The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

In this episode, Justine Musk returns to the show to discuss creativity, emotional resonance and the psychology of visionary leaders like Elon Musk, Coco Chanel, Steve Jobs, David Bowie and many others. Highlights The questions that we need to ask in an identity transition How crisis forces complacency to be thrown out the windowComing out of the shadows in our livesLearning to read your life like a mystery novel and searching for cluesFinding the things in our lives that lead to creative renewalCreating emotional resonance with an audience Leveraging creativity to show the world who we are The thin line between madness and creativity What makes people like Elon Musk “tick”Developing a unwavering conviction and commitment Why bold points of view are part of extreme successLearning to steer yourself in the direction of your strengthsBecoming motivated by process instead of product Having in faith in your own uniqueness as a person The role adversity plays in reaching extreme successWhy we trust transparency and honesty to create trustMinneapolis College of Art and Design – Post Baccalaureate Degrees in Graphic Design, Interactive Design and Online Marketing Justine Musk writes about creativity, culture and self discovery and is the author of the thriller, Blood Angel.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're excited to have Tim Ferriss back on the show. Tim has been listed as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People”, Forbes Magazine’s “Names You Need to Know,” and is the 7th “most powerful” personality on Newsweek’s Digital 100 Power Index for 2012. He is an angel investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, and 20+ more) and author of The Four Hour Work Week, The Four Hour Chef, and The Four Hour Body.In this episode, we explore the concept of peak performance and making the impossible possible. Tim shares his insights on how to develop an individualized style of competition, compensate for your weaknesses, capitalize on your strengths, and push beyond what you think is humanly possible.We delve into the mindset that allows people to become extremely successful and discuss the importance of energy and attention management. Tim also shares his thoughts on how to look at success holistically and absorb the qualities of our mentors through osmosis.Timothy Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People”, Forbes Magazine’s “Names You Need to Know,” and is the 7th “most powerful” personality on Newsweek’s Digital 100 Power Index for 2012. He is an angel investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, and 20+ more) and author of The Four Hour Work Week, The Four Hour Chef, and The Four Hour Body.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast visually impaired artist John Bramblitt talks about how losing his eyesight became the catalyst for learning how to paint and how we can bring color into our lives when we have no vision. How art got John through an incredibly difficult childhoodWhy art forces us into thinking positively and living in the momentJohn’s habit of painting for 12-16 hours a day Learning how to paint by using touch as your primary senseThe lessons we learn from moments of crisis How our darkest moments shape us for the betterJohn’s experience of navigating the world after losing his vision The role of synesthesia in creating your art How blindness impacts social interactions and relationshipsBringing the color into your life and letting go of “shoulds”The difference between looking and feeling Learning not to judge the things you’ve created Giving yourself artistic license on a daily basis John Bramblitt is an artist living in Denton Texas, his art has been sold in over twenty countries and he has appeared internationally in print, TV and radio. He has appeared on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, ABC, and BBC Radio, and he’s been featured in The New York Times and Psychology Today. He’s the subject of the award winning documentary shorts “Line of Sight’ and “Bramblitt.” His work has received much recognition including the ‘Most Inspirational Video of 2008′ from YouTube and three Presidential Service Awards for his innovative art workshops. And John is blind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Jia Jiang shares his story of how he turned 100 days of rejection into a life changing experience and a full blown movement including a published book and the creation of something called the rejection gym. Why there’s no such thing as a perfect timeLooking for rejection instead of running away from itHow our stories turn into noble excuses Learning to turn our obstacles into opportunitiesWhy many of our failures have a hidden purposeUncovering the bigger meaning and purpose in our livesHow to gradually increase your tolerance for risk Using rejection to expand the boundaries of your comfort zoneLearning not to take rejection personally How Jia ended up teaching a class at UT-AustinBecome action focused instead of results focusedResources Mindset by Carol DweckRejection Proof The Krispy Kreme Video Jia Jiang came to the United States with the dream of being the next Bill Gates. But despite early success in the corporate world, his first attempt to pursue his entrepreneurial dream ended in rejection. Jia was crushed, and spiraled into a period of deep self doubt. But he realized that his fear of rejection was a bigger obstacle than any single rejection would ever be, and he needed to find a way to cope with being told no without letting it destroy him. Thus was born his “100 days of rejection” experiment, during which he willfully sought rejection on a daily basis–from requesting a lesson in sales from a car salesman (no) to asking a flight attendant if he could make an announcement on the loud speaker (yes) to his famous request to get Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the shape of Olympic rings (yes, with a viral video to prove it).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast millennial expert and award winning journalist Antonio Neves shares his journey from first generation college student to working as  a business correspondent, host and producer with top networks including NBC, PBS , Advertising Age and BET. Highlights Lessons from growing up in an unstable environment Overcoming the challenges of our environmentsThe importance of surrounding yourself with winnersCultivating resilience, perseverance and grit The tremendous power of accountability, structure and deadlinesWhat happens when we fail after we succeed Learning to release our ego and surrender to our circumstancesWhy time in the “wilderness” is essential to your growth Identifying what it means to live a fully actualized lifeThe pros and cons of higher education Navigating the modern media landscape QuotesNo one cares more about your goals than you do. Antonio Neves is a nationally recognized college leadership speaker, millennial expert and award-winning journalist. An award-winning journalist, Antonio served as a business correspondent, host and producer with top networks including NBC, PBS (Macneil/Leher), Advertising Age and BET Networks. Antonio’s business articles and videos regularly appear in Inc.com, Entrepreneur.com, Money and Forbes. Antonio began his television career co-hosting Nickelodeon’s hit show, U-Pick Live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mars Dorian’s work has been an integral part of The Unmistakable Creative brand. In this episode of the podcast, he discusses how he discovered his calling at an early age, growing up with creative parents and how he eventually developed such a distinctive style as an artist that it’s instantly recognized as his work.Highlights:A moment in early life when Mars found his callingHow drawing pulled Mars out of suicidal depressionChanneling introversion into art and creativity Co-creating a dream world in which you connect with peopleThe influence of living in East Germany on art How growing up with creative parents influenced Mars’ lifeBorrowing from multiple art forms to develop a signature styleThe importance of a curious and open mindCutting off the possibility working in an corporate environment Bringing about the moments we fall in love with our workThe keys to developing a truly unmistakable styleResources:Mars Dorian is a digital illustrator and storyteller. He creates  visual illustrations and designs to help your content spread online, and stand above the noise. He also is the logo designer and spejcial projects artist for The Unimstakable Creative Podcast. You can follow him on twitter @marsrodian  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The crossroads of “should” and “must” is a place we all come to eventually, though many don’t recognize it when it comes OR the importance of the decisions we make once we are there. Elle Luna is the one who coined the phrase, and to her, this crossroads is the place where each of us make one of life’s most important decisions.Will we do what we “MUST” - what we are called and compelled to do? Or will we bow to the “SHOULDS” of expectation and obligation assigned to us by society, family, and our own beliefs - and play a much smaller game? Elle is one of our most requested guests so it’s a pleasure to finally have her on the show. She tells her own story to explain how her own encounter with the crossroads of should and must took place. Her journey includes…A recurring dreamA turning-point conversation with a good friendHow she took that friend's crazy-sounding advice, andHow that bold decision led to her discover the deeper purpose of her life: PAINTINGIn her book, “The Crossroads of Should and Must,” Elle writes...“It’s here, standing at the crossroads of should and must that we feel the enormous reality of our fears and expectations from others, and this is the moment when many of us decide against following our intuition, turning away from that place where nothing is guaranteed, nothing is known, and everything is possible.”  You’re going to enjoy Elle’s story because though the details are different, it’s the story all of us will one day experience. And you’ll be inspired by how Elle made her way through the twists and turns, cautiously approached her crossroads of should and must, and made the decision that changed everything for her.Outline of This Episode[2:22] The recurring dream that led Elle to the crossroads of should and must[7:38] Life before the dream: the journey that influenced the way Elle sees the world[12:30] Elle’s perspective about how to tap into wisdom larger than yourself[19:12] Lessons learned working at Ideo[27:56] How to tap into your “musts” and limit the impact of your “shoulds”[35:27] The rock bottom moments Elle experienced along the way (to show you that you’re not alone)[40:20] The moment Srinivas thought about quitting everything - and Elle’s perspective[52:25] What Elle believes makes somebody or something unmistakeableRejection can be a gift. It was for ElleMany of the people in Elle’s family had chosen careers in the legal profession, so both she and the members of her family assumed she would take the same path. But she was rejected from law school. Not once. Not twice. But every time she applied.Elle says it seemed like an impossible turn of events because her grades and LSAT scores were substantial enough to earn a place in the student body of at least one of the institutions to which she’d applied. Simply put - it didn’t make sense.It was a hard blow. She cried. A lot. But that point of rejection opened her up to other possibilities that she’d not even considered. Listen to hear how she came to see the rejection as a gift, landed enviable positions working on the teams that developed Mailbox and Uber, and took a role as part of the incredible creative community known as Ideo - one of the coolest companies in the world.On this episode of #UnmistakableCreative, @ElleLuna shares some of the many lessons she learned as part of the team at @Ideo - and how they have served her long-term. #creatives #creativity #calling #purposeClick to TweetLessons learned at Ideo - and how they have served Elle long-termElle’s time as part of the Ideo team was... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, Dave Vanderveen, founder of the energy drink company XS talks all about what it means to consciously choose the reality that we create. It’s an eye opening looking into a building a foundation for becoming your best self and uncovering the progression of truth over the course of your life.  Highlights Choosing the universe that you decide to consciously live inLearning to take your work seriously, but not personallyHow little daily decisions determine where you'l go in life Lessons learned from getting kicked out of college Why learn more from failure than we do from successDoing things that push you over the edge of what's possibleThe importance of making small changes every single dayWhy we make emotional decisions and rationalize themBuilding a foundation to become your best self The importance of your ability to adapt to the environment around youRunning your life on values instead of grand strategies Identifying one true thing every single day The key to personal and business turnaroundsUncovering the progression of truth over the course of your lifeSponsorsToday's episode of the podcast is sponsored by Audvisor. If you're short on time and starved for wisdom, be sure to check out the Audvisor app. Quotes“Having a job is fine. But having just one job is a waste of time. “Dave Vanderveen is a co-owner/founder of the energy drink company, XS. In this episode of the podcast, Dave Vanderveen, founder of the energy drink company XS talks all about what it means to consciously choose the reality that we create. It’s an eye opening looking into a building a foundation for becoming your best self and uncovering the progression of truth over the course of your life.  Highlights Choosing the universe that you decide to consciously live inLearning to take your work seriously, but not personallyHow little daily decisions determine where you'l go in life Lessons learned from getting kicked out of college Why learn more from failure than we do from successDoing things that push you over the edge of what's possibleThe importance of making small changes every single dayWhy we make emotional decisions and rationalize themBuilding a foundation to become your best self The importance of your ability to adapt to the environment around youRunning your life on values instead of grand strategies Identifying one true thing every single day The key to personal and business turnaroundsUncovering the progression of truth over the course of your lifeSponsorsToday's episode of the podcast is sponsored by Audvisor. If you're short on time and starved for wisdom, be sure to check out the Audvisor app. Quotes“Having a job is fine. But having just one job is a waste of time. “Dave Vanderveen is a co-owner/founder of the energy drink company, XS.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, Lucas Carlson talks all about navigating the emotional journey of entrepreneurship and building a business as a tool for personal growth. Lessons in creativity learned from the world of computer programmingThe ins and outs of raising venture capital for a startup Living on the fringe of bankruptcy Overcoming fear ad learning to take the leap to do something Learning to deal with the voices of criticism, self doubt and fearHow to keep going when you’re not seeing external results Balancing the tension of knowing when to persist and when to give upPutting enough of yourself into an idea to give it a chanceLearning to put stop losses on your entrepreneurial ideasSeparating your identity from the performance of your businessLearning to set expectations for yourself that don’t create stressWhy external wealth can serve as a metphor for internal wealthThe importance being open and honest in relationships  Resources: Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham The Narrow Road by Felix DennisLuscas Calrlson is an entrepneneur who started AppFog, in 2010, raised almost $10M in venture capital, and was acquired in 2013. Before that, he was the first employee and head of engineering for 5 years at MOG (now Beats Music acquired by Apple).. He’s also the author of Finding Success in Failure: True Confessions from 10 Years of Startup Mistakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, Buddhist Geeks founder, Vincent Horn discusses how to conduct a deep process of self inquiry through mindfulness and meditation.Highlights Defining moments that alter our career paths Transcending your personal ego and personal narrativeThe converence of practical, pragmatic and idealisticConducting a process of self inquiry to bring about your own existsential crisisThe incredibly short attention span of the human mindMaking the shift from concentration to mindfulnessHow to free yourself the internal stories that hold you back Leveraging the breath and body to start the process of mindfulnessUsing meditation to navigave the emotional journey of life Resources MentionedThe Reboot PodcastBuddhist Geeks Vincent Horn is part of a new generation of teachers who are translating the wisdom traditions of the past into 21st century code. In his 20s Vincent spent over a year doing silent meditation practice in Buddhist retreat centers across the country. During this time he also started Buddhist Geeks, a media project which explores the convergence of Buddhism, technology, and global culture. After years of prototyping and learning he developed a way of training the mind that is neither framed in terms of ancient religions nor which denies their powerful influence. At mindtraining.io he teaches meditation for the digital age, and as the resident mindfulness coach at reboot.io he works with CEOs and tech-startups who want to transform the world by reprogramming their inner operating systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Unmistakable Creative, 25 year creative director and Mad Men co producer Josh Weltman who helped make Don Draper act and sound like a genius discusses his new book, Seducing strangers, and the art of persuasion through advertising. HIGHLIGHTSHow Josh Discovered his artistic talent at an early ageThe importance of finding the right teacher at the right timeWhy creativity is an aversion to the way things are Why we miss moments when we experience flow Lessons from the making of Mad MenWhy there is no path for people who inclined to make their ownHow we can shift the thinking in our educational systemThe power of creative cross training The process of developing advertising campaignsThe 4 Key types of ads The two main reasons human beings communicate ResourcesThe Secrets of Seducing Strangers: How to Get People to Buy What You’re SellingQuotesI think that creativity is a pathological aversion to the status quoJosh Weltman is a twenty five year veteran of the advertising business, a working creative director, co-producer, writer and artist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast Mark Bowden talks about the power of body language, and how non-verbal communication can be utilized for influence, persuasion and changing human behavior. Dealing with the stigmas that come with dyslexiaLessons from the world of visual and physical theaterUsing body language to change the feelings of an audienceWhy everything is learnable and teachable Using your own body language to influence and persuade other people The amazing impact of how body language changes the way we communicateGetting a result for us vs a result for me How gesture planes radically change our communication The body language a of person who is calm and assertiveMark Bowden is a body language and behavior expert and the creator of TRUTHPLANE®, a communication training company and unique methodology for anyone who has to communicate with impact. With a reputation as one of the world’s foremost authorities on nonverbal communication, Mark travels all over the world to train groups and give keynote speeches. His clients include leading businesspeople, teams, and politicians, presidents and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and current Prime Ministers of G8 powers. You can follow him on twitter @truthplane Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, Tom Yorton, CEO of SecondCity Works, Chicago’s world renown improv theater whose alumni include Steven Colbert, Tina Fey and many other high profile comedians talks about what the world of improv can teach us about creation, communication and collaboration.Finding different ways to connect with an audienceThe role that music played in Tom’s careerRedeveloping curiosity and tolerance for riskWhy the resume building approach to education hurts kidsDeveloping adaptive skills and becoming an agile learnerFinding the through line of your careerUsing humor as a way to get to the truth Applying the improviser’s tool kit to your workKey concepts from improv that allow you to communicate, create and collaborate more effectively QuotesLife is a series of happy accidents if you want to look it that way.ResourcesYes, And: How Improvisation Reverses “No, But” Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration–Lessons from The Second City3 Improv Exercises That Can Change The Way Your Team WorksAs CEO of Second City Communications, Tom Yorton is creating a positive, disruptive force that changes how people communicate, collaborate and learn in the business world. His work is guided by a fundamental assumption: Business is an act of improvisation. Through comedy, his organization brings sorely needed humanity and authenticity to work environments by challenging unproductive conventions in marketing, learning, business development, and internal communications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s special solo episode of the podcast, I decided to share a short preview of our latest writing project, The Compass.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Congdon didn’t start drawing or painting until she was 30. In this episode of the podcast Lisa talks about her journey from doing education reform work in the non-profit world to making a full time living as an artist.HighlightsA painting class that was the catalyst for a career changeInfusing a spirit of generosity into the world of artThe starving artist narrative that perpetuates our culture Dealing with fear of claiming your identity as an artistIdentifying the special, important and transformative moments of your life The process of self discovery to uncover latent skillsHow we get comfortable with putting our work in front of an audience Navigation the emotional journey of a creative careerLeaning into the discomfort and messiness of your life and work RESOURCESArt IncThe Expression of Your Soul’s CallingLisa Congdon is a fine-artist, illustrator and the Author of Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist. You can follow her on twitter @lisacongdon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the show Kabir Seghal discusses his new book Coined, the history of money and how it is has shaped us. What’s happening in the brain when we deal with moneyOur physiological responses to moneyAn interesting look at how different cultures react to moneyThe currencies of social and financial debt The future of money in developed and developing countriesWhy our financial decision are not made on a conscious levelThe emotional meaning of moneyCarving out of unconventional opportunities in a conventional careerResourcesCoined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History Has Shaped UsKabir Sehgal is a New York Times bestselling author and Grammy Award-winning producer. He is currently a vice president at JPMorgan Chase Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Young is an animal right activist who went on a cross country run in which he cut fences to free mink from farms, which resulted in a potential life sentence, and becoming a fugitive on the run for 7 years.The punk rock roots of Peter’s calling Furthering the mission of communities through actionFiguring out the only metric that matters in your work Lessons in persuasion and communication from protestsA look into the inner workings of life as a fugitive on the runInteresting life hacks from living as a fugitiveRegaining our sense that we don’t know things that can’t be doneThe transitions in and out of life in prison At various times, site editor Peter Young has been a fugitive, activist, author, prisoner, felon, spokesperson, animal liberator, protester, entrepreneur, saboteur, publisher, speaker, and criminal of conscience. You can follow him on twitter @peterdyoung Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Jen Louden returns to the show discuss telling stories, finding out what’s true for you,and uncovering the thread of our deepest desireCreative roadblocks and falling apart momentsOvercoming our environments to reach our creative potentialSelf trust and learning to choose what’s true for youStorytelling lessons from the world of film The stories we tell ourselves and the narratives of our lives Crux moments and leveraging them in our stories Discovering the thread of our deepest desires The insidious nature of comparison in the internet culture Cultivating self awareness in being authentic Investigating your own life through the eyes of a detective Developing the patience for a lifetime body of work The question of what we’re wiling to give upQuotesFollow your bliss and bear it. But it’s going to burn. Our falling apart moments are about letting go. ResourcesWoman’s Comfort Book: A Self-Nurturing Guide for Restoring Balance in Your LifeMindset: The New Psychology of SuccessThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and OrganizingJennifer Louden is a personal growth pioneer who helped launch the self-care movement with her first book The Woman’s Comfort Book. She’s the author of 7 additional books on well-being and whole living: The Couple’s Comfort Book, The Pregnant Woman’s Comfort Book, The Woman’s Retreat Book, Comfort Secrets for Busy Women (The Comfort Queen’s Guide to Life in hardcover), The Life Organizer, and A Year of Daily Joy. There are about million copies of her books in print in 9 languages. You can follow her on twitter @jenlouden.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Holiday dropped out of college to spend his early 20’s working for masters of their craft like Robert Greene and Tucker Max. A conversation at a conference turned him on to the world of stoic philosophy and led to the publication of his most recent book The Obstacle is the WayBuilding a capacity for making terrifying decisions Recognizing pivotal moments in our own livesHow we deal with difficult moments in our livesLearning to control our perceptions Making the best out of terrible situationsWhy our view of people’s lives is flatteringThe 3 foundations of stoicism: perception, action and willWhy limiting our exposure to difficult situations limits our capabilities The relative nature of adversity Why there is no life that is free of suffering ResourcesThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into TriumphMeditations (Dover Thrift Editions)Ryan Holiday is a media strategist and prominent writer on strategy and business. You can follow him on twitter @ryanholiday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Gebben found himself exhausted by his work, and hiding from this clients. In this inspiring conversation he talks identifying the sweet spot in our work and getting back to doing the things we love. Highlights: Going the extra mile in all the work you do Why becoming an entrepreneur is not for everybodyDoing things with no expectation of anything in returnTuning out your external voices and turning them into fuel for your fire Taking baby steps to build some semblance of momentumLessons in creativity from the world of video Identifying your sweet spot and the things you love Why mindset gives you the biggest performance edgeHaving a zero tolerance policy for all negativity Taking Massive Imperfect Action ResourcesBold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the WorldQuotesThe truth is that everything in life takes hard work Michael “Gebbs” Gebben started his video production company “Gebbs Total Video” at age 19. Later on, the company grew to become “GEBBSTV” where he explored his epic talent at shooting not only weddings and everything under sun but also events for huge names like Tim Ferriss, Tony Robbins and Richard Branson among others. You can follow him on twitter @mgebbs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Unmistakable Creative, Seth Godin returns to the show to discuss his new book, It’s Your Turn. Leveraging books as a tool to change the people around you Writing a book that begs to be shared and gets under people’s skinThe choice between creative or cog that we’re always making Why we must be willing to be wrong to do work that mattersHow the connection economy rewards people Our search for reassurance and how to stop itLearning to take your work seriously and not personallyThe mythical time when we think we’ll be readyA look at what school is actually for  ResourcesYourturn.linkStop Stealing DreamsQuotesA book only happens when I can’t let an idea goIf you go into this saying, how do you know, you’ve already lost.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, Life After Tampons creator Jennifer Boykin discusses what it takes to create your immortal beautiful work, getting comfortable with something unplanned happening and how we can use mastery of one craft to build confidence in others. Why you can have everything, but not at the same timeLearning about your dreaming instead of pursuing itMeeting the enormity of what is possible for us in our livesUsing small wins to build confidence and overcoming failure Why our culture teaches to use grandiose language is not strategicWhy we need to overthrow ourselves a little bit How music shapes and influences Jennifer’s art Getting comfortable with something unplanned happeningUsing artistry and mastery to transfer excellence to anything Leveraging obsession appointments to break patterns of negative thinking QuotesLoss is the gateway to freedom Our work is to live as mortal people, but create immortal beautiful work Resources MentionedThe Denial of Death By Ernest BeckerA Word About Failure Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this short episode of the podcast, I wanted to do something a little bit different. As I've mentioned in a few previous episodes, we're currently working on a new writing project called The Compass, a creator's guide to Instigating something that matters. One of the requests I had from a few of our listeners was to do an audio version of the project, so I decided to release a sneak preview via the podcast. Resources MentionedThe Instigator's Compass Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Faris Yakob proposed to his wife Rosie, he also suggested they quit their jobs and travel the world. The result has been a 98 week journey of creating work that’s in their heart, and the formation of their business, Genius Steals. Episode HighlightsDoing the things that are interesting, fun and profitable Lessons in branding from working with Jay Z How being good at being you makes you irreplaceableLearning how to find your superpowers and push edgesLessons from the world of Maxim magazineApplying creative constraints to do your best work A look at the reality of the technonomad life Using structure to manage uncertainty Identifying your beliefs to determine the work that’s close to your heart QuotesPeople gravitate towards people they’d want to hang out with With every life choice you have pros and cons The best partnerships are when you each feel like you’re getting the better end of the deal Don’t be good at things you don’t want to do  ResourcesStrands of Genius NewsletterWorldwide 101 Virtual Assistant Service Rosie and Faris Yakob are cofounders of Genius Steals.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Unmistakable Creative, Erica Dhawan talks about connectional intelligence and how we can leverage knowledge, ambition and human capital to create something meaningful in the world. Episode Highlights Using business as tool for social change Harnessing communities to change the worldHow to connect, people, ideas and resourcesThe difference between collaboration and connectional intelligenceUsing dance as form of expression and storytellingCreating value and meaning through connectional intelligenceGiving and listening to your communityConnecting knowledge, ambition, and human capital to create something meaningfuLeveraging our human assets to solve the world’s most important problemsThe 5 Key Questions Related to Connectional IntelligenceResourcesGet Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional IntelligenceErica Dhawan is the Founder & CEO of Cotential, a global consultancy that accelerates the connectedness of employees teams, customers and clients. You can follow her on twitter @edhawan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Unmistakable Creative, Dan Fagella talks to us about the art and science of skill development through the lens of martial arts and positive psychology. The tenets of sports psychology that can apply to your lifeLessons from the world of Brazilian jujitsu Learning to leverage of our nervous energy or jittersUsing rituals and routines to perform at our bestLeveraging biographies and history to develop perspectiveA framework for the science of skill development QuotesWe are trapped in our own conception of what’s difficultResources and Books MentionedThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into TriumphMeditations (Dover Thrift Editions)Man's Search for Meaning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al Pitampalli’s frustration with endless meetings and other things that don’t seem to have a purpose led to what he calls a meetings revolution. In this episode we discuss his experience as one of Seth Godin’s first alternative MBA students, publishing a book with the domino project and why we must learn to become persuadable…that’s right not persuasive, but persuadable, and how this enables us to spread ideas.The importance of continually asking whyLearning to explore our hidden assumptionsThe power of thinking backwards Why certain ideas are inherently spreadableThe meetings epidemic in organizational cultureAdvantages of becoming more persuadableDissecting and understanding our models of the worldQuotesWhen you want to change the world, the most dangerous thing can do is being unpersuadable ResourcesThe Domino Project The Black Swan: Second Edition: The Impact of the Highly Improbable: With a new section: “On Robustness and Fragility” (Incerto)Read This Before Our Next MeetingAl Pittampalli is founder of The Modern Meeting Company, a group that helps organizations transform meetings, make decisions, and coordinate complex teams Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dave Gray discusses his journey from the world of traditional journalism to helping large organizations clarify, communicate and achieve their goals. We also discuss how you can use drawing to make sense of the world and solve our own problems. Overcoming the starving artist objection Doing work that is truly aligned with who you areFinding a question that drives all your work Why people lose sight of their calling How the school system creates a lack of alignmentCultivating a capacity to overcome fearShowing your work when it’s not perfect Having a deep understanding of the materials you are working withWhy drawing gives us a way to see if something is possible The importance of visual literacy Using an emotional impression to make something unmistakable Resources The Instigator's CompassQuotesMoney isn’t a goal. It’s a byproduct of you providing value and services for people. Dave Gray helps large organizations solve complex problems related to culture, innovation and change.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Rohde found himself incredibly frustrated with his note taking efforts. Instead of trying to capture all of the information he was hearing ,he decided focus on capturing only those things that were most meaningful to him, and add visual elements to his notes. The result was sketch noting. Tapping into your desire to see something exist in the worldThe intersection of community and creativity How to create your very own logbook Embracing an experimental mindset Bringing constraints into your work in order to produce your best workWhy moving from digital to analog forces your mind to slow down Developing your capacity to capture and observeFocusing on the most meaningful information in content you consume Resources The Sketchnote HandbookThe Sketchnote WorkbookSketchbook SchoolCreating a Logbook Presentation Zen ReworkRemote The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New FutureThe Five Minute Journal QuotesA lot of times having limitations allows you to be creative in different ways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the show we speak with entrepreneur and coach Jim Bunch about rapid transformation, why will power fails to change the behavior of 96% of people and, how you can design your environment for optimal performance and and creativity.Why transformation has been the glue that held together Jim’s businesses The importance of having a bigger brighter vision for the futureA Look at why willpower fails to change the behavior of 96% of peopleHow every environment we’re in inspires or expires usDesigning your environments so that they express your valuesShifting the focus of your efforts from yourself to what you can contribute to the worldThe 3 foundational components that influence of our success Using environments to create the behavior you want to cultivatePeople and Resources MentionedTony Robbins Personal Power II ProgramConversations with God The Yourturn Challenge The 90-day ChallengeQuotesSimplicity succeeds. Complexity kills. Your mind is your most valuable asset especially when it comes happiness health and wealth.Most entrepreneurs don’t go financially bankrupt first, they go emotionally bankrupt first.Jim Bunch is the founder of The Ultimate Game of Life and has been a leader in the coaching and personal transformation industry for over 20 Years. Also referred to as “The Ultimate Life Entrepreneur,” Jim has coached and mentored some of the world top business and thought leaders. You can follow him on twitter @itsjimbunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us on Unmistakable Creative for an inspiring conversation with Austin Kleon, a New York Times bestselling author known for his unique approach to creativity in the digital age. In this episode, Kleon shares his journey from a child who never stopped drawing to a bestselling author of books like 'Steal Like an Artist,' 'Show Your Work,' and 'Newspaper Blackouts.'Discover how scheduling time to create can fuel a body of work and why Kleon found his best work after leaving school. Learn about the dance that all artists deal with when they have an audience and how to grow your audience while maintaining the integrity of your work.Kleon also discusses why excessive self-awareness stifles our creativity and the importance of actively seeking influence and input for your work. Don't miss Kleon's unique definition of creativity and his belief that creativity is about combining two things that nobody thought of putting together.Tune in to this episode to learn from one of the most influential voices in creativity today and gain insights that could transform your creative process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As an NYU undergraduate, Mattan Griffel had aspirations for a career in finance. But getting rejected from over 100 jobs he applied drastically altered the course of his career ultimately leading to the launch of the Ycombinator startup One Month. Separating your self worth from experiencing rejection Using self education and online learning to accelerate your career pathWhy we have to make our own ideas happen How a series of blog posts turned into an online class with over 2000 registrants The problem with experts and the internalization of knowledgeCultivating the ability to see opportunity when you hit roadblocks Designing your life around serendipity A framework for accelerated learning that you can apply to any new skillA look inside the Ycombinator experience QuotesOnce something is actually useful to you, you’re much more interested in learning it Resources General AssemblyOne Month Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with reality television producer about Jerry Kolber about his work on shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, National Geographic documentaries and Brain Games. We also talk about why the story you’re telling is so essential to any creative project you’re working on. Inside the NYU Ecosystem of Creative ProfessionalsUsing a meditation practice for career guidance A creative framework for working with limited resourcesDealing with significant career failures Learning to Separate Your Identity from Your Work Why you have to connect to people to find opportunitiesThe Reason Story Is So Essential to Your Creative ProcessInside the reality television production process Why we always have some version of the creative struggleQuotesThe nature of the universe is honest good work gets recognizedJerry is a writer, producer, and Buddhist. Projects include Queer Eye, Inked, National Geographic documentaries, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Macgyer creator Lee Zlotoff about the making of his hit TV show which has remained on their air across the world for 30 years, and using what he calls the Macgyver methodd to  engage the enormous capabilities of your subconscious mind to bear on effective problem solving.The 3 key elements that have caused Macgyver to be on the air for 30 yearsCreating global resonance and timelessness in your workWhy this could be a critical century to the future of humanity Learning to solve our problems with humor and humilityA transmedia approach to creativity and creation Why the average college student will change careers 5 times Applying the macgyver method for prolific creative outputRemoving the stress of creative production by using our subconsciousWhy you shouldn’t waste time worrying about how you’re going to get thereInside the problem solving mechanisms of the subconscious mind Using incubation activities to keep your conscious mind fro thinking about problemQuotesIf there’s something you want to do in the entertainment business just start doing it.The ability to reach millions of people is now in the hands of the individual. ResourcesThe Macgyver Foundation Macgyver Global Lee David Zlotoff is an award-winning writer, producer and director of film and television. Among his more than one hundred hours of film and television credits, he was the creator/writer of the hit series “MacGyver” as well as the writer/director of the indie hit film “Spitfire Grill” which won the coveted Audience Award at the Sundance film festival, and which has also gone on to become a successful musical. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Vivak Tiwary about his journey from business school to producing Broadway musicals and working with artists like Greenday, Alanis Morisette and many others. Highlights The cultural conflict of doing what you love versus doing what’s practical Why unorthodox paths are inherently difficult How Vivek used Brian Epstein’s life story to serve as a mentor for his career A look at the Broadway production of Greenday’s American Idiot Making the choices that allow for a profitable expression of art and commerce. How technology changes the entire creative process Lessons in creativity from the production of a Broadway Musical Quotes If your dream’s are unorthodox be prepared to work your ass off. Resources The Fifth Beatle Vivek’s TEDX talk Tiwary Entertainment Group Vivek J. Tiwary is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, and the founder of multi-platform arts and entertainment company Tiwary Entertainment Group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the show we speak with Wrike founder and CEO Andrew Filev about his mission to become insanely productive. Highlights Cultural influences of a post-Soviet worldBuilding perseverance and becoming resourcefulWhy time is our most precious resourceRecognizing the magic moments in your life The difference between your work managing you and you managing your work Developing a system to drastically change your resultsUsing small wins to get to a really big goal Combining things from different worlds to make something Unmistakable As the founder and CEO of Wrike, Andrew Filev is the visionary behind the unique social project management mix that has become an irreplaceable collaboration solution for thousands of customers. As a successful software entrepreneur and experienced project manager, Andrew not only oversees the company's business strategy, but passionately leads the product management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the show, we speak with behavioral scientist and FiveMinute Journal Founder UJ Ramdas about the science of gratitude and simple behavioral changeUJ’s earlier cultural influences The journey of self inquiry Why momentum is critical How the dots connect in lifeUsing journals to find data about yourselfBecoming a better student of yourselfSimplifying Your Daily Gratitude PracticeManaging cognitive load to change behavior Applying real world consequences to behavioral changeQuotesI think almost always, insight is predicated by disaster – UJ Ramdas ResourcesThe Art of Learning Mastery by Robert GreeneThe Five Minute JournalUJ Ramdas is passionate about bringing together practical psychology and business to create a better world. With a background in Behavioural science, Marketing and Hypnosis, he’s consulted with (several hundred) clients, bringing them from confusion to clarity. Currently based out of Toronto, Canada, he’s a big fan of the wilderness, eastern meditative practices and a good cup of tea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview we wrap up 2014 by revisiting our interview with Nick ReeseLike many young people, Nick Reese was wildly ambitious. While that ambition became the driving force of his entrepreneurial efforts, matters of the heart interfered.  What started was a radical shift from maximizing income to maximizing impact. Starting a t-shirt company from a college dorm roomLearning to recover from the failure of a business Having the audacity to go for what you really wantWhy Nick tied his self worth to making money A pivotal moment that caused Nick to change his pathLooking at a difficult parental relationship with a fatherHandling significant amounts of adversity in order to growThe 30 day cold shower challenge The importance of being able to tolerate uncomfortable situationsDeveloping a confident internal narrative to go after what you want How to improve your map of the world my modeling great onesWhy reading non-business books is incredibly useful Creating the awareness necessary to  know you're in an identity crisisWhy relationships matter more than anything in the worldAn incredible story of love, heart problems, and what matters in life  Battling with credbility vampires  Nick Reese is on a mission to help people learn the skills to live an uncommonly good life. You can learn more about his work at NicholasReese.com and Broadbandnow.com Resources and People MentionedThe Pillars of the EarthThe Neursocience of Flow with Steven KotlerThe Making of Super Size me with Alex Jamieson This episode of the Unmistakable Creative is sponsored by Skilledup, an online course discovery platform built to help shape the future of learning​. Download their free toolkit for creative professionals. In this interview we wrap up 2014 by revisiting our interview with Nick ReeseLike many young people, Nick Reese was wildly ambitious. While that ambition became the driving force of his entrepreneurial efforts, matters of the heart interfered.  What started was a radical shift from maximizing income to maximizing impact. Starting a t-shirt company from a college dorm roomLearning to recover from the failure of a business Having the audacity to go for what you really wantWhy Nick tied his self worth to making money A pivotal moment that caused Nick to change his pathLooking at a difficult parental relationship with a fatherHandling significant amounts of adversity in order to growThe 30 day cold shower challenge The importance of being able to tolerate uncomfortable situationsDeveloping a confident internal narrative to go after what you want How to improve your map of the world my modeling great onesWhy reading non-business books is incredibly useful Creating the awareness necessary to  know you're in an identity crisisWhy relationships matter more than anything in the... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our best of 2014 series. Joe Loya’s life trajectory of rising up and moving forward took a radically different turn after losing his mother at an an early age, and stabbing his father in the neck at the age of 16. This was beginning of of a life of crime, and 14 month bank robbing spree in which he robbed 30 banks. In this amazing chat about his life, we discuss the amazing power of innovating with your story. HiglightsThe loss of a parent at a very young age Growing up with an abusive fatherHow stabbing his father unleashed Joe’s angerThe power of a story that continually changedHow being robbed caused Joe to ratchet up his gameThe murder of an ex cellmate that changed Joe’s lifeAchieving balance without acting against your consciousnessHow writing starts to reveal the patterns of our lives Why you must start to own your story How Joe became a talking head for crime  The pain of victims that led Joe to working with female writersWhy your story is a fluid thing that you can ownHow we deal with grief and why it’s a part of life Why holding onto grief can be insidious How being trained to look for meaning helped Joe transform A look at what happens in the mind when you rob a bank Why your story is a fluid thing that can change Learning to laugh at the things you take seriouslyOur cultural misperceptions of the people who are prison Joe Loya is an essayist and playwright, as well as a contributing editor with the Pacific News Service. His essays have appeared in several national newspapers and magazines, including the San Francisco Examiner, the Los Angeles Times, and El Andar magazine.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this best of 2014 episode, we revisit our interview with Sarah Peck. Sarah is an writer/designer/entrepreneur whose life has been deeply influenced by swimming and writing. In this chat we discuss lessons she’s learned on her journey from college swim team member to writer and open water swimmer, whose swims have included braving the treacherous waters of San Francisco bay to make it to Alcatraz and back.HighlightsThe “not good enough” narrative that we all deal withChanging our narratives to serve us rather than sabotage usWhy we can’t be too hard on our egosHow learning not to stop can be life changingLetting of the things we think we’re capable of for something betterWhy it’s ok for things to be incredibly difficultTrials and tribulations of Sarah’s college swimming experienceHow open water swimming changed Sarah’s lifeWhy challenges, quitting, and obstacles reveal who we are Leveraging incredible mental frameworks to overcome painFighting through pain when you’re absolutely miserableWhy the worst of times reveals somebody’s true characterThe correlation between happiness and hard workWhy pain is a signal from your bodyLearning to recognize and leverage your areas of expertiseWhy Sarah teaches writing as a mechanism to get access to your inner wisdomThe power of committing to the act of creating and doodling  Sarah Peck is a writer, open water swimmer, designer-entrepreneuer and urban nerd who is on a mission is to find and capture insights from everyday, extraordinary living an share them with others Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode we look back at one of our best episodes of the year. Dani Shapiro has made her living as a writer for more than 20 years. In this interview we have an in-depth discussion about working artists and what it takes to master the craft of writing. Highlights:Why there are many trajectories to creative careersDani's early exposure to working artistsThe importance of living and rebelling Why Having a story to tell matters so muchGetting back to callings of our youth How a new generation values of quality of lifeWhy Dani left New York for a quiet country lifeWhat it truly means to live a creative lifeHow some of the great things in life happen accidentallyThe importance of exposing yourself to great artists Some incredible insights on the best way to start your daySlowing down your mind by reading physical books Making meaning from loss by telling a resonant storyThe self doubt that every single writer faces before the pageMemory and imagination as engines for storytelling Being responsible with our gifts as writers When you feel misunderstood and wounded as a writerThe reason you can't hand lack of craftsmanship Why authors are increasingly responsible for their book's successThe role that talent plays in your ability to succeed as a writerResourcesStill Writing: The pleasure and perils of a creative lifeGoodbye to all that: Writers on loving and leaving New York Dani Shapiro is the bestselling author of the memoirs Devotion and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Tin House, One Story, Elle, The New York Times Book Review, The Los Angeles Times, and has been widely anthologized. She has taught in the writing programs at Columbia, NYU, The New School and Wesleyan University, and she is co-founder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Olympic coach Jeff Spencer about the secrets of peak performance and successHighlights:Why will and talent aren’t enough for successHow mentors can alter our paths in lives The reason we shouldn’t fight battles in isolation The 3 key people that you need on your team Lessons from being olympic cyclist Testing your limits responsibly 8 foundation for peak performance  QuotesWhen we regularly engage in pursuits that we’re passionate about we serve others  Jeff Spencer has been at the forefront of human performance and achivement for over 40 years. He's worked with gold medalists, world champion athletes and Fortune 500 leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I speak with Tara Sophia Mohr about why people play small, and what helps us play big in our lives and careers from the inside out. HiglightsBalancing spirituality and practicality Finding Your Way Back After You’ve Lost ItUsing feedback in a way that allows you to play bigLearning to Identify Your calling ResourcesLean InLearning to Love Criticism NY Times  Tara Sophia Mohr is the author of Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message, named a Best Book of 2014 by Apple's ibooks. Her work on wellbeing, careers and spirituality has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and the Today Show. She's also the creator of the global Playing Big leadership program for women, and a lover of poetry, dance, dogs, art and mamahood.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we wrap up our instigator series in which we revisit their interviews and unveil the speakers for our annual event, The Instigator Experience. Our final instigator experience is Christina Rasmussen who talks to us about overcoming losses and dealing with the inevitable setbacks of our lives. As the founder of Second Firsts, an organization to help people create a pathway back to life after loss, Christina spends her time speaking, coaching, and helping thousands of people rebuild, reclaim, and relaunch their lives using the most powerful tool for personal reinvention: the human mind Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our 7th Instigator is Clay Hebert, who was one of Seth Godin's first alternative MBA students and has helped over 80 entrepreneurs raise over 20 million dollars across various crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our instigator series in which we revisit their interviews unveil the speakers for our annual event, The Instigator Experience. Our 6th instigator is Brigitte Lyons PR and media specialist that helps people craft a media messages that touches and hearts and minds reaches millions. Because this interview was recorded prior to our rebrand, there may be occasional references to our old name BlogcastFM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our instigator series in which we revisit their interviews unveil the speakers for our annual event, The Instigator Experience. Our 5th instigator is experience Linda Sivertsen, book midwife who has helped best selling authors build platform that have resulted in six and seven figure book deals. Because this interview was recorded prior to our rebrand, there may be occasional references to our old name BlogcastFM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our instigator series in which we revisit their interviews unveil the speakers for our annual event, The Instigator Experience. Our 4th instigator is experience Institute Founder Victor Saad. By designing his own education through a series of experiences, Victor is challenging the status quo in higher education.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our instigator series in which we revisit their interviews and unveil the speakers for our annual event, The Instigator Experience. Our 3rd instigator instigator is Jadah Sellner, community builder and founder of simplegreensmoothies.com. Jadah is an advocate for world-changing dreamers, a community-building �strategist, and the marketing visionary and co-founder of Simple Green Smoothies. In 15 months, Jadah grew her Simple Green Smoothies’ community from 0 to 200,000 subscribers, reaching more than 10 million page views.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our instigator series in which we revisit their interviews unveil the speakers for our annual event, The Instigator Experience. Our second instigator is Janelle Hanchett , the masterful storyteller and the founder of Rengade Mothering, her fight against meaningful parenting advice.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.