Want to podcast? Find yourself first (and vice-versa) with Gabe Ratliff

Podcast coach Gabe Ratliff (of The Artful Entrepreneur) joins Tyler Jacobson to discuss how dialing in your message can help you succeed in podcasting and how being compelled to podcast can help you reveal your expertise and passion.

TRANSCRIPT (automated):

TYLER JACOBSON:
You’re listening the Omnicast. I’m your host, Tyler Jacobson, with Omnifonic.com. Joining me today is Gabe Ratliff with the artful entrepreneur, a newly launched business. Gabe tell us a little bit about that.

GABE RATLIFF: You bet. Thanks so much for having me here. Tyler I appreciate it.

So so I My story started about three years ago when I was laid off from my corporate gig. I was at a startup for almost four years and I not only drank the Kool-Aid I made it. I was absolutely just 100 percent devout to the work I was doing. I love the startup environment. I love that like how nimble and exciting it is I love the energy. One of the things that was a struggle though is it was like You know it’s a it’s a grind. It’s a hard grind. And I had been on that grind for a long time.

And when I was laid off I asked my wife like hey give me Give me a little bit of time you know give me a few weeks. I had severance so I had a little bit of a buffer and I said hey you know let me let me have a little bit time to figure out where I want to go and what I want to do. And so during that time I am I really did a lot of deep work. I was meditating.

I I was in really bad shape from the work I was I was doing. I mean I was like physically mentally spiritually just not in a good place. So I started meditating. I was getting back into working out and just getting back to me and focusing on me. And I also did a bunch of deep work like ancient Tibetan death meditations and that’s right.

TYLER: That’s what I said Yeah I want to ask you about that I want to go. I’m going to come back to that.

GABE: Yeah yeah. That one usually gets a little pause and you know the reason I was doing these things is because I’m a creative I’ve been a creative my entire life whether it was on the music side or the graphic video drawing illustrating as well as photography and video. And I’ve been in video for a long time. And so I was at this place where I’m like you know do what do I want to capture my own ship. Am I ready. Can I do it. Am I an entrepreneur.

I mean a lot of these questions a lot of us go through his entrepreneurs and I was in this place. I really wanted to figure out what I wanted. Like what did I really want to do. And so part of that that meditation and I did it gets you into this space right where the whole point of it is that it puts you into this space where you you start to really break through what’s important to you and you start to really think about what is it that I really really want like if I was on my deathbed without having to actually go through those motions physically and go through that strain at least in this context right.

Like we’ve we’ve been through that with family we’ve been through that with friends. But it’s something that you know when your life is moving along you’re not stepping back and thinking about that right. And I decided like I really want to take this time. And I’m a lifelong learner so it was just another thing that I was like You know I have this time I’m going to do this. And so I did I dug in. I did a lot of work. I was on LinkedIn creative life which I’m a huge fan of.

And this this death meditation was actually in a course called I believe it was called Finding Your creative purpose. Something along those lines with André who’s a painter out of San Francisco. And I just I was like wow that’s me. I’m trying to find my creative purpose. And that was essentially the middle of the course. What it’s like if you do was build up work and then you get to the middle and you have this life changing experience you do. I mean I was bawling.

I was like at home you know doing this work my wife’s at work and I’m bawling because I’m just like I mean you get in this space and you’re being you’re being you’re being guided with these questions writes a guided meditations you’re being guided with these questions being prompted and you’re being asked you know if and you’re being as it’s happening you’re being talked through around death is like creeping on you from you know six months away three months away a month away a week away a day away it’s your it’s your final day it’s your last couple of hours at your last minute. Death is like over your shoulder right and it puts you into this space visually you’re like this is the guided meditation.

This is the guided meditation. This Tibetan death meditation in the meantime there’s a drummer playing Who’s putting you into a mental state right. And it’s getting you into the space where you’re really getting focused around this work. You have a pen and paper and at the same time you’re being prompted. You’re writing down these things you’re being prompted with right near what are that what is what would you say to your wife or significant other if this was it. Right. Like was the last thing you would say and like what is it you really care about what do you what do you give a shit about you know what is it that is really can I curse on this or of course. Okay awesome. And so you know it’s like what do you really give a shit about what is it that’s like when if this is it. Right. And like a lot of people talk about these things and you hear about these things these amazing inspiring stories where people have overcome cancer and things like that and it’s amazing to hear that like t he perseverance of human spirit. And I love those stories right. Where where people beat it and they survive and they do something with it and it’s rebirth right.

And that’s essentially what you go through in this meditation you get taken down to your death and that’s it.

You’ve finished writing all this stuff and the drum stops right at that moment but then it starts back with a different rhythm.

It starts back with a heartbeat and it’s just Google Google and he starts you know the drummer starts to play it again in this particular context and you’re prompted again. Okay now what is it that you wrote. What are you going to do. What is it that you give a shit about and I’m looking down and I’m like I’m just bawling because I’m thinking about it you know you get asked that what are your regrets. And you get real about it right like people talk about like I don’t have any regrets I like whatever I’m cool you know I’m all about the future and you know all these things. But like when you get in that state it really pushes you to process what is it you really regret deep down that you might not be sharing you’re not putting on Instagram right you’re not putting on YouTube you know it’s changing right people are being way way way more transparent these days which I am very very fascinated by how this transparency is growing and we are opening ourselves up to so much more than we use d to share. And it’s crazy. I mean it’s very different. And it’s interesting to me because I’m curious to see where this all goes but in the meantime.

So you’re going through these things like regrets and you’re thinking through all these things and you know you’re I’m looking down and I’m seeing like what I’m writing now. And the main thing that came through was I want to leave a legacy. I want to help people I want to support people I want to serve others and I want I want to do something that is bigger than me and I want to. And then you know it’s been now several years and what’s come out of all this continued deep work is that as a creative I know that we have a difficult life we’re generally very sensitive where we’re more open to things. We’re generally more open minded and we’re usually like a lot of creatives are introverts. I mean there’s like a whole lot of things that go along with that the creative business itself which I’m also have been a part of and have my own it is hard right. And like a lot of people in the creative business they is this the whole thing around time for money right. Is this conversation not happen ing very much. It’s time for money. And that’s one of the problems that we have in the creative business and business period. I mean a lot of people charged time for money and it’s not about that it’s about value. One of the guys I absolutely love is Chris dough. He is the owner and founder of the future without an E. Love him. We’ve actually talked about him before have you shared a really great video with him. And I love that conversation that he is is spearheading is around your value. It’s round your value.

And so that’s something that I’m also trying to to be a proponent for in an advocate for because people in the creative world it’s a struggle because it’s a personal thing right.

Creativity is a personal thing but when you’re putting it into this business space and you have to ask for money for it it can really bring up some barriers for people. And there’s a lot of doubt there’s a lot of insecurity right cause it’s this thing that you’re doing for you and when it gets out of the passion and becomes profit it really starts to have this different space.

TYLER: I’ll tell you one of the things that I’ve found in my own meditation is and it’s a very frustrating thing is that enlightenment and capitalism don’t necessarily align. And so when you find that you have to actually make them align because your survival depends on it. You can be a difficult thing.

GABE: Yeah. Yeah. I mean it’s it’s a constant struggle right. Because there’s the ebb and flow of you know it’s like with video man. I mean video back in the day was it’s really expensive.

When we were using film and you know it was like Talib film and television. And then as it started to shift into the digital realm which I’ve been fortunate to be able to witness both sides of it I wasn’t. I learned 16 millimeter film and all those things when I was in school but I actually most of my time in video has been predominately in the digital space and you know that shift.

I mean look where we are now. YouTube creators and what’s happened with YouTube and Vimeo and all of these different spaces. I mean it’s also what paved the way. I think just like radio did for podcasting you know it’s like getting a space it’s just like this is a lower barrier to entry for people which is part of why I love it. I love radio. I was a radio deejay club deejay and I still am a deejay and those things all kind of helped me get here because the power of audio is really really potent. I mean it’s one of the things that makes films better. It’s one of the things that like we can have this conversation and then somebody can be doing anything cooking cleaning taking a shower driving driving whatever it working right like whatever it is and it’s it’s not this thing that is very intrusive but it can have a lot of impact.

And that’s part of why I started the after launch printer is because I was witnessing this this transformation in me because you know when I decided to become an entrepreneur I essentially just kept doing what I was doing I was doing video production I was editing a shooting I was producing I was doing whatever whatever it was right. It was just like status quo.

I was just doing it for myself but I was still feeling like a hired gun and what happened was I started recognizing the impact I was having on myself as well as others by interviewing them on the show and by promoting them on the show and by letting them have this opportunity on. It was originally called the vitality project on the podcast which is now rebranded and rolled into this new business. The artful entrepreneur podcast because that’s who I’m promoting that’s who I’m serving. That’s who I’m speaking to right now is these people whether you’re a creative or not creative can be a big capital C or A can be a little creative C you know and as entrepreneurs we have to be creative and constantly be following the ebb and flow of business and and our passions and and have to be nimble with the way things are changing in our landscape. And so that was something that I was seeing that was coming through the work I was doing and it all stemmed from like I wanted to do this thing where I was tapping into people’s story and telling who you know getting into her life like how did how did they get here how are they living there. There’s life full of light fill with vitality and creativity and fulfillment. You know how do you how do you do that not just what are the tactics but what’s their story. How did you get here. Because what I started recognizes that my story was what was empowering me which is what I used to think was a crutch and I used to feel like it was a curse and then I start realizing like Mike one of my quotes that I love that I’ve said for years is to draw your life not trace it and when you start to really think about that it really I think is really impactful saying because a lot of people want to trace their life. They want to trace the life of others they want to you know do this thing that they see other people being successful at. It’s like the whole influencing thing right.

Like people want to be an influencer because this or they like the you know you know the travel industry the people that are you know promoting travel and this travel lifestyle people and it’s great. It’s amazing.

And I love that promotion of that but it’s like you these other people see it and they think I want to do that. And I think it’s great that they they’re going to try and go and attempt it but there’s all these things out there that look awesome. But what they don’t notice is the hard work that goes behind it.

And I think that’s one thing that some people are really doing a great job speaking about is that there’s a lot of hard work behind it and that’s where I think this has the opportunity to really help people because there’s so many of us that are going through this right and there’s so many of us out there that we have a voice but they might not be using it or feel like they deserve it and that they’re worthy. And that’s like a big myth that I hear from people that I’m teaching or or that I’m coaching and or that I’m talking to you about podcasts and they’re like I don’t feel worthy I don’t feel like I have a voice I don’t feel like I’m not a techie you know I don’t like my voice and there’s too many podcasts. You know there’s too many people there’s too many influencers there’s too many experts. I’m not an expert. You know there’s like all these things that we say then they’re all bullshit. It’s all bullshit in our brain because it’s the same thing with TV. I mean look at what’s happ ening with TV. People kept saying superhero movies were a trend and they’re going to die out. No they’re completely gone the other way.

They’re now just branching out and everybody’s fun and a little piece like the boys the boys just came on Amazon Prime and it’s completely this left field weird dark humor twisted spin on superhero stories and it’s doing amazing because they’re trying some different and then they’re branching off from what we know from the traditional superhero story and that’s like a really niche thing but it’s gotten so huge I mean Marvel is not what it used to be it’s now a behemoth. I mean obviously now it’s owned by Disney but it’s a behemoth in the industry of cinema and comic books.

TYLER: Hold on here just for one moment sir because we’re getting really deep into what the artful entrepreneur is. But we’re not getting shallow on what it is. I mean just directly what is the artful entrepreneur just what’s the elevator pitch. Because I’m hearing podcasting I’m hearing about finding creative purpose but what is it just as quickly and succinctly as you as you can there.

GABE: Yeah. I mean the the the focus of the awful entrepreneur itself is around supporting creative entrepreneurs to find their voice brand to to grow their business by marketing themselves by speaking about the thing that they’re so passionate about and like fires and that’s all part of it is it’s it’s I offer one on one and group coaching programs that I work with people it’s a three month program and they both use the same curriculum and I teach them on how to podcast in an artful way that speaks to their passion what they’re curious about what they’re an expert on whether they think they are not we all are about certain things it’s like the thing that’s so fascinating to me is you know I have a media company GitHub aura and I’ve been doing the media company for three years now.

But what I found was I love the producer side I love the creation side I love the storytelling but what I found through podcasting is this purpose that is tied to my passion and now it’s taking me on this path that I want to share with others that we can have this if you’re doing this right like you’re doing this your passion is marketing but it’s also your business but you have these conversations with people like me that are so illuminating.

And that’s the power of podcasts. It doesn’t matter. It’s the whole thing around you know 1000 followers is all you really need to be successful. And I totally believe that. I believe that it’s not about what I call quantity it’s quality. Right it’s getting your message out there to the people that are you know whether you believe in tribalism or not getting your message out to your tribe and the people that understand and that can support you and we can all be in this community together lifting each other up and I’m a huge proponent of that. Whether that’s whether you know the other element for me that I’m supporting not just creative entrepreneurs but also people that are marginalized you know as a white male I understand the privilege I have but I also don’t understand the privilege that I have. I don’t know what I don’t know. And so I’m having people of color you know women people in the LGBTQ community. I’m all about supporting people and owning who I want to help not just at th e macro level but also on a deeper level and supporting people that are marginalized and might not have a platform or you know it’s trying to break out of this place of of you know people being in their echo chambers like hey let’s have a conversation with somebody that’s not in this what you might expect visually echo chamber and how this platform where we can have a conversation and you find out all these commonalities between us. That’s the power of audio right. And so that’s what I’m sharing with people and coaching people on is how to tap into it your way. How do you do it your way what speaks to you is it a serialized podcast is an episodic is it solo is it co hosted.

Is it a panel you know and like what is it that speaks to you that you really want to talk about that you might not be talked about in the way you’re talking about it right.

TYLER: And so that’s introducing a lot of what I actually want to jump back to something that you were talking about like all of these and you called it. I think rightfully so bullshit these reasons that people don’t engage or they don’t engage in a certain way or they start making all of these very elaborate maneuvers to avoid doing something.

And and I see that a lot especially with artists and I don’t know if you do as well but there’s a lot of well it has to be done this way. And so I’m going to again take these very complicated actions to avoid that. And my question that I always go back to them with those who told you that. Right. Like is there an audience out there who is demanding all of this very very precise action by you and telling you that you can’t do X Y or Z and that you have to do you know a b and c I think it’s a lot of our our internal dialogue. So that’s really nice to hear that you know if I’m hearing you correctly one of the things that you do is say yeah let’s try and get you out of that internal dialogue and start really focusing on the things that can empower you and get rid of those excuses.

GABE: Yeah yeah yeah exactly. Because what happens Tyler is as you start to do his work which I’m sure you can speak to you’ve been now doing it for a while as you start to have these conversations with people and you start to act. It’s one of the best ways to get out of self-doubt right is act. Take action. Don’t rank it.

You know we try to think our way out of a lot of stuff. I do it. I’m not speaking like I don’t. I have been. I deal with it all the time right. We deal with it you know every day into some form like there’s the whole thing about comparing on social media. And like people showing their best self. And that’s another thing speaking to the transparency of met earlier. People are getting more and more open to both sides of their breakthroughs their challenges. And I think that’s part of the thing that I’m loving seeing that but the whole concept of the transparency I think is just fastening.

People are wanting to share more. And I’m really excited see where this goes. But in that action that we take in doing this and this is such a low barrier to entry podcasting is not super expensive and it doesn’t take a whole lot of work. It doesn’t make a whole lot of work to actually communicate with somebody. We do it every day. Right. Right. The barrier to entry is really really low. The thing that people put in the way is oh it’s this big daunting thing I can’t do and that’s why I do a three month course because I break it out. It’s actually four sessions but over three months. So you know the fourth session is where you’ve you’ve finished your first three episodes and we can we can share in that glory that you’ve done them. They’re done it’s finished and it’s been over three months so that’s enough time to get the work done and to keep the accountability there. But it’s not it’s not too short it’s not too long.

Right. It’s not this like a year thing like a film. It doesn’t have to take that long. And but it allows there to be this space for things to sit. You know I like to process things until I kind of feel into them.

And some people need that especially as creators right. Some people don’t just like go out and create. Sometimes they need to like think about their project. I mean I have people on the apps on the show like Greg Monty. We talked about that like he needs to process his projects and I connect with that. I connect with that a lot. And as I just rebranded the podcast I had to like you know think through like do I want to change the music. Do I want to you know I have to change the intros and outro is how do I want to do that. That’s the beautiful thing we can constantly be experimenting just like we do in business. And so podcasting has this ability to be this thing that it is. It can start off in this one iteration but then maybe you go you know what I’d love to do another podcast where I do this instead. And it’s this like really short five minute tactical show based on the people I’m talking to and getting something else out there right. Like it could be something that’s like really also fulfilling but is maybe like a little bit more on the like business side of creating a funnel. Yeah that’s something like actionable where you’re creating a funnel or something right. But then you’ve got this other side that’s like super inspiring or maybe you just do something like really really creative that gives you the space to be playful. That’s the thing I think that’s so great about where podcasting can now go is being more playful. You know you’ve gotten rival using 360 mikes and doing these crazy new kind of like the old radio land type shows and it’s like voice acting where they say they did did you hear about Marvel Wolverine that podcast. So they’ve got Marvel Wolverine podcast and they got Richard Armitage from the Hobbit and he’s and the Castlevania and he’s Wolverine in this story. And what’s interesting is in this interview I or this article I read he talks about how it’s very different from voice acting like you normally do like he would in Castlevania because you just go and you do your recording and there’s no interaction. Well they’re actually setting up 360 mikes and having the actors interact. So if there’s a camera a you know a bar brawl in a bar in Canada with him and somebody you can actually hear this engagement between them in the room. So they’re playing around with the tech side of storytelling and how they can kind of bring that comic element into an an oral space as opposed to just visual.

And so you know you’ve got that kind of a thing happening and then you’ve got obviously like the serials and the radio labs and the very like high end highly produced shows. So I mean it’s got this this gamut of options for people and that’s why this is so great especially with creative entrepreneurs right they have this whole ability to get creative and to think about how can I do this for me but how I can really showcase myself and what I’m doing in the world to use that as a way to have this platform for people to see you and to be heard all right.

TYLER: That’s that’s very there’s a lot to digest there and what you just said by the way. And I do feel and end and I think we ran the gamut too because we went from talking about you know there doesn’t have to be this big barrier barrier to entry. And that’s one of the most beautiful things about the personal computer and the the Internet is that it does put so many tools in your hands that were previously out of reach but you can you know scale up to you know whatever you can create. Right there’s no there’s no real rules.

No. And and in marketing we talk about minimum viable product. Right. Which is what is the least amount that you need to do to establish some sort of viability. And I mean really you don’t have to have these arms that you and I have. You know and you don’t have to have these mikes that you and I have at the end of the day your computer has a mike your iPhone has an incredible Mike on it. You can. And there’s there’s podcasts out there that people do when they’re driving to work.

GABE: I’ve heard them before my first one I did when I was prototyping was with my phone with a friend in a coffee shop because I thought oh I want the measles and you know I want the I want the sound of the coffee. I want the clinking right. And I want to like jazz music in the background and I just wanted to play around with it and I just left Creative Mornings with my friend Kelly Schroeder who’s on the show and Episode 6 and we this was in the prototype phase so I didn’t actually launch this one but I just was like Hey I’ve been thing about doing this. Right. And would you mind like I love your story. Can we. Can I Can I interview this. Or can I record this. And she she said yes. And that was it. You know and obviously there is the you know there’s there’s the the level of professionalism you want to have especially as someone who is a producer that I realized around the audio but like it’s really I think what’s happening now dear to your point is it’s really more about getting the con tent out there and get it.

However you need to do it whatever you’re able to do and then you just figure out from there OK I’m really feeling into this I love it.

What’s next. What how can I take it to the next level right.

TYLER: And I think then and then there’s the other side of it right. Like so maybe you do want to come across as more professional. The other thing you could do potentially though is come in as show up as authentic. Maybe it’s not as professional but at the end it does come across as more candid which has that authenticity to it. Yeah. So again there’s there’s not really rules here and there’s not even rules around perception or how seriously people will take you. Sometimes people are going to take you more seriously if it does come across as more candid and authentic. And I think you know this American life is a perfect example of that because a lot of the interviews that take place there are almost like this it’s you know grab grab a recorder put it in your hand and then go to talk to somebody on the street. Yeah exactly. So.

So who shouldn’t be podcast. And we’ve got about another 10 minutes we can go here. Who should and who shouldn’t be podcasting in in your view.

GABE: So my immediate response to that is I believe everyone should be and as long as it speaks to them. Right. Like as long as they don’t have anything holding them up where they feel like this is not relevant for them. I think this is real. I’m constantly talking to people and they’ll be telling me because I’ll know what I do and they’ll or and I’ll be talking about the show and I like who I love to support and they will start to tell me about what they’re doing and I’m immediately producing in my mind like oh that would be so awesome you could totally do this and give you that platform to speak to this thing. So in my mind I think everyone has the opportunity. There’s 750000 podcasts at this point today. They’re not going away. Last time I checked the stats it was 700000. So 50000 more podcasts in probably about one to two months. So they’re not going away.

And that’s why I was saying earlier about the thousand people like a lot of people really care about these like massive YouTube numbers. You know they want these like you know millions and like the award you get after you get x number hundred thousand or one million or whatever and you get these like plaques and everything and that’s all great and everything.

But again that’s getting that comparison thing and it’s really about the first ten people they get. Right. And then the next ten people and then the next hump because then it starts to grow exponentially right because then they are talking about you. And it’s really about honestly it’s really about serving the one person and having that one amazing fan. That’s a super fan that just like can not stop sharing your stuff. That’s just really devout to what you’re trying to do. And then they can keep because then they’re the ones speaking for you right. It’s like a testimonial. And then I get that next ten people and then it keeps going.

But my point is just that it’s really not about these like massive numbers. It’s around the serving that you’re doing of others. You know that purpose it’s around the purpose. Right. But it’s like for me I’m passionate about this medium. So it’s easy for me to say I think this is for everyone but the reason I’m saying it is for everyone is because it is such a low barrier to entry video is expensive. That was one of the things I was seeing in the landscape is it’s getting cheaper. Right because he can shoot with phones relatively. Right. I now understand the variance but people are now doing a lot of work just using their Web cam and their computer or using their phone and you can get really great look.

So I mean there’s films out that were shot with an iPhone 5. So I mean it can happen the doubt. Obviously those were professionals so they knew how to do it. But there’s the potential for it. And I think to your point that there are people are breaking rules now and I think it’s more about the drawing your life and not tracing others that is more the point around this is something that’s obviously working.

Being able to be in people’s ears like this while they’re doing whatever they want to be doing like giving their choosing that they’re giving consent. Right. Like people send emails constantly e-mail marketing is massive. Still to this day Instagram social media Facebook all that people are using ads constantly like throwing stuff at you. That’s not always to your consent. Right. Like there it’s now got such an algorithm to it where as when you go to a podcast and you click play because it says something to you and you’ve made consent but you can have this thing in your ears over the next five 10 20 30 an hour or two hour however long for the episode that can move you and inspire you and give you information just like you can from watching YouTube videos but you can do it anywhere you don’t have to be watching so you can listen to it while you’re driving.

It’s kind of hard to watch YouTube videos when you’re driving and that’s the thing I think is so powerful that podcast is that we can have this conversation and have this really intimate conversation like this. But then so many others can listen to it and be impacted by it. To then go out and do something like take an action because we took an action.

TYLER: And I think you answered the last question that I had to say I’m not even going to ask it so.

So I think it’s I’m kind of developing a deeper sense of what your mission is here if and so again correct me if I’m wrong but it’s almost like because because this gets turned into a podcast because you are leading people down entrepreneurs creatives down this podcast road it’s also about finding your why and your voice before you create that series.

The series is just action ing it finding that value right finding that that strength and expertise and then this is how you’re going to action it or one way that you’re gonna be able to action it be connection in all sorts of way.

GABE: Oh absolutely. And that’s the thing is it evolves right like mine started off I was running on a beach I was visiting family for the holidays and I was thinking this whole concept around producing a show around like the life project right. And I started thinking like oh I don’t want to use the live project that’s too easy. You know it’d be hard for domains and all these things right. I got into this whole like tech side thing like thinking through like the logistics and and I was like wow what about the vice vitality. Like that means pertaining to life and so it started as the vitality project and it’s now evolved in this whole thing where now I’m I’m coaching people on podcasting while also being a podcast her. And so it’s changed my life and it’s changed how I’m showing up in the world who I’m interacting with who I’m supporting. It’s it’s just evolved and it’s I’m I’m continuing to be drawn in these ways and guided in the work that I’m doing and it all started from a place of curi osity and expertise and then it just got continually refined and that’s the thing I talk about in the program is it starts from those places curiosity what are you curious about.

But then what are you an expert in what what is it that people say you’re really good at what is it that people you know like you’re an awesome deejay you’re an awesome marketer you know there’s like all these things about you that I know you’re a go to for those things and like those are the things that you start thinking about like what is it that fills me up because this is the other thing I want to talk about this is this takes some time and it takes some effort right there’s a commitment to it but that’s something you can give that’s free. Right. Right. That’s the thing that’s the where that low buried entry that can be a barrier to entry. But it’s really all about you and taking the time to think through that’s where the curiosity and expertise come because you start thinking about these things that you really give a shit about right. And that that you have something to say doesn’t matter if you have a P HD in that thing it just is like you’ve been doing it for a long time howe ver long that is right. You’re curious about it and you’re passionate about it because it’s just like having a business if you’re going to have a business you damn sure better be into it because it gets hard and when it gets hard you want to be in that space of there’s something that you’re still curious about every day like what’s next.

How how can and I’m all about personal development as well as a result like I said as a lifelong learner and so I’m constantly using this as an element for me to be able to work through and continue on this path that I started three years ago.

Like how can I can you improve how can I be my best self how can I live the example I want to live for others and stop just sitting on the sidelines flipping through my feed hearing people bitch and moan and complain and or talk about how awesome their life is whichever it is I want to go out and live that example so that others see that example and ah are inspired by it or impacted by in some way that maybe gets them off the sidelines. Because I was tired of being right in that place and that’s another opportunity that you can have in this medium is to hate you. You have a voice. Nobody can stop you. There’s nobody that’s going to shut you down. And there are people that will listen you know again it’s like finding those people just putting the work out there and continuing to talk about it. And it’s you know it takes a minute but it’s also finding what you’re gonna say to.

TYLER: Again you’re stepping up to that megaphone you damn sure better have a purpose behind it. And so again that’s right. What it sounds like is very interesting about what you’re doing. Yeah and I think for finding that purpose.

GABE: Yeah and I think because that that’s really where I feel like we’re heading is a place of.

I mean I think that’s part of what at least a lot of the people I follow.

I feel like it’s really important for us to get past you know my wife and I’ve been on this this minimalist kick for a while now and are just continuing to to to slim down the possessions we have. Because what we’ve recognized we both love to travel and that’s why I mentioned travel influencers earlier you know because I see them and I’m like That’s so awesome and I love that they’re out there doing it and they’re just doing it.

They’re breaking those rules. They’re just they’re figuring it out they’re going out and doing it and we love that we love experiences we love culture with a food we love all the things that come from getting out of your backyard and all the learning that can come from it. And that’s the thing that I think is so powerful with this is that you can continue to use these things to evolve and to to be a better self. And the other thing about taking action right is it breaks that whole concept of self-doubt because you’re you’re too busy helping others. And like doing something that is important to you and it’s not just a superficial thing or being focused around this stuff these things that you can’t take with you but you can have this stuff internally that fills you up that you can push out into the world. And you know when I do my gratitude in the morning I’ve been I’ve been. It’s hard for me but I’m in trying to journal. And one of the things I constantly say thank you for is thank yo u for just letting me breathe in another day and breathing love and light out into the world because I can write. I love giving hugs. I’m a hugger and I can do that. They’re free. You can give him a hug and just make their day better right. And it’s just like those kinds of things and I know it’s super woo but that’s what I am. I’m super Woo and like that’s how I look at with it because I feel like business. There is an old capitalistic business model and that has its place but I feel like there’s a new business model and I feel like the more of us that are out there that are that are taking these these things that are important to us whether it be the planet whether it be each other whether it be equity gender parity whatever that looks like that we are living that example and the beautiful thing is that podcasting is this low barrier to entry to get into a space where you can you can take your voice and do something with it.

TYLER: It’s interesting. All right. So again there’s so much to chew on here. So Gabe where can people find you work. What’s the podcast called What’s the. How did they get in. In your course. How did we get the personal coaching. Give us all the details here. Before we wrap up .

GABE: So the Web site is theartful.co T-H-E-A-R-T-F-U-L dot co and the podcast is there. The artful entrepreneur podcast and the coaching is there. You can look up the information have the curriculum the three month curriculum there we’ll schedule a call it’ll be a 45 minute free coaching call to talk out your ideas and figure out if this is a good fit. And then like I said there’s a one on one where you get obviously get that little bit more intimate support throughout the process. And then if you’re more into the group concept like masterminds then I do the same thing. It’s a three month group and it’s all virtual so it doesn’t have to be something where you have to get dressed and meet somewhere we can just do it over zoom and they’re recorded and I give them to you so that you can go back and revisit things that we talked about. Or if there’s things that you that came up and you like don’t remember from your notes then you have those to access and tons of resources as well templates a nd release forums all that stuff so that you can have a little bit easier time to get into it and not have to worry so much about the techie stuff.

TYLER: Cool. All right. Thanks for being here. I always get some out of conversation even if we’re recording for a podcast. So thanks for being with us and we’ll have you back sometime if you’re up for it.
GABE: Absolutely. Thanks again for having me here Tyler.

TYLER: Yeah for sure and if you got something out of this podcast please help us out got our iTunes we very review and it will help other people find it and help us know what you like and what you don’t like and find a song nominee for an icon. Have a good one.