This week on The Portfolio Life, Andy Traub and I discuss creativity and unlikely sources of inspiration. We also talk about what you need to do come up with compelling ideas, the best places to find inspiration, and the importance of just getting started.

This week on The Portfolio Life, Rob Bell and I discuss creating a life worth living, and how you have the ability, choice, and power to pursue your calling. During this conversation, you will also have the opportunity to peer into Rob’s creative rhythms and writing process, and how he balances life and work.

I often hear from writers about the challenge of sharing their message with others, and it’s probably not what you think. The problem is not sharing your words with the world. You have countless ways to promote your work. The challenge is deciding which medium to focus upon.

The creative process is one of the most significant challenges you will face as a creative. Whether you’re a writer, designer, or web developer, you will regularly face the pressure of creating something new.

For many years, I suppressed my dream of being a writer. I made every excuse imaginable to stay in my comfort zone. But before I could break through my self-imposed limitations, I had to listen to my life to know exactly what I was fighting.

Many people I talk to ask me how they can make a living doing the work they love to do. They are enthusiastic, skilled at their craft, and passionate about what they do. So they’re normally surprised when I tell them they need more than passion and skills to succeed.

Living a “successful” life isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be. We often believe if we have more money, recognition, or significant achievements, then we will feel satisfied. But I can tell you from personal experience, this isn’t the case at all.

Do you have a message you want to share with people? Then podcasting is arguably one of the best ways you can personally connect with your audience. Today, there are many podcasts vying for the ears of listeners. But there are practical things you can do to help your podcast stand out among the crowded airways.

I used to think working for yourself meant spending all of your time only doing the things you loved. But now I realize there's so much more to working for yourself than just doing what you love.

Finding your calling usually isn’t a defining moment of clarity. It’s a hard, long process to discover what you were meant to do with your life.

Each step of finding your own calling is difficult in its own. To find your calling you must walk through the seasons of awareness, apprenticeship, practice, discovery, profession, mastery, and legacy.