August 25, 2023 • 22 mins
Struggling with creative blocks and looking for a way to charge ahead? Climb onboard as I, Chris Anderson, share nuggets from my personal journey to keep the creative juices flowing. With years of experience as the CEO and founder of Elevate Media Group, I've discovered there's an art and science to staying innovative, no matter how elusive inspiration seems. This episode is all about tapping into diverse sources, embracing constraints, exploring new environments, and collaborating - all powerful tools to ignite your creativity.
But creativity is just the start. The real magic happens when you can consistently churn out content that resonates with your audience. Here's where we roll up our sleeves and dive into the nitty-gritty of consistency in content creation, a game-changer in audience growth. From maintaining quality while increasing quantity, to mastering time management strategies like batching, let's explore together how to transform your creative blocks into stepping stones for success. Get ready to elevate your content creation game to new heights, and remember - sometimes, failure is just another step towards success!
This episode is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, meaning we'll receive a small commission if you buy something.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Elevate Media Podcast with your
host, chris Anderson.
In this show, chris and hisguests will share their
knowledge and experience on howto go from zero to successful
entrepreneur.
They have built theirbusinesses from scratch and are
now ready to give back to thosewho are just starting.
Let's get ready to learn, growand elevate our businesses.
(00:20):
And now your host, chrisAnderson.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome back to another episode of the Elevate
Media Podcast.
I am Chris Anderson, your host.
Today we're going to dive intoa topic that anyone who's
creating content or growing abusiness can probably relate to
overcoming creative blocks.
In this episode, I'm going tounravel the secrets to breaking
free from those frustratingmoments when inspiration seems
(00:48):
to play hide and seek.
I know I've struggled with thisand I'm sure you've probably
dealt with it at some point ornot.
If not, hey, you're lucky.
So, as entrepreneurs, contentcreators and visionaries, we all
have those times where we getinto creative slumps.
It dampens our productivity andinnovation right.
But don't worry, because thisnext, because the information
(01:09):
I've gathered, along with sometips, will help you overcome
those roadblocks and keep yourcreative juices flowing.
So I've been doing this formultiple years as the CEO and
founder of Elevate Media Groupand the host of the Elevate
Media Podcast.
So I understand how importantit is to have consistency when
delivering top-notch content foryour audience.
(01:30):
Whether you're working on videopodcasts, corporate course
videos or coaching content,maintaining a fresh and engaging
perspective is key.
So throughout this episode,we're going to discuss
strategies I've personallyemployed to overcome creative
challenges and sustain a steadystream of creative ideas.
(01:52):
So if you're ready to overcomethose blocks and your creativity
and take your content creationto that next level, this episode
is for you.
Let's turn those creativeslumps into stepping stones
towards success, and what we'regoing to start with that is we
have to understand what creativeblocks really are.
(02:12):
Here at Elevate Media Group,we've encountered our fair share
of creative challenges whileproducing top-tier content,
whether it's video, podcastingor our courses, or even helping
other people do this same thing.
These experiences have helpedme and the team gain insight
into the delicate balancebetween creativity.
(02:35):
Creative blocks are thosefrustrating roadblocks that
impede our creative process.
They're the ones where you getyou stumped, get you frustrated,
wondering am I supposed to bedoing this?
I can't come up with ideas.
They can take the form of thosedwindling ideas, the monotony
of routine or the weight ofself-doubt.
Whether you've been doing thisa while or just getting started,
(02:55):
you've experienced creativeblocks, and it's common for
everybody.
When we can understand thatcreative blocks are a natural
part of our journey in creatingcontent that's going to help us
so much.
Just as a river navigatesobstacles in its path, so too
does your creativity encounterchallenges that it has to
meander and avoid.
(03:16):
When we can accept this fact.
That can alleviate a lot of thefrustrations that often
accompany these slumps.
We get in Now.
Remember, even the mostaccomplished entrepreneurs and
artists have faced some sort ofhurdles, just like these.
The sources of created blocksare diverse.
There's a lot of different ways.
The different things that causethis to have created blocks
(03:39):
vary.
There's external stressors tointernal perfectionism.
External factors, like personalissues, can infiltrate your
creative space, cloud yourthoughts, stifling your
imagination, and, on the otherhand, internal factors such as
fear of failure can also createsome big barriers.
(04:01):
Now consider the creativeprocess itself, which has a lot
of stages, from gatheringinspiration to refining concepts
.
Different types of blocks canemerge at each stage.
For instance, duringbrainstorming, a block might
limit your ability to thinkinnovatively.
It's important to take notethat not all creative blocks are
equal.
Some signal a need for rest,while others suggest a necessary
(04:26):
change in approach.
Recognizing the root cause isvital in effectively addressing
these challenges.
So we're going to go over nowthe significance of consistency
and how that can help us withthese creative blocks.
Now, consistency isn't just abuzzword.
It's truly a cornerstone foryour success.
As the famous entrepreneur JimRohn once said, success is
(04:50):
neither magical nor mysterious.
It's the natural consequence ofconsistently applying basic
fundamentals.
As the famous entrepreneur JimRohn once said, success is
neither magical or mysterious.
It's the natural consequence ofconsistently applying basic
(05:10):
fundamentals.
In a world of content creation,whether, again, you're crafting
video, podcasts, course videosor just material to put out
there on the internet,maintaining a consistent output
is vital for growing youraudience, growing your business,
growing your brand.
So your audience craves regularengagement, and that
(05:31):
consistency builds someanticipation.
They know what's coming.
According to a study by HubSpot, companies that publish 16 or
more blog posts a month get 3.5times more traffic than those
publishing four or fewer.
This principle applies equallyto other forms of content as
well.
Whether it be YouTube videos,whether it be podcast episodes,
(05:55):
it all correlates.
Consistency isn't just solelyabout quantity, though.
It's also about the quality.
Each piece of content youcreate should uphold a standard
that resonates with youraudience.
You should be giving your verybest, no matter what that looks
like.
Your content becomes areflection of your brand's
identity.
Just as we've built ElevateMedia Group on excellence, your
(06:16):
content should consistentlyreflect that excellence as well,
and if you're just starting out, you have to do the best you
can regardless, and so thatshould be your level, until you
can innovate and grow andimplement new technology and new
tools to make it even better.
Consistency is the key tocontent marketing success, and
that is a quote from the ContentMarketing Institute.
(06:39):
It's not just about producingcontent.
It's about creating a reliableexperience for your audience.
This experience builds trustand loyalty over time, and
that's what we want.
We want to build trust andloyalty within our audience so
we can help them with what wehave.
And we can't overlook the roleof consistency and how it plays
a part in overcoming creativeblocks.
(06:59):
So the act of consistentlyshowing up to work on your craft
can serve as a lifeline duringthose moments of stagnation.
It's a practice that keeps yourcreative muscles flexed and
ready for action.
And something I find reallyinteresting with consistency is
the compound effect.
Each piece of content youcreate adds to your body of work
(07:20):
, contributing to your onlinepresent and authority.
So the more you put out there,the more people see it, the more
people begin to trust no onelike you, which raises you in
their mind as experts andauthorities.
Just as drops of watergradually carve out canyons,
your consistent efforts pave theway for success.
This will resonate with yourgoal of building a successful
(07:41):
six, seven or eight-figurebusiness.
Consider other successfulindividuals in your industry.
They all understand the onething the importance of
consistent interaction withtheir audience is key.
The content they put out thereplays a pivotal role in the
growth of their businesses andbrands, and it's the same for
you.
(08:01):
Consistently delivering valuepositions you as a reliable
resource in the eyes of youraudience on their journey.
But of course, just like anyjourney, challenges will come up
.
So how do you maintainconsistency in the face of a
busy schedule or all your kids'events or travel?
(08:21):
One approach I love is batchingcontent creation, batching
video recordings, batchingepisodes.
This is where you dedicatespecific blocks of time to
produce multiple pieces ofcontent in advance.
This not only ensures aconsistent flow because you get
a head, but it also allows formore efficient use of your
(08:41):
creative energy.
What I've done to improve timemanagement is undoubtedly a huge
skill that I've had at homealong the way and it's made such
a difference.
It's one of the reasons we'vealmost released 300 episodes
without missing one week.
Batch recording has played ahuge part in that, because, as I
batch record episodes, when Ifirst started I would just
(09:04):
randomly record and hope to getenough before the next release
day came out.
And then I got a little bitsmarter and I had a little bit
more time.
So I took the first week ofevery month where I would record
as many episodes as I could toget ahead, which put me months
in advance in the release ofepisodes.
That way if something happenedI didn't have to sweat it.
(09:25):
I was two months in advance.
And then as we started to growout, elevate and things changed
I had two kids the schedulechanged.
So now I do two days the firstweek of every month and all I do
is record either guestinterviews or these solo
episodes, and so I batch all ofthem ahead of time again so I
(09:46):
can be months in advance.
So when we take a trip to Texasfor a month to see my wife's
family, I don't have to worryabout recording.
I don't have to worry about myepisodes not coming out because
I'm so far ahead.
It takes sacrifice of time andfun twice or four times a month,
whatever fits your schedule.
Sacrifice a little time or alittle fun instead of partying
(10:06):
on the weekends.
Take a weekend or two and gettwo months of content done ahead
of time, but you've got to bewilling to sacrifice.
You've got to be willing tohave that time management and
batch create to get ahead.
And remember, being consistentdoesn't mean you won't face
hurdles.
There's going to be days whenthe creative well seems to be
(10:26):
dry, but you've got to pushthrough.
And pushing through thesemoments is where true growth
happens when you don't feel likedoing it, when you can't figure
it out, but you keep moving onanyways.
As the saying goes, you can'tuse up creativity the more you
use, the more you have.
So tap into that, even when itfeels challenging.
Consistency is the beatingheart of content creation.
(10:47):
It's that rhythm that keepsyour audience engaged in your
creative spirit alive.
Just like you built yourbusiness where you are right now
, with consistency, your contentwill be the bridge to future
endeavors.
So now I want to give you somepractical strategies to overcome
these creative blocks you getin After creating content.
Creativity is the currency SteveJobs once said creativity is
(11:09):
just connecting things, and whenthose connections seem elusive,
it's time to arm ourselves witheffective strategies to
overcome that.
One of the most potenttechniques is the power of
mindfulness.
Taking a step back and beingfully present can clear mental
clutter.
There's a quote by JohnCabot-Zinn.
He says mindfulness meanspaying attention in a particular
(11:31):
way, on purpose, in the presentmoment and non-judgmentally.
Incorporating mindfulnessexercises into your routine can
disperse the clouds of creativestagnation.
We can get so overwhelmed witheverything going on imposter
syndrome, everything else that'sflying at us on social media
that we can get bogged down.
So when you can take a stepaway, take a step back and clear
(11:52):
that mindset, you're going tobe able to get creative again.
You're going to get ideasbecause you're not going to have
all this stuff flying around inyour mind.
Diverse input fuels diverseoutput, so seeking inspiration
from various sources can jumpthrough your creativity as well.
Picasso famously said goodartist copy, great artist steal.
Now, this isn't aboutplagiarism, but about drawing
(12:14):
from different perspectives togenerate fresh ideas.
There's nothing new under thesun.
So you're going to be able toget fresh ideas from wherever
you go.
Maybe if you're out taking atrip and you see some marking
material and you think it's agreat idea, you can implement
part of that into your brand orinto your content.
Maybe you're reading a book,maybe you watched a movie,
whatever it is, you can gleanideas from all over the place.
(12:36):
You just got to be open to itand allow your mind to see those
.
And then sometimes we need toembrace constraints as catalysts
for creativity.
Constraints force you to thinkoutside the box.
Again, we talk about them a lot.
Seth Godin notes art is aboutintent and making choices as
opposed to eliminating options.
Try to get creative.
A problem outside of the boxinstead of limiting yourself and
(12:57):
this is a big one I use ischange of environment.
This can trigger change inperspective.
I like to go outside and justget away from the office and out
of the house and things of thatnature, to just let my mind
again take a step back and justhave an open mind of thought.
And this is what you can do isgetting out of that environment,
changing the scenery, thescenario you're in, to get a
(13:19):
fresh glimpse on things, and,according to research by the
Association of PsychologicalScience, a change in scenery can
actually enhance cognitivefunction and boost creativity.
Something else you can think ofand use is collaboration.
It's another really good tool.
Get with other people in yourindustry.
Get with other people in yourindustry or who you trust and
(13:41):
who you can brainstorm ideaswith and bounce ideas off one
another.
This can help you get new ideasand breathe some life into your
content.
There's a study published inthe Journal of Applied Cognitive
Psychology and it found thatgroup brainstorming generates
more diverse ideas thanindividual brainstorming.
And if you read the bookThinking Grow Rich, you
(14:03):
understand the power of amastermind and having people in
a group that all have big goalssimilar to yours.
That will help spur ideas andspur each other on to that next
level.
So you got to think about itthat way.
Collaboration is a huge key tohelp you overcome creative
blocks, and then you can setspecific goals and this will
(14:24):
help combat aimlessness.
So if you don't really knowwhere you're going, if you have
a specific goal, that'll honeyou in.
There's a research psychologistnamed Edwin Locke and he had a
goal setting theory and itemphasized that setting clear
goals and challenging goalsenhances motivation and
performance.
So when you feel like you don'tknow what to create, then maybe
your goals aren't specificenough.
(14:45):
Maybe you don't know whereyou're going, maybe you don't
know exactly how you're helpingsomeone.
So when you do that, you getclear on that direction and
being able to create contentthat aligns with that ultimate
goal and then, of course, havinga routine that can spark
creativity by training yourbrain to expect creative
sessions.
So if you do it on the sametime, that consistency primes
(15:06):
your mind to shift into creativegear.
And that's somethingneuroscientists, heather Berlin,
studied and found to be true aswell that if you actually have
a specific set routine that hasspecific time and place, you go
into just creative flow.
That if you do that enough,that once you get in that space
and time, you become morecreative and come up with new
(15:29):
ideas, better ideas, because youare on that routine in your
body and your mind get used tothat.
And then we have to embracefailure.
It's a stepping stone, it's notthe end, and Thomas Edison put
it best I have not failed.
I've just found 10,000 waysthat it won't work.
Now, accepting failure is justpart of the process and it
reduces the fear that cancontribute to creative blocks.
(15:50):
And this one is a great one andI use as well.
A lot is unplugging andrecharging your mind.
I don't know how many times,and you've probably been there
too, that being constantlyconnected can lead to burnout or
the feelings of burnout Alwayson your phone, always posting,
always researching content,ideas, or seeing what people in
your market are doing or seeingwhat your audience is asking.
(16:11):
Doing that so much can justdrain you mentally.
There's a study in the Journalof Computers in Human Behavior
and they found that even a briefnature walk can improve
attention and cognitive function.
So again it goes back to thatremoving yourself.
Get into a new environment, getinto a new situation, let your
mind rest a little bit, changeyour environment, and that can
(16:35):
help you overcome these creativeblocks.
So those are just some of thethings you can do, and there's a
lot more, but we spent a wholeanother hour probably on those.
So make sure you go, try toincorporate some of these into
your strategies, into yourroutines, so you can transform
your relationship with thosecreative blocks.
The journey of content creationis a maze of challenges, but
armed with these tools that I'vejust went over, you're
(16:57):
definitely now equipped tonavigate them better and
successfully.
But I really want to hit on thisnext point.
That's a high percentage ofwhat people deal with that
causes creative blocks andthat's self-doubt.
Now, self-doubt is that naggingvoice that questions your
abilities, that familiaradversary.
Now it's time to learn how tosilence that with strategies to
(17:19):
build your self-confidence andbolster your creative journey.
You've got to embrace youraccomplishments, for one
Self-doubt tries to overshadowthose achievements you've done.
Need to take a moment andreflect on what you've
accomplished.
Celebrate the small wins.
Maya Angelou said success isliking yourself, liking what you
do and liking how you do it.
Remember you've already taken astep to start your business.
(17:41):
That's something to celebrate.
You also have to watch how youtalk to yourself, how your inner
critic talks.
From being a negative to aninner cheerleader can change
everything.
If you're going to replace Ican't with I'll find a way.
That little shift right therecan reshape your mindset and
invigorate your confidence.
But we've got to talk toourself well.
(18:01):
And then we've got to focus ongrowth, not perfectionism.
Perfectionism fuels self-doubtbecause nothing's perfect.
Instead, embrace the growthmindset.
You've got to view challengesas opportunities for growth that
enhance resilience andunderstand that imperfections
are just the stepping stones,the building blocks to
improvement and growth.
And this fourth one this is onethat a lot of people struggle
(18:25):
with is seeking externalvalidation.
We need to seek externalvalidation sparingly.
It has its place, but excessivereliance on it can foster so
much self-doubt.
And that's what we're seeing alot with younger kids,
especially with them being sopresent on social media all the
time, it's always thatcomparison game.
Being online, everyone justshowing everything is quote
unquote perfect when it's notreally.
(18:46):
And when people just see that itthrows them off.
It gets them into self-doubt.
Tim Ferriss once said that thesuperheroes you have in your
mind the idols, icons, titansare nearly all walking flaws
who've maximized one or twostrengths.
So think about that when youthink about your heroes or the
people you look up to and you dothe same.
Place your strengths, focus onthose and acknowledge your
(19:09):
errors for improvement.
Remember self-doubt is auniversal experience.
Everyone deals with it.
Celebrate.
A figure like Albert Einsteineven faced it, and he put it
this way the only sure way toavoid making mistakes is to have
no new ideas.
So channel yourself doubt intofuel for growth and innovation,
Because when we can realizefailure isn't a dead end but a
(19:30):
crossroads of lessons, we'rebetter off.
Henry Ford once said failure issimply the opportunity to begin
again, this time moreintelligently.
Failure is universal.
It's a companion to all of uson this path to success.
Walt Disney faced multiplerejections before Mickey Mouse
became an icon.
Jk Rowling weathered numerousrejections before Harry Potter
(19:52):
enchanted the world.
These stories remind us thatsetbacks are stepping stones
towards achievement.
I bet you didn't know HarrisonFord was a carpenter before he
got his big breaks, and so manyactors and actresses waited
tables before they got theirshot.
Failure unveils invaluablelessons.
The process of identifying whatwent wrong allows us to see
(20:15):
what can be improved upon.
Each setback contributes to themosaic of your expertise and
your journey.
It's just an exercise inresilience.
It toughens your resolve andfortifies your spirit.
According to psychologistAngela Lee Duckworth, grit, the
perseverance and passion forlong-term goals is a better
(20:35):
predictor of success than talentalone.
Failure is just a reminder ofyour courage to try, and it's
the launch pad for innovation.
There's not much differencebetween success and failure.
Really, the only difference isexperimentation.
Failed attempts stress yourcreativity and inspire out of
the box thinking.
Failure fosters empathy andrelatability.
(20:56):
Your audience connects moredeeply when they see your
journey, with its highs and lows.
Being vulnerable in this mattertransforms you from a distant
figure into a relatable human.
So as you aim to build yourbusiness, you've got to
recognize that not everyendeavor will yield immediate
success, but each setback canfuel your fire for achievement.
(21:17):
Remember that failure is ateacher, not a punishment.
It's a compass pointing towardsgrowth and evolution.
Remember Winston Churchill'swords resonate well here when he
said success is not final,failure is not fatal.
It is the courage to continue.
That counts.
So that's all I have for thisepisode as we come to an end.
(21:37):
I want to thank you forlistening in today.
If you found anything valuablein this episode anything at all
please go leave a rating andreview.
I'd love to hear from you.
Motivates me to keep going andshare this.
Someone, Maybe someone you know, is starting their business or
starting something that theymight get a lot of self-doubt
trying to create content around.
Share this with them.
(21:57):
Let's help more people togetherby doing that, but until then,
keep creating, Use these toolsto become more creative.
Don't worry about failing, andkeep going out and elevating
your life, elevating yourpodcast, elevate your business.
We'll talk to you again soon.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Thank you for listening to the Elevate Media
Podcast.
Don't forget to subscribe andleave a review.
See you in the next episode.
Welcome to the Elevate Media Podcast with your
host, chris Anderson.
In this show, chris and hisguests will share their
knowledge and experience on howto go from zero to successful
entrepreneur.
They have built theirbusinesses from scratch and are
now ready to give back to thosewho are just starting.
Let's get ready to learn, growand elevate our businesses.
(00:20):
And now your host, chrisAnderson.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome back to another episode of the Elevate
Media Podcast.
I am Chris Anderson, your host.
Today we're going to dive intoa topic that anyone who's
creating content or growing abusiness can probably relate to
overcoming creative blocks.
In this episode, I'm going tounravel the secrets to breaking
free from those frustratingmoments when inspiration seems
(00:48):
to play hide and seek.
I know I've struggled with thisand I'm sure you've probably
dealt with it at some point ornot.
If not, hey, you're lucky.
So, as entrepreneurs, contentcreators and visionaries, we all
have those times where we getinto creative slumps.
It dampens our productivity andinnovation right.
But don't worry, because thisnext, because the information
(01:09):
I've gathered, along with sometips, will help you overcome
those roadblocks and keep yourcreative juices flowing.
So I've been doing this formultiple years as the CEO and
founder of Elevate Media Groupand the host of the Elevate
Media Podcast.
So I understand how importantit is to have consistency when
delivering top-notch content foryour audience.
(01:30):
Whether you're working on videopodcasts, corporate course
videos or coaching content,maintaining a fresh and engaging
perspective is key.
So throughout this episode,we're going to discuss
strategies I've personallyemployed to overcome creative
challenges and sustain a steadystream of creative ideas.
(01:52):
So if you're ready to overcomethose blocks and your creativity
and take your content creationto that next level, this episode
is for you.
Let's turn those creativeslumps into stepping stones
towards success, and what we'regoing to start with that is we
have to understand what creativeblocks really are.
(02:12):
Here at Elevate Media Group,we've encountered our fair share
of creative challenges whileproducing top-tier content,
whether it's video, podcastingor our courses, or even helping
other people do this same thing.
These experiences have helpedme and the team gain insight
into the delicate balancebetween creativity.
(02:35):
Creative blocks are thosefrustrating roadblocks that
impede our creative process.
They're the ones where you getyou stumped, get you frustrated,
wondering am I supposed to bedoing this?
I can't come up with ideas.
They can take the form of thosedwindling ideas, the monotony
of routine or the weight ofself-doubt.
Whether you've been doing thisa while or just getting started,
(02:55):
you've experienced creativeblocks, and it's common for
everybody.
When we can understand thatcreative blocks are a natural
part of our journey in creatingcontent that's going to help us
so much.
Just as a river navigatesobstacles in its path, so too
does your creativity encounterchallenges that it has to
meander and avoid.
(03:16):
When we can accept this fact.
That can alleviate a lot of thefrustrations that often
accompany these slumps.
We get in Now.
Remember, even the mostaccomplished entrepreneurs and
artists have faced some sort ofhurdles, just like these.
The sources of created blocksare diverse.
There's a lot of different ways.
The different things that causethis to have created blocks
(03:39):
vary.
There's external stressors tointernal perfectionism.
External factors, like personalissues, can infiltrate your
creative space, cloud yourthoughts, stifling your
imagination, and, on the otherhand, internal factors such as
fear of failure can also createsome big barriers.
(04:01):
Now consider the creativeprocess itself, which has a lot
of stages, from gatheringinspiration to refining concepts
.
Different types of blocks canemerge at each stage.
For instance, duringbrainstorming, a block might
limit your ability to thinkinnovatively.
It's important to take notethat not all creative blocks are
equal.
Some signal a need for rest,while others suggest a necessary
(04:26):
change in approach.
Recognizing the root cause isvital in effectively addressing
these challenges.
So we're going to go over nowthe significance of consistency
and how that can help us withthese creative blocks.
Now, consistency isn't just abuzzword.
It's truly a cornerstone foryour success.
As the famous entrepreneur JimRohn once said, success is
(04:50):
neither magical nor mysterious.
It's the natural consequence ofconsistently applying basic
fundamentals.
As the famous entrepreneur JimRohn once said, success is
neither magical or mysterious.
It's the natural consequence ofconsistently applying basic
(05:10):
fundamentals.
In a world of content creation,whether, again, you're crafting
video, podcasts, course videosor just material to put out
there on the internet,maintaining a consistent output
is vital for growing youraudience, growing your business,
growing your brand.
So your audience craves regularengagement, and that
(05:31):
consistency builds someanticipation.
They know what's coming.
According to a study by HubSpot, companies that publish 16 or
more blog posts a month get 3.5times more traffic than those
publishing four or fewer.
This principle applies equallyto other forms of content as
well.
Whether it be YouTube videos,whether it be podcast episodes,
(05:55):
it all correlates.
Consistency isn't just solelyabout quantity, though.
It's also about the quality.
Each piece of content youcreate should uphold a standard
that resonates with youraudience.
You should be giving your verybest, no matter what that looks
like.
Your content becomes areflection of your brand's
identity.
Just as we've built ElevateMedia Group on excellence, your
(06:16):
content should consistentlyreflect that excellence as well,
and if you're just starting out, you have to do the best you
can regardless, and so thatshould be your level, until you
can innovate and grow andimplement new technology and new
tools to make it even better.
Consistency is the key tocontent marketing success, and
that is a quote from the ContentMarketing Institute.
(06:39):
It's not just about producingcontent.
It's about creating a reliableexperience for your audience.
This experience builds trustand loyalty over time, and
that's what we want.
We want to build trust andloyalty within our audience so
we can help them with what wehave.
And we can't overlook the roleof consistency and how it plays
a part in overcoming creativeblocks.
(06:59):
So the act of consistentlyshowing up to work on your craft
can serve as a lifeline duringthose moments of stagnation.
It's a practice that keeps yourcreative muscles flexed and
ready for action.
And something I find reallyinteresting with consistency is
the compound effect.
Each piece of content youcreate adds to your body of work
(07:20):
, contributing to your onlinepresent and authority.
So the more you put out there,the more people see it, the more
people begin to trust no onelike you, which raises you in
their mind as experts andauthorities.
Just as drops of watergradually carve out canyons,
your consistent efforts pave theway for success.
This will resonate with yourgoal of building a successful
(07:41):
six, seven or eight-figurebusiness.
Consider other successfulindividuals in your industry.
They all understand the onething the importance of
consistent interaction withtheir audience is key.
The content they put out thereplays a pivotal role in the
growth of their businesses andbrands, and it's the same for
you.
(08:01):
Consistently delivering valuepositions you as a reliable
resource in the eyes of youraudience on their journey.
But of course, just like anyjourney, challenges will come up
.
So how do you maintainconsistency in the face of a
busy schedule or all your kids'events or travel?
(08:21):
One approach I love is batchingcontent creation, batching
video recordings, batchingepisodes.
This is where you dedicatespecific blocks of time to
produce multiple pieces ofcontent in advance.
This not only ensures aconsistent flow because you get
a head, but it also allows formore efficient use of your
(08:41):
creative energy.
What I've done to improve timemanagement is undoubtedly a huge
skill that I've had at homealong the way and it's made such
a difference.
It's one of the reasons we'vealmost released 300 episodes
without missing one week.
Batch recording has played ahuge part in that, because, as I
batch record episodes, when Ifirst started I would just
(09:04):
randomly record and hope to getenough before the next release
day came out.
And then I got a little bitsmarter and I had a little bit
more time.
So I took the first week ofevery month where I would record
as many episodes as I could toget ahead, which put me months
in advance in the release ofepisodes.
That way if something happenedI didn't have to sweat it.
(09:25):
I was two months in advance.
And then as we started to growout, elevate and things changed
I had two kids the schedulechanged.
So now I do two days the firstweek of every month and all I do
is record either guestinterviews or these solo
episodes, and so I batch all ofthem ahead of time again so I
(09:46):
can be months in advance.
So when we take a trip to Texasfor a month to see my wife's
family, I don't have to worryabout recording.
I don't have to worry about myepisodes not coming out because
I'm so far ahead.
It takes sacrifice of time andfun twice or four times a month,
whatever fits your schedule.
Sacrifice a little time or alittle fun instead of partying
(10:06):
on the weekends.
Take a weekend or two and gettwo months of content done ahead
of time, but you've got to bewilling to sacrifice.
You've got to be willing tohave that time management and
batch create to get ahead.
And remember, being consistentdoesn't mean you won't face
hurdles.
There's going to be days whenthe creative well seems to be
(10:26):
dry, but you've got to pushthrough.
And pushing through thesemoments is where true growth
happens when you don't feel likedoing it, when you can't figure
it out, but you keep moving onanyways.
As the saying goes, you can'tuse up creativity the more you
use, the more you have.
So tap into that, even when itfeels challenging.
Consistency is the beatingheart of content creation.
(10:47):
It's that rhythm that keepsyour audience engaged in your
creative spirit alive.
Just like you built yourbusiness where you are right now
, with consistency, your contentwill be the bridge to future
endeavors.
So now I want to give you somepractical strategies to overcome
these creative blocks you getin After creating content.
Creativity is the currency SteveJobs once said creativity is
(11:09):
just connecting things, and whenthose connections seem elusive,
it's time to arm ourselves witheffective strategies to
overcome that.
One of the most potenttechniques is the power of
mindfulness.
Taking a step back and beingfully present can clear mental
clutter.
There's a quote by JohnCabot-Zinn.
He says mindfulness meanspaying attention in a particular
(11:31):
way, on purpose, in the presentmoment and non-judgmentally.
Incorporating mindfulnessexercises into your routine can
disperse the clouds of creativestagnation.
We can get so overwhelmed witheverything going on imposter
syndrome, everything else that'sflying at us on social media
that we can get bogged down.
So when you can take a stepaway, take a step back and clear
(11:52):
that mindset, you're going tobe able to get creative again.
You're going to get ideasbecause you're not going to have
all this stuff flying around inyour mind.
Diverse input fuels diverseoutput, so seeking inspiration
from various sources can jumpthrough your creativity as well.
Picasso famously said goodartist copy, great artist steal.
Now, this isn't aboutplagiarism, but about drawing
(12:14):
from different perspectives togenerate fresh ideas.
There's nothing new under thesun.
So you're going to be able toget fresh ideas from wherever
you go.
Maybe if you're out taking atrip and you see some marking
material and you think it's agreat idea, you can implement
part of that into your brand orinto your content.
Maybe you're reading a book,maybe you watched a movie,
whatever it is, you can gleanideas from all over the place.
(12:36):
You just got to be open to itand allow your mind to see those
.
And then sometimes we need toembrace constraints as catalysts
for creativity.
Constraints force you to thinkoutside the box.
Again, we talk about them a lot.
Seth Godin notes art is aboutintent and making choices as
opposed to eliminating options.
Try to get creative.
A problem outside of the boxinstead of limiting yourself and
(12:57):
this is a big one I use ischange of environment.
This can trigger change inperspective.
I like to go outside and justget away from the office and out
of the house and things of thatnature, to just let my mind
again take a step back and justhave an open mind of thought.
And this is what you can do isgetting out of that environment,
changing the scenery, thescenario you're in, to get a
(13:19):
fresh glimpse on things, and,according to research by the
Association of PsychologicalScience, a change in scenery can
actually enhance cognitivefunction and boost creativity.
Something else you can think ofand use is collaboration.
It's another really good tool.
Get with other people in yourindustry.
Get with other people in yourindustry or who you trust and
(13:41):
who you can brainstorm ideaswith and bounce ideas off one
another.
This can help you get new ideasand breathe some life into your
content.
There's a study published inthe Journal of Applied Cognitive
Psychology and it found thatgroup brainstorming generates
more diverse ideas thanindividual brainstorming.
And if you read the bookThinking Grow Rich, you
(14:03):
understand the power of amastermind and having people in
a group that all have big goalssimilar to yours.
That will help spur ideas andspur each other on to that next
level.
So you got to think about itthat way.
Collaboration is a huge key tohelp you overcome creative
blocks, and then you can setspecific goals and this will
(14:24):
help combat aimlessness.
So if you don't really knowwhere you're going, if you have
a specific goal, that'll honeyou in.
There's a research psychologistnamed Edwin Locke and he had a
goal setting theory and itemphasized that setting clear
goals and challenging goalsenhances motivation and
performance.
So when you feel like you don'tknow what to create, then maybe
your goals aren't specificenough.
(14:45):
Maybe you don't know whereyou're going, maybe you don't
know exactly how you're helpingsomeone.
So when you do that, you getclear on that direction and
being able to create contentthat aligns with that ultimate
goal and then, of course, havinga routine that can spark
creativity by training yourbrain to expect creative
sessions.
So if you do it on the sametime, that consistency primes
(15:06):
your mind to shift into creativegear.
And that's somethingneuroscientists, heather Berlin,
studied and found to be true aswell that if you actually have
a specific set routine that hasspecific time and place, you go
into just creative flow.
That if you do that enough,that once you get in that space
and time, you become morecreative and come up with new
(15:29):
ideas, better ideas, because youare on that routine in your
body and your mind get used tothat.
And then we have to embracefailure.
It's a stepping stone, it's notthe end, and Thomas Edison put
it best I have not failed.
I've just found 10,000 waysthat it won't work.
Now, accepting failure is justpart of the process and it
reduces the fear that cancontribute to creative blocks.
(15:50):
And this one is a great one andI use as well.
A lot is unplugging andrecharging your mind.
I don't know how many times,and you've probably been there
too, that being constantlyconnected can lead to burnout or
the feelings of burnout Alwayson your phone, always posting,
always researching content,ideas, or seeing what people in
your market are doing or seeingwhat your audience is asking.
(16:11):
Doing that so much can justdrain you mentally.
There's a study in the Journalof Computers in Human Behavior
and they found that even a briefnature walk can improve
attention and cognitive function.
So again it goes back to thatremoving yourself.
Get into a new environment, getinto a new situation, let your
mind rest a little bit, changeyour environment, and that can
(16:35):
help you overcome these creativeblocks.
So those are just some of thethings you can do, and there's a
lot more, but we spent a wholeanother hour probably on those.
So make sure you go, try toincorporate some of these into
your strategies, into yourroutines, so you can transform
your relationship with thosecreative blocks.
The journey of content creationis a maze of challenges, but
armed with these tools that I'vejust went over, you're
(16:57):
definitely now equipped tonavigate them better and
successfully.
But I really want to hit on thisnext point.
That's a high percentage ofwhat people deal with that
causes creative blocks andthat's self-doubt.
Now, self-doubt is that naggingvoice that questions your
abilities, that familiaradversary.
Now it's time to learn how tosilence that with strategies to
(17:19):
build your self-confidence andbolster your creative journey.
You've got to embrace youraccomplishments, for one
Self-doubt tries to overshadowthose achievements you've done.
Need to take a moment andreflect on what you've
accomplished.
Celebrate the small wins.
Maya Angelou said success isliking yourself, liking what you
do and liking how you do it.
Remember you've already taken astep to start your business.
(17:41):
That's something to celebrate.
You also have to watch how youtalk to yourself, how your inner
critic talks.
From being a negative to aninner cheerleader can change
everything.
If you're going to replace Ican't with I'll find a way.
That little shift right therecan reshape your mindset and
invigorate your confidence.
But we've got to talk toourself well.
(18:01):
And then we've got to focus ongrowth, not perfectionism.
Perfectionism fuels self-doubtbecause nothing's perfect.
Instead, embrace the growthmindset.
You've got to view challengesas opportunities for growth that
enhance resilience andunderstand that imperfections
are just the stepping stones,the building blocks to
improvement and growth.
And this fourth one this is onethat a lot of people struggle
(18:25):
with is seeking externalvalidation.
We need to seek externalvalidation sparingly.
It has its place, but excessivereliance on it can foster so
much self-doubt.
And that's what we're seeing alot with younger kids,
especially with them being sopresent on social media all the
time, it's always thatcomparison game.
Being online, everyone justshowing everything is quote
unquote perfect when it's notreally.
(18:46):
And when people just see that itthrows them off.
It gets them into self-doubt.
Tim Ferriss once said that thesuperheroes you have in your
mind the idols, icons, titansare nearly all walking flaws
who've maximized one or twostrengths.
So think about that when youthink about your heroes or the
people you look up to and you dothe same.
Place your strengths, focus onthose and acknowledge your
(19:09):
errors for improvement.
Remember self-doubt is auniversal experience.
Everyone deals with it.
Celebrate.
A figure like Albert Einsteineven faced it, and he put it
this way the only sure way toavoid making mistakes is to have
no new ideas.
So channel yourself doubt intofuel for growth and innovation,
Because when we can realizefailure isn't a dead end but a
(19:30):
crossroads of lessons, we'rebetter off.
Henry Ford once said failure issimply the opportunity to begin
again, this time moreintelligently.
Failure is universal.
It's a companion to all of uson this path to success.
Walt Disney faced multiplerejections before Mickey Mouse
became an icon.
Jk Rowling weathered numerousrejections before Harry Potter
(19:52):
enchanted the world.
These stories remind us thatsetbacks are stepping stones
towards achievement.
I bet you didn't know HarrisonFord was a carpenter before he
got his big breaks, and so manyactors and actresses waited
tables before they got theirshot.
Failure unveils invaluablelessons.
The process of identifying whatwent wrong allows us to see
(20:15):
what can be improved upon.
Each setback contributes to themosaic of your expertise and
your journey.
It's just an exercise inresilience.
It toughens your resolve andfortifies your spirit.
According to psychologistAngela Lee Duckworth, grit, the
perseverance and passion forlong-term goals is a better
(20:35):
predictor of success than talentalone.
Failure is just a reminder ofyour courage to try, and it's
the launch pad for innovation.
There's not much differencebetween success and failure.
Really, the only difference isexperimentation.
Failed attempts stress yourcreativity and inspire out of
the box thinking.
Failure fosters empathy andrelatability.
(20:56):
Your audience connects moredeeply when they see your
journey, with its highs and lows.
Being vulnerable in this mattertransforms you from a distant
figure into a relatable human.
So as you aim to build yourbusiness, you've got to
recognize that not everyendeavor will yield immediate
success, but each setback canfuel your fire for achievement.
(21:17):
Remember that failure is ateacher, not a punishment.
It's a compass pointing towardsgrowth and evolution.
Remember Winston Churchill'swords resonate well here when he
said success is not final,failure is not fatal.
It is the courage to continue.
That counts.
So that's all I have for thisepisode as we come to an end.
(21:37):
I want to thank you forlistening in today.
If you found anything valuablein this episode anything at all
please go leave a rating andreview.
I'd love to hear from you.
Motivates me to keep going andshare this.
Someone, Maybe someone you know, is starting their business or
starting something that theymight get a lot of self-doubt
trying to create content around.
Share this with them.
(21:57):
Let's help more people togetherby doing that, but until then,
keep creating, Use these toolsto become more creative.
Don't worry about failing, andkeep going out and elevating
your life, elevating yourpodcast, elevate your business.
We'll talk to you again soon.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Thank you for listening to the Elevate Media
Podcast.
Don't forget to subscribe andleave a review.
See you in the next episode.
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