Hey friends, Chase here

This episode is short and honest: if you don't love the work you're making, don't ship it — or better yet, figure out how to love the work before you ship it. I know that sounds blunt, but the market — and more importantly, your audience — can smell half-hearted work a mile away. You can't fake the stuff that matters. Loving the work isn't about perfection. It's about clarity, curiosity, and being willing to do the uncomfortable thing: choose a direction, commit to it, and then grind the craft until you actually love the result. That's the difference between noise and meaning.

Here's the core idea: If you're not excited to promote what you made, you probably didn't make what you love. Shipping is great — but shipping love is better.

Two common traps I see:

• Approval chasing: You try to design for everyone and end up designing for no one.
• Activity without affection: You're busy making lots of stuff, but it never lights you up. That work will struggle to find real fans.

So what do you do about it? Make the work you can't not make — and build a tiny system to ship it.

In today's episode I cover:

• Why loving what you make makes promotion natural instead of gross
• Three practical moves to fall back in love with your craft: pick one obsessive idea, do the research that excites you, and iterate publicly
• How to find the small group (10–50 people) who will sustain you — and why that's all you really need

A quick playbook to ship work you love:

• Choose one thing: narrow the focus until you feel a pull, not a push.
• Make it daily: small consistent steps beat sporadic heroics.
• Share early: get feedback from the right 10 people, not the loud crowd.
• Listen, then iterate: love grows when you respond to the craft (not the vanity metrics).

If you want to make a living doing what lights you up, stop designing for a mythical "everyone." Build for the people who get it — and love the work enough to tell others. Thanks for listening. Tag me with what you're shipping next — I read as many replies as I can. And remember: ship less stuff, but love the stuff you ship.

Hey friends, Chase here

This time of year, I get a lot of messages from folks ready for change — they've declared an intention, they want the next chapter, but something's holding them back. Some have the ideas and energy but no system to ship. Others have the systems but aren't listening to the quiet that tells them what to build next. Different gaps, same problem: without space to reflect and a mindful plan to act, momentum stalls.

Here's the truth most people ignore: Intentions are the spark — but they won't transform your life without quiet, synthesis, and daily practices that turn ideas into meaningful work.

You can declare you're "a creator" all you want, but without adventures that feed your curiosity, habits that produce work, and a practice of listening and asking questions, your intentions stay inspirational notes instead of real projects.

If you only scribble ideas and never synthesize, they evaporate. If you only measure outcomes and never give yourself quiet, you miss the intuition that points to what's worth doing.

In today's episode:

• Why setting an intention matters — and how to approach it mindfully instead of rushing into action
• The seven practical steps to turn end-of-year reflection into real momentum: adventures, consuming culture, making, scribbling, sharing, asking, and listening
• A simple way to track your work so progress becomes inevitable, not accidental

Enjoy — and remember: this season of reflection is not for doing nothing; it's for slowing down just enough to do the right, often uncomfortable, work that actually moves you forward.

Hey friends, Chase here

This week I had back-to-back coaching calls with two different clients. One had the skillset but not the mindset. The other had the mindset but not the skillset. Different people, same roadblock — they were both stuck at the edge of their next level because they were avoiding the hard stuff.

Here's the truth most people don't want to hear:

You don't level up because you "get discovered." You level up because you build both your skillset and your mindset — and that requires doing the uncomfortable work you've been dodging.

Skillset without mindset? You become the talented person who keeps getting passed over. Mindset without skillset? You're inspiring, but not shipping meaningful work. You need both. And the only way to build both is by leaning into hard things.

In today's episode:

• The real difference between mindset and skillset (and why both matter equally)
• How avoiding difficult work quietly caps your potential
• The simple practice that makes doing hard things a habit, not a hurdle

Enjoy — and remember: the hard thing you're avoiding is the key to your next level.

Hey friends, Chase here

You put the work in. You make something you're proud of. You hit publish… and then? Crickets. Tumbleweeds. A handful of likes from your mom and your college roommate.

If you've ever wondered why some creators seem to explode overnight while your (arguably better!) work struggles to get traction, today's episode is for you. Because here's the truth:

Making great work is only 50% of the job. The other 50% — the part no one told you about — is community.

Community is the force multiplier behind every breakout launch, every viral post, every "overnight success." It's the difference between work that disappears and work that spreads.

In today's episode:

• What "the other 50%" actually means
• Why community is the foundation of every long-term creative career
• Exactly how to build yours (step-by-step, online and offline)

Enjoy — and remember: what you give is what you get.

Hey friends, Chase here.

If you're a creator, here's a hard truth: most of us don't charge enough. We look around, see what others are doing, and call that "the going rate." But that's not how value works.

There's no upper limit on creativity — you can charge whatever someone is willing to pay. The key is learning to positionyourself and negotiate with confidence.

Your job isn't to fit perfectly into "industry standards." It's to understand the value you bring and price accordingly. It takes the same effort to sell something for $100 as it does for $10,000 — the difference is who you're talking to.

Here's what we get into in this episode:

• There's no ceiling on art: you can charge whatever someone will pay
• Value over time: move from hours and day rates to creative fees
• Positioning is everything: look enough like the standard, then add your unique premium
• Right clients, right price: the same work can pay 10x with the right audience

The takeaway? Pricing is a creative act. Know your worth, say it with confidence, and find the clients who see it too.

Take a quick listen, then go charge what you're worth. :)

Hey friends, Chase here.

Here's an important reminder: you'll never feel ready to start. But you've got to do it anyway. And the operative word there is "do."

Just start.

This episode is the kick in the ass you need. Too often we get bogged down in the dreaming, the research, and the preparing - without the DOING. Feel me on this? It's a common excuse that most of use…that we just need a little more planning… Wrong.

This is not to say that planning isn't necessary, just that it shouldn't be the crutch that prevents you from executing. And for most it is. Let's change that.

If you've ever felt stuck - or heck - you're feeling stuck now, this episode is for you. We talk about the right balance between the planning and executing in a way that will get the results you want.

Take a quick listen, and then get back to work. :)

In this week's episode, we're revisiting a powerful conversation that originally aired back in 2015 — one that feels even more relevant today. Brené Brown joined me to talk about courage, connection, and what it really means to find true belonging in a divided world. Her insights on creativity, loneliness, and the power of standing alone have only become more urgent as we navigate today's culture of comparison and noise.

Since our original conversation, Brené has continued to expand this body of work through her bestselling books — including Atlas of the Heart and Dare to Lead — and her podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. She remains one of the most trusted and transformative voices on leadership, belonging, and vulnerability in the modern era.

Whether you're hearing Brené for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, this episode is a reminder that belonging isn't something we negotiate with the world — it's something we carry within us. It's about having the courage to stand alone, create from your truth, and use your art to help others feel seen and connected.

Some highlights we explore:

• Why true belonging starts within — and how creatives can hold space for both solitude and connection.
• How art transforms loneliness into shared humanity and despair into hope.
• The four practices of true belonging — from speaking truth to BS (with civility) to holding hands with strangers.
• Why every creative must be willing to be misunderstood and stand alone in the wilderness.
• How boundaries and self-worth protect your creative energy and integrity.

This conversation reminds us that the path to connection begins with courage — the courage to show up, tell the truth, and make something real. As Brené says: "Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don't belong… because you will always find it."

Enjoy the revisit!

Hey friends, Chase here.

If you've ever found yourself hesitating to start a project because it didn't feel "portfolio-worthy," this one's for you. I've fallen into that trap more times than I'd like to admit — obsessing over whether something I'm making is polished enough to represent me. The irony? That mindset kills the very creativity that fills a portfolio in the first place.

The Portfolio Trap

Somewhere along the way, we started treating our portfolios like prisons instead of playgrounds. We only want to show our "best work," so we start *only* making work we think will fit that box. Every idea gets judged before it's even born. That's not curation — that's fear dressed up as professionalism.

Here's the shift: Separate creation from curation.

Create Wildly. Curate Ruthlessly.

When you're creating, you're exploring. You're playing. You're trying things that might fail — and that's where originality lives. When you're curating, you're editing. You're selecting what best represents your voice *after* you've made a lot of things. These are two different modes, and mixing them up is where people get stuck.

Let yourself make a mess. Create hundreds of sketches, photos, prototypes, or drafts that no one will ever see. Then, later, curate like a maniac. The discipline is in the separation — not in perfection.

Why the Messy Stuff Matters

Some of the best gigs of my career came from "throwaway" experiments — the projects I almost didn't share because they weren't polished enough. Those experiments showed curiosity and risk-taking. Clients and collaborators see that energy and think, *I want that.*

You don't need every piece of work to land in your portfolio. You just need to make enough to find the pieces that truly speak for you.

Here's what we get into in the episode:

• The portfolio trap: how obsessing over "shareable" work limits your creativity
• Separate creation and curation: freedom in process, discipline in presentation
• Messy work = momentum: why experimentation builds better portfolios
• Play over perfection: creativity thrives when the stakes are low

The big idea? Your portfolio should reflect your growth — not restrict it. Make more. Edit later. The only "wrong" project is the one you were too afraid to start.

Until next time—stay curious, stay playful, and keep creating.

Hey friends, Chase here.

I'm back with a little reflection that's been brewing for a while—one that hits right at the heart of what it means to be a creator right now. Lately, the number one question in my inbox (and probably yours too) goes something like this: "What happens to creativity now that AI can do so much?"

If that question sounds familiar, you're not alone. We've seen this movie before. Back in 2006, I wrote a post responding to photographers who were terrified that point-and-shoot cameras would "steal" their jobs. Fast forward to today, and we're hearing the same fear—just swap "AI" for "amateurs with a camera."

For a trip down memory lane, check out that original post, "Don't Worry, Just Focus. Please." — it's wild how the same conversation echoes through time. Different tools, same creative truth.

The Creative Edge Isn't Vanishing — It's Moving.

Here's the thing: every new tool feels like a threat at first. Digital cameras. Instagram. Smartphones. Now AI. Each time, a slice of the market shifts. The low-end work gets automated or absorbed by cheaper, faster tools. But the top quartile—the creators who bring taste, originality, and human nuance—don't vanish. They adapt, evolve, and expand what's possible.

If you're worried about being replaced, you're probably looking at the wrong part of the playing field. The real creative edge has just moved—it's waiting for you to catch up.

Here's what we get into in this episode:

• History repeats: from point-and-shoot cameras to AI, every leap in tech stirs the same fear—and the same opportunity
• Stay out of the bottom tier: low-margin work gets eaten first; creativity built on depth, taste, and expertise always finds demand
• Leverage the tools: don't compete with the machine—learn to wield it to multiply your output and sharpen your ideas
• Mindset as the real skill: the belief that you can evolve is what keeps you in the game when the rules change

The big idea? Your creative advantage isn't disappearing—it's evolving. The tools may change, but what makes your work matter has always been the same: curiosity, courage, and a willingness to play with what's next. AI isn't the end of creativity. It's an invitation to a new chapter. So pick up the tools, experiment, and move with the edge—because that's where the real art happens.

Until next time—stay curious, stay evolving, and keep creating.

In this week's episode, we're revisiting a powerful conversation that aired back in 2021 — one that's just as relevant today as it was then. Mel Robbins has continued to inspire millions with her practical, science-backed approach to behavior change and personal growth. Since our last chat, she's released a brand-new bestseller, The Let Them Theory, which builds beautifully on the ideas we explored together in this earlier episode.

Whether you're new to Mel's work or a longtime fan, this replay captures timeless insights into managing anxiety, regulating your nervous system, and finding your creative flow — lessons that feel even more essential in today's fast-paced, always-on world.

Mel is a global thought leader, an international bestselling author of The High 5 Habit and The 5 Second Rule, and one of the most trusted voices in personal development. Her TEDx talk, "How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over", has reached over 30 million viewers worldwide.

In this conversation, we explore how anxiety and overwhelm affect creativity and productivity — and how small, consistent actions can help you reset your nervous system, quiet fear, and get back to meaningful work. Some highlights we explore:

• Why understanding your nervous system is key to unlocking focus and creativity.
• Mel's practical tools for beating overwhelm and reigniting motivation when you're stuck.
• How The High 5 Habit laid the groundwork for her new philosophy in The Let Them Theory.
• Simple daily practices — from mindfulness to micro-goals — that build momentum and self-trust.
• Why now might be the best time ever to create, even when the world feels uncertain.

This episode is a reminder that growth doesn't come from control — it comes from courage, consistency, and letting go. If you've been navigating stress, self-doubt, or creative fatigue, Mel's wisdom will help you reset and reimagine what's possible.

Enjoy the revisit!