Creative on Purpose Live!

What do waiting tables, ethical marketing, curiosity, and purpose-driven work have in common?

More than you might think.

In this episode, Creative on Purpose’s Scott Perry sits down with Bruce C. Bryan —author of Turning Tables: Everything I Needed to Know About Business I Learned as a Server, host of Naturally Curious, and owner of Five Points Creative—for a rich conversation about service, storytelling, branding, and what it really takes to build a meaningful body of work.

Bruce shares how his early love of radio evolved into a career in broadcasting, marketing, and authorship, and why the lessons he learned in restaurants kept showing up everywhere else in business. Together, Scott and Bruce explore the connection between service and sales, why great marketing is really about solving problems, and how the hardest part of creating something meaningful is often not making it—but getting the word out after it’s done.

This conversation also digs into the difference between trying to be interesting and actually being interested, why branding is more about the customer than the creator, and what purpose-driven solopreneurs need to remember if they want to make a difference without losing themselves in performance, hype, or self-promotion.

Bruce’s closing takeaway says it all: bring value. If you do that consistently, generously, and with integrity, good things tend to follow.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

* How Bruce’s career came full circle from childhood radio dreams to podcasting and authorship

* Why hospitality teaches powerful business lessons

* The link between curiosity, listening, and meaningful work

* Why writing the book is only part of the job

* How ethical marketing can be an act of service

* Why the best brands help the customer feel seen, capable, and empowered

* What purpose-driven creators should focus on next: bringing value

Links & ResourcesBruce Bryan: brucecbryan.comSubscribe to the Creative on Purpose Substack:

Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose YouTube channel for more conversations on work that matters and the art of living.

Go Further

If this episode resonated, subscribe to Creative on Purpose on Substack and on YouTube for more conversations about work that matters, ethical marketing, and building a business that fits your life.

Thank You!

Thank you Penny Harris ACC, Duncan The Sage, Claire Machado, and many others for tuning into my live video with Bruce C. Bryan! Join me for my next live video in the app.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

What keeps thoughtful, purpose-driven people stuck is rarely a lack of motivation.

More often, it’s fear, overthinking, false stories, and the hope that clarity will arrive before commitment is required.

In this conversation, Creative on Purpose’s Scott Perry joins Judith Röhrle of The Ocean Says Hi to talk about his book, Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference, and the deeper challenge behind meaningful work: choosing to begin even when fear is present.

Scott unpacks why fear is often a sign that you’re pointed toward something worth exploring, why mindset tends to follow action rather than precede it, and why so many smart, capable people sabotage themselves by chasing certainty, waiting for readiness, or clinging to stories that no longer serve them.

They also explore the role of relationships in growth, the value of small honest steps, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who share your values and call you forward.

This episode is for solopreneurs, creatives, coaches, and difference-makers who want to stop waiting, start moving, and do work that matters with more courage and clarity.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

* What “intrepid” really means

* Why fear can function as a compass

* The difference between motivation and commitment

* Why action creates clarity more reliably than mindset work

* How smart people get in their own way

* Why certainty is overrated

* How relationships accelerate meaningful progress

* What to do when you don’t know your next step

Key takeawayYou do not need perfect clarity, absolute confidence, or the right mood to begin. You need an honest next step, a willingness to commit, and the right people around you.

Resources & LinksPurchase Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference.

Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose YouTube Channel.

Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose Substack.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

What does it really take to launch a book today?

In this conversation with Claudia Faith of Wander Wealth, Scott Perry of Creative on Purpose breaks down a refreshingly grounded approach to writing, publishing, and promoting a book without chasing hype, gaming the system, or waiting for permission. He shares how he tests book ideas before writing them, why he prefers self-publishing, how a small but engaged audience can be enough, and what actually helped his latest book, Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference, gain traction.

Scott also talks about building a launch team through his paid Substack community, why he is more interested in meaningful readership than vanity metrics, and how writers can use AI as a tool without letting it replace their voice. If you’ve been thinking about writing a book, publishing a memoir, or building an audience around your ideas, this episode will give you a clearer, saner path forward.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Why you should not write a book just because someone told you it builds authority

* How Scott tests a book idea before committing to write it

* What it took for his previous books to earn Amazon bestseller status

* Why he chose a Substack-first launch for Intrepid

* How “Team Intrepid” helped improve and promote the book

* The real tradeoffs between self-publishing and traditional publishing

* Why you do not need a massive email list to publish a successful book

* How AI can help writers without replacing what makes their work human

Key takeawayA successful book launch is not about making the biggest splash. It is about getting the right book to the right people with clarity, integrity, and enough commitment to stay with the work for the long haul.

Resources and links

Purchase your copy of Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference.

Subscribe to Creative on Purpose on Substack:

Subscribe to the YouTube channel for more conversations on meaningful work, writing, purpose-driven business, and building a life that fits.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

What does it really take to make a meaningful difference with your life and work?

In this conversation with David McIlroy, publisher of How to Write for a Living, Scott Perry, publisher of Creative on Purpose, shares the core idea behind his book Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference, a book built around one central question asked 27 different ways: Do you care enough to commit? He explains that the book is for purpose-driven people who want to live a meaningful, fulfilling life on their terms but are not always sure where to begin.

Scott also unpacks what “intrepid” actually means. Not fearlessness. Not recklessness. Resoluteness. In other words, acknowledging fear, getting honest about what matters, and moving forward anyway with intention and awareness.

A major theme in this episode is the difference between motivation and commitment. Scott argues that most people do not have a motivation problem. They have a commitment problem. Instead of waiting to feel inspired, he makes the case for daily disciplined action, showing up before you feel ready, and letting behavior shape mindset rather than the other way around.

You’ll also hear why small steps are not “too little,” but the real path to meaningful progress. Big visible outcomes are usually just the final snapshot of a long series of small, quiet actions that compounded over time. Scott makes the case that the process itself becomes both the shortcut and the reward.

Toward the end of the conversation, Scott speaks to self-sabotage, identity, and why so many people get stuck before they even begin. His answer is blunt and useful: find the others. Find fellow travelers, mentors, coaches, and communities that can support the journey and help you keep going when the old story no longer fits.

And if you are wondering where to start, Scott brings it back to a handful of foundational questions: Who am I? What do I really want? What am I good at? Where do I belong? Who do I want to become? That is where the work begins.

Resources & Next Steps

Click here to get your copy of Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference.

Get connected with Scott’s work by subscribing to the Creative on Purpose Substack:

Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose YouTube channel for more conversations about meaningful work, principled growth, and purpose-driven business.

You can also find the link to purchase Intrepid through Scott’s recent posts on Creative on Purpose. In the conversation, he notes that the paperback includes access to the ebook, audiobook, and reader’s guide.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

What does it really take to make the difference only you can make?

In this conversation, Scott Perry | Cornerman joins One Brilliant Arc (OBA), Ceylan Gunduz to talk about his new book, Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference, a short, provocative handbook built around one essential question: Do you care enough to commit?

Scott shares the origin story behind the book, why “intrepid” is less about fearlessness and more about resolve, and how meaningful work is usually built through small, strategic steps rather than dramatic leaps. He also unpacks the difference between solopreneurship and entrepreneurship, why too many creators waste time trying to perform for algorithms, and what it looks like to build a business that actually funds and fits your life.

This episode is for writers, artists, coaches, and purpose-driven solopreneurs who want to stop spinning their wheels and start making steady, honest progress on work that matters.

In this episode, Scott talks about:

* Why Intrepid asks one question 27 different ways

* The real meaning of courage for creatives

* How fear, resistance, and writer’s block actually show up

* Why small daily commitments matter more than grand intentions

* How to validate a book or idea before overinvesting in it

* The crucial difference between a solopreneur and an entrepreneur

* Why your business should support your life, not consume it

* The importance of clarity around who you are, what you do, and where you belong

Key takeawayYou do not need to be fearless to do meaningful work. You need to be resolute enough to take the next honest step.

Resources and linksGet a copy of Intrepid: [CLICK HERE]Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose Substack:

Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose YouTube channel for more conversations on creativity, purpose, and principled solopreneurship.

If this episode resonated with youFollow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a creative or solopreneur who needs a steadier, more grounded way forward.

Thank you Penny Harris ACC, Claire Machado, and many others for tuning into my live video with One Brilliant Arc (OBA)! Join me for my next live video in the app.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

What if the problem isn’t that you need more motivation? What if the real issue is that you haven’t yet committed to the journey of becoming the person your work requires?

In this conversation, Scott Perry joins Maya Say to talk about his new book, Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference—and to challenge some of the most common lies solopreneurs and creatives believe about success, confidence, and progress.

Together, Scott and Maya unpack the difference between motivation and commitment, why small promises matter more than grand declarations, how capable people sabotage themselves by chasing certainty, and why no one does meaningful work alone.

This episode is for the person who cares deeply, wants to make a difference, and is tired of being told to hustle harder, post more, or copy someone else’s roadmap. Scott makes the case for a different way: build from who you are, what you’re good at, and where you belong. Then commit to the next small step.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

* Why motivation is unreliable—and why commitment is what actually moves you forward

* The danger of borrowing someone else’s definition of success or roadmap

* How “small promises” compound into real momentum and meaningful results

* Why confidence often comes after action, not before it

* The hidden ways smart, capable people conspire against their own progress

* Why leadership is about enrolling others in a journey, not pretending to have certainty

* The importance of trusted guides, fellow travelers, and refusing the lone-wolf myth

* What it means to “begin and begin again” without pretending you’re starting from zero

If you’ve been waiting to feel more ready, more confident, or more certain before taking your next step, this conversation is your reminder that progress rarely begins with a breakthrough. Usually, it begins with a promise small enough to keep.

Get the BookPick up the paperback of Intrepid: Dare to Make a Difference here: 👉 Purchase the paperback

SubscribeSubscribe to Creative on Purpose for more conversations, essays, and resources for purpose-driven solopreneurs.

Thank you Kathryn Wallenstein, Claire Machado, Martin Luxton, and many others for tuning into my live video with Maya Say! Join me for my next live video in the app.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

CSA: Are you joining us for the Purpose-Driven Prosperity OS Sprint this weekend? Click here for details and to reserve your seat!

Mortality awareness sounds heavy, but in this episode, you’ll hear how remembering that life ends can actually help you live with more joy, courage, and integrity right now.

Scott Perry sits down with bestselling author and behavioral change expert Karen Salmansohn (over 2 million books sold, former columnist for Oprah and Psychology Today) to talk about her new book, Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out.

They explore how core values, mortality awareness, and a little playfulness can help you make better decisions, do work that matters, and live a life you’re proud to remember.

Along the way, they weave together Aristotle, Stoicism, eudaimonia, Substack, identity-based habits, and even a “marble jar” practice that keeps your remaining months on this planet in full view.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

* Why mortality awareness is motivating, not morbid

* How the top regrets of the dying can be reverse-engineered into a better life now

* The difference between ego-driven goals and growth-driven goals

* How to use core values and “I am, so I do” identity statements to change behavior

* Why character is fate—and how values, virtue, and reputation intertwine

* How playfulness and humor unlock creativity, resilience, and deeper insight

* A simple monthly ritual (with marbles) to live more intentionally

About Karen Salmansohn

Karen Salmansohn is a bestselling author, leading behavioral change expert, and creator of the Substack publication The Stand-Up Philosopher. She has sold over 2 million books, written columns for Oprah and Psychology Today, and blends research, philosophy, and humor to help people live more meaningful, regret-resistant lives. Her latest book is “Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out.”

—

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who’s ready to live more intentionally.

And if you’re a purpose-driven solopreneur who wants to make a better living by making a bigger difference, subscribe to Creative on Purpose on Substack for more conversations, reflections, and frameworks to support your next step.

Thank you Susan McCorkindale, Jeff Smith, Alice Sparks, and many others for tuning into my live video with Karen Salmansohn! Join me for my next live video in the app.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

CSA: Are you joining us for the Purpose-Driven Prosperity OS Sprint this weekend? Click here for details and to reserve your seat!

Mortality awareness sounds heavy, but in this episode, you’ll hear how remembering that life ends can actually help you live with more joy, courage, and integrity right now.

Scott Perry sits down with bestselling author and behavioral change expert Karen Salmansohn (over 2 million books sold, former columnist for Oprah and Psychology Today) to talk about her new book, Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out.

They explore how core values, mortality awareness, and a little playfulness can help you make better decisions, do work that matters, and live a life you’re proud to remember.

Along the way, they weave together Aristotle, Stoicism, eudaimonia, Substack, identity-based habits, and even a “marble jar” practice that keeps your remaining months on this planet in full view.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

* Why mortality awareness is motivating, not morbid

* How the top regrets of the dying can be reverse-engineered into a better life now

* The difference between ego-driven goals and growth-driven goals

* How to use core values and “I am, so I do” identity statements to change behavior

* Why character is fate—and how values, virtue, and reputation intertwine

* How playfulness and humor unlock creativity, resilience, and deeper insight

* A simple monthly ritual (with marbles) to live more intentionally

About Karen Salmansohn

Karen Salmansohn is a bestselling author, leading behavioral change expert, and creator of the Substack publication The Stand-Up Philosopher. She has sold over 2 million books, written columns for Oprah and Psychology Today, and blends research, philosophy, and humor to help people live more meaningful, regret-resistant lives. Her latest book is “Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out.”

—

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who’s ready to live more intentionally.

And if you’re a purpose-driven solopreneur who wants to make a better living by making a bigger difference, subscribe to Creative on Purpose on Substack for more conversations, reflections, and frameworks to support your next step.

Thank you Susan McCorkindale, Jeff Smith, Alice Sparks, and many others for tuning into my live video with Karen Salmansohn! Join me for my next live video in the app.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

What actually drives solopreneur success in 2025? It’s not another tactic, a new platform, or a tighter productivity system. It’s connection—inner, outer, and upward.

In this conversation, Scott Perry sits down with author, entrepreneur, and human-connection expert Jennifer K. Hill for a wide-ranging exploration of how consciousness, stillness, and intentional relationships shape the way we build and run our businesses. Jennifer shares the unexpected story behind her first book going viral on Conan O’Brien, how selling her recruiting firm pushed her toward deeper work, and why she now teaches the “Golden Triangle of Connection”: self, others, and purpose.

They dig into autism, identity, and belonging; the power of silence in decision-making; what Deepak Chopra and Donald Hoffman taught her about consciousness; and why most people stay stuck in businesses and lives they didn’t consciously choose. Jennifer also breaks down the simple but clarifying “Plus Two” energy framework and the 168-hour audit—tools that help solopreneurs see what they’re actually committed to.

If you’re building a business that’s supposed to support your life (not devour it), you’ll find plenty to chew on here.

What You’ll Learn

• Why connection to self is the missing foundation for most solopreneurs• How generosity—not networking—creates durable opportunity• The one question Jennifer asks every new connection• How consciousness and free will actually show up in daily business choices• A practical way to audit your week and uncover hidden commitments• The energy metric that helps you decide which clients and collaborators stay

If this episode hit home, speak up!Drop a comment. Tell me what idea landed hardest for you. If you want more solopreneurs doing meaningful work to hear conversations like this, hit Restack and help spread it!

Prefer to watch? Click below!

For solopreneurs building a business that fits their life:If you want weekly, principle-based guidance that actually helps you move your business forward, subscribe to Transcendent Solopreneurship on Substack. It’s where I share the clearest, most actionable insights on building a purpose-driven, prosperous solo business.

If you listen to this show, you’ll want to be there.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

What actually drives solopreneur success in 2025? It’s not another tactic, a new platform, or a tighter productivity system. It’s connection—inner, outer, and upward.

In this conversation, Scott Perry sits down with author, entrepreneur, and human-connection expert Jennifer K. Hill for a wide-ranging exploration of how consciousness, stillness, and intentional relationships shape the way we build and run our businesses. Jennifer shares the unexpected story behind her first book going viral on Conan O’Brien, how selling her recruiting firm pushed her toward deeper work, and why she now teaches the “Golden Triangle of Connection”: self, others, and purpose.

They dig into autism, identity, and belonging; the power of silence in decision-making; what Deepak Chopra and Donald Hoffman taught her about consciousness; and why most people stay stuck in businesses and lives they didn’t consciously choose. Jennifer also breaks down the simple but clarifying “Plus Two” energy framework and the 168-hour audit—tools that help solopreneurs see what they’re actually committed to.

If you’re building a business that’s supposed to support your life (not devour it), you’ll find plenty to chew on here.

What You’ll Learn

• Why connection to self is the missing foundation for most solopreneurs• How generosity—not networking—creates durable opportunity• The one question Jennifer asks every new connection• How consciousness and free will actually show up in daily business choices• A practical way to audit your week and uncover hidden commitments• The energy metric that helps you decide which clients and collaborators stay

If this episode hit home, speak up!Drop a comment. Tell me what idea landed hardest for you. If you want more solopreneurs doing meaningful work to hear conversations like this, hit Restack and help spread it!

Prefer to watch? Click below!

For solopreneurs building a business that fits their life:If you want weekly, principle-based guidance that actually helps you move your business forward, subscribe to Transcendent Solopreneurship on Substack. It’s where I share the clearest, most actionable insights on building a purpose-driven, prosperous solo business.

If you listen to this show, you’ll want to be there.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe