Don't Forget Your Offense!
My favorite baseball team has a problem: they can’t hit the ball when it matters. Because Major League Baseball tracks every possible statistic (moneyball!!!), I quickly learned they are the second worst team in the league when it comes to runs scored. Fortunately, they are near the top in pitching and competitive in their division, but none of that matters when the bats don’t show up to play.
There is a similar problem when running a creative business. You can produce professional work, get really good at strategy, identify your target audience, and even build brand awareness, but if you can’t score (revenue, cash flow, and profit!!!), you’re gonna have a problem.
So, learn how to go on offense. Stop waiting for people to find you. Stop relying on a temperamental algorithm that dictates who sees your content. Instead, build relationships with intention and impact. Just like in baseball, not every pitch is hittable. Learn your zone and stop swinging at everything. Know what you’re selling and how you help people. Then practice, so that when it’s time to ask for what you need, you’re ready.
Yes, it will take time, but you’ll also stand apart from everybody else relying on the same tools and techniques that end up in spam folders, recycling bins, and voicemail.
“Curiosity Overload” with Micah Kassell (GWTW905)
As listeners of this show know, I love asking my guests what they are endlessly curiosity about, but what I rarely take the time to consider is that we could overload our curiosity. What do we do when this happens? Today’s guest provides several insights into forming our personal answer to that question. Micah Kassell is a graphic designer, drummer, and a deeply creative soul fascinated with curiosity, belief, and cult-like behavior. From corporate boardrooms to stages, he’s learned to approach teamwork from the perspective of the drummer, as time keeper and vibe tender. In this conversation, we explore his obsession with aspirational and motivational speech that builds fans of brands and culture. We also talk about his journey into music and graphic design, how his dad’s creativity influenced his life and career, why baseball is an imagination sport, learning to win and lose in life and business, why the trio is his favorite band and team configuration, patience, limitations, highlights and shadows, and learning to document his creativity with improvisation and communication.
“Stories of Tragedy & Triumph” with Kelley Baker (BYIS3E29)
Kelley Baker AKA The Angry Filmmaker is an author, filmmaker, and music aficionado. Whenever we get together, we’re always talking about music and music documentaries, and two films we can’t stop talking about are Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage and Muscle Shoals. As we discuss this double feature, we touch on themes of history and mythology in the music business, curiosity and dissatisfaction, the pursuit of greatness, and how tragedy and rejection shape people. Weaving stories and memories from both films and our lives, Kelley and I talk about how these films reveal necessary traits that all artists need in pursuing their work: upping your game by working on your craft, surrounding yourself with people, and going down your own path.
A Beyond Your Imagination Update!
Kelley and I sat down last week and recorded the final two episodes of season 3 and I think you’re going to love them. The first conversation was all about Francis Ford Coppola through the lens of three documentaries at the beginning and end of his career. We wrap up the season with our thoughts on Perfect Days, directed by Wim Wenders.
Wondering what’s in store for season four? The theme is Falling Back in Love with Filmmaking. While I’ll be sharing my personal insights, I’m also open to in-depth conversations with other filmmakers as well.
Newsletter Notes:
Today’s sonic soundtrack is Snuggles by Devin Townsend.
The photo in the graphic above is Colorful Spheres Swirling in Abstract Space Painting from Envato Elements.
I set the title type above with Anton, designed by Vernon Adams.
