Standout Creatives: Business, marketing, and creativity tips for solopreneurs launching their ideas

Victor Yocco went to school and studied psychology and communication. After school he became a researcher for zoos and science centers, but after a while he decided he needed a change. So he asked a friend who worked at Intuitive, a design and research company, if they had any open jobs. Even though he didn't have any experience in design or user research, Victor found that he was a good fit for t...

A recap of episode 88 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Shawn Coss where he talks about why there’s no formula for becoming a popular artist, defining success on your own terms, and why running an art business is such hard work, among many other things.

Shawn Coss grew up loving cartoons, but never dreamed it could become his full-time job. He grew up in a time and place where art wasn't considered a viable career. His dad told him he should get a "real job" instead of pursuing his dreams. The thought was, you could only be a professional artist if you went to an art institute, or learned at Disney. Like most people who grow up in difficult finan...

A recap of episode 87 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Derek Miller  where he talks about why you need to keep your creative momentum, the power of a positive mindset, and not getting down on yourself, among many other things.

Derek Miller  has always had a creative side to his life. As a kid he wanted to be a cartoonist, and little did he know, he would become deeply entrenched in that world as an adult through the web comic Cyanide and Happiness. While he was in college, and a few years afterward, Derek was part of a small metal band and also ran a small music blog. He was also a part of a non-profit to help artists t...

Katie Hornor knew from a young age that wanted to serve God. She also realized that she had a teacher's heart, so she majored in education. After finishing school with a degree in education and a minor in Spanish, Katie and her husband moved to Mexico as missionaries. While in Mexico she worked at a Bible college and local mission college. But one of the most pivotal decisions in her life was deci...

A recap of episode 85 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Ron Dawson the power of storytelling, putting in the work, and learning on the fly among many other things.

Ron Dawson‘s earliest experience with film came through a time traveling caper film he created when he was a kid. Unfortunately, like many creatives, “real life” aspirations took over. Instead of following his passion for film, he followed his interest in business. Ron’s first endeavor in business was attempting to buy and sell businesses with his cousin. Although this idea did not work out, it ga...

This is a replay of episode 31 with Colin McCann . Colin believes there is a better way to be productive in our lives, so he set out to create it himself. Most of us would be way too scared to leave our cushy jobs and try to go at it on our own, but with a plan of action and comfortable savings, Colin took that chance.  --- Here are three things you can learn from Colin: Big Risks Don’t Need to Be...

A recap of episode 84 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with  Brett Michael Innes where he talks about adapting to your situation, why mentorship is powerful, and not letting fear get the best of you.

Brett Michael Innes didn't know if he would ever fulfill his dream of becoming a film maker. As a teenager, he knew he wanted to make movies but there were a few things that stood in the way of him accomplishing his dream. During that time, his family went into debt, so he couldn't afford to go to film school. He also had to work at a call center just to support himself. After some introspective t...

This is a replay of episode 30 with Natalie Kim . Natalie believes we should not rely on others to further our careers. We are no longer beholden to decisiosn from the gatekeepers. We are the deciders of our own destiny. In this episode, Natlie tells us why we need to pursue own own dreams. --- Natalie Kim is an actress, writer, and artist. She also hosted It’s a Draw With Natalie Kim, where she i...

A recap of episode 83 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Cebo Campbell where he talks about why you should put your all into your work, why you should take your time, and why you should always strive to be the best.

Cebo Campbell  grew up with a father and a community only interested in one of his talents: football. When he was a kid, his father was the coach of his football team where he stressed one thing, be the best you can be. Cebo took that advice to heart and became a dynamic football player, but due to his height, only got a football scholarship from one school. So he took it. This is when Cebo starte...

This is a r eplay of episode 29 with Kim Nicol . Kim's journey from marketing, to law, to mindfulness and meditation is an inspiration for anyone who feels stuck at their jobs or in their career. There's a lot we can learn from Kim, so check out our great conversation. --- Kim Nicol teaches meditations and mindfulness and has helped thousands of people find calm in everyday moments. In this episod...

A recap of episode 82 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Erik Kruger  where he talks about the lessons we can learn from failure, why you should let your principles guide you, and the importance of creating value for your audience.

Erik Kruger  is like many of us who became entranced by the idea of lifestyle design. He read Tim Ferriss's Four Hour Workweek and felt the desire to work as few hours as possible so he could "run around and do other things" with all his extra free time. So he tried to build businesses that let him live that lifestyle. His first attempt was a local freelance network, which fizzled out. He also tri...

A recap of episode 81 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Ja-Nae Duane  where she talks about how vulnerability leads to great work, why you need to stay in touch with your creativity, and why your mindset is so important.

Ja-Nae Duane  has worn many creative hats in her career. She started off as an opera singer where she performed at places like The Met and the White House, but soon realized it wasn’t a sustainable career. So she branched out and started working for a social networking company, which was the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. While working there she realized the major difference between the...

A recap of episode 80 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Angela Ferrari  where she talks about believing in yourself, having fun, and how struggles can lead to success.

Angela Ferrari has always lived a creative life. When she was young she lived in a rural area where she figured out creative ways to play. She would build tree forts, spray paint plants, and turn her mundane environment into stories. Angela continued that creative streak in college where she studied studio art and painting. After college, she moved to Portland, Maine and started working at a resta...

A recap of episode 79 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Henry May  where he talks about why well respected jobs aren’t always right for us, why good ideas take time to develop, and why you need to stop waiting and put your ideas into action.

Henry May spent his childhood playing with LEGOs. He loved the outdoors and harmless mischief. He thought his life was pre-ordained. He thought our paths are set for us. This all changed the summer he joined Teach First. The two years he spent here, changed his thoughts on the education system and his role in the world. After his time at Teach First, and a short stint at Procter & Gamble, Henry to...

A recap of episode 78 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Kristen Fagan where she talks about letting go of your perfectionism, the power of play, and following your intuition.

Kristen Fagan has always been a creator. Even when she was young, she would create coloring book drawings for her younger family members to color in. That creative mindset helped her get a degree and a job doing graphic design. After a few years working in design, her interest in art was reignited. Her job allowed her to work on her art while also working in design, which fueled her interest in pa...