Scaling Creator

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Host: Soren Dickens
Guest: Thor Aarsand

Podcast Summary: 

Tune in to the Scaling Creator podcast, hosted by Soren and Eriksen Dickens. In this episode, they chat with Thor Aarsand, the mind behind @lifebythor with 133k+ Instagram followers. Explore Thor's journey to authenticity, overcoming doubts, and achieving social media triumph. Learn how to stand out, live with purpose, and embrace a higher calling.

Main Topics:

1.     Vulnerability and ego setbacks as pivotal for deep self-awareness and growth

2.     How Self-reflection helped him find his core mission

3.     Embracing authenticity by revealing your true self in business relationships

4.     Surrendering himself to a higher purpose in life

Key Lessons: 

1.     Embrace ego setbacks fearlessly; they unveil profound insights about yourself and your untapped potential.

2.     The fastest way to grow as a person is through entrepreneurship.

3.     You can’t be confident if you don’t know who you really are.

4.     Stay true to your core values and don’t compromise just to earn more.

Notable Quotes:

1.     "You're supposed to experience growth through experience, have deaths of your ego, which forces you to connect even more with yourself and who you actually are, and rebuild on that foundation." (Timestamp 15:10)

2.     "You have to be willing to explore the darkness. You have to be willing to go into those extremely painful, dark parts of yourself because that is the key that is unlocking the most beautiful parts of yourself, that is unlocking your true potential." (Timestamp 23:05)

3.     "It's once you are able to tap into all of the aspects of who you are, that's when your superpower arrives. That's when you become a beast. That's when you become unforgettable." (Timestamp 35:14)

4.     “Your perspective, experience, trauma, adversity, all of the things, working through those and really reflecting on them, and most importantly, being hyper present in the moment to take it in is really important as a creator." (Timestamp 39:07)

5.     “Really at the end of the day, storytelling should be in everything you do... The only thing that is unique anymore is really your story." (Timestamp: 45:38)

6.     "All of the personal work has become the professional work, and the professional work is also the personal work. Like, that's what I love about business." (Timestamp 48:20)

How to connect with us 

Website: https://scalingcreator.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalingcreator/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalingcreator

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/platinumpeek/

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Episode # 8

Title: Jordan Jackson: Central Coast Real Estate Agent Talks Humble Beginnings, Self-Discovery, and Real Estate Insight

Hosts: Soren Dickens and Eriksen Dickens

Guest: Jordan Jackson

Podcast Summary: 

Join hosts Soren and Eriksen Dickens on the Scaling Creator podcast as they sit down with Jordan Jackson, Co-founder of Invest SLO Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Central Coast. Unveil the journey of dedication and diligence that propelled him to pinnacle heights in the real estate realm. Gain practical insights and real-world scenarios for young sales professionals, uncovering the keys to maintaining unwavering passion and tenacity. Tune in for an episode brimming with career-shaping wisdom and relatable experiences.

Main Topics:

1. Reflecting on Jordan's Early Years and Upbringing
2. How Jordan discovered his inner passion and built a career in sales
3. Innovatively navigating solutions to prospective clients' financial investment goals as a realtor.
4. Learn how Jordan centered his real estate journey around the Central Coast.
5. Shifting priorities as we grow older

Key Lessons: 

1. Don’t let societal pressures determine your career choices.
2. Devoting your time to a specialized career can yield returns beyond measure.
3. You can’t fail if you don’t quit
4. As a realtor, you need to be a problem solver.
5. Immerse yourself in your prospects' aspirations, crafting a message that resonates and draws them towards your offer.
6. Surround yourself with individuals who propel and guide you on the path to success. 

Notable Quotes:

1. "The more creative you are and the bigger problems you solve, the more in return you get." Timestamp 18:25 
   
   
2. "If I keep pushing, there’s no way that I can fail at this one thing. That paired with, okay, well, if I can't even live on Social Security or my retirement account, that is my biggest fear. A slave to the system. That's just not an option. So just keep pushing. And I can’t fail if I don’t quit.” (Timestamp 16:51)
   
   
3. “Those who are afraid of it run the opposite direction, and it's almost a blessing in disguise because oftentimes if you can avoid surrounding yourself around the people that you're not attracted to, then you can continue to maintain this path right where you want to go. But if you start letting time sucks in your life and people who are going the opposite way, it's like, okay, well now I'm kind of conforming to their ways and this is against everything I've wrote for myself." (Timestamp: 38:03)
   
   
4. “Health is my number one pillar that I'll never sacrifice for a minute.” (Timestamp: 50:36)

How to connect with us 

Website: https://www.scalingcreative.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/scalingcreative

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/ScalingCreative/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/platinumpeek/

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Hosts: Soren Dickens and Eriksen Dickens
Guest: Jack Spitser, Zack Reuter 

Podcast Summary: 

In this episode of the Scaling Creator podcast, hosts Soren Dickens and Eriksen Dickens interview Jack Spitser and Zack Reuter, the CEO and COO of Epic Drone Tours, as they share their humble beginnings of starting their agency. They shared how a series of failures helped them make decisive decisions and reminded every entrepreneur to be resilient in conquering challenges and struggles through constant trial and error. They also shared tips and strategies for creating a sustainable and scalable agency.

Main Topics: 

1.     How Jack got into storytelling through moving pictures

2.     How Epic Drone Tours started out as a start-up agency

3.     Epic Drone Tours core values and team dynamics

4.     Strategies and Tools that helped Epic Drone Tours grow as an agency

5.     How relationships within the Swimming community helped Jack to pursue his passion in the creative world

6.     Outreach Tools and Automation to create a more efficient way to funnel leads

Key Lessons: 

1.     Don’t shy away from failure because that’s when you’ll grow and learn new things.

2.     Always try to find a solution and see the positive side of every bad situation.

3.     Learn how to delegate tasks to focus on each other’s strengths

4.     You need to strike a balance between your vision and step-by-step process to achieve those goals.

Notable Quotes:

•  “Even when things get tough, half-way through swimming a mile, your body wants to die and you want to get out of the pool. Same thing in business. If you’re going through a hard time, if a terrible quarter, terrible month, and the client yells at you and you feel like the whole world is falling down, you got to be able to realize, you know it’s fine… Just keep going! It’s the same way in swimming, you just have to keep on going.” (Timestamp: 11:45)
  
  
• “Failure is kind of one of those things that we’re all afraid of, but we need to accept, because that’s what’s going to really push us to the next level every time.” (Timestamp: 26:50)
  
  
• "We use some softwares that help give reminders, you know, sending some slack messages when things need to get done and trying to take out small, tedious tasks and systemize them and automate any way that we can just to make it so it's less busy work and we can feel like what we're actually doing is useful and is going to push the business in the right direction." (Timestamp: 39:50)
  
  
• "It's more about that. I like building relationships and getting to know somebody first, and if that eventually leads to a client and then work with us, that's great." (Timestamp: 01:05:29)
  
  
• "If you as a creator, figure out what you want to be working on. Like what is your dream vision? Who are you working with? What kind of projects are you doing? Is it TV commercials? You know, whatever it is, figure it out and then make a list of, you know, your top 20 people that you whether it's follow on Instagram, like social media, is definitely underrated." (Timestamp: 01:12:09)

How to connect with us 

Website: https://scalingcreator.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalingcreator/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalingcreator

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/platinumpeek/

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The Trent Merzon Story: Leading Communities, Building Men and Breading Success - Scaling Creator Episode 6

Hosts: Soren Dickens and Eriksen Dickens

Guest: Coach Trent Merzon

Podcast Summary:

In this episode of the Scaling Creator podcast, hosts Soren Dickens and Eriksen Dickens interview Coach Trent Merzon and share their stories of being the Oakdale Kind of Guy (OKG) whereby community means more than individuality. From their shared experiences in both sports and growing up in Oakdale, they review the importance of sports in raising champion athletes, champion husbands, champion fathers, the definition of being a champion being a person who does what is right when no one is watching and when it gets tough and the easier thing to do is to give up.

Main Topics:

1.     What it was like growing up in Oakdale.

2.     Coach Trent’s journey through sports and ending up to being a coach.

3.     The role of sports in raising tough men.

4.     Wins and Losses in coaching that are off the scoreboard, the kind of men that kids turn out to be.

5.     The role of Christianity in focusing perceptions of what is within one’s life control.

6.     Understanding and managing expectations both in sports and in life.

7.     Being ready to a be a leader who is not liked because of directing people to the direction that is right which might be different from their current trajectory or where they want to go.

Key Lessons:

1.     Life ought to be about the wins that happen off the scoreboard.

2.     Becoming a champion athlete, a champion husband, and a champion father is hard but necessary. 

3.     A leader does not have to be necessary liked. Leadership not about being popular, but it’s is about doing the right thing and guiding people down the right path even if it is not where they want to go.

4.     People have to be in check with reality. Reality is not about the short highlight videos. It is more about what people do not get to see. Highlight videos just takeaway a lot of the majority stuff that goes on that eventually mean more.

5.     Success depends on being hard on yourself, in terms of putting in the others, taking not to do the same mistakes, or at least not the same mistakes in the same manner.

Notable Quotes:

1.     I don’t think things are accidents in this world, I think that everything happens for a reason. Timestamp (23:25)

2.     When you are young, you think you have all the questions…It is just that you do not have all the answers. Timestamp (24:21)

3.     All the stuff that people don’t see, and it fills up the whole calendar a year [is what really counts]. Timestamp (45:23)

4.     We sit in the stands and high-five people that we don’t even like, because we have a common bond. Timestamp (49:03)

5.     They lost half a year of their lives [referring to the half a year that kids lost countrywide and worldwide due to COVID-19]. Timestamp (56:25)

6.     I don’t think I have ever, ever, coached a game that I thought I was gonna win. Timestamp (57:25)

7.     Social media is destroying people, it’s destroying how we communicate [referring to how highlight videos paint an incomplete picture of the real thing]. Timestamp (01:12:57)

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Scaling Creator Podcast - Platinum Peek’s approach to creating videos for businesses

Hosts: Soren Dickens and Eriksen Dickens 

Podcast Summary:

In this episode of the Scaling Creator podcast, hosts Soren Dickens and Eriksen Dickens share their journey of building Platinum Peak, a successful video agency, and discuss how businesses can effectively scale using video. They emphasize the significance of understanding the customer journey and explain how video can be used at different stages to generate awareness, attract leads, and deliver results. The hosts share their experiences collaborating with businesses of various sizes and industries and stress the importance of adapting to changes in the digital landscape. They highlight the rising popularity of short-form video content on social media platforms and the need to stay updated with current trends. Additionally, the hosts express their passion for applying video to operational issues, apart from sales and marketing challenges. Listeners are encouraged to visit scalingcreator.com and join the free Discord community for more insights on scaling as a creator.

Main Topics:

1. Building Platinum Peak: From a team of two to a team of 14.

2. Applying videos to solve business problems and developing a methodology.

3. The challenges of intense travel and workload in the video production industry.

4. Adapting to changing trends and staying updated with digital shifts.

5. The importance of understanding clients' specific needs and providing solutions.

6. Scaling through data-driven processes and refining operations.

7. The future of video application and the development of an AI tool.

8. Inviting listeners to explore scalingcreator.com and join the Discord community.

Key Lessons:

1. Video is a versatile tool that can enhance the customer journey, from awareness to conversion.

2. Focusing on delivering results and solving clients' problems is crucial for long-term success.

3. Adapting to changing trends and staying updated is essential in the digital landscape.

4. Scaling requires replacing yourself in time-consuming tasks and prioritizing content creation and client interactions.

5. Understanding clients' needs and providing targeted solutions is more valuable than artistic work alone.

6. Data-driven processes and refining operations are crucial to scaling effectively.

7. Developing tools and methodologies can streamline operations and increase scalability. 

Visit scalingcreator.com to access additional resources and join the free Discord community for valuable insights on scaling your creative endeavours.

Notable Quotes:

1. "If you're a business owner, if you're an agency, if you're a creator, and you're gonna be working with a videographer or a production company, you should definitely ask them how they intend to use the video to solve the specific problem that you're looking to solve rather than just hiring a videographer or a video production company because they have artistic work." (Timestamp: 35:24)

2. "You need to focus on how you can apply video to solving businesses' problems because then you will start to get more business." (Timestamp: 31:33)

How to connect with us 

Website: https://scalingcreator.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalingcreator/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalingcreator

Linkedin: https://www.li

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The Dickens brothers faced an identity crisis when they transferred to the college, feeling like they were losing a part of themselves without sports. They struggled to adapt and connect with peers due to past injuries. Overcoming shame and guilt, they learned the life lesson of transitioning to a new passion by reflecting on past accomplishments.

Taking a break from sports, they grappled with emptiness and fought to break free from their comfort zone. Hours spent binge-watching and reflecting gave them solace and inspiration. Despite the challenges, they reignited their passion for making videos and emerged from the transition period stronger.

The humble beginnings of their filmmaking journey

During their darkest time, Soren and Eriksen found a way to rebuild themselves through a simple conversation in their dorm room. Soren suggested reviving their childhood passion for filmmaking, sparking a new sense of purpose and identity for them in college.

They agreed to immerse themselves in creating videos, and their first project, "Detached in Beauty," featured Soren's roommate, Nathan, and stunning scenes from Montaña de Oro. The video, posted on Cal Poly's page, quickly gained popularity, primarily due to the captivating drone shots that were still relatively uncommon at the time.

What made their initial shooting experience special was the natural and spontaneous nature of the footage. They didn't have a detailed plan or storyboard; instead, they trusted their creative instincts. This led them to create more videos, honing their craft and eventually establishing a YouTube channel called "Carpe Diem Productions" to showcase their work.

The project that paved the way to showcase their strength as a storyteller in moving pictures

Despite the challenges of securing their first client as videographers, the duo didn't let that deter them. They reached out to numerous businesses, even offering discounted rates below the industry average. Recognizing their limited portfolio, they dedicated hours to creating sample videos for specific client requests, showcasing their capabilities. Despite facing rejections, their determination remained unwavering as they pursued their goals with great hunger.

Their tenacity paid off, and they hustled to complete various projects, including real estate videos, beach birthday parties, sorority videos, school events, and even a documentary on Oakdale Football Culture called the OKG documentary. The documentary received early feedback from 15,000 people and garnered significant attention within the Oakdale community.

Eriksen believed that the documentary somehow motivated and contributed to the team's victory in the state championships, further fueling their sense of achievement. This success became an eye-opener for what they could accomplish.

The positive response to the OKG documentary kickstarted their careers as storytellers, leading to the booking of 12 weddings. It opened doors to more significant opportunities and showcased their potential as talented filmmakers.

Where Grit can take you and succeed in any field

The Dickens brothers' success with Platinum Peek stems from their unwavering dedication. Countless sleepless nights editing videos, continuous learning from YouTube, and extensive research set them apart. 

Their exponential growth, however, is rooted in the relationships they nurtured. One pivotal connection, a business owner granting them access to Beverly Hills, launched them to new heights. This led to 90+ projects and $300,000 in revenue in 2021. Video contests boosted their success further.

Working closely with this crucial partner across states in 2021-2023, their earnings improved. Hiring a project manager solidified their business, with Platinum Peek thriving with a

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Welcome to the Scaling Creator Podcast, where we embark on a captivating journey through our creative evolution. Join us as we recount cherished moments and the unwavering pursuit of our filmmaking dreams. Through this podcast, we aim to inspire and ignite the creative spark within all who join us. Welcome to our world of storytelling, where passion knows no bounds.

[2:35] Childhood Movies to Podcasting Journey

From a young age, our love for filmmaking blossomed, fueling an enduring passion that still drives us today. We dedicated countless hours to our craft, and now, in our late 20s, we pursue filmmaking with renewed purpose. These formative years hold a special place in our hearts, reminding us of the power of passion and storytelling. Join us as we reflect on pivotal projects like "Monkey Man" and "The Man with No Fear," marking milestones in our creative journey.

[8:00] Unconventional Creativity: From Toy Guns to Explosive Ideas. 

Our childhood was filled with unique props, including real guns, that gave us an advantage in our productions. Fearlessly exploring various elements, we even ventured into making pipe bombs for our movies. Instead of typical gifts, we sought wigs, fake blood, and editing tools, embracing diverse roles and finding innovative ways to bring our stories to life. Our memories are filled with epic films like our garage cage fighters and Vietnam War scenarios, where our authenticity amazed others. Discover how our creativity knew no bounds, despite limited resources.

[11:14] Childhood Movies to Creative Environment

For six years, our lives revolved around making movies. As we grew older, our filmmaking journey transformed, but the passion remained. Access to diverse sets and locations, particularly in Oakdale, played a pivotal role in our creativity. Utilizing unique environments, from forests to mountains, added an unmatched quality to our productions. Even now, finding the right environment continues to shape our work, infusing it with mood and impact.

[13:23] Leveraging Passion for Filmmaking

Our childhood passion for filmmaking sets us apart. While our peers were engrossed in video games and social media, we traded our time for creative exploration. Making movies and videos became more than a hobby; it became a genuine aspiration. Living in Oakdale provided us with unique environments that most people would have to pay to rent. We had access to old and new settings, countryside landscapes, forests, and even our family cabin. These settings became integral parts of our production.

[21:12] Similarities between Sport and Creativity

Engaging in various sports during our youth taught us valuable lessons that still resonate. Competing in swimming, baseball, soccer, and water polo developed stamina, resilience, and a competitive mindset. These traits translate into our creative pursuits, allowing us to handle challenges and obstacles with ease. The skills we cultivated as athletes set us apart and contributed to our success as creators.

[25:10] Lessons from Baseball and Filmmaking

A competitive mindset and teamwork are crucial in both sports and creative endeavors. Understanding roles, strategizing, and performing under pressure are essential in both baseball and filmmaking. By pushing ourselves and striving to surpass previous efforts, we can achieve personal growth and success as creators.

[30:40] Competing with Yourself as a Creator

Instead of undermining others, true success lies in competing with ourselves. Embrace every aspect of the creative process, even tasks beyond your role, to foster loyalty, respect, and personal growth. Challenge yourse

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Welcome to another episode of the Scaling Creator podcast, where we explore the power of creativity as a tool for overcoming adversity. Join us as we delve into the personal experiences of two brothers who have turned their struggles into fuel for their creative endeavors. From their teenage years of turmoil to their present-day successes, they share how they channeled their pain into artistic expression and found purpose and meaning.

Navigating the pressure to win as a creative 

In this episode, we will talk about a topic that is often overlooked but significant - the impact of trauma on creativity. As creatives, we understand that our experiences shape and influence our work. Many of us have dark shadows looming over us, and we channel our pain into our art. We want to get vulnerable and talk about our lives, the challenges we faced as kids, and how they impacted us as creatives. We'll explore how adversity can shape us and how we channel that pain into our creativity. 

Coping with tragedy through swimming and the unpredictability of life 

The brothers shared their profound experiences of dealing with tragedy, specifically the loss of their father and their mother's subsequent battle with cancer. One of the brothers found solace in swimming during this challenging period, driven by the expectations he felt to excel despite the obstacles he faced. Swimming provided a sense of normalcy and allowed him to channel his emotions and grief into a productive outlet, leading to the best years of his swimming career. However, the family faced another blow when their mother was diagnosed with cancer, adding to the emotional turmoil they were already experiencing. They vividly recalled the trauma of witnessing their mother undergo intense medical treatments while still grappling with the loss of their father. The unpredictability of life shattered their expectations, and survival became their primary focus. They expressed frustration with well-meaning but inadequate platitudes offered during difficult times. Despite the challenges, the brothers found strength in each other and recognized the power of their shared experiences in navigating life's uncertainties.

Turning Adversity into Art  

The two brothers delved into their experiences growing up in a tumultuous household and how they channeled their emotions into creative outlets. They discussed the two options people face when dealing with difficult situations: either let it destroy you or turn it into a source of strength. For them, the latter option was the path they chose. Despite the instability of their upbringing, they found solace in their respective passions. 

Harnessing Trauma to Become a Creator  

The two brothers discussed the power of creativity in their latest podcast episode. They agreed that being a creator means taking experiences, both positive and negative, and using them as fuel to create something for the inner creator inside all of us to experience. Whether it's adversity, sadness, or success, every experience is an opportunity to create something that the creator within us can appreciate. Ultimately, they agreed that creativity has the power to turn adversity into art and inspire others along the way. 

How to connect with us 

Website: https://scalingcreator.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalingcreator/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalingcreator

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/platinumpeek/

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Journey of Scaling Creator - Building a Successful Video Agency 

Welcome to the Scaling Creator Podcast, where Eriksen Dickens and the speaker take you on a journey through the evolution of their video agency, Platinum Peek Productions, Inc. It all started when they were students at Cal Poly, transforming their generic video production company into a global powerhouse, one client at a time.

But the road to success was far from easy. It took perseverance, hard work, and a deep understanding of their roots to get to where they are today.

In this podcast, they explore the importance of knowing your backstory as a creator and how it shapes who you are.

Through their own experiences, they inspire and empower creators to reach their full potential. Join them on a creative ride through the ups and downs of building a successful video agency, with insights into how your past can shape your creative future.

[2:50] Where are we from?

We are from Oakdale, California, a great city capital that is the cowboy capital of the world and the greatest city in America.

There are other places in the world, but California is the most desirable place to live. The cost of living is affordable, and there is a great community and an excellent educational system. It’s a community that truly cares for one another.


[11:08] Where do you think we got our creative streak from?

Looking back, we were raised in a very religious household. We grew up around religious texts, and I do see that as a catalyst for our creativity as a youngster.

So here is the thing: Your creativity is derived from the narratives that you feel as a youngster.

Growing up in a Christian community and going to school is like being spoonfed with narratives that you can also find on Netflix, and as you get older, you start to reflect on where you came from and the narratives you were exposed to as a kid, which are almost identical to the ones that are shown to you today.

Now that I think about it, religion will shape you in some way, but in terms of impacting creativity, that is something I’ve never thought about until now.


[13:37] How did that affect you in terms of your creativity? How do you also deal with comparison?

One of the unique things about being raised in a religious household is that it puts you in a box. If you are told that something is black and white, then it is.

You don’t get to question why; you just accept it. But if you are from the early 2000s, then you have access to the internet.

You get the opportunity to ask questions from your parents and teachers, which you just won’t stop doing.

Creativity is derived from asking a lot of questions, and that cultivates your inclination to keep asking more questions.


[18:54] How did we become creatives?

Thinking about it, I think I have two main points. The first is that we had the privilege to travel around with other kids.

We were able to see other different cultures and different experiences and also analyze what we learned, and I think that played a huge role in making us have a broader view of life.

The other thing that kind of contradicts what I just said is that growing up in Oakdale is at a slower pace. We had more time to think as kids, build forts, play Army Man, and make little videos.

We had more time to explore our inner creativity. As cliche as it sounds, there is something special about being away from the hustle and bustle of modern-day society that allows you to tap into your creativity.


[22:30] Do you think the hustle and bustle of modern-day society affect the way we implement our ideas?

Living in a city has it