The Self-Employed Life

Procrastination gets in the way of creative professionals in different ways. We can have too many projects that we're working on, jobs that don't feed our bigger goals, and even too many tabs open on our computer. But you're able to get further if you can focus on one goal. If you have to think about what to work on, you'll suffer from decision fatigue which leads to procrastination. I tackle this...

I used to eat out for almost every meal. I rarely cooked, and my body, skin and bank account were suffering. But then, I changed my eating habits because I wanted to look good. As I got older, my mindset shifted; I realized that how I felt was more important than how I looked. Now, my motive isn't how I look or how healthy I am, it's how I can optimize my life. If I can feel better, I'm able to sp...

Whether you are transitioning from a corporate job to another field or to becoming an entrepreneur and going out on your own, it's a unique experience. Or perhaps you've been an entrepreneur all along but there's something else you'd like to be doing that's more meaningful to you. Transition has its challenges while also being incredibly exciting. I offer some common experiences and tips to expect...

There are aspects of modern technology and AI that could make us fearful. Companies and governments are using our data to influence us commercially and politically. Even scarier, we often aren't aware of these actions because they are invisible. However, the new data-driven frontier gives us a lot to be excited about as well. Technology used to be available to a select few until it became accessib...

A continuation of last week's Talking Stick episode, this week we get more specific on three ways customer's behavior using technology has changed and how we need to adapt. In summary, they want to stay where they are, one size does not fit all, and they want to feel like one in a million. Listen in to understand the strategies you'll need to keep up and be ready for the future. Until it changes a...

The Creative Warrior community is made up of misfits; we're people who think differently than our peers and often feel like outsiders looking in. It's common to want to change the traits that make us different, but it's precisely those special qualities that will make us the most successful in business and life. So how can we learn to embrace our imperfections? There is no step-by-step guide to su...

One of the biggest challenges businesses face today is keeping up with changes in customer behavior. Never is this truer than the gap that is created between how customers are behaving on technology and how businesses are using technology. In this two-part series, I will address this problem. In this episode, Part 1, we focus on websites and how mobile-user behavior is having a major impact on mar...

Figuring out your life's purpose can feel like a daunting endeavor. It's such a big question, and we often confuse purpose with career.  We can get lost in our thoughts when we try to answer the question, "Why am I here?" But if you're out of alignment with your purpose, it can throw your whole entrepreneurial "ecosystem" off. Your purpose is not something that will box you in or keep you small- i...

A fun week of travel and several unplanned visits leads me to understand a valuable lesson about having a diverse business model. My hope is that you will be empowered to be true to yourself to build a diverse business model that can open up your world in ways that you can't imagine right now. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our comm...

We live in a "hustle culture" that praises getting little sleep, sacrificing everything, and working nonstop. If you watch Shark Tank, you're familiar with their advice to work 90 hours a week if you want to be successful as an entrepreneur. But putting so little priority on personal relationships and self-care is ultimately toxic and unsustainable. We have to redefine the American Dream. It isn't...

Many people think PR is either going to get you on the Today Show, or get you in magazines which hardly exist anymore. It feels like a mystery that couldn't possibly work for them. As a result, they don't attempt to engage in media relationships at all. But it's time to reset our minds regarding PR. We can all benefit from it, and it's not limited to an article written about you. How you appear on...

So much of our success depends on what's going on inside and how we react to the challenges along the way. If you don't work on your mindset, you'll end up giving up when facing adversity. You might even be too afraid to start. Unless you spend time figuring out your ultimate goal, visualize that goal, and take action to accomplish it, you'll find yourself spinning your wheels. Your path to your g...

You know the common term to level up your business? In this episode, I lay out the 4 levels of business development from zero to $1 million to everything in between. It's only important that you reach the level YOU want to. You'll gain an understanding of each level, what it may feel like to you at this level and how to level up if you chose to do so. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us...

We often think of wisdom as flowing downhill, but that's not the case. Young workers and more seasoned employees have so much to offer each other, especially with the fast-paced changes in technology today. Instead of judging different generations, turn those feelings into curiosity so that you can learn. The world needs a different perspective on aging. We are going to be younger longer; it's tim...

The whole idea of work/life balance is a misnomer. Or is it even work/life balance that you strive for? Perhaps it's more of a relationship between money and lifestyle. As you'll hear in this episode, there's a time to attain and a time to attune. And it very well may be that at different stages of life, while one is in attainment mode that work/life balance is a struggle. Whereas when one is in t...

There is no known answer to anything. We often look to "experts" to show us the way when we're feeling insecure. But this can cause us to lose our intuition in the process. At the end of the day, you are what separates you and your product apart from others. You have to understand your own essence of sales or all the strategies in the world won't work. You need to know what you're preaching, you n...

Why has failure been glamourized? As if it's some badge of honor, a rite of passage or something we need to go through as Warriors. It's not. It's all in how you look at it. I share how I look at "failure", or don't see it at all actually. You'll understand once you listen and will realize you have far more control than you might think to see it as you chose. No more "fail fast" theories. You don'...

I've grown to have an aversion to the term "likemindedness." If you only hang out with people who share your views, you'll never be challenged. The bigger challenge is being around people who think differently and still being able to find alignment.  When people have different opinions, emotions can run high. There are a lot of cliché phrases saying you can't manage other people's emotions, you ca...

The power of a single word. The power to change your perspective. My hope is that thinking in terms of thresholds as you go through changes in life, particularly in midlife, will help you embrace the process. Which can at times be painful, frustrating and scary. Perhaps it's because you've been thinking you're going through a transition instead of a threshold. The Talking Stick is in your hands no...

As most of you know, I'm a true systems guy. But not many people think of creativity as something that can have a system. Most assume that it's something that "hits" you out of nowhere instead of something that you can plan out. However, there is a way to develop a process for creative problem-solving. Making creativity a systematic part of your life and business is invaluable. After all, what the...

My book, LINGO is a branding and marketing strategy. But this episode is about your inner lingo. Meaning, I believe it's incredibly important to pay attention to the energy behind what you say and think. That's your inner lingo. To accelerate getting what you want out of your business and life, you want to align your inner lingo with your outer lingo and the thoughts in your mind. The Talking Stic...

Gratitude is a personal practice that takes place internally. It can retrain your brain away from negativity and make you more aware of the good around you. So how can we take gratitude and give it an exponential effect? One way to make it active is by sending thank-you notes. I often think about sending thank-you notes but rarely make the time for it. However, I believe that when the world develo...

We often wear perfection like a badge of honor. But is it really? Or is it a negative fuel source cloaked in a great outcome? This conversation with a friend over Sunday brunch may give you a different perspective and reframe perfection to excellence. I explore the difference and challenge you to consider the difference in your own life between perfection and excellence. The Talking Stick is in yo...

I suck at improv. I've dabbled in it here and there, but I love it because it challenges me in all the ways I need to grow. I've been known to "prescribe" improv to clients, but they often don't end up taking a class. The fear of looking stupid holds a lot of people back from even trying it. Improv offers a huge number of lessons about life and business. It's another tool to add to your toolkit to...

Being vulnerable is difficult for everyone, but it can be especially hard for businesses to embrace. They often think that vulnerability will take away their power. They're convinced that being honest and authentic will limit their results. But being completely upfront with your customers actually maximizes your results. With apps like Yelp and many of the retail sites showing reviews, we are trul...