Doc Peace On Spoken Word Poetry & Building A Creator Business

If you copy artists you look up to enough you will shift from imitation to inspiration. 

From copying to emulating. From emulating to making your own stuff

Then, and only then, you will start creating in your own voice.

How I would do this is by creating a quick steal list. Victim list is a bit harsh, especially because any great creator would be honored and thrilled for you to steal from them. But I think you get the idea. How I would do this is to make a list of six creators you look up to. 

1. Find two people creating content in the medium you have chosen.
2. Two people creating on the platform you have chosen
3. And two people who share similar topics, or ideas you have chosen.

Steal some of their style, creative decisions and thought process as you start shipping your own work.

Austin Kleon covers this concept beautifully in his book titled “Steal Like An Artist”.

**For the full written version of the episode see the transcript. 

FOLLOW Justin
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I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

In this episode we chat with Mel, who seems to have the world at his fingertips. He’s a successful father, entrepreneur, content creator, and psychologist. 

Mel’s journey is a beautiful fusion of self-discovery, resilience, and a commitment to staying true to oneself. 

He is one of those people who has it all figured out, but is willing to share all of the ups and downs. We see the success with building a business, podcasting, and social media. But it was a grind early on and took a ton of self reflection and self care to get there.

As a psychologist he has a lot to share about the battle between mental health and illness that entrepreneurs face. And he gives us a bunch of great ideas for succeeding in business, but maintaining your mindset along the way.

Future Proofing Education

Mel reminisces about his younger days, brimming with exploration and creativity. 

Growing up outdoors, young Mel’s world was an endless canvas of possibilities. Today, when he writes online, or produces a podcast or video, it's his way of saluting that imaginative child within, or as he puts it in the episode, “The Kid Mel”.

We talked about lifelong learning and how so much of it is about remembering who we were, understanding who we are, and driving towards who we aspire to be.

Building His Podcast

Mel’s podcast is a big success and a great north start for any of us podcasters out here working to scale a show.

The journey was anything but smooth. While he's a natural storyteller, it took him six months to muster the courage to record his first episode. Even then, he recorded it seven times. His story underscores an essential truth about success; the tip of the iceberg that we see rarely reveals the entirety of one's journey. 

In his case, grappling with anxiety, depression, and the procrastination that comes with those things were part and parcel of the journey.

Scaling Your Dream Business

From bustling nine-to-fives to the freedom to design his schedule, Mel’s business evolution is a masterclass in growth. 

An intriguing aspect of his journey was overcoming money blockers, battling the ingrained belief that earning money might be synonymous with greed. 

Initially charging minimal amounts, Mel gradually recognized and embraced his worth. 

Today, his course for therapists, which teaches them podcasting, is nearing an impressive $400,000. Yet, Mel is quick to highlight that this wasn't an overnight achievement. It was a meticulous, health-conscious process of trial and error to get to this point.

The Reality of Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is often romanticized, but Mel paints a more realistic picture.

We talked about his hunch that perhaps there is a connection between childhood trauma and the hunger to excel as an entrepreneur.

And while the appeal of detaching income from hours is real, Mel reminds us of the significance of traditional nine-to-five roles. 

His transition to entrepreneurship spanned over six years and took a lot of slow growth both personally and professionally.

Mel gives us an amazing understanding of what the steps were, at least in his case, to build a creator business while maintaining his health.

Armed with these tips, creators like you and I can navigate the often overwhelming world of entrepreneurship.

14 Tips for Balancing Creator Business Success With Well-being

1. Hobby or Profession? It's entirely okay for content creation to be just a hobby.
2. Inspiration, Not Imitation: Get inspired by others, but don’t feel pressured to mirror someone else's life.
3. Embrace Your Reality: Understand and respect your current life circumstances. Work within your present commitments and needs.
4. Reverse Engineer Your Goals: Visualize the life and business style you want in the future, and work backward to achieve it.
5. From Ideal Schedule to Reality: Draft both an ideal and a current schedule. Whether on paper, tabs, or calendars, work consistently to make your ideal schedule your everyday reality.
6. Find the Right Mentors: Seek out mentors who embody the approach and achievements you aspire to.
7. Prioritize Personal Commitments: Start your scheduling with non-negotiables: family, friends, and personal wellness.
8. Then, Schedule Business Tasks: Once personal commitments are in place, add your entrepreneurial priorities to your calendar.
9. Deep Work Blocks: Reserve the earlier parts of your day, around 4 hours, for intensive, focused work.
10. Routine Breaks: Integrate breaks into your day. This could be naps, walks, workouts, or meals. Turn them into regular routines.
11. Optimize Nutrition: Pay attention to your diet and eating schedule, continuously refining for optimal health.
12. Never Stop Learning: Dedicate daily time for continuous, sacred learning.
13. Smart Monetization: Start with a productized service or consulting based on your unique strengths and audience needs. Once you've gathered feedback and have a growing audience, pivot to more scalable ventures like courses, products, or masterminds. This approach ensures income isn’t always directly tied to time spent.
14. Don’t Grow Too Fast: Maintain a growth pace that you can own while not compromising your own health. A reasonable rule is to grow no faster than 10-25% year over year.

Memorable Quotes

“I find the combination of exercise and a power nap keeps my anxiety at bay.” 

“I say all of this, and I recognize it’s a very neurotypical way of planning. I am a highly sensitive person, but

“My life as a creator is all about honouring the kid Mel.”

“It took me 40 years to realize this, but I don’t really need a lot of friends. I would rather have a few really deep relationships.”

Guest Bio

First, Melvin Varghese is a girl dad and family man.

Second, he is an experienced psychologist, seasoned marketing and social media expert. He has a keen sense of what works in terms of audience growth, and business.

Rather than branding himself as a private practice coach, he's on a mission to give back to his profession, driven by core values of truth, sincerity, and kindness. Mel was born in India and transitioned to the U.S. after 1st grade. His journey is one of courage, adaptation, and growth. 

He hosts a popular podcast and blog that reaches a worldwide audience every day. Melvin's transition from a successful clinical career to a thriving 6-figure creator business showcases his versatility. Currently his main business pillar is a mastermind that aids therapists in pivoting from clinical roles to course income.

FOLLOW Mel

Website - Sellingthecouch.Com
LinkedIn - @melvinvarghesephd
Youtube - @MelvinVarghesePhD

FOLLOW JUSTIN (JustTries)
Website - JustTriesHOME
Instagram - @JustTries
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CONNECT WITH JUST KEEP LEARNING
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We appreciate you being here! Be sure to leave the podcast, “Just Keep Learning” ratings and reviews because it will help people who need it be better able to find it. Also, if you want a shoutout, simply share an image of the episode, you listening, or your takeaways and share it @JustKeepLearning anywhere on social!

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

Nishantha has ADHD and Dyslexia. He’s figured out how to make the most of my cognitive advantages while minimizing the challenges of dyslexic processing.

We talked about the weapons of mass instruction that make it challenging for many kids to succeed. 

But we also talked about a lot of the areas that we are hopeful for schools and work to become more and more creative.

Future Proofing Education

We talked about what we think school will look like in the future?

Naturally there will be a transition away from school and work that is based on the needs and desires of the Industrial Revolution.

A lot of this Impact will come from the changes AI will make to education.

What’s awesome is teachers will be afforded to be more creative if we build schools with more common sense. 

As we allow AI to help take away some of the repetitive, cognitive labor, teachers will become more and more like artists.

Once we can automate the learning of basic skills, like math, writing, history and geography, the only left is to teach with a very creative approach.

We also discussed whether we think kids will be going to post secondary school in 10, 15 years? 

Creator Economy Careers

We talked about the need to scale the creator economy. 

Society can get to a place where everyone works because they want to, in an area they are highly interested in. Almost like everyone could be retired in terms of comfortably meeting their basic needs.

We’re already headed in this direction. 

The economy is building toward a bunch of small businesses. Entrepreneurship, and the one person business model will continue to take over to the point where we have a bunch of individual monopolies. 

Memorable Quotes

“All human beings are teachers. That’s what we are.”

“Most work places and schools are created by neurotypical people for neurotypical people. At best we make accommodations and adjustments from these typical workflows. But what if we designed learning and working from a less typical lens?

“A.I. is both anxiety provoking and exciting.”

“Right now grades are celebrated, but in the future it will be more about the social emotional skills. How well can you interface with machines and human beings?”

Guest Bio

Nishantha is a family man first.

But he’s also an incredible podcaster, filmmaker and artist. 

He’s also a public school teacher in Southern California.

One of his biggest passions is working with dyslexic teens and adults to help them turn dyslexia from a liability to one their biggest cognitive assets. 

He created an online school called the How To Dyslexia Academy. Build the YouTube channel “How To Dyslexia” and created a private social network, the Dyslexia Community .

FOLLOW Nishantha

Website - Howtodyslexia.com 
Youtube - @NishanthaU

FOLLOW JUSTIN (JustTries)
Website - JustTriesHOME
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Twitter - @JustTries_
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CONNECT WITH JUST KEEP LEARNING
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We appreciate you being here! Be sure to leave the podcast, “Just Keep Learning” ratings and reviews because it will help people who need it be better able to find it. Also, if you want a shoutout, simply share an image of the episode, you listening, or your takeaways and share it @JustKeepLearning anywhere on social!

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

the fact that creation leads to success, and the fact that people want to create something never surprises me. 

What does surprise me is how many people never take action.

I’m sure there are a ton of limiting beliefs and productivity challenges that makes people quite. We can discuss that stuff on other episodes, but for now I want to talk about the first thing that keeps us from starting.

When we first get into content creation we struggle with two questions:

1. Clarity of the medium (how to create it?)
2. Niche, or topic (what to create about?)

You might have an answer to one of these questions, or both, or neither. 

And it can change. Especially when we are multi-passionate 🤯

But let's find some hints to get you started...

**For the full written version of the episode see the transcript. 

FOLLOW Justin
Instagram - @JustTries
YouTube - Just Tries
Twitter - @JustTries_
Tiktok -  @justtries
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Facebook - Just Tries
LinkedIn - Justin

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

This is a transformative conversation focusing on achieving clarity, understanding oneself, and navigating personal challenges. A great listen for those seeking to overcome challenges and redefine their personal and professional paths.

Stef shares all of the ways that ADHD impacts her life in a negative way. But we also talk about some of the ways to cope with attention deficit.

She tells the story of realizing she was burned out from corporate work at Google. How she knew the symptoms. What other people can look for. And what we can do to prevent burnout.

This was an incredible conversation when it comes to helping people get unstuck and clarity in their life.

Stef is an incredible storyteller, marketer and branding expert. But one of her greatest strengths is helping people with mindset and clarity. 

So we also talked about feeling stuck, gaining career clarity and developing your personal brand as a priority.

Recovering From Burnout

We talked about Stef’s journey with burnout. She shares her personal experience with recognizing the signs and symptoms..

She shared how valuable it can be to have early warning signs. One of the tipping points for her was coming to the realization that no amount of mental health days could help.

During this time she was developing physical manifestations like stomach pains, headaches, and insomnia. Being misaligned with her work had an emotional toll. 

Another sign was increasing difficulty with handling adversity and constantly digging for reasons to be more grateful.

Transitioning from a corporate job that didn't align with her core values of freedom, autonomy, independence, creativity, and impact changed her life.

And now she helps a lot of others do the same.

Content Creation & Social Media Strategy

There is a lot of bad, or confusing advice when it comes to social media and brand building.

Stef gives concrete, practical and In-depth advice for budding content creators. She reminds us that quantity of posts should exist and over time this will lead to quality.

We should see social media as an incredible, low barrier to entry, safe way to test ideas as we grow our audience. We can really test ideas as we grow our audience.

Steph has a refreshing approach to the debate about niche. She believes we should be humans first. Create content that connects with people. And then, over time shift about 10-20% of our content to serve more specific business audiences.

How To Thrive With ADHD

Stef is incredibly helpful and generous in sharing all of the ways that she manages her own ADHD. These lessons can actually be applied to improving workflow for any of us.

The key thing to remember is that this is always an individual, forever journey. While we can steal tips from each other it will come down to figuring out how you operate best, based on your individual needs.

Here are things you can try if you are struggling with ADHD. When combined, these strategies provide a comprehensive approach for a creative entrepreneur with ADHD to not only manage their symptoms but to thrive in their endeavors.

15 Reminders For "Live" Business Creators

1. Harness Hyperfocus: Use the ability to deep-dive into tasks you're passionate about, allowing yourself to be completely immersed in the flow state.
2. Capture Creative Moments: Make an ideation journal with a notebook or digital app handy for spontaneous, fleeting ideas typical of the ADHD creative mind.
3. Dedicated Workspaces: Assign specific areas in your workspace for various tasks to mentally prepare yourself for each task.
4. Visual Cues & Reminders: Use sticky notes, vision boards, or whiteboards to keep tasks organized and at the forefront.
5. Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for dedicated tasks or activities, which can aid in minimizing distractions.
6. Brain Dumping: Set aside moments in your day to jot down all your thoughts, ideas, and tasks to clear your mind and organize later.
7. Priority Listing: Identify what needs immediate attention, allowing you to address tasks in a sequence that maximizes productivity.
8. The One Thing: Focus on accomplishing the most critical task before moving on to others.
9. Routines: Establish daily routines to add structure, making it easier to navigate the day.
10. Reducing Stress of Big Tasks: Break large activities into smaller, more manageable chunks, allowing them to be tackled systematically.
11. Collaborative Projects: Engage in teamwork to instill a sense of accountability.
12. Hire an Assistant or Coach: Consider assistance for administrative tasks or an ADHD coach for personalized strategies.
13. Body Doubling: Work alongside someone, even if they're working on a different task, to reduce feelings of isolation and maintain focus.
14. Mindful Breaks: Incorporate short mindfulness sessions or activities to reset and recharge.
15. Reflect on Your Patterns: Regularly analyze your productivity patterns to understand and adapt to your most and least effective periods.
16. Improve Wellness Factors: Ensure adequate and quality sleep, exercise and nutrition to boost concentration and productivity.

Memorable Quotes

“It’s not that you have something wrong with you. ADHD is about having a medical issue that you need support with.”

“When I consume other people’s content, it messes with my head and makes me feel like I’m not doing enough, so I try not to do that too much.”

“You can use Chat GPT for acquiring knowledge, as a friend,  mentor, business partner, a marketing consultant, creating content, as a productivity coach, literally anything and everything. But, yeah I am obsessed.”

“A lot of people are suffering from burnout and they don’t even realize it.”

Guest Bio

Stef Pinsley, formerly a marketer at Google, transitioned to entrepreneurship in 2021 after facing burnout in her corporate role. 

During a leave of absence in 2020, she built a significant following of over 70,000 on platforms like TikTok and Instagram by sharing insights on marketing, branding, and mindset.

Capitalizing on this growth, Stef established herself as an industry leader, launching her coaching business and leaving Google. 

She has since empowered thousands with her signature frameworks on personal branding, cementing her belief that a strong personal brand is pivotal for professional growth.

FOLLOW Stef
Instagram - @Stef.Pinsley
LinkedIn - Stefanie Pinsley
Website - Stefpinsley.Com   

FOLLOW JUSTIN (JustTries)
Website - JustTriesHOME
Instagram - @JustTries
YouTube - Just Tries
Twitter - @JustTries_
Tiktok -  @justtries
Pinterest - JustTries
Facebook - Just Tries

CONNECT WITH JUST KEEP LEARNING
Website - JKLHOME
Instagram - @JustKeepLearning.Ca
Tiktok -  @justkeeplearning.ca
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We appreciate you being here! Be sure to leave the podcast, “Just Keep Learning” ratings and reviews because it will help people who need it be better able to find it. Also, if you want a shoutout, simply share an image of the episode, you listening, or your takeaways and share it @JustKeepLearning anywhere on social!

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

In today’s solo episode I’ll talk about learning skills fast.

How can we learn a skill in the most efficient way possible?

Steps To Learn A Skill

Now what if we wanted to elaborate on that framework to give you a step by step guide to learn something efficiently? 
In later episodes I can quote and share some specific learning frameworks from creators like Carol Dweck and Tim Ferris, but today I’ll mention a checklist of things we should have to learn anything fast.

• Define your target performance level. Decide what you want? Clearly define what it is you want to aim to do? 
• Deconstruct the skill into its component parts. Break it down into manageable chunks to learn.
• Prioritize the most important sub-skills for you first. Apply Pareto’s Principle to your learning efforts.
• Don’t procrastinate. Try the actual skill in its truest possible form right away so you have the ability to anchor your learning.
• Research. Learn from teachers in books, courses, coaches and content how to learn the sub skills.
• Dedicate time in your schedule to focused, frictionless practice.
• Seek feedback as soon as possible from people who understand what it’s like to learn the skill.
• Commit to a minimum of forty dedicated hours in trying the skill.
• Create an environment of accountability by adding rewards, and or consequences for your effort.

**For the full written version of the episode see the transcript. 

FOLLOW Justin
Instagram - @JustTries
YouTube - Just Tries
Twitter - @JustTries_
Tiktok -  @justtries
Pinterest - JustTries
Facebook - Just Tries
LinkedIn - Justin

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

Trigger Warning. This is an episode that gives you those Holy Sh*t moments. If it is too difficult for you to hear talk of trauma, then it may be too difficult for you to listen. 

While it is important to learn from people who have survived difficult times, it can also be too much for some people to hear. 

But if you can listen this episode is extremely valuable.

Working With Trauma

Sri found her brother murdered at 14. She was only 11 years old. 

She shares that she faced many challenges afterward that she believes were partly because she never dealt with that trauma. Sri has a powerful voice from being a young mother and a survivor of sexual abuse.

She reminds us through her own story that once we start to work on ourselves, it will actually benefit those around us. How if we go deep and lean into our pain, then we don’t have to hold onto it anymore.

Finding Your Business Path

Sri’s daughter lost her father and there was no legacy left behind. This opened her eyes to the fact that we can be here one moment and gone the next.

When this happens, what are we leaving behind for our kids?

Sri realized she wanted to build a legacy for the next generation. This is one of the reasons she became an entrepreneur. She also wanted to help other people build businesses as a way of owning their true self. 

And one of the first steps she takes to do this is telling people to audit their influences. Who are you hanging around with? How are you spending your time? What content do you consume? What podcasts, books, vlogs and blogs are you learning from?

Sri also told us all about the decision to create her main pillar, or hub content as live shows.

15 Reminders For "Live" Business Creators

1. Audit your influences. Surround yourself with other creators.
2. Think long term. Remember it takes a while to grow an audience.
3. Collaboration is underrated. Creating a network effect is key to success.
4. Continuously get closer and closer to outsourcing things outside of your zone of genius.
5. Focus on your one thing. Improving going live and growing the business.
6. Confidence comes and goes. Remember you’ll try to talk yourself out of it. Keep going.
7. If you can, work for someone else first to see if it’s what you want to do.
8. Ask non biased, market based questions. Why would someone want to be on the show, listen to this, or buy this product/service?
9. Your live video needs to sound good. Audio is the most important part of any show.
10.  Practice interview and conversation skills as an infinite game.
11.  Be authentic and personal. Being yourself will connect with your audience.
12.  Commit to a consistent schedule for at least one main show.
13.  Build a funnel with micro content. Share clips, teasers and mini posts that let people know the value you bring and that they can check out the larger show.
14.  No excuses. Level up your software and gear over time. But at first use what you have and get started.
15.  Don’t worry about numbers. If you seek feedback, ask your audience, or people interested in those same topics what might improve the show.

Memorable Quotes

“We should see tough times and challenging life experiences as a ticket that we need to be able to help someone else later on in life.”

“Trauma is a best friend of mine, but at the same time it’s been my worst enemy.”

“College is not for everybody, but it is for somebody.”

“We can create something from nothing. And we don’t need the whole road map. We just have to decide, what is it that we want to do?”

“My marker is always where was I the year before? And where am I today. I’m just always pushing myself to be better than I was the year before.”

Guest Bio

Sri is a video marketing producer. She coaches entrepreneurs to create highly engaging videos that make money for their business. She’s helped hundreds of clients with improving their own business.

Sri is featured in the Top 15 Coaches in Houston Influence. Known for live streaming and marketing content, she is a powerful influence as a personal brand as well. She is a great mentor and also creates a lot of free content for anyone thinking about starting, or improving a live stream show.

FOLLOW SRI
LinkedIn -  srimahabir
Instagram - @nexlevconsulting_sri  

FOLLOW JUSTIN (JustTries)
Website - JustTriesHOME
Instagram - @JustTries
YouTube - Just Tries
Twitter - @JustTries_
Tiktok -  @justtries
Pinterest - JustTries
Facebook - Just Tries

CONNECT WITH JUST KEEP LEARNING
Website - JKLHOME
Instagram - @JustKeepLearning.Ca
Tiktok -  @justkeeplearning.ca
Facebook - Just Keep Learning
Free Group - JKL Goal Setting Community

We appreciate you being here! Be sure to leave the podcast, “Just Keep Learning” ratings and reviews because it will help people who need it be better able to find it. Also, if you want a shoutout, simply share an image of the episode, you listening, or your takeaways and share it @JustKeepLearning anywhere on social!

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

Incredibly powerful wisdom for all of us to be more "GOLD". A Genuine, Original, Loving, Dreamer on route to your big goals.

She capped the episode off showcasing some of her ability to create poetry by sharing a flow with us on the spot!

Doc Peace also shared the steps to success in building a creator business. And how she went from being a doctor and fulfilling her family's dreams about her career to becoming an award winning poet and entrepreneur. 

One of the most incredible moments was when Doc shared her prescriptions for living a mentally healthy life. She shared a practice of adding a small object to a jar, like a jelly bean, or pebble to the jar every time that you show up in a time that it took courage. 

The ability to see the physical objects grow in our courage piggy bank will continue to increase our confidence and build momentum. 

Doc Peace shared her belief in spirituality and how the universe works through us. We need to trust our inner voice when it guides us toward a direction based on the passions that fuel us.

Create Your Own Story

Doc shared key strategies for succeeding in your side hustle even though you may be really busy with work that pays the bills.

She reminds us that we tell ourselves a story about our life. We create a character that will do things that we don’t even want to do. 

Breaking free from this narrative and becoming the hero in our own movie was key for her. She used this approach to pivot from a corporate medical career as a doctor and to poetry and entrepreneurship. 

Doc shares how it all started when a voice came to her and said “You don’t just need to wear gold, you need to be gold”. 

That was the moment she created her acronym for "GOLD". A Genuine, Original, Loving, Dreamer. And she started to use this concept of gold in all of her creations from art to business.

Doc is a genius when it comes to understanding what it means to build a clear personal brand around a story.  

She noted how we can be both person and business oriented. In her case Doc Peace, in my case Justin Nolan. But this goes hand in hand with a broad brand as well. In her case “gold” and in my case “Just Keep Learning.”

The Three Stages Of Success For Creators

Doc shared three overarching stages we go through as content creators. 

At first, we have a feeling that we can’t make money in the world of art. We reinforce the belief in the starving artist. 

All we can do in phase one is explore. We create, but most of our work is hidden. We need some other way to pay the bills. And we pretty much have to beg for collaborations, partnerships, someone to “put us on”.

In the second phase we probably still hold down a traditional job, but we start to get paid for the creative work we do. People actually book us and provide compensation for what we make.

In this second phase, even though we may be far from “making it” we can see some light and possibility.

Finally in the third phase we know how to craft offers and build revenue that is sustainable on the back of what we create.

In the episode, Doc Peace shared her own progression through these phases. She went from wanting to learn more about poetry, to a commitment to create in public daily. And how that transformed her entire world as a creative. 

11 Things That Help Build Your Creator Business

1. Study the greats
2. Get the craft down. Accentuate your strengths, and improve your weaknesses. Write and perform as much as you can for the first year
3. Focus on networking and collaboration
4. Do outreach in order to start creating your own opportunities
5. Figure out who you serve, because you can’t serve everyone as a target audience. Everyone can join later, but in the early stages you have to dial in who you create for and speak directly to them
6. If you’re shy, it may help to take on an alter ego, digital guise, persona to create within
7. What makes you a genuine, original, loving, dreamer? Create for your higher self and step into that role. 
8. Build an offer that connects your creativity to a money making offer for other businesses
9. Speak in clear terms when building your brand partnerships so that you are not confusing, vague, or cryptic. People should know what you do, and for who?
10. The more you create, get feedback, partner with people and continue to publish, the more momentum will build, keep going!
11. Create simple, memorable stories that communicate your values and interests when you are creating any content that you want to spread. 

Memorable Quotes

“Opportunities don’t always come to you. But you can make them happen.”

“There were so many times that I was starstruck and had to snap myself out of it. But it helps when we realize that we are all people, and they had a start similar to me too where they were just figuring everything out. And they are gold, but so am I.”

“Once you can really own who you are, then you will have the confidence to connect with other people too.” 

“Confidence comes through actually making enough attempts that you’ve figured something out for yourself.”

“What are the characteristics of the higher version of you? Write them down. Now show up as that.”

Guest Bio
Doc Peace is indeed a doctor by trade. And she is also an award-winning spoken word poet, business leader and podcast host featured in Forbes.

As an advocate for empowerment through education, Doc Peace supports businesses in leveraging technologies. Through her offers, she helps them leverage things like NFTs & AI to elevate their brand through strategic storytelling and innovative voiceovers. 

FOLLOW DOCPEACE
Instagram - @metadocpeace
Twitter - @metadocpeace
LinkedIn - @docpeace

FOLLOW JUSTIN (JustTries)
Website - JustTriesHOME
Instagram - @JustTries
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CONNECT WITH JUST KEEP LEARNING
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We appreciate you being here! Be sure to leave the podcast, “Just Keep Learning” ratings and reviews because it will help people who need it be better able to find it. Also, if you want a shoutout, simply share an image of the episode, you listening, or your takeaways and share it @JustTries anywhere on social!

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

Our guest today is a perfect example of dedicating your time to a practice. He started filmmaking as an adult because he has always loved to tell stories, especially on camera. 

Since then he’s filmed and edited hundreds and hundreds of videos, some corporate, some for fun, but all creative.

We talked about pursuing your passion, ideas for being a great filmmaker and building habits as a creator. We took a masterclass style approach when it came to learning about making your own videos.

Enjoy The Journey

Paul has focused on his true love for filmmaking when it comes to being a content creator. Of course he loves creating for clients. But his ability to make something truly creative is what sets him apart.

He now strikes a nice balance between making money doing something he loves, but also creating just for the sake of enjoyment with vlog style videos, documentary and photography.

His ability to enjoy the whole process and not stress about the numbers is really incredible. Paul also reminded us how valuable it is to live outside of your comfort zone. We should be willing to learn from people that have a different life experience. We can learn a lot from people who are different from us.



Go For It

Paul decided to take a college filmmaking course because he wanted to know what it would feel like to have the skill set of making movies. He quickly began to understand the basics of planning, shooting and editing movies in order to scratch his own itch of filmmaking.

He talked about this bias toward action, sticking to the process, and how important it is to keep going. It might be because he recently read Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Act” but it was clear that Paul understands how important it is to make art for yourself first. 

Whether it’s podcasting, writing, or making videos, you will find an audience. Make the art for you first.

Interview the people you find interesting. Collaborate with people you enjoy working with. Go with your gut when it comes to making art. 

It was like a Masterclass when Paul shared with us the basics of video creation. How to get started, using a storyboard, cameras, lenses, frame rates, and music. Paul shared his whole tech stack and tips on making a movie, whether documentary, vlog, or cinematic.

15 Reminders For Great Filmmaking

1. Have fun!
2. Create in your style. Anywhere from super scripted to completely random.
3. Know what you want to show when you think of things like frame rate, lens and lighting.
4. Make things you want to make, the audience will follow.
5. Start with shorter films and use deadlines to focus on quantity and consistency at first.
6. Shoot with the best camera you have at your current disposal.
7. Always have a beginning, middle and end in mind.
8. Make a ton of videos because each skill will stack onto your next creation.
9. Organize your footage so it’s easy to find stuff in your edit.
10. Start your edit with a hook and then the start of a quest. Keep people tuned in to see if the payoff happens.
11. Add copy-write free music and sound effects to spice up your edit.
12. Practice a lot.
13. Find your personal presence on camera by patiently building confidence.
14. Use project management skills and checklists to keep your workflow simple.
15. Get things done on time by pre scheduling your workflow into your 168 hours.

Memorable Quotes

“At any point it would be easy to stop going. Especially when no one else is paying attention to what you’re doing. That’s why it’s so important to stick to the process and keep going.”

“You learn by taking action, actually trying something. Making it from start to finish, and then applying what you learned to the next one. And doing that over and over again.”

“It all depends on what you want to show.”

“Know what is really important to you, so that you can say ‘no’ to the other things.”

Guest Bio

Paul is the manager of the creative meetup group “Get Out And Shoot” which has thousands of members learning photo and filmmaking in Toronto. 

He is a passionate content creator well versed in all creative software and tech stacks. Paul has worked with tourism boards, local businesses, and community stakeholders since 2015.

He is a photographer and filmmaker himself. He currently creates videos for small businesses. And he makes his own films where he taps into his creative, unicorn space. Paul creates vlogs, documentaries, and co-hosts a weekly live photography show, called “Open Shutter”.

FOLLOW PAUL
Instagram- @PGuch
Youtube - @PaulYeghouchian
Twitter - @PaulGuch

FOLLOW JUSTIN (JustTries)
Website - JustTriesHOME
Instagram - @JustTries
YouTube - Just Tries
Twitter - @JustTries_
Tiktok -  @justtries
Pinterest - JustTries
Facebook - Just Tries

CONNECT WITH JUST KEEP LEARNING
Website - JKLHOME
Instagram - @JustKeepLearning.Ca
Tiktok -  @justkeeplearning.ca
Facebook - Just Keep Learning
Free Group - JKL Goal Setting Community

We appreciate you being here! Be sure to leave the podcast, “Just Keep Learning” ratings and reviews because it will help people who need it be better able to find it. Also, if you want a shoutout, simply share an image of the episode, you listening, or your takeaways and share it @JustTries anywhere on social!

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main

In today’s solo episode I’ll talk about reducing stress as a content creator. 

I recorded an interview today and Taylin Simmonds, a real leader in the creator space, asked me what I would do to help someone reduce the mental load of being a content creator?

 It’s funny to get a question like this because I’ve battled my whole life with anxiety and suicidal ideation. Heck, I’m feeling it a bit while I write this. When it gets really bad, depression creeps in, but that is very rare in the last 15 years. 

Suicidal thoughts creep in, but I have minimal fear of any harm. I’m able to laugh at these intrusive thoughts. 

Anxiety cursors begin, but rarely, rarely develop into panic attacks.

So, I wanted to share the punchline with you first: the struggle to figure this out is what connects us as human beings.

Now, I’ll elaborate because there are a few other things I’ve learned that can help us live with less stress in the creator economy. But honestly, that line may be all you need. 

**For the full written version of the episode see the transcript. 

FOLLOW Justin
Instagram - @JustTries
YouTube - Just Tries
Twitter - @JustTries_
Tiktok -  @justtries
Pinterest - JustTries
Facebook - Just Tries
LinkedIn - Justin

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

Want to get every single secret, tip, or idea I learn about channelling our emotions into success in this new creator economy, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter: https://newsletter.justkeeplearning.ca/main