Gifted Underachievers

Sure, big breaks are great, but careers and talent are built over time, one project after another.In this segment, the Gifted Underachievers conclude that the proper mindset (or at least, a healthy and realistic mindset) is to consider your career as a steady push toward a tipping point. Plan your work and future by achieving a series of tipping point acts that lead to where you want to go.Question for Listeners:What does your tipping point look like? Have you passed it, or are you still heading toward it?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Our environments interact with us every minute of every day. Working in a cluttered, dusty, and disorganized space WILL reduce both your clarity and your creative output.What’s one to do? How do you reorganize your space to optimize your hours at work? What visual and sensory elements will harness and support your energy?The Gifted Underachievers discuss this with a view to Pat’s overhaul of her “cloffice” (closet-office—a common solution for work-at-home creatives in urban centers with high housing costs).Listen in as we discuss “life architecture,” images, colours, and resources from creativity architect Donald Rattner and from our very own Gifted Achiever guest, writer and creative consultant Carrie McConkey.Questions for Listeners:* Describe your creative space in basic truths. * How do you feel when you’re in it?* Any plans to spruce it up and make it more functional?* If yes, what will you do?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Gifted Achiever Carrie McConkey (website):Creativity architect Donald Rattner: My Creative Space (website, book, other resources)Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

You knew ticks could give you Lyme disease...but did you know they could actually damage some of your more dangly bits of organs? Have you heard of the phenomenon called “ghost tick injury?” James has experienced it first-hand, and it’s not pretty.PSA #2: As is often the case with your Gifted Underachievers, the useful information is in the “Further Exploration” section of the show notes.Questions for Listeners:* Ever caught a tick attached to your skin?* What did you do?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:How to avoid ticks in long grass etc.https://youtube.com/shorts/DqJyxzolF5M?si=QOvLdvAHkR94KcF3The US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on Tickborne diseases: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/about/index.htmlThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

All creatives have immersive careers. We live in our own minds for long periods of time. We need to go to our office/home/studio wherever and just be on our own, away from people to think. That is creative work even though a brush isn’t on a canvas, words aren’t being produced, the stage is empty.Explaining this need to people wondering why we are leaving a party…or not showing up…always (often?) feels like we are complaining.Should we only hang out with other creative people?No.Being out in the world with other people fills the creative well. We need it.How do we find balance? How do we tell people what we need in a way that does not feel like complaining?Question for Listeners:* Are you a Spivak?* Do you thrive on socializing?* Or do you wish the world would stay behind the yellow tape you’ve put up?Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Many creative folks work remotely and have video meetings with people from all over the world. Your Gifted Underachievers are two such people—James has many meetings with clients, publishers, and agents, and Pat has students and clients in far-flung places such as Singapore, New Zealand, Central Europe, and the U.K.We’ve both noticed that people located in Eastern Time (North America) can sometimes struggle to respect time zone differences. In this public service announcement, we suggest that awareness and courtesy around scheduling meetings could be a good career move. This free tool is a great way to check time zones before you schedule: worldtimebuddy.com.Question for Listeners:What’s the most difficult time zone scheduling you’ve done?Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Pat’s go-to time zone calculator for meetings with multiple participants in different locations is World Time Buddy – time zone converter and world clock: worldtimebuddy.com.If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Nietzsche said “Love your fate because your trials are necessary.” This isn’t nihilism—quite the contrary. There can be great meaning in welcoming your challenges rather than seeing them as “bad luck” or “unfair.”In this brief segment, the Gifted Underachievers talk about how loving their fates has increased their own sense of agency and control.Question for Listeners:Do you love your fate?Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:The Daily Stoic on Amor Fati: https://dailystoic.com/amor-fati-love-of-fate/The School of Life discusses Nietzsche’s views on Amor Fati:If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

When James pitches for a ghostwriting gig, he needs to quickly present himself as a capable professional to clients for projects often worth $80k or more. Pat faces much the same situation when she meets with prospective clients: they have to believe that she offers professional services that will get them closer to their writing and publishing goals.While they represent two different roles in the publishing world, each shares the same challenge: relate to a potential client in a way that authentically represents them as the experienced professionals they are. This is not easy.But for both, it comes down to one simple rule: be generous.Be generous in your time, knowledge, experience, and with the truth.It isn’t a hard pitch, it’s a soft pitch.Questions for Listeners:* What three pitching strategies do you use?* What is the basis of how you communicate with potential clients?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The Academy is relentless in their push to sue the Gifted Underachievers for $1B. They have won removal of the case to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. But worse than that: They want the GU Clubhouse.The team are up against the wall; they’re being rolled by a well-funded and motivated adversary.In an act of desperation, they launch the GU Extraction Team.Questions for Listeners:How silly is too silly?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you haven’t already subscribed, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

After a period of offering two main services, James has focused on ghostwriting without distraction, with the goal of becoming one of the top 20 ghostwriters in the country.Pat has more than one sphere of operation, and she freely tosses around terms like “beachhead” and “flagship” to describe how she successfully manages these separate spheres.Note—In case you’re wondering, the characteristics of a good business beachhead include:* A small, well-defined target customer base with a shared, urgent problem* Buyers who communicate with one another* A strong, distinct value proposition that fits your strengths(source: https://executive.mit.edu/launching-a-successful-start-up-3-the-beachhead-market-MC7FUMDZ6IU5AIPP4WGIPN2PZJI4.html)If you are running a creative-adjacent business in any artistic domain, this episode is for you.Questions for Listeners:* Do you have a ‘beachhead’ service?* What is it, and how did you focus in on it?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:MIT on The Beachhead Market: https://executive.mit.edu/launching-a-successful-start-up-3-the-beachhead-market-MC7FUMDZ6IU5AIPP4WGIPN2PZJI4.htmlExcellent book by Charlie Gilkey: The Small Business Life Cycle: The No-Fluff Guide to Navigating the Five Stages of Small Business GrowthThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The Gifted Underachievers talk about how to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a creative worker’s art. Are there guard rails that will help you deliver a needed truth in a way that feels supportive while getting taken seriously by the artist?What are the tenets of constructive critiquing? We share our experiences in workshop environments and MFA programs and share real-world examples of how to critique productively and how to receive and respond to critiques that land.Questions for Listeners:1. Have you ever had a critique that killed your soul, even if temporarily?2. What’s the best critique you ever got?3. Do you have principles for giving or receiving critiques?For Further Exploration:Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

If you were to write a tagline for your internal narrative as a creative, what would it be? Pat and James talk about how they view their internal creative narrative. Unsurprisingly, Pat is the underdog fighting forward. James is the outsider doing his best to find a way inside.While these may be true self-assessments, what do they mean? How can we use our internal narratives to help our creative minds? Or are these narrative taglines more about staying motivated by always having something to push against.Question for Listeners:* What’s your narrative as a creative?For Further Exploration:Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The Gifted Achievers have stepped in it now. The GU newsroom is reporting that the Academy is suing the Gifted Underachievers for $1B. This comes just weeks after Pat and James (mostly Pat) fired the GU legal team.The lawsuit is shutting down the GU Below the Line Crew Bee Oscars.More to come in future updates.Question for Listeners:* How much sillier can this get?[Answer: a lot]For Further Exploration:Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The vast majority of schools are structured to recognize, validate and reward people who thrive with a certain way of learning. As most gifted underachievers have discovered, being good at school does not mean you will ace life and career. Conversely, not being good at school doesn’t mean you will fail.Many of us get more from experiences outside that structure. Although we might not do well initially, we can thrive when given the space to do our best work.Question for Listeners:Does our definition of Gifted Underachievers describe or resonate with you?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

If you’re like us, you’re doing more than your own creative work to keep the lights on at home. Here in the Gifted Underachiever Clubhouse, we provide services to other creative folk who seek professional help in making their work the best it can be.Experience has taught us that a few skills come in very handy in building sustainable creative-adjacent careers across artistic disciplines. What are they? Have a listen and find out.Questions for Listeners:* Do you provide any services to other creative folk?* If yes, what are some of the core skills you’ve found useful?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:A cogent case for three key skills: organization & time management, client acquisition, and perseverenceThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

It’s our 100th Episode, and to celebrate this momentous achievement we are letting go of someone very dear to our hearts: novelist John Irving.Join us live as we release John back into the wild at an undisclosed location in the dead of night. And set your alerts for news of his reappearance in his very own adopted home town of Toronto, Canada!Question for Listeners:Do you think John will make it home?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

James is stuck. Pat has an idea: Try setting some constraints in your process or actual creative work to release creative flow. The key areas to place constraints, Pat explains, are time, form, and materials. Beyond that, the Gifted Underachievers discuss how to force decision making while diving deeper into a creative flow.Questions for Listeners:* What constraints might work for you?Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

It takes a village to make a movie, even a bad movie. But not everyone in that village gets the recognition they deserve. These are the people who comprise what is known as the Below the Line crew. IN this segment, the Gifted Underachievers pick up the Academy Awards’ slack.Questions for Listeners:* Aren’t we all as gifted underachievers below the line crew?Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Further to last week’s difficulties with finding the clock, the Gifted Underachievers are puzzled about what British folk mean when they invite you for a meal at “7 for 7:30.”Spoiler: It means about what you’d expect.Questions for Listeners:* What do you think about sitting down to dinner half an hour after you arrive at someone’s house?* If the invitation said “7 for 8,” would you still go?Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!Other aspects of British social etiquette: wait your turn, say please and thank you, don’t rush the tube until everyone’s off, wait until all the guests are there before you start eating, and don’t clear the plates until everyone’s done.If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Throughout his life, James has driven past the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference campus in Ripton, Vermont, hundreds of times if not a thousand. Often, he speeds by as the writers’ conference is happening knowing he’d been rejected once more.That he has this connection to the campus is galling. But there are lessons to be learned from each failure and a discussion of why Bread Loaf and similar creative conferences and/or residencies matter.Question for Listeners:How do you get over a gutting rejection?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:James salutes Bread Loaf:https://www.middlebury.edu/writers-conferences/writers-conferenceThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The clock (aka the timer) is handy for a couple of loquacious idiots like the Gifted Underachievers. But where is the damn thing?!Questions for Listeners:No questions today, we’re too busy looking for the other thing.Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration: Apparently, there are four types of Gifted Underachievers:https://giftedchallenges.blogspot.com/2016/02/who-is-gifted-underachiever-four-types.htmlThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

In this segment, the Gifted Underachievers talk about one of the great benefits of being an artist in any field: making art forces you to pay attention, and attention to the real world gives you experiences you won’t have if you’re doomscrolling in the coffee shop.We talk about essayist and humorist David Sedaris, street photographer and poet Rodney DeCroo, and how to strengthen your “noticing” muscle into a useful part of your artistic process.Questions for Listeners:Do you know the name of that app for meeting people at bus stops?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Night Moves: The Photography of Rodney DeCroohttps://www.anvilpress.com/books/night-moves-the-photography-of-rodney-decrooTheory of Mind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mindDavid Sedaris interview: Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

In every creative field there are “top-tier” workers, aka A-listers, whose achievements are undeniable and well-earned. This milieu can seem like a closed system, but the Gifted Underachievers agree that the elite corner of the creative ecosystem survives only by seeking out and admitting new talent.Questions for Listeners:* Are you a member of the so-called creative elite?* If yes, can we interview you for this podcast?For Further Exploration:Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Last year, the board of a prestigious Canadian arts grant recommended Pat for a grant, but then they ran out of money before her name came up on the approved list. This year? Ame thing, exactly. WTF! Is this a victory, validation that Pat’s work and proposal are worthy? Or is this a more painful form of shunning?Plus! An important US NEH grant update: The worm turns!Questions for Listeners:* Have you received a grant?* What do you think set your proposal apart?For Further Exploration:Buy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Two years ago, James made a pearl. And he’s back at it, trying to bend the will of nature and time to his ‘creative’ whims.Questions for Listeners:* Any pearls in your past?For Further Exploration:Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

In this segment, Pat brings up the issue of resetting our creative physiology via the five senses when we feel frazzled or just need to give the brain and body a break. This isn’t about some complex, time-consuming set of to-dos to add to your list. Instead, it’s about taking five or maybe ten minutes and doing something simple that either refocuses the mind or stretches the body.Questions for Listeners:* What’s in your reset jar?For Further Exploration:Living in Game Mode: Activate Your Final Form By Gaming Life by Don B. DrewBuy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

In this segment, Gifted Underachiever Dobes is just in from the opera house, where she did a high-profile speaking engagement and had them rolling in the aisles.Kidding!But Dobes has, in fact, spoken in front of an audience, occasionally for money. James has also spoken in front of an audience—for example, his legendary talk on creativity for the organization called Creative Mornings.We talk about how to enjoy your speaking engagements and how you can use them to bolster your other marketing tools.Questions for Listeners:* Have you given talks on your creative or creative-adjacent work?* Ever had one go sideways in the most terrible way?* If yes, DO TELL!Treat us to a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:James Buchanan on Creative Mornings: Harvest Better Ideashttps://creativemornings.com/talks/james-buchananGD Green on The MothThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to see you in the GU Clubhouse! No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Here in the Gifted Underachievers clubhouse, we’ve been talking about travel lately. Spanish cities James would like to visit include Barcelona and Madrid. When Pat shares her experience of wonderful Barcelona, James realizes there’s been some weird episodes in his GU cohost’s life.Questions for Listeners:* Have you ever been to Barcelona?* What’s your favorite sport?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Back issues of Sumo World! https://www.ebay.com/itm/315719280610Barcelona Turisme! https://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/Sumo Primetime with Hiro Morita – the Haru Basho:Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to see you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, no cost, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

What “career” pathways exist for creative writers, visual artists, and actors? Is there anything analogous to the training grounds of the minor leagues in sports?We examine some options and come to the inevitable question for many people: how do I get into the minor leagues, period? What are the obstacles for your average creative worker, and how can we overcome those obstacles?The answers we found? Drive, ambition, talent, support, resources, access to larger centers, and belief in yourself.Questions for Listeners:* What’s the minor league for YOUR art?For Further Exploration:Pathways to Arts, Media, and Entertainment CareersWebinars on creative pathways in the arts (scroll down for the videos)Working in the Arts: Ditch the Elevator Pitch with Betty XieBuy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The median income for all employed artists in all domains according to the NEA in 2023 was $70,170. Meanwhile, the value that all of that creativity delivers to the economy in the US (sorry Canada and Europe…more data to come) is $1.2 trillion.Does that feel like a disparity?It does to the Gifted Underachievers.Is it going to get worse now that Trump cut nearly all arts funding?You betcha.What can we take away from this?Organize! Organize! Organize!PS: You will find out how bad at math the Gifted Underachievers are.Links to the report below.Questions for Listeners:* Would you like to see more deep dives into financial and other data for creatives?* If so, what do you think would have the most impact for you?For Further Exploration:The Report: THE U.S. ARTS ECONOMY IN 2023Sharon Louden (THE Organizer of Organizers!!!)Income Streams UpdateVirtuous Feedback Financing LoopBuy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

After 100 episodes the gifted underachievers have decided it is time to release John Irving from controlled captivity in the Gifted Underachievers’ clubhouse.*This is it. As of June 18, 2006, John Irving will be free.Shockingly, Irving has still managed to be unbelievably productive.Questions for Listeners:* We’ve enjoyed ‘hosting’ the big man…have you had some fun, too?For Further Exploration:The John Irving DelusionGas Masks in the Basement with John IrvingThe Captive Downstairs: John Irving SillinessBuy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

James and Pat ask questions, discuss options, and debate financial and productivity growth plans for creatives.The debate: Pat must convince James that it’s possible to have a growth plan for purely creative work.The plans: Pat and James run through their respective growth plans for BOTH their creative-adjacent and purely creative work.For both: How to find more capacity to do more and better work, then help it find its audience and grow income.Hint: James says ‘raise my rates’ then discusses increasing the perceived and real value of his work as a ghostwriter.Questions for Listeners:* Can purely creative work have a financial growth plan?* What ideas from this segment resonated with you?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Isaac Hirotsu WoofterBeing Strategic with Limited BurnersCreatives & Money: Ways to View DebtIf you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, no cost, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The gifted underachievers have lots of ideas. We’re not saying they’re good ideas, but sometimes you don’t know how a creative project’s going to work out until you do it. If you get partway into the project and discover you no longer care, is it time to ditch it? Or are there other things you can do?How about when you have two equally interesting ideas at the same time—which one do you work on first?Have a listen and find out.Questions for Listeners:* Have you ever ditched a creative project partway through?* If yes, why?* If you’ve put an idea on hold while you work on something else, how did that work out?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Berms and swales 101: Sunk Cost Fallacy: Not Knowing When It’s Time to StopThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, no cost, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The Gifted Underachievers’ corporate HR Rep has installed a livestream device in the content creation clubhouse, pissing off the two biggest GUs in the whole org chart. Listen to Pat and James discuss their options in this battle royale with HR.Questions for Listeners:Do you think podcasters should have complete creative control of their content? YES or NO.Why?Buy HR a Coffee and Win a BookHR is forcing us to buy them a coffee. Please help us out. The first coffee angel will get a free guide to creative productivity!For Further Exploration:Bayerisches Restaurant (Monty Python) — warning, EXTREMELY sillyThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, no cost, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

After a very busy and at times emotionally challenging past year, the Gifted Underachievers discuss what it felt like to be a kid looking forward to summer vacation and how even during the busy end of school, that thought provided a mental break.But at this time of life—adulthood generally—there isn’t a summer long vacation spanning out ahead of us. Instead, we are busy with work and all of our responsibilities and feeling like our minds need a break. Seriously. A real break.But we have to push through.So, what can we do? How can we carve out time for ourselves when there isn’t enough time for everything and everyone else? How do we manage a heavy mental load?Ideas include:* Cut out of work early one day a week.* Milestone challenge where if you reward yourself with time off.* An artist date where you take yourself out to do something to fill the well.* Slow down between tasks.Questions for Listeners:* Is your mental load too much right now?* How do you give yourself a mental break?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Creativity and Mental HealthYou Hate Your Job…Now What?If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Two experiments are running in the GU Clubhouse, each with the goal of developing an extra income stream and getting some new lines on our creative CVs. Our grant experiment started in September 2024 and we began entering writing contests in October 2025. Both are ongoing.Both have had “mixed” results (aka no money earned, but many lessons learned).In this segment, we discuss the key takeaways in terms of work required, return on this investment, and the importance of understanding your “audience”--grant boards, contest judges, and ultimately, the readership they serve.Finally, we announce the launch of our third experiment, which we delusionally hope will have better results.Questions for Listeners:* How’s YOUR grant and contest history? Made any money? Seen other benefits?* What have you learned from applying for grants and entering contests?* Or if you’ve never applied or entered, can you say why not?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Written Reports on The Grant Experiment: https://giftedunderachievers.substack.com/p/written-reports-on-the-grant-experimentPrevious podcast segments on grant and contest experiments:03-Apr-2603-Apr-2612-Mar-2612-Feb-2605-Feb-2608-Jan-2608-Jan-2618-Dec-2512-Nov-2529-Oct-2517-Sep-2504-Sep-2524-Jul-2506-Jun-2506-Jun-2522-May-2515-May-2507-May-2517-Apr-2502-Apr-2505-Mar-2520-Feb-2517-Jan-2523-Dec-2419-Dec-2412-Dec-2429-Sep-2429-Sep-2408-Sep-24If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. Free, no spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Pat is lecturing James on the difference between a sweater, a Jumper, and Kurdistan when her throat seizes sending the Gifted Underachievers down yet another rabbit hole.Questions for Listeners:* What’s your favorite throat clearing technique?* Tea?* Warm lemon water with honey?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Monty Python – Theory on Brontosauruses by Anne ElkIf you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.Want to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch ShopWe have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

A brief conversation with an avid reader leads Dobes to a valuable insight about pitching ideas to your audience: sometimes it takes an ‘outsider’ to the field to see problems with your approach.This leads your Gifted Underachievers to question the habit of pitching our story ideas to industry insiders—in the case of writers, we might describe our project to other writers, publishers, or agents, which can lead to technical discussions that miss the point.How do we find people with a ‘pure’ perspective and get their honest reaction to our projects? We have some ideas...Questions for Listeners:* Do you rely on fellow creatives for advice and critiques?* How would you approach a stranger to discuss your work?For Further Exploration:How to Critique Art for BeginnersHow to Build Creative ConfidenceBuy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Gifted Underachiever Dobes returns from a month-long creative retreat (with some remote work sprinkled in) bearing pure gold—golden advice, that is! She got a fair amount of work done on her novel, though not as much as she’d hoped to get done. In this segment, we discuss the situation and “unpack” the lessons learned.Questions for Listeners:* Have you ever taken a creative retreat?* If yes, did you achieve your goals?* If not, why not?For Further Exploration:Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

You might not believe this, but it’s true: We Gifted Underachievers sometimes make mistakes. In this segment, we discuss why mistakes happen, what to do when you realize you’ve made one, and how to not just survive the experience, but learn from it.Questions for Listeners:* What’s the worst mistake you’ve made at your creative or creative-adjacent work?* Were there extenuating circumstances?* What did you learn from the experience?* How did you fix the mistake?For Further Exploration:Research shows that how you handle mistakes matters more than the mistakes themselves. Here are four suggestions about what to do next:https://achievecentre.com/blog/4-steps-for-recovering-from-a-mistake-at-work/Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

After a hectic few weeks (lifetime, really) the Gifted Underachievers gave in to their underachieverness and are taking a week off for calm reflection.But with soooooo much wonderful content over our TWO YEARS!!!!!! we couldn’t leave a total void.Our interview with wildly achieving Burlington, Vermont, artist Kath Montstream (first aired on October 7, 2024) was a ton of fun and filled with lots of wonderful stuff:02:00 Resilience and persistence05:20 Art as savior08:02 Becoming an artist - 10,000 hours12:00 Marketing, shows, and feeding the dragon15:03 Mentorship is instrumental20:42 Not to mention courage21:31 Failing is part of the process25:46 Inspiration needs to find you working27:14 Getting into your process & working to music32:28 The Red Hot Chilly Dippers!34:42 Pechakucha and photographing dips36:15 [A merch bargain is struck]37:49 The power of personal marketing & current show, The Color of Snow47:27 Business model, commissions, freedom, and the value of experience53:02 Mother Mary in prayer55:03 Kath’s not-so-delusional ambition57:08 Exploring the next thing that hits you over the headWe will be back with fresh new content next week!In the meanwhile, Kath will add light to your day.Sincerely,The UnderachieversBuy us a Coffee and Win a Guide to World Domination!Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.For Further Exploration:The Color of Snow, Kath Montstream and her daughter Charlotte Dworshak’s exhibit in honor of Kath’s dad, is at Montstream Studios til November 2, 2024: https://www.kmmstudio.com/129 St. Paul Street, Burlington, VT.So many great works! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

James comes out of the marketing wing of the Gifted Underachiever clubhouse feeling disillusioned. The marketers are coming up with catchphrases, but they’re not producing anything. He wants to know, “What makes my creative work matter?”Pat can sympathize, but she’s got no real answers except that while you’re creating something, it has to matter to you.We do many projects that never achieve monetary success—that’s the nature of the industry. But Pat believes that the project has meaning, as long as it matters to you while you’re making it. You just need to keep creating things (and sometimes find another way to pay the bills). Once your project is out in the world, you discover whether it matters to others only if it finds its audience, makes money, wins awards, or gets some other kind of attention in the marketplace.We talk about the continuity of themes throughout a career and other ways you can look at the meaning of your creative work.Questions for Listeners:* What themes keep surfacing in your creative work?* Can you attribute them to anything in particular, in your past or just an obsession you have?* Do you know of any famous creatives whose projects are wildly different in theme or content?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Cherry Jeffs: How to identify themes in your art to create meaningful work:https://www.cherryjeffs.com/discover-themes-in-your-creative-work#Orla Stevens: How to look at seemingly separate projects and uncover connections in your art:Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. Free, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Yes, even bright, well-intentioned people can display an uncharacteristic ability to ask dumb questions. We do it at work and at home. (And if you do that of your teenaged children, you know what the punishment is for a dumb question.)In fact, at one of James’s first ghostwriting gigs, the editor’s biggest question was “would you be afraid to ask dumb questions?”James said, NO! And he was hired.In this segment, the gifted underachievers discuss why they (and every creative) must be fearless about posing the questions that other people might think are not very bright.Questions for Listeners:* What is the cringiest question you ever asked?* As a creative, how do you fearlessly ask questions that might seem obvious?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Dumb Questions for ArtistsThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. Free, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Well, we’re not proud of this, but here in the Gifted Underachiever Clubhouse we’re starting to believe we might never blossom into our full creative potential.James has delusions about being a giant bead head (an artificial nymph fly-fishers use). After all, if you’re going to be a nymph, you might as well be a giant fake one. In this short segment, we ask ourselves, do we have what it takes to become butterflies? Or are we just immature bugs forever?Questions for Listeners:* Do you think we’re being pessimistic about our creative potential?* Or are we truly nymphs?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:The Prince NymphThe New Fly Fisher – a life of nymphingThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. Free, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Trump and Republicans decimated funding for the arts in the US with immediate impacts to creatives. This is a loss not just to artists and other creatives but society as a whole. We are a not a better country for this.And yet, creatives are doing what we do best: Adapt.There are signs that a range of creative businesses are adapting their business strategies and planning to adjust to this loss of funding and, perhaps, make these businesses stronger in the long run. This could, too, lead to a stronger arts and creative economy.Let’s do more than hope. Let’s be part of the solution.Questions for Listeners:* Did you lose a US-based grant?* How are you adapting?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Why Most Arts Fundraising Fails—and What Actually WorksHow Artists Break Free of the Starving Artist MythWant to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch ShopWe have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!)If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Pat is excellent at thinking ahead and taking action to help herself down the road. Her month-long writing trip to [undisclosed location on the Spanish coast] is a shiny example. She set up a set of projects to help her pay and organize for her trip many months ago and the payoff has been a big boon.In this segment, Pat describes how she approaches saving for large purchases and retirement with what she calls ‘pension projects.’ They are minimal in terms of the daily and weekly impact to her time, but over the long haul add up to an evergreen funding source.Questions for Listeners:* Do you have a retirement plan?* Do you have a plan to use your creative work to make large purchases?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Work Until You Die: Aging & Retirement for ArtistsYearly Goal Setting for CreativesWant to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch ShopWe have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!)If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Both Gifted Underachievers have been through chronic stress for extended periods, and yes, it’s made us even less achieving than we normally are.We discuss this, hope for the best, and, in an unprecedented move for GU, Pat parachutes in with an audio clip toward the end of the segment with some solid tips for combating chronic stress!Questions for Listeners:* What’s your best strategy for combating stress?* Do you feel you’re in a period of chronic stress, or are things pretty good these days?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Living with stress:https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/living-with/index.html10 evidence-based ways to manage stress:Your brain on chronic stress:If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.Want to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch ShopWe have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

We all have fears. If you don’t, check to see if you might either be a sociopath or the poster child for the Dunning-Krueger effect.In this brief segment, Pat and James explore their biggest fears and how they manage them. The GU team found it interesting that each underachiever’s fears fit two broad categories: * screwing up leading to retribution, and* the fading of creative drive and skillsQuestions for Listeners:* What are your three biggest fears as a creative?* Do you spend much time ruminating on them?* If not, what’s your secret?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Make Art Out of Curiosity not FearThanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Despite what James claims to see on the screen as this episode is getting taped, there’s no tequila in Pat’s apartment during her creative retreat in Spain (that’s right, we’re giving away the location). Dobes has been a long time without a vacation, and this is exactly where she wants to be. Her time is her own for the first time in a quarter century. She’s making progress on a novel and on other creative projects, as well as doing client work. …and yet, she’s finding it surprisingly challenging to navigate the huge break in routine. Her approach? Accept the disorientation!If you’re on a retreat, or considering one, this segment could help.[Music “Mi Gata Blanca” Courtesy of Jean-Paul V., Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/pop-mi-gata-blanca-333231/]Questions for Listeners:* Do you go through periods of feeling disoriented about your life?* If yes, what do you do?* If you had the chance to do a self-directed creative retreat, where would you go?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Why retreat? Disconnect and get a new perspective:Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

You may know of a few online platforms that match up creative service providers with clients who need help with their projects—writing a book, creating a brand image, graphic design, music production, and so on. It’s normal in this type of partnership to have a non-disclosure agreement between creative and client. Both also agree to work within the platform’s rules around payment and other aspects of project management. In exchange for matching up the creative and the client, the platform charges a fee.So far, so good...until one platform added a new restriction to their rules: the creative and the client can’t have access to playbacks of their own video meetings. Instead, the platform will (if asked) provide an AI-generated transcript.If you’ve ever worked in a creative field, you know that a transcript can’t show all the non-verbal parts of a meeting, like screen-shared images, charts, etc.Even worse, this new rule means that the creative and the client can no longer guarantee that the terms of any non-disclosure agreement they’ve entered into will be followed, because neither of them has any control over what the platform does with their intellectual property.What’s the best way forward? We have some ideas, and we’d love to know what you think.Questions for Listeners:* Have you ever worked through a freelancing platform to provide creative services to another party?* Or have you ever hired a creative service provider through such a platform?* Would you continue to do so if your non-disclosure agreement became invalid?* What do you think James should do?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Understanding NDAs for Creatives—a clear, two-minute explanation:Why Creators and Artists Need an NDA:https://nocturnallegal.com/blog/creative-entrepreneurs-need-an-nda/Why an NDA matters in creative and tech projects:https://annap.be/why-signing-an-nda-matters-in-creative-and-tech-projects/Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No cost, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

James has taken on a rational amount of work in the last several months, but some of the projects that have left his hands have entered new phases that require his magic touch.Pat has current client work as well as non-optional personal projects, and all of these need her attention now.When you’re in this situation, you really don’t have time for things that can throw you off: unnecessary phone calls and last-minute emergencies coming in from non-work sources force you to do ruthless triage or let your day get hijacked.In this segment, the Gifted Underachievers discuss their systems and processes for managing multiple projects and delivering excellent results without letting any plates fall. Priority sequencing, task focus, and regular reviews of your project timelines are just a few of our techniques.Questions for Listeners:* How do you manage multiple projects?* What’s your creative or creative adjacent field and what are your goals?* What are your triage protocols for incoming life-related tasks?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:How to Manage Multiple Projects:How to Build Systems to Actually Achieve Your Goals:Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch ShopWe have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!)Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com