How To Actually Become A Successful Creator In 2026 | Chase Reeves | 121

How do you actually become a successful long-term creator? Chase Reeves, a multi-talented creator ranging from musician to designer to coach, joins Nathan Barry to explore the unexpected ingredients for long-term success. Chase unpacks his unique journey, from pirated Photoshop to crafting captivating content, revealing how developing "taste" isn't just about technical skills, but a deep, soulful curiosity. This episode takes a dive into the critical balance between external validation and internal drive, why "actual" people connect with authenticity, and how embracing a little chaos might just be the secret sauce for innovation and genuine impact. Get ready to rethink how you approach your craft and cultivate a career that truly resonates.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:18 Intentionality and the exploration of feeling05:37 How Chase developed taste and his approach to making things09:24 The internet rewards performance, not integration12:54 How to sustain long-term growth and avoid burnout16:53 Connecting with your audience and understanding their needs20:47 Being playful and holding things loosely24:00 How small groups and men's work create healing through witness27:31 The cure for addiction is intimacy31:05 The difference between feeling good and being good34:10 The role of curiosity in building taste37:25 How to make a living while pursuing creative passions41:40 The power of saying "no" to opportunities44:25 Why creators need to protect their mental health47:20 Finding your unique voice in a crowded world50:10 Building a sustainable creative practice01:10:02 Embracing discomfort as a path to innovation01:20:30 Final thoughts on being a successful long-term creatorIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.comFollow Chase:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasewreevesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chasereevesWebsite: https://chasereeves.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasereevesFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comTroubadour: https://www.troubadourgoods.comRedwood Outdoor Sauna: https://www.redwoodoutdoors.com/Cold Plunge: https://thecoldplunge.com/Wandered: https://www.wandrd.com/Pact: https://pact.com/Studio Neat: https://www.studioneat.com/Highlights:01:51 – Musicians to content creators is an underused path06:26 – Your nervous system matters in business09:03 – Taste is higher than capabilities in the beginning12:00 – Make something that's an exact copy15:18 – Deep sense of insecurity fuels learning19:50 – The internet rewards performance, not integration27:31 – The cure for addiction is intimacy