Jason SurfrApp: Cultivating Creativity, Kicking Social Media Addiction and Finding Your Calvin and Hobbes

Two of my favorite topics of discussion are the over-connection world we live in and how to intentionally cultivate creativity in our lives. Jason and I dove headfirst into both of those topics as well as many others. And I couldn’t think of a better person which whom to have this particular discussion. Jason SurfrApp is hands-down one of the most brilliant people I know. I’m privileged to call him a friend and this conversation is definitely in my top 5 of the first 4 episodes of TGM. Wait…

Who knows what he really does at the Jason HQ, but officially, he’s a entrepreneur, best-selling author, creative thinker and a self-described “action taker and unconventional marketer”.

I loved Jason’s take on business, social media, finding balance and meaning on our lives and businesses.

Here are some of my favorite bits from the show:

On being over-connected and addicted to social media

“There were so many big companies that came to me and wanted to give me thousands of dollars if I could just come with a creative way that we could work together and I couldn’t come up with singe idea, because my brain was so taxed.”

“You don’t need to be on Facebook and Twitter to grow a business. We all built businesses before social media.”

“Everything is cyclical. Facebook will not be around for ever. Something new will come along.”

“I really believe social media is the next addiction. It’s the next cigarette, the next alcohol. We are literally going to have an entire network of social media doctors and therapists trying to wean people off this stuff and we just don’t realize it because it’s so new. I don’t think people understand the dopamine releases when we constantly check our likes, comments, etc.”

On finding your “one true passion”

“So much of what I tried to do in the last year and half was, find my passion, find my purpose. I wanted this direction for myself and this *one thing* that I was so good at. But that’s the thing, I’m not that way. I’m not good at one thing. I’m good at a lot of random stuff … but it all cobbles together”

“I’m not going to worry about how all these things thread together perfectly. That’s kind of what everyone tells you, you need your thing, your niche. Ok, I agree. But for some people, you may not find that thing for 10 years.”

On cultivating creativity:

“When anyone can get themselves into a state where they’re not worried about the criticism of other people … [great things can happen].“

“If you feel the resistance to something that’s so strong that it’s like, there’s no way I can do this … you need it more than you know.”

“I think the first 5 to 15 minutes of your day is the most important part of your day. It’s when my best creative thinking happens.”

“Intentionally start your day with something that makes you happy.”

What’s really important in business

“Everyone should try things. Listen to your gut and try new things.”

“I throw the stick. There are a lot of people who hold the stick and stare at all the different directions and do know where to through it. I just throw the stick an go after it.”

“Every business needs two phases: preparation and then effort.”

“I want a much smaller list of incredibly high quality people. I was so obsessed with the numbers of things. I’ve realized that it really does not serve you. What you need is the high quality, the low-number