Getting Work To Work

For those new to Getting Work To Work, today’s guest is gough, a legally blind filmmaker from Australia. He’s also a comedic genius, raconteur, shameless self-promoter, and holds the distinction of being on this show 23 times. His latest film—available now at BeernutsProductions.com—is a dark comedy called MR. X about a blind hitman who falls in love. In our conversation, we talk about serious and important topics, such as the challenges of writing blurbs without giving too much away, ways to shake up the creative process, geography lessons, and the best ways to prepare kangaroo and emu. Oh, and I should probably give you a content warning. If you are sensitive to profanity, bad jokes (mostly on my part), or two guys making themselves laugh across three oceans (again, not great with geography), then tread lightly with this episode. But if that’s not you, let’s go! Previously on the show: The Official Beernuts Productions Category! Show Links Beernuts Productions MR. X. George Carlin Makes His 105th and Final Appearance | Carson Tonight Show Slip! Slop! Slap! – The Original Sid the Seagull Video ilia chidzey Jacinda Ardern Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (TV Series 2015–2019) I Give Good Parent (Explicit) – feat. Rachel Bloom and Amy Hill – “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” The Naked Gun (2025) The Naked Gun | Official Trailer (2025 Movie) – Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson Stick (TV Series 2025–) The Studio (TV Series 2025–) Sarah Polley The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Quentin Tarantino Vivica A. Fox Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) Kevin Bacon Conan O’Brien Must Go Intro (Werner Herzog) Conan Encounters Australian Wildlife | CONAN on TBS Conan Plays Australian Rules Football With The Sydney Swans | CONAN on TBS The Colbert Report – Suq Madiq

When you’re faced with challenges or struggles in your life and work, what do you do to get unstuck? Maybe you vent to a friend, go to therapy, or even hire a coach, but today’s guests—Tim Preston & Jonathan Thomas—have a tool that can help you to uncover your own solutions through a process they call CoreSelf Mapping. Through eight steps, the CoreSelf Map Process moves individuals and teams through three major questions: Where am I now? Where do I want to be? How do I get there? In this conversation, I talk with Tim and Jonathan about the origins of this work, their three operating principles—slow down, trust the map, and question respectfully—and the concept of the internal observer and how it shows up throughout the process. We also learn more about Tim and Jonathan’s new book, CoreSelf Positioning: Getting on the Same Page, Literally. Show Links Simple. Not Easy Try CoreSelf Positioning CoreSelf Positioning: Getting on the Same Page, Literally by Tim Preston & Jonathan Thomas Extraordinary Relationships: A New Way of Thinking About Human Interactions by Roberta M. Gilbert, M.D. Move Fast & Fix Things: The Trusted Leader’s Guide to Solving Hard Problems by Frances Frei & Anne Morriss The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek Midjourney prompt for episode art: internal guidance internal observer abstract conceptual monochromatic –ar 16:9

Earlier this week, I met up with someone who wanted to ask me questions about my podcasting journey. After sharing everything I could possibly think of, even the stuff that people don’t want to hear about, I looked at the clock and saw that we had been talking for almost two and a half hours. As we wrapped up our conversation, I wrote a quick note: “Give it all away—meeting people who want to learn from you.” Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about this idea—no, this philosophy. As content creators, we have an unlimited wealth of knowledge buried in our minds. Not everything we know becomes a podcast episode, blog post, or social media thing though. Why? Because when we create, we are focused on an imagined audience. We chase trends, we want to be relevant. But this all changes when we are in conversation with actual people. We aren’t worried about being relevant, just helpful. In order to unearth everything we know, we must hold nothing back from the inquisitive mind. We must give it all away. Five Doubt Killers When You Give It All Away: Just because you give it all away doesn’t mean you can’t profit from what you know. Giving it all away doesn’t make competition, it creates community. AI is going to disrupt everything and nothing with its approach to giving it all away. Even if no one cares that you give it all away, you benefit from the act. Giving it all away is a form of legacy planning for your inevitable death. Show Links Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai drmattshiver on Threads: “ChatGPT can answer any question instantly (and probably better than you…) How to Replace Toyota Prius C Engine Air Filter on YouTube Midjourney prompt for episode art: weird random abstract surrealism –ar 16:9

If you were to learn how to paint where would you start? Maybe you’d go to YouTube and watch some introductory videos, buy some cheap art supplies, and spend an afternoon giving it a shot. The results? A contact high from the paint and a lingering belief that you’re just not talented enough. So, you quit. Fortunately, today’s guest has found a better way. Kevin Murphy is a renowned illustrator, portrait artist, and founder of Evolve Artist, an online painting program studied around the world. In our conversation, Kevin shares the philosophy that drives not only his school, but also his life. He shares his journey into art and art education, what he learned about building businesses through the dismantling of a business, how expectations can trip us up and distract us from our work, the power of first impressions, and why his ideas won’t die with him. Show Links Evolve Artist Bridges to Babylon by the Rolling Stones The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg & John David Mann Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

When was the last time you sat around, maybe reading a book, definitely looking at the sky, but ultimately, doing nothing productive? Depending on who you are and what you do, that either sounds like heaven or hell. And if you’re tapped into all things tech, downright impossible. I mean, who are we if we aren’t online, am I right? But what if productivity is actually holding us back from discovering who we could actually be? In today’s monologue, I’m going to share a few recent experiences and epiphanies, surrounded by quotes from Adam Gopnik’s book, The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery. Show Links The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery by Adam Gopnik Highway 14 closed in the Gorge as Burdoin fire grows to 10,000+ acres | The Seattle Times Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

What fears are holding you back from the things that truly matter? Does your fear serve you? What could you learn from fear? What small action could you take to go from fearful to fearless? These four questions are a taste of my time with Dr. Benjamin Ritter, leadership and career coach, talent development executive, international speaker, and author of Becoming Fearless: 65 Strategies to Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Mastery. In our conversation, we dive right into the deep end of the pool, talking about what it means to live selfishly toward our values and how that allows us to be more present with others. Dr. Ritter shares his journey from losing everything to discovering what matters most to him, the Three C’s of Self-Leadership, fear and fearlessness, and how we can re-examine our relationship with work. Show Links Live for Yourself Consulting Becoming Fearless: 65 Strategies to Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Mastery by Dr. Benjamin Ritter Next Level Pinball Museum How to Do Great Work by Paul Graham #314 Paul Graham (How To Do Great Work) | Founders Essay Breakdown: “How To Do Great Work” by Paul Graham | Outliers with Daniel Scrivner Photo by Senad Palic on Unsplash

You ever have one of those moments when the passing of time just hits you right in the stomach? The other day, I was driving home from running an errand, pizza in the trunk, music blasting, a typical northwest summer day. Apart from my sore back, I felt pretty good. Not a care running through my mind as I noticed my surroundings. “Wow, trees really have grown a lot in the past 20 years.” I’ve driven the route before—it avoids the busier roads—but something felt different this time—I felt different. Especially when I started thinking about who I was 20 years ago. Show Links Midjourney prompt for episode art: recalibrate ambition abstract surrealism –ar 16:9

How do you keep your imagination and productivity going year after year, decade after decade? By challenging yourself, doing your work to the best of your ability, and taking nothing personally. Today’s guest is Jeffrey Konvitz and is no stranger to the world of imagination. He’s worked in film as an entertainment attorney, screenwriter, and producer. He’s also the author of The Sentinel, The Guardian, Monster: A Tale of Loch Ness, and his latest book, The Circus of Satan: Murder, Revenge, and the Rise of Organized Crime. In our conversation, he talks about his writing process, why it took over 24 years to write the book, the differences between novels and screenplays, and how he tackles heavy issues without making it a slog. Show Links Jeffrey Konvitz Barnes & Noble: The Circus of Satan: Murder, Revenge, and the Rise of Organized Crime Amazon: The Circus of Satan: Murder, Revenge, and the Rise of Organized Crime Gladiator (2000) Inception (2010) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Scientific American Financial Times Midjourney prompt for episode art: closeup of flames –ar 16:9

Refilling the creativity and curiosity tanks is easy when life is going as planned. When balance is maintained, money is in the bank, and work is more feast than famine. But what about the other times? When pain keeps you in bed instead of at the desk, depression fuels boredom (or is it the other way around), the lack of money saps all motivation and means to explore new crafts and potential paths, and loneliness lies and keeps you isolated from community. Terminal velocity, straight to hell. You need to find a way to not only slow down, but shift your direction. And that’s what today’s episode is all about. 7 ways to refill your creativity and curiosity tanks, even in the midst of pain, procrastination, or poverty: Minimize the distractions and doomscrolls. Use your imagination for good rather than evil. Chase the smallest spark. Find free ways to learn and practice your craft. Use the tools and equipment you have in new ways. Return to what you’re avoiding. Do what you know you love. Show Links Red Dawn (1984) Midjourney prompt for episode art: creativity and curiosity tanks filling a giant warehouse of imagination and wonder abstract surrealism –ar 16:9

When you are running a business—no matter how small or large—it’s easy to forget why you are doing it. You look around at what everyone else is doing and question your own success. You read the latest business book about systems and processes of giant corporations and wonder why they didn’t work in your small business. So, what are we to do? Today’s guest has some fresh ideas for us to consider. Sri Kaza is a seasoned business leader and small business advocate with a background in corporate strategy and entrepreneurship. He fell in love with small business and the potential they have when focused on purpose, proximity, and positioning. In our conversation, we talk about his underdog principles, the differences between scale and personal economies, apprenticeship, and the evolution of the creative industry. He also shares about his upcoming book, Unconvention: A Small Business Strategy Guide. Show Links Sri Kaza Unconvention: A Small Business Strategy Guide by Sri Kaza The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber Photo by Paulo Doi on Unsplash

I wasn’t sure what today’s episode was going to be about until I heard something in an episode of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. While visiting Sarma, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Somerville, Massachusetts, Phil and his guest mentioned that the chef travels all over the world, eats delicious food, and brings those flavors back to the menu. That got me thinking: What would be the equivalent of doing this for podcasters, filmmakers, writers, and other types of artists? Sure, we have the Internet at our fingertips and can go anywhere with a tap and swipe, but what are we missing when we only do that? When we don’t get away from our workspaces, offices, and task lists? When our analog senses dull from constant connection to a digital realm? We are missing a lot and in today’s episode, I’m going to share a few ways to step away and influence your imagination. Five places to go to influence your imagination: The library An art museum Bookstores BBQ competitions Farmers markets Show Links Somebody Feed Phil (2018–) Boston – Phil Rosenthal World Portland Art Museum Becoming Fearless: 65 Strategies to Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Mastery by Dr. Benjamin Ritter Photo by MeSSrro on Unsplash

How curious are you about asking and reflecting upon the deep questions of life? You know, massive questions like, “How do you think about a life worth living?” or “What kind of people are we becoming as individuals and as a community by employing any given technology?” Today’s guest on Getting Work To Work is no stranger to asking these questions of himself, his guests on his podcast, and the students in his classroom. Lee C. Camp is a theologian, professor and host of the acclaimed No Small Endeavor podcast. In our conversation, we dive into the origin of why he takes the big questions seriously. We touch on technology and science, discipline and willpower, being present in the moment, and healthy rhythms of life. Lee also shares how podcasting has shaped his work as an academic, how he creates space in conversations, and what he’s learned about life chasing cumulus clouds in the cockpit of a sailplane. “We should ask ourselves the question: What kind of people are we becoming as individuals and as a community by employing any given technology?” – Lee C. Camp Show Links No Small Endeavor Lee C. Camp Jacques Ellul Program or Be Programmed: Eleven Commands for the AI Future by Douglas Rushkoff The Price of the Pursuit of Pleasure: Anna Lembke – No Small Endeavor Cal Newport Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. Ryman Auditorium Sheryl Crow: Becoming Who She Always Was – No Small Endeavor Unabridged Interview: Martin Sheen – No Small Endeavor Self-Compassion: Kristin Neff – No Small Endeavor Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America by Michael Luo Photo by Michael & Diane Weidner on Unsplash

Every night before I go to bed, I grab my journal and spend a few minutes writing about the day. Some days there’s a lot to say, while others recount what I wasn’t able to get done. Lately, I’ve noticed a trend. I list four or more things I got done and then follow up with a dismissive statement, “I just wasn’t productive.” If you compare the ambition of my task list with what was actually accomplished, then yes, something is off. But it’s not a lack of productivity, it’s over-scheduling my day. Sure, I could dive into why I do this, but a more interesting question is this: How much of my day is filled with trash? Show Links The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron Midjourney prompt for episode art: daily log of time and trash abstract surrealism monochromatic –ar 16:9 –v 7.0

How would you define your level of ambition? Are you pushing yourself to change the world or maybe you’re on the other side of failure wondering if you’ll ever be ambitious again? Today’s guest is on Getting Work To Work to talk about a new way to approach our goals, not just in work, but in life. It’s called Sustainable Ambition®. Kathy Oneto is a coach, author, and podcaster whose mission “is to help people craft a life with work for more joy, fulfillment, peace, and ease.” Definitely sounds like something most of us need. In this conversation we talk about several of the principles in her new book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work: Growing into ourselves and our values, worthy work, life-work sustainability, burnout, and four anchors for redefining success. “How do we redefine success and create opportunities for people where we all feel like we can contribute?” – Kathy Oneto Show Links Sustainable Ambition® Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work by Kathy Oneto The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt Arthur Brooks How the Ivy League Broke America by David Brooks The Gift (Book 2 in The Council Trilogy) by Evette Davis Midjourney prompt for episode art: sustainability ambition moon shot evolving into something new abstract surrealism –ar 16:9 –v 7.0

Not much in the world of work shocks me anymore, but this headline on LinkedIn got me: “The rise of the ‘infinite workday.'” Naturally, I clicked the juicy headline. I had to find out which level of hell this monstrosity came from and what we can do about it. The “reactions” are to an article on Axios (two letters shy of Anxious) by Emily Beck titled Remote work has created an infinite workday. Covering a report from Microsoft, Beck describes a world of work without boundaries, the allure of flexibility, work spanning multiple time zones, pings, dings, distractions—and since it’s Microsoft—the savior of the day? AI. While I’m curious how I can avoid an infinite workday in my own business, I have to ask, what did we expect from a business world driven by profit alone? Here are a few quotes from the article that stood out as important: “The modern workday for many has no clear start or finish” – this was an actual quote from the Work Trend Index Special Report released by Microsoft. “It’s difficult to stay focused during formal business hours.” “A lot of work happens on the fly.” “The inability to unplug is a surefire way to burn out a workforce.” Show Links The rise of the ‘infinite workday’ Welcome to the “Infinite Workday” by Emily Beck The Sukha Company “The Uncommon Way” with Jenna Harrison (GWTW820) Midjourney prompt for episode art: infinite workday surrounded by clocks in the style of salvador dali abstract surrealism technicolor –ar 16:9

The starving artist mentality is alive and well in 2025 as artists are told they’ll never make a living from their work. But today’s guest is living proof that’s a lie. Tim Packer is a former police officer turned celebrated Canadian artist and teacher, who walked away from the badge, cashed in his pension and went all-in on his creative dream. Tim is a natural storyteller and unfolds his entire creative journey for us in this episode. He shares the decisions that led him to becoming a police officer, the tragedy that turned his life toward art, the conversations he had with his wife at inflection points throughout his career, and many other lessons we can all learn from as we build our creative businesses. Show Links Tim Packer Art Academy Download 5 chapters of You Can Sell Your Art: A Step By Step Guide to Make a Livable Income From Your Art by Tim Packer Tim Packer Fine Arts on YouTube King Charles Painting Playlist by Tim Packer Fine Arts Harley Brown Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour Inside the Actors Studio Brooke Cormier Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. Gary Vaynerchuck

Have you ever gotten an email from a faceless global corporation and marveled at how it uses words to its advantage? I’m not talking about the legalese in Terms & Conditions or Privacy Policies—we’re all going to click Yes anyway—but the emails justifying prices increases. I can’t even imagine how much money is spent on lawyers and marketers drafting the obligatory price increase email, but that’s besides the point. Today, I’m going on a rant inspired by the faceless global corporations and the forced adoption of AI and other technologies that drive up the cost of doing business. But after the rant, I take an all-too-brief detour through some social criticism courtesy of Neil Postman, who also provided the amazing title for today’s episode in his book, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Show Links Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman Photo by nik radzi on Unsplash

As someone who sits at a desk for long periods of time every day, I was intrigued when today’s guest reached out with an offering of “3-Keys to Awaken Sensuality In The Midst Of The AI Era.” I was a little confused at first, thinking about sensuality in terms of sexuality, but then I got curious. Candia Raquel is a biologist, sensualist, and artist and she’s on the show to help us get connected with our bodies, while we get our work to work. She defines sensuality as simply being aware of the sensations of your body. Our conversation begins with a deep dive into pleasure and pain, and why one is more appropriate in society than the other. She talks about connecting with our bodies through breath and sighs, how to embody ourselves in a digital world that is increasingly 2-dimensional, and what she has learned from contemplating the trees. And yes, she provides the three keys to unlock sensuality. Show Links Candia Raquel The Sensual Sessions Midjourney prompt for episode art: biological world of trees roots and canopy abstract surrealism –ar 16:9

I never considered myself an obsessive person until recently, but in reflection, it’s always been part of my life. It’s like the cognitive bias called the frequency illusion—officially the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon—where you observe something, like a certain type of car, and then see it everywhere. Obsession is part of me, past and present. When I’m working on a project, whether a short film or changing the exhaust fan in my bathroom, it shows up early and often. I try to visualize how everything will play out. I research what I don’t know—poring over instruction manuals, books, and videos—then update my visualization. This behavior has served me well in the past, but lately I’ve noticed an increase in rumination and anxiety. What if there was something I could do to offload my obsession, so I can have some peace and learn to trust myself in the process? A quote from After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path by Jack Kornfield: “The true task of spiritual life is not found in faraway places or unusual states of consciousness: It is here in the present. It asks of us a welcoming spirit to greet all that life presents to us with a wise, respectful, and kindly heart.” Three ways to offload your obsession: Get it out of my head and into some sort of system. Document the remaining tasks—as you currently understand them)—that need to be completed. Take action. Show Links After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path by Jack Kornfield What’s the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon? Photo by Heber Davis on Unsplash

Whenever I talk to people that come at life and business in a unique way, I get excited. Today’s guest’s business is called The Uncommon Way and says everything about the type of conversation with are going to have today. Jenna Harrison helps highly-driven women create the business that will be their legacy. Sounds awesome, right? In our conversation, she shares what she learned about the need for meaning in her work when she dropped out of the rat race in her 20s and how that shaped the business and life she has built since then. We talk about the power of constraints, how we can train our minds, why we overwork when we know it doesn’t work, and her five-step process that high-level entrepreneurs can use to rewire their brains and nervous systems to break past revenue plateaus. “It’s not about the hours that we make, it’s about the value we create.” – Jenna Harrison Show Links The Uncommon Way The 3-Day Workweek: Rewire Your Brain & Business For Guilt-Free Work-Life Balance Photo by Claudio Carrozzo on Unsplash

How do you know that when your moment shows up, you’ll be ready? Earlier this week, I met up with a friend for tea. I purposely waited to record my monologue because I knew something good would come from our conversation; it always does. My friend is widely creative and curious; he is into everything. He uses digital tools to create analog art. At one point, he talked about developing your craft and the importance of toiling in obscurity. You’ve been doing the work. Day after day. Year after year. No awards. Little recognition. Just the casual amassing of a body of work. That’s how you know you’ll be ready when your moment shows up. 9 Lessons I’ve Learned in Almost a Decade of Producing This Weekly Show: There will always be something to talk about and someone to interview. My voice has changed through age and confidence. The worst interviews were the ones I was most prepared for. In nine years, I was only ghosted by one guest. A like on social media does not translate to a listen of the episode. Most podcasting advice doesn’t apply to someone this far into the journey. The person responsible for the show—both in starting it and helping me maintain the momentum to keep going in the early years—is my good friend, Bruce Elgort. As someone who struggles to make small talk, learning how to talk with strangers all over the world is the highlight of my career. There is a saying gurus like to use to talk about podcasts and YouTube shows, “If you aren’t growing, then you’re dying.” Show Links Bruce Elgort Bend Design Midjourney prompt for episode art: toil in obscurity a warehouse full of pottery cinematic lighting –ar 16:9

As a creative person, how do you think about the future? Do you embrace technological advancements, such as AI assistance and enhancement, or do you shut yourself off from them because of fear or stubbornness? What does creativity look like in an AI-driven world? I love asking big questions of my guests. Today, I’m exploring the future with Albert Bramante. Albert is a talent agent and psychology professor who helps actors, students, and creators unleash their potential by integrating psychology, performance strategies, and AI. In our conversation, he shares an optimistic view of AI and technological advancement, fueled by his curiosity about the next big thing. We talk about mindset and productivity, understanding self-sabotage, how to get out of your comfort zone, the impact of giving up too easily, and when AI assistance becomes a creative crutch. “There’s no such thing as failure, only feedback.” – Albert Bramante Show Links Dr. Albert Bramante on Instagram Bramante Artists OpenAI Claude Google Gemini Midjourney The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett Mel Robbins Tony Robbins Midjourney prompt for episode art: facing the unknown future abstract representation –ar 16:9 –v 6.1

I spend a lot of time in my work week thinking and writing. Yesterday, as I was writing my Chris Martin Studios newsletter titled “Old Tech and Some Bullsh*t,” I pulled a book off the shelf and started reading the introduction. I was hoping for some inspiration, it was about craftsmanship after all, but I couldn’t find a way to connect it to my main idea. So, I left it on the workbench. Today, struggling with an idea for a monologue, I saw the book sitting there, I picked it up, wrote down some of the quotes about craftsmanship, and before I knew it, I had something to say about being a beginner and the wonder of craftsmanship. Show Links Old Tech and Some Bullsh*t | Chris Martin Studios Newsletter Working with Wood: The Basics of Craftsmanship by Peter Korn Why We Make Things and Why It Matters: The Education of a Craftsman by Peter Korn Korn – Blind (Official HD Video) Photo by Elmer Cañas on Unsplash

How do people work? With that knowledge, how do we give them what they need? Today’s guest is no stranger to asking questions and learning to listen to what is and is not being said. With a background in journalism, film production, and entrepreneurship, Steven Puri is on a mission to help millions of people find their focus, achieve more, and have a healthy work life through The Sukha Company. In our conversation, Steven tells the tales of his time in Hollywood and what led him to the world of technology and app development. He shares lessons that we can all learn from including make it 1% better, it’s always about the other thing, tenacity over talent, and how organizing principles can guide your work to not only completion, but also provide deeper meaning. If you are looking for more from your life and work and not sure where to start, join Steven and I on this conversational journey. “The most confident and successful people are the most open to being wrong.” Show Links The Sukha Company Independence Day (1996) Phil Tippett Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters (2019) Jurassic Park (1993) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) DreamWorks Stacey Snider The Net and The Butterfly: The Art and Practice of Breakthrough Thinking by Olivia Fox Cabane & Judah Pollack The Wolverine (2013) Demolition Man (1993) Idiocracy (2006) Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Cal Newport Sinners (2025) Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) Time Bandits (1981) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Conversations with Wilder by Cameron Crowe Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi The Lessons of History by Will Durant and Ariel Durant Photo by Silas Baisch on Unsplash

As an adult, I’ve never been much of a sports fan. I’d occasionally watch whatever big game was happening, so I could talk to others about it, but my focus has always been work—what I’m working on, dreaming about, and obsessing over—and I think I’ve been missing out on a ton of life lessons. This year, I’ve really been getting into baseball, watching Cleveland Guardians games and talking with my dad and brother on group chat about them. With 162 games scheduled this season, my initial feeling watching people go to the games was, “How do they find time to go?” But quickly that shifted to, “How do I find time to watch?” It’s slowly taken over my afternoons and I’m not mad at it. I get to connect with family, yes, but I also experience important lessons that aren’t taught in any other arenas, the main one being how to lose. Here are five things I’m learning from losing: There’s always something to celebrate even in the midst of a loss. Change what you can control, ride out what you can’t. Get out of your head and into the moment. You can only blame the umpires so much before you start looking in the mirror. Pay attention to how individual performance affects team dynamics and vice versa. One final lesson – it’s a big one: You have a 160 games in a season, you lose, no big deal, show up tomorrow and see what you’ve got. Show Links Official Cleveland Guardians Website | MLB.com Guardians Broadcasters | Cleveland Guardians Midjourney prompt for episode art: swirling emotions in the air abstract in the style of dadaism technicolor –ar 16:9

Sometimes I get the impression from social media that running a business is easy, but nothing could be further from the truth: entrepreneurship is hard work. Today’s guest shines a light on the realities of business and how we can use tools, technologies, and success squads to stay focused on what matters to us in uncertain times. Laura Zavelson is a business strategist who has taken everything she’s learned in 25 years as a founder, entrepreneurship professor, and business consultant and created a framework that helps you intentionally design your business to go where you want to go. We dive into our conversation talking about our mutual membership in Generation X—the generation between boomers and millennials—and her love for how we organize information. Laura also shares deep insights about how technology can assist strategy, the two types of entrepreneurship, the importance of building a business on the foundation of money, meaning, and flexibility, and how you can change your business as you evolve and grow. Show Links Laura Zavelson Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago Forte Goodnotes Kindle Scribe reMarkable What are AI agents? | IBM Midjourney prompt for episode art: connecting abstract topics in a mind map abstract –ar 16:9 –v 6.1

Earlier this week, I was writing a newsletter about how irrelevance comes for us all. I was looking at The Future of Jobs Report 2025 from the World Economic Forum, which reports in-depth not only about jobs, but also the core skills necessary for today’s working environment and into the future. In the middle of the list of core skills in 2025 was dependability and attention to detail and near the bottom was reading, writing and mathematics. While they may be core skills today, they are shifting in a negative direction over the next five years. This got me thinking about our expectations, not just as creative entrepreneurs, but workers, in general: We have no time to be wrong; failure isn’t an option. Humans are error-prone, AI will be quick and correct. Show Links Irrelevance Comes For Us All by Chris Martin World Economic Forum – The Future of Jobs Report 2025 Real Genius (1985) Anthropic Photo by Max Böhme on Unsplash

Today on the show for the 22nd time and to celebrate our 7th anniversary with copper and wool is the Australian filmmaker, gough. He is the purveyor of jokes and awkward pauses, appropriately inappropriate mockumentaries about any topic he chooses (nothing is sacred and no one is safe), and the comedic genius behind BeernutsProductions.com. Gough just released his latest film, A Day in the Life of a Personal Trainer, and he shares several behind-the-scenes stories about it. We dive into why he chose to remake the film with a new script and as much of the old cast as possible. Take notes, because he also shares how to make the chunkiest smoothy possible; you probably won’t want to drink it. Most importantly, he gives a lesson in how to behave when filming at actual businesses. Previously on Getting Work To Work: “Catching Up” with gough (GWTW155) The Official Beernuts Productions Category Show Links Beernuts Productions A Day in the Life of a Personal Trainer Episode 9 – The Jasmine Stinks Interview Local Heroes Jimmy Green and his Adventures in the Magic Forest Reluctant Hero’s – Horse Race Commentators Liam Gallagher – Be Still (Official Audio) Amy Shark – I Said Hi (Official Video) Amy Shark Andy Dick Ilia Chidzey The Muppet Show: Veterinarian’s Hospital – Behemoth The Happytime Murders (2018) Brian Henson Psych (2006–2014) Chortle Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan Sinners (2025) The Studio (2025–) Ron Howard Mythic Quest (2020–2025) Black Bag (2025) The Amateur (2025) The Bourne Identity (2002) The Bourne Supremacy (2004) The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)