#217: Chase Jarvis – Thinking bigger and taking more risks as a creator [Greatest Hits]
Apr 1, 2025
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Chase Jarvis, an American photographer, director, and former CEO of CreativeLive, shares his insights on creativity and risk-taking. He emphasizes the necessity of journaling for self-discovery and the importance of building a supportive community. The conversation dives into harnessing the attention economy and the ethics of storytelling, alongside practical frameworks for personal growth. Chase highlights that embracing risks can lead to fulfilling lives, urging creators to think bigger and push beyond their comfort zones.
Chase Jarvis emphasizes the importance of authenticity in creative work, urging creators to be true to themselves rather than conforming to conventional advice.
The podcast highlights the necessity of taking calculated risks, as pursuing extraordinary outcomes often requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
Deep dives
The Power of Community in Growth
Surrounding oneself with ambitious individuals is essential for personal and professional growth. Being part of a community like The Lab, which consists of creators striving to improve their reach and revenue, fosters a supportive environment where members can share resources and strategies. The membership has various tiers, with higher tiers focused on those already achieving significant monthly earnings, yet there's also a basic tier that offers access to valuable educational content. The sense of camaraderie, shared best practices, and the willingness of members to help one another create a motivating atmosphere that accelerates growth.
Chase Jarvis's Journey to Authenticity
Chase Jarvis emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself when creating impactful work, illustrated by his decision to rewrite his latest book just weeks before completion. He realized that the initial drafts of the book did not reflect his genuine thoughts and experiences but rather conformed to conventional business advice. This epiphany led him to refocus the narrative on authenticity, vulnerability, and the real-life challenges faced by creatives. By shedding the pressures of societal expectations, he encourages individuals to explore their internal desires and ambitions, ultimately leading to more meaningful outcomes.
Harnessing the Power of Attention
Directing one's attention is presented as a fundamental skill for personal development, with the ability to focus serving as a crucial tool in navigating life's distractions. Chase Jarvis highlights that our environments and societal pressures often inhibit our ability to discern what truly matters to us and emphasizes the need to reclaim that focus. An example provided involves Viktor Frankl, who demonstrated the transformative power of deciding where to place one's attention even under dire circumstances. By cultivating a practice of awareness and questioning what captures our focus, individuals can create a more intentional and fulfilling experience in their lives.
Pursuing Extraordinary Choices
The pursuit of extraordinary outcomes is tied to taking calculated risks, with Chase Jarvis emphasizing that safety is often an illusion that can prevent individuals from living fully. He discusses the reality that significant setbacks can occur regardless of whether one follows a safe path or takes bold risks, reinforcing the idea that seizing what matters most often requires stepping out of one's comfort zone. By presenting examples like Richard Branson, who balanced ambition with practical risk management, Jarvis illustrates that one can strive for greatness without recklessness. Ultimately, embracing extraordinary choices allows individuals to pursue lives aligned with their true passions and aspirations.
Chase Jarvis is an American photographer, director, artist, and entrepreneur. From April 2014 until July 2022 Jarvis was the chief executive officer of CreativeLive, an online education platform that he co-founded in 2010.
I’ve been a long-time listener of Chase’s podcast, the Chase Jarvis Live Show, and actually wrote him down as one of my ideal podcast guests when I started this show all the way back in 2020.
This conversation is about thinking bigger, taking risks, and getting out of your own way. I left feeling more relaxed, inspired, and fully recharged. I hope you do, too.