to fall in love with are:
Today’s episode is a recording from one of our weekly, intense 3-hour Hot Seat calls broken into a 2-part series.
If you’re feeling stuck and isolated trying to figure out the next steps you need to take, I know you’re going to find a ton of valuable takeaways tucked in this one.
If you feel like this is something you want you to be a part of, sign up for the coaching A-List Waitlist at SideHustlersCoaching.com for details on the upcoming Spring 2021 fourth installment.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Download your FREE Engaged Community Guide here.
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/best-hits-153
-----
Lisa Congdon was a late bloomer to the game but has used that as her advantage.
She's transformed into a profound illustrator, author, and speaker.
She whips up whimsical and vibrant art for top tier brands like Crate and Barrel, Facebook, Sonos, Lululemon, and more from her stomping grounds of Portland, OR.
Sure, she wins awards and crushes work for big-time names, but the two things I admire the most are:
Relax and take notes as Lisa is going to unload some serious knowledge on you like:
Today’s episode is a permission slip to stop playing it small with your creative pursuits and uncomfortably step into your next version of creative genius.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH LISA
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Download your FREE Engaged Community Guide here.
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/188
-----
FACT: No one is going to make it happen for you.
Today’s guest, Aaron Draplin of Draplin Design Co., has built an empire of consistently showing up and doing the work.
He needs no formal introductions, because for a hot minute now, he’s cemented himself as a creative industry juggernaut wielding a big old burly beard of fire and fury.
In today’s episode, Draplin and I go deep on:
If you’re ready to avoid instant gratification, put in the work, and have some fun with your creative pursuits, then this one is for you.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH DRAPLIN
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/187
-----
Today’s guests, Jeremy and Jordan Coon of Brethren Design Co., know what the slow and steady grind looks like, and the results speak for themselves.
They’re side-hustling brothers slanging bold type, illustrations, and branding that lives up to their motto: Design That Smokes.
In their first two years of business, they’ve already collabed with names like Adobe, Guy Fieri, Slice Beer Co., and Julian Edelman!
And...the icing on the cake...they’re building their empire OUTSIDE of their day jobs!
In this episode, Jeremy, Jordan, and I go deep on:
If you’re tired of playing it safe and want to make shit happen with your creative pursuits, then you’re gonna find a lot of gold in this episode!
BONUS: Save 20% off any BDC font purchase using the code PIZZABAGELS thru 10/11.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH BDC
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/186
-----
Today’s guest, KiriLeigh Jones, isn’t afraid to share her work nor flex her talent on anything that can become a canvas.
She’s a creative free spirit who spreads good vibes throughout the world with her vibrant and hella detailed masterpieces.
When she’s not making a statement painting insane murals, she’s drawing or painting on shoes, skate decks, human body parts, bikes, or pretty much whatever she can get her hands on.
In this episode, Kiri and I go deep on:
If you’re interested in painting murals or just expressing your creativity on a bigger level, then you’re going to dig the energy Kiri brings to this one.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH IAN
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/185
-----
Ian Paget of Logo Geek believes in shooting your shot and dying with no regrets.
He pursued his interests, built his brand reputation, and elevated his craft over the years to the point where he’s a household name in the world of logo design.
He has a fascinating story of how he grew his side hustle into his full-time dream job of logo design while simultaneously growing a Twitter community of ~100k and a Facebook family of ~10k around it.
In this episode, Ian and I go deep on:
If you’re ready to get started or take the next step in your side hustle pursuits, you’re going to find a lot of gold in this one today.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH IAN
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/184
-----
Looking for ways to generate extra side income to build up your savings or attack debt, so you can take the full-time grind leap one day?
Today, we’re breaking down both fast AND mid-to-long term money-making ideas to generate cash both creatively AND non-creatively.
That way, you can invest in your personal growth and development AS WELL as putting yourself in a position to possibly make the leap to doing your thing full-time one day.
Bonus: At the end of the episode, I also toss in some Smart Money Moves to help you take control of your finances.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
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PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
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CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/183
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Monetizing something from the jump can easily suffocate the joy from the process of play.
Today’s guest, Donna Adi, gave herself permission to play. This sparked incredible success for her and set the tone for a highly desired new art style.
She’s an insanely talented artist and storyteller who combines vibrant illustrations with lifestyle and fashion photography.
What started off as a hobby has led to her flexing her unique style with major brands like Puma, Google, Michael Kors, and Nike.
In this episode, Donna and I go deep on:
If you’re ready to focus on doing YOU vs. worrying about what everyone else is doing, then this episode was made for you.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
CONNECT WITH DONNA
-----
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FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven framework that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
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CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/182
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Part 1/3 of The Blaze Your Own Path Series was all about getting started, believing it’s possible, and breaking away from the lie you’ve been sold.
Part 2/3 was about investing in yourself and finding what works best for you vs. mimicking your idol’s footsteps.
We close the series with Part 3/3 which focuses on breeding a pro mindset and taking massive, uncomfortable action.
The goal of this episode is to empower you to:
- Eliminate victim mentality
- Gain a mental edge and taking initiative in life
- Take yourself and your work more seriously
No one is going to make your creative dream happen for you.
Keep your eyes on the prize, be persistent, and stay in the game—your breakthroughs will come.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
RETRO SUPPLY - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
DESIGN CUTS - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/181
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Last week, Part 1 of this series was all about getting started and believing that whatever you want to accomplish creatively is possible for you.
You gave yourself permission to explore the early stages of your creative dream WITHOUT trying to monetize it right from the jump.
In Part 2, we’re laying the foundation for how you intentionally and authentically show up as yourself in your work.
We do this by:
Part 3 next week closes the series with how to attain a pro mindset while taking massive, uncomfortable action.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
RETRO SUPPLY - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
DESIGN CUTS - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
To view the full episode show notes, visit: https://www.perspective-collective.com/perspectivepodcast/180
-----
I’m making a safe bet that you’re listening to this podcast because you feel creatively called to do something MORE in life.
That’s why, today, I’m stoked to kick-off my latest episodic adventure called the Blaze Your Own Path Series.
My hopes and intentions are to:
Part 1 is all about getting started, believing it’s possible, and breaking away from the lie you’ve been sold.
Next week, Part 2 of the series is about intentionally and authentically showing up, finding out what works best for you, and discovering your unique path.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
RETRO SUPPLY - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
DESIGN CUTS - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
What’s your definition of success, and how do you know when you’ve “made” it?
What if you hit your big target, yet never truly “make” it, because you’re always hunting another bigger target to aim for?
That’s the goal of my homie Francisco Reyes, the mastermind behind the alias Never Made.
His side hustle pursuits have landed him big time collabs with the likes of The Hundreds, Obey Clothing, Red Bull, The Los Angeles Clippers, Disney, Zumiez, and Urban Outfitters to name a few.
In this episode, we go deep on:
If you’re ready to roll your sleeves up, do the work, and play the long game, you’re going to dig this episode.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
Trademarking Information - https://www.uspto.gov/
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCO
-----
GET A GLOBAL PODCAST SHOUTOUT
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
FREE TOOLKIT TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON
With as little as your weekly cup of coffee, you can support the growth of this show by backing us on Patreon.
JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your family is waiting.
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
RETRO SUPPLY - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
DESIGN CUTS - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTING APP
CONNECT WITH ME
CREDITS
Enrollment for Lauren Hom's Passion to Paid is now open (July 29th-August 5th). Visit p2pscotty.com to learn more, lockdown her BONUS offers, and save 10% with PERSPECTIVE10.
Feeling overwhelmed that freelance is the only path to creative success?
It’s easy to feel that way based on the many stories from those crushing it in the creative industry.
But what if...there were other paths you could take or create on your own terms?
Luckily, we will talk about all these different paths and more because Lauren Hom joins us for round two on the podcast.
Get ready to take a shit ton of notes as we chat about:
If you’re ready to grow your creative pursuits by mixing marketing with your passions, then today’s episode is for you.
CONNECT WITH LAUREN
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
*Retro Supply *(affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
*Design Cuts *(affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
Sadly, breakthroughs don't magically manifest in 2 minutes like those 10 for $10 Frozen Banquet TV Dinners (those are gross BTW).
Yet, so many creatives want immediate results when they haven't paid their dues.
And that’s what today’s episode is all about:
True growth and success come from putting in the work.
We’re driving home the importance of persistence and patience with this one.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
*Design Cuts *(affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
So many creatives want a get rich quick pill or a hack to overnight stardom. There are no cheat codes, and today’s guest is living proof that good things take time.
I’m talking about one of my new BFFs and logo legend, James Martin. He’s known for his one-of-a-kind hand-drawn logo concepts and the visual delivery behind his uplifting design and thought process.
On today’s episode, we chat about:
He’s got an insanely valuable resource called the Logo Black Book he’s giving away for free over at LogoBlackBook.com. More on that later.
If you’re ready to play the long game and reap the rewards along the way then this episode was crafted for you.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
Today, we’re joined by two marketing wizards who thrive on helping creatives like you and me get strategic about what we’re passionate about.
I’m talking about Tom Ross and Mike Janda of the Biz Buds Podcast. On their podcast, they share their journeys from struggling to freelance to running multi 7-figure businesses, and the lessons picked up along the way.
Get ready to take some notes as today, we chat about:
If you’re ready to put in the work to create an impactful, sustainable, and successful creative career, then this episode is for you.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
Are you fed up with being creatively stuck?
Are you ready to stop consuming and take massive action?
If so, today’s episode is all about staying active and open on your creative grind, so you can get that breakthrough you’ve been wanting for a hot minute now.
They’re the two catalysts for the type of success you deeply desire, and both have been pivotal for any type of creative biz breakthroughs I’ve had.
My goal today is to get you creatively unstuck by getting you to:
Before we dive deep, I want to preface this upfront:
Taking breaks along the way is hella important to avoiding burnout, staying out of creative funks, and throwing in the towel on your pursuits.
Staying active is important, but so is pacing yourself—it’s a slow and steady grind when you’re working on your dream.
With that being said, staying active means consistency and taking initiative in my world.
To me, being consistent versus going hard AF in short bursts of intensity is far more beneficial.
The latter leads to burnout and long gaps of inactivity (inactivity is horrible for building a name for yourself).
Consistently showing up (even if it’s just 15 minutes to an hour a day) generates small wins and mini-milestones.
When you string these W’s together, you generate momentum.
Momentum over the years is what leads to those huge career-shifting breakthroughs.
An important reminder you may need to hear today is: You don’t need anyone else’s permission to chase what you want.
If I had waited for permission to share my work, blog, speak, teach, podcast, or coach, I’d still be at a day job complaining about how unfulfilled and how broke I was.
My biggest regret is not taking massive action sooner.
If you’re creatively stuck right now, I encourage you to:
No one is going to hand your dream to you, so it’s on you to make it happen.
If you’re struggling to take the first step, try this effective, yet morbid exercise:
Simply imagine yourself on your deathbed...yup.
While you’re lying there, look back on this very moment of uncertainty.
Is this going to be something you regretted never pursuing?
That usually can help reframe the petty reasons holding you back from taking your shot.
Maybe you’re in the position where you’ve been active, yet you’re seeing little-to-no traction over time?
Or maybe you’re the type of person who is so dead set on one path that you’re missing the signs that you’re meant to do something else?
Staying active is hella important, but staying open for unexpected opportunities, new relationships, and uncomfortable risks are the catalyst for shit to really pop off.
It’s easy to get shiny object syndrome. You bounce around from one thing to the next without fully committing and giving the one thing that had promise time to grow during a season (aka niching down).
It’s also easy to get so far pigeon-holed and too comfortable in what you’re doing that you’re blinded to the big opportunity in front of you.
I’ve been on both sides of the fence over the years, but learning to actively embrace and welcome the unexpected is what surged my creative career forward—especially 2019 through 2020.
After an injury robbed me of my football career in college, I’ve been tirelessly searching for my identity as a creative.
I pretty much have tried everything: drawing tattoos, starting a clothing brand, designing logos/branding, website design, calligraphy/wedding chalkboards, selling my own products/merch, creating digital goods, blogging, teaching, speaking, podcasting, affiliate marketing, and now coaching.
Even when quitting seemed like the best option, I constantly stayed active and open to testing and experimenting with new creative paths until something stuck.
When shit wasn’t popping off, I continued to share my work and push forward even if I didn’t have my style, voice, and groove mastered (which I still don’t today).
Staying open and actively pursuing new opportunities to quickly fail, grow, and learn helped me:
The biggest thing I’ve learned over my 10 years of finding my groove after college and 6 years of doing Perspective-Collective is this:
The more you consistently show up, take initiative, and stay open to the unexpected, the answers will reveal themselves over time.
The answers will come in the form of opportunities, risks, and relationships that unlock the next level for you to conquer.
It’s on you to show up when it’s not convenient, be aware of the signs/omens, and have the heart and guts to act in the direction your intuition is guiding you.
You don’t need someone’s permission to make shit happen in your life.
Stay open to:
Once you find the next path, take massive action with no regrets.
Get that breakthrough you’ve been wanting but never gave yourself the chance to chase it.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
It’s extremely hard to gain traction in your creative pursuits if you don’t connect with what you create.
How can you attract your ideal client or connect with your true tribe if you don’t show up as yourself both in-person AND online?
Today, I’m stoked to share the story of my friend Zulfa. You may know her as The Cosmic Feminist.
She’s a badass illustrator based in Washington D.C.
Her coined term Cosmic Feminism refers to her fascination with the Universe & her support for women’s rights and empowerment on a cosmic proportion.
I’ve watched her Instagram blow up over the past year because she’s tapped into her voice and artistic style.
She’s now crushing it in the merch game through her cosmic shop and working with socially conscious organizations that align with her values and beliefs.
On today’s episode, we chat about:
If you’re tired of playing it safe and ready to connect with your true self so you can connect with others, then this episode was made for you.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
For those just tuning in and aren’t in the loop with the last two weeks, I’m currently in the middle of a mini-hiatus with the birth of our daughter!
Today, you’re hearing the final conclusion of Part 3 of The Coffee Caffeinated Kick Series!
This series is the perfect brew to keep you grounded and ready to take your creative pursuits to the next level.
I highly recommend checking out Part 1 and 2, but if you don’t wanna, this one is still a killer episode on its own!
We’re back on next week with episode 173 featuring the incredibly talented Zulfa, AKA The Cosmic Feminist!
So here we go with Pt. 3: Stop Brewing a Latte Excuses & Make it Happen.
Note: Read the full original episode as a blog post here.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
If you’re just tuning in and missed last week’s announcement, my daughter has been born!
I’m taking 3 weeks off from kicking out new content for the podcast.
Instead of radio silence, I’m running one of my favorite 3-part solo episodes called The Coffee Caffeinated Kick Series.
This series is just as timely as ever while people slowly put their lives and creative pursuits back together.
So here we go with Pt. 2: Espresso Yourself By Any Beans Necessary.
Note: Read the full original episode as a blog post here.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
Let’s keep it real, transparent, and punchy!
As I prep this, my daughter could be here any day now! Dope, right?
Honestly, I’ve been busting my biscuits day-in and day-out since I’ve started doing my thing full-time in 2020—all with the mindset to grind to provide for my family until Little Pizza Roll #2 is born.
I decided, once she was born, I could pump the brakes, rest, and soak up some family time.
Which is EXACTLY what I’m doing: I’m taking 3 weeks off from kicking out new podcast content.
HOWEVER, I didn’t want to leave people hanging. So, I’m dipping into the archives and re-sharing a popular 3-Part episode series I dropped in late 2018 called The Coffee Caffeinated Kick Series!
It’s punchy, raw, and extremely action-oriented...perfect for those who are finding their creative groove again due to The ‘Rona.
The podcast will be back and better than ever with new material late June!
Thanks for your understanding and continued support.
In the meantime, here’s Part 1: Good Things Happen to Those Who Grind.
Note: Read the full original episode as a blog post here.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
What works for someone else...may not work for you.
You have to constantly keep experimenting and not be afraid of failing.
Failure leads to progress.
Today’s guest is someone who has constantly experimented and finally found the thing that works best for his creative pursuits.
I’m talking about my homie, Lord of Ludicrous Letterforms, with the loveliest locks of hair...Jimbo Bernaus!
Jimbo is a lettering artist, designer, and half of Shout Bam, a creative business with his partner Tea. He also happens to specialize in blasting people’s eye sockets with wide ranges of colors.
He’s made a name for himself in the past year in the Procreate and Affinity Brush world with heavy-hitting products like the Rough & Raw Brush Set, Fade & Shade Brush Set, The Kickoff Lettering Toolbox, and more.
On today’s episode, we chat about:
If you’re curious about how you can diversify your income and offerings and serve your audience, then this episode was made for you.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
Life has been a rollercoaster since shit started hitting the fan in early March.
If you’re like I am, your entire routine was tossed to the curb, flattened by an 18-wheeler big rig truck, and then washed into the sewers with rats and poop.
You’ve had to learn how to respond, adapt, and evolve when this adversity caught you with a Mike Tyson uppercut to the chin.
There are 3 crucial lessons I’ve learned during quarantine that I know you’ll be able to relate to.
*The goal is to: *
No. 3 has been my biggest weakness that I’m working on the most moving forward.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
*Retro Supply *(affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
*Design Cuts *(affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
In the world of design, April Showers don’t bring May Flowers...they bring a heavy-hitting logo-centric May episode.
My Lincoln Design familia is back for Round 3 for a special Logo MAY-hem Edition (Round 1: EP 41, Round 2: EP 155).
Lincoln Design Co., an industry-leading juggernaut, crushes the dopest identity systems, branding, packaging, merch, and more.
They slay design dragons for the biggest brands in the world like Hasbro, Mattel, Disney, Harley, Nike, WWE, Google, and more.
Today, we’re peering into the brains of the Lincoln team and break down their logo identity as seen in their hella popular: Logo Mayhem Book.
NOTE: Get 10% OFF everything in their shop, especially this Logo Mayhem Book, with promo code Perspective10.
In this episode, we also talk about:
If you’re a fan of their work or just a logo lovin’ junkie in general, then you’re going to love this one.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
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There are 3 important lessons I’ve learned along my creative grind:
If you can embrace these truths, then you have a wildly successful creative career ahead of you.
Today’s guest, James Lewis, is a prime example of someone who’s embraced these 3 lessons and is tapping into new breakthroughs year after year.
As I record this, he’s amassed an Instagram following of just shy of a million followers and a massive following of 2 million on TikTok..
Safe to say, James knows what he’s doing when it comes to creating engaging content that gets shared like wildfire.
Take notes as we’re about to dive deep on:
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
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Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
Whose path are you following right now:
No doubt, success leaves clues...but I’d advise you to steer away from building your creative empire based on the coattails of someone else’s achievements.
You can take inspiration and learn from others all day, but inject your secret sauce and make it unmistakably your own.
That’s why I respect today’s guest so much—he’s a rising juggernaut you should take notice of in the creative realms.
I’m talking about my brother, Josh Sullivan, slaying design dragons out of Springfield, Missouri (Not Illinois)...
He operates under the identities of:
Not only is Josh a G with his design/illustration skills, but he’s a straight-up nerd with the business side of things too (you know, the things most of us struggle with).
Take notes as we’re about to dive deep on:
If you’re ready to take the next steps in growing your creative business, this episode was made for you.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
It’s extremely hard to gain traction and see progress if you’re not sure:
Regardless if you’re a side hustling artist, designer, or freelancer, these should be top of mind if you want to win in the short-term and thrive in the long-term.
These are all pieces of a puzzle in the greater jigsaw of Brand Strategy.
Luckily, today’s guest is a wizard in this world.
I’m talking about Melinda Livsey, founder and creative director of Marks & Makers, and a valuable asset to Chris Do and The Futur and their ongoing series, The Process.
She went from designing identity systems to getting paid by her ideal clients to help them accomplish their big target goals and shape their bigger picture.
Today, Melinda’s here to simplify this complex Brand Strategy monster and parallel it to attracting and helping our ideal clients and/or tribe.
Get ready to take notes and we dive deep into:
This episode is going to give you some solid, actionable steps to take your ambitious side hustling pursuits to the next level.
6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.
The proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.
Retro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.
Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.
Join a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.
Meg Lewis is a rad freelance brand designer, motivating mentor, creative cheerleader, and wicked dancer who injects fun into whatever she touches out of Minneapolis, MN.
I respect and admire the impact she’s making on the world through her books, videos, workshops, and talks titled Full Time You...and a new workshop called Find Your Personal Style.
Today, Meg and I peel back the layers on the topics of your journey of self-discovery, using fear as fuel, finding your superpowers, and more!
Stick around to the end to find out how you can win a Digital Version of the Full Time You Self-Discovery Workbook and Video Series!
View the full show notes: https://www.perspective-collective.com/166
CONNECT WITH MEG
► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/darngooood/?hl=en
► Website https://darngood.co/
► Twitter https://twitter.com/darngooood
FULL TIME YOU WEBSITE
https://www.fulltimeyou.co/
LISTEN TO MEG’S PODCASTS | Dribbble Overtime | Sit There & Do Nothing
► https://dribbble.com/overtime
► https://sitthereanddonothing.com/
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DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE GUIDE TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM
6 Resources designed to help you create a killer side hustle and elevate your brand outside your day job: http://sidehustlefreedomguide.com/
-
PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
Here’s the proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough: http://sidehustlershandbook.com/
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BECOME LISTENER OF THE WEEK
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/SubscribetoPodcast
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GET THE BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
Retro Supply ► Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources: http://bit.ly/RetroSupplyScotty
Design Cuts ► Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack: www.perspectivebundle.com
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JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Get around like-minded creatives all over the world sharing their work, resources, tips while providing feedback and encouragement to take your side hustle to the next level: http://bit.ly/P-CFacebook
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STAY CONNECTED
Instagram ► http://bit.ly/IG_PRSPCTV_CLLCTV
Podcast Instagram ► http://bit.ly/IG_PerspectivePodcast
TikTok ► https://bit.ly/PCTikTok
Pinterest ► http://bit.ly/P-CPinterest
Twitter ► http://bit.ly/P-CTwitter
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CREDITS
Music ► Blookah (https://soundcloud.com/blookah)
Executive Assistant ► Paige Garland (https://www.instagram.com/jpaigegarland/)
Photo & Video Specialist ► Colton Bachar (https://www.instagram.com/wrktocreate)
Animation Specialist ► Greg D'Amico (https://www.instagram.com/gmdamico)
Have you ever been so passionate about something that no type of struggle, rock bottom, or gutter can keep you from pursuing it?
That’s how it played out for today’s special guest, Adam Schmalholz aka In-Q, a national award-winning poet, spoken word juggernaut, storytelling savant, and multi-platinum songwriter for artists like Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Mike Posner, and Foster the People.
I’ve witnessed the profound impact his stories, poems, and even witty humor can make on us hungry humans who desire to create change...especially on someone like you.
I wanna see your notes on this one as In-Q goes deep on: celebrating your vulnerability, operating from excitement versus fear, and creating for glory over impact.
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CONNECT WITH IN-Q
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/inqlife/?hl=en
Web ► https://in-q.com/
Shows ► https://love.consciouscityguide.com/inq
BUY HIS BOOK
Amazon ► https://amzn.to/2WctJe3
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DOWNLOAD THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSE
Here’s the proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough: http://bit.ly/SHHBLearnMore
-
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SIDE HUSTLER’S WAR CHEST
6 Resources designed to help you create a killer side hustle and elevate your brand outside your day job: http://bit.ly/SideHustlersWarChest
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BECOME LISTENER OF THE WEEK
Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/SubscribetoPodcast
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JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS
Get around like-minded creatives all over the world sharing their work, resources, tips while providing feedback and encouragement to take your side hustle to the next level: http://bit.ly/P-CFacebook
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GET THE BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates)
Retro Supply ► Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources: http://bit.ly/RetroSupplyScotty
Design Cuts ► Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack: www.perspectivebundle.com
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STAY CONNECTED
Instagram ► http://bit.ly/IG_PRSPCTV_CLLCTV
Podcast Instagram ► http://bit.ly/IG_PerspectivePodcast
Pinterest ► http://bit.ly/P-CPinterest
Twitter ► http://bit.ly/P-CTwitter
-
CREDITS
Music ► Blookah (https://soundcloud.com/blookah)
Executive Assistant ► Paige Garland (https://www.instagram.com/jpaigegarland/)
Photo & Video Specialist ► Colton Bachar (https://www.instagram.com/wrktocreate)
Animation Specialist ► Greg D'Amico (https://www.instagram.com/gmdamico)
Picking up where we left off last week, we close out this Side Hustler’s Program Student Spotlight Special with part 2 of the coaching call.
For those who missed last week’s episode, I suggest listening to that first because I break down what the 3-Month Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is all about.
Just know it isn’t a cakewalk, as these hand-selected students have made significant investments in their time, energy, and finances to tap into the next level of their creative career potential. The results they're getting speak for themselves!
There’s a ton of actionable steps and takeaways baked in throughout our chat, so I hope you’re taking notes!
—
I have another Side Hustler’s Program Student Spotlight Special in store for you today that’s coming atcha in 2 parts.
First off, what is the Side Hustler’s Coaching Program?
This is a 3-month Group Coaching Mastermind between a select handful of applications all across the world. This is a premium program that requires a significant investment of your time, energy, and yes, money...but you get back what you put in and more!
The 2 main goals of the program are:
That’s what this two-part series is all about. There’s no fancy mics or planned agendas. It’s just 12 hungry creatives (minus Paul Douglas, Russell Wyatt, and Nathaniel Ong who couldn’t make the call) making time to meet outside of jobs and families to grow and work together toward unlocking their creative breakthrough.
More specifically, we are going to go deep and cover pressing topics like:
If you’re feeling stuck and isolated trying to figure out your own next steps to take, I know you’re going to find a ton of valuable takeaways tucked in this one.
If you feel like this is something you want you to be a part of, sign up for the coaching A-List Waitlist at SideHustlersCoaching.com to be notified of the Fall 2020 third installment.
—
Are you tired of hearing me say that relationships are everything?
Even if you are, I’m going to continue to beat this drum, especially in terms of getting out of your bubble and doing everything in your ability to attend a conference.
I started doing some research on this thing called Creative South. I was a year into Perspective-Collective, and my audience was growing quickly...but I still felt stuck, and this conference felt like something that could give me a new spark (not to mention it’d get me out of Iowa).
I came home from Creative South on fire and started my blog. It helped me find my voice and build some tiny amount of authority in the form of encouraging creatives. Little did I know, this spark would lead me to speaking on the Creative South big stage the next year.
One of them more specifically was Mike Jones, who just so happens to be today’s guest. This man gave me the opportunity of a lifetime out of nowhere. I don’t know where I would be had he not given me the call to speak well before I was ready.
Mike is the definition of a side hustler. He not only runs Creative South (a highly renowned creative conference in the States) but also runs his own design studio called Serve Studio. If that isn't enough, he still has a day job, four kiddos, and an incredible wife named Karen.
Take some notes as Mike and I are about to dive deep into:
—
Imagine you’re baking a pizza...of course, what a Scotty thing to say, right?
Except in this scenario, the same crust, cheese, and toppings are provided to you and everyone else.
What’s going to make your pizza truly stand out from the noise is the sauce you make for the pizza.
What’s the secret to making the secret sauce that’ll keep people craving for yours while others seem to get lost in the shuffle?
It's a personalized dash, smidgen, and a pinch of ingredients that makes you, YOUnique.
You combine all these ingredients up in a blender...or maybe a food processor...and voilà! Here's your secret sauce that'll make your pizza shine.
Anyone can try to mimic the pizza you bake, but no one can rip your secret sauce!
In our creative world, we pretty much all have access to similar tools, mediums, and distribution channels to get our work out there. However, the way we rise above the noise is how we show up and pour ourselves into our work.
This isn't a new concept as people have been talking about this for a long time now. Someone like Lisa Congdon calls this your Artistic Voice, thought others may call it something else.
Finding your secret sauce is my cheesy spin on what I call your Sweet Spot in your creative grind.
Today, I want to do a little overview of the three main ingredients that I feel make up your truly YOUnique secret sauce (I'm sure this will evolve over time).
There are action steps baked within each segment with an intended goal. They'll help you understand how your own ingredients will make your secret sauce, and how you can leverage them within your personal brand and the work you show.
When I jump on coaching calls, I guide each student through the process of finding their secret sauce.
Knowing your secret sauce brings clarity, confidence, conviction, and purpose when pursuing your creative grind.
It's easier said than done, but that's the beauty of the messy, ever-evolving creative process: you have to dig deep to know which ingredients you even have in your personal pantry.
Now that we've added a little context to it, let's start breaking down the 3 main types of ingredients you're baking with.
I mention this often, but I've learned from first-hand experience that your story is your most powerful asset.
I shared my backstory with Diane Gibbs back in 2015 when I was just getting started with my blog that no one read.
She ran with it and not only provided me with my first podcast interview on her Design Recharge Show, but she also landed me my first speaking gig at AIGA Mobile Flourish Conference in Alabama.
It totally caught me off guard and jump-started my early side hustle days.
For the longest time, I felt I didn't have anything to share or that anyone would care. But when I shared my story of being bullied, dealing with depression, anxiety, comparison, imposter syndrome, etc., it let other people know they weren't alone.
It became a permission slip for them to share their stories. It connected us because they saw something similar in themselves even if the plot and details weren't the same.
The shit you've been through is real. You went through it for a reason, and the adversity you overcame could be a powerful example to someone else so they triumph through the same shit storm.
No one can replicate your story. In my opinion, it's THE KEY INGREDIENT in your secret sauce.
Action Step
It takes some time, but start jotting down your story and past experiences that have helped mold you into the person you've become today.
The better you can tell it, the better it can connect with someone.
You may not think people will care, but trust me, someone out there needs to hear it.
There are certain things you're naturally good at that seem to be difficult for others (how many times have you heard, "I couldn't even draw a stick figure"?).
There are skills you've obtained by spending hours on end studying, researching, and practicing (10,000 hours by Malcom Glidewell anyone?).
There are things you had to learn, due to the circumstances you grew up, in order to thrive or (let alone) survive.
All of these skills and strengths become art-illery in your arsenal to equip you for your creative grind.
When you combine these skills with your story and the following ingredients, you're baking up a killer pizza that's sure to satisfy a gaggle of hungry creatives.
Action Step
Start a list of any type of skills or strengths you developed over the years. (e.g., painting, speaking, strange fact retainment, storytelling, metaphors, rapping, wood widdling, pet whispering, etc.)
Now start seeing if there is any potential overlap with your skills that could develop something unique and different when put together. (e.g., Lindsey Stirling playing the violin while dancing)
There's a lot of unique ingredients within this that can make this exercise complex and a bit confusing (but fun as well when you find your mojo).
Work with too many ingredients, and they begin fighting each other when you bake and serve your personal pan pizza to the world.
However, when you're able to narrow down these ingredients to a select handful of "buckets," it'll make the sauce you bring to the table (social media, website, keynotes, etc.) more digestible, palatable, and easier for one to sink their teeth into.
I originally heard of this concept from Jenna Kutcher. She talks about defining your buckets of interests (up to 5) that you can navigate through as well as overlap.
A lot of my creative friends do this: more specifically Liz Gray, Dina Rodriguez, and Zulfa of The Cosmic Feminist.
By defining your buckets, you're essentially narrowing your focus (niching down) into what you want to be known for.
You're sending a beacon to potential fans and clients that this is either for you or not. As Seth Godin says in This is Marketing, you and your work aren't for everyone—and that's a good thing!
I like to imagine this: we're products on an end cap in a highly trafficked store.
Our job is to design and define our label to the world, which sets expectations (we don't want to make people guess if our product is for them or not).
We can narrow down our buckets of interests into the following categories. We'd ideally pick 1 to 5 to add to our secret sauce.
Interests
I feel something you're interested in could also be something you're passionate about, but they could also be separate.
Interests could be some type of person, place, or thing (a noun for you smart folks out there) that piques your curiosity, fascinates you, you want to learn more about, etc. (e.g., folklore, history of alchemy, astrology, adult coloring books, sudoku, etc.)
Your current or future interests could convert into a passion that plays a key role in your secret sauce.
Passions
Pinpointing a passion should be pretty simple by answering a few questions:
What lights you up to the point where you lost track of time doing it?
What keeps you up at night because it injects your mind with a dose of joy and excitement?
What do you love doing that you can't help but talk about it?
If you had spare time, what's the one thing you'd no doubt be doing?
Beliefs
You have to believe in something. Placing your faith, trust, or confidence in something sets the foundation for how you show up each day.
It's something that you accept to be true and that influences your values and your morals. (e.g., religion, pro/anti-vaccines, pro/anti-abortion, etc.)
Values
Values are rules, standards, and principles that influence our behavior and character—they often stem from the belief systems.
Many brands, businesses, and people have their core values that set the tone for how they show up and treat other people (inclusivity, hard work, equality, honesty, etc.).
Action Step
Take some time to jot down some answers in each of these categories. Locate areas of overlap or how some stem from others. Select 1–5 traits within these buckets that you feel make up the Core Identity ingredient you want to showcase in your secret sauce.
My Personal Core Ingredient Example
Here are the buckets I play in with my brand (some overlap and can be utilized as a strength/skill):
Interests: Pizza and Outer Space (honorable mentions would be black ink tattoos, sports, fitness, cats, coffee, horror movies, and Game of Thrones)
Passions: Coaching (empowering/educating creatives) and Drawing
Values: Inclusivity and Positivity
If you were to read my Instagram bio or scroll through my feed, my Core Identity buckets would be pretty evident.
If you visited Liz Gray's, Dina Rodriguez, or Zulfa's accounts, you'd easily be able to decipher the label they share with the world and what to expect when following them.
First off, creating an award-winning secret sauce is impossible to master overnight (just look at Colonel Sanders of KFC and how long it took for his finger-lickin' chicken to pop off).
Finding your secret sauce takes time (I'm over 5.5 years into my side hustle, and I feel I'm just now finding my secret formula...for this season).
Perfecting your secret sauce is an endless process. You're constantly growing and evolving with new life experiences that'll shape your Core Identity ingredient.
It's hard to thrive in your creative grind when you're trying to replicate someone else's secret sauce.
Have some fun with the process and follow the action steps today to start developing your own award-winning secret sauce.
Keep baking up pizzas to share with the world and tweak your ingredients over time.
The more you're vibing to the personal pan pizza you're baking up, the right people will too.
—
It seems everyone and their grandma wants to start a clothing line or slang merch these days (I say this because I’m guilty of both).
I get it, you want to see your work tangibly exist and find its way into the little nooks and crannies of this planet.
It’s dope to manifest your idea in your noggin’ to something you can physically touch. However, when you’re just starting off, you gotta keep your expectations in check, as finding success in these realms takes far more work and time than you realize.
Everyone wants the end results, but they don’t have the patience nor grit to put in the grind over time to tap into that success.
If you’re a long-time listener, you know I’ll never sugar coat shit here. I don’t believe in fluff or telling you what I think you want to hear.
You can’t just show up and put something into this world and expect people to buy it.
Trust me, I’ve been there and have learned plenty of hard lessons.
I spent 4 years building a clothing brand outside of college with my homie Dustin McLaughin aka DMAC aka Dusty Dink grassroots-style. We didn’t gain serious traction until year three.
Sadly, long-term success wasn’t in the cards for us, but I learned a lot—it’s what spawned Perspective-Collective..
Then two years into Perspective-Collective, I started slanging products on my own. I thought, because I had an Instagram audience of over 10k, that slanging 300 5x7” Change Your Perspective custom-lettered letterpress prints for less than $10 would be a breeze.
I tied a meaningful story to it and built a whole launch around it including a dope, inspirational video DMac created for me...I’m still sitting on just under 100 of those left, and the majority of them I’ve gifted away to people.
Selling your shit is hard work. It’s not impossible, but I feel there are solid guidelines and phases to work through in order to get to a point where people care enough to buy.
Today’s guests have been in this creation game slanging their own knick-knacks and dope little trinkets for a hot minute now. They know how much time goes into gaining traction and the effort behind the scenes of running a business when everyone else just sees the fun of designing and prototyping through social media.
I’m talking about my family over at Hellcats: a goods, accessories, and apparel brand ran by power duo Britt Reagan and hubby Clark Orr.
All of their products are designed and packaged in-house in their Winter Park, FL. studio. In fact, they MAKE many of their products in their studio by their own damn hands and then sell wholesale to their hungry clients or online and at events to drooling creatives like you and me.
If you struggle with building a cohesive brand or want to get started in the merch game, take notes as Hellcats goes deep into:
This episode isn’t going to tell you what you want to hear but what you need to hear to tap into that long-term success. Nothing happens overnight so use this as fuel for your longevity.
Shownotes
—
I’m going to say something that may strike a nerve. It may even put a bad taste in your mouth when you think of me…
However, I say this because I truly do give a shit about you and your future goals.
I say this because it used to be me, and I realize how I was really just in my own way.
If there’s something you want to do or accomplish, saying you don’t have the time to pursue it is just a big ole excuse to make yourself feel better about not following through and taking action.
When, in reality, it’s not that you don’t have the time—it’s that you haven’t made it a priority.
Making something a priority means sacrificing elsewhere.
You have to take a long, hard look at areas you're over-consuming, wasting time, or working on that doesn’t serve the bigger picture.
In order to get the results you want with your ambitious side hustle pursuits, you have to be willing to make the time and put in that time to grind over time.
I’ll say that again, you have to make the time and put in the time to grind over time.
Results don’t happen overnight, and no one is going to carve out the time to execute for you.
It’s on you. No excuses!
Someone who finds the time to grind outside a crazy schedule and has been doing this for years now is my one of my best buds in the design game, Matt Dawson aka @staygrayponyboy on Instagram.
Matt is one of the best when it comes to designing logos and badge concepts. He has a way of adding a unique and clever twist to his work that stands out from the competition. It’s not something you going to find from a $20 logo template set from Creative Market, that’s for sure.
When he’s not flexing his design skills, he's building a community for creatives all over the world, so we can find like-minded people who nerd out over the same creative shit as we do.
He does this through Crop Conference, which is a thriving creative-based conference that has found a new home in Austin, TX. He brings in some of the biggest names in the industry to melt the faces of hungry creatives like you and me while connecting us with a new tribe of people that'll become like family.
Buckle in, as we are about to keep it real right from the jump and chat about:
If you’re struggling with patience or suck butt with time management, this one is definitely going to speak to you and how to make significant habitual changes to grow.
—
I don't care about your religious or spiritual beliefs (but I respect and welcome them all).
I want to know if you're the type of person who believes in signs? (No, I'm not referring to M. Night Shyamalan's highly underappreciated 2002 science fiction film Signs.)
When I'm talking about signs, I'm talking about the signposts of life—your gut/intuition/heart attempting to serve as your internal compass.
I used to think this was all a bunch of woo-woo malarky for people who've done a little bit too much LSD and think they interact with angels (yet I'm the same dude who's believed in ghosts and aliens my entire life.)
Things have changed, and I shifted my perspective on the matter.
Now I live for this shit, and the more I've tapped into my self-awareness, the more I'm able to notice these signs and open myself up for the opportunities flowing my way.
There are signs and omens all around us, and it's our job to notice them. You could be ignoring the exact thing you didn't know you needed to elevate your side hustle to new heights you never could've imagined (if you haven't yet, please read the book The Alchemist, as it will shift your limiting beliefs as it did for me).
The following are the 4 signs you could be ignoring that are holding you back from getting the breakthroughs you're wanting with your ambitious side hustle pursuits.
For each sign, I'm doing two things:
When life hands you lemons, are you the type of person to whine and bitch about it? Or...are you the type of person to make a Vodka Lemonade (with a double shot of Tito's, of course)?
It's too easy to play the victim when adversity strikes and vent to the closest person to us (or a Facebook status) about how "this happened TO me."
Taking this stance immediately positions you as a victim, and you place that negative energy on someone else.
What if...instead of something happening TO you, it was really happening FOR you?
For me, it's been in the form of toxic relationships ending badly, yet it led to me learning how to make myself happy, which then led me to my wonderful wife, Emily (aka my Baby Mama, aka My Boo Thang, aka Ems Slice for Life).
How about when I was unexpectedly let go from my "safe job" late last year? Honestly, I played the victim for the first two hours as we just closed on a new home a week before and announced kiddo #2 was on the way.
However, I was able to snap out of it and get to work. As I connect the dots, I was able to see that the Universe was really shoving me into taking a leap of faith before I was ready, which was pursuing full-time coaching and freelance in 2020...I hadn't been busting my ass with my side hustle for over 5.5 years for nothing, right?!
So, ya, getting canned right before the holidays didn't happen TO me, that shit happened FOR me, and took his new challenge head-on and plan on sharing everything I learn along the way with you like always!
What's a curveball life has recently thrown at you?
What's the potential blessing in disguise or learning opportunity tucked away in it that can help you grow?
The Lizard Brain is the oldest part of your brain, and it was responsible for the aggression and fear triggers back in our Cave Man days when it was fight or flight to survive.
Our brains continue to try and keep us safe by disguising potentially life-changing ideas and opportunities as risks and placing them behind a wall of fear.
When we operate from fear, our minds only know how much we could lose by taking that risk. It can’t measure how much we can gain by breaking through the wall to get the gold on the other side.
It’s a paradigm shift when you learn that fear is your intuition guiding you to unlock the next version of yourself—it’s an indicator of something you’re excited about.
My biggest fears have always led to my biggest breakthroughs: sharing my work, blogging, public speaking, podcasting, and pursuing coaching in 2019.
I've learned to use fear as my cue that whatever excites me yet scares me is something I need to be pursuing.
It's because I've gotten uncomfortable and pursued my fears that I'm able to pursue this current gigantic fear of doing Perspective-Collective full-time...trust me when I say I wake up fucking terrified each day yet I'm more excited than I've ever been for anything when I find my groove in my studio.
What's something that excites you yet the fear of failure, judgment, or even success is restraining you from taking the first step to pursuing it?
How can you get out of your own way to unlock that next version of yourself you're supposed to become?
We take for granted the minuscule good things that happen to us each day.
We, probably too wrapped up in that adversity I talked about a little bit ago, brush them off and keep pushing on with our day.
What if those little fortuitous events that happened were really cues for you to connect the dots and take action?
What if people here and there tell you that they liked your little doodles on napkins and coasters you'd do in coffee shops and restaurants?
This is a cue that you could have a future as an artist (this was me growing up, but I was convinced I wasn't a good artist, so I didn't share my work till my early 20's).
What if people sporadically tell you that you have a good way with words or storytelling?
This could be your cue that you could be an author, copywriter, podcaster, blogger, etc.
What if people randomly told you how you have a really good eye for detail?
This could be your cue that you were meant to thrive as a designer, photographer, motion graphic artist, videographer, etc.
For me, it was little things like early validation on my Instagram drawings that gave me confidence as an artist.
From there, it was little comments from people like:
I ignored these in the beginning, but now I can look back and see these signs have been trying to push me toward the direction I'm steering my ship today.
You better believe I pay attention now to the repeating patterns that come up sporadically each day.
What are some reoccurring events, patterns, comments, etc. that seem to circle back around in your life?
Make a list of them and start to connect the dots. It could be leading you to the next step you're supposed to take with your creative side hustle.
Here's where the woo-woo malarky begins to set off people's "bullshit radar detectors."
Big Daddy Google states, "Synchronicity is the simultaneous occurrence of events that appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection."
I was a skeptic who is now a huge believer, as I've seen how this has worked in my life, especially in 2019.
I'm a believer that there is a much greater power out there pulling the strings, and I'm choosing to label this as The Universe. You can call it whatever you choose to believe in, no judgment here!
I'm learning that the more I'm in alignment with the direction I'm supposed to be going, The Universe will continue to deliver me what seems to be insanely serendipitous and coincidental opportunities.
When I chose to go all-in as the Side Hustle Coach in 2019, I had to make tough choices like stop freelancing, teaching workshops, and selling products in my online shop.
It was extremely hard to do, as I didn't really know what I was doing in terms of launching a coaching program, along with copywriting and email marketing.
However, I chose this path because it "felt right," and I fed off the repeating comments from peers that I'd be a great coach.
As I stumbled early in my coaching pursuits, oddly enough, people and opportunities presented themselves and were exactly what I needed to be successful.
Out of nowhere, I had a coach and a business consultant magically cross my path that was the perfect fit for what I was needing (I didn't even know what I needed, so it made it even extra crazy). Working with them completely transformed my business, and it's why I'm able to do this full-time today.
While I was getting my program setup, I was missing the breadwinning part of my side-income, which was freelance. However, I trusted the process and randomly, opportunities showed up to become an affiliate for products and people I believed in that aligned with things I know would provide my audience absurd amounts of value.
Throughout the process of gearing up to launch the first version of the program in September, it seemed someone or something always popped up out of nowhere that gave me the answer/solution I was seeking to step into this phase of my business.
Things happen for a reason, and Synchronicity is REAL! When something unexplainable or fortuitous happens that doesn't quite make sense, just know there's a deeper meaning behind it that you should be using as a cue!
NOTE: I'll also mention the fact that I would see the number 11:11 each day or 1:11, 2:22, 3:33, 4:44, and 5:55 often the last year. That's a whole other woo-woo story but when I started to look up the meaning behind 11:11 late July 2019, that woo-woo mindset quickly shifted as things all started to make sense and breakthroughs happened left and right.
If you see 11:11 often or any of the other numbers I mentioned, I highly recommend looking it up as you'll really start to see where you're ignoring signs and blessings for real.
You can think I'm crazy, but if you're tired of not seeing results and playing the victim in your life, what could it hurt to open your mind up to something that science can't fully explain?
What series of fortunate coincidences have happened to cross your paths?
Have people come out of nowhere to offer you their assistance? Has an opportunity shown up at your doorstep (which could be disguised as adversity)?
These are things to pay attention to. Take a moment and connect the dots as whatever is pulling the strings out there could be showing you a path you're missing.
I'm one of those type of people who feels everything happens for a reason and you attract or repel things into your life whether you're intentionally doing it or not.
You follow me for a reason.
You're listening to this episode for a reason...especially if it's your first time ever listening to me.
This episode is a sign that YOU attracted this into your life
Maybe you're creatively stuck and lacking a purpose with the work you share or desire to start sharing with the world?
Maybe you crave to build something meaningful outside your 9-5, but lack the time and motivation to make the necessary moves to see results?
Maybe you're going through some shit right now, but realize it could be the push you need to take the step to become the best future version of yourself?
Whatever it is, DON'T IGNORE THE SIGNS. The more you ignore these 4 types of signs, The Universe (or whatever you believe in) will take the hint and stop sending them your way as you subconsciously declare you're comfortable going in the same direction.
I kick out this podcast for a reason: to help creatives like you get unstuck and blaze your own path.
As cheesy as it sounds, it took me a while to fully notice the signs that this was the route I was supposed to be taking.
Coaching and kicking out empowering art and content for side hustlers like you is the type of shit that lights me up. My new Spider-Sense is always tingling as I try to catch a whiff of the next omens or signs directing me to the next steps to serve you better and get the next breakthrough.
It's up to you to do the same as your breakthroughs are waiting on you to make them happen. You gotta keep your head on a swivel and keep taking action and the answers will reveal themselves over time like they have for me.
—
I’m big on connecting the dots, so I can understand how my past experiences influence my current actions, beliefs, and mindsets.
If you know me by now, you know how open I am about growing up severely tormented and bullied. In fact, I had bullies all the way throughout college.
Being bullied made me crave acceptance, which I thought for a long time came in the form of popularity. I now understand the acceptance I craved comes in the form of community.
Being bullied was a blessing in disguise because it’s the catalyst for my strong beliefs in inclusivity, connection, positivity, and empowerment.
It’s why I created the FREE Perspective-Collective private Facebook Community where isolated creatives all over the world can tap into a like-minded tribe of people who think differently and want more out of life.
It's why I coached football in the past, which evolved into coaching creatives today on how to build fulfilling and profitable side hustles.
Community is everything to me. That's why I'm trying to build through my podcast and brand—a place where people feel welcomed and inspired.
At the end of the day, it’s about the bigger picture. We’re just small cogs working in a scheme that’s so much bigger than ourselves.
Today’s guest is two people who understand the importance of community because they’ve built a thriving, raving, and raging fan base around their biggest passion: coffee.
I’m talking about Fred and Chanell Dedrick of Iron Bean Coffee Company in Ohio.
They’re a premium small-batch, roast-to-order, veteran-owned coffee company. They import their high-quality coffee beans directly from Colombia, Brazil, Uganda, Honduras, Peru, Ethiopia, Indonesia, & other far-off lands. Then, they personally roast every one of their kick-ass coffees to be shipped directly to you.
Not to mention they crush it in the merch department because “selling out” is pretty much the expectation whenever there is a new merch drop.
The beauty of this all is that they do this as a freakin’ side hustle, which is why they’re on the show.
If you’re a side hustling dream chaser, buckle in and take notes as Team Iron Bean and I chat about:
I’m honored to bring this change-of-pace interview because I know their story will significantly parallel your creative grind. Plus these are two entertaining hard-working hustlers who have an awesome story I am stoked to share.
We also drop a promo code in the outro to for you to get some Iron Bean Coffee in your life. Stay tuned!
—
I want to preface this preface of today’s interview: I’m speaking solely from experience here on my philosophy on the phases of your side hustle.
I think, early on in your hustle—once you truly accept you’re a creative and you’re figuring out what direction to go—that experimentation and trying new things is important. I think of this as Phase 1, and I was totally there. In fact, I played in this Phase for like 4 years, until I reached what I feel is Phase 2.
Phase 2: you start to figure out what is and what isn’t working. I call this the "sweet spot secret sauce" that overlaps your greatest passion/interests with your greatest strengths. You start to narrow down and go deeper down this rabbit hole and connecting with yourself and your potential audience/clients on a deeper level. You start to really understand yourself and what these hungry and connected humans want/need and how you could potentially provide that solution...that’s where Phase 3 starts to come in.
Phase 3, to me, is when you add the next ingredient to the secret sauce of the Sweet Spot: the market. You’ve now combined something you’re passionate about with something you’re good at, so now you need to pinpoint where you’re able to provide a valuable solution to that perfect follower or client. To me, this is where the magic happens: your ambitious side hustle pursuits start to really gain traction and shape into the possibility of something more.
I think Phase 4 is something I’m on the cusp of, but I don’t truly know what it looks like yet. However, I'm definitely thriving in my secret sauce sweet spot and finding new ingredients to add to the mix to help scale what I’m doing and go deeper.
I guess this philosophy I’m speaking toward all started with experimenting, but now I've narrowed my focus. I not only listened to my gut, but I also soaked up outside perspectives and advice how I could steer my ship in a more strategic direction that still aligned with the Phase 2 of my greatest strengths and passions.
I continued to narrow my focus by saying no to things that didn’t align with where I wanted to go.
The narrowing of my focus is what we like to call niching down ("nitching" or "neeching," based on however you’d like to pronounce it).
I was one who refused to niche, yet wondered why I always felt like I wasn’t making the progress I wanted...even though I had been doing Perspective-Collective for a few years.
However, as I started to gain more clarity and confidence in the direction I wanted to go, the more powerful niching down became. During this season, I can safely say I’m a Side Hustle Coach who helps creatives build fulfilling and profitable side hustles outside their day job.
This is my niche during this season, and I embrace it and realize this isn’t necessarily forever...and that’s the key to today’s episode.
Today’s guest is someone who truly showed me the power of why the riches are in the niches and to embrace the discomfort that came with it.
I’m talking about my brother from another marketing mother, Tom Ross, CEO of Design Cuts, Face of the Honest Entrepreneur, Co-Host of The Honest Designers Podcast, and a new podcast he has in the works with Michael Janda.
He has progressively niched down over the years and has built successful companies left and right, but now focuses his attention on helping creatives like you and I are with marketing to blow up our side hustle pursuits.
TAKE NOTES ON THIS SHIT because Tom and I go deep on the topic of niching down and more specifically cover:
I’m hoping you find a golden nugget in here you can immediately apply to your creative grind ASAP, so you get one step further in whatever phase you’re currently in.
—
Which type of person are you?
Because you’re listening to this podcast, it’s safe for me to assume you’re the second type of individual or are striving to become this person.
I never was truly person #1, as I always craved to do something more outside of my previous day jobs...but I never took myself seriously until I was like 26 and a year into Perspective-Collective.
However, designing, drawing, and just creating in general has been flowing through my veins my entire life.
Person #2 is the type of person who can’t shut it off. You see good as well as bad design/art all around you 24/7.
You’re the type of person who is drawing something in your mind as you try to sleep and then you can’t wait to wake up to bring it to life.
You keep a notepad by your bed to collect those killer reoccurring thoughts, or you have a water proof note pad in your shower because those are where the best ideas come from.
You’re the kind of person who doesn’t eat at a restaurant because the logo is horrible.
You won’t watch a DVD strictly because the font choice is whack.
You point out poor kerning to your significant other even though they could care less.
Or you get out your phone to capture that dope neon sign, fading mural, or sick badge on a man hole cover.
You live for this shit, and that’s how you know that you’re made to be a creative. Now it’s time to put in the work.
Today’s episode features a squad of goons who can’t turn off the creative switch and were clearly cut from a different cloth. The work they do and the rapid pace they do it isn’t normal for creatives like you and me.
I’m talking about my homies over at Lincoln Design Co out of the great Pacific Northwest.
Their chief of command, Dan Janssen, has assembled a cast of 5 insanely talented creatives as they slay work for the brand giants of the world like: Mattel, Hasbro, Disney, DreamWorks, Nike, Nickelodeon, Google, Hot Wheels….you get the point...but they’re not too proud to crush it for a local mom and pop shop or for creatives like you and me who need that next level personalized touch.
I linked up with Lincoln early on when they started making big waves in the creative community, and I’m honored to bring them back on for round 2 today to catch you up with the insane growth and power moves they’ve made since 2017.
We have a unique one as we got a chance to record during their 2019 end of year retreat. Each member of the crew was in the middle of working, but we managed to get a little screen time for each of them!
I want to see your notes on this one as Dan and company go deep on:
It’s easy to fall victim to comparison when you see dope work on the daily from these dudes, but use this episode as a heavy dose of creative fuel to be the best version of yourself in 2020 and take your work to the next level in this new decade.
—
I don’t care what anyone says, but every one of us, whether we know it or not, is creating a personal brand.
Every interaction we have, every post we publish, and every action we take begins to design what we show the world and the people we are trying to repel or attract to our tribe.
When you’re self-aware of this, you can use it to your advantage and be more specific and strategic about creating and speaking to the things that you hold highest in your belief system and interests.
In our creative community, one of the most self-aware people I know who shows up as their truest self online and in-person, is my new friend Dina Rodriguez who slays under the name Letter Shoppe.
Dina creates art that supports mental health, body positivity, and cannabis culture. In the process, she's created an insanely supportive and engaged community.
Yes, she’s a talented artist, but she’s an even wittier and savvier marketer who knows how to give her audience what they need while remaining true to her core identity and treating her work like play.
She has a thriving merch business, a poppin’ Patreon tribe, and enough pep and energy to power up 5 power plants.
Did I mention she’s the brains behind that rapidly growing @womenofillustration account spotlighting the insanely talented women in our creative community?
Ya, you’re going to want to take notes on this one because Dina drops mad insight on:
Today’s episode is going to empower and challenge you to analyze how you’re showing up each day and the message you want to put into this world.
As always, keep an open mind and act on anything that inspires you today. Let’s go.
Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.
If you want that extra level of clarity, community, and accountability develop a process that helps you win with your work, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program A-List waitlist now for January's relaunch.
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Join the Coaching Program A-List Waitlist
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Listener of the Week: BrittHoffman from USA
Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan
Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland
Video Editor: Colton Bachar
Podcast music: Blookah
—
Lisa Congdon on Standing Out, Imposter Syndrome, & Your Artistic Voice
As creatives, why do we make things so hard on ourselves?
Why do we stand in our own way and block ourselves from chasing what we really want?
It’s like we’ve been given the keys to the Ferrari, but we talk ourselves out of turning on the ignition and pressing the gas to go (I realize new Ferraris most likely have a push to start button, but let’s pretend anyway.)
We are the Ferrari, and the key is something we all have deep inside of us. We already possess the tool within us, which we’ll talk about today, we need to thrive. Yet, we let inner and external forces influence us to play it safe and live a "comfortable life," even though there’s another muffled inner voice that yearns to do more.
Let’s unmuffle and empower that voice...our artistic voice, that is.
My new friend today is someone who was a late bloomer to the game but has used that as her advantage.
I’m talking about the profound illustrator, author, and speaker, Lisa Congdon. She whips up whimsical and vibrant art for top tier brands like Crate and Barrel, Facebook, Sonos, Lululemon, and more from her stomping grounds of Portland, OR.
Sure, she wins awards and crushes work for big-time names, but the two things I admire the most are:
Relax and take notes as Lisa is going to unload some serious knowledge on you like:
Today’s episode is a permission slip to stop playing it small with your creative pursuits and uncomfortably step into your next version of creative genius.
Oh ya! Stick around in the outro to find out how you can win a copy of Lisa’s latest book: Finding Your Artistic Voice.
P.S. It’s a good one.
Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.
If you want that extra level of clarity, community, and accountability develop a process that helps you win with your work, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program A-List waitlist now for January's relaunch.
—
I remember it like it was yesterday—two years ago to this date on Christmas Morning 2017. Emily and I had just gotten back from Christmas at my parents, and we were opening our stockings (and giving stockings to our cats Lucy and Flora, of course).
She had been acting weird all morning and even left early to go to Walgreens for a “last-minute stocking stuffer.”
After we finished exchanging our stockings, she awkwardly said, “We need to talk.”
That’s never been a good conversation starter, so I had a million negative scenarios running through my head.
That’s when she told me, “I’m pregnant, hope you’re not mad…”
I was stunned, shocked, and awed. Of course, I wasn’t mad, I was thrilled!
We both started crying. Little did the cats know that they weren’t going to be the only babies in the house anymore.
Then it happened...
After the shock wore off, I was immediately flooded with fear.
The other thought that crept into my mind: “Will I have to give up my side hustle of Perspective-Collective? Is my dream over now?”
Fast forward two years and here we are with this Little Pizza Roll being promoted to Big Brother in May 2020. Clearly, the dream is still well alive and thriving more than ever, more on that in the big announcement portion at the end.
Yes, having a kid has radically changed my life and my priorities. Every decision I make now affects a tiny human, so I had to become a better decision-maker.
The birth of Little Scotty is not only the best thing that’s ever happened in my life, but it's also the best thing that’s happened for my side hustle business.
I've had this idea for a while now and sat down with Emily around Thanksgiving to have her weigh in her opinion.
Together, we compiled 4 Significant Lessons our Little Scotty has taught us over the past two years.
Yes, this is what he has taught us, but I believe the lessons here will dramatically impact and inspire a change to how you show up for yourself and others through your side hustle.
My son is barely scared of anything, not even the dark. If there's something he wants to do, like being a Dare-Devil and standing up on the narrow seat of his Paw Patrol Fire Truck, then he's going to do it (you should note that I place pillows and blankets all around him as a safety net mind you).
He fails and falls countless times in his ventures to conquer something. He cries, lets us kiss it boo-boos and I give him the whole "Figure it out, you got this!" pep talk and smack him on his cute little bottom and send him off. Then he's right back at it recalculating his approach until he locks it down.
It's so incredible to see that big shit grin he has on his face as to say "Look at me ma-ma and da-da. I did it!"
Seeing him master a mini-mountain makes me think about you and me and our creative pursuits.
We let negative emotions of fear, doubt, and comparison hold us back from conquering something that truly excites us like: sharing our work, making a YouTube Channel, starting a podcast, etc.
Instead, imagine if we channeled our inner toddler who isn't affected by these restraining feelings and relentlessly chased the things we wanted?
What kind of breakthroughs could you see yourself having?
Little Scotty has reaffirmed an important lesson that failure is a key ingredient for triumph.
Straight up, we're spoiled and take things for granted ALL THE TIME (this includes me).
We expect convenience and things to go our way.
We lose sight of how blessed we are and neglect when the smallest amount of good fortune crosses our path.
My son doesn't operate this way and I hope this perspective he's given me is something I can instill back into him as he gets older.
The smallest things in life, like giving him the choice between two flavors of puffs (Blueberry or Strawberry), makes him light up with an enthusiastic chuckle while clapping his hands.
He also shows me how much joy can be sparked from the smallest wins (like tossing consecutive wooden blocks into a container at the end of the night while I scream "Kobe") to the biggest wins (like learning to crawl DOWN steps because crawling up was too easy).
He challenges me to notice and appreciate every little bit of good that flows through my day because I'm so fortunate to live the life I'm living and do the work that I love doing.
There's magic in the little moments and small wins that your side hustle pursuits produce. These need to be acknowledged because progress is progress.
While he loves the toys we get him, our Stinky Boy is more captivated by how ordinary items around our house function.
This kid will spend hours closing cupboard doors (ones we specifically don't lock), taking lids on and off mason jars, trying to flush the toilet poking my belly button to see what it does.
He's so freaking curious and is obsessed with learning.
I love watching his tongue hang out as I envision those little gears turning in his mind as he attempts to figure out the world each day.
Now, think about how crucial education or the lack of has been to get you to where you are today?
Over the past 5.5 years of building Perspective-Collective, I can proudly say that I've been self-taught in everything I took initiative to learn: social media, hand-lettering fundamentals, email marketing, copywriting, audio/podcasting, etc.
I didn't have to learn these things, I chose to learn them as I saw the growth and opportunities they yielded.
Knowledge is power and the more we strive to learn, the more value we can create for people which puts us in a position to thrive in what we do.
If something piques your curiosity, invest in yourself by taking the time to learn it and see where it leads you.
"This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play." - Alan Watts.
When this Little Ham Sammich plays, he plays hard to the point where nothing around him exists as he's lost down the rabbit hole of his imagination (unless he's wrestling his da-da of course).
This dude gets so lost in his play that he gets a wee bit frustrated when you snap him out of it to change him, make him dinner, or give him a bath—rightfully so!
How often do you get lost in play—or is the work you force yourself to do even play at all?
Watching my son play triggers this new filter that's been blooming in me. As I take the next steps in my business in 2020, anything that doesn't fit into the play category is something I should eliminate or delegate if I have the means.
I'm so grateful to have tapped into sources of play like creating, podcasting, and coaching. I play hard and get lost in the sauce for hours and the best thing about it all is the relationships I get to build when I leverage these skills I've learned.
Finding things that interest you is a good place to start if there's something you want to pursue but don't know the first steps to take.
I think I'm finally starting to see what Alan Watts is referring to in his quote because when I play hard in my business, it never feels like I'm working at all.
Here's a quick one Emily and I both agreed on that may be the most important lesson yet.
Little Dougie Fresh AKA Trey Money affirmed our beliefs that farts are funny because man, does he sure does laugh and looks our way when he breaks a little toot.
At the end of the day, my wife and I are still little kids at heart and will forever laugh at a fart.
His precious reactions to his little gusts of wind remind me to not take shit so seriously all the time. Literally, and figuratively and you shouldn't either!
Remember when I said the announcement of Little Scotty's birth instilled fear in me that my days of hustling on the side were over?
Boy was I wrong.
Instead, it set me on a laser-focused trajectory to where a potentially devastating crisis has turned into a life-changing opportunity.
This is the first time I'm able to publicly talk about this and it builds off of episode 149 that I recorded November 1st about Winning the War Inside Your Head.
In this episode, I talked about how crazy life has been between finding out we were expecting late September, to launching the Coaching Program and doing my first Live Podcast in the same week, to then scrambling to find a new home to expand into before the holidays.
It was a challenging, but exciting season we were entering into and while chaotic, things were moving oddly smooth for how fast things progressed...or so we thought.
A few days later, November 4th to be exact (which is a week after we closed on our new home that doubled our mortgage), I was sitting in my day job cubicle when HR came to my desk and asked to speak to me.
They strolled me down the hallway and sat me down with the President of our business. They informed me that Corporate was doing widespread budget cuts due to sales being down and wanted to get ahead of the 2020 forecast which wasn't promising.
With that being said, they proceeded to eliminate our entire marketing department out of nowhere. No sign, no warning at all.
It was a complete shock to myself, and even more so to my pregnant wife.
So much for a safe job right?
I spent the first two hours in panic mode because I was terrified I was about to lose the house we just closed on, hence why I couldn't talk about it until after we moved in on December 13th.
Despite being overwhelmed with negative emotions and thoughts, after those first two hours of panic, I went to work.
The more time I spent worrying and playing the victim, the quicker the window of opportunity would close.
I needed to take massive action so I immediately started making calls to all my friends in the creative industry THAT I BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PAST 5.5 YEARS (relationships are everything).
In my mind, I felt step 1 was to redo my resume and create a web UIUX based portfolio to land a good-paying "safe" job to get us a steady income to get by for at least a year or two to pay off our debt goals. After that, I'd ideally be able to take the risk and make the leap to full-time.
My first call after being laid off was with Peter Deltondo of Unfold and wizard behind Creative South's web user experience.
This dude didn't tell me what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear and it was a huge perspective shift.
He made me realize how much my current decisions on how to move forward were based on fear and scarcity. My heart and gut weren't into web design and writing a resume for it sucked the joy from me.
He made me realize what I was truly passionate about (and good at) was lettering, illustration, and branding—you know, THE WORK I'VE BEEN SHOWING OVER THE YEARS, not the UIUX related shit I did at the day job!
He was the first to tell me "Maybe this is the sign you need to do your thing full-time. You haven't been building this for over five years for nothing!"
Meh...scarcity mindset and the fear of failure were still top of mind so I immediately dismissed it. I thought to myself, "This would be awesome, but you don't understand the position I'm in and the risk that puts on my family?!"
However, my convo with Peter helped me know the type of work I wanted to show in my new portfolio I was building from scratch. I also knew that my targets were set on applying at some type of agency for remote work that could help me brush shoulders with big names to boost my portfolio.
So there I was, call after call with friends on getting advice/guidance/direction and it kept circling back to the eerily repetitive answer of "This is a sign, do your thing full-time."
It wasn't until I spent countless sleepless nights and multiple panic attacks that I brought this internal turmoil to my wife.
I explain that logic is telling me I need to apply for some type of agency job to get us a steady paycheck so we can cover our family expenses, maternity, and still hit our debt pay-off goal.
However, my gut and heart just weren't in it when I attempted to write my resume. It just felt "off" and it was stressing me out. Going full-time was what I always wanted, but the main thing holding me back the fear of not only failing myself but failing her and our kiddos.
Surprisingly, she legit recited the same unprompted answer as everyone else I had a call with which totally caught me off guard.
She agreed with them and instilled the confidence and affirmation I needed that me being laid off was the best thing that's ever happened to me.
She said, "If it doesn't work out, the worst thing that'll happen is that you have to get another job."
Boom. Sold. Let's Go.
Me getting laid off out of nowhere was the universe shoving me into action before I felt I was ready (opposed to my original plan of leaping on my own terms a year or two later).
While it's terrifying to say, on January 10th, 2020 (aka when my severance package runs out), I'll officially be making the leap to full-time coaching and freelance.
It's an emotional trip for me to see all these years of treating my side hustle like it was a full-time business finally come to fruition.
I always said if I had an extra 40 hours back in my life, I'd be able to do so many more things and make an even bigger impact. It's funny because the Universe was listening and it always gives me the gift I needed but often disguised behind the mask of adversity.
The best thing about this that makes me so fucking proud is that I've blazed my own path and did things my way.
All these lessons my son taught me the past two years have played such a significant role in leading me to this opportunity. My hope is that these four little lessons of be relentlessly fearless, enjoy the little things, stay curious and stay learning, and play hard can play a significant role in helping you take the next step in your creative grind in 2020.
Let's climb some new mountains together and celebrate the little milestone along the way. Eventually, we'll get to appreciate the view at the top and start the process all over again.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in what other people are doing or to give into the temptation to jump on the latest trend.
One of the hardest things to do as a creative is to go with your gut and pursue work that’s true to you.
I like to call this staying in your own lane instead of swerving into someone else’s and riding their wave.
I feel this is self-mastery at it’s finest, and it’s not something you can attain overnight. It takes years and tons of hard-learned lessons to get to the point where you’re self-aware of the artistic voice blooming inside of you and pouring that onto your canvas.
I’m five and a half years deep, and I’m just now feeling like I’m finding my artistic voice. I'm using this voice to construct the lane I want to navigate for the next 20 years.
This show exists to challenge and empower you to find your own groove over time.
Today’s episode, I’m bringing back my mentor and one of the people I look up to the most in this creative sport.
I’m talking about Mr. Crunk Friday himself, Jason Craig, aka @jasonthe29th on IG.
What I admire so much about this dude is that he stays in his lane and owns it. Matter of fact, he embraces and thrives within it, and it’s inspiring how he truly navigates his own creative realm.
He’s a Southern gentleman with a Midwestern work ethic crushing the full-time art and design game in Augusta, GA.
When he’s not winning awards, speaking on big stages, or being involved in the creative community, he’s helping guide people like I am through these rocky terrains to get to the green pastures on the other side through witty analogies and Level 62 wizard-like advice.
Take notes, strap in and get familiar with this fine fellow as Jason and I peel back the layers on:
We overcome a lot of technical difficulties to drop this fire on you, and I have no doubt there’s a nugget tucked away that you can apply to your creative grind.
Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.
If you want that extra level of clarity, community, and accountability develop a process that helps you win with your work, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program A-List waitlist now for January's relaunch.
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I’m hella proud to say that we’ve made it to Episode 150.
There seems to be a massive shift every 50 episodes in the message and direction in which I’m steering this ship.
The more I continue to niche down and follow the direction of my internal compass, the more clarity and confidence I continue to find
The more clarity and confidence I find, the more I’m able to enjoy this wave that I’m making and riding.
As we approach the end of what’s been the craziest year of my life and embrace what I’m sure will be an even crazier 2020, we’re entering into a new and exciting season of the podcast.
The topics will get deeper. More resources will be created. The community will get tighter, and more targeted value will be served to your front door like a piping hot pizza from your favorite local joint.
It’s up to you to consume and take massive action to get the results you want.
Today’s episode is a big one and will set the tone for the rest of your year, and potentially your life, if you want to get dramatic about it.
We’re fortunate to have Chris Do on the show today. When I mentioned I was recording with him, my DMs on Instagram lit up like a Christmas Tree, so I know you’re just as hyped for this one as I am.
Chris’s mission is to empower creatives to make money doing what we love without selling our souls through his educational platform called The Futur. You’ll find a goldmine of business, design, and inspirational resources to help you thrive on your creative grind (he’ll tell you more about this and where you can get more info on your own, after this episode of course).
The content he and his team have dished out has amassed a global, loyal, and engaged tribe of over 600k on YouTube, 140k on The Futur’s IG, almost 200k on his personal IG, and 100k on Facebook.
Do a few hand exercises to loosen up so you can rack up your notes because we diving deep on topics like:
This episode is so much bigger than design, branding, increasing your rates, etc.
This one is the epitome of why it’s called the Perspective Podcast because Chris is going to:
Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.
If you want that extra level of clarity, community, and accountability develop a process that helps you win with your work, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program A-List waitlist now for January's relaunch.
—
With tomorrow being Thanksgiving here in the States, I wanted to take a second to just say thank you for giving the show a chance and sticking with me as the show evolves.
There’s a lot of creativity-based podcasts, resources, and content out there...I know my style and approach aren’t for everyone, and that’s totally okay! Just know it means the world to me that you vibe out and tune in to what I’m building out of my little home studio.
I try to create fuel for you when, in reality, you are the fuel that drives me to keep showing up and pouring my soul into this—especially during the craziest season of my life, which I’ll touch on later in this minisode.
So thank you, from the bottom of my pizza-loving heart. Thank you for giving me a chance and growing with me as I try to blaze my own little trail on this earth’s surface and tap into my unique purpose.
With that being said, today's episode is a shorter one that I know will hit home if you deal with the same inner critic and negative self-talk like I do.
In order to win the war that wages daily between your ears and design the life you want to live, my goal for this episode is to get you to:
—
This one is special today, and it's the longest episode I’ve ever published but for a good reason.
If you’ve followed my story, you know I have a background in coaching football.
I reluctantly started my coaching journey in college after playing two years and then blowing out my back twice at Wartburg College in Cedar Falls, IA. Even though I was bitter, I stayed on the team and became a student coach so I could be a part of something bigger than myself.
Once I graduated, I volunteered for three years coaching Varsity Wide Receivers at my Alma Mater West High in Waterloo, IA.
From there, I was a personal trainer for about two years at a local Snap Fitness.
Behind the scenes, I was always doing some type of side hustle, like creating t-shirts, logos, and tattoo designs...but nothing ever seemed to stick.
The coaching side wasn’t paying the bills, and the art side wasn’t gaining any traction and was more depressing than anything.
It felt impossible to connect coaching with creativity, but that’s what I attempted to do with my Instagram in 2014 and then my blog in June 2015.
All of it paved the path to becoming a Creative Coach early this year and starting up the Side Hustler’s Coaching Program this past September.
In this program, I selected 10 creatives out of an application pool to go deep on a passion project for three months. They're going to create a body of work they can, not only be proud of, but can leverage moving forward.
People on the outside of this Group Accountability Mastermind setting only see them evolving their craft and skills.
This program is more than that—it’s a breeding ground for cultivating relationships, building confidence, overcoming comparison, mastering time management, developing strategies, routines, and more.
There’s the War Room, which is our daily hub to keep each other accountable.
Every first and third Thursday are group Accountability Calls.
Every second and fourth Thursday we have Hot Seat Calls. This is where everyone gets a turn to share their biggest breakthrough or struggle for that week while the rest of the family listens and takes notes.
Today’s episode is a recorded hot seat call.
There’s no fancy mics and no planned agenda.
Just 9 vulnerable and hungry creatives (minus the homie Andrew Pethoud on this one) making time to meet outside of jobs and families to grow and work together toward taking the next step on their creative grinds.
If you’re feeling stuck and isolated trying to figure out your own next steps to take, I know you’re going to find a ton of valuable takeaways tucked in this one.
If you feel like this is something you want you to be a part of, sign up for the coaching A-List Waitlist for updates as Round 2 of the Side Hustler’s Coaching Program starts Jan 13–April 5th.
—
So many people love pizza but hate the crust. I’m here to tell ya you gotta learn to love the crust.
The first few bites of a slice of pizza are when you’re high on life and things seem to be working in your favor. The crust is the low moments of adversity and failure.
You can’t have pizza without the crust, and you can't appreciate the highs without the lows.
The crusty times test our character and mold us into the next version of ourselves. It’s up to us on how we respond, so we can evolve into the version of who we want to be.
Someone who’s dealt with waves of crust and always comes back bigger and better than ever is my homie Terence Tang of Tinlun Studio, aka The Tenacious Turnip aka Tinman the Terrific.
Terence and I go back a for a few years now, and I’ve seen his lowest moments set him up for something great each time he responds with a positive attitude.
He’s one of the best humans I know, and his story is sure to inspire you to love and use your crust as part of your story to inspire others as well.
Terence is a full-time freelance lettering muralist making moves out of Houston, TX, and empowers humans to be a little bit nicer through his Human Kind initiative.
He’s also a low key wizard in calligraphy and photography and has a sneaker collection that is certainly bigger than the Kardashian sisterhood’s shoe collection combined.
In today’s episode, Terence and I go deep on:
If you feel lost, stuck, and caught up in your own crust, this episode will push you to take some serious action.
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Do you show up each day winging it and doing what feels good, or do you have a plan of attack and a system you thrive in?
Sure, some people can just show up and figure it out, but what if there’s room to optimize your workflow while still acting in the muse?
It tends to be a little bit easier for people who do their things full time, as there’s a little more margin and room for flexibility.
If you’re like me and you hold down a day job, your time is already scarce...so winging it each day is most likely not going to yield the type of results you’re wanting.
Having a plan, scheduling your success, and optimizing your productivity is key...plus you gotta leave a little margin in there for play to stay sane.
My friend Steve Wolf and his wife Danielle are people who have a plan and have been consistently crushing it. They are the brains behind Steve Wolf Designs, a design and branding studio in Austin, Texas. They crush work for brands like Target, Lennox Air, Butler Bros, Adobe, TypeHike, and everything in between.
While Steve thrives in the creativity department crushing design, logos, branding, custom type, etc., I feel every creative needs the Danielle counterpart—she is an organization guru who runs marketing, process development, and project management (basically all the stuff creatives like I do suck at). Productivity is her jam, and she’s also a coach who she helps busy women find their unique balance and create more joy in their life.
Strap in and take some notes and we cover a ton of topics like:
If you’re a side hustler or freelancer who’s ready to step your game up, then this episode was crafted for you.
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Where are you right now? Not your physical location, but the current state of your side hustle during this season?...and by season, I don’t mean fall (if you’re in the U.S.).
Just like books have chapters, our lives have seasons.
I’m currently in a season where I’m making a huge transition in my business. I’m fully embracing myself as the side hustle guy and going all-in on the podcast, the coaching program, and assets/resources to help people like you take the next steps.
It’s where I’m supposed to be right now and where my energy’s supposed to be focused.
Unfortunately, there’s not much time to play and responding back to every person every minute every day falls down the list of priorities during this shift.
I have to give myself permission to not do all the things all the time like I used to with freelance, selling merch, etc. It is what it is, but then again, it’s only for this season.
Maybe the season you’re in is all about exploring and finding your style.
Maybe you’re in a season where you have to pump the brakes to attend to life’s bigger demands.
Whatever season you’re in, be in that season and show up as your true self. Be hella grateful that you even have the opportunity to exist and be able to do what you do. It’s a gift to breathe, think, and act—don’t take it for granted.
Seasons change, and so will you. Make the most of the season you’re in.
With that being said, someone who makes the most of each day in each season she's in is my new bestie Molly Jacques.
I’ve been a fanboy of her gorgeous illustrative lettering work which has landed her clients like Target, Nike, The New York Times, and Disney (to name a few)....no big deal, right?
I’ve also been an admirer/stalker on how she handles her business as a creative cheerleader and educator for our community (especially her email marketing expertise).
She’s a beast at producing educational content, courses, and resources to help creatives scale our side hustles and make more money! HOT DAMN!
Tune in and take notes as we hit a ton of topics like:
If you need a little spark to start taking yourself and your side hustle more seriously, this episode was made specifically for you.
—
Side Hustle Special | Live From Creative Works with Rogie & LittlePatterns
I have a special episode for you today for those of you who couldn’t attend Creative Works Conference in Memphis, TN.
Maggie Enterrios of Littlepatterns and Rogie King of Super Team Deluxe and Dribbble joined me on the stage for an hour-long discussion that no doubt melted the faces of all 400 creatives in the audience.
We specifically dropped a ton of valuable takeaways on:
If you’re side hustling outside your day job or pursuing a career in freelancing, you definitely need to listen to this one.
—
Side Hustler’s Series Part 4 of 4: 6 Ways to Carve Out Time to Grind & Execute Outside Your Day Job
A PROVEN SYSTEM FOR KNOCKING SHIT OUT EACH DAY
Hands down, the #1 thing creatives like you tell me you struggle with the most? Finding time to grind on your side hustle.
I’m hella qualified to talk on this topic because I’ve gotten pretty damn good at:
In five years, I’ve been able to build Perspective-Collective, freelance, and handle a weekly podcast all outside of my full-time job. Not to mention, I’m a husband and father to the dopest little dude this side of the Mississippi.
This shit isn’t easy, and I’m not trying to brag. I’m just trying to convince you that if I can do it, anyone can.
If finding time to grind is one of your biggest pain points, I feel the following system can improve your productivity immediately.
Note: I also have this available as a guide in the Side Hustler’s War Chest. In case you missed that, you can download it here.
#1. Take One Bite at a Time
It’s easy to feel like you’re not doing enough when you see someone else crushing it. Often, our ambition is larger than our reality, and we feel we have to eat the full pizza in one bite.
While it’s great you want to start a weekly podcast, vlog, and newsletter all at once, biting off more than you can chew can set yourself up for failure if you:
I started posting consistent drawings on Instagram in the spring of 2014. I then took on weekly blogging in June 2015, then added a newsletter in October 2015. I began the weekly podcast in August 2016. In between, I’d sprinkle in some freelancing, public speaking, teaching workshops, and selling products.
There’s no way in hell I’d still be trucking along had I attempted to do all of this right from the jump.
I suggest taking things slow and steady, as we’re looking to accomplish long-term consistency.
Start with one bite at a time by setting ambitious (yet realistic) expectations and taking action.
Once you lock down your process, take a bigger bite by slowly baking the next thing into your routine.
#2. Plan Your Attack
I’m discovering the most successful people I look up to don’t roll out of bed and shit productivity—they schedule their success.
When I stopped winging it and planned my daily attack, it made decision-making so much easier.
Here’s how I plan my attack:
1. MAKE A WEEKLY TASK LIST ON SUNDAY
You can list these by hand or with digital apps like Wunderlist, Notion, or Evernote. Update your list accordingly as things pop up during the week
Carry over the remaining tasks from the previous week.
2. PRIORITIZE THEM WITH MY CREATIVE GRIND (ABC) SYSTEM*
*Those in my coaching program get to be the first guinea pigs for a basic and more advanced version of my Creative Grind System.
3. PLAN YOUR FOLLOWING DAY’S TASKS
Here’s a quick glimpse of how I list my next day’s attack:
Sometimes, you may only have a small window of time so knocking out the B1 task makes sense.
Only knock out the C task if you get through all A and B tasks for that day.
THE GOAL
The goal is to knock out and cross off AT LEAST one A task a day.
Crossing that A task off your list becomes a productivity habit-forming addiction!
Depending on your schedule and goals, tweak this and find what works for you!
#3. Eat the Worm
I’m a night owl by default, but waking up early and eating the worm has been the catalyst for the growth of my side hustle.
There are three reasons why mornings are my jam:
For me, productivity lies in doing the most important task first—the one that will scale my business. These big tasks typically require the most willpower.
Oddly enough, the most important tasks that move my business forward and require the most willpower have nothing to do with drawing—they have everything to do with writing.
Writing is the backbone to my side hustle. I write practically every day with the podcast, the coaching program, workshops, speeches, Instagram captions, product details, landing pages, email campaigns, etc.
Working a day job and opening myself up to the world’s distractions takes a massive toll on my willpower. There’s no way I have the focus or desire to do my best writing after I clock out from work or after I put my son to bed.
Getting up early and eating the worm sucked in the beginning and still sucks today.
I had to adjust by using the hack of getting up 10-20 minutes earlier each week.
This significantly helped me adjust instead of making the switch from 6:30 am to 4:30 am. This is an example of a bite-sized change mentioned in #1.
Grinding before the world wakes up provides the best focus for me, and maybe it could for you.
To get the results you’ve never had, you have do something you’ve never done.
I’ve made hard changes in my routine to chase that productivity-high. It gets easier to adjust when you begin to see the progress.
I realize there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to this, as everyone’s schedules and responsibilities are different.
Start by determining when you have the most willpower in the day. Then carve out time and act on your A1 task.
#4. Play UNO
Playing Uno ties into #2 and is my way of saying “focus on doing one thing each day that will help get you the best results.”
Looking at that massive to-do list can be overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to start, so you become paralyzed from taking action.
This is why we take that weekly task list and prioritize it to create a plan of attack.
Focusing on the one thing you planned the night before (the A1 task) makes the game winnable and easier to manage.
Note: to reiterate #2, when you knocked out the A1 task for the day, you then shift your target to A2.
It’s hard not to feel accomplished and experience progress when you knock the main thing off your list each day. You and momentum become best friends when you optimize your system for maximum badassery.
#5. Eliminate Distractions
It’s so easy for us to get distracted because we’ve become glued to our phones, computers, smartwatches, and TVs. We’re “too connected” and don’t want to miss out on anything and everything.
I’ve had to discipline myself to eliminate distractions.
When it’s grind time, I have to prepare my environment so I can get into the zone.
KILL SOCIAL MEDIA NOTIFICATIONS
For me, I kill all notifications on my phone except for texts and calls in case of an emergency.
I personally have a strong belief that you do not need social media notifications on your phone. That shit will distract you from keeping the main thing the main thing.
USE DND MODE
I always have Do Not Disturb Mode set on my phone from 9 PM–6 AM, so nothing distracts me before bed until after I eat the worm and play Uno. I’ll even turn on DND Mode when I need to practice a speech, record the podcast, or get lost in a drawing.
SET APP LIMITS & NOTIFICATIONS
On iOS, you can set App Limits to put time constraint reminders on apps you tend to overuse.
You can also enable notifications to let you know how much screen time you’ve been using to keep yourself in check.
OPTIMIZE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
For me, having a clean desk/office, closing the door, and having one screen on for willpower tasks like writing helps me find my zone.
As much as I love my cats, having them crawl all over me and knocking shit over on my desk while I work is a no-go.
Overall, protect and value the time you’ve carved out for yourself to grind—no one else will do that for you.
#6. Say NO, so You Can Say YES
Your secret weapon for creating more time is a muscle you don’t flex often enough.
You gotta learn how to say NO, NOPE, and NAH, I’M GOOD.
If you constantly use the excuse of “I never have time,” it’s times to switch your language to “I haven’t made it a priority.”
I should know because this excuse was my default for everything. Any margin of time I had got filled up because I was a professional over-committer who didn’t understand the power of saying NO.
Of course, you can’t make something a priority because you said YES to something else when you should’ve said NO!
It’s really simple: saying YES fills your time and saying NO creates more time for what’s most important.
THE HELL YES FILTER
Create a filter for yourself—if an opportunity comes your way, and it’s not an instant HELL YES that aligns with your main vision, then it’s an immediate HELL NO.
THE HELL NO LIST
Another step to help you frame your Hell-Yes filter is by creating a list of No’s and Hell-No’s. That way, you have set guidelines to stick to when decent opportunities come knocking.
This filter and list will clamp down on letting people and stupid, non-essential tasks steal your time.
Take Yourself Seriously
Everyone has what it takes to execute their side hustle outside their day job.
The problem is that people struggle to grind on their side hustle because they lack a system and some discipline.
Regardless if you’re a night owl or early bird, make notes of these ideas—I know they can help you see results ASAP.
It all boils down to—how badly do you want it? Are you ready to take yourself and your work seriously?
Need Some Extra Help? Check out The Side Hustler's Coaching Program
If you're finding that you want some extra hand-holding and accountability to take the next step, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program now to join the waitlist for September 16th's launch week.
Enjoy This Episode?
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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Side Hustler's Series Part 3 of 4: 5 Killer Tips for Managing Your Side Hustle to Maximize Results
Back in May, I had the chance to jump on an episode of The Happy Ever Crafter TV with the calligraphy queen, Becca Courtice.
I came prepared with some notes to help her niche calligraphy and lettering audience to get the most out of their side hustles.
What kind of a jerk would I be if I didn't go more in-depth and share it with you?
Regardless if you do calligraphy, lettering, knitting, underwater basket weaving, etc., there is something in this episode that can help you take your side hustle to the next level.
Today, I'm giving you 5 Killer Tips for Managing Your Side Hustle to Maximize Results. Prepare to take some notes!
Hopefully, there's a missing piece here that gets you one step closer to putting your peculiar yet promising puzzle together.
1. Have a Plan & Show Up with Intention
How comfortably can you answer the following questions with conviction?
Figuring out the answers requires a lot of time, soul searching, and uncomfortable dialogue in your head.
Once you're able to tap into that vision, reverse engineer that dream so you can pinpoint the steps you need to take.
From here, you're able to layout short-term and long-term S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals that align with the vision.
A goal without a plan is just a wish, so knowing what you want and developing a gameplan are crucial.
When you know what you want and have outlined your steps, there's less room for guessing on what you should be working on each day.
Having a plan makes it much easier to attack the top task that moves you closer to your goal each day.
Note: If you lack a plan or system for making time to work on your side hustle, you're going to love next week's part 3 episode. I'm giving you 6 Ways to Carve Out Time to Grind & Execute Outside Your Day Job.
2. Be Consistent
My favorite quote about consistency comes from Sean McCabe (Seanwes).
"Nobody notices announcements, people notice consistency.
It's time for a hard dose of reality and some tough love.
There's no way you should be complaining about the promise of your side hustle when you've only:
People won't notice shit until you consistently stay in front of them and make it crystal clear what you're doing.
You have to remind people that you exist, and you do this with—you guessed it—a plan.
One of the best ways to do this is to lock down a systemic routine of when you'll create and when you'll post.
Frequency
I recommend sharing AT LEAST once a week, as we tend to be creatures of weekly cycles (e.g. weekly episodes of our favorite TV shows or Monday Night Football).
Daily output is going to get your faster results, of course. This isn't realistic for many people and can easily lead to burnout.
Weekly is a manageable output that anyone can figure out. Start with something small and add more to your plate as you build it into your routine.
Duration
If this is something you're good at and it lights you up, I feel a minimum of six months of pursuing it with maximum effort is the least you can do. I'd highly recommend pushing it easily to 1-2 years if it's bringing you any of the 9 benefits I mentioned in last week's episode.
It took me in the 1-2 year range to really start finding my footing. Currently, my fifth year is when I'm really finding my stride.
It. Takes. Time.
It's not always about reaching the most people in the beginning, but the right people slowly over the years.
3. Be Persistent
I wanted this one to rhyme with Be Consistent because I like to have a good time and unwind with a rhyme outside design.
News Flash: it's not easy pursuing something that's important to you—it's a straight-up rollercoaster ride, as you're being tested at every turn.
You're going to experience plenty of shitty moments along your creative grind. There will be plenty of people that will attempt to rain on your parade. You gotta keep pushing to bathe in those sunny days when you've tapped into your creatively-fulfilled zone.
I don't' have enough fingers or toes to count how many battles of self-doubt, depressed funks, haters, financial emergencies, etc. I've faced when pursuing my side hustle. I do know that every shit storm I've weathered has made me stronger.
Every time you get knocked down, it's your responsibility to get back up and keep swinging. It's called responsibility because you have the ability to respond.
Each time you get back up, you're adding a new bruise or scar that you can add to the "hard lessons learned jar" and use it as fuel.
As cliche as it sounds...if it was easy, everyone would do it.
It's not easy, but gritting it out because it's important to you will always be worth it.
Don't find yourself on your death bed wondering, "What would life look like had I gotten back up to fight another day?"
4. Stop Trying to Be Pizza
What fun would this be if I didn't include something pizza-related?
My life motto has become, "You can't make everyone happy, you're not pizza."
It's my filter that I run everything through when I show up each day.
It's insanely hard to gain traction when you feel you have to reach every human in every pocket of the planet when you hit publish.
The harder you try to reach the masses, the harder it is to land on that one soul who needs what you have to offer.
Attempting to please everyone usually means you're riding the fence and playing it safe. You're scared to have a strong opinion, as it could drive someone away.
James Victore on episode 117 would call this being "Oatmeal." Don't be Oatmeal.
All it takes is one person at a time to attract that like-minded tribe of freaks who vibe to your flavor of weird.
Instead of going for width, go for depth.
Embrace who you are, share what's true to yourself, and keep the perfect person in mind when you hit publish (even if it's yourself).
More importantly, disregard the thoughts and opinions of the haters. What you put into the world wasn't meant for them anyways.
5. Find Your Secret Sauce
What's the secret sauce, and how do you make it?
The starting base to your secret sauce: find the overlap of your greatest strength and greatest passion. This is called your sweet spot, and it's something I learned from Ken Coleman of The Entreleadership Podcast.
You're going to have a hard time finding success with your side hustle if it's:
The quick way to go about this is to make two-circle Venn Diagram.
Strengths
On the left, list your strengths.
These could be things you can naturally thrive in that others find difficult.
It could be skills you've acquired for hours you've spent learning a trade or craft.
Taking a StrengthsFinder2.0 test can help you peel back another layer and reveal some deeper answers.
Passions
On the right, list your passions—the things that light you up and leave you feeling fulfilled.
These are the things you zone out and lose track of time doing.
It could be the thing that keeps you up at night because your mind is bursting with ideas.
At the same time, it could be the thing that gets you jazzed to get out of bed each day.
Bonus Points: ask friends and family to list out what they feel your greatest strengths and passions are so you can locate patterns.
Secret Ingredient #3
It takes some time and a lot of experimentation to find your secret sauce, but once you do, you can add in the third and final ingredient.
That third ingredient is your market. I'm talking about your target audience or perfect follower that your sweet spot provides value or a solution to.
Now that's a whole other can of worms, but hopefully, it has you thinking of the value you bring to the table with your secret sauce.
Note: I highly recommend Seth Godin's book This is Marketing to go deeper on this topic. Get his audiobook for FREE here.
Putting it All Together
It's easier said than done, but implementing these tips into your side hustle is no doubt going to help you maximize your efforts and see results.
Yes, everything starts with a plan. However, practicing self-discipline, having some grit, and understanding the value you provide is crucial for taking your side hustle to the next level.
That's all a part of the process, but the energy and effort is worth it once you find your stride.
Need Some Extra Help? Check out The Side Hustler's Coaching Program
If you're finding that you want some extra hand-holding and accountability to take the next step, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program now to join the waitlist for September 16th's launch week.
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Side Hustler's Series Part 2 of 4: 9 Benefits of Side Hustling
The Dream You've Been Sold
Most likely, you’re a listener/reader for two reasons:
If so, you've tuned into the right place.
I focus on the side hustle part because hustlin' is a habit, and it's all I know.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to do their own thing full-time right out of the gates. In fact, I'd say the majority of people don't go this route.
You were sold the dream of the traditional route of getting student loans to fund college, so you can land a good job.
You then get married, get a mortgage, have kids, and do the same routine day-in and day-out.
The goal is to pay your dues at your day job to help someone else’s dream come true in hopes of retiring around sixty. Supposedly, that's when your life begins?
If you're like me, you've realized this isn't your dream at all.
Something deep inside you craves to go against the grain and blaze your own path.
I've had this internal craving since college where I was creating tattoos, logos, etc. to pay for video games and 30 packs of Busch Light.
This craving has only grown stronger as I've spent over five years building Perspective-Collective outside my day job.
Trust me when I say I've invested thousands of hours and two power plants worth of energy into finding ways to transform my hobbies into a monetized side hustle/side business—all outside a day job.
I’ve figured out what works through A TON of trial and error (extra emphasis on the error part).
No doubt, it's been a lot of work to navigate this ship to where it's sailing today. Regardless of the storms and choppy waters I've dealt with along the way, every ounce of effort I've invested in my dream has been worth it.
Pursue Your Gift & Make an Impact
If you’re not fully convinced nor confident that you’re ready to invest in the long haul, I have 9 super-convincing benefits of side hustling to share with ya.
Before I begin, I feel it's important to note that there's nothing wrong with having a day job.
You may have landed one that you love and have no desire to do your own thing full-time. That's totally cool!
You also may be in a position where you'll be in your day job for a while due to personal situations like mine. That's cool too!
This episode is solely fuel for satisfying that inner craving to do more with your gift. That's it!
Without further ado, the following benefits are based on my experience, as well as anecdotal evidence from my juggernaut creative friends and podcast guests.
#1. Find Your Purpose
This is #1 for a reason because I know what it's like to feel like you have nothing to offer the world.
If you go to bed each night without something to look forward to, something is wrong. It’s time to change that with a side hustle that feels like play.
I'm jazzed to get up each day because of my side hustle of helping other creatives build their killer side hustles.
I look forward to putting in the work and reapings these 9 benefits that come with it.
Life is dull and unfulfilling when you lack a purpose—side hustles can change that.
#2. Cultivate Killer Relationships
You may have heard the phrases, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” or “Your network = your net worth.” I believe both of these are 100% true.
I also believe in the quote from Jim Rhome, “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Relationships are everything. Your side hustle can help connect you with like-minded people who have similar goals, work ethics, and values.
Two things to keep top of mind:
You’ll be surprised by the genuine and abundant friendships you’ll build through your side hustle over time.
#3. Attract a Tribe of Like-Minded Freaks
"Embracing your weird" seems to be the storyline of 2019 and I'm all for it—the weirder the better.
Starting a side hustle or a passion project allows you to go deep on things that interest YOU.
It's a playground to experiment and embrace the YOU in YOU-nique.
Chances are you're not alone—your weird quirks and qualms are most certainly shared by other weirdos.
When you publicly share and own your YOU-niquness, you increase the odds of attracting a like-minded tribe of freaks who vibe to your unique flavor of weird.
Then you circle back to Benefit #2 and cultivate killer relationships—it's a win-win.
#4. Add New Skills to Your Arsenal
This one is obvious but important to stress. My side hustle has allowed me to learn skills that I’ve been able to leverage for raises at work, charge more in freelance, and attract more opportunities.
Pursuing Perspective-Collective has taught me how to:
I could keep going, but you get the picture. Whatever you want to learn, you can create a passion project around it.
#5. Build Confidence & Overcome Fear
I had little to no confidence in myself or my abilities for about the first 24-25 years of my life...until I started Perspective-Collective.
I was able to find my groove when I shared my work consistently on Instagram.
Facing the things I feared the most—like sharing my work, speaking in public, asking for what I wanted in life, or saying NO to people—has resulted in some incredible breakthroughs in my creative career.
Leaning into this fear has helped me unlock confidence in my purpose, my creative abilities, and my mission.
Side hustling builds confidence when you're persistently getting uncomfortable. Period.
#6. Turn Your Work into Play
Hobbies are fun and having fun = play.
There are no set-in-stone requirements that you have to turn that hobby into a side hustle, especially if your play begins to feel like work.
If your side hustle isn’t fun, it’s just another soul-sucking job. Keep your inner creative child alive and enjoy the messy process.
However, when your work becomes play, your potential is unlimited. The passion and fun will fuel you during the low moments.
#7. Make an Impact
I used to chase the glory: more money, more followers, more engagement, etc. However, when I focused on serving people and the impact I had on them, I found a lot of these manifest as a byproduct.
Creating for impact means contributing to something bigger than yourself—the greater whole.
Making an impact leaves a legacy far after I'm buried six feet deep.
I’m hoping the podcast and the Side Hustler's Coaching Program are things my son can be proud of and people can find value in for years to come.
#8. Generate Extra Income
Who doesn’t love to make a little extra money on the side?
For me, money isn't the focus anymore, it's become a byproduct of Benefit #7 and serving people like you.
I've learned that money and opportunities will come your way when you're ready and prepared for them.
Here are multiple ways you can make supplemental income with your side hustle: freelancing, slanging merch, creating digital products, consulting, coaching, teaching, influencer marketing, social media marketing, content creation, affiliates, etc.
For me, I’ve done a little bit of everything. The extra income I've generated over the years has helped me pay off credit cards, put a down payment on my wife's whip, cover emergency medical expenses, take vacations, donate to charities like Inch x Inch, and even buy special gifts for the lovely lady in my life.
Even if extra income isn’t your intent with your side hustle, just know there's a good chance you could probably monetize what you’re doing.
#9. Win Your Freedom
Again, maybe you’re not looking to take your side hustle full-time, and that’s totally okay. I know tons of powerhouse creatives who still hold down a day job like Brian Steely and Nick Slater.
If you're like me, you eventually strive to do your thing full-time.
I have a game plan to get there, but I'm still a few years away from taking that leap.
However, I’ve seen how side hustles and passion projects has unlocked financial and time freedom for my friends like Pandr Design, Lauren Hom, Musketon, and Elizabeth Gray of The Grayter Good.
When they started to take their side hustle more seriously, they were able to evolve them into lucrative creative careers.
Why can’t this be you and me too?
Share Your Gift with the World
Maybe you're ready to transform your hobby to a side hustle.
Maybe you're ready to take your side hustle to the next level?
Whatever it is, I hope you see the crazy benefits a side hustle can yield when you tap into your gifts and share it with the world.
So what if you have a day job? Don't let that hold you back from building a side hustle.
Leverage your day job to fuel your dream job, and have some fun in the process!
Need Some Extra Help? Check out The Side Hustler's Coaching Program
If you're finding that you want some extra hand-holding and accountability to take the next step, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program now to join the waitlist for September 16th's launch week.
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Side Hustler's Series Part 1 of 4: 3 Levels to Find Your Wolf Pack
Humble Side Hustle Beginnings
“Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.”
— Ziad K. Abdelnour
I've been side hustling for a hot minute now. One of my bigger side hustles was right out of college when a buddy and I started a clothing brand called Daydreamin' Clothing Incorporated. We quickly changed it to Company because we were far from a corporation, but it just sounded cool.
Well, before lettering was a thing on Instagram, I was making hand-lettered logos and graphics for our brand back in 2010.
We started off with our logo on a few shitty Gildan logo tees, then ordered some business cards through Vista Print and called ourselves a business.
While our original launch was hot garbage, I'm proud of it because we were young dreamers taking big action.
Those first few logo tees evolved into more complex designs as we filed an LLC.
Two years into it, we were sponsoring rappers, skaters, motocross bikers, and local "influencers."
Three years into it, we were hosting events at clubs, doing pop-ups shops, and getting in brick and mortar and online stores like Kazbah.
We were making shit happen and figuring it out along the way.
My partner was the point-of-contact string-puller, accountant, and fulfillment manager.
I was obviously the artist, designer, and the marketing/promo lead.
We balanced each other out well and brought in help for extra support.
In our fourth year, we were getting serious and ready to elevate our product offerings.
We lined up a huge investor and locked down a warehouse for creating custom threads and patterns for whatever we could scheme up.
This was the turning point—it became a shit or get off the pot kind of thing.
The Banana Split
My partner was all-in and ready to quit his job to pursue this.
I was in the middle of changing day jobs, had a new mortgage, and was sitting on a pile of private student loan debt. I wasn't as eager to take the risk and wanted to keep doing this as my secondary "full-time" side hustle.
Things went sour when we discussed splitting shares of the company if we went with the investor. We didn't see eye-to-eye on percentages and my partner felt like he could make this dream happen on his own. We ended up making like a banana and split.
That's when I started Perspective-Collective in 2014. I had made up my mind I was going solo, and I thought I didn't need anyone's help to get to where I wanted to be in life.
I spent the first year obsessively learning hand-lettering and posting daily on Instagram. I slowly began developing my style, finding my voice, and growing an audience.
I hit a wall the second year.
I felt called to do more than just share pretty polished Instagram posts. However, I was trapped in my little Cedar Falls, Iowa, bubble and had no idea what the next step was.
I felt so isolated and stuck, but the cure was doing something radical to rattle my comfort cage.
Rattling the Comfort Cage
I found the Creative South Conference through Instagram and made a decision I was going to find a way to attend.
After my successful proposal to my day job, I flew to Columbus, GA, for a life-changing experience in April 2015.
This conference allowed me to attach myself to people doing things I didn't know were possible. It revealed the next steps and provided answers to questions I didn't even know I was seeking.
Most importantly, it showed me the power of getting around like-minded people who knew more than I did. This is the power of community.
I went home on fire and immediately joined the Seanwes community. They welcomed me with open arms at the conference and eliminated the feeling of isolation. It was a pricey investment, but definitely worth it in the grand scheme of things.
Find Your Wolf Pack
From there, I joined an accountability group for the next level of connection.
Along the way, I would pick up mentors like Jason Craig and Brian Manley, who took me under their wing in regards to public speaking.
Every year, my side hustle evolved as I added something new to the tool belt. Drawing turned into blogging. Blogging turned into speaking. Speaking turned into a podcast. Somewhere in between, I started teaching workshops and selling products.
Doing all of this outside my day job has helped me build my own community. It's put me in a position where I can pursue coaching other creatives to build something of their own outside their day jobs.
The point I want to make? None of this would have happened if I thought I had all the answers and had been too prideful to ask for help. I've had help at each step along the way.
Yes, sometimes, you have to to be the lone wolf and make mistakes in order to learn and push forward.
In my experience, seeking out a wolf pack and asking for help allows you to bypass obstacles and get on the fast track for growth much quicker than being a lone wolf.
Wolves survive and thrive by being in packs.
If you're tired of feeling stuck and isolated on an island, I have a few levels for finding your wolf pack.
Level 1: Find Community
Finding community was the spark I needed to get off my island.
Going to a conference—where I didn't know a soul—and leaving with people I considered family changed the game.
I can't stress enough how important it is to get around like-minded people who are doing or strive to do the same thing you're trying to accomplish.
Finding a community doesn't have to revolve around money. If you can't afford a conference or an online "gated" community, don't sweat it.
There are free communities on Facebook, Slack, Instagram DM Groups, Online Forums, etc. that you can start with.
In fact, it's the main reason I created The Perspective-Collective FREE private group. I want hungry side hustlers like you to be able to access like-minded creatives across the world sharing feedback, resources, and encouragement.
This could be a great wolf pack to start with and we'd love to have ya.
Level 2: Join/Create an Accountability Group
Once you join a community and start building a rapport with people, you'll notice there are certain individuals whom you most vibe with.
These are perfect candidates to start an accountability group with.
Think of this as your tightest homies in the wolf pack. You guys form your own mini wolf pack.
When I was in the Seanwes group back in 2015-2016, I had a lot in common with people like Colin Tierney, Eric Friedensohn, and Terence Tang.
We were all lettering artists who focused on kicking out content, producing products, and growing an audience.
We formed a little accountability Slack group where we'd do weekly Google Hangouts.
This consisted of sharing:
We slowly expanded our circle with more unique and like-minded people.
Our group is still going and growing, and it's like a family reunion when we link up at conferences.
Level 3A: Join a Mastermind
If you've outgrown what your community and accountability group can offer, a Mastermind could be what you're looking for.
It's typically an exclusive niche group of high-performers in the same focus as you. You'll usually need an invite or have to pay to become a member.
For example, someone like Lewis Howes has a gated community called the Inner Circle. If you want more access to him, extra accountability, and greater exposure to people who are doing what you do but at a higher level, you could pay and apply to join his Mastermind.
This isn't always the case though. If you and a few from your accountability group are all hyper-growing in the same direction, you could evolve and create a tight-knit Mastermind that's laser-focused on helping each other scale your businesses.
However, sometimes you may want something more intimate, hands-on, and more direct to someone. You just may need a coach or a mentor, which is where I am today.
Level 3B: Hire a Coach or Mentor
There's a bit of a difference between coaching and mentorship.
Coaching is more of a short-term structured relationship while a mentor is a long-term relationship that could expand from coaching.
Hand Holding & Holding Feet
In 2019, getting a coach has single-handedly elevated my side hustle business to the next level.
Back in episode 101 last year in October, I talked about how my gut was telling me to take my business and podcast in a different direction.
I knew I was ready to niche down and make a bigger impact in a focused direction, but I wasn't sure which steps to take.
In February this year, I was fortunate enough to link up with Tom Ross, CEO of Design Cuts. In May, I started meeting with Hand Lettering Educator and Coach, Mye De Leon.
Both immediately started helping me shape the bigger picture and held my feet to the fire to take action.
I was stumbling in the right direction on my own, but progress was slow. However, getting help from coaches helped me gain clarity and traction quickly on this new path.
These two have already accomplished what I strive to do and have helped others achieve similar results. I desperately needed them to hold my hand and teach me the ropes.
Tom helped me embrace my identity as the Side Hustle Guy and how to communicate it to others. He also helped me build the Side Hustler's War Chest and explode my email list in the first month.
Mye De Leon has been teaching me email marketing, copywriting, and setting up this 3-month Side Hustler's Coaching Program.
Both have played pivotal roles in helping me lay the new foundation of Perspective-Collective moving forward.
Not going to lie, coaching and mentors are an investment. However, you're able to easily get your ROI plus more if you find the right fit and apply yourself.
The Biggest Names You Look Up to Invested in Help
The people you see making the biggest waves in the creative industry have all sought out help one way or another.
The following friends of the podcast are making huge waves. However, investing in business coaches or creative mentors sparked their breakthroughs. Read through their testimonials to see how a coach helped guide them to success.
Pandr Design Co.
After the first few months of starting our business, we knew we didn't know how to run it, what to charge, or how to get clients. Investing in a coach was the best choice we made for our business.
The first 6 months we had an hour-long call every week, and the last 6 months we had an hour-long call once a month.
Working with our coach helped us set bigger goals, get consistent clients coming in, have a pricing structure, etc. It built the foundation for the 6-figure business we run today.
Lisa Quine
I was just starting to think about life as a full-time freelancer. I knew nothing about running a business, so I knew I would need to do something to educate myself.
I hired a coach running a summer special for two 1-hour phone calls for $500. She helped me get my thoughts aligned, pushing out the negative ones, and making sure my thoughts were on things like my goal, salary, marketing, etc.
After our coaching sessions, she’s also hired me for 3 mural projects and gives me great exposure across Cleveland.
Mye De Leon
My progress was slow. I wanted to move forward faster and leverage the knowledge of someone who’s been in the trenches and can teach me how I can reach my goals sooner.
I found community first and then was recommended the right coach. We met twice a month and regularly chatted via Slack.
Coaching helped me massively increase my email list, where I was able to pre-sell my course for $17k. I recommend getting a coach because it helps you achieve clarity and focus and gets you to where you want to go faster.
Tom Ross
I had grown a large audience on my old design blog, but it was very disengaged and felt hollow. I was relying on advertising income and felt like I hadn’t built something truly long-term and meaningful.
Meeting with my mentor once a week led to the biggest win of gaining clarity. I dropped all the annoying ads. I focused on engagement over vanity metrics.
Truth be told, success came further down the line, in the form of my current company Design Cuts and my personal brand. But none of this could have happened without getting that earlier foundational clarity.
Accelerate Your Growth & Provide Clarity
To summarize, being the lone wolf is hard. It's a lot easier to survive and thrive when a wolf pack of like-minded savage beasts has your back.
It's doable, but side-hustling solo is hard. Attaching yourself to a community, accountability group, mastermind, coach and/or mentor will accelerate your growth and provide clarity.
Don't be too proud to admit that you don't have it all figured out. The answer is always no if you don't ask for help!
Having people help wall you through the forest is way quicker than blindly stumbling through it on your own.
Get off your isolated island and find your wolf pack.
Need Some Extra Help? Check out The Side Hustler's Coaching Program
If you're finding that you want some extra hand-holding and accountability to take the next step, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program now to join the waitlist for September 16th's launch week.
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Josh Horton on Creative Works & the Power of Community
I want to start this one off with a quote from Jim Rhone:
“You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Trying to make it big by doing it on your own is hard. It’s easy to burn out and feel like you don’t have anyone in your corner during hard times.
I tried doing it solo and shouldering the load by myself. It led to a lot of creative funks and wasted time.
The people I did surround myself with couldn’t provide me any value or insight, so I continued to blindly try to find my path.
I know I preach this often, but finding a creative community has been one of the biggest keys to my creative transformation. I wouldn’t have become the “side hustle pizza podcast guy” if I continued to pretend that I could figure it out on my own.
Going to conferences is what opened my eyes to the power of relationships. They gave me a glimpse of my future potential and allowed me to attach myself to people who were doing what I strived to accomplish.
Community is everything, and today’s guest is someone who’s building community and providing transformative experiences for creatives like you and me day-in and day-out.
Today, I share the story of my buddy Josh Horton, and no, not the professional juggler.
This Josh is the mastermind behind the conference, events, and workshops hosted by Creative Works, rooted in Memphis, TN.
Josh and the Creative Works team bring in some of the biggest names in the world to help inspire, connect, and empower our creative community.
He’s assembled an Avengers: End Game-like cast of juggernaut speakers and workshop leaders like Lisa Congdon, Lincoln Design Co., Adé Hogue, and Ty Mattson (to name a few).
Plus, you know by now that your boy is doing a Live Podcast, and I’m bringing on the stage some past friends of the podcast. I’m talking about Maggie Enterrios of Little Patterns and Rogie King of Superteamdeluxe and Dribbble. It’s going to be an entertaining and value-packed session I can assure you that.
This is close to selling out, so snag your conference ticket and workshop tickets over at Conference.CreativeWorks.co.
Today however, Josh and I go deep on:
If you feel like you’re isolated on an island and are seeking a community to get involved in, this episode was made for you.
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Ruben Rojas on Murals, Creating for Impact, & Avoiding Mediocrity
Our lives are like a book. It’s a story comprised of chapters strung together which reach a conclusion.
Thankfully, we’re the authors of our own story. We call the shots on how the next chapter will be written and how our story will end.
When a chapter doesn’t fit the bigger picture that you see for yourself, you have the ability to recreate and reinvent yourself to change the plot of your story.
Today’s guest was an all-star in the real estate and then the financial world. He’s experienced rock bottom and bankruptcy when the stock market crashed, which caused him to reinvent himself multiple times to get to where he is today.
I’m talking about the newest homie in the Perspective Podcast family, Ruben Rojas. He's a lifestyle artist/muralist, activist, speaker, and creative jock (it’s always nice to find more of these rare hybrids) who's making plays in sunny California.
Ruben’s mission is to create global change and to empower communities through the lens of love. He does this through his Non-Profit Beautify Earth which strives to be The Cure for Sad Walls.
In today’s episode, Ruben dishes out wisdom nuggets on:
If you’re stuck in life and need some inspiration for writing your next chapter, then this episode with Ruben will no doubt empower you.
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Celebrate All Life's W's, Whether Big or Small
Imagine you just watched your favorite sports team win a championship or witnessed a Golden Buzzer performance of a lifetime on The Voice. Wouldn't it be weird as hell if they didn't celebrate that accomplishment?
Now, think of this on a smaller scale—like getting a small $.50 raise or landing your first online sale. Isn't that something worth recognizing too?
You'd think that having any type of win, whether small or big, would be cause for some type of celebration.
However, when you're wired like I am, a lot of these small wins gets shoved to the side because there are bigger mountains to climb.
If you listened to last week's part one of this two-part episode series, you know the blessing and the curse that comes with being a mountain climber.
It's great to constantly chase becoming the best version of yourself, but at the same time, you can't lose sight of life in between the mountains.
Part two of this Climbing Mountains & Popping Bottles series is all about celebrating W's (wins), no matter how big or small they are.
The L's From Not Acknowledging W's
I've mentioned this in the past, but back in April 2016, I had a life-changing speaking opportunity at Creative South Conference.
It was the second talk I had ever given—opening for a Draplin keynote in front of a packed Springer Opera House of around 800 creative souls.
This was by far the biggest thing I've ever done. I came prepared and absolutely crushed it, which resulted in an overwhelming standing ovation.
I proceeded to go backstage, take a shot of Jameson to calm my nerves, then party the last night away.
I'm bringing this up because this talk exploded my creative career —yet I can barely remember it.
My biggest regret is failing to make time to be alone and reflect on it. Instead, I spent the next day hungover on my flight home working on an online presentation I was giving later that week.
While my full talk is on my YouTube Channel, I've still never been able to fully recreate that moment to soak up and appreciate.
Avoiding the L's
This is the driving catalyst for why I'm writing this today.
The message I'm trying to hammer in your head? You gotta pop bottles and acknowledge when good shit happens in your life.
From my experience, when you constantly ignore when things go right in your life, you make it easier to get wrapped up in negativity when taking an L (loss).
Not acknowledging wins:
2 Ways to Celebrate W's
Action Step #1: Acknowledge Them (duh)
This is pretty self-explanatory, and I assume you saw this coming.
Popping bottles is just a fancy metaphor for celebrating wins. Celebrating wins is just a more extravagant word for acknowledging the good things in your life.
If you're not going to figuratively or literally pop bottles to celebrate, the least you could do is acknowledge those good things.
From now on, it doesn't matter if I crush another speaking gig, celebrate a podcast download milestone, or pay off a small debt, all scenarios get acknowledged and/or celebrated by some form of:
Yes, all of these are minor things and most don't require any form of blowing cheddar.
More importantly, they allow me to press pause, appreciate the moment, and celebrate with other people.
Acknowledging W's helps you time stamp these milestones in your noggin, so you can easily go back and relive that moment.
THE CHALLENGE: Recognize your top win of the day by using one of my tactics or coming up with your own. Bonus points for taking a screenshot and sharing with me on your Instagram Stories.
Action Step #2. Hoard Your Victories
This tactic has been a lifesaver for me!
Some brief context: around the end of 2017, I was starting to slip into a depressed funk.
People were posting their Instagram Top 9's, and it felt like everyone:
The inner critic was beating me down and convincing me that I was a worthless turd.
The thing that snapped me back to reality was a little something I started doing at the beginning of February that year called Hoarding My Victories.
I had recently pulled myself out of another depressed funk, which you can hear all about back in episode 25: Dealing With Creative Funks & Feeling Invisible. I don't know what inspired me to do this, but I started a little running tasklist in my Wunderlist App called Good Things in 2017.
I wrote any type of positive thing that happened to me in this list.
Most of my accomplishments were small like speaking to my mom's small women's group on "How to be Resourceful & Exercise At Home When You're Over the Age of 50."
Other things I listed were huge—like selling out 400 Deneen Pottery UFO Cat mugs in under 25 minutes.
Looking back on this list of accomplishments snapped me out of my funk.
Hoarding my victories showed me that I did a lot of cool shit that year I should be proud of. It also reminded me I'm running my own race at my own pace like as mentioned back in episode 132.
I've since revisited and marked wins from 2016 to and kept this hoarding momentum going in 2018 and 2019.
Be a Wannabe Champagne Papi
To summarize this series, life is short. Be ambitious, never settle, and squeeze as much juice out of your limited existence as you can.
At the same time, don't be afraid to be a wannabe Champagne Papi and pop a bottle or two in between climbing those mountains.
Celebrate and hoard those W's. A win's a win and deserves to be acknowledged.
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The Blessing & Curse of the Mountain Climbing "What's Next" Mentality
Back in episode 56, my brother Tony Diaz of Industry Print Shop shared his inspiring story of how he went from being a punk rocker in a band on the Warped Tour to starting one of the most successful print shops in the U.S.
He talked about his mentality of "climbing mountains." Whenever he accomplished his main mission, he immediately set his sights on an even bigger target.
Ya, it was cool that he accomplished something like being on the Warped Tour, but what's next?
You know the phrase, "There are two sides to every coin?" To me, to be able to climb mountains and relentlessly pursue the next big accomplishment is no doubt a blessing. At the same time, it's a curse.
The Blessing
The mountain-climbing business is a blessing as it enables you to:
Not gonna lie, I naturally gravitate towards people who operate in this fashion and love to observe them.
I've learned that these mountain climbers never settle—they're hungry, focused, inspired, and always pursuing the next peak to tame.
They see the world through a different lens.
Their pupils are glued straight ahead and upward. There's no time to break their gaze by looking down or behind them.
Like a kid driven to dig out the prize buried in the bottom of a 90's cereal box, nothing will distract them from getting that prize.
Does this sound like you or anyone you know?
How to Know if You're a Mountain Climber Checklist
You're a mountain climber if you:
Doesn't this sound like a fucking glorious modern-day creative Chuck Norris lifestyle?
How could this mindset be any other than a blessing?
If you haven't guessed it by now, I'm a mountain climber.
Trust me when I say this roundhouse kick approach to your creative grind comes with a cost.
The Curse
Seduced by "Success" & Blinded by Comparison
I transformed into a mountain climber when I got a little taste of what I thought was "success" back around 2013/2014.
I became tunnel-visioned and borderline-obsessed with my side hustle when:
While cool shit was happening in my life, the comparison trap made it impossible to appreciate any progress I made during my climb.
I was convinced that I had gotten such a late start to the game compared to my creative peers and idols.
This eliminated my need to live in the moment and soak up wins, whether big or small.
What was the point when someone else had more followers, bigger clients, or bigger keynotes on bigger stages?
I couldn't appreciate what I had or was doing because I needed more—I was too focused on "what's next."
I thought being obsessive about climbing bigger and better mountains was the key to surpassing all these people.
The "Hustle Culture" Syndrome
Another downside to this "what's next" mentality is becoming jaded by the "Hustle Culture." You begin to believe that you have burn the candle at both ends to advance.
To ascend and dominate the next mountain, you sign your permission slip to lose sleep by working early and grinding hard late into the night.
You tell yourself it's okay to eat shitty for convenience, skip the gym, and blow off people (even loved ones) because you begin to think these things are distractions.
Next thing you know: you're burnt out, feeling like shit, have zero energy, and have no support.
Working Smarter + Self-Awareness = Smart Hustle
By all means, work your ass off. Don't let anyone tell you can't climb a mountain, as I'm all about going against the grain and making shit happen for yourself.
However, I've learned this lesson the hard way. I've gone through burnout, ruined relationships, and hating the way I felt when looking in the mirror.
Five years into my side hustle, I'm still a constant work-in-progress.
My failures have taught me that there can be a beautiful balance of working hard and not working at all.
"Cool" vs. "Not Cool"
To find this beautiful balance, I think it's important to establish "cool" vs. "not cool" scenarios.
Hitting a big milestone is "cool", but's it's more "cool" to have people in your corner to celebrate with (more on that in part two of this series).
I understand that, once in a while, you may have to do an all-nighter to hit a deadline...but accepting this as the norm is "not cool."
What's "cool" is getting sleep, taking care of your mental, physical, and even spiritual being to have the energy to work smarter, not harder.
What's "not cool" is digging yourself an early grave because you work non-stop with no light at the end of the tunnel.
What's "cool" is learning how to take breaks, delegating the non-essential, disconnecting, and having hobbies that let you recharge and refuel your inspiration tank.
If you're a mountain climber like me, these "cool" areas tend to be our biggest struggles.
This is why I've been implementing a week off from the podcast every seven weeks, so I can inject reoccurring lights at the end of the tunnel.
I'm still early into this, but it's already helped immensely. I'm not feeling as overwhelmed, and I give myself a well-deserved day off.
Be Cooler Than Chuck Norris
Yes, Chuck Norris is cool. He has his own genre of jokes, and even though the dude is almost 80, he can still kick almost anyone's ass.
However, what's cooler than being a modern-day creative Chuck Norris is kicking ass on your creative grind while still being able to see the bigger picture: the importance of health and relationships.
What I'm really trying to say is, when you're climbing mountains, don't forget to look down and live in the in-between moments.
Don't let life pass you by because you're too focused on "what's next." You can have your cake and eat it too with some "Smart Hustle."
Stick with me as Part 2 is all about popping bottles and learning how to celebrate all W's, big and small.
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Lauren Dickens on Blazing Your Own Successful Path & Fighting Burnout
Two things we all deal with as we relentlessly pursue "success" in our creative grinds? The comparison trap and burnout.
Often, one fuels the other and vice versa. You compare your work and consistency to those who seem to be doing more, and it's all-too-easy to burn yourself out.
Or you get burnt out because you're not living the curated life people seem to be living on your phone.
Those are just a few examples, but I'm sure you could think of 50 more scenarios off the top of your dome in less than a minute.
That's because we all struggle with these dilemmas. I personally feel it's because many of us, including myself, haven't defined success for ourselves. We're wrapped up in what success is for others.
Today's guest, ever since she was a curious young girl trying to figure out her place in the world, has been blazing her own path and defining what success means for her.
I'm talking about my talented friend Lauren Dickens. She is the All-Star of Type, the MVP of Branding, and the reigning Player of the Year when it comes to Illustrations.
She slays work from her home court of Austin, Texas, for some of the biggest brands in the world like Facebook, Target, and SXSW (to name a few).
Today "El Dick" and I go deep on:
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Pretty Useful Co. on Taking Action & Protecting Your Time
I've learned that people trying to work a side hustle struggle with two things: getting started and valuing their time.
Getting started can be paralyzing. If you don't have a plan, strategy, or ability to show up regardless of what people will think, it’s practically impossible to take action.
When you don't value your time, it's hard to know when to say no, when to charge more, or when to create boundaries.
I personally believe you won't succeed in transforming your hobbies into a monetized side hustle or business without cultivating these two skills.
Cultivating those two skills will no doubt help you fail faster, overcome adversity, and maximize your progress.
Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Allie and Clare of Pretty Useful Co. crush these two areas in their personal lives and side hustles. They make clever goods for fun people that are...pretty useful (like their notorious pin keeper).
They've turned a passion project into a monetized side-business, and I feel their experience and knowledge will definitely help you figure out your next step in your creative grind—whether you pursue merch or not.
Today, Pretty Useful Co. and I talk about:
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Grits on Side Hustling, Finding Your Niche, & Staying in Your Lane
Have you ever had someone in passing conversation ask you, "Are ya workin' hard or hardly workin'?"
I used to get this from some of the older folks who would come through my cash register when I worked for a Midwest Grocery Chain called Hy-Vee.
Of course, my answer was always, "Hardly workin'."
When I think about this phrase now, I feel most people I come across are hardly workin'. They're the same ones complaining that nothing good is poppin' off in their lives when, in reality, they're coasting and seeking shortcuts.
At the end of the day, hard work pays off—and there aren't too many people working harder than today's guests.
I'm talking about Reuben and Toya Levi who tag team Grits. It's more than just dope merch flexin' Reuben's design and handy craft: it's a Southern Lifestyle Black Americana brand out of Houston, Texas, that has gained national attention with no signs of slowing down.
Grits started off as a passion project but has transformed into something bigger that educates, inspires, and, of course, decks us out in some of the the finest threads in the game.
Today, Reuben and Toya share:
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Run Your Own Race & Avoid the Comparison Trap
“Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.” – Jon Acuff from his book Start.
I often allowed comparison to paralyze me from becoming the person I’m supposed to become. Much of that comparison stems from the social world of the internet.
I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I feel fortunate enough to know how life worked before it, as well as experience the rise of it.
In high school, I was on the early days of MySpace and felt the dopamine rush that notifications give you.
When I graduated in 2006, I joined the new wave of Facebook. You actually needed a college email to get access, long before your parents and grandparents were on that shit.
In 2013, I joined Instagram. In 2o14, I shifted to using it as a business portfolio. That’s when my life as a creative drastically changed, as I started to take my craft and message more seriously.
The Beautiful Toxicity of Social Media
Social media is a huge blessing in my life. It gives me confidence in myself and my work after spending the majority of life with none.
It has helped me find my creative community. This community lets me cultivate incredible relationships with like-minded nerds and freaks that geek out over the weird shit I do.
It’s given me a platform to spread good vibes, cast a spotlight on others, and speak up for things I believe in.
At the same time, though, social media has become a trap—not to mention a time suck when we don’t intentionally use it as a tool.
Social media truly is a beautiful thing. At the same time, it can be toxic as fuck.
It trains us to compare our lives and our work to our peers or to the legends we idolize.
We operate from a mindset of lack and have become the it’s never enough culture.
We constantly seek what someone else has and easily lose sight of what’s important—what we already have.
Who cares if we have 500 followers when Sally Jane has 5,000?
Sally Jane feels shitty because Billy Bob has 50k.
Billy Bob is bumming hard because Gertrude Baggins has 500k.
We’re forever running in a hamster wheel trying to play “catch up” when, in reality, we’re running our own race.
Marathon > Sprint
You’ve probably heard this a hundred times, but the race we’re running isn’t a sprint—it’s a lifelong marathon. It’s not a microwavable 100-meter sprint, it’s a slow, day-by-day grind that requires lots of practice, patience, and persistence.
You have your own starting point, no matter your age and experience.
You run at your own pace. Sometimes times you need to push the pedal through the floor and bust your ass. Other times, you have to pump your breaks and deal with the ebb and flow of life.
Your destination is different as your finish line is unique to you. There’s no GPS that’s going to give you step-by-step directions.
Your race is your own, so run your own race.
Stop Robbing Yourself
Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the greatest thief of joy.” We are constantly sticking ourselves up with the gunpoint of comparison.
Don’t let the cool shit others do rob you from making the cool shit you’re supposed to be creating.
Don’t let the incredible things people within and outside your circle are doing rob you from becoming incredible too.
Erase the comparison you’ll face in your dream that you chase. If that’s the case, you gotta embrace that you’re running your own race at your own pace to a different destination or place.
P.S. I hate running.
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Brooke Robinson of Goodtype on Connecting with Yourself to Find Your Art
"Some things are better off not being spread too thin: you and peanut butter."
I couldn't find the owner of this quote, but it definitely hit home as someone who loves peanut butter and piles too many things on my plate.
We love to be busy—at least I do. Often, when we're busy, we focus on the wrong things and tend to fall short of the essentials like self-care.
It's important to unplug and connect with ourselves. Doing so not only helps us become more self-aware and grow, but it spills over into our creative grind and business pursuits.
Today's guest is someone who knows how to unplug and squeeze the most juice out of life.
She's also a spark plug for thousands of people by providing them confidence, connection, and community.
I'm talking about my good friend Brooke Robinson, the wizard pulling the strings behind the giant lettering Instagram account and global community Goodtype.
Brooke has an inspiring story: she stayed at a day job too long and then made the leap to take Goodtype full-time. She does this all while still making time for murals, travel, relationships, and mental/physical fitness.
In today's episode, Brook dishes out sage wisdom on:
She's also doing a killer fundraiser through Goodtype for the Flatwater Foundation to raise money for mental health support for individuals or families dealing with cancer.
She goes more in-depth in the episode, but if you want to learn and support, the link is in the show notes.
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Musketon on Passion Projects, Pushing Your Limits, & Adobe Illustrator
Often, as creatives, we take things too seriously and forget why we got started doing this in the first place.
We get obsessed with social vanity metrics to fuel our worth. Our happiness is often gauged by analytics and performance.
At the end of the day, we can’t lose sight of how much fun it is doing work that lights us up. We can still keep that artistic play and curiosity at the core, but implement some strategy behind it when hitting publish.
As my friend Michael Fugoso AKA The Fugstrator says, “Think like an artist, but execute like a designer.”
Today’s guest is someone who uses passion projects to push his limits and attract new work. He treats his work like play, which leads to working with massive brands like Nike, Hypebeast, Mazda, MTV, and Coca-Cola.
I’m talking about Bert Dries, a guru when it comes to all things Vector and Adobe Illustrator.
Today, Bert and I cover topics like:
He’s also an open book and loves to share what he knows, which is why I want to hype his Skillshare class he recently came out with—his process of how to Design with Textures in Illustrator.
If you’re needing a little extra fire to push yourself and your work to the next level, then this ‘sode with Musketon was made for you.
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The Motto: You Got This
If you happen to stick around to the end of each episode, you know I sign off with "Keep showing up, keep putting in the work, and keep creating—you got this."
This phrase originated from having internal dialogues in my head—and I promise you I'm not crazy.
It's no secret that I'm a big believer in affirmations and positive self-talk. The inner critic in me is alive and well, and I have to do my part each day to shout over its negative and draining influence.
If you're like me, you struggle with the comparison trap.
There's always someone who has what you desire: a better financial situation, more followers, killer clientele, better physical appearance, etc. Operating from this mindset of lack—instead of abundance—can really fuck you up.
Comparison has robbed me of so much joy in my life and has severely damaged my confidence on multiple occasions.
"You got this" is the motto. It's my battle cry to fight back and keep pushing forward along my creative path.
It's the motto I need to get back up to the plate each day and keep swinging after striking out.
Ritual Fuel
Once I began tapping into my potential around the age of 24 through 26, "You got this" became my pre-game ritual before any feat that required a little bit of courage.
It's become my fuel before or during events like:
In the beginning, it didn't have a profound impact on me. However, when I continued to drill it in my head, my brain believed it more and more. I'm to the point, where these words not only ground me, but they empower me and give me confidence that I'll figure it out just like I always do.
You're Not a Worthless Turd
I drop this at the end of each episode in hopes of empowering you and lighting you up with a dose of inspiration. It's hard to do this shit on our own; sometimes we need to know we have someone else in our corner rooting for us and coaching us to become our best selves.
That's why I do the podcast, and that's the person I want to be—the one in your corner when the comparison trap is getting the best of you.
I want to drill this in your head so you can use it as fuel to drown out the inner critic who's trying to convince you that you're a worthless turd.
You're not a worthless turd.
You're a priceless gem in the shape of a glorious slice of pizza, and you were meant to do incredible things.
It's hard to discover your worth if you don't show up and dig deep to reveal your potential gifts.
Keep digging deep, and don't be afraid to shower yourself with positive self-talk. Who cares if people think you're crazy?
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Your Permission Slip to Be Weird
I grew up under the impression that being weird was a bad thing. Being weird got you picked on and bullied. Being normal is what helped you fit in.
I was definitely a weirdo growing up. Getting severely bullied made it hard for me to express myself as I got older.
Popularity and acceptance are what I craved, so I did everything in my power to "blend in" with the cool crowd.
It's funny how the theme has changed now that we're creative adults.
We're told not to lose that child-like imagination.
We're told being weird is a good thing and that showcasing your uniqueness is how you'll stand out.
Back in episode 81, I gave you 3 Super Convincing Reasons to Show Your Weird and Wave Your Freak Flag.
That episode was more of a permission slip for me to dig deep on the weird shit I loved as a kid and the weird shit I love as an immature adult.
After attending Crop Conference last month, some of the biggest juggernauts in the creative realm all touched on this theme of embracing your weird—it just so happens they are all past guests on the podcast as well.
I felt inspired to combine their episodes with my thoughts and go deeper on this weird subject of showing your weird.
Today's episode is now a permission slip for you to connect the dots of your weirdness as a kid with your weirdness as an adult. Of course, I'm dishing out a fun drawing challenge with this to give you something to act on. More details on this at the end.
Let's start with going over the juggernaut speaker quotes from Crop and use those as our foundation.
Crop Conference Fuel
James Victore
During James's keynote, he talked a bit about his book Feck Perfuction. In his book and one of the messages he constantly drives home to creatives is the quote of, "The things that made you weird as a kid make you great today."
This quote formed the theme for today's assignment and got me thinking about all the weird things I loved as the kid and how those weird things influence me today.
You can listen to James back on episode 117 of the podcast.
Jon Contino
Jon Contino's talk was literally titled Born Weird.
He embraces the shit that's made him weird in his past and influenced his style and the person he's become today. A quote that resonates with me the most was when he said, "Creatives get to be weird forever."
He said that shit with so much conviction that it let me know I'm going in the right direction.
You can listen to Jon back on episode 123 of the podcast.
Lauren Hom
Last, but definitely not least, Lauren Hom rocked the stage and dropped some gems about how her passion projects spoke to her inner weirdo.
I'm meshing two quotes into one here when she said, "Embrace your inner weird. The things you love outside of design are the things you should explore in your work."
It got me thinking: how can I incorporate the weird things I loved in the past and in the present and show more of it in my work? Again, more fuel to this drawing challenge I'm giving you shortly.
You can listen to Lauren back on episode 75 of the podcast.
My Past & Present Weirdness
Since I've been back from the conference, I gave myself a little homework assignment to dig deep into the weird shit I was obsessed about when I was a kid.
In no particular order, things I loved as a kid:
The things I love as an immature adult:
When I list out my past and present weird obsessions, I can easily start connecting the dots and see the overlap in my work.
The Future Weird of Perspective-Collective
As I niche down and start the next chapter of Perspective-Collective, there are a few things I'm tapping into as I grow to know more about myself.
My goal isn't to attract and appeal to the widest audience possible like it once was.
In this day and age of social media, people crave an authentic connection to those who aren't afraid to be their true selves in their work—both online and offline.
I realize it's more important than ever to wave my freak flag with pride. Doing so helps me attract the right type of freaks to my tribe who vibe to my own flavor of weird. The rest can unfollow, and hopefully, they'll find their own community of like-minded weirdos.
Waving my freak flag moving forward involves understanding, embracing, and showing those weird things that make me unique from my past and present to shape my future.
That's where this challenge comes to play if you're vibin' to today's message.
The Challenge: Show Your Weird #PCFlashSheet
I want you to create a flash sheet (a collective collage of drawings) of the things that made you weird as a kid and now as an adult.
Use my episode artwork today as an example or search Flash Sheet on Instagram or Pinterest to get a better idea of what I'm talking about.
Tag me on Instagram on both my @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast accounts and use #PCFlashSheet to make sure I see it.
That's it! Use color, go black and white, make a photo collage, whatever you want.
I'm hoping today's message and this challenge gets you one step closer to showing up and being your truest, weirdest self—the weirder the better.
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Becca Clason on Dealing with Negative Criticism in a Positive Way
Life is full of ups and downs, but you can’t appreciate the highs if you haven’t dealt with the lows.
We all deal with adversity, but how you respond to it is a true test of your character.
Today, we have someone who responds to adversity with class and finds a spin on her adversity to give some value to her community.
I’m talking about Becca Clason, Tactile Lettering and Stop Motion Artist, blowing minds in collaboration with her husband Josh through their creative production studio So Mighty.
She’s executed work for some of the biggest brands in the world like Starbucks, Target, Twitter, Nordstrom, and American Express. Her story leading up to landing these gigs will leave you feeling inspired.
She’s also the brains behind the Letter West Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 5–8 and the Letter West Retreat in Moab, Utah, September 25–28. Swoop a ticket ASAP to connect and learn from some of the best lettering artists in the world.
Today, Becca and I also go deep into topics like:
If you’re feeling stuck and uninspired, this episode with Becca was made for you.
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Today's episode is an in-depth resource to help lettering artists grow an Instagram audience and potentially land client work.
Don’t worry if you’re not a lettering artist, there is so much value in here that no matter what medium or style you create in, this can help you grow an audience and elevate your craft.
Instagram Lettering Tips
The following are the 6 tips I cover in the blog post / episode.
Yes, these tips will this help you develop your craft and grow an audience. More importantly, it'll help you stand out and land work doing what you love.
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Ben Johnston on Murals 101 & Creating Good Work That Makes an Impact
Have you ever had one of those jaw-dropping moments mid-scroll on social media because someone’s work was so incredible and unique?
Those are the people to watch closely. They are the ones who are raising the bar and pushing everyone industry to up their game.
I originally picked my jaw up off the floor a few years back when our guest’s work showed up on my Instagram feed. I find myself constantly prepared to hold my jaw in place when he drops something new.
I’m talking about my homie Ben Johnston who’s a Goliath of painting murals and canvases or designing branding and installations.
His mind-bending experiments speak volumes as big brands like Nike, Google, Toronto Raptors, and Aston Martin have come knocking on his door for his one-of-a-kind services.
Today, Ben and I chop it up over:
If you’re looking to get started with murals or need a fire lit under your ass to push your work to the next level, then Ben has you covered in this episode.
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If your social media game is boring, and your audience growth and engagement is basically non-existent...then we have on the perfect guest for you.
We have the insanely talented, introverted, cat-and-coffee loving lettering queen Elizabeth Gray of @TheGrayterGood on the show today to share her story. She’ll also blow your mind with her unique approach to building her online empire with a following of approximately 150k when this was recorded.
Today Elizabeth and I break down:
If you’re ready to dig deep into embracing and showing your true self in your work to attract like-minded souls in your tribe, then this episode was put into the universe for you.
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I respect those who use adversity to fuel their relentless grind.
I respect hustlers—but I’m even more captivated by those who work smarter, not harder.
I respect those who put family and serving others above all else because they understand breakthroughs, money, and opportunities will eventually come their way.
Someone who I really respect is today’s guest who falls in each of these buckets: Mye De Leon, a lettering artist, designer, and online marketing wizard.
She’s the author of Mastering Hand Lettering and professor of the FREE COURSE Styling the Alphabet, where she teaches you the ABC’s of hand lettering, so you can monetize your craft.
Today, Mye and I cover:
This episode is sure to get you fired up to start taking yourself, your craft, and your side hustle more seriously!
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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When you’re on your creative grind, it’s important to get your hands dirty, make mistakes, and get lost in your work. This helps you develop your style, find your voice, and carve your niche. That, in turn, attracts commissions and people to your artistic mission and vision.
Jon Contino is someone who’s been doing cool shit before it was cool and unapologetically pours themselves into their work.
Jon’s a designer, letterer, illustrator, and branding sorcerer hailing from New York who conjures up dope work for massive brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and AT&T through his Contino Studio Agency.
Today, Jon and I peel back the layers of:
If you need a boost to go the extra mile in showing your true self in your work, then this episode was made for you.
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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Everyone’s paths are different.
Sometimes you have to do things your own way and go against the grain.
It doesn’t have to be pretty or perfect—it just has to work for you.
Today’s guest has been blazing his own trail for quite some time by landing killer gigs working with Lollapalooza, Bones Coffee Co, Dickies, and a ton of your favorite bands.
I’m talking about Joshua Noom—illustrator, designer, and creative dad—who's slanging dope work out of Florida.
Today, Josh and I go deep into:
This episode is going to give you permission to do things your own way and embrace your story and unique style.
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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Aristotle said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
We, as a creative community, can accomplish some incredible things when we teach, collaborate, and encourage each other rather than bullying, undermining, and tearing people down.
Back in episode 104, I strongly voice my opinion on creative copy cats and stress the importance of creating your own waves. However, at the end of the day, we're all recycling the ideas that came before we did. We can never claim we are the true OG's of making dope shit in whatever style or medium we work in because someone has dipped their toes in it well before we did.
Instead of publicly attacking someone and sending your social mobs to do your justice, use competition as fuel to motivate you to constantly step up your game and evolve.
Doing this not only raises the bar, but it pushes our whole industry forward.
When get so focused on what everyone else is doing and how it can affect us, we undermine our own potential.
In my mind, there's enough room at the table for everyone to eat and thrive.
Micro vs Macro
MICRO
MACRO
It's like working on a mural—you're up close and obsessed with all the tiny minor details. Yet, when you step back, you begin to see the bigger picture of what you're creating. The step back allows you to let go of the tiny details and focus on the whole sum.
Short Game:
You have to operate in the micro every day by keeping your head down and playing the short game. It's a day-by-day grind, no doubt about it.
Long Game:
At the same time, you have to be able to look up and see what lies ahead of you from a macro perspective. That's where a vision and goals can guide you to play the long game at the same time.
My goal is to create waves that have an effect far after my finite time on this planet expires.
I define impact as anything that allows someone listening to tap into their potential and use their gift to impact others.
I admit, chasing the glory and praise gives you a pretty wicked high. At the same time, though, it can become toxic and hella exhausting.
Since I've made this mental shift to chase the impact in October 2018, the fulfillment I get far outweighs the features, likes, comments, or new followers.
I'd rather get one DM telling me how the podcast rekindled their love for creating and helped them hit publish. That shit is dope.
So I ask you: how can you play the micro short game while keeping in mind the macro long game for impact?
Here are a few scenarios to noodle on:
Other Ways to Make an Impact and Build Community:
Life is pretty rad when you're surrounded by people who are aligned to your beliefs and have your back.
Creating for impact takes one person at a time, and anyone can do it.
You don't need the largest audience or resume to contribute to the bigger cause.
By all means, you're important. Take care of your well-being to be an example of others to do the same.
However, at the end of the day, it's bigger than you in the grand scheme of life.
Be a small part of something bigger than yourself.
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“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Abe Lincoln
I’m fired up for this punchy solo episode today. I’ve been answering a lot of questions via IG DMs or in my Private Facebook Community, and there seems to be a theme in a lot of my responses.
I compiled a lot of the pattern answers together and crafted this little diddy to help you know what you want out of life and how to make a game plan to go get it.
Today, I'm giving you a 6 Step Game Plan for Finding Clarity to Create Your Own Future.
I want this to be an episode you can easily go back and reference when you’re lacking clarity or need that spark to keep pushing forward.
1. HAVE A VISION
Lockdown these 3 things and be as specific as possible:
Action Step: Write down a detailed answer for each of the 3 aforementioned areas and note if this vision pertains to the short term (this year) or longer term (3, 5, or 10 years from now).
2. BUILD A GAME PLAN
Action Step: What’s one thing you want to accomplish in 2019? How can you break it down into a SMART goal?
3. TAKE ACTION
Action Step: With your previously created SMART goal, what’s the first step you should take? Act on it today if you’re able to.
4. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Action Step: Inject yourself into a community of like-minded people who are all working towards similar visions as you.
5. BE CONSISTENT
Action Step: I recommend a minimum of putting art or content onto the interwebs at least once a week.
6. BE PERSISTENT
Action Step: Hoard your victories.
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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I thrive when I’m able to engage with other creatives, and I pride myself in building my brand and reputation around serving others.
I really vibe to others who approach life and their business in the same way—which is why today’s guest is hella special and a perfect fit for what I want to share with you.
Today we have on Tom Ross, CEO of Design Cuts, Co-Host of the Honest Designers Podcast, and the zero bullshit content creator machine with his personal brand The Honest Entrepreneur Show.
He's an expert in the online marketing space when it comes to email list growth, website strategy, brand messaging, as well as an expert in growing an audience and boosting engagement. I've mentioned he's been consulting me with a lot of these, too, as I elevate my brand and business in 2019.
Get your note-taking utensils armed and ready because Tom’s gonna school you in:
This episode will no doubt position you to take your brand and side hustle to the next level now and into the future.
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
Shownotes
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"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." -Suzy Kazzem
The following concept is from a talk Lewis Howes gave at his Summit of Greatness last October 2018.
He mentioned that the 3 causes of self-doubt that hold us back from starting and chasing our creative dreams fall into these buckets of fear:
Imagine a 3-ring Venn diagram with each fear located in a circle. At the overlapping center is the feeling of "I'm not enough."
In today's episode, I'm giving you 3 reasons to overcome your fear of getting started now, so that your future self will thank you.
In the book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bonnie Ware, the number one regret from those on their deathbed was, "I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."
Bonnie states, “This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize until they no longer have it."
Final thoughts:
Don't let the thoughts and influences of family, friends, or acquaintances deter you from pursuing your calling—don't settle for an average life!
Don't ignore the omens and signs—the more of them you ignore, the less they'll come your way; and you'll give up on your dream
Avoid the trap of tomorrow, I'll start this when I:
My Biggest Regrets
My biggest regrets have never been, "Damn, I never should've attempted that."
My biggest regrets have always been, "Damn, I wish I would've started doing that sooner."
Take Action
Action leads to failure, which is necessary for growth.
"Do what you fear, and fear disappears." - David Joseph Schwartz
What is the one thing that's holding you back from chasing your creative dreams?
By the end of the day of when you first hear this episode, I challenge you to get uncomfortable and take that first step toward attacking that fear.
This could be having that hard conversation with a loved one about your dream, sharing your work on social media for the first time, or signing up for that workout class. Whatever it is, take action and don't fall into the trap of tomorrow.
Don't go to your deathbed regretting the action you never took. You deserve to be happy.
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
Previous episode references on overcoming fear
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Today, we have on a special guest who epitomizes everything I stand for: serving and empowering creatives while putting my unique work and message into the world.
I’m talking about James Victore who’s been kicking ass and taking names from his pocket of the planet in Texas.
He’s won an Emmy, been featured in the Museum of Modern Art multiple times, and has received a ton of accolades as an artist and designer. However, his biggest impact, in my opinion, is his role teaching us to live a bold life as creatives.
He’s got a killer podcast called Dangerous Ideas on Patreon and Youtube that’s sure to light a fire under your ass.
He’s also one of the Keynotes at CROP Conference coming up on April 18-19 in Baton Rouge, so snag your tickets ASAP and use promo code PIZZA at checkout to have a chance to win a free Pop-Up Crop ticket.
Buckle in as James as I charge head first into rough-terrain topics like:
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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Our incredibly talented guest today is Maggie Enterrios of Little Patterns.
She’s an illustrator, packaging expert, and author of both the Nature Observer Journal and Gather Foraging Journal.
Her incredibly-detailed style has landed her clients like Apple, Instagram, and the Chicago White Sox. Soon, she's gonna drop a project with Champagne Pappi...listen to the end, or Google it if you don’t know who that is!
While her work is out of this world, I most admire her business chops and willingness to share her knowledge.
Today, Maggie doesn’t hold back as we go deep into:
If you enjoyed and found this episode value, we need your help spreading it. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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Today's guest has done work for juggernauts like Target, Netflix, Starbucks, Adobe, and Facebook to name a few—and he’s only 25 (but remember, we’re all on our own paths now, so kill the comparison). I’m talking about my brother, Scott Biersack aka Youbringfire, on social media.
He’s a legend-in-the-making with his style, craft, and creativity; but what I admire the most is the attitude and self-awareness that he approaches life with. It’s truly inspiring and makes you think of the bigger picture.
In today’s episode, Scott and I talk about:
Overall, we get stupid deep and transparent in today’s conversation about things like pricing and life. Scott doesn’t hold back, and I think you’re really going to appreciate it like I did.
If you enjoyed this episode, let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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I used to be the kind of person who was always waiting for good things to happen to me. I used to be the kind of person who was always waiting for good things to happen to me. It felt like the world was against because it felt like the ball never bounced my way. I expected these things, but I damn sure didn’t deserve them with how I selfishly acted.
What I learned over the years is you have to play aggressively instead of sitting passively on the bench and not getting into the game—the game of love (lol jk)...but seriously.
ACTION STEP #1: 5 x 5 Engagement Challenge
For the next 5 days, slide into 5 people’s DM’s or comment on a post of theirs to show them some love and appreciation or tell them how their work has made an impact on you.
ACTION STEP #2: Show Some Love Instagram Challenge #showsomelove2019
Create a piece with your own rendition of Show Some Love and tag your top 1-3 creators on Instagram. Use #showsomelove2019 and tag me on my PerspectiveCollective or Perspective Podcast IG to make sure I see it. I’ll be re-sharing my favorites on my stories for the first week.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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Crop is a 2-day celebration of creativity, community and inspiration April 18th & 19th in Baton Rouge, LA. Register today before it sells out and use Promo Code PIZZA at checkout to be entered to win a FREE ticket to their PopUp Crop Fall event! Check out the full lineup at Cropcons.com
LISTENERS OF THIS EPISODE GET 15% OFF CHOMP MERCH BY USING PROMO CODE PERSPECTIVE at Chompbrand.com.
Back in episode 104 titled Don’t Die a Creative Copy Cat, we talk about stealing waves, riding waves, and making waves of your own.
Not stealing waves is a given. Riding waves is a little more tricky, especially when you’re starting off. Then you have the wave-making mavericks in the game. These are the creatives who tenaciously find ways to be different, even if it means going against the grain.
They take risks. They expect failure and welcome it with open arms. Most importantly, they bet on them themselves, take initiative, and make things happen.
One of the biggest wave makers I’ve gotten to know in 2018 is Joshua Ariza who works full-time freelancing with the biggest brands in the world like Facebook, Nike, Red Bull, Disney, Star Wars, and Taco Bell.
That’s pretty rad and all, but you have a legend in the making when you realized he's rocking his surf/skate apparel brand Chomp and while making time to be a family man and taking care of his earthly being and health.
Josh and I talk about:
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect.
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Crop is a 2-day celebration of creativity, community and inspiration April 18th & 19th in Baton Rouge, LA. Register today before it sells out and use Promo Code PIZZA at checkout to be entered to win a FREE ticket to their PopUp Crop Fall event! Check out the full lineup at Cropcons.com
Social media has trained us to compare our lives to others and try to "catch up" with others. In reality, we’re running our own race.
The path we’re on is our own. The highlights and successes come from the hard work we put in. The adversity we overcome propels us forward and allows us to grow.
In this race, you’ll be presented with opportunities, obstacles, and risk; they all require you to act in the moment, but that’s life, right? As Tupac said, “Keep your head up and handle it.”
Queue today’s guest: Chicago-based art director, designer & letterer, Adé Hogue.
Adé’s worked with brands like Under Armour, Nike, Mercedes-Benz, and The Obama Foundation (to name a few) in his short tenure of full-time freelancing. He’s a wizard when it comes to experimenting with different mediums like flowers, utilizing natural light in his photography, and utilizing his style and voice to make an impact.
Today, Adé and I talk about:
Whether you’re a runner or not, this episode with Adé will have ideas running through your head!
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv —and let’s connect.
For the full shownotes, visit Perspective-Collective.com/112
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Crop is a 2-day celebration of creativity, community and inspiration April 18th & 19th in Baton Rouge, LA. Register today before it sells out and use Promo Code PIZZA at checkout to be entered to win a FREE ticket to their PopUp Crop Fall event! Check out the full lineup at Cropcons.com
Why do we wait for others to believe in us before we believe in ourselves?
You can’t sit around waiting for someone to give you the green light to make things happen. You have to roll with your gut and act on your intuition.
Queue today's guest Ben Hagarty, AKA benrealvsworld. It’s easy to pick your jaw off the floor when you see the work he does and the clients he has. However, I’ve been in the backseat watching this dude put in non-stop work creating content since the beginning of YouTube.
In today’s episode, Ben and I talk about:
Let me know what you think by sharing a video or photo of you sippin' coffee and listening to this episode and share with me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast.
Crop is a 2-day celebration of creativity, community and inspiration April 18th & 19th in Baton Rouge, LA. Register today before it sells out and use Promo Code PIZZA at checkout to be entered to win a FREE ticket to their PopUp Crop Fall event! Check out the full lineup at Cropcons.com
Many of us have this creative side hustle dream we’d love to live out, but the biggest thing holding us back is ourselves.
Queue tdoday's guest: Becca Courtice, who runs TheHappyEverCrafter and makes shit look pretty all the way from Ottawa, Canada.
She truly inspires me as I see her operate her online business, as she puts her entire focus on becoming a master of her craft and then serves her audience by teaching them want they want to know.
Today we talk about:
I have no doubt this one will encourage you show up with intention and take that next step in your creative grind.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
For the full shownotes, visit Perspective-Collective.com/110
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Crop is a 2-day celebration of creativity, community and inspiration April 18th & 19th in Baton Rouge, LA. Register today before it sells out and use Promo Code PIZZA at checkout to be entered to win a FREE ticket to their PopUp Crop Fall event! Check out the full lineup at Cropcons.com
2018 was the biggest, most memorable, and most profitable year in the books yet.
I've failed a lot. I've learned a lot. I know there is a ton of room from improvement, which excites me.
That's why, today, I've reflected on the year and want to share the top five most enlightening lessons learned from 2018 to help you dominate your next chapter in 2019.
In 2019, I want you thinking bigger, sharpening your focus and intent, and believing in yourself and your work.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
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Many things boils down to excuses, fear, and discomfort. It's easy to make excuses and attach the blame to something else.
From my experience, there are many things that hold many of us back from the people we're meant to become and stop us from positively impacting other people.
That's why the final part of this Coffee Caffeinated Kick Series is Stop Brewing a Latte Excuses & Make it Happen.
Today, we're going to hold ourselves accountable and follow through on our commitments. That way, we can get a little closer to becoming the future version of ourselves we crave to be.
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We live in a world where outside marketing forces make millions by seducing and influencing us to buy their product or services.
Then we spend endless hours on social media unconsciously consuming other people's perfectly-curated feeds.
It's easy to feel brainwashed into wanting these people's lives. This desire causes us to mimic what we see so we can attempt to "fit in and be happy."
After spending much of my life getting bullied, all I ever wanted was to fit in—but I'm realizing I'd rather express myself as I am and stand out.
So many of us creatives want to show up and be seen. However, we play it safe and tiptoe the edge of what's comfortable and what we think others want to see.
That's why part two of the Coffee Caffeinated Kick Series is all about Espresso Yourself By Any Beans Necessary.
Today's episode is a two-part approach to playing the short game while planning for the long game.
First, our focus starts by helping you find your groove and voice by creating work that expresses yourself. We do this by breaking away from people-pleasing and celebrating our weird.
Second, I'm planting a bigger picture in your head of how your work should target one specific person (your perfect follower). Then, we'll talk about scaling that to 1,000 True Fans to make a living as a creator.
Enjoy This Episode?
Let me know what you think by sharing a video or photo of you sippin' coffee and listening to this episode and share with me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast.
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Whether you drink it black, with cream, or with cream and 13 Stevias, coffee is a magical elixir that fuels our creative grind.
It puts a pep in our step when we start our mornings.
It provides that spark when you hit that 2 PM wall.
Most importantly, it creates community amongst creators and provides an instant connection.
Today, we're going to finish the year strong—as strong as my black coffee—with a 3-part Coffee Caffeinated Kick series.
I want this series to function like audio coffee—to give you an extra boost in the AM or PM when you sip your coffee and get after it.
Whether you buy your beans ground or grind your own, part one of this series is titled Good Things Happen to Those Who Grind.
If you struggle with the lack of time, money, and motivation then this one is for you.
Enjoy This Episode?
Let me know what you think by sharing a video or photo of you sippin' coffee and listening to this episode and share with me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast.
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If you’re a creative like me, you deal with imposter syndrome, burnout, finding time to make personal work, and trying to make something meaningful.
Some people refuse to admit these “flaws” publicly, as they feel it would tarnish their potential professional perception. In my eyes, showing the world that you're human attracts more people to you—no matter if you’re a wide-eyed rookie or a polished vet in the game.
No one has it all figured out, no matter how hard someone tries to convince you otherwise.
We appreciate knowing that the people we admire struggle with the same things we do—at least I do. It levels the playing field and empowers us to take it up a notch because if they can do it, we can too.
Queue today’s guest, Nick Slater, illustrator and design Goliath slanging jaw-dropping work out of the Bay Area. He’s worked with big brands like Lyft, Slack, Twitter, Asana, Zendesk, Airstream, Epicurrence, and The Washington Post.
His creativity, diverse skillset, and frequent output certainly may persuade you he’s a robot. However, with how open he is about the struggles we all deal with, reminds you he’s definitely human just like the rest of us.
That’s what I love most about Nick—he’s got big-time work, but doesn't have a big head.
In today’s episode, Nick Slater and I go into the nitty gritty about:
This one is going to give you all the feels and set a fire under your ass to push to the next level as we finish this week and year strong.
You know the drill! Take a screenshot or share a video of the episode you’re listening to and tag me on IG @perspectivepodcast and let me know what you think. I enjoy the hell out of connecting with you each week there.
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“Imitation is about copying. Emulation is when imitation goes one step further, breaking through into your own thing.” - Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist
When you're a kid, copying is second nature. It's a harmless and innocent way to express yourself and develop some artistic skills.
When you get older, copying is no longer so innocent—especially when you pass someone else's work off as your own.
That's why, today, we're going to talk about riding waves, stealing waves, and making waves of your own.
There are ways to emulate without plagiarism. There are ways to put your own unique flavor on a style to stand out from the noise.
Don't die a copycat, be a different breed.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
For the full shownotes, visit Perspective-Collective.com/104
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Opening up about your struggles opens you up to being put under a microscope. However, I feel when we do open up about our story, it makes us more human and gives others permission to embrace their imperfect story.
Queue today’s guest: Ari Woeste, an independent lettering artist and art director out of Minneapolis, MN, who’s especially a force with tactile and food lettering. She’s crushed projects for some of the biggest brands in the world like Wal-Mart, Polo Ralph Lauren, General Mills, and Yoplait (to name a few).
Ari has an incredible story filled with humility, and she’s not afraid to open up about the ups and downs of her creative career.
On today’s episode, Ari and I get super deep into:
This one is going to hit home with you no matter where you are on your creative grind.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on IG @perspectivepodcast or on Twitter, and let’s connect.
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Today's guest, Stefan Kunz, has built a creative empire with lettering and digital products. At such a young age, you’d think his amassing of an Instagram audience of over 300K+ loyal followers happened overnight, but I can assure you it didn’t.
Stefan is a DO'er as he works on his craft daily and attracts opportunities. Stefan is also a giver as he solves problems for himself and shares the solution with his audience.
On today’s episode, Stefan and I pull back the curtain on:
I have no doubt this one is going give you the spark you need to elevate your work and to close out 2018 with a bang.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
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Do you struggle with clarity and focus on your vision?
This was me recently until a recent life-changing experience.
Early in October, I had a spontaneous opportunity to attend the Summit of Greatness in Columbus, OH. This monstrous event brings together the world's greatest minds and talents in entertainment, public speaking, fitness, health, and personal development.
What I was able to soak up from these legends made a massive impact on every facet of my life and that's what I want to share with you today.
Today, I'm breaking down the following:
I ask that you have an open your mind, think big, and act on any concept or idea that hits home with you throughout this episode.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
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EPISODE 100 BABY! You're in for a treat. I've listened to hours of previous guest episodes and strategically plucked out some of the best golden nuggets.
These people's words made a significant impact on my daily mindset and approach and I feel it will hit home with you too.
The following, in no particular order, are the Top 10 Tips from Industry Juggernauts to Elevate Your Creative Hustle.
You're getting knowledge bombs dropped on you from the likes of: Erik Marinovich, Lauren Hom, Durham Brand & Co., Hoodzpah, Industry Print Shop, BenRealvsWorld, Pandr Design Co., Mama's Sauce, Propaganda and Alicja Colon.
So sit back, open your mind, and let this heavy dose of knowledge vibrate through your body and soul...oh, ya, it's like that today.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
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Sometimes, it takes a few attempts to figure out which passion path you should be following in life. You may have multiple interests, but not all of them point toward a fruitful future.
Queue today’s guest, Kyle Letendre aka @HeyKyle, a groovy magician who casts spellbinding expressive lettering and illustrations for some of the biggest kids on the block like Instagram, Jack White, and McDonald's.
In addition, he gives talks, teaches workshops, and slangs some pretty beautiful merch...basically, I’m saying he does it all and does it extremely well.
Today, Kyle and chop it up over tantalizing topics such as:
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
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Today we chop it up with Michael Fugoso aka FUGS aka @Fugstrator on the Grams.
This guy has an incredible story of finding his path of art and design later in the game than most. However, once he found that thing that made him feel alive, he went all out and took the illustration world by storm with a unique, skeuomorphic style I can pick out from a sea of noise.
In this episode, Fugs and I inject copious amounts of energy into topics such as:
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
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Recently, I listened to a Lewis Howes' School of Greatness episode (695) called Your Thoughts Will Heal or Kill You with Marissa Peer. A few main themes of the show triggered some areas of conflict I had been wrestling with personally in my life.
I loved it so much I had to listen a second time, so I could take notes and channel my thoughts into an episode. I know these are things you deal with as a creative human, too.
So today, I distilled my top takeaways from that episode and injected my own flavor geared toward creatives. The following is a 4 Step Blueprint for Kicking Major Ass in Life & Your Creative Pursuits:
Overall, I want to give you the firepower for transforming your words, thoughts, and beliefs to create the world you want for yourself and others.
Let me know what you think. Take a screenshot of the podcast episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram @perspectivepodcast and @prspctv_cllctv or Twitter—and let’s connect.
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It’s good to have a plan in life, especially with your creative pursuits...yet things don't always go according to plan.
You've learned by now that life isn't always sunshine and rainbows. You have to deal with the darkness and tornados that will throw you off course.
For my wife and me, 2018's motto has been strictly about "Rolling With Life's Punches." Throughout her pregnancy and our now-parenthood, we've had our fair share of bumps in the road. Each time we remind ourselves of this motto.
I've also tattooed this motto on my mind as I juggle my daily grind between the day job and the Perspective-Collective.
Today's episode is about responding to the punches life throws at you. Whatever happens, happens.
I talk about:
Lace up your boxing gloves and get ready to step into the ring. You're in for a fight worth fighting, and it's time to punch back.
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Today we dive into Part 3 of the 3 Life Lessons Learned From Pizza Series.
Life Lesson #3 is all about Learning to Love the Crust.
To know the crust is to love the crust. It's those rough patches in your life when you feel lost, depressed, and insignificant—like you have nothing to offer this world.
You want to ignore these moments in life and sweep the crumbs under the rug, but it's important to embrace them. These moments and experiences define and shape whom you'll become.
Today I talk about 3 ways to get through those crusty times and see the silver lining.
Shit & Sunshine - Can't appreciate the highs without the lows
Find Your Suffering - What are you willing to experience worthwhile suffering for?
Hoard Your Victories - Celebrating and acknowledging wins is important
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Today we dive into Part 2 of the 3 Life Lessons Learned From Pizza Series.
Life Lesson #2 is a reminder to Take Life One Slice at a Time
First, I share with you my story of hitting rock bottom on my way to overcoming adversity and starting Perspective-Collective.
Next, I give you 3 ways to equip you with the long-term mindset to pursue your creative career and the adversity that comes with it.
Get Familiar With Failure - Divorce your comfort zone and say YES
Keep Swinging - You're one scroll or swipe away from having a breakthrough
Don't Lose Sight of Why You Started - Don't let failure suck the fun out of your dream
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Today we embark on a 3 part episodic adventure of 3 Life Lessons Learned from Loving Pizza.
Starting off with Life Lesson #1 (Part 1) - Understanding You're Not Pizza.
First, we dive deep into the makings of a people pleaser and how this mentality crippled my creativity and quality of living.
Next, I give you 3 ways to overcome this mindset to help you get comfortable in finding your voice and style on your own path.
Don't Create for the Masses - Creating for everyone makes it hard to attract the right people
Stay in Your Own Lane - Create work that's true to yourself and that you think is dope
Fight Back Against the Comparison Trap - Put on your blinders and focus on what you can control within your circle of influence
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This week we're doing something different as I'm always looking to shake things up and bring you value.
Since my son was recently born, I took last week and this week off from the podcast. I desperately needed to recharge. More importantly, I needed to find my groove in molding myself to be a kick-ass dad and baby raising partner to my wife.
Instead of radio silence, I'm sharing an episode I was recently on for my friend Trevor Carlson's The Formula Podcast.
This time around, you'll hear me interviewed on topics that are a staple in what I share with you on a weekly basis.
Today, Trevor has me peel back the layers and give you the formula for:
If you’re like me, it’s hard to turn off the switch and unplug from your creative realm. There’s always one more thing that you could get done or a new idea that needs to be flushed out.
We get so wrapped up in work that we often neglect other important areas of our life...you know, like our health and well being?
As you know, many creatives live a sedentary lifestyle. Busting your ass is great, but if you want a long successful career and life, taking care of yourself should come first.
When you get away from your work and find an active outlet, you never know what new passion you may find. Even better, your new passion for your health may show up in your work, which could inspire others to focus on their health.
Queue today’s guest, Andreas Pedersen AKA @andycloned on Instagram. He’s an avid runner and a graphic wizard out of Sweden who focuses on branding, illustrations, and lettering.
Andy and I go back a few years now through Instagram, and it’s been great watching his style evolve and audience grow.
There’s two things that I really admire about his personality and craft:
I strongly vibe to his mission of helping other creatives become more active and share their progress creatively.
I highly respect his approach to marketing himself and letting the universe know he’s for hire.
In this episode, we sprint through topics like:
I think he’s the perfect fit for our listeners and has a ton of great insight to offer to help you scale your creative pursuits.
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First off, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is by far my favorite book and has massively impacted my creative side quest.
After reading it with my ears for the millionth time, I felt compelled to give you the Scotty Russell Special Summary.
To start off, there's a young boy named Santiago who loves to travel and desires to be in control of his life. He decides to become a shepherd despite his father's wishes for him to become a priest.
One day, he dreams of a buried treasure in Egypt by the pyramids. As he tries to decipher what this dream means, he makes acquaintances with an old king. The king states that this dream of treasure was part of his personal legend.
Santiago spends years pursuing his treasure and personal legend. He deals with waves of adversity—as it seems there is a force trying to deter him from finding the treasure as he gets closer to his goal.
Eventually, Santiago not only reaches the treasure, but he also realizes how much he's grown on the journey. Overall, it wasn't solely about finding the treasure, it was about the transformation along the way.
While this book is fiction, the author summarizes what I feel is a blend of the hero's journey, Law of Attraction, and the overall pursuit of your dreams.
The Alchemist parallels the grit and tenacity we must conjure within ourselves to seek out our creative potential. Furthermore, the story informs us of the adversity and unforeseeable forces we will deal with along the way.
The following are the four main ingredients for the secret sauce of pursuing your own personal legend. Let's set out on a journey to uncover that buried treasure within you.
Before I dish up the first ingredient, I think we need to answer what is a personal legend? Later on, I will explain what I believe is my personal legend during this phase of my life.
Essentially, a personal legend is one's destiny. It's identifying your purpose and having the desire to become the greatest version of yourself.
Pretty simple, right?
During the old king's explanation of what a personal legend is, he insists that Santiago not believe in "The World's Biggest Lie."
The old king says this:
"At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie.”
This means that we believe the lie that we have the inability to choose and be in control of our personal legends.
Sadly, many people operate with the mindset that they can never catch a break and that the world is conspiring against them. They passively exist and don't allow themselves to pursue their dreams.
It's easy to see the world as a threatening place. The more you view it this way, the more the world will mimic your beliefs as your thoughts attract your reality.
We are afraid to let ourselves dream, which restricts us from discovering the path we're supposed to find. Many of us are afraid of becoming one massive disappointing failure.
Instead of taking control of the wheel, we choose to settle and become the passenger in our own vehicle.
Truth is, the only thing holding you back is you. Any obstacle or hurdle you face along the way is just another stepping stone to uncovering your personal legend and the treasure within you.
There's a path laid out for you, but you have to know what you want and pursue it.
What do you want in life?
Can you visualize yourself achieving it?
It's hard to take the necessary steps to pursue your personal legend if you don't have a clue about what you want.
One of the most powerful quotes from the book is, "When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his or her dream."
This always puts me in check and makes me ask myself, "How badly do I want it?"
If I 'kind of' want it, I'm going to 'kind of' see some results.
I used to think the Law of Attraction was a crock of shit. Yet, books like The Secret, E-Squared by Pam Grout, and Think & Grow Rich have shown me the power in visualization, positive affirmation, and having laser focus. By equipping these things in my mindset, I can make shit happen.
I want to challenge you now: what is it you truly want or desire to achieve in life?
Write it down and place it where you can see it each day. Speak it out loud to yourself every morning and evening. Make a game plan on how you can attain it and chase it down like an absolute savage.
You will face adversity along the way, but that's all a part of the game. Once you know what you want, it's time to watch for the omens and trust yourself to follow them.
Now you're in control of the wheel, and you have a destination in mind. In order to get there, you have to pay attention to the signposts of life. (Keep in mind, there's no Google Maps or GPS device in this metaphor.)
When pursuing your personal legend, be aware and follow the omens along the way. They are guiding you to the treasure.
Omens will eventually abandon you the more you ignore them—and especially when you refuse to pursue your personal legend.
Early on in the book, the old king informs Santiago about the omens he'll encounter on his adventure. As he follows the omens, they lead him to befriend the right people who help provide him with food, shelter, and money along the way.
###Creative Career Omens###
In terms of your creative career, you might be missing so many everyday omens.
Omens can operate in terms of engagement, analytics, repetitive questions, milestones, opportunities, recognition, etc.
Here are some examples you may notice:
Say you're putting out a specific style of work you enjoy and are good at cranking out. The engagement slowly starts building behind it. To me, this is an omen that you should pour more gasoline on the fire and do more of what works. You have no idea where it could lead.
Imagine you constantly have people asking you the same patterns of questions like:
These are some of the questions I get asked all the time. Instead of answering them over and over, I recognized the pattern and made resources for them. This allows me to save me time, provide value, and potentially monetize it in the future.
###Getting Resourceful (Literally)###
You can build a resource page like I have at Perspective-Collective.com/Resources that showcases every tool I use, every book I recommend, and other assets to I've used to elevate my own game. My goal is to provide a one-stop source for folks to reference that also is filled with Amazon Affiliate links. I provide you value while providing an opportunity to monetize my time.
Often I get asked about the programs, brushes, or design kits I use. I'll then build resource files for The Perspective-Collective Facebook community, another resource I can direct people. Again, it saves me time and provides value.
Finally, I continue to get the same questions pertaining to selling products, doing freelance, sharing your work and overcoming comparison.
From here, I'll source the most common questions and build episodes and content addressing them, or I'll seek out guests that are more qualified to speak on the subject. I can then redirect people to those resources, which again saves time and provides value.
As creatives, we have to train ourselves to look out for these omens and act on them.
Later in the book, Santiago crosses paths with The Alchemist. During their conversation, the Alchemist delivers a heater:
"There is only one way to learn. It's through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey."
Santiago's journey has always been based on the choices he's made—from choosing to become a shepherd to taking risks that could mean death.
Above all, he always took matters into his own hands. Even though putting the decision in someone else's hands is easier, it always comes with a cost.
Think about your creative career—it's filled with choices and dilemmas you must face daily:
Are you working on your craft each day and staying consistent in sharing your work?
Do you get up early or stay up late to meet a deadline?
When you fail at a task, do you wave the white flag, or do you use it as a lesson learned?
You always have a choice, especially in responding to adversity.
###Beauty in the Struggle###
Life threw catastrophic curveballs at Santiago during his journey. He was robbed and faced the threat of death on multiple occasions. Each time, he could've given up and gone back to tending sheep.
However, he CHOSE to see chasing his personal legend as an adventure. He KNEW that each hiccup was a part of a resistance he had to overcome to find his treasure.
Chasing down your dream isn't going to be a cake walk. If it was easy, everyone would be happy millionaires, and there'd be no struggle.
There's beauty in the struggle—it's the shit we overcome that leads to the sunshine, like back in episode 58.
To make things happen in life, you have to make a choice.
Take ownership and respond accordingly. Try not to dwell on your decision and move forward; there are plenty of more choices you'll need to make on your path.
My Personal Legend
When I read this book for the millionth time, it really caused me to reflect on my own personal legend.
Pardon the cheese and lack of originality, but I believe my overall purpose is to be like the old king—to help others seek out and pursue their personal legends.
Due to multiple back injuries playing college football, I got into coaching pretty young. There was something powerful about playing a role in helping someone take their game to the next level.
This love for coaching evolved into my love for being a creative cheerleader in my art, writing, speaking and podcasting.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still selfish and live for the glory and affirmations. However, I realize I'm just a small role player in the grand scheme of things.
I second guess myself and my abilities on the daily; the inner critic is always trying to convince that what I have to offer is meaningless.
I don't have a remedy to rewire myself not to think this way. However, I've trained myself to read the omens.
###My Omens###
The omens I've learned to tune into are:
It's these types of omens that let me know I'm on the right path to finding that treasure. Each day, I'm a little more focused on exactly what I want in life. The more I believe that the universe wants me to win, the more and more opportunities that seem to come my way.
This book is a constant reminder that chasing my personal legend isn't easy. The bumps in the road are necessary for growth along the way.
Again, the four ingredients I share with you today are what I believe make up the secret sauce to finding your personal legend are:
We all have a personal legend waiting for us—it's up to you find the treasure within.
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More often than not, you come across forks in the road where you have to decide to settle or push yourself to the next level. Maybe you think you have it all figured out and that good is good enough. Maybe you know you haven’t scratched the surface of your potential, and there’s no ceiling to what you can accomplish.
You see, we face these forks all the time: in the gym, in the day job, in relationships, and more specifically, in our creative pursuits. It boils down to—are you a brick or a sponge?
Since you’re listening to this podcast, you’re definitely a sponge. You want to soak up knowledge and find ways to seek out growth. Bricks, on the other hand, may think they’ve reached the peak of their potential. Some bricks even think they know what’s best.
This topic was sparked by a deep conversation between my brother, Brian Manley, and I after slaying our Crafting & Delivering a Killer Talk workshop at Creative South. After reflecting deeply over copious amounts of quality Whiskey on the rocks, I knew that Brian had to be on the show.
Brian is one of a kind, just like his whiskey. He was the first speaker I ever saw at a conference back in 2015. He definitely lit up the stage and set a fire under our asses. Brian was one of key reasons I wanted to become a public speaker.
Fast forward to 2018, and we co-teach workshops on speaking! More importantly, he works full-time as a professional branding warlock who crushes under the name Fun With Robots out of ATL.
Not only is he an incredible speaker and designer, he’s an amazing friend with a ton of great perspective that any creative could learn a new trick or two from.
Today, we inject an enthusiastic dose of energy into topics like:
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Once upon a time, your boy grew up as a pretty hardcore gamer. As a young lad in the early 90's, I remember watching my two older sisters throw down on Super Mario on the Nintendo. Safe to say, I was captivated yet terrified of Bowser and his minions.
As I got older, I became borderline-obsessed with all the gaming systems and games like Mario Kart, ShaqFu, Final Fantasy, Crash Bandicoot, Zelda, Pokemon, Spyro, Skyrim, etc.
What did these games have in common? There’s always a Boss you have to defeat to unlock the next level.
Facing a new Boss always gave me a nervous pit in my stomach. If you wanted to get to the next level, you had to face the Boss and defeat it. If you didn't succeed the first time, you had to stay persistent and keep trying.
The more I played these games, the easier it was to defeat the Boss. It became a normal routine after I figured out what did and didn't work. A Boss isn't so intimidating once you've faced it a few hundred times.
Isn’t it funny how this world of video games parallels life and our creative pursuits? There are so many things we want to accomplish, but each dream requires facing some type of fear. You have to slay the Boss to unlock that next level.
The following is meant to hype you up and prepare you to face the Bosses in every facet of your daily and creative life. Treat it like a game with unlimited lives, and use your fear to your advantage.
Fear disguises itself as your enemy. It's always trying to wedge itself between you and whatever you desire to do or become.
I grew up terrified of the world, and fear wedged itself deep in my life.
I was scared of practically everything: taking risks, talking to girls, sharing my art, standing up for myself, standing up for others, and most importantly, being my true self around people.
Feeding into this fear robbed me of finding out who the real Scotty was and robbed me of the great experiences could've had earlier in life. It's caused a lot of pain and a lot of regrets.
Within the past five years, I’ve started seeing fear differently. I’ve slowly realized the things that scared me—like blogging, speaking, teaching, and podcasting—were really the things I should be pursuing. When I started attacking my desires and dreams like I was facing a Boss in a video game, it became much easier to normalize the task at hand and defeat my fears.
From my experience, I've learned the things that scare you are really the things you should be seeking. I strongly feel that fear is your intuition attempting to pull you toward the person you're supposed to become. You can use this to your advantage.
However, our ancestral instincts wire our brains to protect us from potential harm. The fear our brain signals to us can hold us back from taking the risk. This, in turn, holds us back from experiencing the reward or potential breakthrough that can follow.
So how do we unlock that next level and put ourselves in a position to experience these breakthroughs?
As odd as it sounds, I say let's attack fear and make it our bitch.
Let's lay out a few scenarios you may relate to on your creative path.
###Scenario 1: Getting Started###
Maybe you want to build an audience or land killer freelance jobs, but maybe you aren’t sure where to start?
In my opinion, the first step is to start sharing your work online. This forces you to overcome the discomfort of having the world consume your unpolished skills.
True story: I kept a sketchbook glued to my side from elementary to college. No one was allowed to see it because I terrified of what people would think. People didn’t even know about my little sketchbook secrete until mid-college, when my friend Tyson discovered my stash of sketchbooks in my dorm room. He then proceeded to relentlessly pester me until I finally began sharing my doodles on Facebook. Those early albums still exist on my profile today, believe it or not.
The Boss I had to defeat—getting over my lack of confidence and hitting publish on Facebook.
This helped me slowly get comfortable with sharing my developing skills publicly. It eventually landed me random drawing jobs like tattoos and gifts for $50 a pop from friends. Yes, this bought me some groceries and a 30 pack of Busch Light on occasion. More importantly, it taught me the early stages of working with clients.
###Scenario 2: Evolving to the Next Level###
Alright, so now you're comfortable with sharing, but you want to to take your creative side hustle to the next level?
Maybe you're interested in vlogging, selling products, public speaking, or teaching workshops?
Some of the Bosses you'll need to slay in these worlds are:
Find Your Next Boss & Attack
Whatever you're wanting to accomplish in life, there's most likely a Boss you'll have to defeat.
When aggressively seek out and attack your fears, those once-intimidating tasks will become routine.
It's like replaying an old Boss in a video game: you don't have to think about it anymore, you just beat it.
Sharing my work online is second nature to me now. Blogging, speaking, and podcasting are now part of my routine too. These are things that used to scare the shit out of me.
However, in the beginning, it took a lot of effort to slay those Bosses and to work my way up to whatever "level" I'm on now.
You won't always be able to slay the Boss on the first try, and that's totally okay too. Approach the challenge like you have unlimited lives and keep putting quarters into the machine.
Fear is your intuition pulling you towards the Boss you need to slay.
Attack fear and use it to your advantage.
If it scares you, do it. Take it one Boss at a time.
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Some days, it feels like you can’t catch a break. This funk can drag on— days become weeks, weeks become months, and months become years. Believe me, I know what it's like to play the victim and feel like the universe is conspiring against you. I know it well... and it sucks.
However, something I continue to preach on this show is this: everything boils down to your mindset and choices. You can’t control everything in life, but you can control those two facets. I personally believe, when you choose to approach things with a positive outlook, it attracts more opportunities and more of the right people in your life.
Queue today’s guest: freakin’ Kenny Vidinich, aka Kung Fu Kenny of One Vibe, out of Honolulu. Kenny and I go back a few years on Instagram, and after multiple DM conversations, we finally got a chance to meet via Skype. I’ve watched him curate a unique style, find his voice, and grow a loyal fan and customer base with his work and product launches.
Grab your snorkeling gear because we take a deep dive into topics such as:
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Understanding Your Value and Monetizing Your Craft
Maybe this is something you can relate to.
Over the years, you've busted your ass behind the scenes to build a name for yourself.
You've lost track of all the countless hours you poured into your craft as you strive for that "10,000-hour mastery."
You've invested boatloads of money into school, books, online courses, workshops, and conferences to put yourself in a position to thrive.
Now you're to the point where you're steadily building a monetized side hustle or full-time business doing what you love (if you're not there yet, stick with me).
Here's the kicker—not everyone outside of your bubble will understand where you are in your creative career. Many people will perceive what you do as a hobby. They don't fully understand the value of your time and craft and feel they are doing you a favor by offering you the chance to work for exposure.
Maybe you also don't fully understand your own value?
Today's topic was inspired by two things:
My goal isn't to convince you that doing free exposure work is an evil game for fools. In fact, I'll actually mention when doing so could be beneficial.
My intentions are this:
I'm no expert, but I hope my perspective on this topic can help you make a decision when you find yourself in this pickle.
When Should or Shouldn't You Do Free Exposure Work?
Trust me, getting asked to work for exposure gets almost as old as getting asked #whatpenisthat?
(It seems to be local businesses who are the repeat offenders.)
What really grinds my gears is seeing people, who produce far more jaw-dropping work than I do, get asked by brands or companies who could easily afford it.
I'm lucky that my day job provides the essential income for me to survive.
However, taking on freelance is necessary for me to:
Many of my talented friends work for themselves full-time, and they survive off paid gigs. For them, working for exposure may mean not being able to put food on the table or pay the rent. However, the situation might be favorable for them if it's from a dream client.
Before you become a Judgey McJudgerson and think that I'm too good for free work, please digest my 7 Situations When Free Work May Be in Your Best Interest episode.
As I mentioned in that episode, there are moments when doing work free exposure work or work-for-a-good-cause is totally encouraged. However, let's stick to the free exposure work scenario for the moment.
Saying Yes & Working for Exposure
When you're transitioning from hobby to side project, working for exposure is great—especially if you have a day job that covers your living expenses.
I've said this before, but I did my first three murals for local businesses for free. Why should someone trust that I do good work if I've never shown I could crush a large-scale mural before?
Sometimes you need to prove it to them—and yourself—that you can deliver.
Not only did these exposure opportunities show proof of concept and bring attention to my work, but these opportunities also built some solid relationships that attracted paid jobs in the future.
When you've proved you can do the work and start to monetize your craft, this is where things can get tricky.
Saying No & Standing Your Ground
When you're at that phase where you're elevating those side projects to a side business, exposure work doesn't cut the mustard anymore.
Face the facts: free exposure work doesn't pay off student loans, mortgages, maternity leave, baby doctor bills, groceries, gas, etc. You know, the things you need to survive.
You'd never ask a plumber or a doctor to work for exposure, would you?
How ridiculous does this sound? "Hey, Mr. Plumber, if you could hook me up and fix my bursting water pipe beneath my cast iron sink, I'd tell ten friends about how great your work is."
Someone may be crazy enough to pull this stunt, but expect a harsh and appalled reply.
Over time, you'll unlock that level where you've proven you can deliver, and you'll slowly monetize your craft.
When you reach this point, speak with conviction, politely say no, and/or firmly stand your ground on your pricing.
Simply put, YOUR TIME HAS VALUE.
It's taken me almost 30 years to believe this about myself and the value I can provide others.
If you're not monetizing your work yet and are in the hobby and side project phase, stay persistent and hungry. If a little fish like me from a small town of Cedar Falls, Iowa, can make a name for myself over the years—then you are more than capable, too.
Keep working on your craft and value your time and work, even if that means taking on exposure work early on in the process. In good time, others will value it as well.
Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration: @emilyroseartistry
Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan
Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland
Podcast music: Blookah
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Facing Forks in the Road
Let’s start today off with a little bit of tough love. We all have dreams and wish they could manifest as quickly as it takes to put leftover pizza in the microwave, and _v__oilà!, _you have the best lunch in all the land.
Unfortunately, we live in this microwave society, and it’s easy lose sight of the long game—and the slow and steady grind that goes with it.
However, within that grind, we learn a lot about ourselves. We find our voice, our style and build relationships and hone our craft. The process allows us to grow on the way to the destination, but hopefully, we never fully arrive and cap our potential.
To pursue your hobby and elevate it from side project to budding creative career takes courage, sacrifice, and risk. It requires late nights and early mornings. It requires saying yes and figuring it out along the way, learning to say no in the midst of it, and pushing your story forward even when it isn’t convenient—especially when it isn't convenient.
I feel you’ll eventually get to a point in your journey where you've busted your ass and are now faced with a fork in the road. Do you take the safe path you’ve always known, or do you take a leap of faith and risk it for the biscuit?
Grind, Rise, and Shine with Lisa Quine
Queue today’s guest, Lisa Quine, one of Cleveland’s rising creative talents. She's built quite a name for herself over the years, and I often wonder when she sleeps. This chick is a machine and is constantly kicking out new work to carve out a small path of the universe for her own.
She is not only a successful letterer, but she is also a teacher, speaker, product creator, gallery curator, and a go-to muralist in her world.
Lisa knows what it’s like to build that creative career outside a day job. However, this past year, she was faced with that fork in the road and had to make a choice. She’s been risking it for the biscuit as a full-time freelancer ever since tagging up all of Cleveland with her sick murals...legally, of course.
In today’s episode, we chop it up over topics like:
The importance of routines and balancing your time
Personal development, priorities, and values
Finding time to grind and shine
Her client process
Must haves for being stranded on an island and much more...
Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration: @iamnickcross
Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan
Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland
Podcast music: Blookah Want to Support the Show?
Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram
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Give Yourself Permission to Be Curious
While we were preparing the mural to go in Little Dougy Fresh’s room, my wife brought up this quote by Ursula K. Le Guin:
“The creative adult is the child who survived.”
I’ve heard it before, but this time, it really got me thinking. Kids pour out their ideas with crayons onto paper—and sometimes walls—without ever second-guessing it.
They have no agenda. Kids strictly play and create when the mood is right.
They don't stress about curation or Instagram's algorithm. They seek validation from their parents only, not everyone else, and work so their ideas grace the frigid front of the refrigerator.
Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in our pretty Instagram feeds that we don’t give ourselves permission to be curious and play as creative adults.
We often restrict ourselves from pushing our limits, from branching out to different styles and mediums. It’s not only uncomfortable—but, holy shit, it may not perform well and cause you to lose a gaggle of followers!
Pushing Your Limits and Trying New Things with Erik Marinovich
Queue today’s guest: lettering Goliath and child-at-heart Erik Marinovich out of San Francisco. Not only does Erik’s playful-yet-crafted letterforms scream FUN, you can also tell he is enjoying every minute that goes into his work.
Of course, he slays projects for the biggest names in the game: Sprite, Nike, Google, Target, and the NBA. However, what sets him apart is his imagination and curiosity that allows him to play and always experiment.
In today’s episode, we go deep into topics like:
Constantly pushing your limits and exploring new styles
Striking while the iron’s hot
Balancing work and life
Attracting and creating new opportunities
His favorite drink and of course...pizza
Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration: @d.sheridan
Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan
Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland
Podcast music: Blookah
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Balancing Life with Your Vision with Nick Sambrato of Mama's Sauce
I’ve learned, over the years, that sometimes being obsessive over something is a good thing. It allows you to have tunnel vision and focus extraordinary effort in one direction.
Obsessiveness with your goal or dream can radically transform your mindset and life—possibly for the better.
On the flip side, being obsessed with too many things can spread you too thin. This can cause you to make minimal progress in a million directions—or worse yet—make you lose sight of what’s really important.
There are priorities and limits in life. You can’t do all the things, and you can’t be everything to everyone. Saying no becomes just as important as saying yes.
You’ll also learn that you can’t control everything in life. Yes, having ambition, a vision, and a mission is needed for your inner compass. Other times, it’s healthy and beneficial to be open to the unknown and swim with the current of the universe.
Planning to Face the Unknown
Queue today’s guest: my brother Nick Sambrato from the behemoth print shop Mama’s Sauce, a top-notch spot color printmaking shop specializing in letterpress, hot foil, and screenprinting reigning from Orlando, Florida.
You know I have mad love for my boys Tony Diaz and the Industry Print Shop crew, but you can’t sleep on the work Nick and Mama’s Sauce bring to the table over their 10-year history.
I met Nick and his crew back in 2015 my first year attending Creative South. Nick, Bob Ewing, and Brian French of French Paper welcomed me with open arms; it’s been a budding relationship since.
Not only is Nick obsessive about creating high-quality products, but the entire team is addicted to building relationships and geeking out over the work designers and artists like you print and put out into the world.
So, gather around the table, as I hope you brought your appetite. Today, Nick and I cover a buffet of topics such as:
I know you'll feel full and satisfied after gorging on this episode.
Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration: @Oliviariferiani
Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan
Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland
Podcast music: Blookah
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Adam Grason: Responding to Adversity While Not Being a Dick
From the outside looking in, we tend to think the rockstar creatives we look up to are living a perfectly curated life through the social media lens. However, when you peel back the curtain, things aren’t always what they seem.
We all deal with adversity whether you see it or not. At the end of the day, it’s about how you respond.
Are you the type of person who cowards in a corner when you take an L? Or are you the type of person who dusts yourself off and takes the blow to the chin as a learning experience?
It all boils down to a choice.
Creating Something That Lasts
Queue today’s guest: branding, design, and Illustrator Goliath Adam Grason of Grason Studio out of Orlando, FL.
Adam has crushed projects for design brands like Google, Vayner Media, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Target to name a few. Behind the social media lens, he’s just a normal, down-to-earth, genuine dude who deals with his own adversity as a father, husband, and designer.
In this episode, Adam serves up an enthusiastic and transparent cocktail of topics like:
I have a feeling you’re going to want to take on the world after hearing this one.
Shownotes
Follow Adam Grason: Website | Instagram | Dribbble | Twitter | Behance
Hire Adam via Closer & Closer
Dose of Inspiration: DustyDink
Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan
Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland
Podcast music: Blookah
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Reframing the Lens with Propaganda
Sometimes, we get so stuck in our way of thinking because of what’s been force-fed to us. Often we must unlearn what we’ve been taught and reteach ourselves to see things from different perspectives.
Perspective is key. When you reframe the lens you look through, you can better deal with issues in both your creative and daily life.
Simply visualizing yourself in someone else’s shoes can radically change the way you think, speak, and act on a certain subject. When you are able to see a bigger picture at stake, you begin to find ways you can contribute to a greater cause.
That’s what this show is about. I’m no one special, but I feel I have a special privilege and duty to invest a large chunk of my existence into pouring something “good” into this world. I feel called to be a player on a star-studded team that’s going to accomplish something phenomenal in the grand scheme of things. You could be a pivotal role player, too.
Fail and See What Sticks
Queue today’s guest: Jason Petty, a Hip Hop and Spoken Word juggernaut who slays under the alias Propaganda. While I see myself as the role player, like a Derek Fisher or Robert Horry of 2001-2002 Lakers, PropHipHop is a superstar—say like Shaq or my all-time favorite player, Kobe Bryant, in this greater picture.
Before I heard his music, I was captivated by his Keynote talk at the AIGA Thrive Conference in Raleigh, NC, back in late February. The way he commanded the stage, plus the ideas and critical thinking he showered our brains with, left me speechless and inspired. I knew I had to have him on the show to share his perspective with you.
Once I started listening to his music, it only elevated my respect for him as he’s a master at crafting a visual picture with his words.
He’s a down-to-earth dude who can inspire you to get into the boxing ring with the gloves laced up and to start putting more intention behind your work and actions.
Today, Prop and I peel back layers and go deep into topics of:
There's a lot of hype built around this episode and I promise it won't disappoint.
Shownotes
Listen / Download Propaganda Music: YouTube | Spotify | Humble Beast Site
Dose of Inspiration: @JoeLucio_
Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan
Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland
Podcast music: Blookah
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Show Your Weird & Banish the Vampire Trend Suckers
A wise philosopher once said,"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." This wise soul was Dr. Seuss.
We live in a society where you are brainwashed to feel like you're missing out if you aren't jockin' the latest trend.
Sorry bruh, but you're doing it wrong if you don't have the freshest $120 Supreme t-shirt or the top of the line headphones that break within a month.
This culture can also parallel the creative world you and I operate in. There are waves of trendy work being featured and many of these geniuses are being hired by the big wigs with deep pockets.
Who doesn't want to catch features and have these businesses make it rain dollar bills on you?
This fear of missing out or being irrelevant causes us to lose sight of who we are at our creative core.
More than ever, I feel it's crucial to get back in touch with your weird quirks that make you you.
It's time to stop being a vampire trend sucker.
It's time to stake your claim on your small unique pixel patch of the internet.
Here are three super convincing reasons to show your weird and wave your freak flag with pride..
It's easy to get wrapped up in thinking you have to be a curated robot who creates for validation. Vanity metrics become your oxygen and you can't breathe if the internet doesn't like the work you created to please it.
However, when you allow yourself to play, experiment and fuck up, you create a breeding ground for your imagination to surprise you. You'll learn new techniques, styles and a deeper understanding of you and your process.
Getting to know yourself through your work can be frustrating, especially when you don't rock that first, second or tenth attempt of what's in your mind. Over time though it becomes rewarding as you begin finding your voice and unique style.
My strange obsession with pizza, cats and outer space have slowly found their way in my work over the years. I was hesitant at first because it broke "curation." Oddly enough, these weird quirks have become my highest engaging work and my best sellers in products.
It let people see my true colors and get to know Scotty, the human behind the work.
If a certain song or quote hits you deep, express it by creating some work.
Letter out that stupid pun or dad joke that only you laughed at.
Show your weird obsession for gummy bears or goat cheese in a abstract illustration.
Whatever it is, don't be afraid to experiment by finding and sharing yourself in your work.
Sometimes you scroll through your feeds and all you see is the same style of work or composition.
Yet once in a while you stop scrolling and have to pick your job off the floor due to someone's brilliant and original work.
That person is the black sheep, and you should strive to be that untamed beast.
Being the black sheep has always had a negative connotation to it. You're essentially the oddball in the family who sticks out for the wrong reasons.
However, in the magical creative realm, I'm learning that living the black sheep life is what helps you stand out and rise above the noise.
Instead of trying to fit it and mimic the waves everyone is riding, why not swim against the current?
A few people that do incredibly unique work that makes me pick my jaw off the floor are:
"Be brave enough to show your weird and OWN YOUR FLAVOR. The weird will be rewarded as you give permission to others to find and show their weird."
I totally paraphrased this but I believe I heard this from Lauren Hom's episode on the Creative Pep Talk Podcast with Andy J. Miller.
It's crazy how often I hear creatives tell me that they are reluctant to share their work at all due to the comparison trap and the fear of being judged.
I know this feeling all too well as it took me till the age of around 20-21 to claim I was an artist and to share my work publicly.
Regardless of your audience size or track record, publicly showcasing your weird can spark a ripple effect. When people see you comfortably sharing something that's out of the norm, I feel one can absorb some self-confidence through osmosis to do the same.
You never know who's paying attention to what you're kicking out and the impact that it could have.
It's Hard to Grow if You Don't Show
I get it, it's hard to shake things up and put yourself out there. However, it's hard to grow if you don't show.
We live in a world that tries to convince you that you should should want to be someone else. Hence getting out of your comfort and waving your freak flag is more important than ever.
Remember, nobody is better at being you than you.
Show your weird and be the black sheep.
Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration: @Fugstrator
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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The Peaks & Valleys of Nick Misani
How many times have you put yourself in a position to land an opportunity only to be rejected?
That shit hurts doesn’t it?
It not only leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, but it also makes you reluctant to get back on the saddle and try again (I’m not a country fan but always wanted to say that).
That’s the curse of being a creative. You’ll always face adversity and fall on your ass from time to time.
It’s inevitable.
It’s also the beauty of being a creative. It's an every day challenge and you have the ability to dust yourself off and keep fighting.
This is how breakthroughs manifest.
Responding to Rejection
Queue today’s guest, Mr. Nick Misani. His one of a kind majestic Fauxsaic masterpieces has allowed him to quickly make a name for himself in the lettering realms.
However, that’s not the only style he excels at as he’s landed juggernaut clients such as Target, PepsiCo, Airbnb, Vanity Fair, etc with his diverse range of skills.
The only thing that matches his incredible work is his inspiring story as he’s dealt with waves of adversity and rejection to get to where he is today.
In today’s episode, we dive deep into the topics of:
So buckle your seatbelts, but not too tight though to restrict air circulation. Let’s dive deep into Nick’s story and work.
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Louise Fili's: Website | Instagram | Latest Typeface Marseille
Dose of Inspiration: @adamgrason
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Play, Fuck Up & Experiment
I pursue this podcast because I love it.
I pursue drawing and creating because I love it.
Being a creative, you got into this whole mess because you tried it, you loved it and you figured it out along the way. Sometimes along the way you forget why you loved it and you can steer of course for a season or even a few years.
I’ve been there as it’s also easy to get wrapped up in the validation of creating for others on social media instead of creating what you’re vibing too. When you give yourself permission to play, fuck up and experiment, amazing things can happen.
Brian Steely: Big Work, Chill Dude
Queue today’s guest, Brian Steely of Steely Works. Brian is the most chill, down to earth rock stars in the creative game right now. He’s done work for big brands like Element, Toyota, Nike and big bands like Phish, Mumford & son and My Morning Jacket to name a few. However, he’s not too proud to throw down with your average Joe brand looking to make a splash.
He’s made a name for himself with his monoline badge work that’s take the internet by storm.
In this episode, we cover topics of:
He’s a rad dude, a great friend and he drops a goldmine of takeaways that light a much needed fire under your ass.
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration: @graphicdesign79
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Diane Gibbs: A Champion for Creatives
Somedays you just lack the spark. You know, that feeling or reason that gets you stoked to jump out of bed and work on shit that lights your soul on fire.
Often it’s hard to see the gold we have buried within us. The inner critic blinds us from catching a glimpse of our potential.
Sometimes having an outside voice of reason can help break through that wall and give you the needed push to light that spark again. Sometimes you just need a champion or cheerleader in your corner.
While it may not be easy to be your own champion, you always have the ability to champion someone else.
People appreciate being appreciated. You never know the impact you can have on someone by spending a few moments of your existence to pepper them with a verbal pat on the back.
Maybe it’s just my background in coaching as I’ve had some asshole coaches who would destroy my confidence when I played sports. Its shown me the power of building someone up to help them perform at their best.
Someone who is a champion for creatives and does so much for our industry is Diane Gibbs. There’s an endless list of reasons why Diane deserves recognition as she:
I could keep going but honestly, Perspective-Collective would not be where it’s at today without Diane.
Door Builder & Opener
True story. after writing shitty blog posts for almost a year, Diane offered me one of the biggest breakthroughs of my life when she asked me to be a Keynote at a conference she was hosting in Alabama. It scared me to death as doing your first talk in front of over 100 people isn’t easy, but reluctantly AND thankfully I said yes.
That opportunity jump-started my speaking career which then got me into teaching workshops and most importantly, starting this podcast.
Diane is a champion for creatives like you and me. I’m absolutely honored to have this brilliant woman on the show and I know you’re going to love her as much as I do.
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Follow Diane Gibbs: Twitter | DRS Instagram | Instagram | Facebook
Dose of Inspiration: @jakegivens
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Going the Extra Mile to Catch Your Breakthrough with Matt Vergotis
Let’s get real for a second…
We live in a digital age where human zombies are glued to their screens and expect instant stardom after hitting publish.
When overnight success isn’t unlocked, It’s easier to quit and hop on board the next trend that may help them strike gold.
One of the harder lessons I’ve learned in life is that there are no shortcuts—everything takes time. I’m talking countless hours, days, weeks, months and years obsessively hammering away at honing your craft.
Something we have to remind ourselves is that continuing to show up when it’s not convenient and going that extra mile in your work can help you edge closer to catching that looming breakthrough.
Patience, Disconnecting & Chin Wags
This brings me to today’s guest, Matt Vergotis AKA the Verg. Matt is the prime example of being surgical with practice, having patience while knowing when to disconnect from the digital world.
When he’s not surfing the Gold Coast and spending time with his family, you can find him crushing Corporate Identities, Branding, Logos, Type Design, Calligraphy and Hand Lettering.
It’s a trip when I listen to Spotify and know that I’m looking at the titles he crafted on some of the most popular playlists, it makes the music I’m listening to that much better.
Matt is a down to earth, super energetic dude but knows how to throw down and get to work.
In today’s episode, we surf around topics such as:
My expectations were shattered with this episode and his transparency on pricing is what I think you’ll sink your teeth into the most.
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Follow Matt Vergotis: Website | Instagram | Dribbble | Twitter
Troye Sevan's Blue Neighborhood Album Artwork Behance Presentation
Dose of Inspiration: @kirileighjones
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Elevate Your Instagram Lettering, Build an Audience & Attract Work NOTE: Read the full blog post on Lettering-Daily.com. The following is just an overview.
Hopefully, you know by now that I’m all about experimenting and pushing things to the next level. I realize many people in my audience are focused on lettering as they found me on Instagram. However, I know the majority of my audience wants to learn how to improve their craft and get more eyes on their work.
That’s why today, I’m switching things up with a collaboration blog post / episode with my brother Max at @Lettering_Daily on Instagram. Not only does he curate a successful lettering feature account, but he also loads up his website full of education, inspiration and resources for aspiring or seasoned lettering artists.
He reached out to me in March asking if I wanted to publish a tutorial on his site, but I had a different idea. I’m not one to do tutorials because everything I would basically teach is done by someone else who probably did it better. So I figured why not create an in-depth resource to help lettering artists grow an Instagram audience and potentially land client work as well?
Don’t worry if you’re not a lettering artist, there is so much value in here that no matter what medium or style you create in, this can help you grow an audience and elevate your craft.
Below I'm listing a brief overview of what is covered in the full blog post and podcast episode. I strongly encourage you to read the full 6 Tips for Growing Your Instagram Lettering Audience blog on Lettering-Daily.com. It's loaded with resources, people to follow, links, images and bonus material.
If you think someone can find value in this episode please give it a share on social media. Your word of mouth is the reason the show keeps growing and you know I love you for it.
Instagram Lettering Tips
The following are the 6 tips I cover in the blog post / episode.
Yes, these tips will this help you develop your craft and grow an audience. More importantly, it'll help you stand out and land work doing what you love.
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration:@Lettering_Daily
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Making Shareworthy Work That Lights up Your Soul
Do you struggle creating and promoting work that puts a pep in your step?
Do you want to learn how to create an engaging side project that people can’t resist sharing?
I get it, this shit can be difficult and stressful. It’s easy to overthink and take the path that you THINK people want to see. However, creating to please others is a slippery slope that can suffocate the joy of what it feels like to create work that lights you up and resonates with the right people.
What makes you different and what interests you could lead to a goldmine of work that generates a massive breakthrough in your creative career.
Instead of trying to fit in, why not try to stand out by being you?
Queue today’s guest, Lauren Hom of Hom Sweet Hom. Lauren’s built quite the reputation of combining her lettering, illustration, unique ideas and quirky sense of humor into side projects that takeover the internet and go viral.
It seems she’s cracked the code for creating work worth sharing while having the business chops to market herself and her projects.
With her weekly #HOMwork prompts on Instagram, she helps thousands of people create work that stands out amongst the noise. Not only that but she has a Passion to Paid course which dives deep into helping you create and market a side project that interests you. It’s currently taking place as we speak so sign up for the winter waiting list in the mean time.
A Heaping Serving of Lauren Hom Passion Project Advice
In this episode, Lauren dishes out:
Overall, this one will get you jazzed to get out of your comfort zone and dip your toes in a new project that excites your soul.
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Lauren’s Website | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter
Get involved with #Homwork and catchup on the archive
Blog Post: You Don’t Need Much to Make Magic
Creative Pep Talk 153 - Making Shareworthy Work with Lauren Hom
Dose of Inspiration: @BeGoodStudio
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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The Dynamic Duo That is Super Team Deluxe
Our past experiences have the ability to positively or negatively impact and shape the future versions of ourselves.
So many times we let the bad things we’ve done or the things we don’t like in life define us. In reality, we should push our story forward by using those experiences as a guide to strive to do the best and to be the best we can.
As creatives, I feel we should constantly experiment, share our weird and let our freak flag fly. Your experiences, interests and quirks are the secret ingredients that’ll help you rise above the noise. Sprinkling in a dose of kindness will really add gas to the fire.
This brings me to today’s guests of Rogie King and Justin Mezzell.
Rogie King is a prolific coder, developer and illustrator who can name every Disney character from A-Z.
Justin Mezzell has built a stone solid reputation for his illustrations and witty yet whimsical copywriting. His love for Pokemon and people are second to none.
Together this dynamic duo makes up Super Team Deluxe, a collaborative funhouse that churns out merch that speaks to your soul.
Hold Onto Your Biscuits
Within this whirlwind of a ping pong conversation that feels like it’s fueled by your favorite caffeinated childhood soda JOLT, there is an abundance of value, encouragement and vulnerability tucked between the humor.
Hold onto your biscuits as we navigate topics of:
Most importantly, they let you see the value of why it’s okay to work at your day job while grinding on your dream
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Super Team Deluxe - Instagram / Twitter / Dribbble / Website
Andy J. Miller - Creative Pep Talk Podcast
Dose of Inspiration: @BeGoodStudio
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Jayworking: Reinvent Yourself & Become a Creative Free Thinker
What if I told you, that you had the ability to contribute to something bigger than yourself?
What if I convinced you that you could leave your mark and impact our future?
Someone who is living life to their full potential and helping others reach theirs is Jamal Collins, AKA Jayworking out of Cleveland, OH.
Jamal uses his ambition and curiosity to constantly reinvent himself. He's evolved to where he now pours his wealth of knowledge of design, entrepreneurship, social media and character building into the youth of Cleveland.
He serves as an educator, mentor, consultant and most importantly a role model to our future generation who often lack encouraging influences around them.
This is Bigger Than You
In this episode, we discuss:
Jamal is the real deal and the things he teaches can inspire you at any stage of your life to become a creative free thinker and make something happen in your life.
I’m stoked to bring you his story as his mission is something I can stand behind.
Shownotes
Video: Why I Do This
Video: East Cleveland Dreamers
Dose of Inspiration: @TypeYeah
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Rolling With the Punches & Pushing Crayligraphy
When you’re pursuing work that’s important to you, you’re going to take a few hits to the chin and get knocked down a few times.
The real question is how do you respond?
Sometimes in life, you have to roll with the punches, dust yourself off and fight to create another day. You don’t get wrapped up in the adversity because you realize some people have it way worse..
Someone who is a champ at this is my brother Colin Tierney of Tierney Studio. Colin and I met in 2015 for the first time at Creative South back in 2015. He’s become a close friend who always bails me out of a pinch when I need help with pricing, pitching, delivering or providing honest feedback on my work.
Lets just say he's a pro at branding, calligraphy, lettering, teaching, starting interesting side projects and most importantly, puns. The dude is also the magician behind Crayligraphy which we will talk more in depth about in the show.
Strike a Nerve, Provide Value & Listen
In this episode, Colin shares:
I want to leave you with some parting words from Colin that I hope will simmer in your soul: "When you leave this earth, will you regret you didn't start or stick with it?"
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Crayligraphy - Website / Instagram / Free Guide
Dose of Inspiration: @ChaseKilmerArt
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Making Your Own Opportunities with Hoodzpah Design
You and I live in a world where so many people expect a hand out with minimal effort required. Then there are those who believe everyone else is catching a break while they constantly get dealt the short end of the stick.
Sometimes you gotta take the shit in stride and make something happen in your life...sometimes you gotta get uncomfortable and hire yourself.
Today’s guest did just that and have a reputation for being badass humans who make their own opportunities through self-initiated side projects
I’m talking about Amy & Jen Hood of Hoodzpah Design, a branding agency with moxie.
They went from working at a Coupon Clipper to slaying work from some of the biggest names we interact with on the daily like Google, Disney, Facebook, Vox Media, and Target...I’m sure you’ve maybe heard of some of these…?
I was lucky enough to meet them at Circles Conference last September and their big personalities complement their big work.
An Endless Buffet of Advice Served Hot & Fresh
In today’s episode, they serve up a buffet of advice ranging from:
They will be a keynote speaker at Creative South in a few weeks so snag your tickets asap. They also have a new book dropping soon called Freelance, and Business, and Stuff: A Guide for Creatives that will help you elevate your freelance game. You can be the first to get updated on its release by signing up for their Newsletter (signup located at bottom of their homepage).
Listeners of this episode get a whopping 30% of their shop with the Promo Code: PC30. How rad is that?
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Typeface - Palm Canyon Drive
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Durham Brand & Co. = Bourbon & Grit
When you see big time work for big time players, it's easy to jump to conclusions thinking there's a team of designers, copywriters, project managers, accountants, creative directors, etc. However, little do we know that sometimes behind the scenes pulling strings is a one man / one woman army wearing each hat kicking out mountains of highly crafted work.
Usually these are just normal blue collared beings with a superhero drive to make shit happen in their lives. Their tenacity is fueled by family, bills, coffee and in this case, Bourbon.
If you’re a sucker for branding, typography and want some guidance in slaying great work for great clients then buckle your seat belts as Austin Dunbar of Durham Brand & Co. joins us today on the show.
Austin has a gritty and delicately crafted style and his typography, compositions and texture game is on another planet. Let’s just say he’s not human but he works for brands us humans recognize like Hershey’s, Adobe, Michelob, Pop-Tarts and a few thou shall not be named but they are heavy hitters.
In this fast pace episode we peel the layers back on:
If you find value in this episode, please give it a share via Instagram or Twitter and share the love.
Shownotes
Austin Dunbar / Durham Brand and Co. - Website / Shop / Instagram
Register for Crop Conference
Dose of Inspiration: @mrchrista_myl
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Navigating Treacherous Waters
The road to making a name for yourself is seldom smooth and sunny sailings. There are treacherous open waters and plenty of storms one will deal with along the way. While someone you look up to is crushing it by sharing their gift with the world, you have no idea what they overcame to get to this point.
Sometimes you get stuck in a shitty situation and it takes kind people to lift you up and invest in you. From there, you're hopefully able to see what they saw in you. You eventually learn the importance of self-belief and having a drive that allows you to remove the limits we so often place on ourselves.
We need the adversity to fuel our drive to navigate these open waters. The more you show up and invest in yourself, the more you'll find value in what you do and how you can provide it to others. This is a huge part of what allows us to thrive as creatives and use our gift to make an impact on people.
The Drive & Passion of James Lewis
This leads me to today's guest. James Lewis is a hand letterer, logo and type designer, social media influencer, workshop leader, public speaker and all at the age of 22 out of Cardiff, Wales.
He’s amassed a large social audience while managing the popular Ligature Collective Instagram page that’s amassed over ¼ million followers.
James is wise beyond his years but his successful hot start out of university didn’t happen overnight. His incredible story of losing both his parents and being legally homeless at the age of 14 molded James into a driven individual. This drive allows him to combine his passion for creating and surgically finding a need for it in the world.
James has an infectious personality and in the episode, we dive deep into:
And that’s just a snippet of everything we cover.
So put on your life jackets and hold on tight James brings a ton of energy to this fast-paced episode.
Shownotes
Blog Post: How to present your lettering
Dose of Inspiration: @LisaQuine
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Make Time for You & See Progress on Your Creative Side Hustle
Are you the type of person who wings shit each day and wonders why you're not making consistent progress?
If you are, it's okay because this used to be me too.
Over the past four years, I've slowly gotten to the point where I approach each day with intention like Tony Diaz mentioned in episode 52. Each day I have a focused plan of attack and I'm always going for the jugular.
Hands down, the biggest question I get asked by people on my newsletter, Facebook group, emails or social media is: "How do I find balance and make time to work on Perspective-Collective with a day job, wife and other commitments?"
By no means am I even remotely close to being an expert at time management and productivity, but I've found what works and doesn't work for me. I hope what I share can help you find what works for you.
The following are the five biggest tips that got me the biggest results in pursuing my side hustle:
When we get started, it's easy to fall victim to comparison and feel like you're not doing enough when you see someone else crushing it.
Often, our ambition is larger than reality and we think we have to eat a whole pizza in one bite.
While it's great you want to start a blog, a podcast and add video all at once, I think it's best to slow your (pizza) roll. I feel you're biting more than you can chew and setting yourself up for defeat if you're:
When I started over 4 years ago, it was simply posting drawings consistently on Instagram. Once I locked down that process I took on blogging. I slowly added a newsletter on top of that. Two years later I added the podcast and somewhere in between, I would take on some freelance.
I suggest taking things slow and steady as you don't have to climb Mt. Everest in a day. Start with one bite at a time with realistic expectations even if it's only 30 minute to and hour a day.
A little bit each day adds up.
Once you lock down your process, take a bigger bite and add the next thing to your plate.
I've learned the most successful people don't just roll out of bed and just shit productivity. They schedule their success.
When I stopped winging it and actually planned my daily attack, it made decision making so much easier. While I still over commit myself from time to time, saying NO is slowly becoming a secret weapon.
Here's how I plan my attack.
Sundays I jot down in my planner all the tasks I need to get done in the week and when they need completed by. I then prioritize them with the A1 Steak Sauce Method.
Throughout the week, I plan that A1 category task the night before which I share later in My Weekday Routine section.
3. Eating the Worm
I've always been a night owl, but waking up early has been the key to my productivity the last few years.
The book My Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod is definitely a worthwhile read if you need a kick in the ass to try it.
I believe in doing the most important task first that will scale my business when I have the most willpower.
The most important tasks for me that require the most willpower usually revolve around writing or editing for the podcast, workshops or speeches.
Working a day job and opening myself up to the world's distractions takes a massive toll on my willpower. There's no way I have the focus nor desire to do my best writing when I punch out.
Getting up early and eating the worm sucked in the beginning and can still be hard today. However, I started slowly getting up 10 minutes earlier each week which helped me adjust.
Working before the world wakes up provides the best focus for me and I usually devour that A1 task before I get to work at 7am.
That productivity high is addicting and makes getting up early easier when you see the progress.
Playing Uno is just a fun way of saying focus on doing one thing each day that will help get you the most results.
Looking at a massive to-do list can be overwhelming and can paralyze you from taking any action.
By focusing on doing the one thing (generally the A1 task) you planned the night before, it makes things more objective and manageable.
When you knock out that one thing, you will no doubt feel accomplished. If you have leftover margin time aside from life priorities like family and work, you can then proceed to attack your A2 task or B1 task.
I can't recommend enough reading / listening to the books The One Thing by Gary Keller and Essentialism by George McKeown. These two will definitely help you sort out what's most important to focus on.
It's so easy for us to get distracted as we've become addicted to checking our phones, computers and tv's so we don't miss out on anything and everything.
When it's grind time, I eliminate all distractions so I can get into the zone.
For me, I kill all notifications on my phone in general except for texts in case of emergency. You do not need social media notifications on your phone. That shit will distract you from keeping the main thing the main thing!
I always have Do Not Disturb mode set on my phone from 9pm - 6am so nothing bugs me while I try to wind down through when I eat the worm and play Uno. I'll even turn it on when I need to practice a speech, record the podcast or get lost in a drawing.
If you're looking for more ways to cut distractions, I highly recommend reading or listening to Deep Work by Cal Newport.
My Weekday Routine to Make Time:
Everyone is different and no one's life is the same. This is what works for me and I'm always fine tuning it and open to new suggestions.
Maybe your willpower is best at night with the type of work you focus on? That's totally cool.
I think the most important thing is to be intentional, schedule your success and attack each day with focus. We need to gut check ourselves and seriously consider how badly do we want to make things happen in our lives?
It's possible to make time to work on yourself and your creative dream. Maybe you need to chill on the Netflix binging and mindless hours scrolling through social media?
If you're solo dolo in life, there is little to no excuse for finding and making time.
However, with having a significant other and a family, communication is key. I've learned it's hard for them to support you if you don't:
There's probably more but these are the hard lessons I've learned along the way that can save you a lot of fighting. 😊
It's going to take some experimentation, determination and enthusiasm to figure out what works for you.
Remind yourself that this is a marathon. Strap in, buckle down and enjoy attacking your creative side hustle.
You have a lot of cool shit to create and great people to impact ahead of you.
Shownotes
Book Recommendations:
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Building an Audience with Ian Barnard
In life, you often have to experiment over and over again until you find the right thing that works for you. Some may refer to this as failing while others refer to it as progress.
You may find "your thing" at a young age or you may discover it randomly later in life. Whenever or whatever it may be, it's never too late to find that thing that lights you up that can be shared with others.
This is how it happened with today's guest, Ian Barnard. Ian is a letterer, calligrapher, workshop leader and content creator out of the UK. Not to mention an amazing human being who pours himself into our community and would give you the shirt off his back.
I’ve watched Ian grow his audience from a few thousand to over 200k. He’s a wizard at audience building and creating viral videos, but he’s 100% open about his process and sharing his tips and tricks through his Youtube and Instagram tutorials and his Honest Designers Podcast.
He has an incredible story of how he went from getting by in freelance to making a self-sustaining passive income by creating products that help creatives like you and me elevate their work.
Side note: I created the episode artwork with his Chalk Dust Procreate Lettering Kit.
In this episode we discuss:
If you’re looking to grow your audience and make your work stand out than this episode is for you.
Want to receive a $50 voucher to Ian's shop? The first person to share this episode by retweeting or sharing an Instagram story and tagging BOTH Ian and I will win. All other listeners can enjoy a hefty 30% discount on your first purchase on his shop by using coupon code PERSPECTIVE30. Hot damn! Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration: @AndyCloned
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Lenny Terenzi of Hey Monkey Design
When you hit rock bottom and are backed into a corner, you’re forced to make a choice.
_How do you respond? _
I feel it's easier to throw in the towel then it is to raise up and face adversity. It's take a lot of guts to get back up and attack life from a new direction.
Then you have Lenny Terenzi, who's went from extreme highs, to extreme lows only to climb his way back up to the top. Not only has he made a huge name for himself in the creative industry, but he shares his story and his Professor Dumbledore like wisdom alongside it.
Lenny is an expert at branding, illustration, screen printing, teaching workshops, speaking, organizing events and whatever else you can think of, he probably does it. He's a pretty squirrely and lovable character who operates under the name Hey Monkey Design.
Not only has he been a huge role model to me, but he has zero issues opening up and being transparent in order to help someone else avoid the mistakes he’s made.
In this episode we chat about:
If you think someone can find value in this episode please give it a share on social media. It’s because of your word of mouth that the show keeps growing and you know I love you for it.
Shownotes
Dose of Inspiration: @LexWilsonType
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Pandr Design. Co & Drunk On Lettering
Sometimes there is more going on behind the scenes than you could possibly imagine.
While many people see only see the surface, it's those putting in the work when no one's watching that really get ahead in life. My guests today are a shiny example of putting in the hours behind the scenes and it's paying off.
Hold onto your biscuits as today I have the most bad ass female lettering duo in the game, Roxy Prima and Phoebe Cornog. You know them as Pandr Design Co. where they crush branding, murals, speaking and teaching. They are also the hosts of the popular Drunk on Lettering Podcast where they interview the biggest letterers in the game and show the personalities behind the work all while being drunk.
Genius I know right?
Behind their upbeat and entertaining personalities you see plastered on your social media, these two ladies grind harder than most of the creatives I know. They set massive goals, work their asses off and inject an entertaining and much needed spark into the creative community and industry.
In this episode, we go deep in the weeds of:
You’re going to be blown away by listening to how much work these girls actually put in and how they achieve results.
Shownotes
Register for Crop Conference (Get the Red Ticket)
Dose of Inspiration: Laura Emmely of Northern Projects
Review Shoutout: Nhi Nguyen
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Listen to the raw unedited audio response Losing Sight of Why You Started
Sometimes we get down on ourselves and lose our way. Today's episode is in response to an Instagram friend of mine named Gosha Bondarev. To wrap some context around this, Gosha is a young illustrator and letterer from Saint Petersburg, Russia who aspires to be a full-time freelancer. I've watched him amass a following over 20k followers in the 1-2 years.
While someone may have a large follower count, this doesn't always translate into confidence and happiness. With Gosha's permission, the following is a message he sent me reaching out for advice followed by my response.
Note: I decided to write out a more thoughtful response for this episode based on the raw audio file I sent him which you can listen to here.
While I can't respond with audio to each person who sends me an email or message, I felt particularly called to respond to this one as it felt like my old self-talking through him.
I hope this wave of vulnerability and encouragement hits you when you need it most.
From Gosha
Hey man. Sorry if I am bothering you, but I need advice. I re-listened to episode #25 again because I wasn't able to do anything creative for the last month. After that, I felt like I should ask you.
The ugly truth is that I gave up, I started learning programming because it seems that I need some valuable skills to pay the bills. I have some pictures to post on Instagram from the last year but I'll run out of them soon and not sure what to do next.
I'm realizing that maybe four years of hustling is enough to understand this area isn't for me. I don't fit in here because I see what others are doing and how much more creative and interesting their stuff is. I feel I'm only progressing in using Instagram a little better but my drawing skills are on the same level as years go by.
I'd rather I realize it as soon as possible and try to apply myself in a different area. I asked a couple of friends from the creative industry and they tell me that, "If I'm not sure I want to do it than it's probably not for me."
I know that I should decide it by myself but I was hoping you'd have something to say.
To Gosha
Gosha, I'm glad you're able to be vulnerable and trust me not to judge you. What's funny is that I deal with this inner voice of doubt every day as I push the limits of my creative dream.
I feel sometimes we get to a point where we suffocate our dreams because we expect so much from ourselves. It causes us to not only lose sight of what we love doing in the first place but maybe miss the signs the universe is trying to guide us towards.
When I started Perspective-Collective almost 4 years ago, I had my heart set on becoming a full-time freelancer. I wanted financial freedom, time freedom and the bragging rights of working with the biggest names in the industry.
I saw people older and younger than me living out this dream. While I held and still hold a day job, it was hard to see past the $50 logo commissions people were willing to pay me. This slowly killed my freelance dreams.
However, I'm lucky that somehow I caught a sign from the universe and I began blogging. I've mentioned this before but blogging radically changed things in my career, even though my blog never blew up.
As I've made progress, this new path created new challenges and provides new waves of negative thoughts. I'm most envious of people like Andy J. Miller who hosts an incredible podcast for creatives as he has seemed to find his voice and unique artistic style. Not to mention his client list speaks for itself, but Andy has probably dealt with these same struggles finding his way.
I realize these moments of doubt and comparison are normal. Yet dwelling in them suffocates the passion making me forget why I do this in the first place.
I do this because I fucking love to create and I am passionate about pushing people to find their best creative selves. It's the coach in me that has lived on after football.
So I ask you, why did you pursue art in the first place?
Did you put pencil to paper in the beginning to land a client?
I highly doubt it.
You're incredibly talented, young and full of potential. It seems from my perspective that you're putting so much pressure on yourself to have each post land you a client that you're killing the fun.
Who knows, maybe you need a small break from art just to refresh and refocus. This is totally okay and it's totally normal. Maybe take a month off to pursue other interests.
Whatever you do, I feel very strongly that you'd regret quitting when you're on your deathbed. You have too much talent to throw in the towel and honestly, I'd be disappointed in you for wasting your gift.
You never know who you could've impacted with that next post that was never published.
If you're like me, you enjoyed Instagram in the beginning because you loved creating and you posted because it meant something to you. You created and shared because you found joy in it.
Somehow things shifted. We now post because we need the engagement, affirmation or job inquiries to feel worthwhile and purposeful as an artist.
Maybe you do need a day job like programming that can pay the bills. I rock a day job and while it makes me discredit myself sometimes, I know it's fueling the means to pursue Perspective-Collective without the financial stress.
I should note, don't just get a job in a field because it'll net you the most money. Usually, that comes at a cost of killing the passion and adding more pressure. Get a job delivering pizza if it means you can still come home and find time and enjoyment in creating.
A Plan of Attack
When you do find your groove again and want to attract clients, here's a few things I'd do differently.
First off, have a legit website that is a hub for all Gosha on why they should hire you. Show off your personality and show the work you want to attract. Right now, Behance and Instagram are your tools but you need a home base that doesn't rely on a social platform as you are playing by there rules.
Next, maybe do some type of outreach. It may be uncomfortable but hit people up locally that could use your services and offer them out pro bono at first. I did my first 3 murals for free before I attracted paid gigs. It sucked but it was worth it in the long run.
Make sure to document the process from beginning to end. Not only should you share it on your social platforms but take it another step further and create case studies on your site. This will allow future clients to see your process and how you get an end result.
Finally, always remember that the inner critic is going to attempt to convince you that you don't have what it takes. Other people may agree with the critic and tell you maybe this isn't for you. I say fuck 'em.
I have to talk myself off the edge from quitting all the time. It's all apart of taking the shit in stride which makes you appreciate the sunny days when things go right.
You certainly have what it takes and you've barely scratched the surface of what you'll accomplish down the road.
Maybe full-time freelance isn't in the cards for you like it's not in the cards for me anytime soon? That's totally okay.
Don't let the inner critic block you from seeing the signs the universe could be sending you.
Whatever you do, don't forget why you began creating in the first place as that's what matters most.
Much love from Iowa,
Scotty
Shownotes
Episode 25: Dealing With Creative Funks & Feeling Invisible
Episode 58: Appreciate the Shit and Sunshine - 12 Lessons Learned in 2017
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Showing Your True Self in Your Work
I get it, sometimes it's hard to show your true self in your work. We live in a world where we are taught that hyper-curation is the key to success.
However, what if people want to know the human behind the account?
What if a business wanted to hire a specific personality for their brand that created that work?
I think these are strong questions you should ask yourself to see if that is the missing factor in building your brand. This can also help attract an audience that cares not only just for your work, but for you as well.
Someone who I think is an absolute pro at this is my friend Adam Vicarel who operates Vicarel Studios out of Denver, CO. He's amassed a large audience from his design, direction and outdoors vibe he pours into his lettering and branding.
The OG's of Instagram Lettering
Adam and I go back to the early days of Instagram lettering where both of our work was dog shit. We become good friends over the years and I've watched him blossom to a point where he's full-time freelance landing clients like Lennox Air and Sharpie to name a few. He also does public speaking and teaches lettering workshops all while making sure he has ample enough time to disconnect from the daily hustle to enjoy life at a slow pace traveling.
I felt spoiled and humbled to have this conversation as he vomits a heavy dose of value that I know you'll enjoy as much as I did.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
Also, be sure to follow him on Instagram and say hello. He's quite the pleasant fellow.
Shownotes
Adam’s Online Hand Lettering Course for Beginners
Colin Tierney - Basic / Pro / Professional Tiers for pricing your work
Amy & Jen Hood of Hoodzpah
Who's Killing it: Zachary Kiernan & Ben Kocinski
Dose of Inspiration: Grizzly Wheeler
Podcast editor: Aine Brennan
Podcast music: Blookah
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Master of One Podcast
In a world clouded in a mist of negativity, sometimes you find a bright pocket of positivity. That bright pocket (really I'm thinking hot pocket) of positivity is no other than the terrific trio of the Master of One Podcast.
I met Luke, Patrick and Andrew a few years back at Creative South as they had a sign-up sheet that filled up fast for podcast spotlights. These jolly souls bring a lot of niche knowledge from their respective sources of mastery.
Every week they bring you the latest in games, design and film from their world and they have some of the biggest names in the creative industry drop by to share their process and advice.
Listen each Tuesday as they talk about the latest happenings around the community and what cool new items you should be spending your money on. Then listen again on Thursday when they talk with a guest celebrity artist from one of our industries.
Not only will this be entertaining because these dudes love to give each other shit, but In this episode we discuss:
I have no doubt you'll enjoy what they guys put into the world. Definitely, check out the Master of One Podcast and continue the conversation with them in their Slack Channel.
Shownotes
Master of One: Website / iTunes / Slack / Patreon / Instagram
Mof1 Creative South Building A Mastery Through Podcast Workshop
Someone Who's Killing it: Ape Meets Girl
Dose of Inspiration: @LadiesWhoPaint
Podcast theme music by Blookah
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BenRealVsWorld
Content tells stories and everyone has a story and has the ability to tell a story. The means are there to learn. Find the best way that YOU can tell a story whatever medium that may be.
If you're a content creator and this doesn't set you on fire to make something that matters than what the hell is wrong with you?!
My buddy Ben Hagarty, aka BenRealVsWorld knows a thing or two about creating content. He’s been creating content on Youtube before it was big and now he’s in LA as a content creator for the likes of Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, EA Sports and Madden Football.
I could keep that list going but you get the point, he's the real deal.
Ben is a local legend in my stomping grounds of Cedar Falls, IA. He's a role model when it comes following your dream and taking a risk when you catch a glimpse of what you’re capable of creating.
From creating music in his parent's basement to crashing on air mattresses that needed bubble gum to fill holes, the road to where he is today hasn’t been easy. It's been a slow and steady climb and I guarantee he'd have it no other way.
Black With No Cream
He’s the host of the Black With No Cream Podcast which is also a private Facebook Group Community for Content Creators which we cover more in this episode.
He’s an insanely talented individual but most importantly, a humble down to earth dude who doesn’t forget he came from a little town in bum fuck Iowa.
In this episode we talk about:
Saying yes and figuring it out on the fly
Getting a taste in order to take a leap
Bringing value and being consistent
Telling stories and creating an experience with content
Taking initiative and being willing to do what others won't
Shownotes
Ben’s IG: @Benrealvsworld
Ben’s Twitter: @Benrealvsworld
Black With No Cream: IG / Podcast / Facebook Group
Someone Who's Killing it: @D33JaySlim
Dose of Inspiration: @De2s
Podcast theme music by Blookah
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Melting Faces With Mark Caneso
Ready for some down to earth advice and have your face melted with mind-bending letterforms? If so, you're in for a treat as I have a very special guest on the show today none other than Mark Caneso.
Mark operates under the name PPRWRK Studio and runs PSTypeLab which is a Type Foundry and home for his products.
Side note: I'm currently loving the shit out of his custom Apple Pencil wraps.
Not only does Mark create amazing typefaces you can find on Adobe Typekit like Hatch, Quatro or Neplus, but he’s made a name for himself pushing letters to the extreme.
His Instagram will make your brain hurt in the all right ways with his ambigrams, encrypted messages and wild experiments.
Not only is he crazy talented, but he’s a genuine down to earth guy who shows you behind the scenes of his process which I highly respect.
Overview
In today’s episode, Mark gives you a permission slip to:
I think you're going to find a lot of value in this episode. I was a sponge the entire time and there were multiple areas I found that I can push my boundaries more instead of playing it safe.
When you're done listening, ask yourself how you can take that piece of work you created and push it to the next level?
Shownotes
PPRWRK Studio (Mark’s website)
Podcast theme music by Blookah
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Rise Up to the Challenge
What did you accomplish in 2017?
Did you build or work on something you can be proud of?
If so, you have a chance to build on that momentum in 2018.
If not, you have a clean slate to get your hands dirty and put in work.
I say it all the time, but you have insane amounts of potential buried inside you. Yet the road to mining it won't be easy.
You're gonna deal with plenty of shit to get to the sunshine as mentioned in last week's episode.
This year is your opportunity to rise up to the challenge of taking initiative, being prepared to say yes and knowing when to say no.
Create Your Own Door
Opportunities are out there to be had, but they won't knock if you haven't built a door. This one is straight from Tony Diaz of Industry Print Shop on episode 56.
It all boils down to being proactive instead of reactive.
I wouldn't be where I am today had I not gotten uncomfortable and started sharing my art on Instagram.
I'd be stuck in my last miserable day job had I not busted my ass working outside of work to build a stellar portfolio.
You can't sit around expecting opportunities to be wrapped up in a Gucci bow and gracefully fall into your lap.
Nothing in life worth having comes easy and to achieve something you've never had, you have to be willing to do something you've never done.
Creating your own luck by building a door looks like:
Get out of the bitching and complaining business. Be proactive, hire yourself and join the door building business.
Be Prepared When Opportunity Knocks Building a Door Through Blogging
Back in June 2015, I took the initiative and started blogging. To be honest, I sucked ass in the beginning, but little did I know I was launching my public speaking career.
Only a year into blogging, I was offered my first speaking gig by my good friend Diane Gibbs in February 2016. Diane is a door builder for other people and she makes things happen. The opportunity she gave me was a keynote at a conference called Flourish in Mobile, AL with attendance ranging from 100-150 people.
When she asked if I was interested, every bone in my body wanted to scream out "no."
What If I Said No?
Looking back on it now, this was a monumental moment in my creative career. If I would've declined the challenge, I wonder where I would be today?
Thankfully I said yes as I practiced my ass off and gave a solid first speech.
A few weeks later I got a call from Mike Jones, the creator of Creative South. He offered me a speaking slot at a conference that sells out at 800 people each year. Again, every bone in my wanted to scream no, but I rose to the challenge.
Since then I have spoken in front of hundreds of people at conferences like Crop, Pop-Up Crop and WMC Fest. It's also helped me land multiple opportunities at local schools, events and conferences.
Blogging and speaking have since led to teaching workshops on how to prepare and give a killer talk.
Side note: I'll be teaching a workshop on this both at Creative South and Crop Conference in 2018.
If you're showing up and investing time into your self and your work, you're bound to manifest some opportunities. The question is, will you be prepared to act on them?
Want to help the show grow? Consider supporting the cause on Patreon Be Okay With Saying No
Something valuable I learned in 2017 was the power of saying no, even though I wasn't the best at applying it.
Simply put, "if it's not a Hell Yes, it's a definite Hell No."
That's an easy way to measure opportunities that come your way you'd think?
However, I got to a point where so many things felt like a Hell Yes. This caused me to grind myself to exhaustion and neglect relationships.
November was a hard lesson learned as I:
This was all outside a 40 hour day job too. While these all seemed like Hell Yes opportunities, I could've said no to a few of them for the sake of my sanity.
Learning when to say no to a great opportunity isn't easy. It's hard to see past it and realize this isn't the last opportunity that'll come your way.
Something I'm also applying is writing down a short list of focus priorities within a season. In Q1 of 2018, my focus is solely on building the podcast and delivering killer speeches in February and March.
That means saying no to great freelance opportunities, teaching lettering workshops and anything else that pops up.
Knowing what's most important to focus on should hopefully make saying no to Hell Yes opportunities a little easier.
Stake Your Claim
No matter where you are on your creative path, I hope you constantly mine for that potential buried within you.
Stop looking for the easy trail and seek out mountains to climb in 2018.
It all boils down to how badly do you want it and what are you prepared to do to make it happen?
Rise up to whatever challenges come your way this year. Prepare for your opportunities that manifest from climbing mountains.
Remember, don't expect a damn thing in this world to be handed to you. Stake your claim and take it.
Shownotes
I'll be speaking at AIGA Raleigh Thrive Conference Feb. 23, 2018
Podcast theme music by Blookah
Podcast edited by Aine Brennan
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Looking Back On Shit and Sunshine
Wanna know one thing that terrifies me? It's looking back a year later and realizing I made no significant growth in my life.
For me, the best way I know how to measure this is by setting goals, reflection and by documenting or journaling it—whatever you want to call it.
2017 was a massive mind fuck yet it provided some of the best highlights of my young creative career. I like to call this shit and sunshine.
One month I'd feel depressed and worthless. The next month I'd feel loved and fulfilled.
There were plenty of times I felt lost and hopeless only to turn around the next week and feel driven and hopeful.
2018 is going to be a massive year, I can feel it but it'll have its challenging times...especially when I turn the big dirty 30.
Something I want to encourage you to is to take the shit in stride so you can appreciate the sunny days when things go right. Take a moment to reflect, celebrate and even document if it helps you see the growth.
Ensuing are 12 lessons I learned in 2017. I know for a fact some of these will benefit you too.
I grew up terrified of sharing my work. However, getting uncomfortable and sharing my work through Instagram at the age of 25 changed my life. From there it challenged me in blogging, speaking, teaching and podcasting.
In 2017 especially, I started intentionally seeking or taking on opportunities that not only challenged me but scared the shit out of me.
If something you want to do scares you, I believe it's your intuition pulling you towards the person you're supposed to become.
They say it's not about what you know, but who you know. This is a hard fact. Yet many people approach this in a skeezy car salesman fashion.
Don't, I repeat don't see people as connections and stepping stones. Pour your full self into a relationship. Find ways you can provide value to them without expecting anything in return.
Be a good listener, encourage others, share others work or provide insight / advice whenever you can.
You have no idea what that relationship or interaction can lead to. You could make a lifelong friend, a customer, a brand ambassador or even get hired by them someday down the road.
Consistency. Consistency. Consistency. You can't whine and complain that people don't notice what you're doing when you're showing up only when it's convenient.
You have to stay in front of people especially on platforms where the attention is at.
Focus on kicking out content, building influence and finding your voice a minimum of once a week.
The catch is to enjoy what you create, pour your most authentic self into it and discover how you can deliver value.
Your goal isn't shit until you write it down. Amplify that goal by attaching a deadline to it.
Writing your goal down adds a new level of accountability and adding a deadline creates urgency.
Make your goal measurable by having milestones along the way so you can track your progress (i.e. 5 speaking gigs by mid-December = 1.25 per quarter).
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is crucial.
I'm extremely good at prioritizing and scheduling my day. Essentially I thrive on chaos—or so I think.
My top weakness is having Superman Syndrome. I feel like I can do everything which results in above average results, unnecessary stress and neglecting people who matter most.
I'm aware of this more than ever now, but acting on it in 2018 is the next step. I'm a constant WIP and Doing Less But Better while focusing on the essentials is my main objective.
When you invest in yourself it'll either be with money or time. Money isn't always available but you can always create more time to invest in yourself and your future.
When money is available, you know I'm all about seeking out conferences, workshops or events whether locally or out of city or state.
Money will also help you pay for online courses, books, new equipment, etc.
When money isn't abundant, you'll need to invest your time. For example, listening to free resources like podcasts, watching tutorials on YouTube or reading articles or blogs on the interwebs.
Investing time into daily practice is really the key to benefiting the most out of your money or other time investments.
Want to help the show grow? Consider supporting the cause on Patreon 7. Stop Complaining & Start Evolving
This is a big one I'm guilty of in 2017. I've been bitching about the Instagram algorithm all year. My "following" actually decreased pretty significantly even though I was consistent, increased quality and value.
Instead of nutting up, adapting and evolving with the platform, I complained publicly, especially on social media.
Over the last month, I've done my research, changed my strategy and started growing again. However, it took investing time and being open to change.
The only thing certain in life is that things will always change, will you be the person complaining or evolving?
In my first year of lettering on Instagram, I sought out other artists to collaborate with that had similar audience sizes to mine.
It taught me how to be proactive and work with someone on the other side of the globe. Mostly, it showed me the value of tapping into each other's audiences.
In 2017, I had the opportunity to team up with Deneen Pottery in Minnesota. They had a massive coffee mug enthusiast community which I was oblivious to. We had back-to-back mug releases of 200 then 400, all which sold out in 30 minutes and 20 minutes.
Not only have they acquired business and followers from my audience, but I've been able to tap into this coffee community and build some amazing relationships.
They've not only become friends, but many of them have supported my cat and pizza-related products as well.
Keep in mind that collaborations should always share a mutual benefit.
What value is each party providing the other?
Remember that when you reach out to someone for future collabs.
This one ties into self-awareness as I noticed my circle of local friends was getting smaller and smaller in 2017.
When you become laser focused and obsessed with your dream, you tend to forget and neglect those around you. This is something I'm guilty of with my family and my closest friends as I mentioned in Episode 48.
If someone comes to mind you haven't talked to in awhile, reach out and reconnect with them. Ask them to coffee or jump on a FaceTime call.
Don't get so wrapped up in your internet life that you lose sight of your real life.
I've been trying to find my voice for a few years now. Early on, I mimicked the voice of people who had a heavy influence on me.
I'm a complete goofball but that rarely shines through in my writing and speaking. Yet it's all too easy to show in my artwork hence why I draw so much pizza—it's fun and allows me to not take myself too seriously.
Finding what makes you unique and embracing your weird quirks will help you rise above the noise.
Try to not take yourself too seriously all the time and let your freak flag fly.
It's okay to not pigeonhole yourself into one specific set style to work in. Having a perfectly hyper-curated Instagram feed isn't necessary but if it works for you that's great.
I'm consistently inconsistent and over time I realize that's okay and is a style in itself.
Don't be afraid to color outside the lines and switch things up.
12. Don't Be a Dick
This should go without saying but you're gonna get a lot farther in life by being a kind person.
I know dick heads can excel, but that doesn't have to be you.
Choose to be empathetic, encouraging, respectful and appreciative. I feel these are the true ingredients for accomplishing great things while enjoying your life and the people in it.
What's Your Growth?
For me, documenting and journaling my progress helps me see where I was, where I am now and where I'm going.
As you close out 2017, I want to challenge you to look back on the year and see where you made growth. Also, acknowledge areas of where you can improve.
If your year is like mine, it's a mixture of shit and sunshine. I'm pretty sure that's how it supposed to be to keep us humbled and challenged.
Whatever growth you had or wish to see in 2018, focus on putting your best self into your work and get after shit.
Oh ya, and don't be a dick.
Shownotes
Podcast theme music by Blookah
Podcast edited by Aine Brennan
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Master on None but Jill of All Trades
How many times in life have you felt that internal urge to pursue something yet you're hesitant because it differs from what you currently do?
Sometimes it's okay to be a jack or jill of all trades instead of a master of one.
Each one of us is a passion weaver and each passion thread we weave has a similar underlying structure to it all?
Maybe it's just our job to connect the dots and see how everything aligns together?
This is a deep concept but it makes so much sense if you think about it.
This week I want to present to you Dominique Falla, HBIC of the Typism Global Lettering Community. It has blossomed into a massive Instagram account, a conference, a book and an online summit which you’ll hear more about in the show.
She’s also a Passion Weaver, Speaker, Author, Typographer and has completed tactile string typography commissions for brands like Google, Bing, Penguin, Random House and Woolworths, among others.
She will have a new book called Creative Fitness coming out in 2018.
Dominique is a straight up rock star and some of the things we cover in today's episode are:
This is just the tip...of the iceberg that is of what we talk about in this episode.
I have no doubt you're going to want to take on the world after listening to this one.
Want to help the show grow? Consider supporting the cause on Patreon The World of Typism
Typism originated from the idea that Dominique went to a conference to see Seb Lester. She found the other speakers all boring and wondered what it'd be like to host a conference of 7-8 Seb Lesters?
Behold the Typism conference which started in 2013. It followed an every other year fashion following in 2015 and 2017.
After speaking and teaching a workshop at Creative South in 2017, she decided she wanted to go all out and make Typism an annual event.
Each Typism accompanies a book that typically is based on worldwide artists submissions. They are then put through the ringer of judges which leads to a curated book full of quality lettering and calligraphy.
Typism 2018 will be held in August at the Gold Coast. You can get your tickets here.
Typism Summit is now available and you can get immediate access to the library of videos for $97.
Shownotes
Creative Fitness Talk
Episode Mentions
Terence Tang of Tinlun Studio
Dose of Inspiration: Matt Vergotis
Simon Sinek Find Your Why Book
Podcast Theme Music by Blookah
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Building Doors With Industry Print Shop
When you catch a big break, it usually means a little bit of luck was sprinkled in the mix. However, sometimes in order for you to have an opportunity to be lucky, you have to build your own door to be knocked on or down.
That's the case today with guest Tony Diaz. Tony is the head honcho of the artist-run, award-winning screen print shop specializing in apparel and flatstock, Industry Print Shop in Austin, TX. They work with some of the biggest names in the industry like Goodtype, Morning Breathe, James Victore and Draplin to name a few.
While it says printshop in their name they do far more than that as they are in the business of creating experiences for creatives like you and me. Tony and his crew are also in the business of building doors as you heard in the intro sound byte which we dive deeper into on this episode.
Want to help the show grow? Consider supporting the cause on Patreon
He’s a punk rocker turned screen printer turned business owner. Not only does he have an incredible story to tell but he has a ton of wisdom and bravado to motivate you to keep pushing your work to the next level.
In this episode we talk about:
Listen to the end of the episode to hear how you can get a fat ass discount on their website which is loaded with some killer merch.
Shownotes
Tony's Instagram - @Antibydesign
Doug & Jason of Morning Breath Inc.
Bobby Dixon's Work - @Klctvefusion
Brian Maclaskey's Work - @BrianMaclaskey
Land Boys Instagram - @L A N D
Dose of Inspiration: @ofatomsandlines
Podcast theme music by @blookah
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Dustin Lee of Retro Supply Co.
It’s funny how a change of events can spark a radical shift for the better in your life. Dustin Lee went from rock bottom and desperation to kicking out amazing vintage based designer products for creatives under his business Retro Supply Co. His shop specializes in brushes, textures and fonts inspired by historic vintage materials. That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Dustin found a need in the world and invested the extra effort in order for his products to stand out on Creative Market. The rest is history he changed his life with a new source of passive income.
Over the years, he's carved out a niche in this field by giving talks and teaching workshops on building side income with your creative projects. The response was so massive that he eventually created a side brand called Passive Income for Designers which is structured around his newsletter and Facebook Group.
In a competitive world where people tend to keep knowledge to themselves, Dustin goes all out and shares it all. He is also a co-host on the growing Honest Designers Podcast where he and 3 other creative talk about business insights and how they push each other to the next level.
There's Gold in This Episode
In this episode we talk about:
All listeners of this episode are gifted with a coupon code for 30% OFF your first order on his Retro Supply Co. website. Use PIZZAROLLS30 and take advantage of everything he has in his shop, including bundles!
Keep an eye out for his workshops or speaking gigs in 2018. In the meantime, connect with him via social media, his newsletters, podcast or Facebook Group below in the show notes section.
Shownotes
Design Cuts - Honest Designers Podcast
The wonderful / amazing Diane Gibbs
Weapons of Mass Creation (WMC Fest)
Join my team and get first dibs on holiday products and discounts
Podcast theme music by Blookah
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Slow & Steady Grind
After college, I went through 3 years aimlessly drifting. During that span, I almost quit on art and thought fitness would be my profession. Throughout that year and a half experiment of personal training, I saw a world that mimics the creative world you and I operate in.
Many of my clients or gym attendees were looking for a quick fix. Most wanted something that could manifest immediate results with little effort.
They were searching for that magic fat burning pill that'll melt away that stubborn extra flab from eating too many plates at Thanksgiving. It was hard to hear the truth that "70% of any fitness goal is what you put into your body with the other 30% being exercise and resistance training."
The same principle applies to your creative career. There is no magic pill that is going to make your Youtube video or Instagram drawing go viral.
There may be best practices, but there's no quick fix or guarantee.
Like any fitness goal, building a successful creative career takes time.
It may be tough to hear but these three things are meant to encourage you to enjoy the slow and steady grind you're about to endure as a creative.
Your creative empire isn't a microwaveable tv dinner you can create in about a minute.
While it may seem that some people blow up overnight, I can guarantee you the majority of these cases are far from the fact.
That 22-year-old Youtube star is probably the same person who was cutting up film and making shitty videos as a kid.
That person with over 100K followers on Instagram is most likely the same person who was drawing on every scrap piece of paper they could find since they were five.
Comparison and the culture we live in convince us we need to accomplish everything yesterday.
What's the rush?
If you reached the top overnight, where is the fun of the challenge along the way?
Give it some time and have a little patience.
I talked about how Focusing on the Next Play in episode 51 was one of the motto's our coaches in college drilled in our heads.
The one they stressed even more than that was "If it was easy everyone would do it."
To attain something you've never had, you have to be willing to do something you've never done. This typically involves putting in some work and getting your hands dirty.
Growing an audience isn't easy. Putting out a daily or weekly drawing, blog post or podcast episode isn't easy.
Showing up when it's not convenient isn't easy, but it's all necessary to get to that future version of yourself you dream of.
If you've been showing up for a few months and no one is noticing, don't beat yourself up and get discouraged.
Finding something you enjoy the shit out of doing and that you're good at should be one of your top priorities.
As Jason Craig stated in episode 43, passion is what you're willing to suffer for.
To build your creative empire, it's going to take a lot of passion and suffering.
I promise you it's worth it when things start to click.
The granddaddy of them all is consistency. It's one of the biggest reason I've had any type of success over the last 3-4 years.
Consistency is key when it comes to reaching any type of goal. Getting that perfect body you have in mind is only achievable by consistently showing up in the gym and at home in the kitchen.
There's no room for bitching if you show up once a week and rely on that magic pill you saw on an infomercial.
Unlocking that creative status you want is possible through consistent creating, sharing your work, building relationships, sacrifice and persistency. There's a lot more that goes into too but you get the point.
It's hard to get noticed when you put something out every once in awhile.
It's damn near impossible to get to your best quality work without consistently kicking out a heaping pile of shitty work over the course of yearsssssss...but many don't want to hear that.
To be honest, no one paid attention to my drawings on Instagram for the first year of posting consistently.
No one read my weekly blog posts when I started over 2 years ago for easily 6-8 months.
No one listened to my weekly podcast for the first 6-8 months.
People began paying attention because I stuck with it and constantly had something in front of their face.
Putting it All Together / The Whole Enchilada
This episode was meant for the old me who dreamt of the magic pill. I didn't want to invest the effort and expected things to be handed to me..
I've grown to realize, everything in life worth having requires some type of effort on your end.
You have something great within you that you have to mine and cultivate over time.
I want it so badly for you but it boils down to how badly do you want it for yourself?
Understanding that it takes time, knowing that it won't be easy and that consistency is key shouldn't discourage you.
These are building blocks for the slow and steady grind ahead of you and it starts by showing up with the right attitude.
All it takes is one scroll, swipe or click to attract a new fan. A few of those clicks each week adds up to a lot over the years.
I want to challenge you with the question, "Are you investing the effort or are you cutting corners?"
Use that as your fuel for finishing off the week and 2017 with a bang.
Shownotes
Attract Opportunities Through Gratitude
I'm the kind of person who will tell you thank you twice for something then proceed to tell you again an hour later.
Not only that, I have zero issues with dishing out a hug or two when someone makes my day. You've officially been warned so be prepared to get uncomfortable if we ever meet.
This may annoy people, but I'd rather be the person who says thank you too much than the person who doesn't at all.
With tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I not only want to show some public gratitude but also want to challenge your way of thinking as we close off 2017.
What I talk about many people won't be open to nor agree with and that's totes okay. This show is meant to challenge the lens of how you see the world, hence the name Perspective Podcast.
I'm a very open-minded person. However, growing up I was extremely narrow-minded. Believing only what people closest to me influenced me to believe.
I was closed off to anything that challenged my way of thinking.
Yet I was always a thankful person. While I never came from money, I realize that I had a lot of things going for me. There was always a support system of family and friends around me.
Fast forward to today. While I may not accept everything, like how someone can support Trump, my goal is to understand and form my opinion from there.
So today, I want you to be open-minded about a concept of gratitude and the Law of Attraction. You don't have to accept it but seek first to understand than to be understood as Steven Covey states.
What Do You Have to Lose?
Until I hit my early to mid-twenties, I had spent my life playing a victim. My mind was wired to expect nothing significant to come my way and that's exactly what manifested...nothing.
It seemed I could never catch a break as I was lost drifting day-day-to with no purpose.
I needed a change.
But in order for me to change, I had to change my way of thinking.
I was introduced to the Law of Attraction from my Aunt Margie when she gifted me the book The Secret.
The concept seemed a bit crazy but I figured what did I have to lose? I had only everything to gain.
Being skeptical, I dug a little deeper and found a ton of scientific evidence tied to this theory.
What sold me was some of the biggest celebrities I respect such as Will Smith, Jim Carey, Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington swear about how they've applied this to their lives.
There are flaws in The Secret that understandably create skeptics. Yet this book opened me to a new way of thinking that has benefited me throughout the years.
Your Thoughts Create Your Reality
Over a year ago, My good friend Scott Biersack (@Youbringfire) recommended two books by the author named Pam Grout.
The first book was: E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality.
The second book was Thank & Grow Rich: A 30-Day Experiment in Shameless Gratitude and Unabashed Joy.
The principles I learned from The Secret were amplified upon reading New York Times Best Seller E-Squared.
Pam gives you practical steps and tests for changing how you think in order to attract positive change in your life.
Her book Thank & Grow Rich relates specifically to attracting things into your life through gratitude.
I believe 100% that it works after the abundant amount of opportunities that have come my way the last 3 years.
Two Steps for Using Gratitude Effectively
Here's a brief excerpt from a blog post of hers relating to her theory of gratitude:
"Ferocious gratitude, as I wrote about in my last book, is causative energy. It literally brings things to life. Knowing and acknowledging that you live a blessed life makes things happen. It draws in even more blessings. In other words, gratitude is the foundation for all manifestation.
There are two steps for using it most effectively.
First, give thanks that whatever reality appears to be true right now is one of a gazillion possibilities. Struggling to pay your bills or flying solo may seem rock solid and an absolute fact, but it’s not. Not even close. It’s literally one tiny superposition in the quantum field.
And we must start by celebrating the infinite (that’s so huge we can’t even get our minds around it) number of other potentialities that exist. Already. Right now. When we get really jazzed that whatever we have now is far from the final answer, the new can come quicker. Many people forget this first step. They build an altar to the reality they have now. They actually forget that it’s no more true than any other option.
I say throw a party for the countless options available to you. Get out of problem state. Dive into possibility state.
The last step, you already know. Say thanks for whatever new cool thing you plan to draw into your life. Say yes that it’s barreling your way. Jump for joy. Throw streamers."
Focus on What You Have
Steve Harvey is another person I admire for the way he thinks. He's on record in multiple instances of supporting Pam Grout's claim of using the power of gratitude.
An excerpt from his blog post states:
"You cannot run out of things to be grateful for.
When you start fine tuning your gratitude, it's amazing.
It changes your focus because now your focus is not on what you don’t have, your focus is on what you do have.
When you change that focus through gratitude you then open up the path ways for more stuff to come to you.
A lot of us are blocking our blessings today because we aren't grateful for the ones we have.
We’re so busy telling God and putting out in the universe what we don’t have, that we're no longer receptive to things that we could have. You have now blocked all of your blessings from coming because your focus is not on the coming, it’s on the what you don't have."
Additional Ingredients
Before you dismiss this, all I ask is that you're open to understanding.
How could you be more intentional and genuine in showing more gratitude in your life?
It's a challenge not only to you but to myself as well.
While I believe our thoughts create our reality, I think there are a few more ingredients in the mix as the dough alone can't make the pizza.
I strongly feel grit, work ethic, tenacity and being a good person increase the chances of manifesting these opportunities. Thinking alone I don't feel will be enough, there needs to be action.
Public Thanks To the Podcast Supporters
This leads me to some public thank yous (which I still would've done even in my narrow-minded days).
First off, I need to thank you, the listener. It took me 4 months to nut up to start this podcast as I was afraid failure and being scrutinized
You have no idea what it means to me that you spend even a fraction of the limited time in your life to hang with me. I don't take it for granted and I cherish every share, comment, message review you've ever sent my way. This show would not exist without your support.
Along with the listeners, a huge thank you goes to those who back the show over on Patreon.com/PerspectivePodcast. Your investment in the show is never lost on me and I'm forever grateful.
Next, I want to thank everyone who has been on the podcast, hired me for a project in 2017 or invited me to any type of event to speak or teach. It's people like you who allow me to continue to find my voice and in turn share something I feel is valuable to the world.
Personal Thank Yous
As of late, there are some people that have helped me excel with some pretty large projects. I would be lost without advice from people like Colin Tierney, Ray Mawst, Roxy & Phoebe from Drunk on Lettering, my best friend Joey Bearbower and my mastermind group. The advice you've given me has helped me find my stride going into the New Year.
I especially need to thank my family and friend for always believing in me, especially when I didn't believe in myself.
Finally, my biggest thank you goes to my wife Emily. This woman is so supportive, patient and understanding. If anyone wants me to achieve my dream as much as me it's her. Thank you for being the most important person in my life.
Check check, my final-final thank you goes to Nick Jenkins of Blookah for all the dope theme music you hear on this show. You can find more of his work at Soundcloud.com/Blookah.
I hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving and finish out the week strong. Keep showing up, keep putting in the work and keep creating. You got this.
Shownotes
I'll level with you, I've been a bit of a conference whore in 2017. All for good reasons as I mentioned in episode 49, conferences help you find your people. Another reason is to scope out conferences that I'd like to speak at one day as not all conferences are the same.
As I wrap up 2017, I just attended my final conference of the year in Austin, TX. The event was the first Pop-Up Crop Conference held by my good friend Matt Dawson of Studio Gray / Stay Gray Pony Boy along with his wife, Ariadne. I've talked about Crop Conference in Baton Rouge in the past and had Matt on to tell his story in episode 37. Pop-Up Crop is a different story as it was a one-day event filled with powerhouse creatives who either spoke or taught a workshop.
The lineup was stacked with speakers like Jason Craig, Lauren Dickens, Steve Wolf, Brian Steely and Aaron Draplin. I had a chance to speak on the Goodtype Panel with Brooke Robinson (Goodtype creator, Bobby Dixon and Drew Lakin. Industry Print Shop not only sponsored the conference and afterparty but taught a workshop as well.
Plenty of good times were had and I'm always one who wants to channel my reflections into a summary. I feel the best way to do that is to relay some takeaways you can apply to your creative practices.
Here were my top 3 that I think will resonate with you too as you finish your week strong.
Mind the Gaps - Jason Craig
Jason Craig is another friend of the podcast and his episode 43 visit has been a listener favorite. The way he weaves his stories and analogies together is legendary. He finds a way to punch you in the gut with his humor yet still drop a ton of jaw-dropping value.
The one that stood out the most when he talked about "Minding the Gaps." Throughout your life and especially in your creative career, you're going to have plenty of times when you get knocked on your ass. These are the low gaps between the moments when things couldn't be going better.
Without these gaps, it's hard to appreciate when things go right. Those shitty times in between the highlights are the moments who shape who you become.
So when things aren't working in your favor, mind the gaps and know that better times are ahead of you.
Approach Every Day With Intention - Tony Diaz
Next up was my brother Tony Diaz, who's the head honcho in charge of Industry Print Shop. Tony is legitimately one of the most generous souls I've ever met and has an incredible story. I'll be having him on the show sooner than later as you need to know what's he's doing for the creative community.
Before he led a screen printing workshop, he gave a brief talk and dropped a little nugget.
Tony talked about how approaches each day with intention. This has helped him scale Industry to one of the biggest print shops in the nation.
Approaching each day with intention means having a plan and being focused. It also means having some enthusiasm and being ready to attack that goal or vision.
I want to challenge you to think about how you're approaching your work each day.
Are you winging shit or attacking it with intention?
Break Borders Between Life & Work - Lauren Dickens
The final takeaway comes from the insanely talented designer, Lauren Dickens.
She dropped a smorgasbord of takeaways accompanied by some of the most polished designed slides I've ever seen. To be frank, I've never been more jealous of someone's slide deck.
Her talking points ranged from:
The one that caught my attention the most was "Break the Borders Between Life & Work." Basically stating that the things that make you unique make your work unique.
It parallels what Andy J. Miller preaches about finding yourself in your work on his Creative Pep Talk podcast.
So I ask you:
What are those things that are different about you that nobody else can replicate?
What are those weird quirks that make you you?
Those are the things that need to be showcased in your work and it's something I'm working on revealing more of as well.
Get Out of Your Bubble
I've talked about this in the past, but get outside of your little bubble. Attending conferences has easily been the one thing I can safely say has brought me the most opportunities.
The relationships you'll cultivate and the new skills you'll manifest will launch your creative career out of this stratosphere.
Pop-Up Crop was special and they have some big plans for the second one next year.
In the meantime, the full Crop is happening in Baton Rouge this April. The lineup just got released on CropBR.com and it's money.
I may or may not be teaching a workshop there too...
Shownotes
Focus on the Next Play
Back in the day, I played wide receiver for my high school football team. On a cold Friday night under the lights, we hosted the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars. It was a big game for me as it was one of my final senior home games and I was trying to get recruited to play college ball.
Everything started off great for us as I caught a few catches on the opening drive and we scored on the first possession. After that, things started to fall apart.
On the next drive, I dropped an easy pass and began getting in my own head. I dropped the ball again a few plays later which was completely out of character as I had around two drops the entire season.
Self-Destructing
Finally, I had a complete breakdown. They punted it on 4th down and as I was back deep to receive the kick. I remember watching the ball hang in the air forever as it soared toward me. It felt like an eternity and gave me plenty of time to psych myself out that I could drop it...which is exactly what I did. I ended up muffing the punt which Kennedy recovered for a touchdown.
I remember laying on the ground embarrassed, wishing that I could sink into the ground and disappear forever. My confidence was destroyed and my self-destructing behavior was contagious as we got routed like 50-7. While most people don't remember that night as vividly as I do, that was the moment I realize I could get in my own head and let my mind run rampant.
Despite this game, I still got recruited to play football at Wartburg College. Throughout my four years, something our coaches drilled into our heads was "focus on the next play." If I would've had this mindset back on that Friday night under the lights, I would've been able to bounce back after that first dropped pass.
When Creativity & Sports Collide
"Focus on the next play" is something you'll hear the greatest athletes of all time refer to. Whether it's Micahel Jordan, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant or Peyton Manning, it holds true for all of them.
You don't have to be a hall of fame athlete to adopt this mentality. It's so simple and I've slowly begun to realize how this mantra can impact my life (and yours) as a creative.
I've been blessed to experience both worlds of being a hybrid jock and creative. There's a lot of overlap when it comes to showing up and becoming the best version of yourself on the field or in your work.
In football, focusing on the next play meant letting go of what I possibly probably screwed up in the past and aiming my attention at the next opportunity.
If I dropped a pass, missed a block or screwed up an assignment, I have the ability to respond and make up for it the next play.
As an artist and designer, focusing on the next play means learning from and improving on the last piece or project I kicked out.
If this drawing flopped on Instagram or the client didn't vibe to any of my first mocks, I have the ability to get back to the drawing board.
Fuck Up Often
If you're like me, you often get caught up in the "what ifs" in life.
Like "what if" I wouldn't have dropped the first pass against Kennedy? Would I have avoided self-destructing and helped my team make it a closer game?
More recently it's like, "what if" I would've posted at a different time, used a different lettering style or different idea all together? Would it have gotten more engagement or would the client have loved the first mock?
I'm slowly learning that dwelling on the "what ifs" in your past will get you nowhere. To me, it seems to only depress and discourage me from focusing on the next play.
If you're like me, your past is littered with failures. Getting your hands on the Neuralyzer from Men in Black would be great to erase those mistakes. However, this is the real world and unfortunately, that doesn't exist. In the meantime, do what Tara Victoria suggested in episode 50, "Fuck up and fuck up often."
Bouncing Back & Sticking With It
Adopting this next play mentality as a creative encourages you to fuck up and fail as much as you can.
It's about constantly kicking out work with the goal of experimenting, evolving and growing throughout the process.
It's not about getting caught up in the "what ifs" and chasing perfectionism.
Focusing on the next play is about bouncing back and responding. Especially when something didn't go the way you had hoped or planned.
I'm a believer that sticking with it even when it isn't convenient will present another opportunity. Even if you muffed the punt the first time around.
I want to encourage you to adopt a 'sportsball' mentality and focus on the next play.
It's hard to catch your big break when you're dwelling on the "what ifs."
Shownotes
Ready to Dance?
As you know I want this show to encourage you to carve out time to build something for yourself whether that’s outside a day job or other life commitments. This show also exists to have the hard conversations we as creatives find it easier to neglect.
Today is definitely one of those hard conversations but I think it’s extremely important to bring to light. As you know I deal with anxiety every day, but other times I go through episodes of brain fog and depression. These used to be things I never talked about, but sharing it helps me work through them and allows people like you to know you’re not alone.
This is the exact reason for having today’s guest Brad Weaver and Tara Victoria on the show.
These two are partners that live in Atlanta doing Content Strategy, product design and branding for lifestyle brands through their business The Banner Years. Recently we linked up at Circles Conference as they were the keynote closing talk.
The Shore: Be a Lighthouse
The focus of the talk was to bring awareness to their new side project, The Shore. The Shore is a metaphor in which we’ll talk more in depth about in this episode. They spoke about the hard topics of being a creative and dealing with vulnerability, comparison, anxiety and depression. Safe to say their talk had the room captivated and left the attendees leaving on a note of solidarity.
I jumped at the opportunity to get them on the show so we could continue this conversation.
In this episode they:
I hope this episode lets you know that you’re not alone while giving you steps towards working through whatever it is you’re dealing with.
Key Takeaways
Help fight comparison by reducing time on Cover the scientific.
Kill imposter syndrome and realize your 1st draft will always be someone’s finished piece (and vice versa).
Stop comparing your bloopers to someone’s highlights.
We are all broken in some way so be authentic with your story.
Don't be consumed by the fact that people don't always consume what you put out.
Identify your negative centers.
Done is better than perfect—be okay with okay.
Shownotes
Podcast Music by Blookah
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Creatives are Dangerous
I'm a small city dude from Iowa and I need to get out of my bubble to find my people. I find my people by getting out of my comfort zone and heading to conferences across the United States.
This past week, I flew solo to Creative Works Conference in Memphis, TN. I heard great things about the conference last year so I kept it on my radar. When they finally dropped the lineup, I literally bought my attendee ticket along with workshops within 10 minutes.
In my personal opinion, this lineup was stacked. Josh Horton and Dan Price did an incredible job putting this together. I got to take workshops with lettering legends Ken Barber and Erik Marinovich for only $5o a piece! The speakers were some of the people I looked up to most including Ken, Erik, Andy J. Miller of the Creative Pep Talk Podcast, Ghostly Ferns, Rogie King & Justin Mezzell of Super Team Deluxe to name a few.
Not to mention the vendor market flooded with goods from Strawcastle, Josh Emrich, Clark Orr, Mama's Sauce, French Paper, Oxford Pennant, etc.
Did I mention outside of pizza that BBQ was my second favorite food because I smashed a ton of that too?
As the cool kids of our country would say, this conference was lit.
While I'm worn out from travel, I wanted to make sure I documented some of the biggest takeaways I got from the speakers. Here are my top 7 that I think will greatly benefit you as well.
Let's get started.
Leading off to bat was one of my biggest inspirations, Andy J. Miller of the Creative Pep Talk Podcast. Andy's talk was witty, funny and emotional. Basically everything great that you've come to expect from him on his podcast.
His talk was powerful, but the biggest call to action that stood out to me was from his "Get Off the Floor" segment. We have to face the truth that we're always going to get knocked down and constantly doubt our creative abilities. You can either lay on the floor and take it, or you can get up, make stuff and keep going.
You have to get off the floor not only yourself but for others as well. He followed this up by stating: "You can't help the world thrive if you're not thriving."
Safe to say he put a creative pep in all of our steps and set the tone for the conference.
Next up was Odin Clack from Odin Leather Goods. What stuck out to me was his self-awareness, patience, commitment and work ethic of running his own side hustle outside of his day job.
Something I struggle with is feeling I have to have it all figured out now, but what am I rushing for? Odin reminds himself daily to focus on the slow and steady grind and enjoy the process along the way.
Austin Dunbar of Durham Brand & Co. filled in due to a last-minute speaker conflict and he absolutely murdered his talk.
One of the things that stuck with me was when he said: "Pioneers take all the arrows." As creatives, we are called to take risks and we have to be willing to make sacrifices. When you share your work or take a stand for something you believe in, people will be waiting in line to scrutinize and critique if they don't understand or accept what you're doing.
As a pioneer or someone who is trying to build something bigger than themselves, it's important to keep pressing on and pathing the way for others.
Jesse Bryan of the Belief Agency had one of those talks that spoke to my core. I admit it, his storytelling and well-timed statistics he peppered in choked me up at times.
His talk was all about service and that we need to put our focus on the relationship instead of the reward. For example being motivated for the quick sale instead of over-serving and creating a loyal customer relationship.
He instilled in us that we all have the ability to be great through the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: "Anyone can be great because anyone can serve."
Not only are Rogie King & Justin Mezzell extremely talented and know how to party, but they are insanely generous and empathetic individuals.
Their talk centered around building friendships and not "networks." Cultivating meaningful friendships is a by-product of getting uncomfortable and reaching out to people.
They also drove the point home that putting yourself out their takes guts and that you're never done making bad work. I definitely left their talk ready to hug everyone and take a shot of Bourbon.
Erik Marinovich is one of the coolest cats and down to earth people I think I've ever encountered. Everyone loves this dude not only because of his work but due to his infectious personality and how he lifts everyone up around him.
I'd have to say his talk was my favorite as he combined lettering with the evolution of hip-hop culture. He gave a lot of great takeaways but what hit home the most was his point of, "Never settle and constantly change your style."
I struggle with the fact that my work is all over the place and I don't have a set defined style like you see on hyper-curated Instagram accounts. It was encouraging to know it's perfectly okay and that I have to keep pushing my limits with experimentation.
If I draw small all the time, I need to push myself to draw bigger. If I use ink pens all the time, I need to push myself to experiment with a paintbrush.
Between his workshop and talk, he left me determined to push the boundaries of what I'm able to create and to keep developing my style.
Confession, I've never been to a talk where the speaker didn't use a slide presentation and it raised some concerns. However, Ashley Ford definitely didn't need them as she held the audience captivated with her storytelling and moments of comic relief.
The key to her talk was about being vulnerable and sharing your story. Something that really stood out to me was her point about loving the worst thing about yourself and others. She called it "Learn to love the crust of a motherfucker."
She closed the conference down encouraging us to tell the story that you're scared to tell. No matter what, you're affecting somebody's day.
Find Your People
Do you feel alone with your struggle?
Do you feel isolated in your own world with no idea how to push your creative career forward?
If so, you need to find your people at conferences.
See this as an investment in yourself and your creative future.
There are people out there dealing with the same demons as you.
There are people out there who nerd out obsessively over the same things as you.
You can find these people at conferences.
You owe it to yourself to get out of your comfort zone and find your people at a place like Creative Works Conference.
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Split Focus & Superman Syndrome
I feel I’m pretty in touch with my audience at times. I know the majority of my listeners and readers are trying to figure out where to start or how to continue pursuing their creative work. I basically just said it in my intro.
The reoccurring pattern from my newsletter shows people like you want to know how to make time to focus on something outside of your daily commitments.
Today, I was going to write about the power of focusing on a project that you both enjoy and are relatively good at.
I wanted to write about how to get started with experimenting and catching a pulse to see if it was the right direction to pursue. However, this ended up turning into me possibly oversharing how my split focus has guided me to the current roadblock I’ve found myself at.
Yes, I’m going to share the benefits of what focus can do for your creative pursuits, but I'm no expert. I fell I can best share how split focus and doing too much can negatively impact your life as well.
Poop on a Plate
I’ll admit it, I’m a wizard at piling shit high on my plate (I can't help but imagine a poop emoji on a plate). It’s been a blessing and more recently a curse in my life.
I’ve had this Superman Syndrome mentality that I could do it all dating way back to high school.
It started with a car accident my sophomore year resulting in me having to get a job at the age of 15. From there, I held down that job of pushing in carts at Hy-Vee while attending after-school programs and playing multiple sports.
I was excelling in school, standing out in sports, getting awards all while making some side cheddar. What couldn’t I accomplish in a day?
This mentality carried throughout college. My crazy ass was holding down my job at Hy-Vee, working an internship, playing / coaching football while having an overloaded course schedule with night classes.
With how much this private school was charging per semester, graduating in 4 years was my only option. Bring on the challenge and premature grey hairs—I can handle it.
Doing all the things and succeeding in them was my definition of success. I caught hits of dopamine chasing that ‘productivity high’ and I wanted people to know how busy I was.
I was the king of focus, split focus that is and it was a blessing in the beginning.
The Value of Focus
Here is where I want to tell you the value of finding one thing to focus on that you not only enjoy, but you’re good at too. (I can't recommend the book Essentialism enough if you want to learn more.)
Yet, somewhere in there, I’d be full of shit as I’m horrible at focusing on only one thing as I’ve wired myself to think I could do it all.
When it boils down to it, yes, it’s extremely important to have something to work towards each day. Giving your attention to something you both enjoy and are good at can radically impact your life and others in a positive way.
The thing I pour my soul into every day is Perspective-Collective. It started as a small side project back in April 2014 for me to create art under as I talk about in Episode 28: Make Your Name Mean Something.
Over the years it began to take on a mind of its own. It's since opened up new paths of opportunity such as blogging, speaking, teaching, freelancing and now podcasting.
Having something to focus on used to be an issue in the past. It had me feeling lost in my lackluster day-to-day routine. That lack of focus has since blossomed into an issue of split focus and spreading myself too thin.
Imagine the smallest slice of butter that you're trying to cover a massive piece of bread with and that's me.
There are so many things I like to do and want to accomplish, but there’s never enough time to pursue them all equally outside the day job...I'm sure you've said this a million times to yourself.
Queue the dreaded elimination game or as Stephen King says,_ "Kill Your Darlings."_
Killing Your Darlings
Here’s a breakdown of everything I do under Perspective-Collective. I’m trying to be as transparent as possible so you can see how I struggle to find the essential thing(s) to focus on while eliminating the non-essential.
You have no idea how badly I want to get back to doing the podcast weekly. I feel if I was 90% all-in on the podcast, I could significantly grow it at a faster pace. Yet going all in on the podcast has its consequences that I’m not sure I'm ready for.
While my day job covers the basic costs of my day-to-day living, taking on freelance with the right projects is too hard to pass on. I have an absurd amount of student loans and other debt looming over me. Making time for freelance slowly works me toward some type of future financial freedom.
Personal work is what keeps me sane and allows me to find myself in my work and experiment. Sadly, there isn’t a whole lot of time for it.
Speaking gives me the largest platform to share my ideas and connect with people like you. However, the amount of time I invest in planning, preparation, practice and traveling takes a lot of time away from other things.
Teaching allows me to discover things I like to help people learn and possibly monetize with an additional revenue stream.
I realize I'm doing too much and one of the darlings I had to kill recently was my weekly Fresh Slice Friday pizza drawings on my @pizzadrawingsonly account. It was personal work but it was taking too much time away from the podcast, freelance and time that could be spent with my wife.
Killing my darlings is hard, but the essential tasks matter most. This is something I battle against daily as I want to do it all.
Catching a Pulse
I'm only 29 and I need to remind myself that it's okay to not have it all figured out yet. Everything I’m doing is one massive experiment in trying to find ways to elevate Perspective-Collective to my full-time job...and dammit, I'll make it happen someday.
Progress is progress. If my experiments with teaching aren’t catching the right pulse, then that’ll be on the chopping block to narrow my focus and free up time. Right now, I don’t know so I’m going to continue to dip my toes and test out the water.
I share this with you so you can see the various levels of focus and the opposing side of focusing on too much.
While me venting about split focus may seem like a very basic issue, it goes a lot deeper and does more damage behind the scenes.
Let's peel another layer of the onion and get real. This is probably the oversharing section...
Do Less, But Better...Not Really Though
Funny story, I started the New Year off with the motto, “Do less, but better.” I even wrote that shit large as hell on a whiteboard as a daily reminder. That whiteboard was then stashed in my closet 4 months into the New Year...whoops.
While I’ve become increasingly aware of my Superhero Syndrome, changing and acting on it is another story.
It’s safe to say I’m borderline obsessed with Perspective-Collective and the multiple channels of what I can create under it.
I want to do _all _the things.
I tell myself that I got a late start in discovering what I was capable of so now I need to double down on my ‘hustle’ to catch up.
There’s that buzzword ‘hustle.’ That word is trouble.
I was blinded by the 'hustle' and the progress and possibilities of Perspective-Collective. It caused me to lose sight of the bigger picture of what was at stake.
I’ve learned the hard way that I was neglecting and damaging relationships with people that mean the most to me like Emily, my family and close friends.
There grew an absence of date nights and being physically, mentally and emotionally present with my wife. My family began to expect me to not show up to functions anymore. The phone calls and invites to parties and gatherings with my friends slowly disappeared.
Here I am, trying to convince myself and Emily that I’m 'hustling' my ass off now in the present so we don’t have to work so hard in the future.
Who am I kidding, this was total bullshit.
In reality, this was an excuse for me to disconnect from the real world and work on making my dream job a full-time reality.
It’s fun.
It doesn’t feel like work.
People shower me in affirmations sometimes when I share my work.
I'd be crazy to not invest all my time in this pursuit right?
This Superman Syndrome has created a trap and I’ve been trying to claw my way out of the hole I dug for myself.
Refocusing On What Matters
Progress started by admitting to myself then owning up to it with multiple long conversations with my wife. She wanted to be supportive and not be the person to tear me away from my dream, but hearing her side of things really put things in perspective of how selfish I’ve been.
With my hectic travel schedule lately, we’ve been making more intentional date nights and uninterrupted time together. She’s been amazing and insanely forgiving...I owe her everything for that.
I’ve since been attending every family function possible to reconnect with everyone. That means even all the niece and nephew birthdays no matter how many hours away they are on a weekend. Editing the podcast can come at another time.
I’ve also start reconnecting with my local circle of friends who I hadn’t seen in months. Making time for football on Sundays, drinks, dinners and low-key hanging has been great.While some friendships are gone, the ones that matter are still around.
I still have a hard time accepting that I can’t do it all because if I have open time, it takes everything in me not to schedule something to fill it.
I share all this because I want you to find something to focus on that lights you up. However, I want you to see that there's gotta be a balance as tunnel vision on a dream can do damage.
You can’t do it all.
Trying to do so comes at the expense of neglecting other things in your life.
Imagine building an empire for yourself only to turn around and have no one to share it with?
That’s the shit that scares me and what I try to keep top of mind each day.
Key Takeaways
A Global Conglomerate Design Studio
With a motto like “Show up until there is nothing left to do,” it's evident that the Forefathers Group aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.
They have a distinguished style that peppers both vintage snake oil and Americana with a hefty dose of creative steroids. It's helped them quickly begin to carve out their corner of the design industry while working thousands of miles apart.
The Forefather's trio is made up of:
Working remote can have it's challenges, yet somehow they offer a buffet of design services such as:
Today on the show, we go deep on a wide range of topics such as:
Using a day job as a springboard to get to where you want
The pros and challenges that come with working remote
Where they source their inspiration and their designing processes
Creating passive income by repurposing things you create from personal need
Taking a stand against bullies in the design community
Buying bunk ouija boards
Using cocaine as pizza toppings
I could keep going...
Key Takeaways
It's beneficial to work at a crappy job to understand how you can improve yourself and the systems.
Keep an open mind on how you can repurpose work that you create for yourself for passive income.
Find yourself in your work and leave your personal thumbprint in it.
Be inspired but develop your own personal style and live in it.
Be who you are in person and online. Don’t be different as you will have problems.
Shownotes:
Emir’s (Growcase’s) : Twitter / Website / Dribbble / Instagram
Jonden’s: Instagram
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Find Comfort in Discomfort
The other day I was listening to the Joe Rogan podcast and he had Jamie Foxx on as a guest. I’ve always been a fan of Jamie because well…it’s Jamie Foxx. What can’t that dude do?
However, what really blew me away was when he shared how he got into music. He used to throw these huge parties for people like P Diddy which led him to linking up with rising artists like Jay-Z and The Neptunes.
This then led to him building a studio in the back of his house and artists had to perform any time they were new and visiting.
One day some kid with a backpack on came in and killed his session. He then proceeded to tell Jamie he had the perfect song for him to sing on. This surprised Jamie because he never saw himself in that light before.
This kid was Kanye West and the song was Slow Jamz in 2004.
Jamie thought the song was a bust, but 6–8 weeks later it was the #1 song in the country.
Following this song, Jamie blew up in the rap and R&B scene.
He goes on record stating, “When your opportunity comes, if you prepare for it, now you can jump into it and grab it.”
Jamie was unknowingly preparing himself for that opportunity with Kanye by:
It’s so simple, prepare for your opportunities, but I feel many opportunities_ don’t_ come without getting out of your comfort zone.
Do Shit That Scares You
I used to be the type of person who played it safe and refused to get uncomfortable.
I’ve found over the past 3–4 year, doing things that scared the shit out of me usually led to life changing opportunities.
When I got those opportunities, I prepared my ass off so I could deliver.
How Jamie Foxx got into music reminds me how I got into public speaking.
A few years ago I wanted to share ideas and encouragement but I never saw myself as a writer. Yet, I got uncomfortable and started blogging not knowing what would come of it.
About a year into weekly blogging, my good friend Diane Gibbs offered me my first speaking gig because I mentioned on a phone call months earlier that I wanted to try it someday.
To be 100% honest, when she asked me, every bone in my body wanted to tell her no because I was terrified. This wasn’t your typical group of 15–20 people like back in school speech class. This was a Keynote at a conference of about 100–150 people in a state where I’ve never been before.
However, I wanted to be a speaker and that’s exactly what I became.
I prepared my ass off and crushed that opportunity which changed my life. It has since led me to speak at conferences like Creative South, Crop and WMC Fest.
Little did I know that writing and sharing ideas through blogging was leading me to the next stage of my life in speaking. Wild enough this brought me to podcasting.
All of these things that made me uncomfortable radically changed who I was as a person and the creative path I’ve been chasing.
Feeling Alive & Crushing It
Looking back on life, playing it safe never made me worthwhile. I felt invisible instead of feeling alive.
I think this is how a thrill seeker functions, they need to constantly be doing something insane like sky diving to feel alive. Well finding comfort in discomfort lets me feel alive and evolve to the version of Scotty I'm supposed to become..
Getting uncomfortable has opened the flood gates of opportunity for Perspective-Collective, but it’s up to me to be prepared for those moments so I can crush them.
When I get those “Hell Yes” opportunities I mentioned back in Episode 38, I pretend like they will never come again and that this is my one shot.
It's taught me to_ never_ half ass anything and to pour all my soul and energy into nailing that shot.
Even if things don’t turn out the way you expect it, you can be proud that you:
As you finish out this week, I want to challenge you to try something I learned from writer / influencer Jon Acuff: when you find yourself saying “I want to,” swap it for “I’m going to” instead.
You want to start drawing, blogging, photography or writing but it makes you feel uncomfortable?
Change your thinking to I’m going to start drawing, blogging, photography or writing because it makes me feel uncomfortable.
Your mindset slowly begins to change with a simple swap of words.
Following the discomfort nudges you toward the creative you're supposed to become.
Challenging your fears present and prepare you for the opportunities that can change your life.
Find comfort in discomfort and prepare for your opportunities.
Key Takeaways
"Your identity is not in what you do, therefore fail often, fail freely, learn and experiment. And take your successes in each of those failures because there is one." This is the kind of encouragement Alicja Colon (yes, like the fragrance) brings to the table.
Not only is she an epic photographer / paper crafter extraordinaire, but I think her strongest traits come in prioritizing what’s most important to her in life like family, friends and guiding other creatives.
Alicja works her magic in Savannah, GA and is also the Commerical Photographer at Focus Labs who build thoughtful identities and experiences to elevate and empower organizations.
She brings timeless advice to this episode and this is the deepest conversation this podcast has delivered to date.
We go in depth about:
Key Takeaways
She tried 50 thousand things and continued to find “her thing” as she got older by staying curious.
There is still a path available out there for you, so stick with it and you can uncover a gold mine of hidden talents.
The path and jobs you’re currently working will teach you necessary skills and put you on the trajectory to where you’re supposed to be.
Reclaiming your who starts with defining your priorities in life.
Once you know your "who" you can use that through a lens to focus your "do".
Kill Your Darlings (Stephen King) - Eliminate the things you love that don't align with the trajectory of where you want to go.
Side projects are always a source of personal growth from a craft and endurance perspective.
Shownotes
Alicja's popular blog posts:
Podcast Theme Music: Blookah
515 Alive Music Festival in Des Moines
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How many times in life have you talked yourself out of something?
How many times has that inner critic convinced you, “there’s no way you can do that, it’s impossible.”
I spent the majority of my life letting my inner critic drag me down.
It’s taken a long time for me to get to the point where I can object and stand up for myself.
Why not me?
Why can’t I be a successful artist / designer in my tiny corner of Iowa?
Why can’t I become a professional podcaster or a traveling keynote speaker?
Why not me?
On those days where I’m convinced, it just feels like I’m going in the right direction.
There are some days you’re just feeling it like the universe is this divine source of creative intuition and it’s nudging you along the path you’re supposed to follow.
I’m pretty sure this is how Kobe was feeling the day he dropped 81 points on the Raptors (I’m a huge Laker fan if you didn’t know).
On most days, however, it doesn’t come so easy.
My mind automatically defaults to doubt so it takes A LOT of effort and A LOT of repetitive self-talk to convince myself it’s possible.
I shit you not I will stare intensely at the inner critic in the mirror and repeat to myself, “Why not me?” until I'm convinced…or until I creep myself the fuck out.
Why Not You?
Self-talk is important, good self-talk I should say because we are already pros at the negative self-talk.
Try it sometime even if it feels weird.
Why not you?
Why can’t you make these things happen in your life?
Why can’t you be happy building something you love?
If it’s something you’re good at and it’s something you’re passionate about, it’s not impossible…but it’s also not easy.
Winning Your Mind Requires Effort
My coach, Rick Willis. during football at Wartburg College used to drill it into our heads that, "If it was easy, everyone would do it."
This sounds so cliche but it's completely relevant to practically every aspect of life.
Because it requires effort, many people are hesitant to pursue whatever "it" is for them. It’s much easier to let that inner critic run every minute of your life and passively exist or complain about the circumstances that supposedly hold you back.
From my experiences of letting the inner critic be in the driver seat, I personally feel you pay the cost of living with regret.
So I want to challenge you to challenge yourself.
When you want to do something and that inner critic injects doubt into your mind, talk to yourself…preferably in your own head if you’re around other people.
Repeat to yourself, “why not me?” and mean it.
Say it to yourself as many times as necessary until you start believing it.
Once you start believing it, act on it.
Ally or Enemy?
The mind is a powerful machine and it can either be your ally or your enemy.
After letting my inner critic kick my ass for well over 23 years, not mention the past 4 years of dealing with anxiety, I’ve learned one valuable thing:Having the proper mindset and some type of belief in yourself or your abilities can get you to practically anywhere you want to be in life.
Having the proper mindset and some type of belief in yourself or your abilities can get you to practically anywhere you want to be in life.
When I started convincing myself that I could become a great artist in the middle of bum fuck Iowa, everything changed.
When I decided I’m going to try and make a name for myself through blogging, teaching, speaking and podcasting, everything changed.
None of this would’ve happened if I wasn’t challenging that inner critic with reaffirming self-talk.
I had to change my way of thinking.
I had to change my perspective.
For things to change, you have to change. It’s all in your mind.
You are more capable then you will ever realize and you have a lot more going for you than you think.
Why not you?
Why not now?
Key Takeaways
This week on the show we have the talented designer, illustrator, speaker and just a kickass friend, Jason Craig.
Jason operates out of Augusta, GA and currently is the Senior Designer for the Westobou Festival in Augusta.
He and I go back 3 years as we originally linked up through Instagram and then met each other at Creative South 2015. That year he was a speaker and I was blown away by his story telling and presence on the stage, let alone his artwork.
Fast forward to today and he's become a mentor and someone I can rely on to give it to me straight and cut through the bullshit.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
Jason has a gift for drilling home his points through metaphors and analogies and I really think you'll enjoy his setup and delivery.
He's always making appearances at your favorite design conferences but you can catch him speaking next at the Crop Pop Up Conference in November in Austin, Texas.
Shownotes
Additional podcast interviews of Jason
Music by Blookah
Finding Time to Build For Yourself
I don’t want to be the guy who stands on a soapbox giving advice.
Rather, I want to be the person who shares what works and what doesn’t work for me as I figure things out on my own creative path.
Maybe you’ll find something that you should or shouldn’t apply to your own method of madness.
If you’re listening to the show then I’m taking a stab at the fact that you’re like me.
You want to build something, something that’s your own. Something you can be proud of and enjoy doing along the way.
Something you can leave behind for other people to enjoy.
Finding time to build for yourself can be difficult. Especially when you are building something for someone else full time with a day job or have kids and other commitments.
That’s what today’s topic is about as it comes directly from Shane Donaldson aka @Rustic_Overtones who signed up for my newsletter at Perspective-CollectiveTeam.com.
When you sign up you get an onboarding email question asking “What is your biggest struggle when pursuing your creativity?”
I love getting responses to this because it:
Shane’s response was, “My biggest struggle is balancing the little time I have with a focus.”
This has been a repeating theme and deserves addressing as I know someone listening deals with the same thing.
To Shane’s credit, he works in IT for the day job but comes home and creates amazing custom wooden cutout lettering. I highly recommend you check out his Instagram at @Rustic_Overtones.
Thanks for this week’s topic Shane. Before I get into the show, if you want to influence the direction of an episode or get my newsletter designed to give you a mid-week creative boost, then join the team atPerspective-CollectiveTeam.com.
Let’s get into the show.
Balancing Your Free Time
If you’re listening to this show, you obviously want to build something for yourself, something on your own terms where you call the shots of what you create.
You want this so badly but maybe the day job or tending to your family makes it hard to find the time, motivation and energy to focus.
Maybe you’re unsure where to start or had little results in the past so you’re hesitant on where or how to invest your time.
I’ll admit, watching cat videos on YouTube or playing video games to escape in is quite tempting. Currently, I’ve been low key binging on Game of Thrones while I draw.
So here’s the question, how do you balance the little time you have with a focus?
By focus, I mean working on your own side project or even your own business.
While I can’t relate to having kids, I would say I’ve become pretty efficient in managing my time outside of the day job and husband duties to focus on Perspective-Collective.
Regardless of your commitments, here are 3 practical things I focus on each day that allows me to build something for myself:
How often do you give yourself a massive, daunting to-do list of a million things and find yourself unsure where to start?
It’s like giving yourself the assignment to climb Mt. Everest. It’s easy to feel defeated before you start.
For me, I get stressed out and discouraged too easily if I feel I have to take on the world all at once.
Instead, I need to break things up into manageable chunks as it helps to be objective and realistic. This makes the game of building Perspective-Collective winnable and most importantly, enjoyable.
So what is it you’re working towards or trying to build in your rare spare time?
If you have that massive to-do list, what’s one thing on it that you can knock out today to get you started?
Knocking out one thing a day is progress.
Progress is addicting and when you string together a couple days you begin to build momentum.
A few days turn into a week, a week turns into a month, months turn into years.
The more progress you see, the more you find ways to create more time to invest.
Are you a routine person or do you prefer to take life as it comes and react?
I used to be the one who would wing it and see what happens each day. Without a plan, I made minimal progress in a million directions.
While I can be a cluttered person, I thrive on the structure and knowing what my next move is going to be. Getting shit done and being productive is a high like no other and I’m always itching to get that fix.
If shit doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t get done in my world and it’ll sit on my to-do list.
That’s why at 9 pm each day, Siri reminds me to plan my next day which literally takes under 5 minutes.
I schedule open pockets of time in my Passion Planner to get that one thing finished whether it’s:
Without planning that one big thing during those times, my mind strays and I find myself mindlessly scrolling through social media.
One big thing a day for me could look like:
What could that one big thing a day look like for you?
What are those free pockets of time in a day that you aren’t taking advantage of?
I believe anyone can accomplish one thing a day with this approach and you don’t have to be as hyper-structured as I am to see the benefits.
This may be the hardest one as we live in an era where we are wired to love distractions.
As a culture, we are addicted to notifications, emails, DMs, text messages, features on Instagram, etc.
I’m guilty of letting these distractions take me away from my work once in awhile, but it starts with being aware of what you’re doing.
If you are serious about building something for yourself, hold yourself accountable and kill the distractions.
Go into that scheduled pocket of time you planned the night before and get your shit done.
For me, there are a couple things I do to handle this I:
Really the only times I allow myself to be on social media while I work is when I’m sharing the process of a drawing on my Instagram stories.
Try to focus on getting into deep work and start off small by doing 20–30 minutes of uninterrupted, distraction free time.
Work your way up from there and shoot for an hour. Gradually add more time as it fits within your schedule.
If you want to dig deeper into working distraction-free I recommend checking out the book “Deep Work” by Cal Newport.
Find the Time
I get it, finding time to work on the things you want to isn’t always easy.
Rarely is it convenient and we are all experts at coming up with reasons why we can’t get to this or that today.
A lot of the time people say they lack the motivation even when they do have the time. I believe motivation comes from the act of doing and it's hard to find the motivation if you only do things when they are convenient.
Be honest with yourself, you have pockets of time in a day even if they are 10-minute spurts.
Those moments are gold and you’re capable of knocking out a quick sketch, writing 200 words, recording video or audio on the go.
You don’t have to be hyper-structured, you just have to be intentional with the sacred time that you have.
You have what it takes to build something for yourself. Find the time and get to work.
Momentum and progress will find you.
Key Takeaways
Lincoln Design Co.
This week on the show I'm stoked to bring you Lincoln Design Co.
I’ve been following these dudes work religiously since I discovered them on Instagram about a year and a half ago. I was lucky enough to meet up with them at Crop Conference and get them on the show with their crazy schedule.
Lincoln Design Co is a Brand Design & Creative Agency who works with the likes of Nike, Element Skateboards, Harley, Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Disney, Nerf, Hot Wheels, Tony Hawk, Nickelodeon, yadda yadda I could keep on going but you get the point.
These dudes are the shit and I feel very honored to get to share a bit of their story and background with you today.
In this episode, Dan Janssen and company talk about:
Their team is made up of 6 people:
Shownotes
A Memo From Scotty: 3 Years of Weekly Content Can Lead to Fatigue
In 2017 I started the year off the with the motto, "Do Less But Better."
Unfortunately, I am human and have been horrible at sticking to this mantra.
Over the past 3 years, I've been putting out weekly content like a drawing, blog post or audio. Weekly content is all I know but trying to manage this with:
has begun to take a toll on me, not to mention all the other things I seem to fit within my schedule.
Sometimes it can feel like an endless cycle, like when do I get a break?
This past April was absolutely ridiculous with all the traveling and teaching a workshop at Creative South and speaking at Crop Conference. The months and preparation leading up to it were intense as well.
I told myself that May would be different and I would slow down and enjoy myself. Next thing you know, I book up any free time I have with freelance and side projects.
Safe to say, May went by in a flash and I can barely remember anything that happened. It's making me realize that I keep my plate full unintentionally and it makes it difficult to "live in the moment" even though I've improved at celebrating all wins...or at least acknowledge them.
There’s just so much going on that I can’t stress myself out trying to hustle to make all these things happen in the week.
I’m infamous for being too hard on myself and that’s why I’m giving myself a break and ditching unnecessary stress.
Reevaluating My Priorities
The podcast is my #1 priority as it’s the most fulfilling but it’s also the most demanding.
Sometimes I don’t feel like I have enough time to pump out the best quality in the episode or the show artwork as I'm rushed.
This pains me but for the short future I’m going to take the show to an every other week for my sanity and to free me up to:
I'm making this choice to ditch unnecessary stress I get when trying to rush out an episode each week. There's too much going on and especially in the summer time to effectively manage it all to the quality I expect from myself.
The show will eventually return to a weekly format as I know this is what has the biggest potential in my short creative career. However, I need to pace myself and play long-game mindset so I don't burn out in the short term.
Give Yourself a Break
While it'll be hard to adapt to this new format, my life and productivity revolve around routine.
I know this will allow me to reflect and understand how I can improve and evolve the show to a higher level.
I hope you know how much your respect, understanding, encouragement and support mean to me as I slowly figure things out in my personal and business life.
Thanks for listening.
Much love,
Scotty
Shownotes
A Defeated Mindset Makes It Hard to Start Or Stick With It
Do you deal with projecting defeat and tell yourself:
We all want to be successful but this foreshadowed failure can stop you from even starting or sticking with it.
How can you silence that inner critic and pick a road to start down?
Honestly, I think the majority of us creative have no idea where we are headed—me especially.
Each year, the road seems to drastically change but the hardest thing I ever did was to start. The second hardest thing I’ve done is stick with it.
With a defeated mindset, it makes it hard for things to ever change and evolve if you don’t take the first step and begin in a blind direction.
I think when you’ve made up your mind that you have to be successful and make money off your creative pursuits that you’re setting yourself up for defeat.
I want to give you 3 ways to take the pressure off yourself as you pursue work that lights you up. The success, money and recognition are by-products when you continue to show up and improve your skills.
I think it’s safe to say that the majority of professionals didn’t start off immediately successful in their line of work.
I’d wager to say that your heroes probably started off with their work as a hobby and it blossomed from there.
In my case, drawing was a hobby my entire life that I didn’t think I was very good at. However, once I started sharing my work and experimenting with different mediums and styles, I began to find my grove and my voice...and slowly getting paid to do it.
Even today I’m constantly experimenting— I’m afraid to get stagnant and content with my skills as I believe that caps your potential.
Avoid the pressure of needing to be a Bob Ross or Doyald Young right out of the gates.
Treat your early stages of your work as a hobby that’s just for you and nobody else. Dip your toes in the water and experiment in work that you’re not only good at but that you enjoy as well.
This is basically the underlying message to my show. If you’re creating work that you don’t enjoy, you could be slowly suffocating the excitement of your talents.
For the longest time, I was doing client work that involved me trying to recreate other people's styles.
Other times I was creating to please others and jumping on trends hoping people would like my work.
Sadly, when I shared this work that wasn’t true to myself, I slowly found myself becoming less satisfied, more frustrated and more apt to quit.
With the exception of client work, I encourage you to create from a place that is for you and nobody else.
Pursue the road of chasing work that lights you up and that you enjoy.
Transforming that hobby into a successful creative career generally lands into two buckets:
By creating and sharing work you enjoy and are good at over time, you’re bound to slowly attract an audience around it.
It will seem like nobody's paying attention in the beginning and this may be true. Remind yourself that you’re not doing it for other people and that you have to give it time to grow as Matt Dawson says.
Think about it, more people are getting access to the internet each day.
As of April 2017, Instagram has over 700 million users and you know what that could mean for you?
You never know when you’re one scroll or swipe away from having your work discovered by that one person who can open the flood gates of opportunity.
You’re boosting your odds when you continue to show up and put out your best work.
Kill the Pressure of Projecting Defeat
To be honest, I don’t think you and I will ever completely silence that inner critic. Yet we can be mindful on how we approach our work.
Putting pressure on yourself to be successful and make money from your talents is unnecessary, especially in the early stages. That is the quickest way to suffocate the joy from even starting or sticking with something.
When picking a road to follow:
I have a gut feeling that if you follow these steps, you’ll set yourself up for some pretty spectacular opportunities to come your way.
Key Takeaways
The Power of No & the Value of Your Time
This past April at Creative South, I got to listen to a panel discussion by Marc Hemeon and Joel Beukelman of Design Inc. which links companies and freelancers together.
Scratch that, according to Marc, design panels suck so they turned it into a quirky session about 70ish Life and Business Lessons for Designers.
What made it even more enjoyable was the Always Sunny in Philadelphia theme music in the background along with the energy and humor they injected into the presentation.
One of the biggest takeaways that punched me in the gut was when they said: “If it’s not a Hell Yes, then it’s a Hell No.”
This spoke volumes to how I used to take on work simply out of financial scarcity or due to feeling obligated.
I want this episode to drive home the fact that saying no creates more time for the work that excites you.
Listening to this episode better be a hell yes to you.
The Power of No
Why is it so hard to say no to people?
For me, it always landed into two buckets:
Letting these guide my decisions of saying yes got me into some shitty commitments that held my time and excitement hostage.
Only in the last two years have I discovered the power of saying no. To be honest, saying no has allowed me to stumble across exciting new work that let me evolve as an artist.
For example, in September of 2016, I randomly got the chance to do my first mural. The only reason I was free to take on this new challenge was because I turned down a not so exciting job the week before.
Murals have easily blossomed into the work that excites me the most. Who knows when or if I would’ve stumbled across this new medium had I committed to the other project. There just wouldn't have been time to take it on.
That brings me to one of my main points: your most valuable asset isn’t money, it’s your time.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day and each hour is sacred.
When you say yes to mediocre things you don’t really want to do, you’re saying no to the things you really want to say yes to.
By filling up those open gaps in your life with low budget t-shirt designs for unaccountable clients who take forever to pay, your killing those spontaneous opportunities that could be an instant “Hell Yes.”
That’s where saying no comes in.
When something isn’t a Hell Yes, it should be a Hell No.
Operating Out of Scarcity
If you’re taking on work solely based on scarcity or guilt, I really think you should reframe your thinking
To be clear, right now in life I choose to take on freelance but I don’t necessarily have to and I realize this doesn't apply to everyone.
I make enough at the day job to cover bills, groceries, gas and the occasional pizza to treat myself. However, I’m not bringing in enough to save for a kid, take Perspective-Collective full-time and attack student loans.
This is why I choose freelance but more intentionally than before.
I’ve grown to be selective now and target one “Hell Yes” project per month. Only one as I still have the day job, podcast and husband duties that take priority.
If no “Hell Yes” opportunities present themselves, my wife and I will be fine and I can focus on other things to push Perspective-Collective forward.
The old me would have settled for the first project that popped up due to scarcity mindset. I was willing to trade my sanity and satisfaction as I felt this opportunity would never come again and neither would the small chunk of change that accompanied it.
Always remind yourself that there are plenty of more projects coming your way if you happen to pass on one.
Operating Out of Guilt
On the other end of the spectrum is feeling guilted or obligated to do work for friends and family.
I have zero problems doing pro-bono work for family or friends when it’s:
However, the people closest to you seem to always want a hookup or some type of freebie.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had some family or friends guilt me into doing work for them. Other times they get outraged when I tell them my pricing or simply reply with a professional / polite no.
Especially in a small town of Iowa where $50 for a logo is the going rate, people act like you’re crazy and proceed to talk shit about you behind your back.
As you continue to invest your life, effort, sweat, blood, tears and money into your craft, you'll realize the value of what you produce and how sacred your time is.
Over time you'll see that true friends and family will understand and respect you, even if they don’t like your response. The rest don’t matter and it’s cool to trim the fat and reduce your circle.
I get the feeling of wanting to please people but you’re better off saying no to free you up for bigger “Hell Yes” opportunities coming your way.
Decision-Making - Hell Yes Only
It feels like a ton of pressure has been lifted off my shoulders after adopting this motto.
Pulling the trigger with decision-making is so much easier in my opinion when you operate based on a simple Yes or No.
You’re always going to be faced with tough decisions, but if you can get by without taking on a mediocre project, then do it.
If people want to judge or talk shit because you quoted them “too high” or because you said no, who cares—that’s their problems.
Simplify your decision-making and free up your time for the projects that excite you.
Function from a mindset of “If it’s not a Hell Yes, then it’s a Hell No” and keep moving forward.
Key Takeaways
Give it Time to Grow & Tilt the Scales in Your Favor
This week on the show we have a very special guest who just got done hosting an amazing conference called Crop in Baton Rouge. Matt Dawson is a talented designer and connector who creates under the name Stay Gray Ponyboy in Atlanta.
He is a shining example of someone who put in the work and used the power of side projects to build a name for himself.
He’s not only an insanely talented individual but he’s grown into becoming a really good friend of mine and I can’t wait to share his story with you.
Stumbling into Graphic Design
Growing up, Matt was always involved with sports, music and drawing. As he approached college, he thought landscape architecture sounded appealing and was involved in that for 3.5 years out of the 5-year program.
Outside of class, he found himself constantly using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to make band collateral like posters and merch. Little did he know he was getting started in a career of graphic design.
It finally dawned on him that he wanted to switch directions and pursue graphic design. He was in a new relationship with the wonderful Ariadne at the time and he approached her saying they needed to have a talk. The funny thing is she thought he was going to break up with her when really he was just switching majors.
Of course, she was 100% on board as he states she always is whatever he chooses to pursue.
Over the last 4.5 years, he's been working under the moniker of Stay Gray Ponyboy and the business name of Studio Gray. His situation was like mine when I talk about Making a Name For Yourself in Episode 28, using his first name like Matt Dawson Design didn't fit so he went a more abstract route.
There are a few reasons he chose this name because of the word gray:
While he stumbled into graphic design and built a name for himself, Matt clearly is a workhouse and has put in the work behind the scenes.
Give it Time to Grow
Something that really stood out to me from Matt's interview is when he said, "Am I going to build something for myself or am I going to build something for someone else?"
He's put in the grind at the day job of exchanging hours of his life for pay. He's been in positions where they worked him to the bone for 40-50 hours a week and he'd still find time to pour another 30 hours or so into building his side projects and freelance.
When you start having ownership of something, the scale begins to tip in your favor and that was the case with his story. It's all about perception as the amount of work he was kicking out under Stay Gray Ponyboy appeared like he was doing his thing full-time and eventually, that grind paid off.
Matt has now been working for himself full-time now for close to two months, and honestly it's all because of the time he invested into letting his side projects grow.
Typography Nerd
Let's face it, Matt is a typography nerd and I say this with the utmost respect.
His love for type led him to have type talks as he worked for Lamar Advertising. His passion for type sparked an archive of typography combinations that he would help other designers use when they were in a pinch.
Around the same time, he began using Instagram and sharing these combinations he built up under the catchy name of #TypeComboTuesday.
He understood the power of consistency and kicked out Type Combos every Tuesday for 2 years! In 2017 he scaled it back and focuses on it once a month as his freelance career began to blossom.
What's funny about speaking and seeing the behind scenes of these events held by Lamar is that it sparked one of his biggest ideas yet...
Crop Conference
Matt was inspired to take these talks from Lamar and grow them to a larger scale for people in and outside of Louisiana. A patio sessions with a few beers ended up spawning the name Crop.
Think about it, cropping a photo is meant to bring out the best part of the composition into the frame and I feel this conference brings out the best part of us creatives.
There were a few hurdles he's dealt with and still deals with today in building Crop:
If you ask me, I feel like he is crushing it in every category.
The conference has been so successful that he is planning something special with it in between it's normal time in April. This November, he is doing a satellite event called a Crop Pop Up in November. It'll be a one day gig the Friday before MondoCon 2017. There will be a few workshops, speakers, a big party and plenty of fun with the Industry Print Shop fellas.
I suggest you keep up to date on Matt's Instagram, Crop's Instagram or Cropbr.com if you think you want to attend...which I would recommend.
Rapid Fire Questions
Q. What' one piece of advice you would give to creatives starting a side / passion project or stuck in a creative funk?
A. Having the patience to nurture your side project is important. You have to put in the time and give it time to grow.
Q. Serif, San Serif or Script?
A. San Serif
Q. Who's your current favorite artist you're vibing to lately?
A. Alvin Diec who is capitalizing on making new things look old.
Q. What's your favorite kind of pizza?
A. Pepperoni, mushroom, feta cheese and banana peppers at Peace Love and Pizza - Atlanta
Key Takeaways:
Shownotes
See Your Small Wins As Milestones & Give Yourself Some Credit
In 2016 I had one of the biggest career shifting experiences…in which I vaguely remember.
It was my second time ever public speaking and this time was in front of a packed house at Creative South. I’m talking about 600–800 people.
Safe to say I blacked out for the majority of the 45-minute talk as my nerves were at an all-time high.
I brought a lot of energy, was really vulnerable and shared a part of me that many didn't know.
I can humbly say that when it was done, I got an unexpected standing ovation as the 9 am opening slot could be considered the hangover spot.
Sadly, to this day I can barely remember that moment. When I got home, I immediately went to work on the next project I had lined up.
It was a huge win in my life yet I was so focused on what was next that I failed to enjoy and reflect on the moment and it passed.
Honestly, it kind of haunts but it made me realize I’ve been horrible at celebrating wins in life—big or small.
Its been hard because I see people doing things at a much larger scale. In my mind, what I’m doing is just small potatoes compared to them so I rob myself of any credit.
To this day, I make it a point to celebrate even the smallest win as it:
I encourage you to see your small wins as milestones while grinding toward the trophy.
Keep your eyes on the prize but give yourself some credit along the way.
I can’t remember the wave of emotions that I felt as that should easily be one of the most recallable, happiest days of my life.
The only way I can slightly relive that moment at Creative South is due to my brother Terence Tang (Tinlun Studio) patching up some video and audio together.
When you take the time to celebrate even a small win, you create another moment to pair with that feeling. It allows you to remember that time stamp in life where you had a victory.
Small victories like selling a print online to something big like landing a huge freelance gig.
Find ways to celebrate like ordering pizza, buying that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing or just giving yourself permission to binge on Netflix for the day.
Give yourself some credit and find a way to remember that moment.
When you string together a few small wins, it begins to build momentum and confidence.
Think about those teams that catch fire leading up to the playoffs. They rattle some wins off, find a groove and end up getting the trophy.
Even the smallest wins on your end deserve some type of celebration or pat on the back.
Don’t take the good moments and small victories in your life for granted—they are pointing you in the right direction and you can't rely on other people to notice it for you.
During those creative funks in your life when you feel invisible, it’s easy to forget how many great things you’ve accomplished large or small.
When you don’t allow yourself to celebrate and remember small wins, it’s easy to get caught up in the low moments.
Doing this creates a breeding ground for that inner critic to thrive. This critic makes you feel like you haven’t accomplished shit in your life.
However, the lows don’t seem so low when you can string some small wins together. Having some attainable small wins like updating your portfolio or Behance can help you snap out of that funk much quicker.
Give Yourself Some Credit
Being a creative isn’t easy as you’re quick to compare yourself to others who are making bigger waves than you.
However, you’ve done some pretty amazing things on your creative path—things you should be proud of.
I would hate for you to forget those moments because you didn’t think they mattered.
Celebrate all wins, especially if they are small.
Keep your eyes on the prize and give yourself some damn credit already.
Key Takeaways
Shownotes
The Fastest Path Isn't Always the Best Path
Imagine you’re on the highway taking things at your own pace. On your left, you notice one lane seems to be moving faster. Obviously, this intrigues you because who doesn’t want to get to their final destination quicker?
As you merge into that left lane, other cars seem to notice the quickened pace as well. Soon many cars swerve into that lane to get around the slow pokes who are just cruisin’.
It’s chaotic following so many cars at this high speed and next thing you know you miss your exit.
Now you’re on a new path competing with everyone else to get to someone else’s “desired destination” quicker.
Sometimes on your creative path, it’s easy to swerve into someone else’s lane. You see them blowing up quickly so why can’t you jump on the trend too?
I admit I’m guilty of this as I saw someone else’s success as an opportunity to get in the fast lane for similar success.
It got me to the point where I wasn’t creating for me like I had my entire life before social media—back when I would draw ufos, dragons and pizza in my private sketchbook for my eyes only.
When I stopped creating for me, I merged into someone else’s lane and began creating for the masses because people seemed to like that style they produced.
Sadly, it wasn’t just me as a lot of other people with the same idea swerved into that lane too and it just created noise.
Looking back on it now, it was a necessary learning curve. The experimentation of imitating and regurgitating other people’s work was helping me find my own style, process and voice.
While I still get inspired by others work and experiment with my own twist at times, I’m not following the tire marks they created.
I’m also not trying to create to please the masses.
I’m staying within my own lane and creating for me at my own pace.
Staying In Your Own Lane
What do I mean by staying in your own lane?
Staying in your own lane means creating work that you think is dope and that you’re enthusiastic about.
It means injecting your own DNA, heart and soul into your work that no one else can replicate. Anyone can bite your style, but no one can duplicate these.
It means not merging into someone else’s lane because it seems like the faster path to your desired end goal.
Everyone’s path is different and trailing someone else’s tire marks won’t get you the same results.
By staying in your own lane over the years, you’ll begin to develop your own voice and range of style.
Don’t Be Tempted By the Fast Lane
When I think of creatives who stay in their own lane, I think of those who:
Some talented artists who come to mind first are:
While they never create in one distinct repetitive style, I can still pick their work out of a sea of noise on social media.
That’s what we should all strive for.
While the faster lane may tempt us, it doesn’t always lead to the destination we want.
Stay in your own lane and create for you.
You’ll find over time that you’ll attract the right people around your work, voice and style.
These are the people that will happily enjoy the ride with you.
Key Takeaways
The Beauty of Being a Human Being
4 years ago, my girlfriend (which is my wife now :) ) and I got into a mini argument late one night. It was nothing really, but when I was alone getting my mind off it, I started feeling weird.
First, my throat felt like it was swelling shut. Next, I had the overwhelming feeling of having a pallet of bricks on my chest.
My heart felt like it was about to explode and the room began to go black all around me.
Safe to say I was freaking out and Emily had to run me to the emergency room.
Turns out I was having a massive panic attack.
Looking back on it now it seems a bit silly but I thought I was dying. The stress and pressure I had put myself under for years finally caught up with me.
For months I kept this to myself as I thought I was going crazy. I felt I would be considered weak and any reputation I had built for myself would crumble.
Sadly, many of us bottle up these demons as we pursue a creative career.
At the end of the day, you’re a human being. It’s okay to feel not okay. It’s perfectly normal to feel inadequate at times as everyone deals with demons whether they are visible or not.
This episode is a friendly reminder that you’re not alone with your struggles and it’s important to not suppress them.
You’re Not a Bad Ass
Recently I’ve been reading Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.” Honestly, its really clarified this topic of vulnerability that I dealt with in the past and in the present.
The early years of life getting bullied led to me thinking I needed to be a badass in order to be cool.
When I started getting prescribed medication to treat my anxiety, I felt like I would get torn to pieces if this side of me was exposed.
The months I spent trying to hide it were the worst as it tore me down from the inside out. The more I held it in and felt I needed to struggle in silence, the more I was losing the game of controlling my mind.
How I felt at the time reminds of this quote from Mark in his book:
[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="1c1c1c" class="" size="32"]“The avoidance of suffering is a form of suffering. The avoidance of struggle is a form of struggle.”[/perfectpullquote]
This is what I believe many of us creatives do, we bottle up our emotions and avoid the elephant in the room.
In my unhappiness, I realized I had to ditch the armor, swallow my pride and accept that I was not a badass.
I took action and responded by starting one of the hardest conversations of my life.
Get it Off Your Chest
I’m paraphrasing a bit from the book but Mark states something along the lines of:
[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="1c1c1c" class="" size="32"]“When you feel shitty, it’s your brain telling you there is a problem that’s unresolved. Negative emotions are a call to action. When you feel them, you’re supposed to do something.”[/perfectpullquote]
The more I held in these emotions, the worse my issues got. However, I finally consulted a few close individuals around me who dealt with anxiety. What they had to say drastically changed my perspective on the matter.
Having the hard talk and getting if off my chest let me know I wasn’t alone and that I wasn’t crazy.
The more I talked about it the better I began to feel.
About a month or so of talking it out to people I brought it publicly to Facebook and asked how other people, especially creatives, dealt with their anxiety.
The empathic and helpful responses I received blew my mind. I had around 100 comments of people stating how they fought it. This ended up becoming a community of encouragement on that little status.
This manifested into a blog post which I hope others find when they need a boost.
I feel by sparking that hard conversation, it let more people than just myself find a little more peace in battling their demons.
You’re Human
As a creative, I still deal with anxiety every day. My biggest fear isn’t to put a podcast into the world to be judged or to be on stage in front of hundreds of people. My biggest fear is getting caught up in my own head and losing control.
Keeping this to myself used to put me in some dark places. The new me is working on accepting these funks as part of being a human. This is my body signaling something needs to be attended to.
Maybe this approach will help you too?
You’re human and you’re not a badass and this is okay.
Give yourself permission to feel shitty for a bit but don’t avoid the situation—you just may be making things worse.
I encourage you to ditch the armor and get it off your chest with someone you feel comfortable with.
The low moments in our life make us appreciate when things are going right...and believe me, things will go wrong.
Use it all to your advantage and channel it into your work and your story. You never know who you’ll make an impact on when you embrace that you’re human.
Key Takeaways
How a Side Project Transformed into a Global Platform for Creatives
Brooke Robinson is an Austin, TX native who fell in love with letterforms. Over the years she has taken that love for letters and type and transformed it into a global type powerhouse Instagram account called Goodtype.
Her love of letterforms started after taking a class in college. From there, she began collecting resources around her, not to mention the art around Austin played a role in her interests as well.
This love led to her wanting to surround herself with the amazing work she would find online and throughout social media. She began screenshotting all these beautiful works to come back to later. Her phone began to fill up so quickly that it sparked the idea to unload all of these images onto an Instagram account.
She would share those images and credit the artists. It started as a thing just for her but it quickly grew into something much more than that as the #Goodtype hashtag began to take off. There was an evident interest in the world in hand lettering and her Instagram page quickly became the hotspot as creatives would make a piece and begin tagging Brooke to catch a feature.
Next thing you know, she has a following of over ten thousand people and that's when I became aware of the account and got one of my first features. From that feature, it sparked the validation I needed to know I could do something with my art and I'm certain it was the same spark that many other creatives received as well.
Doing What Makes You Happy
It's safe to say that starting and curating Goodtype has changed her life.
It's allowed her to:
It's been pretty awesome to watch her build this successful platform that was once just for her. Now she is in a position to give back to so many creatives who are looking to take their work to the next level.
Things haven't always been easy as there is plenty of stress that comes with working a day job and trying to pursue your side project. She's dealt with plenty of issues that usually revolved around time but when you love something, you find a way to make time to pursue it.
One of the most recent struggles was figuring out how to create, curate and ship the first Goodtype Book Vol. 1. She had to figure out how to internationally ship these as sometimes it would cost $60 for global shipping which is insane.
However, she made it happen and is already in the works of creating Vol. 2!
Strength in Letters
At the heart of Goodtype is its motto: "Strength in Letters."
The tagline was inspired by someone who created a quick drawing that used the hashtag and it caught her attention. She marinated on it and knew that it needed to be the motto.
Brooke states, "We truly are strength in letters in our work and communication within the lettering community. The positivity and encouragement that takes place within this lettering world are amazing."
With the growth of this community, it's recently given her the opportunity to bring Goodtype to SXSW in 2017. Here she got to be on a panel discussing "Good Type and its Influence on Style" and how the history of typography and lettering played a monumental role in our modern design.
Along with the panel, she organized two hand lettering workshops which were taught by the homie Adam Vicarel. The panel and workshops were a hit and there will no doubt be a bigger Goodtype influence in future SXSW.
The Future Vision
When asking Brooke what she had planned for Goodtype in the next 5 years, it was clear she had a vision.
Due to the awkward void of accessibility in the education side of things, she wants to transform Goodtype into a physical space where creatives can:
With know Brooke and her drive, I have no doubt this will all take shape.
Words of Advice to Struggling Creatives
In closing, I asked Brooke: "What’s one piece of advice you would give to creatives just starting off or in a creative funk?"
Her answer is one that can resonate with any creative from amateur to pro.
She states, "Stop comparing yourself and focus on yourself and what you’re doing. If it’s making you happy then keep doing it because if you don’t stop, you’re going to improve. Stick with it, and if you have to compare yourself_, do it from a way that you’re learning and improving. If it makes you happy then why would you ever give up?_
Key Takeaways:
The Powerful Combination of Imagination & Resourcefulness
It’s easy to get caught up in thinking you don’t have the best tools, resources and skills at your disposal. It’s even easier to let these “obstacles” hold you back from pursuing or sticking with something that’s important to you.
When in reality, it’s rare that someone has the skills or resources right out of the gate. I know I didn’t.
At the end of the day, it’s about doing something instead of nothing and realizing you’re doing the best you can. That’s all you can and should expect from yourself.
When you stick with it and look back on the progress you made, you'll realize that imagination and resourcefulness are a powerful combination.
This episode is a daily reminder not only to you but to myself when I get caught up in letting that inner critic convince me that I’m not doing enough.
Figuring Things Out
One of the most challenging thing in pursuing something important like your creative career is that you don’t always know the exact direction to go.
What medium should you create?
What style should you share?
What should the name you create under should be?
On the flipside, one of the most exciting things is that you don’t know the right answer.
As a creative, you’re a problem solver and this is what you do best.
You have to experiment and figure out what works and what doesn’t. Most importantly, you’re figuring out yourself along the way too.
Blending it All Together
Something I struggle with is showing the true foolish side I have in my writing and speaking. I feel this is due to my extensive background in sports, coaching and training because I’m a coach and an artist at heart.
Sadly, I’ve had “anonymous” emails telling me that I’m trying too hard and it cuts deep because I am trying. I’ve been blogging for over 2 years now, speaking for 1 year and podcasting for about 8 months. There’s still a ton of room for improvement and I’m far from being an expert.
I’m still figuring out how to inject my humor into my monologs while getting my point across. It’s easy in my art because I don’t have to speak or write and I've been doing it my whole life.
I want you to know the goofy side of me:
You know, I’m a downright fucking fool sometimes but you don’t always see or hear this side of me. I’m still learning how to blend all of this together...but I’m doing the best I can.
The Tools Don’t Make the Artist
I’m guilty of thinking that I needed the best pencils, pens, paper or equipment to get me on the level of the people I look up to.
No longer do I think my drawing utensils are the key to unlocking artistic greatness—I could create a masterpiece with a crayon because the tools don’t make the artist.
However, I’m still hard on myself for not having the money nor resources to have the video / photo equipment and skills I feel I need to stand out.
I have to constantly remind myself I’m doing the best I can right now with what I have.
I saw a post recently that convinced me there are plenty of ways to shine without the fanciest equipment.
Pin Koro posted a video of her writing the word pizza in a simple san serif with a sharpie. She then turned the word into a pizza illustration.
Extremely simple yet extremely creative.
However, the video was not high quality and there was a lot of flickering which can be distracting.
You think that stopped this video from going viral?
I’m literally seeing this all over Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
This is a prime example that you can use your phone and your creativity (resourcefulness and imagination) to stand out amongst the sea of noise on social media.
Right now, I’m a content creator and artist on a budget. I would give anything to have a high-end camera and an amazing rig setup to record my work but it’s not in my budget.
Doing Your Best With What You Have
My ghetto video recording setup consists of my phone tripod / socialite tripod and my cracked screen iPhone 6 Plus.
For my podcast, I have a very basic setup too. I don’t have all the fancy equipment I thought I needed and my office is far from soundproof. However, I put a lot of attention into getting the best audio quality out of my mic and learning how to edit properly so this doesn’t sound like turds on your end. :)
What I do is far from perfect, but I can’t let not having the fancy tools and resources hold me back from starting or sticking with it. At the end of the day, I’m showing up and doing something rather than nothing.
Give yourself permission and accept that you’re doing the best you can with what you have at your disposal. Imagination and resourcefulness are your secret weapons during these stages.
You’re Human and You Got This
Please remind yourself that you’re human. You’re going to deal with these phases of doubt and feeling you need more to stand out.
I deal with them all the time.
During these times where you want to quit or feel like you’re not doing enough, remind yourself you’re doing the best you can.
You got this.
Takeaways
The Do’s & Don’ts of Attending Creative South (From My Perspective)
Are you feeling a bit stagnant in your work and desperate to get around like minded creatives?
If so, then it’s time you attended a conference like Creative South.
Here in a few weeks, April 6-9 to be exact, hundreds of people will invade the tiny downtown Columbus, GA area.
When you arrive, there is a buzz in the atmosphere as you know you’re around the right people. Shit, the tagline is even “Come as Friends, Leave as Family,” and this couldn’t be truer.
In 2015, I attended Creative South for the first time it sparked a massive swing of momentum in my life.
There were several reasons I purchased the ticket because I:
All three of these were accomplished and Creative South has become an annual affair for me. I’ve built so many amazing relationships that I’m actually bringing my wife, Emily Russell, this year so she can see what the hype is about.
If you’re attending for the first time, this post is for you.
Here is a list of Do’s and Dont’s to ensure you experience Creative South like a champ in 2017.
Do’s
The speakers Mike Jones and company bring in are the real deal. They’ve built or are building a name for themselves in their respected industries. Their focus is to provide you with something to act on when you leave the conference.
Each year I’ve made an effort to reach out to several speakers who inspired me. It led to great conversations over lunch, dinner, etc. and resulted in some great relationships.
Some speakers I’m particularly hyped to see this year are Jamal Collins, Dominque Falla, Bob Ewing, Alicja Colon and Ced Funches.
Listening is great, but these speakers are dropping gold and you’re going to want to refer back to some of the bombs they dropped.
You can even take sketchnotes like Emily Carlton who I’ll plug in the workshop section. You can then share your notes on social media with the Creative South #CS17 and let people know what they are missing!
In 2015, I shared my sketchnotes with Jason Craig after his talk. This led to a screen printed coffee poster collab and he also became a great friend and a mentor to me.
He even hung out with me back stage last year to help me prep before my talk.
Thursday’s opening mixer party is absolutely ridiculous and sets the tone for the conference.
They shut down an entire bridge and deck it out for one epic party. There are food vendors, drinks, fireworks, great conversations and Ink Wars…
Ink Wars is held Thursday on the bridge. It’s a setup of about 5 artists who are equipped with only a small sketchbook, a large white canvas and a massive black sharpie to go to war with.
The artists have 1 hour to create something based off a random topic. These constraints unleash some pretty wild concepts that’ll blow your mind.
Alright, this one is new to me and its’s replacing the beloved Type Fight...RIP.
Adobe Creative Jam is an event series where creatives share a behind-the-scene peek into their processes and projects. Meanwhile, teams compete in a tournament that puts their creative skills to the test using Adobe Creative Cloud.
Be sure to check it out wherever it’s hosted. The vendor hall is my best guess.
Some of the best value comes from attending workshops which range from hand lettering, passive income, sketchnotes, etc.
Here’s a little shameless plug. This year I’m actually co-teaching a workshop with the homie Brian Manley called "Crafting Your Killer Talk." If you’re looking to get into public speaking, podcasting, vlogging or videos in general, then this workshop is for you.
Sharing your brilliant and strange ideas publicly can be difficult but our workshop will:
I remember watching people on stage my first year wishing I could grow a pair and do the same. The following year Mike Jones asked to speak and it was the most terrifying yet life changing experience.
It’s since led to me speaking at upcoming conferences like Crop and Weapons of Mass Creation. Hell, it even sparked the inspiration to start the Perspective Podcast.
This workshop is about getting you on this level too as you have something valuable to share and you can make an impact outside of your art as well.
Last year I spent all my money at the Inch x Inch, DKNG and Draplin booths.
You’ll find a ton of other booths sporting posters, t-shirts, pins, stickers, etc. You even will have the chance to screen print your own tee with Real Thread.
I have no doubt you’ll leave with plenty of swag to plaster in your office, on your sketchbooks, laptop, skateboard or pretty much anywhere.
If you want the full experience you gotta ditch your introverted tendencies. Being reserved and escaping to your hotel room will extinguish any chance of having any impactful conversations and epic relationships.
While I’m an extrovert, I still came here all by myself in 2015 and didn’t know anyone. My anxiety was through the roof like a new kid from a small town in a massive high school.
However, I forced myself to mingle and now my best friends who I talk to the most are the people I met here.
You’ll get back what you put into it!
When you arrive, it’s going to be like you’re around hundreds of familiar Instagram avatars. Start connecting names and faces beforehand through social media so you can jump right into a conversation when you meet in person.
Doing this will make getting out of your comfort zone and building relationships that much easier.
Again, the speakers are so down to earth so don’t be afraid to approach them. Oh ya, try not to gush about how great they are—it’s awkward so treat them like the normal people they are.
There is so much great food in downtown Columbus and you have to make the effort to try it all.
My personal favorites were Iron Bank Coffee Co. in the mornings, Picasso’s, 11th and Bay, Tommy’s BBQ, The Black Cow and the Loft just to name a few.
I promise you will not leave hungry.
Dont’s
For the love of everything good on this earth, please do not show up throwing your business cards to as many as people as possible. This isn’t the place for that shit.
Build relationships and hand out some stickers, patches or pins. Get to know people and their story. I’m not even bringing business cards this year but if I did, I would only hand them out to someone if they asked me.
Along with throwing your business cards out to people, don’t go pushing your products and services on people either.
This place is about building community. It’s not a breeding ground for you to sell your stuff. Sign up for a vendor booth if that’s the case.
By hanging back during the day and going to your hotel each night, you can't experience Creative South like a champ.
Even if you don’t drink, that’s totally fine! This is an intimate setting and you will get your full money’s worth by investing in yourself and taking every precious moment possible to engage in deep conversations.
Many people hand out cool things like stickers, pins, patches, coasters, etc. Don’t feel the pressure of needing to go all out on swag to hand out to people. Soak up the Creative South experience instead.
People won’t remember you necessarily for what you handed out — they will remember you from the connection they made with you.
Party away, I know I will be, but don’t miss out on speakers, panels, vendors, conversations, etc. because you were too hungover and need puke in the comforts of your room.
This is a sure bet to waste your money and your experience. I understand taking a nap or recharging for a bit, but being a hungover mess isn’t going to impress anyone.
I was a bit reserved my first year, but last year and this year are far from the case.
There will be plenty of opportunities to embarrass yourself for awesome prizes. You can let loose, do karaoke, hug strangers or dance freely because seriously, no one cares and you’re even weirder playing the “too cool” game.
Experience Creative South
Alright, so if this is your first year then I can’t tell you how excited I am for you. As you can tell, I’m driving home the point that this place is all about the people and the motivation you will take home with you.
Be yourself, but also break out of your shell and do things you normally wouldn’t like introduce yourself to one of your favorite speakers.
Follow these guidelines and you'll be sure to experience Creative South like a champ!
ps. Definitely, make sure to come say hey to me as I have 2 types of pizza stickers to dish out.
Key Takeaways
Finally, if you need some more reasons to attend Creative South in the future, check out my friends Lenny’s Top 10 Reasons to Attend Creative South.
Shownotes:
Start With a Commitment to Consistency
This week I have one of my good friends and role models on the show, Bob Ewing. Bob and I go back a couple years and he’s been someone in the creative community that really shines as an example of one who shows consistency, craftsmanship and is all about building relationships.
Currently, he is an Art Director for Element Three, Co-Founder of Inch x Inch, a talented letterer and illustrator, kick-ass dad and husband and you can catch him speaking at Creative South here in a few weeks.
Bob is the man and I think you’re going to soak up a lot of gold that he has to offer in pushing your creativity to that next level.
You can find Bob online at: Bob-Ewing.com and on Instagram: BobEwing_
Learning to Draw Again
The premise of Bob's rise starts with his yearning to get back to drawing again after seeing a raw product turned into a final polished piece from people like Ken Barber and Ryan Hamrick.
He committed himself to letter something every day whether it was 5 minutes or 5 hours—it didn’t matter except that he was drawing and lettering again.
Instagram became his tool of choice to hold himself accountable and to build an archive. His account started off private but eventually, he shared his work every day with the #hashtaglettering tag.
I first discovered Bob as he kept popping up in my feed and the consistency is what I noticed. When I talk consistent, I mean he extended this lettering daily commitment to a whopping 534 days in a row! Incredible right?
He fell in love became obsessed with the process and now everything he does starts with pencil / pen and paper.
Simple, Attainable Goal
Bob's goal was simple and attainable, draw and post to Instagram—that's it. He made it winnable and not complex which so many of us seem to do the opposite when starting off. The continuation of the goal clearly made him better, but there were challenges along the way.
Mainly these issues revolved around:
Many times he reluctantly posted because he wasn't happy with the piece, but the goal was simple: get it posted. This wasn't about perfection.
Finding time was a factor as Bob is a family man with 2 kids and a wife while still trying to squeeze in freelance in there too. However, Bob is a great example of scratching that creative itch while still having a family and day job.
Sometimes he would be searching for words and inspiration which would waste time he could be working. He solved that problem by building an ongoing word list he could pull from each day without thinking. Similar to the Collecting Your Ideas & Building a Gold Reserve Episode 29.
No matter the challenge, Bob stuck with his commitment and it paid off in his craftsmanship and career.
His consistency I feel has skyrocketed him into a household name in the creative community. He now speaks and teaches workshops at conferences and events. He collaborates with some of the biggest names in the industries through Inch x Inch as mentioned in Episode 27.
It all stemmed from a consistent commitment to drawing again.
Quantity Leads to Quality
A theory from the book Art & Fear exclaims that your best work is found by doing your work and doing a lot of it.
This was the case for Bob.
He states, "Whatever you’re starting isn’t going to be great, it’s rare you’re going to be great from the start." You can see this in his day 1 #hashtaglettering to day 534.
[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="1c1c1c" color="" class="" size="32"]It takes a lot of bad work to get to your best work and by making an effort to improve ever day, you'll get to your best work much quicker.[/perfectpullquote]
Community
It seems like Bob is chopping it up with pretty much every I idolize in the creative industry. He's an extrovert and a people person and it shows in his commitment to building relationships with people in the creative community.
He's in this for the people as he states, "It's amazing the relationships you make in the design world. We are lucky to do this for a living. A lot of good comes from feedback and connecting on a deeper level and building relationships."
However, building relationships outside of the design community are just as important as well. You need those escapes and outlets from the creating world so he puts a lot of time building relationships locally too.
Comparison & Answers
I asked Bob to leave you with a parting word of advice to a fellow creative who get's wrapped up in comparison.
He states, "You can’t compare yourself to otter’s as no one will create or look at work the way you look at it. You have your own experiences that no one else has."
Instead of dealing with jealousy and the envy of comparison, he flips it on its head by celebrating others and their work. He does this by sharing people's work through Dribbble which counterattacks the comparison trap.
A concept he pulled from Chase Jarvis talks about so many of us looking for outside answers to create our best work. When in reality, the answers to our questions are inside of us.
At the end of the day, it all begins and end with you.
Takeaways
Battle Creative Block and Spend More Creating
Creative block is the worst, especially when you forget that great idea you had when driving on the highway. How awesome would it be if you never had a shortage of ideas to draw from so you can spend more time creating? (that’s a drawing pun)
I can safely say that I rarely deal with creative block because I collect practically every idea that comes my way.
Someone on my newsletter recently asked me how I went about this and I felt my reply could make a helpful episode in case you struggle with a lack of ideas.
Having a gold reserve of ideas has helped me battle creative block with:
I’m going to give you 4 ways to collect and build up your idea gold reserve so you can spend more time creating. This will help you easily come back to that idea you had when waiting in line at Chik-Fil-A.
I keep a handy little sketchbook with me wherever I go so I can jot down a thumbnail sketch or write an idea on the fly. Usually, I'll roll with Field Notes brand or with something my friends produced like my friends Tinlun Studio or Cuttink Studio.
Keeping it beside my bed at night is crucial as my head is constantly swimming with ideas when I try to sleep. I’m not taking any chances of forgetting it in the morning.
This has been the most productive way of collecting ideas and I can’t recommend it enough if you struggle generating ideas on the spot.
The gold reserve I’ve built up to battle creative block is buried in all these sketchbooks--perfect for referencing when I need inspiration to punch me in the face.
Sometimes you need to be a bit more thorough with your idea through writing and lists--especially if you have shitty handwriting.
In this case, I love using Wunderlist which is a task manager app for desktop and mobile. There are plenty of other things out there like iOS Notes app, Evernote, Omnifocus, etc.
Right now, the free version of Wunderlist is suitable for what I need.
For example, I have a Perspective Podcast category. Here I’ll store an ongoing list with subtasks that contain episode ideas which I can also add notes and dates to. I love that I can add to it on the go when I’m not on my laptop.
Other ways I use Wunderlist are to track a list of maintenance tasks I need to do on my website. I even have a shared list with my wife for things to get at the store because I’m always forgetting shit and lose everything I put on Post-Its.
It’s too easy to forget these things but a Task Manager App never forgets.
If I’m on the go and I can’t draw or write my idea, I turn to my homegirl Siri on my iPhone.
I tell her to “set reminder in X hours for me to write down or draw this specific idea.”
Sometimes she will butcher my idea but gets it close enough to spark the memory for me to collect it.
An example I recently had was, “Remind me in an hour to draw pizza on a skull.”
She came back with, “Remind me in an hour to drop pizza in schools.”
Why the hell would I intentionally drop my pizza? She obviously doesn’t know me that well.
Regardless, she is pretty helpful most of the time so I’ll give her a break.
Finally, I get some of my best ideas in the shower….
I’m usually listening to a podcast or audiobook through my Bluetooth Speaker when inspiration strikes.
It just so happens that I have Aqua Notes in my shower to “never let another idea go down the drain.”
Cheesy tagline but damn it’s the truth. I’m able to make a quick sketch or write a note and then transfer it to my sketchbook or Wunderlist.
Collect & Build Your Gold Reserve
To be honest, there’s really no excuse to why you can’t battle creative block by collecting your ideas and building a gold reserve.
In episode 26, Efdot gave some great ways to stay inspired, and now you have practical ways to collect and store those ideas for a rainy day.
If you’re taking your work seriously, I would recommend utilizing these 4 tactics in your game asap. Especially carrying a sketchbook with you at all times, that’s mandatory.
Collecting your ideas and building a reserve will help you spend less time thinking and more time creating when it’s time to throw down.
Key Takeaways
You Can Make Whatever Name You Choose Mean Something Over Time
Have you heard of Gary Vaynerchuk, aka Gary Vee before? Chances are you probably have if you’ve been paying attention to the social media / entrepreneur scene.
I feel like he is a dude you either love or hate due to his bravado or profanity. One thing is for certain, people know of him because he made his name mean something.
As an immigrant from the Soviet Union, Gary helped his dad transform his notable Wine Library business to a powerhouse though YouTube vlogging.
From there, he’s gone on to build the multi-million dollar social media business, Vayner Media.
Vaynerchuk or Gary Vee wouldn’t mean anything to anyone if he didn’t bust his ass and pour his soul into what he was passionate about.
Picking a name for your brand or business can be hard and really frustrating, I can totally relate.
I’m here to convince you that you can make whatever name you choose to operate under mean something over time.
You have what it takes.
The Need for a Name
It was early March 2014 when I thought my co-partner DMac (DSTN) and I were going to take our clothing brand, Daydreamin’ Clothing to the next level.
We were steadily building for 4 years and had:
However, I was creating so much work on the side and not all of it fit the style of the brand. I needed a way to share this work separately.
During this time, I was getting heavy into hand lettering. I thought maybe I could become a big time freelancer and I needed a business name to house all my work.
The first thing I went to was the typical Scotty Russell Design, Russell Studio, Russell Graphics, Russell Design Co. but they all sounded super douchey.
I despised having my name a part of it as it didn’t have a nice ring to it. All my colleagues I knew at the time had their names a part of their brand but to me, it never clicked.
I decided to explore a more abstract route instead.
Massive Brain Dumps
I had a massive brain dump session (I love using that phrase) and began throwing words I liked on paper. Anything that came to mind I put it down and started to make connections.
The words Collective, Collection and Perspective kept coming up.
First, I was sold on the word Perspective first for 2 reasons:
Next, the word Collective and Collection sounded cool as it could mean all my drawings fell in this collection. Otherwise, down the road, it could mean I have a team under me.
After a month of throwing ideas around, Perspective-Collective was born in April 2014. However, it wasn’t until a month later in May when I gathered up the courage to announce it publicly with the branding I had created.
There Will Always Be Doubt
When you’re just starting off, it’s easy to feel stupid and doubt yourself.
If you’re like me, more specifically the old me, you want everyone to love your work and you’d be crushed if someone thought it was stupid.
I feel that’s what holds so many of us creatives back is we are afraid to have someone not approve of what we are doing. We see it as failure and that we don’t deserve a slot within the creative community.
I hesitantly began sharing through this moniker on Facebook and Instagram. This was the same time that my partner and I had some issues coming to agreements with shares and the future of Daydreamin’ Clothing.
Reluctantly, I stepped away from the brand and began putting all my spare time into Perspective-Collective. In the early days, I heard crickets when I posted my work. It sucked but I was having a lot of fun pursuing my work with no limits.
Over time, things began to pick up.
Make Your Name Mean Something
After posting consistently and studying how to utilize the former platform of Instagram (pre-algorithm days), I started catching some features on Goodtype, Calligritype and The Daily Type.
The obsession took over from there.
I started noticing that my increased quality of work and consistent dedication to the creative process is what was making my name actually mean something.
My point in sharing my story is that you can make whatever name you choose to operate under mean something through the enthusiasm and dedication of your craft.
You never know what it could evolve into.
When Your Name Becomes More Than You Think
Looking back on it now, it blows my mind what’s happened in the course of 3 years. Hell, a lot can happen in one year when you decide that you’re going to commit to something no matter what others may think.
I vividly remember my girlfriend (now my wife @theoilshelf) and my parents questioning my pursuits of self-employment as an artist.
Why couldn’t I work a safe job like everyone else and relax in the evenings?
In my head, I knew that I’m not like everyone else.
One night, I remember balling to my wife the day I decided to step away from Daydreamin’. I felt like a quitter but I remember telling her that, “I have this feeling that I’m meant to do something special with my life and my art. I don’t know what it is but I feel it.”
3 years later and both her and my parents see what I saw in myself in that moment. I feel it, even more today as Perspective-Collective has turned into something more than just a name to house drawings.
Perspective-Collective is the main side project that houses my other side project geared towards encouraging creatives like you.
These channels of the brand are:
Once I thought the Collective portion could mean future employees and I could scale it to be something huge. Now I realize the collective is really my best friend and me together.
Recently, it dawned on me that I would be nowhere without my wife’s support, ideas and constructive criticism. She is what makes this a Collective now as we slowly carve a role for her to do what she does best…which is pretty much everything I suck at!
Having her officially on the team fuels my ambitions to push this project even further.
Make a Name For Yourself
If you’re like me, it’s going to feel super awkward putting yourself out there when you decide your name.
You’re going to overthink it and feel dumb, especially if you don’t get the response you want.
Shit, leading up to this past year my dad was still calling it Collective Perspectives. People are going butcher it or not understand where you’re coming from and that’s okay!
[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="1c1c1c" class="" size="32"]As long as it means something to you and it allows you to pour your soul into your work, that’s all that matters.[/perfectpullquote]
Gary Vee didn’t mean shit until he made it mean something.
Perspective-Collective didn’t mean shit until I made it mean something.
Now, it’s a part of me and I love it…aside from the fact that its length makes it non-username friendly across all social media. (Hence the name PRSPCTV_CLLCTV)
Regardless, you have the power to make a name for yourself no matter the name you choose.
Don’t let doubt and fear rob you of that opportunity.
Key Takeaways
y.
The preface of this episode stems from some recent free work I was selected to create. I feel this could yield some value to you if you ever get stuck in the same situation.
Recently, a local pizza joint, Urban Pie, opened up close to me and they put out a call to local creatives through Facebook. They asked for help in designing their massive chalkboard menu as well as their cornerstone quick bake pizza oven. By now you need to know that I’m weirdly passionate about pizza art so I figured why not inquire for more details.
It came back as exposure work…
If you’re like me then you’re not a fan of crowd sourcing artists and paying them in exposure. A lot of companies do this to try and position it as they are benefiting the artist when in reality; they are the ones who are winning.
Before you go rolling your eyes I want you to hear me out.
After consulting my mastermind group and asking the question, “When do you think it’s okay to do free work?”
I got a ton of great responses. I thought packaging up their answers would make a great episode incase you ever got in this position yourself.
Safe to say I took the job. I couldn’t be more excited about it because of several factors that I share in this episode that benefited me in doing free work.
Free Work Can Lead to Bigger Breaks or Help Someone in Need
I get it, you want to build a career of doing the work you love. Why would you ever want to do work for free?
I’m at a point in my creative career where I’m making a big transition in taking my freelance game to the next level. There are plenty of bills and loans laying around that need paid and my time is sacred outside the day job.
A part of me tells myself that I shouldn’t be donating any of my work for free as it’s not paying the bills.
Then again, there is another part of me who sees the value you in it…depending on the situation of course.
I’m not telling you to do free work all the time and get taken advantage of—I respect the creative hustle.
Not everyone is going to agree with me on these and that’s alright.
This is about the 7 ways free work may be in your best interest. I’m looking for the win-win scenarios here.
A great time where free work helps you out is when you’re just beginning to pursue your work seriously.
During this time, you’re still developing a style and name for yourself. It’s rare that people are going to throw a lot of money at someone who doesn’t have a body of work showing what you’re capable of. You have no leverage.
Doing projects for friends, family or other acquaintances can help you:
You have to start somewhere, and that means doing free work in the beginning.
If there is a specific style of work you’re already doing in your spare time, this could be a great opportunity to show what you’re made of in a more professional setting.
For me, I already create pizza art on the regular and the project I took on gave me a chance to do this with more intention.
This was a driving factor for why I chose to take on the project.
I have a list of goals written down and it just so happens this projects hit 3 birds with one stone:
When something aligns with your goals, I’d take the opportunity as you don’t know what it could lead to next.
This plays off #2 & #3.
If you aspire to do something and you’re already doing it for yourself in your spare time, doing it for free could open the window to do more of this same work, but paid.
Getting an opportunity to show off my pizza / mural skills in a highly trafficked public setting could lead to bigger pizza or mural projects (as of this writing, I’ve already received 4 local requests for murals and it has only been a week since I completed this project).
For even larger reach, I highly recommend:
This will dramatically improve your odds for attracting similar clients that will pay for this style.
Sometimes having complete creative freedom can be a mind fuck.
Restrictions have a way of breeding creativity, but sometimes having the freedom to do whatever you want within reason is amazing.
It circles around to showcasing your skills that you’ve been crafting behind closed doors in your sketchbook. Now you can let your creativity explode on whatever canvas you’re asked to create on.
In my case, this was a chalkboard and oven.
There may be times where you believe in the cause that a charity or organization promotes. In this case, your work could serve a larger purpose that surpasses the value of money.
A great example of this is my brother Terance Tang of Tinlun Studio. He donates his time and artwork to a local Chinese Youth Camp in Houston, Texas.
Terance states, “The first year I volunteered at CYC, I immediately saw the enormous positive impact it has on the kids - personal growth, teamwork, leadership experience, social skill building, and most of all, unforgettable memories. I knew then and there that this is a special organization that truly makes the world a better place. I definitely want my kids to have the CYC experience.”
Another great example of how artists donate their work for a larger, and in these case a smaller cause is with Inch x Inch.
This is a monthly button club operated by Bob Ewing and Drew Hill that features well-known artist’s work. The duo believes small things (like buttons) can make a big difference. 65% of the proceeds of each monthly subscription go to funding youth art education programs.
Some of the design juggernauts they’ve featured include Draplin, Allan Peters, Clark Orr, Brian Steely and Kendrick Kidd. What’s even better is that is that they recently donated $5,000 split between Art with a Heart (Indianapolis) and 826CHI (Chicago).
Creating free work for a good cause makes a bigger impact than you think.
When you become a known design source, your friends and family will inevitably hit you up for work. You can’t help everyone—saying no is just as important as saying yes…unless it’s your mom asking then you have to say yes.
However, sometimes you may be in a position to help someone get that break they deserve.
A great example of this is Aaron Draplin of Draplin Design Co. and his logo design for Cobra Dogs. Cobra Dogs was a food cart that used a copyright logo and was on the verge of losing everything. DDC came in and created a new logo for them, helping the entrepreneur recover and do what he loves: selling dogs from his food cart.
There will be random opportunities when you could doodle on a kids cast, create a logo for your little cousin in-law’s youtube channel or create some branding for your friend's music festival.
Making time to lend your time and gift could be another person’s blessing.
Conclusion
You see, there are times where doing free work can be a win-win scenario.
I feel when you look at an opportunity from this perspective, it can be worth doing it for free.
Again, I’m not saying to do this for every project. You have bills to pay and exposure doesn’t put food on the table.
As an artist, you have to pick and choose those right situations where it makes sense.
Consult people close to you if you’re unsure like I did. It brought a lot of clarity which let me package this up and share with you if you get in this situation.
Not all free work is created equally, but sometimes that exposure or person you’re helping out just may be worth it.
Key Takeaways
Stay Inspired & Pursue Why You Got Into Art in the First Place
This week is a very special episode as I’m doing my first interview on the show with my good friend Eric Friedensohn also know as Efdot. He knows how to stay inspired to create for his personal side projects.
Eric is a talented hand lettering artist and designer based out of Brooklyn, New York. He’s worked with the likes of Pat Flynn and taught lettering workshops for Vayner Media. He’s work at We Work and is the creator of the Optimist Project.
He’s big into skateboarding and traveling and it’s an honor to have him as the first guest on this show.
Why Do You Feel Uninspired to Create in the First Place? The Resistance
Steven Pressfield - War of Art
The resistance:
Steven Pressfield states, "The best way to fight the resistance is to do you work."
He encourages the artist to "Go Pro." This mean going from being an amateur hobbyist to becoming a professional because pros don’t make excuses—they do the work.
Many search for motivation when Motivation comes from the act of doing, but one may need inspiration in the first place.
Eric’s POV On Resistance and Feeling Uninspired to Create
Refusing to give into the resistance and doing the work isn't always so simple and straight forward.
Everywhere you look there are endless things to pursue and they are designed to be addicting distractions.
I find myself uninspired to create when I:
It's important to always remind yourself why you got into creating art in the first place.
How to Stay Inspired 1. Vary Your Intake
If you're always in taking in the same stuff, you're going to end up outputting the same stuff too.
If you’re feeling really uninspired to create art, find something to create totally different like a wild recipe.
You Are Not Alone & You Are Not Invisible
Do you ever get in creative funks where you lack the drive to create while feeling invisible to the world?
There are those sinister inner voices that try to convince you that your work doesn’t matter and that you can’t make a difference.
I’m pretty sure everyone goes through these phases whether they admit it or not.
This episode is me admitting this to you in hopes you don’t feel alone in the times you feel invisible as a creative or life in general.
There is light at the end of the tunnel as I’m learning that this is part of the struggle of pursuing something that’s important to you. In due time, it will be important to others as well.
It’s okay to feel this way at times, it’s natural. However, you are capable of pulling yourself out of this creative funk and pushing forward to the next phase on your creative path.
I say this because I’m pushing through one of these phases myself.
Creative Funks & Winter Blues
From mid-December through practically the month of January, I’ve been in a depressed state of mind and it’s been physically and mentally draining.
There are a lot of variables in play here:
While I still kicked out some uplifting art during this phase, every drawing carried a dark undertone which I feel was me crying out in creative pain.
Scroll through the episode artwork at PerspectivePodcast.com to see what I’m talking about.
During this stretch I felt invisible, like what I created and said through my podcast landed on blind eyes and deaf ears—the new Instagram algorithm doesn’t boost self-esteem either.
I doubted everything I was trying to build with Perspective-Collective and was even attacking my physical appearance.
Growing up I got picked on often for being chubby and those hateful voices still haunt me today. Looking in the mirror during this stretch disgusted me after no gym sessions and polluting my body with holiday shit.
This self-pity mode I was in was really self-sabotaging. I’m not saying this for your pity, I’m saying this because I realize this was a phase and I am able to climb out of this hole.
Here is what helped me.
Talking About It
Usually, an inspiring podcast, audiobook or YouTube video can snap me out of this “woe is me attitude.” Honestly, during this stretch, I could give a fuck less about these forced remedies.
The emotions were too strong and overpowering.
If you’re like me, you’d rather bottle up all your emotions as showing any type of weakness will ruin your “perceived reputation” as a badass.
I’ve come to realize I’m no badass and openly talking about the things I struggle with helps me push through these creative funks—hence the reason I started this podcast.
About 3 weeks into this state of mind, I sought out my best friend which is my wife of course. I told her I just didn’t feel like Scotty and that I’m not sure what’s going on with me.
It was relieving to share what I was going through to someone who cared, even if it didn’t change how I felt.
Next, I consulted a few close members of my mastermind group. Again I was met with encouraging words as they shared their creative funks with me.
The more I talked about it and heard other people admit they deal with this too, the better I began to feel.
Once my nose and throat were almost fully healed, I turned to my Instagram stories to show my face and share what I’d been dealing with.
This wasn’t a cry for help tactic, it was meant to let whoever the hell was watching know that they aren’t alone in these dips of depression.
I didn’t expect any responses as it was more it was therapy to get it off my chest. Surprisingly, there were waves of replies I got from strangers that deal with the same feelings of invisibility.
Your replies are what inspired this show to compile my thoughts and struggles into something more personable and transparent with you.
Sometimes Encouragers Need Encouragement
Sometimes people need to know that they matter and are making a difference.
This brings me to Diane Gibbs. She is an amazing individual who does so much for creatives whether it’s through the Design Recharge show or by teaching her design students.
She showed me the importance of how encouragers need encouragement too.
Outside of creating art, I know I exist to serve and encourage people like you. After sharing my work and receiving support from others, it showed me my potential and it’s my duty to pass that opportunity on to someone else.
It’s a powerful feeling when you know someone took a time out of their existence to reach out and let you know that what you do matters.
This is what Diane did and I think it was the final measure that pulled me out of this dark place. She first text me then called me out of nowhere on a Saturday and it really made my day.
She could’ve been a distant onlooker of my art or listener of my podcast. Instead, she lifted my spirits and shared her own creative struggles as well.
My point here is that you have the ability to boost someone’s spirits when they need it the most, whether they are a friend, family or a stranger.
Sure, your words of encouragement may land on deaf ears. I can’t tell you how many of my “heroes” I’ve sent an encouraging message to and get no reply back. Then again, you should see some of the replies I’ve gotten in return.
Sometimes encouragers need encouragement to pull themselves out of a creative slump and to not feel invisible.
If you’ve had an urge to reach out to someone, then act on your intuition and do it. I’m serious; you could make a lasting impact on someone like Diane did for me.
You’re Not Invisible
I want to force this into your head every episode, you have something to offer even though you may feel like no one is listening or watching.
You could be affecting that one person that stats and analytics fail to show. All it takes is one person at a time to make an impact.
You also have the power to impact others through encouragement. There’s enough shit going on in this world and you can be a part of the solution.
Everyone deals with creative funks and feeling invisible whether they admit it or not. You are not alone and I’m in your corner cheering you on.
If you need someone to talk to hit me up at Scotty@Perspective-Collective.com. I’m happy to listen.
Please don’t give up pursuing something that’s important to you. You are not invisible.
Key Takeaways
Give it Some Time and Enjoy the Creative Process Along the Way
It may feel impossible getting exposure when you’re just starting to pursue your creative path.
Believe me, I’ve been there.
I spent over 25 years of my life believing that having a successful art career was impossible. As I’ve become more intentional with my side projects and have seen the potential, my mindset has drastically shifted.
Think about it, technology is in your favor if you start today.
It’s so easy to connect with someone on the opposite side of the globe within seconds. Not to mention that more and more people in the world are getting access to the internet every day.
I really do believe that you are one scroll or swipe away from having your life changed.
Creating the right side project(s) and following these 3 ingredients will aid you in getting more exposure for your work.
These ingredients are:
Obviously, you could say there are more ingredients, but I believe these 3 are great to keep top of mind.
You might get lucky and stumble across an audience waiting to devour your style. However, I’d recommend doing a bit of research to have a plan.
I feel the best, yet the most saturated market out there is Instagram for getting your work noticed. It’s the top platform for engagement right now and I’ve seen many friends blow up and create a thriving creative career from it.
No matter the social platform you choose, research the best ways to utilize the strengths of the platform as you share your work.
I started using Instagram seriously close to 3 years ago when I first became addicted to hand lettering. It started off with me throwing work out randomly until I noticed there were specific accounts and hashtags that surrounded this type of style of work I was producing.
For example, there is the monstrous account of Goodtype that has well over 725K followers curated by my friend Brooke Bucherie. I remember when she had under 10K!
Just to note, Goodtype started off as a side project and has evolved dramatically to become more than just an Instagram account.
I noticed that she featured people’s lettering work who used the profile hashtags of #Goodtype and #strengthinletters on their lettering posts. I began using those hashtags and pushing my skills every day and ended up catching my first feature.
Safe to say I was hooked.
There were other accounts that were similar to Goodtype such as The Daily Type, Typespire, Type Gang and Calligritype that helped me build my account and get exposure through features as well.
Tools for Social Analytics
Another way I approach my research is with analytic tools such as Business Page Insights through Instagram and Iconosquare. These tools show you metrics such as your:
Understanding these metrics lets you know what type of work people are engaging with and when you should be posting.
With some research and experimentation, you can begin formulating a strategy while creating your own style that speaks to you and your future audience.
We live in a microwave era where people expect instant gratification and get discouraged when they don’t see immediate results.
The reason many creatives get exposure is because they are consistent and people know what to expect.
I follow people or accounts on social media strictly because they post work I’m inspired by and are posting daily or at a consistent time weekly.
2 friends, I follow due to their consistent quality work are Bob Ewing and Charli Prangley. Being consistent has boosted their creative careers outside of their social presence.
#Hashtaglettering With Bob Ewing
Starting with Bob, he began hand lettering around the same time that I did as he took on the 365 daily challenge. Meaning he hand lettered a word for every day of the year.
Not only did he reach his goal but he ended up extending it to a whopping 534 consecutive days!
Not only did he improve his lettering skills, but he is now considered one of the revered names in a thriving lettering community. This has led to him getting great lettering projects, public speaking and workshop opportunities while building amazing relationships within the creative community.
Video Content With Charli
The other great example of consistency is Charli. She built her career on Youtube by pumping out insightful content targeted to designers on her Youtube Channel: CharliMarieTV. Over this period of time, she’s amassed a following of over 40K subscribers.
She’s been posting 2 videos a week for over 3 years! Oh ya, did I forget to mention that she also co-hosts the Design Life Podcast with the talented Femke for over a year now too?
On top of her drive, she is just a genuine and funny human being. Her hard work has landed her major opportunities such as her recent job of joining Nathan Barry’s ConvertKit staff.
As you can see, being consistent over time can make some pretty incredible things happen.
First off, I’m not talking about focusing on creating trendy work to go viral.
What I’m referring to is creating genuine work that is:
Instead of worrying about expensive targeted ads to force feed people your work, product or services; focus on creating something that can spark an emotion.
If you can immediately make someone stop and:
You know you’re doing something right.
Ketchup Calligraphy Sharing
Awhile back I posted a video called Ketchup Calligraphy. I made a quote saying “You’re the Ketchup to my Fries” while spelling ketchup with a ketchup bottle and fries with actual fries.
I use a lot of ketchup and this was just a funny concept to express my love for it.
This ended up getting featured by million follower accounts like Art Worldly and by the entrepreneur influencer Tai Lopez. What made it even better is that they prompted people in the description to “tag” someone who is the ketchup to their fries.
Next thing you know you have hundreds of people getting tagged to see this post and then all the traffic directs back to my account.
Here’s a quick tip, when you catch on to your work that is getting shared the most on Instagram, you can start giving prompts for people to tag someone who can relate below in the comments.
I think you’ll be surprised with the results if you experiment.
By focusing on work that is shareable, it may very well go viral across social. However, don’t create solely to go viral as you’re setting yourself up for defeat. Don’t force it—create work that resonates with you that can leave an emotional impression on an audience.
Getting Exposure Takes Time
I’ve seen people blow up over a year and then there is people like me who have been chipping away over the course of years.
These things take time but I’ve noticed that the ones who blew up more quickly than I knew their research and audience and they posted more shareable work more often than I did.
More power to them, but I’m learning more and more as I go and sharing with you what I learn along the way. I wish I would’ve had these 3 ingredients top of mind when I started sharing art under my side project of Perspective-Collective and that’s why I share it with you now.
It’s rare to watch a side project blow up over night. That’s why I stress the long game as I’ve found the most fulfillment within the creative process and I enjoy the daily challenge of building this into something greater than myself.
So what’s that project you’ve been wanting to pursue?
What’s holding you back?
There’s never been a better time than now to start and technology is playing in your favor down the road.
Scratch that creative itch and start your side project today.
Key Takeaways
Paying the Price to Get Paid
How many times have you saw someone’s work and thought to yourself, “Man, I wish I could get paid to do something like that.”
Did it cross your mind how could anyone know to hire you if you’re not exploring the type of work you want to be known for and better yet, get paid to do?
This is your queue for starting a side project in 2017.
Side projects as Lauren Hom likes to call them are your secret weapon for getting paid for the type of work you want to create.
Let’s hit on it a little more on how side projects will help you attract the kind of work you want to get paid for by telling you a bit about good friend Ben Hagarty, aka BenRealVSWorld.
The Long Road to Getting Paid By Your Dream Job
My friend Ben Hagarty has been creating music and playing with cameras since late junior high. This obsession has elevated him to a level 53 Wizard at producing amazing video content around music.
Basically, I’m just saying he is a pro but getting to where he’s at now all started with side projects.
His passion for making music, especially hip-hop, resulted in some side projects with one being his group called Skool’d. This project led to them opening up for some of the biggest names in the industry like J.Cole, Big KRIT, and Timeflies just to name a few.
His passion for video led to him always creating the content for the music they made. He made music video singles, weekly YouTube videos, promo and hype videos which allowed him to flex his video skills along the way. He learned early that consistency was key for building a reputation.
Ben’s also big on quality. You could always find him studying other music videos, vlogs and countless tutorials on how he could improve upon what others were doing.
Not everyone he worked with in his music projects shared the same vision as him so he created the side project identity of BenRealVsWorld that could house all of his personal projects.
He started building relationships and networking with others in the industry trying to get his foot in the door to pursue his solo writing and rap career.
Creating videos and his love for music opened the doors of opportunity. He got a gig shooting a SXSW festival and then got a chance to fly out to LA to shoot some behind the scenes footage for a Chris Brown project.
From there he realized he needed to be in the middle of the action and took the risk of flying to LA to start his music career.
To makes some money and build relationships, he fell into doing more work for Chris Brown which began building a name for himself for his video editing and content creation.
This led to an opportunity to work with EA Sports for a Madden release which he got to work with Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski, Von Miller and the rapper Lil’ Dicky.
Ben was hustling his ass off in LA making all of his Iowa family and friends proud. His hard work continued to pay off because the relationship he built from his SXSW gig landed him his biggest dream job / client yet.
He was contacted by the TDE group to be Schoolboy Q’s main photographer and videographer on his worldwide Blank Face Tour.
TDE is Top Dawg Entertainment which houses the talent of Q, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock just to name a few.
As the tour just wrapped up, it’s safe to say Ben killed it by catching praise from the likes of Macklemore and Tyler the Creator for his high-quality work. His vlog edits for Q dominated the huge hip-hop sites like WorldStarHipHop.com and he even did a Reddit AMA takeover recently.
If a dude from a small town in Iowa can start a side project and get paid off the work he loves to do, why isn’t it possible for you?
Paying the Price to Get Paid
I believe in one rule for building a successful side project: You have to pay the price to get paid.
For Ben, it started with finding something he was passionate about and was good at.
From there, it took research, deliberate practice, perseverance and the ability to believe in yourself even when things didn’t always break your way.
Pursuing a side project isn’t all fun and games, you have to pay to play. However, when you slowly build momentum and see a few wins, you start realizing that you’re onto something.
Everything starts small and it grows by taking it one day at a time.
I repeat you grow by taking it one day at a time.
Turning your side project into a paid dream job isn’t a sprint—it is a marathon and it’s all about pacing yourself.
Ben has been working on his craft well over 10 years. Nothing happened overnight.
There were countless times he had to pull all-nighters to shoot, edit and meet deadlines. There were countless times of sleeping on floors, not making a lot of money and getting stressed out for him to finally get that first of many dream clients.
These things don’t happen overnight as big rewards and wins need to be earned.
People like Ben and all the other people you look up to in the creative industry understand that you get back what you put in.
Attract the Work You Want to Get Paid For
So what side project do you want to start?
Do you want to be a successful hand lettering or visual artist with big clients?
Do you want to run your own jewelry or clothing line?
All of this starts with beginning a side project. Landing the dream job or the dream client happens by starting and sticking with it.
Side projects are your opportunity to master a new skill or medium on your own terms with no one handing down an agenda to follow.
Side projects allow you to attract the type of work you want to get paid to do.
Side projects start with you.
You have a fresh slate here in 2017 to get started, what’s holding you back?
Next week’s episode we wrap up the series with the 3 ingredients for getting your side project exposure and attention. You don’t want to miss it!
Key Takeaways
Show Notes
Lauren Hom - Side Projects: Your New Secret Weapon
Ben's Instagram - BenRealVsWorld
Ben's Twitter - BenRealVsWorld
Ben's Facebook - BenRealVsWorld
EA Sports Madden '17 Cuts
This 3 part series of starting a side project is inspired by Lauren Hom's initiative of starting a side project in 2017. She has found massive success in her young career all from creating the type of work she wants to get to paid for with side projects. Her Side Projects: Your New Secret Weapon blog series along with a free mini email course are a great place for you to check out if you need some additional inspiration after this podcast series.
Would you believe me if I told you I have a friend who bought a Russian spacesuit on eBay and began photographing himself as just an everyday astronaut in public?
What if I told you this silly project is now becoming his full-time business pursuit?
The person I’m referring to is my local friend Tim Dodd and he is the creator of the Everyday Astronaut account on Instagram.
This was just a little experiment that exploded with creative potential.
I’ll get back to Tim later, but the point I’m trying to make is that you never know what side projects can turn into.
For example, Uber was a side project. The Tim Ferris Podcast was a side project. Perspective-Collective is an ongoing side project.
You get the picture.
This is the beginning of a 3 part series which covers the benefits to pursuing a side project in 2017:
Let’s get started.
Indication of Future Creative Potential
I recently read a Medium article by Busy Building Things and it summed up perfectly how a side project should be perceived.
It states, “Side projects are much more than simply hobbies, they are indicators of what you are capable of building.”
My hobby used to be drawing which led me to creating the side project of Perspective-Collective in April of 2014. It started off with me just needing a name to house all the art I was cooking up.
The thought of calling this 'brand' Scotty Russell Graphics was sounding pretty douchey and I reluctantly went with Perspective-Collective (I wasn't a fan of this name at the time but I rolled with it).
What I didn’t realize is this new side project was providing me the platform to create whatever the hell I wanted. I had no idea it would grow like this.
Over 2.5 years, this side project has led me to:
During this span, I’ve been able to catch a glimpse of what I’m capable of building. I fully believe that I can turn this into my full-time dream job someday if I continue to push it.
It’s funny because it all starts with an idea but can rapidly change when you decide to act on it.
That little idea you’ve had swimming in your head could change your life.
Create Something Dope In Your Own Lane
My friend Chuck Means told me a phrase that he heard the other day that went along the lines of “Creating Something Dope In Your Own Lane.”
I’m a big advocate for pursuing your own creative path by doing work that resonates with you. If you’re creating work that you're enthusiastic about, then you are making dope work by your own standards.
No one else’s definition of “dope work” applies here.
Over time, if you consistently share this dope work, you’ll give others the opportunity to think it’s dope as well.
It’s easy to feel you have to follow the footsteps of other creatives. However, I encourage you to be inspired but stay in your lane because your creative DNA and story are unique.
Going back to Tim… I mean Everyday Astronaut. He matched his greatest strength / skillset (photography and space knowledge) with his greatest passion (outer space and dreams to become an astronaut) and started a little project that he thought was dope.
Note: I wrote a blog post series about finding your greatest strength, greatest passion and your sweet spot awhile back.
Clearly, he’s in his own lane because this is an insanely clever and refreshing idea.
He started by taking spectacular photos of himself in his space suit doing normal things non-astronaut individuals would be doing like washing the car.
He hit it hard for about two years and next thing you know he's been featured by:
I’d say he's gotten some solid indications that this side project has some great creative potential.
It’s now to the point where he is taking the risk of setting aside his successful wedding photography career so he can pursue this full-time. His goal is to begin speaking and teaching his knowledge of photography and space while maintaining his quirky character he created.
If this can happen for Tim, why can’t it happen for you?
What’s Your Side Project Idea?
What is something that you’re interested in pursuing?
As Gary Vee puts it, “What is it you wish you could do every day and get paid for?”
Stop seeing your side project as only a hobby when it could blossom into something much bigger.
If you want it bad enough, anything is possible.
2017 is here and you have a fresh opportunity to make it happen.
Next week’s Part 2 episode will hit on how side projects allow you to attract the kind of work you want to get paid for.
Key Takeaways
It’s Hard to Appreciate the Good Without the Bad
Are you one of those people who is claiming 2016 to be one of the worst years yet?
This seems to be the overwhelming perspective judging by the media.
Yes, 2016 had some low points:
I could keep going and I’m sure you have a few things on your mind that sucked ass too.
However, what are some of the good things happened, specifically in your life?
If you reflect long enough I guarantee you could find some high points to balance out the rollercoaster year we’ve experienced.
I mentioned it in the previous episode 20 but it’s hard to appreciate the good without the bad.
Seeing the horrible things going on in the world like the suffering people of Aleppo should make you stop and appreciate every little thing that you take for granted.
How amazing is it to have a roof over your head?
How great is it to sleep without having bombs going off all around you?
How freaking lucky are you to have access to food and clean water?
See my point?
So ya, 2016 wasn’t the greatest but you have a choice of which lens you choose to see the world through.
Going into 2017, my message is to encourage you to find the light within the darkness. Appreciate when things are going right in your life as you can’t appreciate the good without the bad.
Negative Attracts Negative
I believe in the Law of Attraction and have watched it work many good and bad things in my life.
It boils down to the concept of “Like Attracts Like.”
When you focus on the negative, you’re going to attract more negativity in your life. Your mindset and the thoughts you vibrate into the world manifest more of what you’re thinking of.
Think about it; you wake up one morning and it feels like nothing is going right:
After all this you think to yourself, “What’s next?” or “How could this get anything worse?” and the next thing you know your day is spiraling out of control.
Did you ever think that maybe you’re _doing this to yoursel_f with your mindset?
Seriously, this used to be me. I held a grudge against the world for the majority of my life and I self-sabotaged myself for a long time.
Imagine the kind of day you could have if you took a hit on the chin and chose to keep moving forward?
What would happen if you chose to see through an optimistic lens and appreciated the good whether it be small or large?
Positive Mindset & Gratitude
On the opposite end of the spectrum of “Like Attracts Like” you have positivity and gratitude.
Life is always going to throw you haymakers but why be in the mindset of constantly looking over your shoulder and waiting for the blow?
When you can find light in the dark times, you begin to appreciate the little things that go right.
It doesn’t always have to be something major like hitting the lottery for things to go right. Something as simple as someone complimenting you or opening the door for you can change someone’s day completely.
This can spark a whole chain reaction of positivity for someone if they choose to be in that mindset.
Positivity and gratitude allow you to find the light within the darkness.
Your 2017 Creative Encouragement
As I stated in the intro, there are times where finding the silver lining may not feel possible right away. I’m not telling you to be a positivity robot.
Be a human but also realize you choose how you see the world—everything is perception.
If the first thing you do in the morning when you wake up is spill your coffee, shake it off and be thankful you can afford to have it.
When you see negativity shining in your Facebook feed, don’t give into it and go to YouTube and watch some cat videos.
Appreciate the good and enjoy the creative process of your life.
Make 2017 your bitch and choose to find the light in the darkness.
Key Takeaways
Music: Blookah
My Nightly Ritual to Stop Reacting and Eat More Frogs
Taking a shot in the dark and guessing you’re someone who likes to get shit done.
I know for me, I get my jollies when I’m getting things crossed off my to-do list.
First things first, I’m definitely not claiming to be a productivity guru—I’m just a dude who’s trying to be more productive than busy.
I strictly want to share with you what’s been working for me as a creative … and of course what isn’t working.
What wasn’t working for me was winging it each day.
Whenever I go with the flow with no plan:
Eventually, I stumbled across one little change that I began implementing before I went to bed at night: I started planning out the one main thing that needs to get done the next day to push me towards my goal(s).
This one main task is going to be called your frog. I’ll explain why in a second.
If you’re one to wing it each day and can relate to how I used to feel than seriously consider this underrated productivity tip.
Don't Eat Tadpoles Before Your Frog
Brian Tracy, the author of Eat That Frog, talks about keeping the most important task top of mind. That most important task is your frog and you must eat your frog first before you move to less important tadpole tasks.
When you’re winging it each day, you’re eating your tadpoles and possibly something completely unrelated first.
I hope this metaphor is making sense and I sincerely hope you’re visualizing eating frogs and tadpoles at the moment. :)
For me, I’m a one man army and wear a lot of hats in my business. There’s so much to do that I can’t go around guessing anymore as each day is a valuable opportunity to get to where I want to be quicker.
This applies to you too,
When you’re guessing each day, you’re reacting. If you’re reacting, you’re not fully focused on the main task.
Once I started planning out my frog the night before, I gained a ton of clarity and most importantly, I saw progress.
What is Your Frog?
My frogs tend to vary.
What makes my business go is writing, podcasting and drawing either for the podcast or for freelance.
When writing is the frog, I mind map my topic the night before so I can let my mind marinate on everything overnight. When I wake up, I know exactly what I need to do and there is no guessing… of course, this comes after coffee.
Without planning your frog the night before, you’re waking up and reacting. You can’t take action when you have to think about what you should be doing.
By planning your frog the night before:
It’s all about creating a nightly habit so you can kick ass in your following day’s routine.
My Nightly Ritual
At 9pm every night, I have a reminder from my homegirl Siri set to notify me to ’plan out my next day.’
I go in my office or lay in my bed and write in my Passion Planner my 1, sometimes up to 3 frogs that need be eaten in order to move forward to the main goal (making Perspective-Collective a full-time business).
I go to bed shortly after and truly believe my mind is subconsciously planning for me so I can just wake up and do my thing.
If I showed up and got the main frog eaten, it was a successful day.
If there is more time in my schedule after eating the first frog, I know exactly the next frog that I need to devour.
Ready to Stop Reacting?
If you’re tired of winging it and going to bed each night feeling unaccomplished, try this one tip out.
What do you have to lose?
Each night, plan one thing that needs to be done the next day.
That’s it.
I’m not telling you to have to live by a strictly scheduled routine like I do each day. Hell, knocking out that one thing each day will not only help you get more done, but it’ll also give you more guiltless freedom in a day to do what you want.
Stop living a life of reacting every day.
Plan your frog the night before and I’m confident it’ll be your most underrated get shit done tactic in your daily routine.
Key Takeaways
Self-doubt used to be my best friend.
Hell, it still is as I continue to become more vulnerable and push my creative career forward.
Seriously, I feel like an imposter every day.
Why should someone take me seriously and why should someone care?
The imposter in me feeds me these objections:
It's really hard to not let this type of thinking bring me down. Yet at the same time, I realize that none of these things matter if I keep doing what I know and enjoy the most.
This episode is dedicated to showing you that you are not the only one facing an inner struggle each day.
I want to convince you that you are an imposter and that’s okay—it means you’re going in the right direction.
My Current Struggle
I’ll be honest; I’ve been in a brand identity crisis since about last year once I got heavy into blogging. Just when I think I have things figured out I begin doubting it all the next day.
One of my biggest struggles is how to position myself to the creative community and how to offer my services.
On one hand, I’m an artist / freelancer and my work is what got me any attention in the first place.
On the other hand, I feel I can serve a bigger purpose than just creating art—that’s where the blogging, speaking and podcasting manifested from.
With art, I’m extremely confident in my abilities compared to the boy years back who was terrified to share his work with anyone.
Confidence continues to build especially since taking up freelance again. I’m getting great clients who pay great because they know they are working with a specialist.
I'm a specialist because only I can do what I do best—it took a long time to realize this. Although people can and do rip my style and work, no one else can replicate the message and context I inject into it.
This applies to you too!
I’m good with this part of my brand. When I’m creating, I’m in the moment and feel the most alive. It’s truly the only time I’m not dwelling on the past or laser focused on what’s next in the future.
However, the doubt creeps in with the ‘influencer’ side of my brand for lack of better terms. By influencer, I’m essentially saying I am using different channels like writing and speaking instead of just art to encourage creatives.
I don’t understand why but I’ve been convinced I had to separate these two identities within my business.
I ask myself:
I realize I’m extremely over thinking things but this is a real pain point for me.
Practically every piece of creative motivational content I’ve produced since pursuing this path has made me cringe when I hit publish.
There is this element of feeling fake for many reasons:
These are just a few reasons.
I know I am more than art, but I don’t know how to communicate this.
I’ve been called a coach, influencer, consultant and mentor several occasions so I thought this is the route I needed to go.
I should probably use my audiences' language right?
I tried giving myself the title of “Creative Coach” or “Creative Mentor” and I died a little bit inside every time I called myself it publicly.
It just doesn’t feel right.
Sadly, since I have been speaking more at conferences, I’m terrified of my idols thinking I’m a corny piece of shit.
I don’t want to care what they think but damn, I really do care.
The imposter within me tears me apart day-by-day as I feel I’m proclaiming I’m something I’m not.
It screams, “Scotty, you’re a 28-year-old artist who has a day job. Why the hell should anyone take you serious with a title like Creative Mentor?”
Only recently have I been able to cope with this serious but not serious dilemma. It’s been through a quote I recently heard and being vocal about my problems with people like you.
Why It’s Okay to Be an Imposter
This past October I got the opportunity to hear Nathan Barry speak—let me tell you he has a fantastic presence on stage. His message of focusing on what works and dedicating yourself to it really stuck. However, there was a point he made that cut deep into my core.
[perfectpullquote align="full" cite="" link="" color="1c1c1c" class="" size="32"]“If you feel like an imposter, you’re going in the right direction.”[/perfectpullquote]
[ctt template="2" link="DAVG0" via="no"]“If you feel like an imposter, you’re going in the right direction.” - @nathanbarry[/ctt]
I needed to hear this.
I needed to hear that even the juggernauts of the creative industry feel like imposters.
This is a normal feeling.
I repeat, this is a normal feeling.
I’m 28 years old and I’m not supposed to have everything figured out. Adversity and self-doubt are pre-requisites when pursuing your creative career.
This isn’t supposed to be easy, but it’s about showing up each day and figuring out what works and what doesn’t—and currently, me forcing myself to step into influencer role and titling myself as a ‘creative mentor’ just isn’t panning out.
[ctt template="2" link="DAVG0" via="no"]Adversity and self-doubt are pre-requisites when pursuing your creative career.[/ctt]
Be Comfortable With Your Identity
The day I picked up a pencil (or a crayon), I immediately became an artist.
When I’m buried in my grave, I will be an artist.
Right now in my life, I am an artist who does hand lettering and illustrations. I’m also just a fellow creative who is in your corner cheering you on to do great things with your work with my podcast.
If you want to call me a mentor or a coach, that’s cool. I’m not going to label myself that.
I can’t continue to force something that doesn’t feel right.
This will all happen in time.
I can’t force myself overnight to become the future version of myself I envision n 5–10 years. It doesn’t work that way.
As I share my struggles, I’d love to hear from you:
Shoot me an email at Scotty@Perspective-Collective.com as I will read and respond.
I want you to realize you’re not alone and even the people you look up to deal with this.
Stop forcing something that doesn’t feel right. It’s important to follow your intuition and trust your gut.
If something feels off and it has for awhile, reevaluate things and find people who you can talk to.
It’s been huge for me to get this off my chest and I’m finding massive amounts of relief in sharing this with you.
So in conclusion, my name is Scotty Russell, and I’m an artist who does illustrations and hand lettering.
I’m also an imposter and that’s okay.
Key Takeaways:
Alex Blumberg - This American Life
Nathan Barry - Authority
.
Notify the Universe and Show the Work You Want to Get
I can remember way back during the bowl cut and JNCO days as a kid and how lit Friday nights were. I’d lounge on the couch watching TGIF and have a whole frozen pizza to myself.
Ya, those were the good days. It sparked my obsession with pizza because I grew up picky with a small desire to try other foods.
Don’t get me wrong, a frozen pizza is still a delight, but I’ve graduated to delivery and I’m not talking Digiorno.
I’ve been doing little pizza doodles forever yet I never really started sharing them till the past few years. I’m learning to embrace this little quirk of mine because:
While the context behind this seems random, I assure you there is a point to this all.
I recently came across this sweet Dominoes Pizza box design. The craft and attention to detail blew my mind. You would’ve thought this $10 Large 3 Topping Take Out only pizza would’ve cost like $40!
It’s crazy the subjective value art can bring to something and I want the opportunity to do this.
Seeing this pizza box inspired me to create this type of subjective value for a brand.
This is where I’m getting to my point.
How would anyone know to hire me for a custom pizza box design if I don’t show this in my artwork?
I’m a huge advocate for showing the work you want to attract and be known for. I put my money where my mouth is and went on Amazon and purchased 50 pizza boxes to get to work (I’d like to thank Terence Tang of Tinlun Studio for the idea).
This episode is me shouting to the universe what kind of work I want to attract. It may not happen immediately, but if I continue to show how much fun I have in creating clever pizza art, I have no doubt over time it will be seen by the right person who will give me that chance.
Who knows, maybe I’ll even get paid in free pizza for life?
Without further ado, here are 11 life lessons learned from loving pizza.
Fair warning, these can get pretty cheesy. Pun intended.
1. You can’t make everyone happy, you are not pizza
Stop focusing on seeking everyone’s validation. It’s impossible to please everyone and have everyone like your work.
Put out work you’re enthusiastic about and the right people will resonate.
2. Pizza always has my back Life is full of highs and lows. During the lows, it’s important that you have people around you who have your back.
Surround yourself with people of high character and who aren’t assholes. It doesn’t have to be pizza.
3. Don’t step on my pizza Everything holds something of value to someone. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean you can’t accept them and what they like.
And for the love of everything good in life, don’t disrespect someone and step on their pizza.
4. Slice life It’s hard to believe that life isn’t all about pizza, but I’m a strong believer in having something you’re passionate and driven about in life.
What purpose are you fulfilling?
Where can you bring value to yours and someone else's life?
5. Pizza on my mind all the time I don’t know about you but when I have a good idea or riding a lot of momentum in life, I have a hard time turning my mind off.
When you have that one thing you can’t stop thinking about, I feel it’s your intuition giving you an internal pull in the direction you’re supposed to go.
Trust your gut, even if you ate too much pizza.
6. I will draw for pizza
I desperately want you to understand that it’s possible to generate an income doing what you enjoy the most.
For me, this is drawing and I never in a million years would’ve thought it was possible to make a living off it.
It’s possible and you are capable and I’m determined to show you.
7. Little slice of heaven Plain and simple—enjoy the little things in life.
Whether you found a dollar bill on the ground or have a delightful frozen Jacks pizza all to yourself—showing gratitude for the little things in life makes life a lot more enjoyable.
8. Pizza is life Life is all about you, yet it’s not all about you.
First off, I believe you can only help others if you take care of yourself first.
Secondly, I believe we exist to serve others and make a difference.
Cultivate your talents and put them towards a significant need in the world. The more 'good' you do for others the more 'good' comes to you.
It’s called Karma.
9. Pizza lovers unite After experiencing being in the middle of a flood back in September, I was blown away to see how the community rallied and bonded together.
We weren’t born to build barriers and divide due to religion, political views or race. Underlying all of that crap is timeless principles and the ability to love one another.
We are all team human in the end.
10. You wanna pizza me? I grew up biting my tongue when I felt I had something important to speak out about. It spawned from my desire to please everyone and to avoid confrontation.
The person I am striving to become realizes at times you have to speak out and fight for what you believe in—no matter if it creates uncomfortable situations.
At least at the end of the day, you can sleep knowing that you spoke what was on your mind.
11. I hate when people steal my pizza I’ve stolen things in the past and I feel like a dick for doing it.
I’ve lost respect for myself even if it was over petty things like taking someone else’s Bud Light out of their cooler during a tailgate party.
These things still haunt me and I’ve spent years trying to redeem myself for it.
Everything in life must be earned and it’s a crude act taking something that isn’t yours that you didn’t invest precious time in your life to deserve.
Show the Work You Want to Get
What is it that you urge to do but think it’s impossible?
If you’re a skater and want to make art for a big time skating brand, you should be blowing up your social feed with amazing skate deck art and tagging / using every hashtag with every brand.
The universe can’t deliver you the job of your dreams if you’re not actively showing it that you’re wanting it.
Your dream isn’t going to be delivered to your front door like a hot, piping pizza. You have to put in the work and show the work you want to get.
Who knows what will come out of this episode or all these pizza drawings? At least I’m being intentional and having a blast doing something I love and that I feel I’m good at.
Showing the work you want combined with the following 11 life lessons is sure to get you to a point where you will be fulfilled by doing great work for great people…….and filled with a full stomach.
It will never happen by wishing and not doing.
Key Takeaways
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is about overcoming the divide that the latest Presidential Election has caused. The election of Trump has seemingly compelled people to lash out and treat people like shit due to their differences.
On the other hand, the losing party has lashed out and acted childish as well. It's truly one side against the other and has made the US a breeding ground for teaching and raising the youth up in hate.
I believe it's our human duty to get over our differences and look past the barriers of culture, race, religion, opinions, etc. We have to start playing our roles of putting something positive back into the world to show people there is hope for the human race.
I don't care if we don't see eye to eye or if I agreement with everything you stand for, but at the end of the day you and I are human and I can accept you.
Be kind and don't be a dick. We have enough of them already.
Have you heard of Inktober? It’s an awesome drawing challenge created by the talented Jake Parker that requires consistency and commitment.
Throughout the month of October, artists across the globe are challenged to create a daily drawing.
That’s 31 drawings if you aren’t sure how many days are in October. :)
After being heavily involved in the business side of Perspective-Collective for the past two months, I was eager for a drawing challenge. I’m actually surprised I’ve never jumped at a commitment like this before because I’m infamous for piling projects on my plate.
The challenge has recently ended and it solidified that I’m a freakin’ pro at committing to being consistent……..at things that aren’t always best to focus on at a given moment in time.
You see, consistency and commitment are great. There are huge benefits to developing these disciplines which I will cover in a bit. On the other hand, there are also consequences when you’re not focused on the right thing at the right time.
I want to show you both ends of the spectrum in hopes you will focus on consistency and commitment in the right areas of your creative career.
The Benefits of Consistency and Commitment
I credit much of any success I’ve had with Perspective-Collective to consistency and commitment.
Both have provided me:
I’ve learned that focusing on the right thing at the right time leads to greater rewards and growth. This was the case with a consistent commitment to drawing, blogging, and now podcasting.
The results, routine and discipline you develop far outweigh the initial pain points of getting started.
There’s no question I put the right focus in these areas, but there are other areas I focus on that hold me back from the overall vision.
That’s where you run into problems.
The Inktober Mistake
Back to Inktober—while it was fun, looking back on it now I see it wasn’t the best decision.
Here’s why….
My goal is to make Perspective-Collective a self-sufficient, full-time gig within the next 5 years so myself and my wife can work from home. The problem is that I’ve accrued a shit ton of student loan debt from attending a private college.
Let’s be real, I have over $65,000 of student loan debt I’m being suffocated by—not to mention a mortgage and a car loan.
When you look past the follower count and the life I portray through social media, you can see this life I'm living isn't so glamorous.
I would trade many of you in a heartbeat in order to have the financial freedom and the daily stress off my back.
I’m not making enough at the day job to pay off debt and save at the same time, but I'm determined and will achieve this goal. However, the only way I’m able to this is by pursuing projects that will allow me to knock out this debt quicker.
This means I’ve had to start freelancing again—which has actually been fun and I've worked with some awesome clients. I've also begun building digitally based products like my recent Weekly Content Checklist.While posters, t-shirts and patches are nice to haves, there is too much overhead and time that goes into them that I don't have.
On top of my current freelance and products, I’ve been managing my weekly blog, newsletter, podcast and a featured custom image to go with them all. While these may not be making me money, they are pivotal to where I see my business going.
This isn’t a boast saying I can manage a commitment like Inktober with my current project load—this is me publicly telling you that I’m a fucking lunatic.
Cramming more activities to my already over-scheduled life did more damage than I expected.
Honestly, the only positives were the fact that I had fun developing a new style in my daily experiments. I guess this new refreshing perspective is a plus too.
When Consistency and Commitment Hold You Back
When I commit to something I’m all in. There’s no turning back as I pride myself in following through in everything I say I'll do.
This pride can produce negative consequences as I mentioned before.
When you’re head is down grinding away in the wrong direction, you’re not looking up towards your vision.
[ctt link="9hd0D" template="2"]When you’re head is down grinding away in the wrong direction, you’re not looking up towards your vision.[/ctt]
You lose sight of the trophy and miss the mark on what's in front of you.
For me, I was so wrapped up in my commitment to Inktober that I wasn’t all-in with the one thing that mattered most—drawing my way out of debt to reach my dream.
Inktober didn’t help me speed up the process of paying off debt—it took my focus away from the things that would get me there.
By consistently committing to things that don’t align to the vision, you're splitting focus and spreading yourself too thin.
This reflection has made me recall the book Essentialism by Greg McKeown. Instead of multiple priorities, focus on the highest priority that will get you to where you want to be in life.
This is what matters most.
What Are You Focusing On?
Maybe you think I'm being too hard on myself and that I'm a fun hater.
Believe me, if you know me you know I like to have a good time. However, I’m in a season of my life where I know what I want and I’m determined to figure out how to get there.
This means I need to crack down harder on shiny object syndrome—which is being distracted by the latest and most fun thing around.
I can't promise that I won’t slip up from time to time, but not on a 31-day binge commitment like Inktober.
This isn’t about being perfect, this is about proving to myself how serious I am about my goals.
My intentions aren’t to get pity from you. I want this self-inflicted stressful month of October to serve as a reminder for you to be wiser than me.
Stop feeling like you have to be above average at everything. You don’t and it’s okay to say no to adding something to your plate.
Be the person who thrives in one or two things that will get you to your creative goals quicker. Not the person making minimal progress in a million directions.
Focus on the essential and then become a consistent and committed freak of nature.
Key Takeaways
In this episode of the Perspective Podcast, Scotty discusses his current top 3 podcasts that will help you elevate your creative brand.
Audio is one of the best formats for learning something new every day on the go. You can consume them while your working, showering, doing yard work or even just relaxing. If you don't have time for books then podcasts are for you.
The 3 top podcast Scotty recommends are:
This podcast is for creatives who are pursuing a career in freelance while making great art for a living. However, it's more than that in my opinion and I believe it focuses on creative personal / professional development.
his quirky sense of humor and laid-back approach really elevates his honest advice on building your creative career. He has this magical way of blending metaphors and storytelling to paint a vivid picture that inspires action.
His “not taking himself so seriously” approach really helps me articulate my own thoughts and to not be so serious myself all the time.
We live in a digital age and getting the inside scoop of what’s working, what isn’t and what’s coming in the future is a sure fire way to keep you ahead of the creative curve.
He’s got some killer books / audiobooks too that I suggest checking out.
Knowing your message with help you:
Each week, Donald Miller interviews some of the top influencers across the world. You get an inside look into how these people became successful as they share practical tips you can apply immediately.
If you want a list of all my recommended podcasts and audio books, check out my resources page: Perspective-CollectiveResources.com
Your Dream is Possible When Quit Making Excuses and Start Taking Action
How awesome would it be to have the motivation and time to pursue your creativity outside your day job?
Excuses will always be readily available.
Do you want to go to the grave knowing you never took a shot at trying?
I think I know the answer so here are 4 ways to find the motivation and time necessary to pursue your creativity outside your day.
What helps me take action:
What are you consuming that’s taking up your precious bandwidth?
Are you:
Save the ‘not having the time excuse’ when you clearly have plenty of fat to trim in your consumption schedule.
Routines and rituals allow you to mindlessly act on your creative goals.
I’m a normal human just like you, yet in a week I:
Create:
These rituals have trained me to get in the zone and ditch the thinking.
It really boils down to how badly do you want it?
If you can look yourself in the mirror and say you want it badly, than you your actions need to speak louder than your words.
Objections: What if I have kids?
Check out these creatives grinding on their dreams with kids:
There are no excuses—either you want it or you don’t.
Saying you don’t have time needs to stop. If you’re sitting on the couch each night glued to a tv or out socializing, you have no room to complain.
I promise you, nobody wants to hear that shit.
What’s Your Next Move?
What I hope to accomplish:
My goal is to help people like you discover that one thing you love and I want to show you it’s possible to pursue it.
The more time you make for your dream, the closer your dream becomes a reality. Motivation will find you when you’re working.
So what’s your next move?
Are you tired of making the excuses?
No one is going to hand you your dream.
If you want to pursue your creativity outside your day job, it comes down to taking action and getting started.
Figure out the first step now and stop “putting it off until tomorrow.” We all know how that works.
In this episode of the Perspective Podcast, Scotty talks about the importance of knowing why you do what you do. Most people think it’s what they do or how they do it that matters most when really those are byproducts that stem from your why.
People are attracted to your why. It’s the driving force for what you believe in. It’s the vision that inspires you to inspire others.
In order how to understand and clearly communicate your why Scotty breaks down the Golden Circle concept. Imagine a 3 ring diagram where:
When most people start with the outer rings, my goal is to encourage you to work from the inside out.
There are 3 key questions to ask yourself moving forward:
Knowing these will put you on track to build a healthy and successful personal brand. You will be able to attract the right audience and inspire action.
Simon Sinek - "Start With Why"
MLK - “I Have a Dream Speech”
Cory Miller - Behind the Brand Podcast
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is about finding your sweet spot. It’s the 2nd part of a 3 part series of Laying the Foundation to Your Personal Brand.
The sweet spot can be defined several ways:
Locating your sweet spot helps you place a ladder against the right wall. Instead of climbing up a wall leading down the wrong path, focus on an area of greatest strength and passion.
When finding your sweet spot, create two overlapping circles and create a Venn Diagram. Label the left side Strengths and the right side Passions.
Finding your greatest strength:
Finding your greatest passion
By combining your greatest strength and passion, you’ll not only be about to own a specific content niche, but you’ll get to enjoy what you’re best at too.
It’s not something that happens overnight but you have the opportunity to create this circumstance if it doesn’t exist in the world.
Music by: Blookah
7 Habits of Highly Successful People Book
Eric Friedensohn - Efdot Studio
Andy Schneider, aka the Chicken Whisperer
Ken Coleman - Sweet Spot Speech
This week on the Perspective Podcast Scotty talks about the importance of laying a foundation to building a brand and growing an audience. This is the first of a three part series starting with understanding the valuable asset your story is.
The main points he covers are:
Music by: Blookah
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is a bit different from the previous episodes. Scotty's life was recently put on pause due to a massive flood that took over his hometown.
He talks about:
It's more of an update as he tries to remain in a creative routine despite the adversity surrounding him.
Music by: Blookah
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is stepping away from feeling the need to please others and cater your work towards their preference.
Scotty gives you 3 benefits you’ll experience once you retire from this business and focus on doing the work that resonates with you the most.
These benefits are: 1. The pressure is off 2. You can be yourself 3. The right audience will find you
Key Takeaways
In this episode of the Perspective Podcast, Scotty discusses the dangers of the Comparison Trap. He also gives you 5 steps towards enjoying the creative process so you can break the spell of comparison.
These steps are:
Hand Lettering Inspirations:
Raul AlejandroRicardo Gonzalez Jessica Hische Doyald Young
Book Recommendation:
Blog Post Series:
Music by: Blookah
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is centered around breaking away from thinking and planning and dipping your toes in the water and taking action.
You can’t make progress by sitting on dry land. Yet, you also can’t commit and dive into the deep end when you're not confident in the direction you pick.
Scotty talks more in depth about:
Music by: Blookah
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is about thriving creatively wherever you live.
You don’t need to live in a big city in order to go online and:
Scotty discusses how:
Music by: Blookah
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is about figuring out the secret to hitting home runs. This is an analogy for creating your best work and it’s done by putting out lots of work and swinging for the fences.
Scotty discusses:
“Art & Fear” - A book on figuring out what your art is really about.
Music by: Blookah
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is about finding what you want in life and making a plan to get there.
Scotty covers:
His experiences of doubting his abilities and career
Dealing with the voices in your head
Encouraging positive self-talk
Protecting the vision with a plan
Having some enthusiasm in the work you pursue
It’s important to be excited about what you’re working towards each day. There’s one thing that’s certain, by not taking action you will continue to stay caught up in the mundane day-to-day routine.
Music by: Blookah
Find me online at: PRSPCTV_CLLCTV Perspective-collective.com
This episode of the Perspective Podcast is about creating opportunities and attracting the results you want.
In order to make things happen in your creative career I suggest you:
Opportunities and results don’t happen to those who sit back and wait. Getting lucky is a direct result from following these 3 rules as opportunities find those who are prepared and putting in the work.
How badly do you want it?
Music by: Blookah
This episode is about overcoming the resistance you have when sharing your creativity with the world. I also give you the 3 benefits you'll receive upon sharing that'll boost your creative career.
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