PP 109: Top 5 Most Enlightening Lessons from 2018 to Help You Dominate 2019
5 Enlightening Lessons in 2018 to Help You Dominate 2019
2018 was the biggest, most memorable, and most profitable year in the books yet.From a life standpoint, I became a dad. Enough said.From a business standpoint, it was filled with talks, workshops, podcast episodes, murals, freelance, etc.It was a lot of 'good' stuff, yet I find myself questioning was it all the 'right' stuff?I've failed a lot. I've learned a lot. I know there is a ton of room from improvement, which excites me.That's why, today, I've reflected on the year and want to share the top five most enlightening lessons learned from 2018 to help you dominate your next chapter in 2019.In 2019, I want you thinking bigger, sharpening your focus and intent, and believing in yourself and your work.
1. Stop Hiding & Embrace Who You Are
It's hard for the world to believe in you when you don't accept and believe in yourself.For the longest time, I've been self-conscious of what people think of me—mainly because I didn't love and embrace who I am nor believe in my abilities.Back in 2015, I had my first real big talk at Creative South and claimed that I was a Creative Coach on stage—even though I had no idea what I was talking about. I felt like a fraud and a filtered phony projecting this version of myself to people that even I didn't believe in.I spent the rest of 2015 and three-quarters worth of 2018 searching for my identity; I've given people the safe answer that I'm an artist and designer. That is until I found my identity in episode 101.
I Am a Creative Coach
Take Life One Slice at a Time (3 Life Lessons Learned From Loving Pizza Pt 2)
I am a creative coach who's put here to serve, encourage, teach, and connect with my fellow creative grinders.I'm here to constantly push you to be the best version of yourself, so you can enjoy what you create and make an impact on others.That's why, this January, I'll be offering 5 1-on-1 coaching sessions to pursue this with more intention. More on this coming soon, but my Private Facebook Group will be getting free dibs at these spots just an FYI.In 2019, I'm stepping into and fully embracing this person I'm supposed to be—weird-pizza-and-space-cat- loving quirks and all.I'm ready to deal with any hate or criticism sent my way from those thinking I'm too cheesy, cliché, or fake.I won't hide anymore, and I'm bringing my truest and most authentic self to the table.I hope you pull up a chair next to me.
2. Know What You Want–Vision, Plan & Focus
If you don't know what you want, where you're going or who you want to be, how do you expect to create the life you want?The second biggest lesson I learned in 2018 was having a defined vision. My vision really came into focus after attending the Summit of Greatness this past October.For real, go back and listen to episode 101 Born for Greatness. I describe how I had these breakthroughs and how you can get clarity on your vision, and I believe this is key for you to think bigger and truly take your game to the next level.I know what I want now, and it becomes clearer each day the more I focus on sticking to the plan (which I talk about next in lesson #3).So I ask you, what do you want and how are you going to make it happen?
Action Step:
By the end of the day, I want you to take 5-10 minutes to think and write down the one main thing you want to accomplish in 2019. Be as specific as you can and tie a start and accomplish date to it to create a sense of urgency. Make a plan of what you need to do each day, each week, and each month to accomplish it.
3. Say NO so I can say YES
Normally, I'm the type of person that, if an opportunity comes my way, my mouth says yes before my brain has time to think it through.Since Little Scotty was born, I've had to really dig deep and ask myself:
What's most important in life?
Where should I be focusing my time?
If I make this decision, how does it affect my family?
The more I think, write, and speak it publicly, the more accountable I become to what does and doesn't matter.
What matters the most:
Family
"Your kids don't care about your portfolio." - Jonden Jackson
What's the point of building an empire if you turn around and there's no one to celebrate it with?
Self-care (mental & physical)
The more you focus on taking care of yourself, the more energy and life you have to invest into your work and others
Serving
Scale the podcast: this is where I make the greatest impact and find the most fulfillment as a Creative Coach
Goal: Become a top 10 Design/Arts Podcast on Apple Podcast by January 2020
To start-up my coaching program to provide creatives even more targeted and personalized value
Friends
Once in a blue moon, I need to disconnect from the dream and spend time with those who've always been around–and maybe catch a buzz
Murals
This is the type of work that makes me feel most challenged and alive
With the wife's green light, only take on HELL YES opportunities
What doesn't matter:
Small freelancing projects
They don't pay well enough to compensate the time that goes into them
I have to say no for the things that matter most
Spending my money on dumb shit
If I want to provide for my family, pay off debt, and do Perspective-Collective full-time, then money must be used wisely
Going out all the time is worthless as being hungover and it sets me back
Creative Decision-Making: If Not a Hell Yes Than It’s a Hell No
Remember, when you say YES to something, you're then saying NO to something else. Make sure you are saying YES to the things that matter most.
4. Ask for Help & Delegate
All my life, I've loved the responsibility and pressure of owning everything on my plate. More specifically, it meant that I also got all the credit and reaped all the rewards.However, there is only so much you can accomplish by owning every task. Keeping your head down and focusing on the small tasks makes it hard to look up and forward to the bigger picture.I get it, it's hard to hire help to do small things you feel you can do better than anyone.Yet, when you delegate or get help, you're able to make bigger moves that can yield greater results than when you roll solo.When I hired help and delegated tasks, it brought the podcast an incredible amount of growth.
Hiring a Podcast Editor
I hired Aine Brennan as my editor in late December 2017.The Results:
My monthly podcast downloads tripled from January to March
I've been able to actually build a queue and work ahead instead grinding it weekly
Hiring a Shownotes Editor/Executive Assistant
Early June, I hired Paige Garland originally as show notes editor. She has since carved out a role as Executive Assistant.The Results:
Monthly podcast downloads doubled from June to end of August
I've been able to work ahead and build a queue
Overall Results:
Their help has allowed me to work ahead, plan months out in advance, land sponsors, bring on bigger guests, and focus on bigger picture tasks to better know and serve my audience better
It took me just under two years (Aug. '16–'18) to hit 100k downloads, but it's taken me four months now to hit the next 100k downloads because of their help
I'm learning that not being too proud to ask for help and delegating tasks allows you to scale things and make a bigger impact.Every day, I'm constantly looking for new tasks that hold me back from the bigger picture to hand off to Paige—and she's doing them far better than I did.Aine is able to crush it by working ahead, which gives me the breathing room to still work a day job, pursue murals, and be a family man.You don't have to do it all. Help yourself by seeking help.
5. Think Bigger & Stop Limiting Yourself
It took me thirty years to realize I've been living in a box. These invisible walls I've built around myself limited my mind from seeing and thinking bigger.I've been operating my whole life from a mindset of lack, which has caused abundance and freedom to rarely show their faces.This isn't an overnight change in my way of thinking. This is a daily practice that will transform into a long-term, fruitful habit.From now on, I'm setting goals that make me extremely uncomfortable in terms of achievement and capital gains. I won't let my previous limiting beliefs try to convince me I'm a lunatic for knowing there are rewards and blessings coming my way.If you can see it in your mind and visualize the feeling of having it, then I believe it's yours already.For now, I'm just waiting for reality to align with my mindset.
Dominate 2019
What are your biggest lessons of 2018?If you haven't reflected on this past year, I encourage you to do this ASAP! It will help determine where you should or shouldn't be focusing your time and efforts.If you vibed out to my top five lessons in 2018, how can you apply some of these tactics to your own mindset and daily approach?Remember: embrace yourself, know what you want, say yes to the essential, ask for help, and stop limiting yourself.I feel these are some secret seasonings for creating a recipe to dominate 2019.I believe in you, but it really starts with believing in yourself.
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CREDITS
Music - Blookah
Executive Assistant - Paige Garland
Photo & Video Specialist - Colton Bachar
Social Media Coordinator - Hannah Schick
Animation Specialist - Greg D'Amico