Creative Warriors

Too many times we put our minds in the wrong place when it comes to building and growing our business. We try to create the perfect product, then search out clients based on what we’ve made. Or we try to find someone just like us to lead and build our business. When you want to create a business you need to find out what your future clients want and need. Then you need to learn the lingo of the industry, and what are the key terms that really sell to customers. If you go in there with a cliche sales pitch or using terms that aren’t relevant to that market you’re going to look like you don’t know what you are doing. After you get clientele and your product’s moving, it’s time to expand. When you’re hiring employees and leaders of your company, make sure they are great at what you aren’t. Bring in people who excel in what you lack, then you can focus on what you are good at. Don’t be afraid to trust others and let them have their own creative freedom. Finally, to stay successful you can’t become complacent. You

It's not a coincidence that the word "worth" has to do with how you feel about yourself and money. The best way I know of to overcome money issues is to increase your self-worth. To understand that you are worth more than the nonsense of being stuck in money issues. Sure, you can change your mindsets about money and improve your spending habits. Both are good ideas. But above all, you need know that you and what you are here to accomplish are worth way more than the struggle of dealing with money issues. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to

As creatives we have this mentality that rejection is the worst thing that can happen. We spend all of this time on our passion, perfecting what we’re doing, and really trying to make everyone happy. One piece of criticism can easily ruin our day. Rejection means progression. Everything should be a learning experience. It should be a part of the creative process, and one you are excited to take on. There isn’t a single person that achieved their dreams instantly. The only way to get to where you want to be is to put it all on the line, get rejected, grow, and try again. If you’re not out there putting your work on the line, you’ll never grow. The only way to be successful is to be rejected enough times that people finally start saying yes. On this episode of Creative Warriors we are joined by a rejection guru, Scott Allan. Scott used to be afraid of rejection, so much so that it held him back in life. He learned that rejection is all about perception, and has been helping people get over their biggest obstacl

Rejection is a part of life as Creative Warrior. But it shouldn't become a fear that holds you back from creating and risking. So let's get real about rejection and break it down. Is it real? Do you have proof that you have a legitimate reason to fear rejection? Are you giving rejection more meaning in your life than it needs? In the end, it's still in your power to decide how you respond to your fears. So let's get real about rejection, put your feelings about rejection in their proper place so you can move on to your greatness. Who has time for this?  The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warri

A lot of people look at Millennials as entitled. Others look at them as lazy. The truth is they are just shifting perspective and are incredibly resourceful. Millennials have found ways to solve new problems by taking the knowledge from previous generations and applying the technology available now. The Boomers kept a depression mentality, that you did whatever it takes in order to achieve the “American Dream.” They wanted the white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and would do whatever it took to get that. Even if it meant a job that made them miserable. Today Millennials want both their personal and work lives to be something they’re not just happy with, but something they love. Is that really so bad? I don’t see it as entitlement, but the progression of humanity. On this episode of Creative Warriors we are joined by Daniel DiPiazza, author of Rich20Something: Ditch Your Average Job, Start an Epic Business, and Score the Life You Want. We discuss what makes Millennials different, the importance of the creative proce

People toss around the idea of integrity in business but I wonder if most really understand what it is. Perhaps more importantly, what the true downside is of being out of integrity. Integrity to me is more than a moral compass. It's the integration of your values and your behavior in business. It's knowing that what people don't see behind the scenes is more important that what they do see.  The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and ho

When you think of a good leader, what do you think of? A good leader is someone who really knows the people that are following them. The people who follow them also know all about the leader. There needs to be a strong level of empathy. People need that emotional connection, and to feel invested. If you throw your power around, you’re only going to get compliance - not motivation. Nothing gets done efficiently with compliance. Everyone has dreams and passions. You need to make sure you know what your follower’s are, and make sure that they know yours. When that happens they will become emotionally invested. They will want to help, they will be willing to go above and beyond to help you achieve your goals. There are ways you can practice becoming a great leader. Just like a concert pianist practices their skills, and a pro tennis player practices their forehand drills, there are fundamental practices for Leadership. On this episode we are joined by Joshua Spodek, who has been shaking up the world of leadership

When you're a Creative Warrior, there is virtually no separation between you and your business. In fact, what we explore in this episode is the power to get the results you want in your business by advancing your personal development. The anchor of this episode is my favorite quote by Jim Rohn--"Your level of success rarely exceeds your level of personal development." Think of this as a moveable ceiling. You raise the ceiling by advancing yourself and your level of success rises to meet your new height. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to t

Have you ever been in a meeting where you saw someone absentmindedly scribbling on a paper instead of listening to the presentation? Did you think they were being rude, not paying attention, and clearly not interested in what was going on? You couldn’t have been more wrong. Doodling is a very powerful tool, especially for creatives. It’s a way for the mind and body to remain engaged in what’s going on. If you talk to someone who doodles while you are chatting with them, they are engaging in their more creative side of their brain. They are looking for answers and inspiration. In fact, some of the most successful people have been doodlers, including past presidents. Doodling isn’t just about drawing on a paper, it can take many forms. There are several types of doodlers you’ll find, including: Word doodlers Abstract doodlers (like me) Picture doodlers Landscape doodlers People/places doodlers On this week’s episode of Creative Warriors we have a special guest, Sunni Brown. Sunni is the leader of the Doodle R

As entrepreneurs we usually try to think of the next best product people will want. We come up with an idea, make it happen, and expect to see success. We know our products are better than anyone else’s on the market, and that’s all we need to be the successful - right? WRONG. It’s that mentality that cost Microsoft billions of dollars in research and development when they created Bing. Although it’s better than Google’s search engine and algorithm, it was essentially one of the largest tech flops. You can’t have a mentality that marketing is for those who don’t have a good product. Marketing is everything. If you want to be successful you have to be the king of your category. You can’t do that by giving people something better, or by giving people a solution. You need to announce yourself, be loud and proud, and tell people what problem you are solving. That’s right, you can’t sell a solution. We are surrounded by solutions. You have to let the people know they have a problem, what it is, then they will natu

One of the most common debates in business is whether to niche or not to niche. I suppose it works for some but I believe it is counterintuitive to the Creative Warrior's natural way of being. Do one thing? For just one group of people? But we are capable of being good at many things. To say nothing of it being a smart business model in today's world is to have multiple streams of income. Listen in to how I define the New Niche and how old niche is about narrowing and New Niche is about expansion. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think d

We always hear people say, “Act your age!” But what does that really mean? What is someone who is 41 supposed to act like that’s different than someone who is 40? We are told we have to grow up, but that can come with some dangerous consequences. When we try to “grow up” we lose the ability to take chances. We become afraid of the world. Adults don’t play in the rain, they cower under umbrellas to escape the little drops of water from falling on us. We begin to follow rules because that’s what we were always told to do. There’s no reason for me to wait 30 minutes after eating before I swim. It has no science behind it, and yet many people still believe it’s true. We follow so many rules blindly, and it may be time to start letting it go. So many people suffer from what Jason Kotecki refers to as Adultitis. We need to stop trying so hard to be safe adults, and start living like curious children who aren’t afraid to dream. No one wants to be on their deathbed and look back at all the opportunities they missed b

When in business, we can often start following the "rules" of our industry. Thinking the way it's been done is the way it "should" be done. Of course, there also all these rules in life about proper behavior and the normal way to be in the world. Is normalcy the path to creating an outstanding life? I think not! Learn about the importance of playing by your own rules. Trusting yourself and standing out.  The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who w

Everyone knows that nothing holds a creative back more than themselves. We all think that we’re not good enough. We get jealous of others, and give up before we even try. We believe our skills just aren’t good enough. STOP.  You’re just letting your inner critic control your brain. You need to learn to acknowledge the critic, and see what it’s really telling you. You can learn a lot about yourself from your inner critic, but you can’t let it control your life. There are a few things that cause an inner critic to come out and take control: Envy of other Too much self criticism Not letting go of emotions Pressure from deadlines and our environment Fear It’s easy to let our mind’s get wrapped up in thoughts, emotions, and fears. In fact it’s something we’ve done our entire lives. When you first learn to accept and acknowledge the inner critic, but not let it control your emotions and life it can be very unsettling. So many people get uncomfortable without it that they end up reverting right back to the

There's this interesting phenomenon that I've experienced and have coached many clients through. It's what I call the Soul's Gatekeepers. It's the challenges, doubts, and inner conflict that shows up when you least expect it. You're proud of what you've accomplished, you're on the cusp of a major breakthrough, you know you're on track and ready to give back, and BAM! You're faced with all this stuff that holds you back. Why is that? We explore the Soul's Gatekeepers. The perfect lead into the very next episode which is about overcoming your inner critic. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative War

Do you ever feel down and worry you’re going to be stuck there? Don’t worry, that’s a common feeling and one you should let go of. Everyone’s life is full of peaks and valleys. Just know that you’ve felt happiness before, and that you’ll feel it again. Trust in your journey, and let your happiness come from the path you are on. I know it’s easy to say but taking action or even truly understanding why you aren’t happy can be difficult.  There are typically two ways we feel down and stuck. The first is that we adapt a sense of security that holds us back. Maybe we have a steady job that pays well, but we aren’t truly  content there. Change is a scary thing, but if you want to be happy you have to learn to be a little more adventurous and make a leap into the world. Don’t let feeling secure be the reason you’re unhappy. Security is nice, but it’s not worth holding yourself back. The second reason people can feel miserable is because they are trying to force an outcome. Sometimes what we think needs to happen,

As entrepreneurs and Creative Warriors, being in a funk every now and then is to be expected. It's unavoidable. Putting ourselves out there as we do, we subject ourselves to many circumstances and emotions. All of which can cause us to get in a funk now and then. But we don't want to stay there too long. It can suck the life out of us and kill our productivity. So here are some funk-buster ideas to get you moving again. And yes, dogs help.  The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been hand

We often blame outside sources for our own shortcomings. Some people blame money, others blame the economy, but very few are willing to accept responsibility. In the end, not looking internally to find the problems means you’ll never be able to find a proper solution. This is commonly the reason many businesses and entrepreneurs fail. There’s a level of pride and ego that stops you from seeing it as your fault. This same exact mindset is commonly seen when people need to survive, because that’s exactly what a business needs to do - survive. When things start to go wrong, and they always will, people tend to panic. Some entrepreneurs begin to run around in circles, while others freeze and give up. If you really want your business to survive, you need to think like you are out in the woods after a plane crash. Always analyze what’s going on around you, be ready for what could go wrong, and don’t be afraid to stop and think. On this episode of Creative Warriors podcast we are joined by Jonathan David Lewis, au

One of the biggest challenges creatives have in business is that if what we are doing or what we have created is truly unique, then people won't know to ask for it. So, on one hand, we need to be unique and stand out. On the other hand, we've been told we must be searchable. Now, this is a dilemma. Yet another example that what got us here won't get us to where we want to go. Being searchable may not be the answer. If we create our own category, we may also have to create the communication.   The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation.  Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think diff

Do you ever wonder why things aren’t working? Maybe your numbers aren’t as high as you want them to be, or maybe you’re not getting the response from a market you wanted. We live in a world of data, and data doesn’t lie. It’s like you aren’t analyzing your results properly. One of the first steps you need to take in order to come up with a solid strategy is to be able to properly gather analytics look at the statistics you need. From there you can find your audience and really come up with a plan to build your brand. Branding used to be a negative thing. We used to think about it as something that only people who were sleazy salesman or very narcissistic did. That’s simply not true anymore. Everyone needs a brand and it needs to represent us in the way we want to be seen. If you have a video on Instagram of you doing a keg stand it might be funny to your friends, but your potential next colleague or associate may have a different take on it. On this episode of Creative Warrior we are joined by Peter Winick,