What We've Learned from the First 8 Episodes of the Creative Giant Show Podcast

It's been a few weeks since we first launched the Creative Giant Show podcast and we're now 8 episodes in.

I want to take a moment to look back on some trends that have popped up based on the incredible conversations I've had so far with our guests.

These are great reminders for every Creative Giant, regardless of where you are in your journey.

1. No one had a clear plan

This might seem counter-intuitive advice coming from a planning and productivity expert, but it actually highlights one of the foundations of planning that we teach here at PF - if you're planning effectively, you'll always be changing your plan.

Almost everyone we've talked to so far found organic growth in his or her business and body of work. From Pam Slim, who pieced her career together as she went along to Mark Silver, who had an idea but allowed it to blossom organically without planning exactly what was going to happen, everyone grew when they opened up to the possibility to grow rather then forcing their way through a plan.

2. It's possible to prioritize your career and be really intentional about spending time with the people you love

Pursuing your creative career doesn't have to automatically mean giving up your life. In fact, if you're giving up your life to build your business, the end result will most likely be burn-out.

Jonathan Fields mentions in episode 2 how many times he's seen business owners find themselves at the head of companies they've built but have no interest in any more. Mark, Pam, and Tara touch on the importance of making time for the people you care about.

Don't work so hard for what you love only to find that you don't love it anymore. Finding the right alignment of your "professional" life and you "personal" life can be challenging, but don't assume that one has to suffer for the other.

3. A bias towards action creates a tendency towards success

You can sit and plan all you want, but if you never take action, you'll never find success. Every single person we talked to takes action on a regular basis.

Seth encourages you to pick yourself and publish your own book rather then wait for someone else to tell you you're good enough to be published by their company. Jonathan encourages you to take many small experiments as you build up your business. Steve Errey walked an entire marathon with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. If Steve can put one foot in front of the other, so can you.

On that note, it's not just a one shot effort here, either. You've got to really show up regularly.

4. We all have a Shadow side we're working through

This is one of the main reasons why I wanted to share the Creative Giant Show in the first place. It's easy to look out into the world and see successful entrepreneurs who seem like they have it all figured out. But the truth is, we're all working through our own stuff.

Seth Godin still has doubts about whether or not he should publish a book. Tara Sophia Mohr and Pam Slim both struggled through the process of writing their own books. Jonathan Fields struggles with work-life balance just like everyone else. And sometimes, Steve Errey can't get out of bed, he's in so much pain.

No matter who you are, everyone struggles at something at some point in business. It's part of the game we've all chosen to play. My hope is that by hearing how others, who outwardly do have lots of success, struggle, you too will be able to pull through the next time things get tough.

The first 8 episodes

Thanks to everyone who has listened in, commented, emailed, written a review. Your support means a lot to us.

If you haven't gotten a chance to listen to all of the episodes yet, here's what we've published so far.

Episode 1: Your Body of Work with Pam Slim

“What do you value and what do you want to build your body of work around?”

-Pam Slim (Click to share - thanks!)

Episode 2: Overcoming Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Steve Errey

“When Chronic Fatigue Syndrome bites hard, the only thing you can do is to treat your body well so you can come back out of it as quickly as possible.”

-Steve Errey (Click to share - thanks!)

Episode 3: Pick Yourself with Seth Godin

“The people who are doing groundbreaking work are not waiting for an institution to anoint them."

-Seth Godin (Click to share - thanks!)

Episode 4: Become More Mindful with Susan Piver

“I've made many, many plans and executed many things, but they never lead to what I was actually planning in the first place.”

-Susan Piver (Click to share - thanks!)

Episode 5: Making Change with Jonathan Fields

“Take action. It doesn't matter whether you fail or succeed; what matters is that you acted.”

-Jonathan Fields (Click to share - thanks!)

Episode 6: Playing Big with Tara Sophia Mohr

"What kind of leader do you want to be?"

-Tara Sophia Mohr (Click to share - thanks!)

Episode 7: Don't Be an Idea Thief with Jeffrey Davis

“If you respect your profession, then you honor and respect other people also in your field.”

-Jeffrey Davis (Click to share - thanks!)

Episode 8: Making a Healthy Profit AND a Real Difference in Business with Mark Silver

"Every act of business can be an act of love.”

-Mark Silver (Click to share - thanks!)

What have you learned from the Creative Giant Show thus far?

The items above are some recurring themes we've seen thus far. It's been great to hear from listeners, though, who are each taking away something different from the Show as a whole or particular podcasts. What's rung true for you from the Show thus far?