Create for No Reason

In this episode, we catch up with the consummate creative Jay Baer. We talk about his latest book, Talk Triggers, and what it means to be mentionable today. How can we be creative and stand out? We also talk about hokey, tequila, alpacas, how to cheat at bbq competitions, and why Seth Godin is a perfect dinner party guest.  Join our Facebook Community. 

Kate and Shawn talk about their own creative processes and what it feels like when things get harder. They talk about how expectations can gum up the works. It might be fun and games when we start making something. That's the whole point: create something for no reason. Sometimes though, we take our creative endeavors to the next level. We dipped our foot in the pool and decide it's time for a swim. It gets harder. We create expectations. We get frustrated. We consume more than we create. We procrastinate. That's when we get stuck. But it can still be play. Don't forget that. We more we create, the happier we are. 

We're all capable of doing hard things. We simply need to commit to doing the work. Kate met Mark Drager on Clubhouse and loved what he was building. During one of their conversations, she told him about Create For No Reason. He laughed and said he sometimes wonders if what he used to create just for fun isn't exactly fun anymore. Kate thought it would be a fun conversation to explore on the show. Mark talked about Tonka trucks, getting messy, and what it takes to be a creative entrepreneur. Listen to the full episode for fun and inspiring ideas to help you do more hard things.  Mark Drager is the host of the We Do Hard Things podcast and founder of the Clubhouse club under the same name.  As a professional conversationalist, Mark sits down with the most extraordinary people to have real, inspiring conversations. He is the husband to his highschool sweetheart Jacqueline, father of four, and lives outside Toronto, Canada. Join our Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/createfornoreason

Shawn and Kate are life-long learners and explorers. They want to learn everything they can while they can. They’re good at parties. They ask lots of questions. They love listening to stories and figuring out new ways of doing things. They read a lot too, especially Kate—she’s gonna devour 50+ books this year. Shawn’s covering thousands of miles this summer to explore Central America and the Rocky Mountains. Are they reading and traveling as part of a creative practice or are they keeping themselves busy pretending to work by learning? Do a lot of us do the same thing? Do we hide from our creative work, by reading and watching videos about creative work?

Kate and Shawn talk about social media and long-form content (including the novel Joey Robert Parks wrote on Instagram). What works these days? What doesn’t work? If we’re artists, do we care? Or maybe an even more important question: How can we use social media to figure out if our ideas are a worthwhile or useful? Standup comedians test bits with different audiences to figure out “is this a thing?” How can we do the same?

Shawn's in Idaho hiking up beautiful mountains. Kate's heading to Oregon to visit her friend Kyle. Kyle always challenges Kate to ship her work. So in this episode, we talk about creating and getting your work out into the world. Being brave enough to share your ideas even when they aren't perfect. Because we know it'll never be perfect. Shipping helps the creative process because we get feedback. It also helps us get more comfortable sharing. Like how Shawn published his first book of poetry this year, I Believe in a God Who Rollerskates. What creative project will you commit to shipping this month? Join our Facebook community and tell us what project(s) you're working on. Or better yet, ship your work by posting something you've created. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/createfornoreason

In this episode, Shawn and Kate talk about what it takes to create good work. When you're in the creation process, is your work "real"? Shawn thinks it may just be a naughty puppet (listen to the episode). We know what great work looks and feels like, but it can only be accomplished by practice. It's hard to be consistent when we're creating mediocre work, but it's so worth it.    Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/createfornoreason

Shawn’s in the Jungle. Kate teases him about his Eat Pray Love journey. We talk about gathering the ingredients to create something only you can create. We also explore whether or not we're good at giving and/or receiving information. Are you open to receive what the universe has in store for you? Are you prepared to create something magical simply because you're willing to listen to the signs around you? We would love your thoughts on this episode.  Join our Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/createfornoreason

In this episode, Kate and Shawn chat with Bobby Del Rio. He's a repped Hollywood actor, writer, and director. Most recently, Bobby wrote and directed the feature film The Market. Bobby has become one of the top film moderators on Clubhouse, curating many influential rooms in Hollywood. Bobby creates what he likes. He's committed to the practice and believes the right people will find his work. Bobby is definitely confident in his own skin and isn't afraid to share his options and go after what he wants. It's just what he does. It serves him well. We hope this episode inspires you to step into your unique genius and create for you.  Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/createfornoreason

In this episode, Kate and Shawn explore mindset vs. environment. Can you get out of a creative rut or even do your best work simply by changing your thoughts or environment?  Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/createfornoreason