Blog
Here’s the Big Secret…
…Nobody feels like an adult. Nobody feels like a “great man” Successful people did not become successful because they hit some big, magical break. Successful people became successful because they got up every day and did one thing toward …
If You Want to Create Better Stuff, You Probably Need More of This
It was board game night at the Brison household, and I was about to flip a table over 3 cardboard coins. We were playing 7 Wonders, a game which I would only recommend if numbers, fantasy, and statistics appeal to you. (Luckily my family falls …
An Awful Conversation Most Creatives Have With Themselves
It's all meaningless, Todd. What? No it isn't. It can't be. Look at all these things I've built. All the stuff I've written. Look at my site and my work and these moneys I've saved. Meaningless. And I've got a book in the works! I've been …
Your Friends Will Reject You
When you start down your creative path, when you start saying no, it's going to be a mindset shift for both you and the people who know you. They say "You're a different person" And you'll have to realize you're actually the same person. You've …
There is an Elephant Inside You
No seriously. Go ahead and check. He might be distracted right now, telling you to feed him. Or he might be thirsty for knowledge, and that's why you're reading this article right now. Or he might be procrastinating on what you're really …
The 6 Step Guide to Selling Your Soul for Money
Inside every Creative is a raging Gorilla-Beast dying to be free. This beast does his own thing, ignores all advice and criticism, and makes whatever he wants for whomever he wants whenever he wants. There's an obvious problem here: …
10 Ways to Keep Coming Up With Ideas
There is this myth in the Creative community (probably because people like me use words like "Muse" and "Calling") that ideas simply strike out of the sky, and the Creative must merely act on them, waiting to act until this mystical lady comes to …
4 Words You Need to Hear Today
It's safe to say my writing career, my success at my "real job," or even these words you're reading right now would not exist if I hadn't been told the words I'm about to tell you: …
What Writers Really Care About
It's not the hearts. It's not the "likes." It's not the spikes in stats on Wordpress. It's not the hollow pats on the back. It's not the fame. It's not the ability to say "I'm a writer" (although that's nice). It's not the windfall …
How to be Magical
Machines are kind of taking over the world. Like, I don't know if you've noticed, but most of the things that were done by people just a few years ago are now being done by robots. You don't need to ask for directions anymore. You can process …
4 Ways of Redefining Success
Nobody gets a free pass at success. Money? Of course. Fame? You betcha. Good looks? I'm living proof. But never success. Why do I bring this up? …
What Day is it?
Please take a moment, right now, and think about the miracle that is your life. The fact that you are alive - right now, at this moment, and you just happen to be reading this - is completely impossible. Yet here you are. You get today, and …
5 Things You Are Probably Afraid of As a Writer
Here's something people don't ask me now, but when I'm king of the Internet they will: "Todd! I have writer's block. How do I get out of it?" And this will be my answer: …
Where is Your Writer’s Block Coming From?
Blink. The cursor mocks you. Blink. Blink. You've been staring at this blank page for ten minutes wondering how to start. Blink. Blink. Blink. This has never been a problem before... Blink. Blink. Blink. Blink. You can't write. …
100,000 Steps
If I were to speak to Selena Gomez today, I would ask this: "Why are you trying so hard to look good for me? I mean, we don't even know each other. And how can one person be a 14-carat diamond? Isn't it hard to walk?" If I were to speak to you …
Journaling is Annoying. Here’s What I Do Instead
I know, I know. I've heard all the arguments for journaling. It's reflective. You learn about yourself. It keeps your life in perspective. But frankly, it just wasn't doing it for me. Whenever I write, I want to be moving toward something. …
The Artist’s Burden
To anyone who has ever written, drawn, sculpted, sketched, painted, mused, scrawled, doodled, composed or sang: Most of what you do will be terrible. It’s not your fault. Artists all go through this. Recently, I wrote 800 …
Until You Connect, You Are Just a Headline
You know that one big post you wrote? The one that everyone shared? And hearted? And "liked?" And retweeted? I have to tell you a little secret about those people. …
2 Ways to Get Recognition (Even if Nobody Cares About You)
When Tim Ferriss posts something, people flock in droves to read it. When JK Rowling puts something new on Potterwatch, the internet explodes. When Grey Malin releases a new series of photos featuring rainbow-colored sheep, everyone flings money at …