Side Hustler's Perspective with Scotty.D.Russell

3 Crucial Lessons for Your Creative Pursuits During & Post-QuarantineLife has been a rollercoaster since shit started hitting the fan in early March.If you’re like I am, your entire routine was tossed to the curb, flattened by an 18-wheeler big rig truck, and then washed into the sewers with rats and poop.You’ve had to learn how to respond, adapt, and evolve when this adversity caught you with a Mike Tyson uppercut to the chin.There are 3 crucial lessons I’ve learned during quarantine that I know you’ll be able to relate to.*The goal is to: *Empower you to survive and thrive once the dust settles.Become pandemic proof and on your creative pursuits.Give yourself permission to rest so you can fight another day.No. 3 has been my biggest weakness that I’m working on the most moving forward.Free Toolkit to Side Hustle Freedom6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.Purchase The Side Hustler's Handbook PDF CourseThe proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.Get a Permanent Podcast ShoutoutBecome a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.Best Deals on the Best Design Resources*Retro Supply *(affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.*Design Cuts *(affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.Join the Private Facebook Community for CreatorsJoin a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.Connect With MeInstagramPodcast InstagramTikTokPinterestTwitterCreditsMusic - BlookahExecutive Assistant - Paige GarlandPhoto & Video Specialist - Colton BacharSocial Media Coordinator - Hannah SchickAnimation Specialist - Greg D'AmicoListen on Your Favorite Podcast PlayerApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Lincoln Design Co. Shares Their Identity Process + Logo MAYhem SpecialIn the world of design, April Showers don’t bring May Flowers...they bring a heavy-hitting logo-centric May episode. My Lincoln Design familia is back for Round 3 for a special Logo MAY-hem Edition (Round 1: EP 41, Round 2: EP 155).Lincoln Design Co., an industry-leading juggernaut, crushes the dopest identity systems, branding, packaging, merch, and more.They slay design dragons for the biggest brands in the world like Hasbro, Mattel, Disney, Harley, Nike, WWE, Google, and more.Today, we’re peering into the brains of the Lincoln team and break down their logo identity as seen in their hella popular: Logo Mayhem Book.NOTE: Get 10% OFF everything in their shop, especially this Logo Mayhem Book, with promo code Perspective10.In this episode, we also talk about:Getting inside the client’s mind.Advice for young designers.Logo tips and strategies.Showing the work you want to attract.Lincoln’s inspiration, personal branding, making moves during a crisis, and more.If you’re a fan of their work or just a logo lovin’ junkie in general, then you’re going to love this one.Connect with Lincoln Design Co.InstagramWebsiteShopLogo Mayhem BookPerspective Podcast Episode 41Perspective Podcast Episode 155Free Toolkit to Side Hustle Freedom6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.Purchase The Side Hustler's Handbook PDF CourseThe proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.Get a Permanent Podcast ShoutoutBecome a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.Best Deals on the Best Design ResourcesRetro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.Join the Private Facebook Community for CreatorsJoin a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.Connect With MeInstagramPodcast InstagramTikTokPinterestTwitterCreditsMusic - BlookahExecutive Assistant - Paige GarlandPhoto & Video Specialist - Colton BacharSocial Media Coordinator - Hannah SchickAnimation Specialist - Greg D'AmicoListen on Your Favorite Podcast PlayerApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

James Lewis on Creating Engaging Content That People Share Like CrazyThere are 3 important lessons I’ve learned along my creative grind:Your creative dream won’t manifest overnightThe process is more important than the destinationBeing consistent and willing to fail leads to breakthroughs OVER TIMEIf you can embrace these truths, then you have a wildly successful creative career ahead of you.Today’s guest, James Lewis, is a prime example of someone who’s embraced these 3 lessons and is tapping into new breakthroughs year after year.As I record this, he’s amassed an Instagram following of just shy of a million followers and a massive following of 2 million on TikTok..Safe to say, James knows what he’s doing when it comes to creating engaging content that gets shared like wildfire.Take notes as we’re about to dive deep on:Crafting a killer content strategySetting expectations and building an audienceCreating content that thrives on different platformsAnalytical awareness and consciously consumingExperimenting, being consistent, having a vision, TikTok, and moreConnect with JamesInstagramTikTokYoutubeShopPaint Brush Discount ListPurchase New BrushesNew Online CourseFree Toolkit to Side Hustle Freedom6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.Purchase The Side Hustler's Handbook PDF CourseThe proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.Get a Permanent Podcast ShoutoutBecome a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.Best Deals on the Best Design ResourcesRetro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.Join the Private Facebook Community for CreatorsJoin a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.Connect With MeInstagramPodcast InstagramTikTokPinterestTwitterCreditsMusic - BlookahExecutive Assistant - Paige GarlandPhoto & Video Specialist - Colton BacharSocial Media Coordinator - Hannah SchickAnimation Specialist - Greg D'AmicoListen on Your Favorite Podcast PlayerApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Josh Sullivan on How to Build a Successful Creative BusinessWhose path are you following right now:The path of someone you highly admire and draw a lot of inspiration from?The path you’ve been blazing on your own terms?No doubt, success leaves clues...but I’d advise you to steer away from building your creative empire based on the coattails of someone else’s achievements.You can take inspiration and learn from others all day, but inject your secret sauce and make it unmistakably your own.That’s why I respect today’s guest so much—he’s a rising juggernaut you should take notice of in the creative realms.I’m talking about my brother, Josh Sullivan, slaying design dragons out of Springfield, Missouri (Not Illinois)...He operates under the identities of:Fried Design Company which specializes in Vice for Brand Identity, Packaging, Illustration, and ApparelSupper Agency which specializes in premium Brand Strategy, Design & Identity, and AdvertisingNot only is Josh a G with his design/illustration skills, but he’s a straight-up nerd with the business side of things too (you know, the things most of us struggle with).Take notes as we’re about to dive deep on:Being your own client and hiring yourself.Forging your own path.Making marketing easy with brand strategy.Finding your permission to win.Paying your dues, pricing scenarios, pizza, paranormal shit, and more.If you’re ready to take the next steps in growing your creative business, this episode was made for you.Connect with JoshFried InstagramFried Website Friday Shop Supper Agency Instagram Supper Agency Website Free Toolkit to Side Hustle Freedom6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.Purchase The Side Hustler's Handbook PDF CourseThe proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.Get a Permanent Podcast ShoutoutBecome a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.Best Deals on the Best Design ResourcesRetro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.Join the Private Facebook Community for CreatorsJoin a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.Connect With MeInstagramPodcast InstagramTikTokPinterestTwitterCreditsMusic - BlookahExecutive Assistant - Paige GarlandPhoto & Video Specialist - Colton BacharSocial Media Coordinator - Hannah SchickAnimation Specialist - Greg D'AmicoListen on Your Favorite Podcast PlayerApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Melinda Livsey on How to Attract and Serve Your Ideal Client and/or TribeIt’s extremely hard to gain traction and see progress if you’re not sure:Who your work, product, or service is forWhat your secret sauce is that sets you apartThe value you provide and why someone should careRegardless if you’re a side hustling artist, designer, or freelancer, these should be top of mind if you want to win in the short-term and thrive in the long-term.These are all pieces of a puzzle in the greater jigsaw of Brand Strategy.Luckily, today’s guest is a wizard in this world.I’m talking about Melinda Livsey, founder and creative director of Marks & Makers, and a valuable asset to Chris Do and The Futur and their ongoing series, The Process.She went from designing identity systems to getting paid by her ideal clients to help them accomplish their big target goals and shape their bigger picture.Today, Melinda’s here to simplify this complex Brand Strategy monster and parallel it to attracting and helping our ideal clients and/or tribe.Get ready to take notes and we dive deep into:Brand Strategy for Dummies 101Determining who your work or service is forPinpointing your unique key differentiator (AKA your secret sauce)Understanding and communicating the value you provideThe power of your story, teaching what you know, books, pizza, and more.This episode is going to give you some solid, actionable steps to take your ambitious side hustling pursuits to the next level.Connect with MelindaInstagramWebsiteBehanceMelinda on the FuturFree Toolkit to Side Hustle Freedom6 FREE resources to help you grow an audience and build a profitable creative side hustle outside your day job. Download here.Purchase The Side Hustler's Handbook PDF CourseThe proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough. Purchase here.Get a Permanent Podcast ShoutoutBecome a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes here.Best Deals on the Best Design ResourcesRetro Supply (affiliate) - Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources. Shop here.Design Cuts (affiliate) - Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack here.Join the Private Facebook Community for CreatorsJoin a like-minded FREE global community of kickass creators and take your side hustle to the next level. Your tribe is waiting.Connect With MeInstagramPodcast InstagramTikTokPinterestTwitterCreditsMusic - BlookahExecutive Assistant - Paige GarlandPhoto & Video Specialist - Colton BacharSocial Media Coordinator - Hannah SchickAnimation Specialist - Greg D'AmicoListen on Your Favorite Podcast PlayerApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Meg Lewis on How to Thrive by Being Yourself in Your Creative WorkMeg Lewis is a rad freelance brand designer, motivating mentor, creative cheerleader, and wicked dancer who injects fun into whatever she touches out of Minneapolis, MN.I respect and admire the impact she’s making on the world through her books, videos, workshops, and talks titled Full Time You...and a new workshop called Find Your Personal Style.Today, Meg and I peel back the layers on the topics of your journey of self-discovery, using fear as fuel, finding your superpowers, and more!Stick around to the end to find out how you can win a Digital Version of the Full Time You Self-Discovery Workbook and Video Series!View the full show notes: https://www.perspective-collective.com/166CONNECT WITH MEG► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/darngooood/?hl=en► Website https://darngood.co/► Twitter https://twitter.com/darngoooodFULL TIME YOU WEBSITEhttps://www.fulltimeyou.co/LISTEN TO MEG’S PODCASTS | Dribbble Overtime | Sit There & Do Nothing► https://dribbble.com/overtime► https://sitthereanddonothing.com/-DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE GUIDE TO SIDE HUSTLE FREEDOM6 Resources designed to help you create a killer side hustle and elevate your brand outside your day job: http://sidehustlefreedomguide.com/-PURCHASE THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSEHere’s the proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough: http://sidehustlershandbook.com/-BECOME LISTENER OF THE WEEK Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/SubscribetoPodcast-GET THE BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates) Retro Supply ► Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources: http://bit.ly/RetroSupplyScotty Design Cuts ► Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack: www.perspectivebundle.com-JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS Get around like-minded creatives all over the world sharing their work, resources, tips while providing feedback and encouragement to take your side hustle to the next level: http://bit.ly/P-CFacebook-STAY CONNECTEDInstagram ► http://bit.ly/IG_PRSPCTV_CLLCTVPodcast Instagram ► http://bit.ly/IG_PerspectivePodcastTikTok ► https://bit.ly/PCTikTokPinterest ► http://bit.ly/P-CPinterestTwitter ► http://bit.ly/P-CTwitter-CREDITS Music ► Blookah (https://soundcloud.com/blookah)Executive Assistant ► Paige Garland (https://www.instagram.com/jpaigegarland/)Photo & Video Specialist ► Colton Bachar (https://www.instagram.com/wrktocreate)Animation Specialist ► Greg D'Amico (https://www.instagram.com/gmdamico)

In-Q on Inquiring Within - Working on Yourself Means Working on Your ArtHave you ever been so passionate about something that no type of struggle, rock bottom, or gutter can keep you from pursuing it?That’s how it played out for today’s special guest, Adam Schmalholz aka In-Q, a national award-winning poet, spoken word juggernaut, storytelling savant, and multi-platinum songwriter for artists like Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Mike Posner, and Foster the People.I’ve witnessed the profound impact his stories, poems, and even witty humor can make on us hungry humans who desire to create change...especially on someone like you.I wanna see your notes on this one as In-Q goes deep on: celebrating your vulnerability, operating from excitement versus fear, and creating for glory over impact.-CONNECT WITH IN-QInstagram ► https://www.instagram.com/inqlife/?hl=enWeb ► https://in-q.com/Shows ► https://love.consciouscityguide.com/inqBUY HIS BOOKAmazon ► https://amzn.to/2WctJe3-DOWNLOAD THE SIDE HUSTLER’S HANDBOOK PDF COURSEHere’s the proven blueprint that’ll help you gain clarity, confidence, and a mental edge to unlock your biggest side hustling breakthrough: http://bit.ly/SHHBLearnMore-DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SIDE HUSTLER’S WAR CHEST6 Resources designed to help you create a killer side hustle and elevate your brand outside your day job: http://bit.ly/SideHustlersWarChest-BECOME LISTENER OF THE WEEK Become a future Listener of the Week by Subscribing and leaving a Rating & Review on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/SubscribetoPodcast-JOIN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR CREATORS Get around like-minded creatives all over the world sharing their work, resources, tips while providing feedback and encouragement to take your side hustle to the next level: http://bit.ly/P-CFacebook- GET THE BEST DEALS ON THE BEST DESIGN RESOURCES (Affiliates) Retro Supply ► Use SCOTTY20 to get 20% OFF high-quality AI, PS, Procreate & Affinity resources: http://bit.ly/RetroSupplyScotty Design Cuts ► Get your FREE Ever-Expanding design resources bundle pack: www.perspectivebundle.com-STAY CONNECTEDInstagram ► http://bit.ly/IG_PRSPCTV_CLLCTVPodcast Instagram ► http://bit.ly/IG_PerspectivePodcastPinterest ► http://bit.ly/P-CPinterestTwitter ► http://bit.ly/P-CTwitter-CREDITS Music ► Blookah (https://soundcloud.com/blookah)Executive Assistant ► Paige Garland (https://www.instagram.com/jpaigegarland/)Photo & Video Specialist ► Colton Bachar (https://www.instagram.com/wrktocreate)Animation Specialist ► Greg D'Amico (https://www.instagram.com/gmdamico)

Pt. 2 Getting Creatively Unstuck - Side Hustler’s Coaching Student SpecialPicking up where we left off last week, we close out this Side Hustler’s Program Student Spotlight Special with part 2 of the coaching call.For those who missed last week’s episode, I suggest listening to that first because I break down what the 3-Month Side Hustler’s Coaching Program is all about.Just know it isn’t a cakewalk, as these hand-selected students have made significant investments in their time, energy, and finances to tap into the next level of their creative career potential. The results they're getting speak for themselves!There’s a ton of actionable steps and takeaways baked in throughout our chat, so I hope you’re taking notes!ShownotesConnect with Charlie: Web | InstagramConnect with Amanda: InstagramConnect with Nancy: InstagramConnect with Chris: InstagramConnect with Krissa: InstagramConnect with Benny: InstagramConnect with Melissa: InstagramConnect with Blake: Web | InstagramConnect with Luke: Web | InstagramConnect with Paul: Web | InstagramConnect with Russell: Web | InstagramConnect with Nathaniel: Web | InstagramConnect with Paige: InstagramJoin the Side Hustler's Coaching Fall 2020 WaitlistDownload your FREE Side Hustler's Guide to FreedomGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Side Hustler's Group 2.0 on Niching Down for a Season and Creating an Instagram Hashtag StrategyI have another Side Hustler’s Program Student Spotlight Special in store for you today that’s coming atcha in 2 parts.First off, what is the Side Hustler’s Coaching Program?This is a 3-month Group Coaching Mastermind between a select handful of applications all across the world. This is a premium program that requires a significant investment of your time, energy, and yes, money...but you get back what you put in and more!The 2 main goals of the program are:To create a passion project that you kick out at least once a week to build up a body of work you can leverage moving forward.To master the building blocks of overcoming mental hurdles, managing your time, promoting yourself and your work strategically, and so much more. These principles will carry you to creative career success far after the program and your passion project is completed.Outside of the course material and doing the work, I try to give little extra exposure bonus perks by sharing one of our Hot Seat calls and turning it into a podcast episode.That’s what this two-part series is all about. There’s no fancy mics or planned agendas. It’s just 12 hungry creatives (minus Paul Douglas, Russell Wyatt, and Nathaniel Ong who couldn’t make the call) making time to meet outside of jobs and families to grow and work together toward unlocking their creative breakthrough.More specifically, we are going to go deep and cover pressing topics like:Overcoming comparisonTapping into your core identity bucketsNiching down during a seasonInstagram tips on cohesiveness and hashtagsThe power of being around like-minded people and so much moreIf you’re feeling stuck and isolated trying to figure out your own next steps to take, I know you’re going to find a ton of valuable takeaways tucked in this one.If you feel like this is something you want you to be a part of, sign up for the coaching A-List Waitlist at SideHustlersCoaching.com to be notified of the Fall 2020 third installment.ShownotesConnect with Charlie: Web | InstagramConnect with Amanda: InstagramConnect with Nancy: InstagramConnect with Chris: InstagramConnect with Krissa: InstagramConnect with Benny: InstagramConnect with Melissa: InstagramConnect with Blake: Web | InstagramConnect with Luke: Web | InstagramConnect with Paul: Web | InstagramConnect with Russell: Web | InstagramConnect with Nathaniel: Web | InstagramConnect with Paige: InstagramJoin the Side Hustler's Coaching Fall 2020 WaitlistDownload your FREE Side Hustler's Guide to FreedomGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Mike Jones on Serving The Bigger Picture and Cultivating CommunityAre you tired of hearing me say that relationships are everything?Even if you are, I’m going to continue to beat this drum, especially in terms of getting out of your bubble and doing everything in your ability to attend a conference.I started doing some research on this thing called Creative South. I was a year into Perspective-Collective, and my audience was growing quickly...but I still felt stuck, and this conference felt like something that could give me a new spark (not to mention it’d get me out of Iowa).I came home from Creative South on fire and started my blog. It helped me find my voice and build some tiny amount of authority in the form of encouraging creatives. Little did I know, this spark would lead me to speaking on the Creative South big stage the next year.One of them more specifically was Mike Jones, who just so happens to be today’s guest. This man gave me the opportunity of a lifetime out of nowhere. I don’t know where I would be had he not given me the call to speak well before I was ready.Mike is the definition of a side hustler. He not only runs Creative South (a highly renowned creative conference in the States) but also runs his own design studio called Serve Studio. If that isn't enough, he still has a day job, four kiddos, and an incredible wife named Karen.Take some notes as Mike and I are about to dive deep into:Event planning and focusing on the experienceServing the bigger picture and expecting nothing in returnCultivating community vs networking to leverage connectionsThrowing yourself into the fire and learning as you goWhat to expect from Creative South Conference 10 year reunion and moreShownotesConnect with Mike Jones: Instagram | Serve StudiosGet your Creative South tickets here!Download your FREE Side Hustler's Guide to FreedomGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: oliveandaugustdesigns_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

The Secret Sauce Blender | Making the Perfect Personal Pan PizzaImagine you’re baking a pizza...of course, what a Scotty thing to say, right?Except in this scenario, the same crust, cheese, and toppings are provided to you and everyone else.What’s going to make your pizza truly stand out from the noise is the sauce you make for the pizza.What’s the secret to making the secret sauce that’ll keep people craving for yours while others seem to get lost in the shuffle?It's a personalized dash, smidgen, and a pinch of ingredients that makes you, YOUnique.You combine all these ingredients up in a blender...or maybe a food processor...and voilà! Here's your secret sauce that'll make your pizza shine.Anyone can try to mimic the pizza you bake, but no one can rip your secret sauce!In our creative world, we pretty much all have access to similar tools, mediums, and distribution channels to get our work out there. However, the way we rise above the noise is how we show up and pour ourselves into our work.This isn't a new concept as people have been talking about this for a long time now. Someone like Lisa Congdon calls this your Artistic Voice, thought others may call it something else.Finding your secret sauce is my cheesy spin on what I call your Sweet Spot in your creative grind.Today, I want to do a little overview of the three main ingredients that I feel make up your truly YOUnique secret sauce (I'm sure this will evolve over time).There are action steps baked within each segment with an intended goal. They'll help you understand how your own ingredients will make your secret sauce, and how you can leverage them within your personal brand and the work you show.Breaking Down the Ingredients for Your Secret SauceWhen I jump on coaching calls, I guide each student through the process of finding their secret sauce.Knowing your secret sauce brings clarity, confidence, conviction, and purpose when pursuing your creative grind.It's easier said than done, but that's the beauty of the messy, ever-evolving creative process: you have to dig deep to know which ingredients you even have in your personal pantry.Now that we've added a little context to it, let's start breaking down the 3 main types of ingredients you're baking with.1. Experiences & StoriesI mention this often, but I've learned from first-hand experience that your story is your most powerful asset.I shared my backstory with Diane Gibbs back in 2015 when I was just getting started with my blog that no one read.She ran with it and not only provided me with my first podcast interview on her Design Recharge Show, but she also landed me my first speaking gig at AIGA Mobile Flourish Conference in Alabama.It totally caught me off guard and jump-started my early side hustle days.For the longest time, I felt I didn't have anything to share or that anyone would care. But when I shared my story of being bullied, dealing with depression, anxiety, comparison, imposter syndrome, etc., it let other people know they weren't alone.It became a permission slip for them to share their stories. It connected us because they saw something similar in themselves even if the plot and details weren't the same.The shit you've been through is real. You went through it for a reason, and the adversity you overcame could be a powerful example to someone else so they triumph through the same shit storm.No one can replicate your story. In my opinion, it's THE KEY INGREDIENT in your secret sauce.Action StepIt takes some time, but start jotting down your story and past experiences that have helped mold you into the person you've become today.The better you can tell it, the better it can connect with someone.You may not think people will care, but trust me, someone out there needs to hear it.2. Skills & StrengthsThere are certain things you're naturally good at that seem to be difficult for others (how many times have you heard, "I couldn't even draw a stick figure"?).There are skills you've obtained by spending hours on end studying, researching, and practicing (10,000 hours by Malcom Glidewell anyone?).There are things you had to learn, due to the circumstances you grew up, in order to thrive or (let alone) survive.All of these skills and strengths become art-illery in your arsenal to equip you for your creative grind.When you combine these skills with your story and the following ingredients, you're baking up a killer pizza that's sure to satisfy a gaggle of hungry creatives.Action StepStart a list of any type of skills or strengths you developed over the years. (e.g., painting, speaking, strange fact retainment, storytelling, metaphors, rapping, wood widdling, pet whispering, etc.)Now start seeing if there is any potential overlap with your skills that could develop something unique and different when put together. (e.g., Lindsey Stirling playing the violin while dancing)3. Core Identity: Interests/Passions, Beliefs, ValuesThere's a lot of unique ingredients within this that can make this exerc

Hellcats on Building Your Brand and Growing Your Audience Before Slanging MerchIt seems everyone and their grandma wants to start a clothing line or slang merch these days (I say this because I’m guilty of both).I get it, you want to see your work tangibly exist and find its way into the little nooks and crannies of this planet.It’s dope to manifest your idea in your noggin’ to something you can physically touch. However, when you’re just starting off, you gotta keep your expectations in check, as finding success in these realms takes far more work and time than you realize.Everyone wants the end results, but they don’t have the patience nor grit to put in the grind over time to tap into that success.If you’re a long-time listener, you know I’ll never sugar coat shit here. I don’t believe in fluff or telling you what I think you want to hear.You can’t just show up and put something into this world and expect people to buy it.Trust me, I’ve been there and have learned plenty of hard lessons.I spent 4 years building a clothing brand outside of college with my homie Dustin McLaughin aka DMAC aka Dusty Dink grassroots-style. We didn’t gain serious traction until year three.Sadly, long-term success wasn’t in the cards for us, but I learned a lot—it’s what spawned Perspective-Collective..Then two years into Perspective-Collective, I started slanging products on my own. I thought, because I had an Instagram audience of over 10k, that slanging 300 5x7” Change Your Perspective custom-lettered letterpress prints for less than $10 would be a breeze.I tied a meaningful story to it and built a whole launch around it including a dope, inspirational video DMac created for me...I’m still sitting on just under 100 of those left, and the majority of them I’ve gifted away to people.Selling your shit is hard work. It’s not impossible, but I feel there are solid guidelines and phases to work through in order to get to a point where people care enough to buy.Today’s guests have been in this creation game slanging their own knick-knacks and dope little trinkets for a hot minute now. They know how much time goes into gaining traction and the effort behind the scenes of running a business when everyone else just sees the fun of designing and prototyping through social media.I’m talking about my family over at Hellcats: a goods, accessories, and apparel brand ran by power duo Britt Reagan and hubby Clark Orr.All of their products are designed and packaged in-house in their Winter Park, FL. studio. In fact, they MAKE many of their products in their studio by their own damn hands and then sell wholesale to their hungry clients or online and at events to drooling creatives like you and me.If you struggle with building a cohesive brand or want to get started in the merch game, take notes as Hellcats goes deep into:How to inject cohesiveness and alignment in your brandBlending your interests, experiences, and skills togetherGrowing an audience before slanging merchShowing yourself in your workSupporting the homies, thriving under pressure, promoting yourself, pizza, and moreThis episode isn’t going to tell you what you want to hear but what you need to hear to tap into that long-term success. Nothing happens overnight so use this as fuel for your longevity.ShownotesConnect with Hellcats: Instagram | Website | ShopUse PRSPCTV and save $25 off your Crop Conference TicketDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: JoshCrist_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Matt Dawson on Making Priorities and Building CommunitiesI’m going to say something that may strike a nerve. It may even put a bad taste in your mouth when you think of me…However, I say this because I truly do give a shit about you and your future goals.I say this because it used to be me, and I realize how I was really just in my own way.If there’s something you want to do or accomplish, saying you don’t have the time to pursue it is just a big ole excuse to make yourself feel better about not following through and taking action.When, in reality, it’s not that you don’t have the time—it’s that you haven’t made it a priority.Making something a priority means sacrificing elsewhere.You have to take a long, hard look at areas you're over-consuming, wasting time, or working on that doesn’t serve the bigger picture.In order to get the results you want with your ambitious side hustle pursuits, you have to be willing to make the time and put in that time to grind over time.I’ll say that again, you have to make the time and put in the time to grind over time.Results don’t happen overnight, and no one is going to carve out the time to execute for you.It’s on you. No excuses!Someone who finds the time to grind outside a crazy schedule and has been doing this for years now is my one of my best buds in the design game, Matt Dawson aka @staygrayponyboy on Instagram.Matt is one of the best when it comes to designing logos and badge concepts. He has a way of adding a unique and clever twist to his work that stands out from the competition. It’s not something you going to find from a $20 logo template set from Creative Market, that’s for sure.When he’s not flexing his design skills, he's building a community for creatives all over the world, so we can find like-minded people who nerd out over the same creative shit as we do.He does this through Crop Conference, which is a thriving creative-based conference that has found a new home in Austin, TX. He brings in some of the biggest names in the industry to melt the faces of hungry creatives like you and me while connecting us with a new tribe of people that'll become like family. Buckle in, as we are about to keep it real right from the jump and chat about:The difference between not having time vs not making it a priorityThe reality of overnight success vs long-term grindingKnowing what you want and knowing it’s possibleGrowing vs staying stagnantCrop conference, community, pizza, Procreate, and more.If you’re struggling with patience or suck butt with time management, this one is definitely going to speak to you and how to make significant habitual changes to grow.ShownotesConnect with Matt Dawson: Instagram | Website | ShopUse PRSPCTV and save $25 off your Crop Conference TicketDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: JoshCrist_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Why You're Missing Your BreakthroughI don't care about your religious or spiritual beliefs (but I respect and welcome them all).I want to know if you're the type of person who believes in signs? (No, I'm not referring to M. Night Shyamalan's highly underappreciated 2002 science fiction film Signs.)When I'm talking about signs, I'm talking about the signposts of life—your gut/intuition/heart attempting to serve as your internal compass.I used to think this was all a bunch of woo-woo malarky for people who've done a little bit too much LSD and think they interact with angels (yet I'm the same dude who's believed in ghosts and aliens my entire life.)Things have changed, and I shifted my perspective on the matter.Now I live for this shit, and the more I've tapped into my self-awareness, the more I'm able to notice these signs and open myself up for the opportunities flowing my way.There are signs and omens all around us, and it's our job to notice them. You could be ignoring the exact thing you didn't know you needed to elevate your side hustle to new heights you never could've imagined (if you haven't yet, please read the book The Alchemist, as it will shift your limiting beliefs as it did for me).The following are the 4 signs you could be ignoring that are holding you back from getting the breakthroughs you're wanting with your ambitious side hustle pursuits.For each sign, I'm doing two things:I'll tuck in a personal anecdotal experience for each one so you can see how these forces could be working in your life.I'll add a QUICK MOMENT OF REFLECTION action step so you can connect the dots and pinpoint where you could manifest a breakthrough.1. AdversityWhen life hands you lemons, are you the type of person to whine and bitch about it? Or...are you the type of person to make a Vodka Lemonade (with a double shot of Tito's, of course)?It's too easy to play the victim when adversity strikes and vent to the closest person to us (or a Facebook status) about how "this happened TO me."Taking this stance immediately positions you as a victim, and you place that negative energy on someone else.What if...instead of something happening TO you, it was really happening FOR you?For me, it's been in the form of toxic relationships ending badly, yet it led to me learning how to make myself happy, which then led me to my wonderful wife, Emily (aka my Baby Mama, aka My Boo Thang, aka Ems Slice for Life).How about when I was unexpectedly let go from my "safe job" late last year? Honestly, I played the victim for the first two hours as we just closed on a new home a week before and announced kiddo #2 was on the way.However, I was able to snap out of it and get to work. As I connect the dots, I was able to see that the Universe was really shoving me into taking a leap of faith before I was ready, which was pursuing full-time coaching and freelance in 2020...I hadn't been busting my ass with my side hustle for over 5.5 years for nothing, right?!So, ya, getting canned right before the holidays didn't happen TO me, that shit happened FOR me, and took his new challenge head-on and plan on sharing everything I learn along the way with you like always!QUICK MOMENT OF REFLECTIONWhat's a curveball life has recently thrown at you?What's the potential blessing in disguise or learning opportunity tucked away in it that can help you grow?2. FearThe Lizard Brain is the oldest part of your brain, and it was responsible for the aggression and fear triggers back in our Cave Man days when it was fight or flight to survive.Our brains continue to try and keep us safe by disguising potentially life-changing ideas and opportunities as risks and placing them behind a wall of fear.When we operate from fear, our minds only know how much we could lose by taking that risk. It can’t measure how much we can gain by breaking through the wall to get the gold on the other side.It’s a paradigm shift when you learn that fear is your intuition guiding you to unlock the next version of yourself—it’s an indicator of something you’re excited about.My biggest fears have always led to my biggest breakthroughs: sharing my work, blogging, public speaking, podcasting, and pursuing coaching in 2019.I've learned to use fear as my cue that whatever excites me yet scares me is something I need to be pursuing.It's because I've gotten uncomfortable and pursued my fears that I'm able to pursue this current gigantic fear of doing Perspective-Collective full-time...trust me when I say I wake up fucking terrified each day yet I'm more excited than I've ever been for anything when I find my groove in my studio.QUICK MOMENT OF REFLECTIONWhat's something that excites you yet the fear of failure, judgment, or even success is restraining you from taking the first step to pursuing it?How can you get out of your own way to unlock that next version of yourself you're supposed to become?3. Repeating Patterns & Good FortunesWe take for granted the minuscule good things that happen to us each

Iron Bean Coffee Company on Creating Raging Fans Around Your PassionI’m big on connecting the dots, so I can understand how my past experiences influence my current actions, beliefs, and mindsets.If you know me by now, you know how open I am about growing up severely tormented and bullied. In fact, I had bullies all the way throughout college.Being bullied made me crave acceptance, which I thought for a long time came in the form of popularity. I now understand the acceptance I craved comes in the form of community.Being bullied was a blessing in disguise because it’s the catalyst for my strong beliefs in inclusivity, connection, positivity, and empowerment.It’s why I created the FREE Perspective-Collective private Facebook Community where isolated creatives all over the world can tap into a like-minded tribe of people who think differently and want more out of life.It's why I coached football in the past, which evolved into coaching creatives today on how to build fulfilling and profitable side hustles.Community is everything to me. That's why I'm trying to build through my podcast and brand—a place where people feel welcomed and inspired.At the end of the day, it’s about the bigger picture. We’re just small cogs working in a scheme that’s so much bigger than ourselves.Today’s guest is two people who understand the importance of community because they’ve built a thriving, raving, and raging fan base around their biggest passion: coffee.I’m talking about Fred and Chanell Dedrick of Iron Bean Coffee Company in Ohio.They’re a premium small-batch, roast-to-order, veteran-owned coffee company. They import their high-quality coffee beans directly from Colombia, Brazil, Uganda, Honduras, Peru, Ethiopia, Indonesia, & other far-off lands. Then, they personally roast every one of their kick-ass coffees to be shipped directly to you.Not to mention they crush it in the merch department because “selling out” is pretty much the expectation whenever there is a new merch drop.The beauty of this all is that they do this as a freakin’ side hustle, which is why they’re on the show.If you’re a side hustling dream chaser, buckle in and take notes as Team Iron Bean and I chat about:Dreaming big but taking massive actionBuilding their die-hard communityWinning over your customers (and keep them coming back)Aligning passions and interests to make your secret sauceServing your audience, no complaining, brewing it forward, and so much moreI’m honored to bring this change-of-pace interview because I know their story will significantly parallel your creative grind. Plus these are two entertaining hard-working hustlers who have an awesome story I am stoked to share.We also drop a promo code in the outro to for you to get some Iron Bean Coffee in your life. Stay tuned!ShownotesConnect with Iron Bean Coffee: Instagram | Website | ShopUse PRSPCTV and save $25 off your Crop Conference TicketDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: kickingtreetops of USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

The Phases of Your Creative Side Hustle...in My OpinionI want to preface this preface of today’s interview: I’m speaking solely from experience here on my philosophy on the phases of your side hustle.I think, early on in your hustle—once you truly accept you’re a creative and you’re figuring out what direction to go—that experimentation and trying new things is important. I think of this as Phase 1, and I was totally there. In fact, I played in this Phase for like 4 years, until I reached what I feel is Phase 2.Phase 2: you start to figure out what is and what isn’t working. I call this the "sweet spot secret sauce" that overlaps your greatest passion/interests with your greatest strengths. You start to narrow down and go deeper down this rabbit hole and connecting with yourself and your potential audience/clients on a deeper level. You start to really understand yourself and what these hungry and connected humans want/need and how you could potentially provide that solution...that’s where Phase 3 starts to come in.Phase 3, to me, is when you add the next ingredient to the secret sauce of the Sweet Spot: the market. You’ve now combined something you’re passionate about with something you’re good at, so now you need to pinpoint where you’re able to provide a valuable solution to that perfect follower or client. To me, this is where the magic happens: your ambitious side hustle pursuits start to really gain traction and shape into the possibility of something more.I think Phase 4 is something I’m on the cusp of, but I don’t truly know what it looks like yet. However, I'm definitely thriving in my secret sauce sweet spot and finding new ingredients to add to the mix to help scale what I’m doing and go deeper.Narrowing Your Focus By Niching DownI guess this philosophy I’m speaking toward all started with experimenting, but now I've narrowed my focus. I not only listened to my gut, but I also soaked up outside perspectives and advice how I could steer my ship in a more strategic direction that still aligned with the Phase 2 of my greatest strengths and passions.I continued to narrow my focus by saying no to things that didn’t align with where I wanted to go.The narrowing of my focus is what we like to call niching down ("nitching" or "neeching," based on however you’d like to pronounce it).I was one who refused to niche, yet wondered why I always felt like I wasn’t making the progress I wanted...even though I had been doing Perspective-Collective for a few years.However, as I started to gain more clarity and confidence in the direction I wanted to go, the more powerful niching down became. During this season, I can safely say I’m a Side Hustle Coach who helps creatives build fulfilling and profitable side hustles outside their day job.This is my niche during this season, and I embrace it and realize this isn’t necessarily forever...and that’s the key to today’s episode.The Marketing Guru for CreativesToday’s guest is someone who truly showed me the power of why the riches are in the niches and to embrace the discomfort that came with it.I’m talking about my brother from another marketing mother, Tom Ross, CEO of Design Cuts, Face of the Honest Entrepreneur, Co-Host of The Honest Designers Podcast, and a new podcast he has in the works with Michael Janda.He has progressively niched down over the years and has built successful companies left and right, but now focuses his attention on helping creatives like you and I are with marketing to blow up our side hustle pursuits.TAKE NOTES ON THIS SHIT because Tom and I go deep on the topic of niching down and more specifically cover:Why niching down isn’t a life sentenceWhy you should be niching down and whenHow to niche down and for how long to test the watersObjections to niching (you’ll love these)Standing out, serving your following, growing an engaged audience, plus so much moreI’m hoping you find a golden nugget in here you can immediately apply to your creative grind ASAP, so you get one step further in whatever phase you’re currently in.ShownotesConnect with Tom Ross: Instagram | Website | PatreonListen to The Honest Entrepreneur ShowListen to The Honest Designers ShowAccess Tom's Guide to Niching DownUse PRSPCTV and save $25 off your Crop Conference TicketDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: finletter_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Lincoln Design Co. on Hiring Yourself & Leveraging Your Side HustleWhich type of person are you?The type of person who just shows up at your day job to get the work done so you can clock out, go home, and binge some Netflix or watch hours of cat videos/people falling down?The type of person who can’t turn off the love for creating so you work on things you love outside of work (aka side hustle) and leverage those skills for both day job and personal work?Because you’re listening to this podcast, it’s safe for me to assume you’re the second type of individual or are striving to become this person.I never was truly person #1, as I always craved to do something more outside of my previous day jobs...but I never took myself seriously until I was like 26 and a year into Perspective-Collective.However, designing, drawing, and just creating in general has been flowing through my veins my entire life.Person #2 is the type of person who can’t shut it off. You see good as well as bad design/art all around you 24/7.You’re the type of person who is drawing something in your mind as you try to sleep and then you can’t wait to wake up to bring it to life.You keep a notepad by your bed to collect those killer reoccurring thoughts, or you have a water proof note pad in your shower because those are where the best ideas come from.You’re the kind of person who doesn’t eat at a restaurant because the logo is horrible.You won’t watch a DVD strictly because the font choice is whack.You point out poor kerning to your significant other even though they could care less.Or you get out your phone to capture that dope neon sign, fading mural, or sick badge on a man hole cover.You live for this shit, and that’s how you know that you’re made to be a creative. Now it’s time to put in the work.Today’s episode features a squad of goons who can’t turn off the creative switch and were clearly cut from a different cloth. The work they do and the rapid pace they do it isn’t normal for creatives like you and me.I’m talking about my homies over at Lincoln Design Co out of the great Pacific Northwest.Their chief of command, Dan Janssen, has assembled a cast of 5 insanely talented creatives as they slay work for the brand giants of the world like: Mattel, Hasbro, Disney, DreamWorks, Nike, Nickelodeon, Google, Hot Wheels….you get the point...but they’re not too proud to crush it for a local mom and pop shop or for creatives like you and me who need that next level personalized touch.I linked up with Lincoln early on when they started making big waves in the creative community, and I’m honored to bring them back on for round 2 today to catch you up with the insane growth and power moves they’ve made since 2017.We have a unique one as we got a chance to record during their 2019 end of year retreat. Each member of the crew was in the middle of working, but we managed to get a little screen time for each of them!I want to see your notes on this one as Dan and company go deep on:The power of leveraging your side hustleBeing a swiss army knife vs. a one trick ponyThe magic of personal branding and hiring yourselfMaking sacrifices to become great at what you doLogos, Merch, Creating Fonts, their day-to-day process, pizza, and more!It’s easy to fall victim to comparison when you see dope work on the daily from these dudes, but use this episode as a heavy dose of creative fuel to be the best version of yourself in 2020 and take your work to the next level in this new decade.ShownotesConnect with Lincoln Design Co: Instagram | Website | ShopBuy their Logo Mayhem BookConnect with the crew:Dan Janssen - @DanLincolnCoDustin's IG - @Don'tRealllyCareBrandon Hunsaker's WorkDamasso Sanchez - @SazonCollectiveDavy Le Chevance - @The Mighty ShortJordan Mahaffey - @StakeYourClaimUse PRSPCTV and save $25 off your Crop Conference TicketDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: isaacholtorf of USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Dina Rodriguez on How to Build a Thriving Community Around Your ArtI don’t care what anyone says, but every one of us, whether we know it or not, is creating a personal brand.Every interaction we have, every post we publish, and every action we take begins to design what we show the world and the people we are trying to repel or attract to our tribe.When you’re self-aware of this, you can use it to your advantage and be more specific and strategic about creating and speaking to the things that you hold highest in your belief system and interests.In our creative community, one of the most self-aware people I know who shows up as their truest self online and in-person, is my new friend Dina Rodriguez who slays under the name Letter Shoppe.Dina creates art that supports mental health, body positivity, and cannabis culture. In the process, she's created an insanely supportive and engaged community.Yes, she’s a talented artist, but she’s an even wittier and savvier marketer who knows how to give her audience what they need while remaining true to her core identity and treating her work like play.She has a thriving merch business, a poppin’ Patreon tribe, and enough pep and energy to power up 5 power plants.Did I mention she’s the brains behind that rapidly growing @womenofillustration account spotlighting the insanely talented women in our creative community?Ya, you’re going to want to take notes on this one because Dina drops mad insight on:Building a community around your workLocking down buckets of interests and values for your brandCreating a successful merch businessMaking work that’s relatable/shareablePromoting yourself, customer psychology, revenue streams, pizza, weed, and everything in betweenToday’s episode is going to empower and challenge you to analyze how you’re showing up each day and the message you want to put into this world.As always, keep an open mind and act on anything that inspires you today. Let’s go.Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.Are You Seeking Clarity & Community? Check out The Side Hustler's Coaching ProgramIf you want that extra level of clarity, community, and accountability develop a process that helps you win with your work, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program A-List waitlist now for January's relaunch.ShownotesConnect with Dina: Instagram | Website | Patreon | ShopFollow Women of Illustration on InstagramJoin the Coaching Program A-List WaitlistDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: BrittHoffman from USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Lisa Congdon on Standing Out, Imposter Syndrome, & Your Artistic VoiceAs creatives, why do we make things so hard on ourselves?Why do we stand in our own way and block ourselves from chasing what we really want?It’s like we’ve been given the keys to the Ferrari, but we talk ourselves out of turning on the ignition and pressing the gas to go (I realize new Ferraris most likely have a push to start button, but let’s pretend anyway.)We are the Ferrari, and the key is something we all have deep inside of us. We already possess the tool within us, which we’ll talk about today, we need to thrive. Yet, we let inner and external forces influence us to play it safe and live a "comfortable life," even though there’s another muffled inner voice that yearns to do more.Let’s unmuffle and empower that voice...our artistic voice, that is.My new friend today is someone who was a late bloomer to the game but has used that as her advantage.I’m talking about the profound illustrator, author, and speaker, Lisa Congdon. She whips up whimsical and vibrant art for top tier brands like Crate and Barrel, Facebook, Sonos, Lululemon, and more from her stomping grounds of Portland, OR.Sure, she wins awards and crushes work for big-time names, but the two things I admire the most are:how she speaks on topics that are aligned to her values and belief systemshow she shows up for the creative community and empowers people like you and me to tap into our potential.Relax and take notes as Lisa is going to unload some serious knowledge on you like:How your age and past experiences are your superpowers, not detrimentsTactics for overcoming imposter syndromeThe magic of pursuing your interestsKeys for standing outFinding your artistic voice, consistency, UFOs, pizza, and moreToday’s episode is a permission slip to stop playing it small with your creative pursuits and uncomfortably step into your next version of creative genius.Oh ya! Stick around in the outro to find out how you can win a copy of Lisa’s latest book: Finding Your Artistic Voice.P.S. It’s a good one.Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.Are You Seeking Clarity & Community? Check out The Side Hustler's Coaching ProgramIf you want that extra level of clarity, community, and accountability develop a process that helps you win with your work, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program A-List waitlist now for January's relaunch.ShownotesConnect with Lisa: Instagram | Website|Shop | PinterestBuy her latest book: Finding Your Artistic VoiceJoin the Coaching Program A-List WaitlistDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: rybvinbv_phillipinesPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

A Christmas That Changed My LifeI remember it like it was yesterday—two years ago to this date on Christmas Morning 2017. Emily and I had just gotten back from Christmas at my parents, and we were opening our stockings (and giving stockings to our cats Lucy and Flora, of course).She had been acting weird all morning and even left early to go to Walgreens for a “last-minute stocking stuffer.”After we finished exchanging our stockings, she awkwardly said, “We need to talk.”That’s never been a good conversation starter, so I had a million negative scenarios running through my head.That’s when she told me, “I’m pregnant, hope you’re not mad…”I was stunned, shocked, and awed. Of course, I wasn’t mad, I was thrilled!We both started crying. Little did the cats know that they weren’t going to be the only babies in the house anymore.Then it happened...After the shock wore off, I was immediately flooded with fear.How will I provide for this human, as we barely make enough to get by?I’m so immature...how will I be able to keep this baby alive?!Will I even be a good dad?The other thought that crept into my mind: “Will I have to give up my side hustle of Perspective-Collective? Is my dream over now?”Fast forward two years and here we are with this Little Pizza Roll being promoted to Big Brother in May 2020. Clearly, the dream is still well alive and thriving more than ever, more on that in the big announcement portion at the end.Yes, having a kid has radically changed my life and my priorities. Every decision I make now affects a tiny human, so I had to become a better decision-maker.The birth of Little Scotty is not only the best thing that’s ever happened in my life, but it's also the best thing that’s happened for my side hustle business.I've had this idea for a while now and sat down with Emily around Thanksgiving to have her weigh in her opinion.Together, we compiled 4 Significant Lessons our Little Scotty has taught us over the past two years.Yes, this is what he has taught us, but I believe the lessons here will dramatically impact and inspire a change to how you show up for yourself and others through your side hustle.1. Be Relentlessly FearlessMy son is barely scared of anything, not even the dark. If there's something he wants to do, like being a Dare-Devil and standing up on the narrow seat of his Paw Patrol Fire Truck, then he's going to do it (you should note that I place pillows and blankets all around him as a safety net mind you).He fails and falls countless times in his ventures to conquer something. He cries, lets us kiss it boo-boos and I give him the whole "Figure it out, you got this!" pep talk and smack him on his cute little bottom and send him off. Then he's right back at it recalculating his approach until he locks it down.It's so incredible to see that big shit grin he has on his face as to say "Look at me ma-ma and da-da. I did it!"Seeing him master a mini-mountain makes me think about you and me and our creative pursuits.We let negative emotions of fear, doubt, and comparison hold us back from conquering something that truly excites us like: sharing our work, making a YouTube Channel, starting a podcast, etc.Instead, imagine if we channeled our inner toddler who isn't affected by these restraining feelings and relentlessly chased the things we wanted?What kind of breakthroughs could you see yourself having?Little Scotty has reaffirmed an important lesson that failure is a key ingredient for triumph.2. Enjoy the Little Things + Celebrate Smalls WinsStraight up, we're spoiled and take things for granted ALL THE TIME (this includes me).We expect convenience and things to go our way.We lose sight of how blessed we are and neglect when the smallest amount of good fortune crosses our path.My son doesn't operate this way and I hope this perspective he's given me is something I can instill back into him as he gets older.The smallest things in life, like giving him the choice between two flavors of puffs (Blueberry or Strawberry), makes him light up with an enthusiastic chuckle while clapping his hands.He also shows me how much joy can be sparked from the smallest wins (like tossing consecutive wooden blocks into a container at the end of the night while I scream "Kobe") to the biggest wins (like learning to crawl DOWN steps because crawling up was too easy).He challenges me to notice and appreciate every little bit of good that flows through my day because I'm so fortunate to live the life I'm living and do the work that I love doing.There's magic in the little moments and small wins that your side hustle pursuits produce. These need to be acknowledged because progress is progress.3. Stay Curious & Stay LearningWhile he loves the toys we get him, our Stinky Boy is more captivated by how ordinary items around our house function.This kid will spend hours closing cupboard doors (ones we specifically don't lock), taking lids on and off mason jars, trying to flush the toilet poking my belly button to see

Stay In Your Own Lane & Create Your Own WaveIt’s so easy to get wrapped up in what other people are doing or to give into the temptation to jump on the latest trend.One of the hardest things to do as a creative is to go with your gut and pursue work that’s true to you.I like to call this staying in your own lane instead of swerving into someone else’s and riding their wave.I feel this is self-mastery at it’s finest, and it’s not something you can attain overnight. It takes years and tons of hard-learned lessons to get to the point where you’re self-aware of the artistic voice blooming inside of you and pouring that onto your canvas.I’m five and a half years deep, and I’m just now feeling like I’m finding my artistic voice. I'm using this voice to construct the lane I want to navigate for the next 20 years.This show exists to challenge and empower you to find your own groove over time.Today’s episode, I’m bringing back my mentor and one of the people I look up to the most in this creative sport.The King of Crunk FridayI’m talking about Mr. Crunk Friday himself, Jason Craig, aka @jasonthe29th on IG.What I admire so much about this dude is that he stays in his lane and owns it. Matter of fact, he embraces and thrives within it, and it’s inspiring how he truly navigates his own creative realm.He’s a Southern gentleman with a Midwestern work ethic crushing the full-time art and design game in Augusta, GA.When he’s not winning awards, speaking on big stages, or being involved in the creative community, he’s helping guide people like I am through these rocky terrains to get to the green pastures on the other side through witty analogies and Level 62 wizard-like advice.Take notes, strap in and get familiar with this fine fellow as Jason and I peel back the layers on:Not carrying last week’s stress into this week’s successFinding what works for you and pursuing what feels like playDoing more of what you like and feels goodEstablishing rhythms, routines, and patternsMaking your own plate at buffets, creative outlets, full-time freelance, and flash sheetsWe overcome a lot of technical difficulties to drop this fire on you, and I have no doubt there’s a nugget tucked away that you can apply to your creative grind.Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.Are You Seeking Clarity & Community? Check out The Side Hustler's Coaching ProgramIf you want that extra level of clarity, community, and accountability develop a process that helps you win with your work, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program A-List waitlist now for January's relaunch.ShownotesConnect with Jason: Instagram | Website | Dribbble|Shop| LinkedInJoin the Coaching Program A-List WaitlistDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: michaelayarbs_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Steering Your Ship with Clarity & ConfidenceI’m hella proud to say that we’ve made it to Episode 150.There seems to be a massive shift every 50 episodes in the message and direction in which I’m steering this ship.The more I continue to niche down and follow the direction of my internal compass, the more clarity and confidence I continue to findThe more clarity and confidence I find, the more I’m able to enjoy this wave that I’m making and riding.As we approach the end of what’s been the craziest year of my life and embrace what I’m sure will be an even crazier 2020, we’re entering into a new and exciting season of the podcast.The topics will get deeper. More resources will be created. The community will get tighter, and more targeted value will be served to your front door like a piping hot pizza from your favorite local joint.It’s up to you to consume and take massive action to get the results you want.Episode 150 with Chris Do of The FuturToday’s episode is a big one and will set the tone for the rest of your year, and potentially your life, if you want to get dramatic about it.We’re fortunate to have Chris Do on the show today. When I mentioned I was recording with him, my DMs on Instagram lit up like a Christmas Tree, so I know you’re just as hyped for this one as I am.Chris’s mission is to empower creatives to make money doing what we love without selling our souls through his educational platform called The Futur. You’ll find a goldmine of business, design, and inspirational resources to help you thrive on your creative grind (he’ll tell you more about this and where you can get more info on your own, after this episode of course).The content he and his team have dished out has amassed a global, loyal, and engaged tribe of over 600k on YouTube, 140k on The Futur’s IG, almost 200k on his personal IG, and 100k on Facebook.Do a few hand exercises to loosen up so you can rack up your notes because we diving deep on topics like:Setting BHAGS: Big Hairy Audacious GoalsBecoming the type of person who runs toward change instead of awayEmbracing failure as the tuition you pay for successBecoming known and remembered for somethingCreating for a bigger cause, being a disruptor, producing and polishing turds, and more.This episode is so much bigger than design, branding, increasing your rates, etc.This one is the epitome of why it’s called the Perspective Podcast because Chris is going to:challenge the lens through which you see the worldinject a TON of practical action steps to get you ten steps closer to where you want to be in life.Please share this one with your friends and family if you found value in it.Are You Seeking Clarity & Community? Check out The Side Hustler's Coaching ProgramIf you want that extra level of clarity, community, and accountability develop a process that helps you win with your work, sign up for the Side Hustler's Coaching Program A-List waitlist now for January's relaunch.ShownotesConnect with Chris: InstagramThe Futur Resources: Instagram | Website | YouTube 1 | Youtube 2 | Facebook | TwitterJoin the Coaching Program A-List WaitlistDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: cvida1984_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Winning the War in Your HeadWith tomorrow being Thanksgiving here in the States, I wanted to take a second to just say thank you for giving the show a chance and sticking with me as the show evolves.There’s a lot of creativity-based podcasts, resources, and content out there...I know my style and approach aren’t for everyone, and that’s totally okay! Just know it means the world to me that you vibe out and tune in to what I’m building out of my little home studio.I try to create fuel for you when, in reality, you are the fuel that drives me to keep showing up and pouring my soul into this—especially during the craziest season of my life, which I’ll touch on later in this minisode.So thank you, from the bottom of my pizza-loving heart. Thank you for giving me a chance and growing with me as I try to blaze my own little trail on this earth’s surface and tap into my unique purpose.With that being said, today's episode is a shorter one that I know will hit home if you deal with the same inner critic and negative self-talk like I do.In order to win the war that wages daily between your ears and design the life you want to live, my goal for this episode is to get you to:think biggerbelieve in your abilitieschange the way you think and speak to yourselfShownotesJoin the Coaching Program A-List WaitlistDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: zahouse_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Football Coach to Creative CoachThis one is special today, and it's the longest episode I’ve ever published but for a good reason.If you’ve followed my story, you know I have a background in coaching football.I reluctantly started my coaching journey in college after playing two years and then blowing out my back twice at Wartburg College in Cedar Falls, IA. Even though I was bitter, I stayed on the team and became a student coach so I could be a part of something bigger than myself.Once I graduated, I volunteered for three years coaching Varsity Wide Receivers at my Alma Mater West High in Waterloo, IA.From there, I was a personal trainer for about two years at a local Snap Fitness.Behind the scenes, I was always doing some type of side hustle, like creating t-shirts, logos, and tattoo designs...but nothing ever seemed to stick.The coaching side wasn’t paying the bills, and the art side wasn’t gaining any traction and was more depressing than anything.It felt impossible to connect coaching with creativity, but that’s what I attempted to do with my Instagram in 2014 and then my blog in June 2015.All of it paved the path to becoming a Creative Coach early this year and starting up the Side Hustler’s Coaching Program this past September.The Power of Accountability & CommunityIn this program, I selected 10 creatives out of an application pool to go deep on a passion project for three months. They're going to create a body of work they can, not only be proud of, but can leverage moving forward.People on the outside of this Group Accountability Mastermind setting only see them evolving their craft and skills.This program is more than that—it’s a breeding ground for cultivating relationships, building confidence, overcoming comparison, mastering time management, developing strategies, routines, and more.There’s the War Room, which is our daily hub to keep each other accountable.Every first and third Thursday are group Accountability Calls.Every second and fourth Thursday we have Hot Seat Calls. This is where everyone gets a turn to share their biggest breakthrough or struggle for that week while the rest of the family listens and takes notes.Today’s episode is a recorded hot seat call.There’s no fancy mics and no planned agenda.Just 9 vulnerable and hungry creatives (minus the homie Andrew Pethoud on this one) making time to meet outside of jobs and families to grow and work together toward taking the next step on their creative grinds.If you’re feeling stuck and isolated trying to figure out your own next steps to take, I know you’re going to find a ton of valuable takeaways tucked in this one.If you feel like this is something you want you to be a part of, sign up for the coaching A-List Waitlist for updates as Round 2 of the Side Hustler’s Coaching Program starts Jan 13–April 5th.ShownotesConnect with the program students:Rob AlmeidaNina DeuterioJeffy ThomasTeana HalfordSavannah SolisKevin CathcartShane RobertsAndrew PethoudKristin RiveraBen VanSledrightJoin the Coaching Program A-List WaitlistDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week:_jennofeve_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Tinlun Studio on Leveraging Failure & Passion Projects to Thrive & SurviveSo many people love pizza but hate the crust. I’m here to tell ya you gotta learn to love the crust.The first few bites of a slice of pizza are when you’re high on life and things seem to be working in your favor. The crust is the low moments of adversity and failure.You can’t have pizza without the crust, and you can't appreciate the highs without the lows.The crusty times test our character and mold us into the next version of ourselves. It’s up to us on how we respond, so we can evolve into the version of who we want to be.Someone who’s dealt with waves of crust and always comes back bigger and better than ever is my homie Terence Tang of Tinlun Studio, aka The Tenacious Turnip aka Tinman the Terrific.Terence and I go back a for a few years now, and I’ve seen his lowest moments set him up for something great each time he responds with a positive attitude.He’s one of the best humans I know, and his story is sure to inspire you to love and use your crust as part of your story to inspire others as well.Terence is a full-time freelance lettering muralist making moves out of Houston, TX, and empowers humans to be a little bit nicer through his Human Kind initiative.He’s also a low key wizard in calligraphy and photography and has a sneaker collection that is certainly bigger than the Kardashian sisterhood’s shoe collection combined.In today’s episode, Terence and I go deep on:Using failure to fuel your next movesLeveraging passion projects to attract future workShowing yourself in your work by picking buckets for your brandCreating your own merchSteering parked cars, taking action, NBA logos, beards, and moreIf you feel lost, stuck, and caught up in your own crust, this episode will push you to take some serious action.ShownotesConnect with Terence: Instagram | WebsiteDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: _drewsomethingushudto_USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Steve & Danielle Wolf with Tips on Design, Freelancing, & ProductivityDo you show up each day winging it and doing what feels good, or do you have a plan of attack and a system you thrive in?Sure, some people can just show up and figure it out, but what if there’s room to optimize your workflow while still acting in the muse?It tends to be a little bit easier for people who do their things full time, as there’s a little more margin and room for flexibility.If you’re like me and you hold down a day job, your time is already scarce...so winging it each day is most likely not going to yield the type of results you’re wanting.Having a plan, scheduling your success, and optimizing your productivity is key...plus you gotta leave a little margin in there for play to stay sane.My friend Steve Wolf and his wife Danielle are people who have a plan and have been consistently crushing it. They are the brains behind Steve Wolf Designs, a design and branding studio in Austin, Texas. They crush work for brands like Target, Lennox Air, Butler Bros, Adobe, TypeHike, and everything in between.While Steve thrives in the creativity department crushing design, logos, branding, custom type, etc., I feel every creative needs the Danielle counterpart—she is an organization guru who runs marketing, process development, and project management (basically all the stuff creatives like I do suck at). Productivity is her jam, and she’s also a coach who she helps busy women find their unique balance and create more joy in their life.Strap in and take some notes and we cover a ton of topics like:Tips on what to do and NOT TO DO as a freelancerProductivity hacks Scheduling your successExploring new creative outlets, finding your fuel, their favorite pizza, and more.If you’re a side hustler or freelancer who’s ready to step your game up, then this episode was crafted for you.ShownotesConnect with Steve: Instagram | Website | DribbbleConnect with Danielle: Instagram | WebsiteDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: bordokahall from CanadaPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Molly Jacques on Freelancing, Passive Income, & Marketing for CreativesWhere are you right now? Not your physical location, but the current state of your side hustle during this season?...and by season, I don’t mean fall (if you’re in the U.S.).Just like books have chapters, our lives have seasons.I’m currently in a season where I’m making a huge transition in my business. I’m fully embracing myself as the side hustle guy and going all-in on the podcast, the coaching program, and assets/resources to help people like you take the next steps.It’s where I’m supposed to be right now and where my energy’s supposed to be focused.Unfortunately, there’s not much time to play and responding back to every person every minute every day falls down the list of priorities during this shift.I have to give myself permission to not do all the things all the time like I used to with freelance, selling merch, etc. It is what it is, but then again, it’s only for this season.Maybe the season you’re in is all about exploring and finding your style.Maybe you’re in a season where you have to pump the brakes to attend to life’s bigger demands.Whatever season you’re in, be in that season and show up as your true self. Be hella grateful that you even have the opportunity to exist and be able to do what you do. It’s a gift to breathe, think, and act—don’t take it for granted.Seasons change, and so will you. Make the most of the season you’re in.With that being said, someone who makes the most of each day in each season she's in is my new bestie Molly Jacques.I’ve been a fanboy of her gorgeous illustrative lettering work which has landed her clients like Target, Nike, The New York Times, and Disney (to name a few)....no big deal, right?I’ve also been an admirer/stalker on how she handles her business as a creative cheerleader and educator for our community (especially her email marketing expertise).She’s a beast at producing educational content, courses, and resources to help creatives scale our side hustles and make more money! HOT DAMN!Tune in and take notes as we hit a ton of topics like:Staying curious and making time to playPutting on your business cap and taking your side hustle more seriouslyCreating your own luck by not feeling entitledHer resources for marketing, freelancing, pricing, and making a passive incomeFairy dust, her favorite pizza, productivity, and more.If you need a little spark to start taking yourself and your side hustle more seriously, this episode was made specifically for you.ShownotesConnect with Molly: Instagram | Website | CoursesDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: Aa333333Podcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Side Hustle Special | Live From Creative Works with Rogie & LittlePatternsI have a special episode for you today for those of you who couldn’t attend Creative Works Conference in Memphis, TN.Maggie Enterrios of Littlepatterns and Rogie King of Super Team Deluxe and Dribbble joined me on the stage for an hour-long discussion that no doubt melted the faces of all 400 creatives in the audience.We specifically dropped a ton of valuable takeaways on:leveraging passion projectstaking your freelance to the next level (buy this freelancer's bible)value-based pricing > hourly pricingside hustling outside a day jobfinding what drives you to createplus a ton more...seriously, this shit is entertainingIf you’re side hustling outside your day job or pursuing a career in freelancing, you definitely need to listen to this one.ShownotesConnect with Creative Works: Instagram | WebsiteConnect with Rogie: Instagram | Website | DribbbleConnect with Maggie: Instagram | Website | BehanceMust Own Book: Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines, 15th EditionDownload your FREE Side Hustler's War ChestGet your FREE audiobook download from AudibleJoin our Private Global Facebook Community of CreatorsListener of the Week: PixelPusha504 from USAPodcast Editor: Aine BrennanShownotes Editor: Paige GarlandVideo Editor: Colton BacharPodcast music: Blookah—Want to Support the Show?Become a backer on PatreonLeave an Apple Podcast Rating and ReviewShare the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast InstagramSubscribe via your favorite podcast player:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Play MusicOvercast

Side Hustler’s Series Part 4 of 4: 6 Ways to Carve Out Time to Grind & Execute Outside Your Day Job A PROVEN SYSTEM FOR KNOCKING SHIT OUT EACH DAY Hands down, the #1 thing creatives like you tell me you struggle with the most? Finding time to grind on your side hustle. I’m hella qualified to talk on this topic because I’ve gotten pretty damn good at: carving out pockets of time in my day to knock out my top priorities that align with my main goal/vision. In five years, I’ve been able to build Perspective-Collective, freelance, and handle a weekly podcast all outside of my full-time job. Not to mention, I’m a husband and father to the dopest little dude this side of the Mississippi. This shit isn’t easy, and I’m not trying to brag. I’m just trying to convince you that if I can do it, anyone can. If finding time to grind is one of your biggest pain points, I feel the following system can improve your productivity immediately. Note: I also have this available as a guide in the Side Hustler’s War Chest. In case you missed that, you can download it here. #1. Take One Bite at a Time It’s easy to feel like you’re not doing enough when you see someone else crushing it. Often, our ambition is larger than our reality, and we feel we have to eat the full pizza in one bite. While it’s great you want to start a weekly podcast, vlog, and newsletter all at once, biting off more than you can chew can set yourself up for failure if you: Attempt to do all of this outside a day job Have family responsibilities Don’t have a defined process built into your routine I started posting consistent drawings on Instagram in the spring of 2014. I then took on weekly blogging in June 2015, then added a newsletter in October 2015. I began the weekly podcast in August 2016. In between, I’d sprinkle in some freelancing, public speaking, teaching workshops, and selling products. There’s no way in hell I’d still be trucking along had I attempted to do all of this right from the jump. I suggest taking things slow and steady, as we’re looking to accomplish long-term consistency. Start with one bite at a time by setting ambitious (yet realistic) expectations and taking action. Once you lock down your process, take a bigger bite by slowly baking the next thing into your routine. #2. Plan Your Attack I’m discovering the most successful people I look up to don’t roll out of bed and shit productivity—they schedule their success. When I stopped winging it and planned my daily attack, it made decision-making so much easier. Here’s how I plan my attack: 1. MAKE A WEEKLY TASK LIST ON SUNDAY You can list these by hand or with digital apps like Wunderlist, Notion, or Evernote. Update your list accordingly as things pop up during the week Carry over the remaining tasks from the previous week. 2. PRIORITIZE THEM WITH MY CREATIVE GRIND (ABC) SYSTEM* List up to 7 tasks per each letter (7 days in a week = 1 task a day) A1-A7: High Priority Tasks to Attack that move the needle forward B1-B7: Medium Priority Tasks that are cooking on the Back Burner -C1-C7 Low Priority Tasks that would be Cool to get done or should be delegated D: Insignificant Tasks should be Destroyed *Those in my coaching program get to be the first guinea pigs for a basic and more advanced version of my Creative Grind System. 3. PLAN YOUR FOLLOWING DAY’S TASKS Here’s a quick glimpse of how I list my next day’s attack: Each night, I plan out the next day’s blocks of time I have to grind (morning, lunch, breaks, evenings) I’ll create fields for tasks A1-A3, B1, and C1 I’ll then pluck from the top weekly tasks list and plug them into the designated fields When you knock out your A1 task, cross it off your daily attack and weekly list. Then proceed to A2 and A3. Sometimes, you may only have a small window of time so knocking out the B1 task makes sense. Only knock out the C task if you get through all A and B tasks for that day. THE GOAL The goal is to knock out and cross off AT LEAST one A task a day. Crossing that A task off your list becomes a productivity habit-forming addiction! Depending on your schedule and goals, tweak this and find what works for you! #3. Eat the Worm I’m a night owl by default, but waking up early and eating the worm has been the catalyst for the growth of my side hustle. There are three reasons why mornings are my jam: It creates more time to grind: It prioritizes my dream first I put a large dent in my A1 task before going to the day job For me, productivity lies in doing the most important task first—the one that will scale my business. These big tasks typically require the most willpower. Oddly enough, the most important tasks that move my business forward and require the most willpower have nothing to do with drawing—they have everything to do with writing. Writing is the backbone to my side hustle. I write practically every day with the podcast, the coaching program, workshops, speeches, Instagram captions, product details, landing pages, email campaigns, et

Side Hustler's Series Part 3 of 4: 5 Killer Tips for Managing Your Side Hustle to Maximize Results Back in May, I had the chance to jump on an episode of The Happy Ever Crafter TV with the calligraphy queen, Becca Courtice. I came prepared with some notes to help her niche calligraphy and lettering audience to get the most out of their side hustles. What kind of a jerk would I be if I didn't go more in-depth and share it with you? Regardless if you do calligraphy, lettering, knitting, underwater basket weaving, etc., there is something in this episode that can help you take your side hustle to the next level. Today, I'm giving you 5 Killer Tips for Managing Your Side Hustle to Maximize Results. Prepare to take some notes! Hopefully, there's a missing piece here that gets you one step closer to putting your peculiar yet promising puzzle together. 1. Have a Plan & Show Up with Intention How comfortably can you answer the following questions with conviction? What do you want to accomplish in life and why? Who do you want to become and why? Who do you want to serve/make an impact on and why? Figuring out the answers requires a lot of time, soul searching, and uncomfortable dialogue in your head. Once you're able to tap into that vision, reverse engineer that dream so you can pinpoint the steps you need to take. From here, you're able to layout short-term and long-term S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals that align with the vision. A goal without a plan is just a wish, so knowing what you want and developing a gameplan are crucial. When you know what you want and have outlined your steps, there's less room for guessing on what you should be working on each day. Having a plan makes it much easier to attack the top task that moves you closer to your goal each day. Note: If you lack a plan or system for making time to work on your side hustle, you're going to love next week's part 3 episode. I'm giving you 6 Ways to Carve Out Time to Grind & Execute Outside Your Day Job. 2. Be Consistent My favorite quote about consistency comes from Sean McCabe (Seanwes). "Nobody notices announcements, people notice consistency. It's time for a hard dose of reality and some tough love. There's no way you should be complaining about the promise of your side hustle when you've only: been doing it for a few weeks to a few months invested an hour or two a week posted a few times on social media here and there and told a few friends People won't notice shit until you consistently stay in front of them and make it crystal clear what you're doing. You have to remind people that you exist, and you do this with—you guessed it—a plan. One of the best ways to do this is to lock down a systemic routine of when you'll create and when you'll post. Frequency I recommend sharing AT LEAST once a week, as we tend to be creatures of weekly cycles (e.g. weekly episodes of our favorite TV shows or Monday Night Football). Daily output is going to get your faster results, of course. This isn't realistic for many people and can easily lead to burnout. Weekly is a manageable output that anyone can figure out. Start with something small and add more to your plate as you build it into your routine. Duration If this is something you're good at and it lights you up, I feel a minimum of six months of pursuing it with maximum effort is the least you can do. I'd highly recommend pushing it easily to 1-2 years if it's bringing you any of the 9 benefits I mentioned in last week's episode. It took me in the 1-2 year range to really start finding my footing. Currently, my fifth year is when I'm really finding my stride. It. Takes. Time. It's not always about reaching the most people in the beginning, but the right people slowly over the years. 3. Be Persistent I wanted this one to rhyme with Be Consistent because I like to have a good time and unwind with a rhyme outside design. News Flash: it's not easy pursuing something that's important to you—it's a straight-up rollercoaster ride, as you're being tested at every turn. You're going to experience plenty of shitty moments along your creative grind. There will be plenty of people that will attempt to rain on your parade. You gotta keep pushing to bathe in those sunny days when you've tapped into your creatively-fulfilled zone. I don't' have enough fingers or toes to count how many battles of self-doubt, depressed funks, haters, financial emergencies, etc. I've faced when pursuing my side hustle. I do know that every shit storm I've weathered has made me stronger. Every time you get knocked down, it's your responsibility to get back up and keep swinging. It's called responsibility because you have the ability to respond. Each time you get back up, you're adding a new bruise or scar that you can add to the "hard lessons learned jar" and use it as fuel. As cliche as it sounds...if it was easy, everyone would do it. It's not easy, but gritting it out because i

Side Hustler's Series Part 2 of 4: 9 Benefits of Side Hustling The Dream You've Been Sold Most likely, you’re a listener/reader for two reasons: You’re ready to transform your hobbies into a side hustle You’re ready to take your current side hustle to the next level If so, you've tuned into the right place. I focus on the side hustle part because hustlin' is a habit, and it's all I know. Not everyone is fortunate enough to do their own thing full-time right out of the gates. In fact, I'd say the majority of people don't go this route. You were sold the dream of the traditional route of getting student loans to fund college, so you can land a good job. You then get married, get a mortgage, have kids, and do the same routine day-in and day-out. The goal is to pay your dues at your day job to help someone else’s dream come true in hopes of retiring around sixty. Supposedly, that's when your life begins? If you're like me, you've realized this isn't your dream at all. Something deep inside you craves to go against the grain and blaze your own path. I've had this internal craving since college where I was creating tattoos, logos, etc. to pay for video games and 30 packs of Busch Light. This craving has only grown stronger as I've spent over five years building Perspective-Collective outside my day job. Trust me when I say I've invested thousands of hours and two power plants worth of energy into finding ways to transform my hobbies into a monetized side hustle/side business—all outside a day job. I’ve figured out what works through A TON of trial and error (extra emphasis on the error part). No doubt, it's been a lot of work to navigate this ship to where it's sailing today. Regardless of the storms and choppy waters I've dealt with along the way, every ounce of effort I've invested in my dream has been worth it. Pursue Your Gift & Make an Impact If you’re not fully convinced nor confident that you’re ready to invest in the long haul, I have 9 super-convincing benefits of side hustling to share with ya. Before I begin, I feel it's important to note that there's nothing wrong with having a day job. You may have landed one that you love and have no desire to do your own thing full-time. That's totally cool! You also may be in a position where you'll be in your day job for a while due to personal situations like mine. That's cool too! This episode is solely fuel for satisfying that inner craving to do more with your gift. That's it! Without further ado, the following benefits are based on my experience, as well as anecdotal evidence from my juggernaut creative friends and podcast guests. #1. Find Your Purpose This is #1 for a reason because I know what it's like to feel like you have nothing to offer the world. If you go to bed each night without something to look forward to, something is wrong. It’s time to change that with a side hustle that feels like play. I'm jazzed to get up each day because of my side hustle of helping other creatives build their killer side hustles. I look forward to putting in the work and reapings these 9 benefits that come with it. Life is dull and unfulfilling when you lack a purpose—side hustles can change that. #2. Cultivate Killer Relationships You may have heard the phrases, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” or “Your network = your net worth.” I believe both of these are 100% true. I also believe in the quote from Jim Rhome, “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Relationships are everything. Your side hustle can help connect you with like-minded people who have similar goals, work ethics, and values. Two things to keep top of mind: Always focus on giving more than you take Create as many win-win scenarios as possible for both parties You’ll be surprised by the genuine and abundant friendships you’ll build through your side hustle over time. #3. Attract a Tribe of Like-Minded Freaks "Embracing your weird" seems to be the storyline of 2019 and I'm all for it—the weirder the better. Starting a side hustle or a passion project allows you to go deep on things that interest YOU. It's a playground to experiment and embrace the YOU in YOU-nique. Chances are you're not alone—your weird quirks and qualms are most certainly shared by other weirdos. When you publicly share and own your YOU-niquness, you increase the odds of attracting a like-minded tribe of freaks who vibe to your unique flavor of weird. Then you circle back to Benefit #2 and cultivate killer relationships—it's a win-win. #4. Add New Skills to Your Arsenal This one is obvious but important to stress. My side hustle has allowed me to learn skills that I’ve been able to leverage for raises at work, charge more in freelance, and attract more opportunities. Pursuing Perspective-Collective has taught me how to: become a better artist/designer advance my lettering/illustration skills market myself on social media grow my email list improve my writing through blogging edit audio

Side Hustler's Series Part 1 of 4: 3 Levels to Find Your Wolf Pack Humble Side Hustle Beginnings “Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.” — Ziad K. Abdelnour I've been side hustling for a hot minute now. One of my bigger side hustles was right out of college when a buddy and I started a clothing brand called Daydreamin' Clothing Incorporated. We quickly changed it to Company because we were far from a corporation, but it just sounded cool. Well, before lettering was a thing on Instagram, I was making hand-lettered logos and graphics for our brand back in 2010. We started off with our logo on a few shitty Gildan logo tees, then ordered some business cards through Vista Print and called ourselves a business. While our original launch was hot garbage, I'm proud of it because we were young dreamers taking big action. Those first few logo tees evolved into more complex designs as we filed an LLC. Two years into it, we were sponsoring rappers, skaters, motocross bikers, and local "influencers." Three years into it, we were hosting events at clubs, doing pop-ups shops, and getting in brick and mortar and online stores like Kazbah. We were making shit happen and figuring it out along the way. My partner was the point-of-contact string-puller, accountant, and fulfillment manager. I was obviously the artist, designer, and the marketing/promo lead. We balanced each other out well and brought in help for extra support. In our fourth year, we were getting serious and ready to elevate our product offerings. We lined up a huge investor and locked down a warehouse for creating custom threads and patterns for whatever we could scheme up. This was the turning point—it became a shit or get off the pot kind of thing. The Banana Split My partner was all-in and ready to quit his job to pursue this. I was in the middle of changing day jobs, had a new mortgage, and was sitting on a pile of private student loan debt. I wasn't as eager to take the risk and wanted to keep doing this as my secondary "full-time" side hustle. Things went sour when we discussed splitting shares of the company if we went with the investor. We didn't see eye-to-eye on percentages and my partner felt like he could make this dream happen on his own. We ended up making like a banana and split. That's when I started Perspective-Collective in 2014. I had made up my mind I was going solo, and I thought I didn't need anyone's help to get to where I wanted to be in life. I spent the first year obsessively learning hand-lettering and posting daily on Instagram. I slowly began developing my style, finding my voice, and growing an audience. I hit a wall the second year. I felt called to do more than just share pretty polished Instagram posts. However, I was trapped in my little Cedar Falls, Iowa, bubble and had no idea what the next step was. I felt so isolated and stuck, but the cure was doing something radical to rattle my comfort cage. Rattling the Comfort Cage I found the Creative South Conference through Instagram and made a decision I was going to find a way to attend. After my successful proposal to my day job, I flew to Columbus, GA, for a life-changing experience in April 2015. This conference allowed me to attach myself to people doing things I didn't know were possible. It revealed the next steps and provided answers to questions I didn't even know I was seeking. Most importantly, it showed me the power of getting around like-minded people who knew more than I did. This is the power of community. I went home on fire and immediately joined the Seanwes community. They welcomed me with open arms at the conference and eliminated the feeling of isolation. It was a pricey investment, but definitely worth it in the grand scheme of things. Find Your Wolf Pack From there, I joined an accountability group for the next level of connection. Along the way, I would pick up mentors like Jason Craig and Brian Manley, who took me under their wing in regards to public speaking. Every year, my side hustle evolved as I added something new to the tool belt. Drawing turned into blogging. Blogging turned into speaking. Speaking turned into a podcast. Somewhere in between, I started teaching workshops and selling products. Doing all of this outside my day job has helped me build my own community. It's put me in a position where I can pursue coaching other creatives to build something of their own outside their day jobs. The point I want to make? None of this would have happened if I thought I had all the answers and had been too prideful to ask for help. I've had help at each step along the way. Yes, sometimes, you have to to be the lone wolf and make mistakes in order to learn and push forward. In my experience, seeking out a wolf pack and asking for help allows you to bypass obstacles and get on the fast track for growth much quicker than being a lone wolf. Wolves survive and thrive by being

Josh Horton on Creative Works & the Power of Community I want to start this one off with a quote from Jim Rhone: “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Trying to make it big by doing it on your own is hard. It’s easy to burn out and feel like you don’t have anyone in your corner during hard times. I tried doing it solo and shouldering the load by myself. It led to a lot of creative funks and wasted time. The people I did surround myself with couldn’t provide me any value or insight, so I continued to blindly try to find my path. I know I preach this often, but finding a creative community has been one of the biggest keys to my creative transformation. I wouldn’t have become the “side hustle pizza podcast guy” if I continued to pretend that I could figure it out on my own. Going to conferences is what opened my eyes to the power of relationships. They gave me a glimpse of my future potential and allowed me to attach myself to people who were doing what I strived to accomplish. Community is everything, and today’s guest is someone who’s building community and providing transformative experiences for creatives like you and me day-in and day-out. Today, I share the story of my buddy Josh Horton, and no, not the professional juggler. This Josh is the mastermind behind the conference, events, and workshops hosted by Creative Works, rooted in Memphis, TN. Josh and the Creative Works team bring in some of the biggest names in the world to help inspire, connect, and empower our creative community. He’s assembled an Avengers: End Game-like cast of juggernaut speakers and workshop leaders like Lisa Congdon, Lincoln Design Co., Adé Hogue, and Ty Mattson (to name a few). Plus, you know by now that your boy is doing a Live Podcast, and I’m bringing on the stage some past friends of the podcast. I’m talking about Maggie Enterrios of Little Patterns and Rogie King of Superteamdeluxe and Dribbble. It’s going to be an entertaining and value-packed session I can assure you that. This is close to selling out, so snag your conference ticket and workshop tickets over at Conference.CreativeWorks.co. Today however, Josh and I go deep on: Realizing the value of your work Finding your why and doing your thing for the right reasons Not running away and embracing who you are Contributing to something bigger than yourself The hottest BBQ and pizza spots in Memphis plus more If you feel like you’re isolated on an island and are seeking a community to get involved in, this episode was made for you. Shownotes Connect with Josh Horton: Instagram Connect with Creative Works Conference: Website | Instagram See the lineup and buy your Creative Works Ticket here Download your FREE Side Hustler’s War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: cali girl in georgia from USA Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Ruben Rojas on Murals, Creating for Impact, & Avoiding Mediocrity Our lives are like a book. It’s a story comprised of chapters strung together which reach a conclusion. Thankfully, we’re the authors of our own story. We call the shots on how the next chapter will be written and how our story will end. When a chapter doesn’t fit the bigger picture that you see for yourself, you have the ability to recreate and reinvent yourself to change the plot of your story. Today’s guest was an all-star in the real estate and then the financial world. He’s experienced rock bottom and bankruptcy when the stock market crashed, which caused him to reinvent himself multiple times to get to where he is today. I’m talking about the newest homie in the Perspective Podcast family, Ruben Rojas. He's a lifestyle artist/muralist, activist, speaker, and creative jock (it’s always nice to find more of these rare hybrids) who's making plays in sunny California. Ruben’s mission is to create global change and to empower communities through the lens of love. He does this through his Non-Profit Beautify Earth which strives to be The Cure for Sad Walls. In today’s episode, Ruben dishes out wisdom nuggets on: Reinventing yourself and creating for a bigger purpose Investing time in yourself, your craft, and business Not living in the in-between worlds of mediocrity Showing up as your true self online and offline His tips, tricks, and process for paint murals, and more If you’re stuck in life and need some inspiration for writing your next chapter, then this episode with Ruben will no doubt empower you. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Ruben Rojas: Website | Instagram | Shop Beautify Earth Non Profit: Website | Instagram Download your FREE Side Hustler’s War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: decentdesigner usa Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Celebrate All Life's W's, Whether Big or Small Imagine you just watched your favorite sports team win a championship or witnessed a Golden Buzzer performance of a lifetime on The Voice. Wouldn't it be weird as hell if they didn't celebrate that accomplishment? Now, think of this on a smaller scale—like getting a small $.50 raise or landing your first online sale. Isn't that something worth recognizing too? You'd think that having any type of win, whether small or big, would be cause for some type of celebration. However, when you're wired like I am, a lot of these small wins gets shoved to the side because there are bigger mountains to climb. If you listened to last week's part one of this two-part episode series, you know the blessing and the curse that comes with being a mountain climber. It's great to constantly chase becoming the best version of yourself, but at the same time, you can't lose sight of life in between the mountains. Part two of this Climbing Mountains & Popping Bottles series is all about celebrating W's (wins), no matter how big or small they are. The L's From Not Acknowledging W's I've mentioned this in the past, but back in April 2016, I had a life-changing speaking opportunity at Creative South Conference. It was the second talk I had ever given—opening for a Draplin keynote in front of a packed Springer Opera House of around 800 creative souls. This was by far the biggest thing I've ever done. I came prepared and absolutely crushed it, which resulted in an overwhelming standing ovation. I proceeded to go backstage, take a shot of Jameson to calm my nerves, then party the last night away. I'm bringing this up because this talk exploded my creative career —yet I can barely remember it. My biggest regret is failing to make time to be alone and reflect on it. Instead, I spent the next day hungover on my flight home working on an online presentation I was giving later that week. While my full talk is on my YouTube Channel, I've still never been able to fully recreate that moment to soak up and appreciate. Avoiding the L's This is the driving catalyst for why I'm writing this today. The message I'm trying to hammer in your head? You gotta pop bottles and acknowledge when good shit happens in your life. From my experience, when you constantly ignore when things go right in your life, you make it easier to get wrapped up in negativity when taking an L (loss). Not acknowledging wins: leads to burnout because nothing is ever good enough increases the odds of falling victim to comparison strengthens the inner critic's voice Let's pivot into how we can avoid these atrocious, negative scenarios with two simple yet effective action steps. 2 Ways to Celebrate W's Action Step #1: Acknowledge Them (duh) This is pretty self-explanatory, and I assume you saw this coming. Popping bottles is just a fancy metaphor for celebrating wins. Celebrating wins is just a more extravagant word for acknowledging the good things in your life. If you're not going to figuratively or literally pop bottles to celebrate, the least you could do is acknowledge those good things. From now on, it doesn't matter if I crush another speaking gig, celebrate a podcast download milestone, or pay off a small debt, all scenarios get acknowledged and/or celebrated by some form of: ordering pizza or having a glass of wine with my wife (not so much these days with my low carb, intermittent fasting lifestyle) doing a stupid ass little dance with my son Little Scotty the Third writing down at least one thing I'm grateful for each day in my Creative Grind planner sharing the win with my family in The Perspective-Collective Private Facebook Group texting my parents/best friends or posting it in my Slack Mastermind Group giving myself the day off to reflect or unplug (need to implement this one more) Yes, all of these are minor things and most don't require any form of blowing cheddar. More importantly, they allow me to press pause, appreciate the moment, and celebrate with other people. Acknowledging W's helps you time stamp these milestones in your noggin, so you can easily go back and relive that moment. THE CHALLENGE: Recognize your top win of the day by using one of my tactics or coming up with your own. Bonus points for taking a screenshot and sharing with me on your Instagram Stories. Action Step #2. Hoard Your Victories This tactic has been a lifesaver for me! Some brief context: around the end of 2017, I was starting to slip into a depressed funk. People were posting their Instagram Top 9's, and it felt like everyone: created doper work than I did accomplished bigger goals than I did made more money than I did lived a bigger, more perfect life than I did The inner critic was beating me down and convincing me that I was a worthless turd. The thing that snapped me back to reality was a little something I started doing at the beginning of February that year called Hoarding My Victories. I had recently pulled myself out of another d

The Blessing & Curse of the Mountain Climbing "What's Next" Mentality Back in episode 56, my brother Tony Diaz of Industry Print Shop shared his inspiring story of how he went from being a punk rocker in a band on the Warped Tour to starting one of the most successful print shops in the U.S. He talked about his mentality of "climbing mountains." Whenever he accomplished his main mission, he immediately set his sights on an even bigger target. Ya, it was cool that he accomplished something like being on the Warped Tour, but what's next? You know the phrase, "There are two sides to every coin?" To me, to be able to climb mountains and relentlessly pursue the next big accomplishment is no doubt a blessing. At the same time, it's a curse. The Blessing The mountain-climbing business is a blessing as it enables you to: Tap into your potential. Cultivate a killer work ethic. Not gonna lie, I naturally gravitate towards people who operate in this fashion and love to observe them. I've learned that these mountain climbers never settle—they're hungry, focused, inspired, and always pursuing the next peak to tame. They see the world through a different lens. Their pupils are glued straight ahead and upward. There's no time to break their gaze by looking down or behind them. Like a kid driven to dig out the prize buried in the bottom of a 90's cereal box, nothing will distract them from getting that prize. Does this sound like you or anyone you know? How to Know if You're a Mountain Climber Checklist You're a mountain climber if you: realize that life is short and you have to take matters into your own hands. have accepted that no one is going to deliver your dream to your front door like a fresh and hot pizza from your favorite local joint. welcome adversity and use failure as your fuel. aren't afraid to kick your own ass and show up when it's not convenient. Doesn't this sound like a fucking glorious modern-day creative Chuck Norris lifestyle? How could this mindset be any other than a blessing? If you haven't guessed it by now, I'm a mountain climber. Trust me when I say this roundhouse kick approach to your creative grind comes with a cost. The Curse Seduced by "Success" & Blinded by Comparison I transformed into a mountain climber when I got a little taste of what I thought was "success" back around 2013/2014. I became tunnel-visioned and borderline-obsessed with my side hustle when: My artwork started gaining traction on Instagram. Internet people started following my art and sending me praise. People started to pay me for my work. I'd get asked to speak or teach at big creative conferences. While cool shit was happening in my life, the comparison trap made it impossible to appreciate any progress I made during my climb. I was convinced that I had gotten such a late start to the game compared to my creative peers and idols. This eliminated my need to live in the moment and soak up wins, whether big or small. What was the point when someone else had more followers, bigger clients, or bigger keynotes on bigger stages? I couldn't appreciate what I had or was doing because I needed more—I was too focused on "what's next." I thought being obsessive about climbing bigger and better mountains was the key to surpassing all these people. The "Hustle Culture" Syndrome Another downside to this "what's next" mentality is becoming jaded by the "Hustle Culture." You begin to believe that you have burn the candle at both ends to advance. To ascend and dominate the next mountain, you sign your permission slip to lose sleep by working early and grinding hard late into the night. You tell yourself it's okay to eat shitty for convenience, skip the gym, and blow off people (even loved ones) because you begin to think these things are distractions. Next thing you know: you're burnt out, feeling like shit, have zero energy, and have no support. Working Smarter + Self-Awareness = Smart Hustle By all means, work your ass off. Don't let anyone tell you can't climb a mountain, as I'm all about going against the grain and making shit happen for yourself. However, I've learned this lesson the hard way. I've gone through burnout, ruined relationships, and hating the way I felt when looking in the mirror. Five years into my side hustle, I'm still a constant work-in-progress. My failures have taught me that there can be a beautiful balance of working hard and not working at all. "Cool" vs. "Not Cool" To find this beautiful balance, I think it's important to establish "cool" vs. "not cool" scenarios. Hitting a big milestone is "cool", but's it's more "cool" to have people in your corner to celebrate with (more on that in part two of this series). I understand that, once in a while, you may have to do an all-nighter to hit a deadline...but accepting this as the norm is "not cool."

Lauren Dickens on Blazing Your Own Successful Path & Fighting Burnout Two things we all deal with as we relentlessly pursue "success" in our creative grinds? The comparison trap and burnout. Often, one fuels the other and vice versa. You compare your work and consistency to those who seem to be doing more, and it's all-too-easy to burn yourself out. Or you get burnt out because you're not living the curated life people seem to be living on your phone. Those are just a few examples, but I'm sure you could think of 50 more scenarios off the top of your dome in less than a minute. That's because we all struggle with these dilemmas. I personally feel it's because many of us, including myself, haven't defined success for ourselves. We're wrapped up in what success is for others. Today's guest, ever since she was a curious young girl trying to figure out her place in the world, has been blazing her own path and defining what success means for her. I'm talking about my talented friend Lauren Dickens. She is the All-Star of Type, the MVP of Branding, and the reigning Player of the Year when it comes to Illustrations. She slays work from her home court of Austin, Texas, for some of the biggest brands in the world like Facebook, Target, and SXSW (to name a few). Today "El Dick" and I go deep on: Tips and process for client relationships, pitching, and presenting How constraints breed creativity with your work How to defined your own success How to light your spark when you're burnt out Typography, the NBA, chickens with old lady names, and more. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Lauren Dickens: Website | Instagram | Dribbble | Twitter Download your FREE Side Hustler’s War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: decentdesigner usa Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Pretty Useful Co. on Taking Action & Protecting Your Time I've learned that people trying to work a side hustle struggle with two things: getting started and valuing their time. Getting started can be paralyzing. If you don't have a plan, strategy, or ability to show up regardless of what people will think, it’s practically impossible to take action. When you don't value your time, it's hard to know when to say no, when to charge more, or when to create boundaries. I personally believe you won't succeed in transforming your hobbies into a monetized side hustle or business without cultivating these two skills. Cultivating those two skills will no doubt help you fail faster, overcome adversity, and maximize your progress. Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Allie and Clare of Pretty Useful Co. crush these two areas in their personal lives and side hustles. They make clever goods for fun people that are...pretty useful (like their notorious pin keeper). They've turned a passion project into a monetized side-business, and I feel their experience and knowledge will definitely help you figure out your next step in your creative grind—whether you pursue merch or not. Today, Pretty Useful Co. and I talk about: Protecting your time Taking action, which leads to inspiration/motivation Starting your own merch business Setting boundaries for yourself Corgis, Vendors, Processes, Pizza, and more Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Pretty Useful Co: Website | Instagram Download your FREE Side Hustler’s War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: decentdesigner usa Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Grits on Side Hustling, Finding Your Niche, & Staying in Your Lane Have you ever had someone in passing conversation ask you, "Are ya workin' hard or hardly workin'?" I used to get this from some of the older folks who would come through my cash register when I worked for a Midwest Grocery Chain called Hy-Vee. Of course, my answer was always, "Hardly workin'." When I think about this phrase now, I feel most people I come across are hardly workin'. They're the same ones complaining that nothing good is poppin' off in their lives when, in reality, they're coasting and seeking shortcuts. At the end of the day, hard work pays off—and there aren't too many people working harder than today's guests. I'm talking about Reuben and Toya Levi who tag team Grits. It's more than just dope merch flexin' Reuben's design and handy craft: it's a Southern Lifestyle Black Americana brand out of Houston, Texas, that has gained national attention with no signs of slowing down. Grits started off as a passion project but has transformed into something bigger that educates, inspires, and, of course, decks us out in some of the the finest threads in the game. Today, Reuben and Toya share: The value of side hustling The power of personal projects Tips on finding your niche and creating loyal fans Working hard and taking risks = aka No Grits, No Glory As well as their Green Book Project, pizza, and more Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Grits: Website | Instagram Learn more about the Green Book Project Download your FREE Side Hustler's War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: MarcusAncel usa Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Run Your Own Race & Avoid the Comparison Trap “Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.” – Jon Acuff from his book Start. I often allowed comparison to paralyze me from becoming the person I’m supposed to become. Much of that comparison stems from the social world of the internet. I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I feel fortunate enough to know how life worked before it, as well as experience the rise of it. In high school, I was on the early days of MySpace and felt the dopamine rush that notifications give you. When I graduated in 2006, I joined the new wave of Facebook. You actually needed a college email to get access, long before your parents and grandparents were on that shit. In 2013, I joined Instagram. In 2o14, I shifted to using it as a business portfolio. That’s when my life as a creative drastically changed, as I started to take my craft and message more seriously. The Beautiful Toxicity of Social Media Social media is a huge blessing in my life. It gives me confidence in myself and my work after spending the majority of life with none. It has helped me find my creative community. This community lets me cultivate incredible relationships with like-minded nerds and freaks that geek out over the weird shit I do. It’s given me a platform to spread good vibes, cast a spotlight on others, and speak up for things I believe in. At the same time, though, social media has become a trap—not to mention a time suck when we don’t intentionally use it as a tool. Social media truly is a beautiful thing. At the same time, it can be toxic as fuck. It trains us to compare our lives and our work to our peers or to the legends we idolize. We operate from a mindset of lack and have become the it’s never enough culture. We constantly seek what someone else has and easily lose sight of what’s important—what we already have. Who cares if we have 500 followers when Sally Jane has 5,000? Sally Jane feels shitty because Billy Bob has 50k. Billy Bob is bumming hard because Gertrude Baggins has 500k. We’re forever running in a hamster wheel trying to play “catch up” when, in reality, we’re running our own race. Marathon > Sprint You’ve probably heard this a hundred times, but the race we’re running isn’t a sprint—it’s a lifelong marathon. It’s not a microwavable 100-meter sprint, it’s a slow, day-by-day grind that requires lots of practice, patience, and persistence. You have your own starting point, no matter your age and experience. You run at your own pace. Sometimes times you need to push the pedal through the floor and bust your ass. Other times, you have to pump your breaks and deal with the ebb and flow of life. Your destination is different as your finish line is unique to you. There’s no GPS that’s going to give you step-by-step directions. Your race is your own, so run your own race. Stop Robbing Yourself Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the greatest thief of joy.” We are constantly sticking ourselves up with the gunpoint of comparison. Don’t let the cool shit others do rob you from making the cool shit you’re supposed to be creating. Don’t let the incredible things people within and outside your circle are doing rob you from becoming incredible too. Erase the comparison you’ll face in your dream that you chase. If that’s the case, you gotta embrace that you’re running your own race at your own pace to a different destination or place. P.S. I hate running. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Check out more details for Crop Cruise 2020 Download your FREE Side Hustler’s War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: decentdesigner usa Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Brooke Robinson of Goodtype on Connecting with Yourself to Find Your Art "Some things are better off not being spread too thin: you and peanut butter." I couldn't find the owner of this quote, but it definitely hit home as someone who loves peanut butter and piles too many things on my plate. We love to be busy—at least I do. Often, when we're busy, we focus on the wrong things and tend to fall short of the essentials like self-care. It's important to unplug and connect with ourselves. Doing so not only helps us become more self-aware and grow, but it spills over into our creative grind and business pursuits. Today's guest is someone who knows how to unplug and squeeze the most juice out of life. She's also a spark plug for thousands of people by providing them confidence, connection, and community. I'm talking about my good friend Brooke Robinson, the wizard pulling the strings behind the giant lettering Instagram account and global community Goodtype. Brooke has an inspiring story: she stayed at a day job too long and then made the leap to take Goodtype full-time. She does this all while still making time for murals, travel, relationships, and mental/physical fitness. In today's episode, Brook dishes out sage wisdom on: Dealing with the curve balls in life Taking care of yourself physically and mentally Connecting with yourself to find your art Standing out and getting your work featured on Goodtype Pizza, meditation, the outdoors, and more. She's also doing a killer fundraiser through Goodtype for the Flatwater Foundation to raise money for mental health support for individuals or families dealing with cancer. She goes more in-depth in the episode, but if you want to learn and support, the link is in the show notes. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Goodtype: Website | Instagram Connect with Brooke: Website | Instagram Support the Goodtype Strength in Letters fundraiser Learn more about the Flatwater Foundation Download your FREE Side Hustler's War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: MarcusAncel of USA Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Musketon on Passion Projects, Pushing Your Limits, & Adobe Illustrator Often, as creatives, we take things too seriously and forget why we got started doing this in the first place. We get obsessed with social vanity metrics to fuel our worth. Our happiness is often gauged by analytics and performance. At the end of the day, we can’t lose sight of how much fun it is doing work that lights us up. We can still keep that artistic play and curiosity at the core, but implement some strategy behind it when hitting publish. As my friend Michael Fugoso AKA The Fugstrator says, “Think like an artist, but execute like a designer.” Today’s guest is someone who uses passion projects to push his limits and attract new work. He treats his work like play, which leads to working with massive brands like Nike, Hypebeast, Mazda, MTV, and Coca-Cola. I’m talking about Bert Dries, a guru when it comes to all things Vector and Adobe Illustrator. Today, Bert and I cover topics like: Getting to where he is today Challenging yourself and pushing your limits The importance of intention + concepts + context Investing in yourself and passion projects His biggest tips and plugins for Adobe Illustrator plus more He’s also an open book and loves to share what he knows, which is why I want to hype his Skillshare class he recently came out with—his process of how to Design with Textures in Illustrator. If you’re needing a little extra fire to push yourself and your work to the next level, then this ‘sode with Musketon was made for you. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Bert Dries of Musketon: Instagram | Website | Behance | Dribbble Get 2 months of Skillshare free by signing up for his Working with Textures Class Astute Plugins for Adobe Illustrator Download your FREE Side Hustler's War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: blahblah0747 usa Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

The Motto: You Got This If you happen to stick around to the end of each episode, you know I sign off with "Keep showing up, keep putting in the work, and keep creating—you got this." This phrase originated from having internal dialogues in my head—and I promise you I'm not crazy. It's no secret that I'm a big believer in affirmations and positive self-talk. The inner critic in me is alive and well, and I have to do my part each day to shout over its negative and draining influence. If you're like me, you struggle with the comparison trap. There's always someone who has what you desire: a better financial situation, more followers, killer clientele, better physical appearance, etc. Operating from this mindset of lack—instead of abundance—can really fuck you up. Comparison has robbed me of so much joy in my life and has severely damaged my confidence on multiple occasions. "You got this" is the motto. It's my battle cry to fight back and keep pushing forward along my creative path. It's the motto I need to get back up to the plate each day and keep swinging after striking out. Ritual Fuel Once I began tapping into my potential around the age of 24 through 26, "You got this" became my pre-game ritual before any feat that required a little bit of courage. It's become my fuel before or during events like: rec league basketball games a heavy set or an intense cardio session in the gym before speeches or workshops sending a proposal to a client heading into a full plate of work at the day job throwing the first paint down on a mural when my wife went into labor and the early days of being a dad In the beginning, it didn't have a profound impact on me. However, when I continued to drill it in my head, my brain believed it more and more. I'm to the point, where these words not only ground me, but they empower me and give me confidence that I'll figure it out just like I always do. You're Not a Worthless Turd I drop this at the end of each episode in hopes of empowering you and lighting you up with a dose of inspiration. It's hard to do this shit on our own; sometimes we need to know we have someone else in our corner rooting for us and coaching us to become our best selves. That's why I do the podcast, and that's the person I want to be—the one in your corner when the comparison trap is getting the best of you. I want to drill this in your head so you can use it as fuel to drown out the inner critic who's trying to convince you that you're a worthless turd. You're not a worthless turd. You're a priceless gem in the shape of a glorious slice of pizza, and you were meant to do incredible things. It's hard to discover your worth if you don't show up and dig deep to reveal your potential gifts. Keep digging deep, and don't be afraid to shower yourself with positive self-talk. Who cares if people think you're crazy? Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Download your FREE Side Hustler's War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: nachorev from Argentina Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Your Permission Slip to Be Weird I grew up under the impression that being weird was a bad thing. Being weird got you picked on and bullied. Being normal is what helped you fit in. I was definitely a weirdo growing up. Getting severely bullied made it hard for me to express myself as I got older. Popularity and acceptance are what I craved, so I did everything in my power to "blend in" with the cool crowd. It's funny how the theme has changed now that we're creative adults. We're told not to lose that child-like imagination. We're told being weird is a good thing and that showcasing your uniqueness is how you'll stand out. Back in episode 81, I gave you 3 Super Convincing Reasons to Show Your Weird and Wave Your Freak Flag. That episode was more of a permission slip for me to dig deep on the weird shit I loved as a kid and the weird shit I love as an immature adult. After attending Crop Conference last month, some of the biggest juggernauts in the creative realm all touched on this theme of embracing your weird—it just so happens they are all past guests on the podcast as well. I felt inspired to combine their episodes with my thoughts and go deeper on this weird subject of showing your weird. Today's episode is now a permission slip for you to connect the dots of your weirdness as a kid with your weirdness as an adult. Of course, I'm dishing out a fun drawing challenge with this to give you something to act on. More details on this at the end. Let's start with going over the juggernaut speaker quotes from Crop and use those as our foundation. Crop Conference Fuel James Victore During James's keynote, he talked a bit about his book Feck Perfuction. In his book and one of the messages he constantly drives home to creatives is the quote of, "The things that made you weird as a kid make you great today." This quote formed the theme for today's assignment and got me thinking about all the weird things I loved as the kid and how those weird things influence me today. You can listen to James back on episode 117 of the podcast. Jon Contino Jon Contino's talk was literally titled Born Weird. He embraces the shit that's made him weird in his past and influenced his style and the person he's become today. A quote that resonates with me the most was when he said, "Creatives get to be weird forever." He said that shit with so much conviction that it let me know I'm going in the right direction. You can listen to Jon back on episode 123 of the podcast. Lauren Hom Last, but definitely not least, Lauren Hom rocked the stage and dropped some gems about how her passion projects spoke to her inner weirdo. I'm meshing two quotes into one here when she said, "Embrace your inner weird. The things you love outside of design are the things you should explore in your work." It got me thinking: how can I incorporate the weird things I loved in the past and in the present and show more of it in my work? Again, more fuel to this drawing challenge I'm giving you shortly. You can listen to Lauren back on episode 75 of the podcast. My Past & Present Weirdness Since I've been back from the conference, I gave myself a little homework assignment to dig deep into the weird shit I was obsessed about when I was a kid. In no particular order, things I loved as a kid: Pizza Aliens and outer space Anything paranormal and supernatural Trees, clouds, and sun rays Cartoons: Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Rugrats, Reading Rainbow Bob Ross Football and Basketball Cards Dragons and Grim Reapers Video games Pokemon and Zelda on Gameboy Mario on Nintendo Shaq-F, Sonic, and Tecmo Superbowl on Sega Final Fantasy, Tony Hawk, Madden, and Spyro on PlayStation Cool S Pencils, fine liners, black and white, and details over white space Laffy Taffy Jokes The things I love as an immature adult: Pizza Aliens and outer space Anything paranormal and supernatural Trees, clouds, and sun rays Coffee Cats Art supplies Game of Thrones Puns, Dad Jokes, Wordplay, and Alliteration Pencils, fine liners, black and white, and details over white space Fitness When I list out my past and present weird obsessions, I can easily start connecting the dots and see the overlap in my work. The Future Weird of Perspective-Collective As I niche down and start the next chapter of Perspective-Collective, there are a few things I'm tapping into as I grow to know more about myself. My goal isn't to attract and appeal to the widest audience possible like it once was. In this day and age of social media, people crave an authentic connection to those who aren't afraid to be their true selves in their work—both online and offline. I realize it's more important than ever to wave my freak flag with pride. Doing so helps me attract the right type of freaks to my tribe who vibe to my own flavor of weird. The rest can unfollow, and hopefully, they'll find their own community of like-minded weirdos. Waving my freak flag moving forward involves understanding,

Becca Clason on Dealing with Negative Criticism in a Positive Way Life is full of ups and downs, but you can’t appreciate the highs if you haven’t dealt with the lows. We all deal with adversity, but how you respond to it is a true test of your character. Today, we have someone who responds to adversity with class and finds a spin on her adversity to give some value to her community. I’m talking about Becca Clason, Tactile Lettering and Stop Motion Artist, blowing minds in collaboration with her husband Josh through their creative production studio So Mighty. She’s executed work for some of the biggest brands in the world like Starbucks, Target, Twitter, Nordstrom, and American Express. Her story leading up to landing these gigs will leave you feeling inspired. She’s also the brains behind the Letter West Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 5–8 and the Letter West Retreat in Moab, Utah, September 25–28. Swoop a ticket ASAP to connect and learn from some of the best lettering artists in the world. Today, Becca and I also go deep into topics like: Saying yes and figuring it out along the way Finding you why and seeking your purpose Connecting life’s dots Handling criticism in a positive way Pizza, UFOs, graffiti, and more If you’re feeling stuck and uninspired, this episode with Becca was made for you. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Becca Clason: Instagram | Website Follow So Mighty Studio on Instagram Check out Letter West Conference Check out Letter West Retreat Follow Letter West on Instagram Podcast Recommendation: Don't Keep Your Day Job Download your FREE Side Hustler's War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: leahchong singagpore Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Today's episode is an in-depth resource to help lettering artists grow an Instagram audience and potentially land client work. Don’t worry if you’re not a lettering artist, there is so much value in here that no matter what medium or style you create in, this can help you grow an audience and elevate your craft. Instagram Lettering Tips The following are the 6 tips I cover in the blog post / episode. The Art of Using Hashtags -Engage with the Community -Consistency -Proper Presentation -Deliberate Practice -Be Different & Rise Above the Noise Yes, these tips will this help you develop your craft and grow an audience. More importantly, it'll help you stand out and land work doing what you love. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Enroll now to Passion to Paid Summer 2019 course Lettering-Daily: Full Post | Instagram Download your FREE Side Hustler's War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Ben Johnston on Murals 101 & Creating Good Work That Makes an Impact Have you ever had one of those jaw-dropping moments mid-scroll on social media because someone’s work was so incredible and unique? Those are the people to watch closely. They are the ones who are raising the bar and pushing everyone industry to up their game. I originally picked my jaw up off the floor a few years back when our guest’s work showed up on my Instagram feed. I find myself constantly prepared to hold my jaw in place when he drops something new. I’m talking about my homie Ben Johnston who’s a Goliath of painting murals and canvases or designing branding and installations. His mind-bending experiments speak volumes as big brands like Nike, Google, Toronto Raptors, and Aston Martin have come knocking on his door for his one-of-a-kind services. Today, Ben and I chop it up over: Painting Murals 101: tips, process, materials, and pricing Being confident vs. being a dick Having fun while creating work that makes an impact Attracting work by posting your work on all social platforms Pizza, UFOs, graffiti, and more If you’re looking to get started with murals or need a fire lit under your ass to push your work to the next level, then Ben has you covered in this episode. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Ben Johnston: Instagram | Website Download your FREE Side Hustler's War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: marqc usa Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Chasing What You Want & Growing an Online Empire with Elizabeth Gray If your social media game is boring, and your audience growth and engagement is basically non-existent...then we have on the perfect guest for you. We have the insanely talented, introverted, cat-and-coffee loving lettering queen Elizabeth Gray of @TheGrayterGood on the show today to share her story. She’ll also blow your mind with her unique approach to building her online empire with a following of approximately 150k when this was recorded. Today Elizabeth and I break down: Her 3 tips for growing an engaged online audience Building a theme centered around 5 buckets of interests Setting expectations Chasing what you want in life Pizza, process, cats, and more If you’re ready to dig deep into embracing and showing your true self in your work to attract like-minded souls in your tribe, then this episode was put into the universe for you. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Elizabeth Gray: Instagram | Online Shop Watch Elizabeth's and I IGTV session from March Instagram Apps: Unfold for Stories | WordSwag Download your FREE Side Hustler's War Chest Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Listener of the Week: antifiretts Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Mye De Leon on Knowing Who Your Audience is & How to Serve Them I respect those who use adversity to fuel their relentless grind. I respect hustlers—but I’m even more captivated by those who work smarter, not harder. I respect those who put family and serving others above all else because they understand breakthroughs, money, and opportunities will eventually come their way. Someone who I really respect is today’s guest who falls in each of these buckets: Mye De Leon, a lettering artist, designer, and online marketing wizard. She’s the author of Mastering Hand Lettering and professor of the FREE COURSE Styling the Alphabet, where she teaches you the ABC’s of hand lettering, so you can monetize your craft. Today, Mye and I cover: Her inspiring story and the adversity her family has overcome Putting in the work and honing your craft Valuing your time so you know when to say yes Online digital marketing Pizza, pens, process, and more! This episode is sure to get you fired up to start taking yourself, your craft, and your side hustle more seriously! Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you’re listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Mye De Leon: Instagram | Website Purchase Mye’s Book: Mastering Hand Lettering Take Mye’s Free Course: Start Your Own Creative Business with Hand-Lettering Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Subscribe to the weekly P-C Newsletter Listener of the Week: zacksutt usa Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — WANT TO SUPPORT THE SHOW? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast

Jon Contino on How to Produce Good Work by Being Yourself When you’re on your creative grind, it’s important to get your hands dirty, make mistakes, and get lost in your work. This helps you develop your style, find your voice, and carve your niche. That, in turn, attracts commissions and people to your artistic mission and vision. Jon Contino is someone who’s been doing cool shit before it was cool and unapologetically pours themselves into their work. Jon’s a designer, letterer, illustrator, and branding sorcerer hailing from New York who conjures up dope work for massive brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and AT&T through his Contino Studio Agency. Today, Jon and I peel back the layers of: What branding is and isn’t His illustration process and humbling backstory Creating good work that’s true to yourself Being a design sponge outside of the internet Turning flaws into strengths and more If you need a boost to go the extra mile in showing your true self in your work, then this episode was made for you. Enjoy This Episode? If you enjoyed and found this episode value, I need your help spreading it! Please, share a screenshot or video of the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at @prspctv_cllctv and @perspectivepodcast—and let’s connect. Shownotes Connect with Jon Contino: Instagram | Website Purchase Jon Contino's book Listen to the Nose Know's Podcast Get your FREE audiobook download from Audible Join our Private Global Facebook Community of Creators Subscribe to the weekly P-C Newsletter Listener of the Week: BlaBla from Canada Podcast Editor: Aine Brennan Shownotes Editor: Paige Garland Video Editor: Colton Bachar Podcast music: Blookah — Want to Support the Show? Become a backer on Patreon Leave an Apple Podcast Rating and Review Share the show on social media or follow the Perspective Podcast Instagram Subscribe via your favorite podcast player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Music Overcast