Welcome to the Mindful 15 series: A shorter (15 minutes or so) format where I fly solo and sharing personal insights on self awareness and mindset development from my own journey as a creative entrepreneur.

In June’s Mindful 15, I discuss how to successfully navigate this new age of abstract where a lot of people are creating and marketing byproducts (courses, info products, etc.) of their experiences and expertise.

And while this is a great opportunity for creators, it’s also a challenge to create a byproduct that is distinct since the market is pretty saturated.



Link Love

Teachery – Jason Zook and Gerlando Piro


The Creative Class: Become a Better Freelancer – Paul Jarvis


MC29: Dominate Your Day with Jeff Sanders


When Advice is Dangerous

In this Episode



* How do you create something in this age of abstract that is compelling and useful, but also aligned with your brand, goals and the purpose that drives both.

* How to create a byproduct based on actual experience vs. perceived demand (i.e. creating based on what you think will be successful vs. identifying what you believe will be valuable for a specific audience based on your own experience).

* The platform and personal branding craze and why internet influence is the new drug of choice.

* The danger of a creative goal becoming more about earning validation and influence, and how this focus can create disconnect between the perceived need of your audience and the actual need.

* Why it’s important to start with clearly identifying the audience and defined need before you create a byproduct (or product of any kind).

* The importance of “starting inward” to reflect on what you struggle most with in your own business and creative process (the old adage of “you are your best customer”).

* The value of regularly auditing your content to see what’s resonating (where to start) and researching intent (google searches, related searches, relevant sites/blogs in your niche).

* The power of creating products and services in a business based on what you’ve actually experienced and experimented with as an entrepreneur.

* How to start the process of creating based on experience: Look at the intersection of a strong, identified need, your expertise, and the value you provide (i.e. what you actually create).

* Why authenticity is a significant aspect of creating strong relationships with our communities, and why true authenticity comes from show – not tell.

* How this impacts my process for sourcing ideas and topics for the podcast.

* Some great examples of this model mentioned: Jeff Sanders of the 5am Miracle Podcast, Matt Frazier of No Meat Athlete, Leo Babauta of Zen Habits, James Clear, Paul Jarvis, and Jason Zook.

* Final thoughts: Why our success has far less to do with talent or skill as it does applying that to how we serve others in a very relevant, very specific way. That is how you successfully navigate this age of abstract – with authenticity and value at the helm.



Thanks for listening!

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