Season 2 – MC30: Mindful 15 – The Age of Abstract

What this episode covers

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! If you can please take a moment to subscribe and leave an honest rating and review of the show on iTunes,

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