Creators That Crush

Episode 11 If I took a look at your website, would I get a sense of who you are as a person or brand? Many experts struggle with putting themselves in their marketing because they are so focused on what they do. Why?   Most people start with marketing, when they should start with their POV. This episode opens at Shawn's desk, mid website audit: a local therapist whose only line of personality ("If I ever ask you if you're fine, you can fire me") sits buried in a template from the late-90s internet. Her voice exists. The site hides it. And a stranger who can't see who you are won't buy. The usual fixes make this worse. AI polishes a site into sounding like everyone else. Outsourcing can run long and expensive; one coach paid five years of hosting and maintenance for a website that never brought her a client. Both fail for the same reason: AI, agencies, and teams are amplifiers, not sources. An empty input produces expensive generic output. Marketing is downstream of your voice. Shawn lived the upstream version of this. Ten years on YouTube, two into a podcast, and he could not say what made his content different from any other high-performance coach. The search that followed ran through show-premise work with Kevin from Grow The Show and Jeremy Enns of Scrappy Podcasting, and each fix moved further upstream: the premise was wrong because his voice was not in it. The Input/Output rebrand came out of that work, along with a rubric for auditing how voice, workflow, and confidence show up on an expert's website. Across coaches and therapists, three failure modes keep appearing: experts who can't explain what they do (voice), sites that say everything to catch everyone (confidence), and offer sprawl or no offers at all (workflow). Shawn ran the rubric on himself and found 420-some landing pages. The answer gets its first public airing here: the POV framework. Perspective is the lens, how you approach problems and what your prior career taught you. Opinions are the claims, where you break from your field's defaults. Vision is the direction, what you see for your clients that they can't yet see for themselves. Your voice is your POV expressed, and with those three in place, the same AI, the same designer, and the same website finally have something to amplify. The episode closes with the 3x3 exercise. Write three ways your perspective is unique, three opinions your peers would push back on, and three things you wish for your clients going forward. That page is the core of your POV and the guiding light for every piece of marketing you touch. → Want to go deeper? Book a Creator Diagnostic at shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call — a free half-hour call. Shawn reviews your website through the Voice, Workflow, and Confidence lens before you talk. Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow.0:00 Cold open — the therapist audit1:31 Show intro2:09 What experts want when it comes to marketing3:46 How experts undercut themselves (the failed fixes)6:25 Reorientation — I lived it (the search + the three failure modes)11:27 The POV framework (Perspective, Opinions, Vision)18:22 Wrap-up — the 3x3 + Creator Diagnostic

The past year has been a journey to rebrand the podcast. But why? In this episode of Input Output, I share the new driving idea for this new show, the journey to get to here, and the realization that changed it all. Two podcasts, more than 170 episodes, and one broken publishing streak led to a single question: across ten years of experiments, what was the one constant input into the business? The answer became the name of this show. Shawn walks the road from The Meaningful Revolution (a year of weekly episodes, flat growth) to Creators That Crush (borrowed high-performance material he never felt connected to) to the deeper work that surfaced the real problem: he had never defined his own creative voice. Each fix moved further upstream. First from the episodes to the premise. Then from the premise to the person behind it.0:00 You are the ultimate input (cold open)1:42 Show intro2:11 The rebrand: two shows, one broken streak4:38 The synthesis: systems, coaching, and AI5:31 The guitar metaphor: input, signal, output7:03 The three lenses: voice, workflow, confidence9:03 The diagnostic: which one is missing?10:18 The inner layer: nine parts of the ultimate input11:11 Wrap-up + the self-assessment challenge The specifics covered: the guitar-to-amp metaphor that gives the show its name (input, signal, output), the three outcomes every content-forward business runs on (your voice, your workflow, your confidence), and the diagnostic that tells you which one is missing. Voice and confidence without workflow means five ideas and no progress. Voice and workflow without confidence is the frustration trap. Workflow and confidence without voice makes you a commodity anyone could replace. All three together make you the expert people come to. Behind each external dial sits an internal driver — identity, presence, and feeling — fed by your beliefs, habits, and influences: nine things the show will pull apart, episode by episode, to understand you, the ultimate input. The episode ends with a self-assessment: rate your voice, workflow, and confidence 1 to 10, write three short statements on why you gave each number, then pick the one you need the most help with and email it to [email protected]. Shawn reads every one and replies personally with something to move you forward. → Rate yourself, pick your weakest dial, and email it to [email protected] — you'll get a personal reply. Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. 0:00 You are the ultimate input (cold open)1:40 Show intro~2:00 The rebrand: two shows, one broken streak~x:xx The synthesis: systems, coaching, and AI~x:xx The guitar metaphor: input, signal, output~x:xx The three lenses: voice, workflow, confidence~x:xx The diagnostic: which one is missing?~x:xx The inner layer: nine parts of the ultimate input~x:xx Wrap-up + the self-assessment challenge

 This episode, we talk about the difference between busy work and deep work and how understanding that difference and navigating it successfully leads to a better you as a creator, and as a business owner. We talk about what goes into understanding busy work versus deep work. We run it through the lenses of the show: your voice, your workflows, and your confidence. At the end, there's a challenge on how to keep yourself on track and growing as a creator with a simple exercise. Creator business growth doesn't stall from lack of effort. It stalls because busywork and real progress feel exactly the same from the inside. This episode opens with three hours lost to a script that wouldn't come together, and the question that followed: is reworking the process real work, or avoidance? From there, Shawn defines busywork and deep work in concrete terms, collapses the productivity checklist into one question (is this moving a meaningful goal forward in your business?), and names the four inputs that build your awareness: your tells, your definition of excellent, your confidence, and your previous experience. The specifics covered: the four questions hiding inside one, what work looks like with you in the process versus without you, the client who took courses for three years instead of launching (and what her launch finally taught her), the lesson from Apple about fixing friction instead of accepting it, why 85% accuracy beats 80% at AI scale (one degree off, over a long enough line, lands you somewhere else entirely), the Thor: Ragnarok magic cup that never empties, and the Harvard Business Review and Stanford finding on AI "workslop." It ends on the episode's real turn: the better input is you, knowing when an impulse to change is a signal and when it's a distraction. If you've ever ended a busy week with nothing meaningful shipped, taken one more course before launching, or wondered whether tinkering with your process is progress or hiding, this one is about your week. That's the creator-led business growth problem: the tools and processes are the same for everyone; the input isn't. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint → Want a read on where your creator business is actually stuck? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator business growth and the creator-led business growth that comes from knowing your own tells. Chapters 00:00 — Busywork and progress feel the same: the three-hour script spiral 02:28 — The difference: intention plus knowing your tells 02:37 — Input: busywork vs. deep work, defined 08:21 — Signal: the work with you in it, and without you 19:58 — Output: the better creator, the AI busywork trap, and the better input 24:19 — Voiceprint: get clear on what you want as a creator 24:56 — Recap: judge the week by intention and direction  25:44 — Challenge of the week: your five next best moves  26:33 — Wrap-up

Episode 7 (soft-launch) Your team, tools, workflows, and systems all have one thing in common: you. Get clear on your part and everything downstream improves. You are the ultimate input. This is the premise episode of Input/Output. Shawn Buttner lays out the show's core bet: every outcome you chase as a creator traces back to one input, and that input is you. He walks the Input → Signal → Output model that names the show and makes the case for why getting yourself clear comes before the funnel, the tools, or the team. Input is everything that kicks off your system: your character, your values, who shaped you, and the creative DNA that flows downstream into everything you make. Signal is the work that carries it: the team, the SOPs, the AI workflows, the actual making. Think songwriter, then the band and the studio, then the song on the radio. Output is what the world experiences: amplification, not origination. Shawn argues that AI raises the stakes on the input instead of replacing it. Feed a blurry creator into the workflow and you get generic output at scale, with the "80% is good enough" rule compounding into drift over time. He also breaks down Jay Clouse's Creator HQ launch from Creator Science #191: the best launch of Jay's business that still felt flat, because there was no milestone set to celebrate. The lesson: how you measure success internally is itself an input. If you've ever thought "if I'd just shown up differently, I'd have gotten a different outcome," this is the show that makes that the whole point. It's for creators with a lot of ideas who need a process and a system to sort through them, people aiming for greater impact through their work, not people chasing hype with nothing underneath it. Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning it into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, Certified High Performance Coach. The premise is simple: you are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. 0:00 The one input every creator overlooks1:21 You're the only input that matters1:34 Who Input/Output is for2:02 The Input: character, values, and creative DNA4:53 The Signal: the work that carries it6:13 The Output: amplification, not origination (where AI fits)7:53 The Output newsletter8:23 Why this show is different — and the Jay Clouse launch lesson10:56 Growing as a creator and a person11:12 Wrap-up   Check out the Output Newsletter mentioned in this episode!Link to Jay Clause's Creator HQ Launch episode.  

Episode 5 Most creators are told the way to fix engagement and growth is more volume. So they make more. More posts. More videos. When “more” doesn’t move the needle, then what? In this solo episode, I lay out the contradiction that ran my creative life for a decade: 700 videos, ten years, under 20 subscribers, all while doing everything the playbook said to do. The problem was never volume. It was presence. And every safe choice I made, no opinions, no stories, a smaller face on the thumbnail, was a quiet decision to not be seen. I walk through what "doing everything right" produced, and the moment it cracked: cringing at my own videos. I share the year inside Evan Carmichael's group, where the push was to open every video with a big opinion. Looking back at 700 videos, I found almost zero opinions and almost no personal stories. I was terrible at sharing them, and it still moved the channel from 20 to 100 subscribers. That's when the real realization landed. It was never about more opinions. I was hiding. Protecting myself from what I call the flaming arrows of the internet, building content so safe there was no person left in it to criticize. I thought I was building an audience. I was building an invisibility shield. If you've been consistent for years and the growth still hasn't shown up, this is why. If your last five pieces could have been made by anyone covering the same topic, this is why. Creator identity isn't a finishing touch on good content. It's the input the whole system runs on. Input/Output is the show for coaches, consultants, and expertise-based creators building a creator system grounded in who they are. Hosted by Certified High Performance Coach Shawn Buttner, each episode explores creator identity, creator voice, content systems, and the habits behind sustainable creative growth. Chapters: [0:00] 700 videos, ten years, under 20 subscribers[0:36] The reframe: a hiding problem, not a content problem[1:15] The playbook that keeps you invisible[3:17] When watching your own videos makes you cringe[4:37] Evan Carmichael and the push for a big opinion[5:55] Terrible at it, and it still worked (20 to 100)[6:51] The real realization: I was hiding[7:40] The flaming arrows of the internet[8:45 ]Why opinions and stories move a channel[9:31] The diagnostic, and the question to sit with

Finding your creator voice isn't a craft problem. It's an attention problem. If your content feels hollow or sounds like everyone else's, more reps won't fix it. But one story a day might. In this solo episode, I share what happened during a coaching session with my own coach Jeremy that cracked open something I'd been circling for ten years. I was listing out everything frustrating me about my show, my brand, my offer. Somewhere in that list, I realized the real problem wasn't any of those things. It was that I'd been creating content that felt like me on the outside and wasn't me at all on the inside. I walk through ten years of output: over 700 YouTube videos, as many newsletters, 150+ podcast episodes, 400+ landing pages. And what it felt like when all of it fell flat. Not because of execution, but because I was hiding behind borrowed ideas and other people's frameworks.  If your content feels like a performance, or you've been consistent for years without the connection you expected, this episode is for you. One story. That's the practice. Input/Output is the show for coaches, consultants, and expertise-based creators building a creator system grounded in who they are. Hosted by Certified High Performance Coach Shawn Buttner, each episode explores creator identity, finding your creator voice, content systems, and the habits behind sustainable creative growth.  Chapters: The coaching session that cracked it open Why creator voice isn't a craft problem Ten years of content that felt off Hiding behind borrowed ideas Patrick's challenge: list every story you tell The one-story-a-day practice Why storytelling forces a point of view How to know when your voice is working One question to ask yourself today Join the newsletter to get a different take on todays' episode, right to your inbox every week: www.shawnbuttner.com/joinus

After creating 700+ YouTube videos, 430 landing pages, 175 podcast episodes, and 10 years of newsletters, I realized the problem wasn't showing up or producing. It was clarity about myself in relation to the work. In this episode, I'm soft launching a new format for the show exploring the creator as the ultimate input into all technology, systems, and processes. I share my personal clarity journey and introduce a 5 step framework to help you get clear on who you are as a creator so you can lead your tools, team, and creative process.  You'll learn why borrowed language keeps you disconnected from your work, how treating content as idea exploration changes everything, and the five elements that become your input for AI, team communication, and better results.   Topics discussed: Intros: The 700 videos problem (00:00)The Input: My background and hiding behind borrowed language (01:00)The Signal: Five Areas of Creator Clarity (06:00)The Output: How clarity changed my creative process (08:00)Wrapping Up: Quick self assessment on the 5 elements (10:00)New Workshop announcement (12:00)Finishing Up: Final thought (13:00)   The 5 Step Clarity Framework: Ideas: Your ownable IP Beliefs: What you stand for Taste: Your quality standards Stories: How you communicate Expression: Your tone and style   Want to go deeper? Join the You First Framework webinar series at www.shawnbuttner.com/ai to get AI prompts that help you define these elements and create your communication document.   Have thoughts on this new format? Email [email protected] → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator identity and getting clarity as a creator.

  700 videos. 430 landing pages. 170+ podcast episodes. And a decade of newsletters. So why wasn't anything sticking? In this mini update episode, Shawn gets real about what's been happening behind the scenes, and the common thread he found running through all of it. If you've ever felt like you're putting in the work but not getting the traction, this one's for you. Topics discussed: Where Shawn's been (00:00) The numbers that forced the question (00:00) The common thread — and what it revealed (00:45) What the last five months looked like (01:15) What's coming next to the podcast (01:45) How to co-create the new show (02:00)   Listen to Creators That Crush on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYGHMT5cuFigp3efE8FwNw/ Connect with Shawn Buttner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner/

The best thing YouTube does for creators has nothing to do with views — it's the 1% improvements you make every single time you hit record. In this episode, freelance videographer Joseph Burda shares what that growth looked like as a stay-at-home dad and how a no-niche sandbox approach helped him avoid burnout as a new creator. You'll learn how to escape the sunk cost trap that keeps so many creators stuck, find your creator cohort, and actually enjoy the journey. Topics discussed: Introduction (00:00) What 1% looks like for creators (01:42) The impetus to finally get on YouTube (05:45) How YouTube grows you as a person and creator (07:11) Joseph’s creative process (15:18) The sandbox approach to avoid burnout and just get started (17:28) Finding your YouTube cohort (19:06) Why so many creators lose their agency (23:37) How to live a regret-free life as a creator (27:09) Why you should lean into your interests (32:45) Closing (38:12) Joseph Burda is a creative director, editor, and dad. The Bham Burdas is where he documents real-life experiments with money, mindset, family, and living a regret free life... Among other things. Connect with Joseph:  https://www.youtube.com/@CreatorControlGroup https://www.youtube.com/@B-hamburdas   Listen to Creators That Crush on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Listen to Creators That Crush on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zm76yT667pFBQfvPYhDl8?si=7f0267d0366742f7 Follow us on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYGHMT5cuFigp3efE8FwNw/ Connect with Shawn Buttner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner/   This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

Your creator identity is the foundation of every creator system. If your content sounds like everyone else's, more tactics won't fix it. This conversation explores the creative DNA behind sustainable creator growth. Jeremy Enns joins me for a deep conversation about what actually makes a creator unique. We break down the three forces that shape creator identity: your experiences and beliefs, how you relate to other people, and the knowledge you contribute beyond common best practices. Together, these create the perspective that separates memorable creators from interchangeable ones. Jeremy shares how seemingly unrelated childhood interests—from Lego to video games—became clues to the way he thinks, teaches, and builds today. We explore why creative growth often comes from following curiosity rather than forcing a predefined path, and how repeated practice helps creators discover their own voice. We also discuss why many creators get stuck trying to find the "right" answer instead of developing their own point of view. Jeremy explains how writing, reflection, and paying attention to recurring interests helped him move beyond imposter syndrome and build a creative system grounded in his own observations. If you've ever wondered whether your unique perspective actually matters, this episode makes the case that creator identity is the input behind creative performance, sustainable content creation, and long-term creator growth. Creators That Crush is the show for creators, coaches, and entrepreneurs building a creator system that supports meaningful work and sustainable growth. Hosted by Certified High Performance Coach Shawn Buttner, each episode explores creator identity, creative performance, content systems, and the habits that help creators build businesses around their expertise.Chapters:1. The three parts of creative DNA2. What childhood interests reveal about creator identity3. How game design influences creative work4. Why following creative curiosity matters5. The compounding effect of writing and publishing6. Escaping the search for the "right" answer7. Developing strong opinions about your craft8. How creator identity shapes long-term growthAbout our guest:Jeremy Enns | Founder, Podcast Marketing AcademyHelps expert-based businesses grow through stronger positioning, audience development, and creative voice.

If you've ever wondered why some creators stay consistent, grow their work, and keep loving the process while others quietly burn out, this episode will show you the difference. In this solo reflection, Shawn Buttner shares his initial case for enthusiasm as the true currency of creativity, why sustained excitement for your craft predicts long-term success better than hustle, algorithms, or luck. Drawing from his own journey from business school to Walmart, Apple, and finally coaching, Shawn shows how enthusiasm guided every major pivot and how losing it nearly ended his creative drive. You'll also hear what Shawn learned from studying dozens of "I Quit" creator videos and how fading enthusiasm, not failure, was usually the real reason people walked away. He then unpacks five lasting benefits of protecting and amplifying your enthusiasm: clearer career decisions, creative freedom, contagious energy, sustainable motivation, and deep personal satisfaction. If your spark has dimmed or you've been pushing through out of obligation, this episode will help you reconnect with why you started. What are your thoughts on enthusiasm? The two questions from the episode are: When is a time when your enthusiasm helped lead you to success?When is a time when your enthusiasm dropped and it caused you to quit something? Feel free to email [email protected] with your answers or thoughts. To see a creator enthusiasm journey, check out Kev Michael's interview here: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2149073093 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creative performance and the creator habits that sustain it.

Tired of overthinking? Doubting your work and letting fear hold you back? Mindset can only get you so far. What you really need is the resilience to show up and build real confidence. Resilience coach Carlos Garcia is an expert in resilience training and performing under pressure — especially when you're stuck in a cycle of anxiety and self-doubt. In this episode, he shares actionable tools and real-world practices you can start using today to rewire your nervous system, get out of your comfort zone, and feel confident in your content. You'll learn how to face the fears keeping you stuck and manage the discomfort of being a creator! Topics discussed: The vulnerability of being a creator Overcoming fear of judgment and imposter syndrome How to create a “personal constitution” The role of physical activity in resilience training Embarrassment drills and the exposure ladder tool How to rewrite the stories you tell yourself 3 common fears that hold creators back How to rewire your nervous system Carlos is co-founder of True Progress Lab, where he helps people get calm under pressure, get bold, and go after big opportunities. He’s also an attorney by trade, an Army reserve JAG, and an Army certified resilience trainer where he trains soldiers and leaders on tools to stay calm and resilient under stress. Links: Learn more about the Fortress Program that helps people get calm, get bold, and get after it: https://www.trueprogresslab.com/innerfortress Connect with Carlos on Instagram: @trueprogresslab Listen to Creators That Crush on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Listen to Creators That Crush on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zm76yT667pFBQfvPYhDl8?si=7f0267d0366742f7 Follow us on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYGHMT5cuFigp3efE8FwNw/ Connect with Shaw Buttner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

Feel like you're creating but your content isn't landing? The solution could be as simple as treating your content like a product. Not sure what that means? In this episode, Diana Ordoñez explains how to define the "job" of your content, clarify your audience, and create content that connects. You'll learn a simple exercise to discover your core values and how to use empathy as a strategic tool for growth. If you want to turn your content from a hobby into a business, this episode is for you! Topics discussed: The product manager mindset for creatorsWhy creators need to niche downThe "jobs to be done" conceptHow to create content that connects (and sells)How to define your values and build a business around themWhat it takes to sustain a creative business Diana Ordonez is an Executive & High Performance Coach (CHPC, BCC) with a Master's in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. She draws on her decade of experience as a corporate product management director, along with her journey of personal resilience and growth, to help leaders lead with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Connect with Diana Ordonez: https://www.lifeonpurpose.coach/thrivehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBVp_swZl5Mqx_nVCi6fFQhttps://instagram.com/lifeonpurpose.coach/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique: https://podcastboutique.com → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about content strategy for experts and treating your content like a product.

If your publishing feels heavy, your positioning probably is. In this episode, Shawn shows professional creators how to define their audience using AAM (Audience, Aspiration, Method) and a 10-second one-liner you can actually say out loud. When AAM is crisp, creation gets easier, outreach lands, and platform changes don't shake you. You'll hear clear AAM examples (Creator Science, Calm is the New KPI, GrowthDay) and Shawn's own pivot from fuzzy messaging to a weekly outreach process and product clarity (premise/promise/delivery). Then we run a timed AAM Drill: 5 minutes on audience identities/psychographics, 5 minutes on concrete aspirations, 5 minutes on the transformation (your method). Cap it with the Flow / Memorability / 10-Second checks so you can use your AAM this week. Topics discussed: What is AAM and examples from other creatorsThe 10-second test, and how you can accomplish itWhere creators get tripped up Listen to Susan Boles's episode here: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2149041136 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator clarity, positioning, and creator identity.

You know your stuff... so why are you still struggling as a creator? Are you undervaluing your work or confused about your message? In this episode, branding coach Christine Blosdale breaks down how confidence (not talent) is holding you back and what it takes to own your expert power. If you're afraid to charge more for your services or call yourself an expert in your niche, her tips will help you overcome imposter syndrome, build your brand, and reach the right audience! Topics discussed: Common mistakes creators makeHow imposter syndrome holds you backHow to define your message and your audienceSix ways to overcome imposter syndromeWhy you should embrace failure Christine Blosdale is The Expert Authority Coach — and for over 25 years, she's helped entrepreneurs, coaches, and business leaders stop playing small and start commanding the attention they deserve. As a five-time #1 bestselling author and award-winning media personality, Christine has contributed to major platforms like America Online and Microsoft, and now she helps entrepreneurs amplify their message with high-impact branding, marketing via podcasting, and bold visibility strategies that get results. Her mission? To help you master your message, magnetize your brand, and become the go-to authority in your niche. For more information visit ExpertAuthorityCoach.com Connect with Christine Blosdale: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristineBlosdalehttps://www.expertauthoritycoach.com/ Get your free gift: https://mailchi.mp/4bbbfb0a3de4/survivalguide This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique: https://podcastboutique.com → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator confidence and owning your expert power as a creator.

Most creators are told the answer to slow growth is more output, more tactics, or more courses. But what if the real breakthrough comes from looking inward? In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own podcast and walking you through the nine things I believe are wrong with Creators That Crush. From a name that might be sending the wrong signal to unclear episode expectations, inconsistent quality, and engagement issues — I'm sharing it all. You'll hear how I gathered feedback, spotted patterns, and boiled it all down into three big changes that will help me (and maybe you) create better, faster, and with more joy: Refocus on the show's core promise.Lean into a consistent, transformation-driven episode structure.Invest more in pre-production to tighten clarity and packaging. If you've been creating for a while and feel stuck, this episode is your step-by-step example of how to use self-reflection to move forward. Listen in, then try this process for yourself. Check out the previously mentioned episode with Kev Michael here: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2149073093 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator identity, creative performance, and improving your show.

Remember when podcasting used to be fun? If you're feeling uninspired or like your show is running on autopilot, you may be due for a creative reset. Kev Michael of Grow the Show is a podcast growth expert, but even he found himself stuck in the 7-year creator burnout cycle. In this episode, he shares what he did to get excited about being a creator again and why he decided to reverse his podcast rebrand. You'll learn how to keep creating without burning out, get your mojo back, and start crushing it as a creator! Topics discussed: Why Kev rebranded his podcast (twice)What the 7-year burnout cycle looks likeHow podcast growth strategies have evolvedBalancing your creative side and business sideRebranding and reinventing as a creatorHow to define your audience the right wayTips to build confidence and creativity Kev Michael is a podcaster and podcast coach. His first podcast, Philly Who?, was launched in 2018 as a side hustle while he was a corporate software developer. Within 18 months, Philly Who? surpassed 100,000 downloads and more than six figures in monetized revenue. In 2020, Kevin launched Grow The Show, a podcast, and the Grow The Show Accelerator, an intensive podcast accelerator program. Since then the Grow The Show has impacted over 50,000 podcasters, and the Grow The Show Accelerator has helped over 500 podcasters grow and monetize. Connect with Kev Michael: https://twitter.com/kevinchemidlinhttps://instagram.com/kevinchemidlinhttps://linkedin.com/in/kevinchemidlinhttps://www.youtube.com/@growtheshow Check out the episode on skyrocketing your confidence here: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2149061066 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique: https://podcastboutique.com → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator burnout and sustainable content creation.

You were the creative star — the ideas, the voice, the energy that made it all happen. But somewhere along the way, success turned your spark into caution. And here's the truth: caution kills creativity. In this episode, I'll share why even the most talented creators can get stuck after success and what you can do to reignite your creative fire. I'll walk you through my own story: how a silly, low-stakes Instagram reel about my coffee routine became the best-performing content I'd ever made, and what it taught me about overthinking, experimentation, and joy in the creative process. You'll also hear lessons from creators like Jay Clouse, behind-the-scenes insights from Saturday Night Live, and a surprising pottery class study that proves why quantity often beats perfection. From there, I'll break down five focus shifts that can get you unstuck fast: focus on effort, not outcomes; show up for the work instead of waiting for magic; embrace learning over perfection; think in terms of long-term growth rather than single hits; and choose intrinsic goals over external pressure. We'll also talk about the balance between strategy and joy, why repeating what works can be useful (until it isn't), and how to recognize when mental health challenges might be the real creative block. By the end, you'll have a clear, practical framework for getting back to the kind of work that made you the creative star in the first place, and the confidence to let success follow naturally. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about self doubt as a creator and creator identity.

Creative burnout isn't about laziness or lack of ambition—it's a signal that your creative process is out of alignment. In this episode, Shawn Buttner breaks down why the standard advice of "just push harder" isn't sustainable, and introduces the one path that actually works: finding your performance edge. You'll learn: What a performance edge is (and what it feels like)The 3 major causes of creative burnout: delay, detachment, and doing it aloneHow to recognize when you've slipped out of alignment with your creative workHow to use 5 high-performance metrics (clarity, energy, courage, productivity, and influence) to diagnose and fix burnoutWhy micro-habits and flow states are essential for sustainable momentum Shawn also shares personal stories, from his own burnout journey to client breakthroughs, to help you reconnect with your purpose and create with confidence again. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator burnout and realigning your creative process.

What if the reason you're stuck isn't what you think? In this solo episode, certified High Performance Coach Shawn Buttner shares a powerful 10-minute diagnostic that has helped hundreds of creators and professionals get unstuck, reclaim their energy, and take real action. Drawing on a decade of coaching and his own YouTube journey (700 videos before things started to click), Shawn walks through the five critical areas that determine momentum—and what to do if one is lagging. The last 4 minutes of the episode talk about how to use the assessment the most effectively. If you've been feeling stalled, spinning your wheels, or just plain overwhelmed, this episode offers a straightforward way to identify where things are breaking down, and how to fix it. Listen now and discover the exact reason you've been stuck, and how to get back in motion. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator clarity and diagnosing why you're stuck.

If fear has been stopping you from publishing, launching, or even hitting record, then this episode is for you. Host Shawn Buttner shares the story of how one terrifying moment in high school helped him build real confidence. By saying "yes" to a last-minute musical performance as an anxious introvert, Shawn discovered that courage isn't about eliminating fear. It's about acting anyway. In this episode, you'll also learn a powerful technique called fear-setting, made famous by Tim Ferriss and enhanced with high-performance coaching tools. Shawn walks you through how to map out your fears, defuse them, and create a plan that moves you forward—even when you're overwhelmed. You'll also learn: The three types of fear that sabotage creatorsHow to address each so you can finally make progress. If you've been stuck in your creative business or personal growth journey, this episode might be the exact mindset shift you need. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator confidence and acting despite fear.

Feeling off, stuck, or disconnected from your work as a creator? It might be more than a bad day; it could be burnout. In this episode, certified high performance coach Shawn Buttner shares the seven hidden signs of creator burnout he sees most often in coaching sessions. From subtle tension in your voice to the hero complex of doing everything yourself, these red flags can derail even the most committed creators. You'll also hear Shawn's personal burnout story from his corporate days and how he turned that struggle into a calling to help others. More importantly, he shares a simple, proven 3-step framework (Clear. Action. Wins.) to help you recover, recharge, and re-ignite your creativity. If you're feeling tired, frustrated, or unsure about your path, this episode could be the turning point. Related episode: Creator Burnout: The Tiny Choices That Slowly Burn Creators Out: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2149030444 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator burnout warning signs and catching burnout early.

What do you do when creating starts to feel pointless? In this raw and honest episode, Shawn Buttner shares the doubts he's been facing as a creator in a world where AI generates content at lightning speed, social media feels dull, and audience growth gets harder every day. If you've ever wondered, "Why am I even doing this anymore?", this episode will hit home. You'll hear how Shawn worked through feelings of burnout, the fear of irrelevance, and the temptation to quit. He shares how creators at every level (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) can handle market disruption, shifting platforms, and internal resistance. His biggest lesson? This is part of the job—and the fun. Get grounded with insights from the real creator journey, hear why personal voice still matters more than ever, and walk away with a reframe that could keep you in the game when others burn out. 🎧 Listen now and learn how to stay inspired, even when creating feels like the last thing you want to do. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator burnout, creator purpose, and staying in the game.

Ever feel like you're doing all the "right" things as a creator—but still stuck? In this solo episode, Shawn Buttner breaks down the five surprisingly simple habits that helped him shift from burnout and overwhelm to consistent growth and energy. You'll hear how a single journaling prompt took him from dreading his job to reclaiming optimism… how protecting his first hour of the day gave him a sustainable energy boost… and how he built influence and visibility without feeling sleazy online. Whether you're just starting out or deep into your creator journey, these habits are practical, powerful, and easy to implement. What You'll Learn: A journaling trick that shifts negative thinking in under two minutesWhy "slow mornings" might be the missing productivity hackHow consistent exposure (even when it's uncomfortable) builds courageThe power of the "smallest viable action" to create lasting momentumA simple rule for building influence without being salesy → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator habits and sustainable creative energy.

What separates creators that thrive from those that stall out? Clarity. In this episode, Shawn shares a deeply personal story about the moment he realized he wasn't living his truth and how one question in a freezing hotel ballroom sparked the bold decision to quit his job and build a more aligned, joyful life. You'll learn the core clarity questions every creator needs to revisit regularly: Who are you helping? How does your work help them? And what does success actually look like for you? These aren't just reflection prompts, they're strategic levers for content, business, and lifestyle alignment. Shawn walks through his own process of defining values using the Three Words Exercise. You'll hear how creators can anchor themselves through self-belief, revisit their goals, and use journaling as a diagnostic tool when things feel off. From defining what makes you happy (like playing guitar daily) to outlining your personal metrics for success, this episode is a call to cut through the fog. If you've ever felt like you're spinning your wheels or questioning your creative path, this episode will help you reset with confidence and purpose. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator identity and getting clear on what success looks like for you.

How do you know you've "made it?" Is it a packed schedule? The nonstop grind? Or freedom and flexibility? Today's conversation with Susan Boles, host of Calm is the New KPI, explores how creators can design a calm business that runs smoothly without toxic hustle or burnout. We discuss how to bring "calm" into your business using Susan's four-lever framework, how to unlearn habits that lead to burnout, and strategies to stay creative and focused. Get tips on scaling a creative business, tracking true success, and finding the fun in your business! Topics discussed: What it means to have a calm businessWhy creators unintentionally build chaotic businessesFour levers of a calm businessHow to design your own calm businessScaling without overwhelmMeasuring success with calm KPIs Susan Boles is the founder of Beyond Margins, creator of the Calmer Business framework, and host of Calm is the New KPI. Her work helps business owners, agencies and consulting firms move from reactive, chaotic operations to calm, sustainable ones so they can scale without burning out. Connect with Susan: https://pod.link/1478304620https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesusanboles/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkwGRBhMzlaxv3ZLP0PQIwhttps://www.beyondmargins.com/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique: https://podcastboutique.com → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator business growth and designing a calm, sustainable creator business.

Feel like you're putting out great content, but nobody's noticing? Meanwhile, others seem to effortlessly attract engagement without even trying? In this episode, Shawn shares the hilarious and frustrating story of Fancy, a neighborhood peacock who's somehow gained local fame, viral attention, and even an ice cream flavor—without doing anything but being himself. But there's a twist: Fancy has all the attention and none of the transformation. And that's where creators can do better. Using Fancy's unexpected success as a metaphor, Shawn explores what real creators can do to not only stand out, but show up with purpose. You'll learn three ways to stand out authentically, even in an AI-saturated world, and how to use your values to create work that resonates and transforms. What You'll Learn: Why copying viral creators is a trap that drains your voiceThe problem with attention if there's no transformation behind itHow to stand out without chasing trendsWhy creators must focus on community, novelty, and humanityA powerful values-based exercise to align your content with your best self → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about content strategy for experts and grabbing attention that leads to transformation.

Are your responsibilities pulling you away from your creativity? Whether it's a day job, family, or the content engine you've built, it's easy to feel like your best ideas are slipping through the cracks. In this episode, Shawn Buttner tackles the painful tension between obligation and art. Inspired by a quote from creator Jay Clouse, Shawn explores what happens when our energy and time are misaligned—and what creators can do to reclaim their spark. In today's episode, we will discuss: The struggle between Obligation and ArtAn insight on what makes creators productiveWhat to do when Your Obligations Pull You From Your Creative Interests10 actionable strategies (AI + coaching frameworks) to regain creative flow Related episode: Creator Burnout: The Tiny Choices That Slowly Burn Creators Out: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2149030444 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about sustainable content creation and protecting your art from obligation.

Burnout doesn't just happen to creators, it builds slowly from a hundred tiny choices we didn't realize we were making. In this solo episode, high performance coach Shawn Buttner breaks down the hard truth about creator burnout: it's often a pattern we unconsciously choose, but also one we can reverse. You'll learn: What burnout really looks like for creators (hint: it's more than exhaustion)Why obligation to algorithms, audiences, and "being consistent" can secretly drain your joyThe four key steps to move from burnout to high-performance creative livingHow to train like an athlete to sustain energy, stamina, and excitementWhy reclaiming your creative agency could be your biggest breakthrough If you're tired of feeling like you're on the content treadmill with no exit, this episode will help you find a new way forward. One filled with clarity, energy, and purpose. If you're ready to ditch the burnout and start thriving as a creator, this one's for you. Related episode: Beating Imposter Syndrome to Raise Your Rates (with Georgie Darling): https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2149019814 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator burnout and the small choices that cause it.

You want to earn more, but you hesitate when it's time to raise your rates. Sound familiar? This is a challenge Georgie Darling, business coach and freelance writer, knows all too well. She battled imposter syndrome just like most creators do, and now helps other creatives move past self-doubt and build businesses that actually pay what they're worth. In this episode, you'll learn simple strategies for growing a business that fits into your lifestyle, tools for choosing the right clients, and tips for pushing through fear and doubt that come with growing a creative business. Georgie and I discuss: Why so many creatives undervalue themselvesHow to overcome imposter syndrome and start earning moreMindset shifts for transitioning from freelancer to coachClient red flags and how to set client boundariesHow to build a business around your ideal lifestyleTools for building confidence as a business owner Georgie Darling is a business coach and freelance travel writer passionate about helping female creatives create confident, sustainable, and profitable businesses. She went from an office job to traveling the world and working with high-profile brands like Tripadvisor, Marriott Hotels, ELLE, and The Guardian. Connect with Georgie: 👉 Join the Momentum community: https://thefreedomroute.com/momentum-magic👉 Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomroute_/ → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator business growth and overcoming imposter syndrome as a creator.

If you've ever felt like showing up every week with your content is getting you nowhere, this episode is for you. Shawn Buttner shares a deeply personal story about spending years on YouTube, following all the "be consistent" advice, only to see flat results. The problem? Consistency without change doesn't lead to growth. In this episode, we explore why being consistently inconsistent is the secret to creator growth. Shawn breaks down five key experiments he's trying this month—from new YouTube thumbnail tests to adding guest episodes and changing up SEO strategy. You'll learn how small shifts in your creative process can compound over time for massive impact. Stay till the end for an example showing how to be 'consistently inconsistent.' Related episode: Channel Imposter Syndrome Into Growth, Not Self-Doubt: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2148965716 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about sustainable content creation and why consistency without change stalls growth.

Ever feel like one mistake derails your entire creative flow? You're not alone. Too many creators treat mistakes as setbacks instead of what they really are—stepping stones to breakthroughs. In this episode, Shawn Buttner reveals why top creators, from The Beatles to modern innovators, embrace play, experimentation, and yes, mistakes. You'll hear how the Fab Four spent 70% of their time goofing off in the studio and still produced legendary music. It wasn't wasted time. It was the key to their genius. We dive into: Why perfectionism kills creativity.How high performers balance structure with playful exploration.Simple ways to bring more joy and experimentation into your workflow.A personal challenge to help you rediscover fun in your creative process. If you've been grinding too hard, feeling stuck, or losing the spark in your work, this episode is your permission to loosen up, and thrive because of it. Listen now and start turning mistakes into momentum. Related episode: Content Systems for Creators: Why You Need a Content Purpose Statement: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2148996654 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator mindset and turning mistakes into momentum.

Ever feel like you've done everything—and still made no progress? In this episode, Shawn Buttner unpacks the real cause behind creator burnout and lack of motivation. Spoiler alert: It's not laziness. It's overwhelm, and it's fixable. Drawing from personal stories and his experience as a certified high-performance coach, Shawn shares five creator-specific habits that shift you from stuck to soaring: Nervous system regulation (like eye-scanning or meditation)ASDM analysis to assess your workloadClear purpose statements and value metricsHigh-performance mindset shiftsOperational upgrades to move faster, sustainably This episode is for every creator who's tired of feeling behind, burned out, or unsure if they're doing the right things. Listen in and take control of your motivation. Links: Creator Purpose Statement episode: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2148996654Value Metrics episode: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2148989262Huberman on lateral eye movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHHQ0dJ0rcQ → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator motivation and fixing the overwhelm behind it.

Have you ever sat frozen, scrolling, waiting for the "perfect" idea while your creative momentum fades quietly in the background? You're not alone. In this episode, Shawn gets real about analysis paralysis — that sneaky trap where creators stall, lose confidence, and start questioning everything. Shawn shares his personal story of battling resistance, and introduces the 5-Step Creator Checklist. This simple framework helps you make faster, more aligned decisions, so you can keep creating instead of spinning your wheels. Tune in to learn how to: Avoid the trap of endless overthinking.Align your projects with your values.Ship "good enough" work with confidence.Manage fear like a high-performance creator.Set simple, effective decision boundaries. Ready to break free from analysis paralysis? Listen now. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator overwhelm, analysis paralysis, and creator productivity.

Your Content Is An Argument For Change If you don't know what you want to move people to do: It's harder to motivate yourself to do the workYou are not giving people a reason to listen, read, or follow you Imagine the difference YOUR work makes in peoples lives. What if you knew for sure that your latest episode HELPED people live a better life? Would you show up more fired up, more confidently, more empathically? In this episode, host Shawn Buttner discusses the crucial ingredient often missing in creators' content: the ability to persuade for change. Shawn emphasizes that content should serve as an argument for change to motivate creators and engage audiences. Key Points:00:00 What Separates Good VS Great Content?02:04 Why consume any content?05:26 Three Ways Great Content Uses Psychology08:13 How Great Content Connects With Character14:23 Sign Up For A Free Creator Strategy Session16:02 Actually HELP people Follow up Links: The Secret Psychology of Persuasive Content - Nathalie Nahai: https://youtu.be/JhyqK0nwdg8The Secret Metrics Every Creator Needs: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2148989262 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about content strategy for experts and giving your content a clear purpose.

Do you feel like there's never enough time to work on your creative projects? Do obligations keep pulling you away from the work that matters—the work that grows your audience, fuels your creativity, and moves your career forward? Maybe exciting opportunities come your way, but you're too bogged down in the day-to-day grind to say yes. Or maybe you feel stuck at your current level, overwhelmed by the thought of taking on more clients, launching new products, or creating more content. Some days, you might even find yourself longing for the early days, when everything felt fresh, exciting, and full of possibility. What if you could take control of your time instead of feeling crushed by it? You would set your schedule with intention, even with an ever-growing list of obligations.You would balance tasks and time in a way that fuels your creativity instead of draining it.You would confidently take on new opportunities, knowing how to make them work without stress or burnout. This episode breaks down the three biggest productivity traps that hold creators back and shows you how to flip them so you can sustain momentum and enjoy your creative work again. What You'll Learn Today How to use the ASMD Framework to add, subtract, magnify, or delete tasks for maximum efficiencyWhy time thrashing destroys your schedule and how to stop itHow to use the three tiers of content work to organize your time and batch tasks effectivelyWhy your environment may be sabotaging your productivity and how to fix it Small shifts in your time lead to massive shifts in your success. Let's make it happen. Pick one of the three time strategies from this episode and implement it this week. Then, send me a message on Bluesky and share how it worked for you. Connect with Me: DM me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/shawnbuttner.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner If you found this episode helpful, listen to the episode on creating your Content Purpose Statement. A clear purpose makes time management easier: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/input-output-the-creator-system-for-experts-with-shawn-buttner/episodes/2148996654 → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator productivity and escaping the biggest time traps.

Ever feel like you're spinning your wheels as a creator? You sit down to make your next podcast episode, YouTube video, or book chapter, and instead of clarity, all you feel is overwhelm. You second-guess your ideas, struggle to focus, and worst of all, you wonder if any of this is even worth it. If you've ever asked yourself, "For what? Why am I even doing this?", you might be missing the one thing that keeps successful creators going: a clear purpose. When you lack purpose, your content feels scattered, your energy drains into second-guessing, and your audience feels the disconnect. But when you define your Creator Purpose, everything changes. You know what to focus on, what resonates with your audience, and what drives long-term success. So how do you uncover and connect with your purpose as a creator? In this episode, we'll break it down with a simple, three-part framework to help you get unstuck and start creating with confidence. What You'll Learn Today: • Why feeling overwhelmed is often a symptom of missing purpose.• How defining your Creator Purpose brings clarity, focus, and momentum.• A three-part exercise to help you craft your own purpose statement.• How creators like Markiplier used long-term vision to shape their careers. Because great content starts with clarity—and that clarity starts with purpose. Write your Creator Purpose Statement and share it! DM me on LinkedIn or Bluesky. → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about content systems and building your creator system around a clear purpose.

Ever feel like your best ideas get ignored? You spend hours crafting content, but instead of engagement, you get… silence. Worse, when people scroll past your work a few times, they start to build the habit of skipping it entirely. And if you don't fix this habit? Your audience won't just scroll past today—they'll forget you exist tomorrow. So how do you stop the scroll, create content that people actually care about, and build an audience that sees themselves in what you make? The answer? Psychology. Both yours and your audience's. In this episode, host Shawn Buttner explores how creators can use audience psychology to create irresistible content and build a dedicated following, drawing insights from an episode of the Creator Science podcast. What You'll Learn Today: How audience psychology determines whether people stop scrolling or keep scrolling past you.The three mindsets every creator needs to beat (or risk staying stuck). Because great content starts with YOU. Key Points: 00:00 Introduction: The Struggle of Content Creation 00:45 The Power of Psychology in Content Creation 01:18 Welcome 02:26 The Chocolate Covered Almond Analogy 03:02 The Importance of Consumer Psychology 04:33 Building Trust with Your Audience 05:30 The Hook and The Ending 07:32 Content That Haunts 10:50 The Halo Effect 15:44 Three Mindsets to Overcome 18:03 Developing a Punchy Psychology 23:46 Final Thoughts and Call to Action Follow up Links: Creator Science Podcast (Jay Clouse): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creator-science/id1498801064Grow the Show: How To Hook Your Podcast Listeners in the First 5 Minutes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/04-how-to-hook-your-podcast-listeners-in-the-first-5-minutes/id1534942246Contact me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/shawnbuttner.com → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ The written version is in my newsletter, The Output: shawnbuttner.com/joinus Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about content strategy for experts and writing content hooks that hold attention.

Most creators struggle to grow their audience because their content doesn't resonate. They pour in hours of effort, but the wrong people show up—or worse, no one does. Today, we're breaking down the key metrics that high-performing creators use to measure resonance, so you can attract the right audience and make a bigger impact. In today's episode: Why creators need to measure resonanceThe key metric that separates creators that are crushed by their content vs. who crush with their contentHow you increase resonance with your audienceHow you create your personal metrics to increase resonanceOne strategy you can do TODAY to easily find your personal resonance metrics The right metrics will help you evaluate resonance with your audience, and attract the right people to your content. Mentioned in this episode: Beyond Metrics Podcast (Host Susan Boles and guest Jay Acunzo): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-margins-designing-calmer-b2b-agencies-consulting/id1478304620Evan Carmichael: https://believe.evancarmichael.com/homepageKevin Chemidlin at Grow the Show: https://growtheshow.com/ → Make your AI sound like you, not like everyone else's AI. Free 30-minute setup: shawnbuttner.com/voiceprint→ Feeling the gap? Book a Creator Diagnostic: shawnbuttner.com/clarity-call Input/Output is the creator system for experts: people who built a track record in another career and are now turning that into a creator business. Hosted by Shawn Buttner, certified high performance coach. The premise is simple. You are the ultimate input into your creator system. Get yourself clear, and the tools, team, and content follow. This episode is about creator business growth and measuring resonance to grow your audience.

 📈 Work With Me 1:1 To Find Your Next Level As A Creator. Schedule your free creator performance strategy session here: https://calendly.com/shawnbuttner/1-on-1-strategy-session Sign up for the FREE 'Creators That Crush in 5-Days' email course: https://www.creatorsthatcrush.com In this episode of Creators that Crush, host Shawn Buttner delves into the common reasons why creators procrastinate and provides actionable strategies to overcome it. Shawn identifies four main causes of procrastination, and offers practical advice to not get stuck in procrastination. The episode concludes with a review of key takeaways and offers additional resources Key Points: 00:00 Procrastination Happens, But Successful Creators Do Not Stay Stuck 00:59 The First Cause Of Procrastination For Creators 01:37 Second Cause 02:04 Third Cause 02:31 Fourth Cause 02:54 How Do You Beat Procrastination Like A Pro? First, Value Over Volume 04:10 Connect For Accountability 05:44 Clarity To Avoid Overwhelm And Distraction 07:36 Create Energy 10:18 Recap 11:01 Creators That Crush In 5 Days Email Course 11:47 Sign Up For A Free Strategy Session 12:32 Thanks For Listening! Connect WIth Me On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/shawnbuttner.com Episodes & Show Notes: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/creators-that-crush

📈 Work With Me 1:1 To Find Your Next Level As A Creator. Schedule your free creator performance strategy session here: https://calendly.com/shawnbuttner/1-on-1-strategy-session ------------------------------------ Sign up for the FREE 'Creators That Crush in 5-Days' email course: https://www.creatorsthatcrush.com ------------------------------------ Creators that crush are constantly growing their network. Through coaching, seminars, social media, they are engaging with the world. This can be a struggle for some creators, like me. I’m a bit introverted and so the promotional side of creative work feels a it awkward and forced.  If you are a creator that has: Struggled to grow your audience Struggled to engage your audience Struggled with feeling alone in your creative endeavor Then this episode is for you. Because we will answer the questions: How do you build partners and collaborators? How do you understand your audience? How do creators that crush build partnerships differently from others? Connect with me on BlueSky here: https://bsky.app/profile/shawnbuttner.com  

 📈 Work With Me 1:1 To Find Your Next Level As A Creator. Schedule your free creator performance strategy session here: https://calendly.com/shawnbuttner/1-on-1-strategy-session Sign up for the FREE 'Creators That Crush in 5-Days' email course:  https://www.creatorsthatcrush.com   In this episode of 'Creators That Crush,' host Shawn Buttner interviews Dr. Luissa Kiprono, a medical director, single mom, and former refugee from Romania, about her journey of writing a book. Dr. Kiprono shares the challenges and strategies she employed, including hiring a book coach and using a supportive community, to balance her full-time job and personal life with the goal of becoming an author. Our conversation explores the intricacies of the creative process, publishing, and marketing a book, and emphasizes the importance of patience, resilience, and community support. Chapters: 01:45  How Creators Can Write Their Book With A Full Time Job. 07:56 Most Surprising struggle with writing a book with a full time job 08:43 Three Processes to selling a book... 09:50 Sign Up For A Free Creator Strategy Session 14:48 Costs Of Creating With A Full Time Job 20:18 The Tension Between Pushing And Success 20:59 Go At Your Own Pace: A Lesson From Triatholons 23:28 There IS No Wrong Way To Create Anything 24:20 How It Feels To Finish Your Creative Work With A Full Time Job 27:43 The Most Beautiful and Surprising Result About Writing Your Book 28:45 How Ofter You Get Positive vs Negative Feedback 29:45 The Ripple Effects Of Our Creative Work 30:10 Learn More About Dr. Luissa K. Bio: Dr. Luissa Kiprono is an author and high-risk pregnancy physician specialist. Her recently published memoir and Amazon bestseller: “PUSH, THEN BREATHE - Trauma, Triumph, and the Making of an American Doctor”, is based on Luissa’s first 15 years of her life in America. In her book, she shares her shattering story of physical and emotional abuse, how she overcame her past, re-built her own future, and now is helping others in their own healing journey. She is an avid triathlete & Ironman finisher who enjoys immersive travel and eclectic cooking. Follow Up With Dr. Luissa: www.drluissak.com

📈 Work With Me 1:1 To Find Your Next Level As A Creator. Schedule your free creator performance strategy session here: https://calendly.com/shawnbuttner/1-on-1-strategy-session ------------------------------------ Sign up for the FREE 'Creators That Crush in 5-Days' email course: https://www.creatorsthatcrush.com ------------------------------------ You do not create enough to be excellent. This isn’t a dig, this is a challenge - and it’s true for every creator, including myself. Creators that crush are prolific, and often have a rhythm or cadence to release their work. Think of your favorite podcast, TV show, or book series. Even in business, think of new iPhone releases or holiday sales - all on a rhythm. Each new piece on a deadline. What if you were able to implement deadlines that sustainably worked for your business, that help you excel in your content creation, release higher quality content, and grew your business? What if you could produce more, more consistently, without feeling like you were exhausting yourself in the process? What if it was FUN? In today’s episode of Creators That Crush: Learn how deadlines drive excellence and help creators overcome perfectionism Learn how deadlines help creators with their process Learn how deadlines impact content quality How can deadlines and content rhythm impact your quality of life How deadlines help prove structure and make decisions How you can create a sustainable content creation rhythm

📈 Work With Me 1:1 To Find Your Next Level As A Creator: https://calendly.com/shawnbuttner/1-on-1-strategy-session ------------------------------------ Sign up for the FREE 'Creators That Crush in 5-Days' email course: https://www.creatorsthatcrush.com ------------------------------------ In today’s episode, we will answer the question: How do creators that crush keep exhaustion at bay? What simple things can you do to have boundless energy, when you need it? Host Shawn shares a story about speaker Brendan Burchard nearly losing his voice during an event, highlighting how small habits (like straining your voice) can cause a crisis. He introduces the 'EmoBS' framework, which stands for Eating, Movement, Outside sunlight, Breathing, and Sleep - as a checklist to generate the energy you need to crush it. Dive into actionable tips on how these five simple habits can help you generate and sustain your creative energy. Implement these habits into your daily routine and watch your creative energy expand!

In this episode of Creators at Crush, host Shawn Buttner addresses imposter syndrome among creators and how it can be transformed into a tool for personal growth and productivity. Shawn shares his personal experience as a software engineer and outlines five strategies for rechanneling feelings of self-doubt into positive outcomes. These strategies include reframing imposter syndrome, adopting a growth mindset, embracing an authentic identity, focusing on servant leadership, and taking bold actions. By viewing imposter syndrome as a sign of deep care for one's craft, creators can leverage it to achieve success and confidence in their careers. Join my free "Creators That Crush in 5 Days" by signing up at: www.creatorsthatcrush.com  

Are you someone who wants to stop feeling crushed as a creator, and wants to start CRUSHING it as a creator? Sign up for my free five day email course, "Creators That Crush In 5 Day": Creating is one of the hardest things anyone can do. And there is so much more than the craft you need to focus on if you want to crush it as a creator. So what separates the creators that get crushed, form the creators that crush it? In this episode of 'Creators That Crush', host Shawn Buttner delves into the challenges and triumphs of being a successful creator. Shawn shares his personal journey of transitioning from a full-time job at Apple to becoming a certified high-performance coach and creator. The episode outlines the four key areas creators need to master: positive psychology, punchy physiology, purposeful productivity, and persuasive people skills. By focusing on these areas, creators can overcome constraints like perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and lack of focus to thrive in their careers. Shawn provides practical tips and frameworks to help creators achieve mastery and sustain creative momentum. Tune in to learn how to crush it as a creator and build a fulfilling, impactful career.

The Meaningful Revolution is now Creators That Crush! Feeling stuck, stressed, or burned out by everything outside your creative craft? Creators That Crush helps you master your mindset, energy, productivity, and people skills so you can thrive in your creator journey. Hosted by certified high-performance coach Shawn Buttner, this is your path to confident, joyful, and sustainable success. Subscribe today to cut through the chaos so you can master your craft!  

  In this episode, Shawn Buttner, host of the Meaningful Revolution podcast, shares exciting updates and plans for the future of the show. Reflecting on the two and a half years of helping people live more meaningful lives, Shawn thanks listeners and guests for their support. He announces a rebranding initiative aimed at providing better support to creators—such as podcasters, YouTubers, and authors—by focusing on issues like imposter syndrome, time management, and creative blocks. Shawn encourages feedback from listeners via Instagram and gives details about the transition, inviting everyone to download their favorite episodes before the switch. He signs off with holiday wishes and promises a new and improved podcast in the new year. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Journey 02:03 Rebranding Announcement 02:28 New Focus and Mission 03:21 Engagement and Feedback 03:59 Final Thoughts and Farewell Contact Shawn at:  https://www.instagram.com/coach_shawn_buttner

In this episode of the Meaningful Revolution podcast, host Shawn Buttner interviews Brandon Lee, a serial entrepreneur, about the power of pivoting in one's career to find true purpose and authenticity. Brandon shares his journey from real estate to running an education company, and now to a personality assessment business. They delve into the seven types of genius, the importance of leaning into personal strengths, and Brandon’s structured process for discerning one's purpose. The episode also discusses the surprising beauty Brandon found in conducting personality tests and ends with practical advice for those looking to make meaningful transitions in their lives. Key Points: 00:00 Introduction to When To Pivot 02:18 When you need to make a big life change 06:33 Get Perspective To Find Your Purpose 12:07 Just Be Curious 13:47 Be Of Service To Others 15:32 How The Personality Assessment Helps You In Business 19:14 The Seven Geniuses 32:53 The Surprising Beauty of Brendon's Work 40:43 Metaphor Magic or Mishap... 41:40 What Brandon Loved About Our Conversation 42:29 Follow Up with Brandon Bio: Brandon is a serial founder and reinventionist. His journey spans from doing leadership development for non-profits, flipping houses, building a soft-skills education company for teens, running operations at a YC startup. Brandon is currently running personality test company, helping people architect their lives and careers around what they enjoy. Brandon has a deep passion for teaching, coaching, and empowering others to become their fullest selves. His writing and video content have garnered over 20 million views and has been featured on media outlets like Inc.com, TIME, BBC, and HuffingtonPost. Follow up Links: Take Brandon's personality test here: https://geniusofyou.com/ Balancing creative goals and careers: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/the-meaningful-revolution/episodes/2148829051 Episodes & Show Notes: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/the-meaningful-revolution/

Want to accelerate finding more joy, growth, and impact? Sign up for a free high performance strategy session with Shawn here: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/apply-for-a-free-strategy-session In this episode of The Meaningful Revolution podcast, host Shawn Buttner discusses with guest Niiamah Ashong the power of authenticity in achieving success. Niiamah shares insights on what it means to be an outlier and how embracing one's unique qualities can lead to meaningful work and genuine connections. You are encouraged to explore your own authenticity while providing valuable content.   Key Points: 00:00 Youtube Be True, Be You: How Authenticity Drives Success, with Niiamah Ashong 01:33 What Is The Outliers Edge? 05:50 From An Old Identity to You 12:25 You Can Be Authentic and Grow At The Same Time 16:39 What goes wrong 27:47 Metaphor Magic or Mishap? Building The Authenticity Plane 32:33 Share this with Three People   Bio: Niiamah Ashong is a coach, podcaster, and founder of The Outlier’s Edge. Niiamah helps top performers with big missions get to their next level of success.   Follow up Links: https://outliersedge.com/guild   Episodes & Show Notes: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/the-meaningful-revolution/