The Chase Jarvis Live Show

Hey friends, Chase here. I want to talk about something that might be uncomfortable — but if you're willing to really look at it, it can change everything. What if you're working incredibly hard… at the wrong thing? This is one of the scariest patterns I've seen — not just in the creators I coach, but in my own life. People are climbing. Grinding. Achieving. But they're climbing a mountain that isn't theirs. What's Really Going On Most people don't realize they're succeeding at the wrong thing. From the outside, it looks like progress: Momentum Validation Money Status But internally? There's a low-grade unease. Something you can't quite name. You tell yourself: "I just need one more win." "One more level." One more external yes." But what if that feeling isn't about not being there yet? What if it's because you're on the wrong mountain entirely? Why This Happens We humans are mimetic creatures. We learn what to want by watching what other people want. In a world optimized for visibility, comparison, and per

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something that quietly holds a lot of people back — something we've been taught to believe for most of our lives: Talent. The idea that some people are just born with "it." The gift. The spark. The thing that makes them exceptional. And if you don't have it? Well… maybe you just weren't meant for this. Let me be clear: That idea is mostly a lie. Not because people don't have natural inclinations or perspectives — they do. But because what we call talent is usually something much more accessible, much more practical, and much more within your control. This episode is about breaking that illusion — and replacing it with something far more empowering. The Myth of Talent We've built an entire mythology around the idea that greatness is reserved for a select few — that some people are simply born with abilities the rest of us don't have. But here's what most people don't see: From the outside, confidence and competence can look exactly the same. And from the inside? It ofte

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something that might feel uncomfortable at first — especially if you've spent years trying to get better, sharper, more polished, more "professional." Perfection is dead. Not metaphorically. Not eventually. I mean right now. And if you're paying attention to what's happening in the creative world — especially in an era of AI, automation, and endless content — you're starting to feel it too. The things that used to signal quality… now feel generic. The things that used to impress… now barely register. And the things we used to hide — the rough edges, the quirks, the imperfections — are quickly becoming the only things that actually stand out. This episode is about why your flaws — the very things you've been trying to smooth out — might actually be your greatest creative advantage. The Shift: Why Perfect Doesn't Work Anymore We are living in a moment where perfect is easy. AI can generate flawless images. Software can smooth every imperfection. Templates can make anythi

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something that quietly holds a lot of creators back — the belief that your work needs to resonate with everyone. It feels natural. We're wired for connection. We want to be seen, appreciated, recognized. That's human. But when that instinct starts driving your creative decisions, it can pull you further and further away from the very thing that makes your work meaningful in the first place. So here's the truth I want you to hear clearly: You don't need everyone. Not their approval. Not their attention. Not their validation. In fact, trying to get all of that is one of the fastest ways to dilute your voice and disconnect from what matters most. This episode is about what happens when you stop chasing everyone — and start creating from a place that's actually true to you. The Core Idea If you try to make something for everyone, you end up making it for no one. I see this all the time — creators, entrepreneurs, builders of all kinds trying to shape their work so broadly t

Hey friends, Chase here Let's talk about something every creator experiences — but almost nobody talks about openly. Rejection. If you're pursuing anything creative — photography, writing, design, building a business, launching a project — you already know the truth: you hear a lot more no than you hear yes. But here's the twist. Most people think rejection is the signal to stop. In reality, rejection is often the signal that you're doing the work. In this episode, I'm unpacking why hearing "no" isn't something to avoid — it's something to learn from, grow through, and ultimately embrace as part of the creative path. Because more often than not, "no" doesn't mean never. It means not yet. Let's start with a simple truth: If you're putting your work out into the world — pitching clients, submitting work, applying for opportunities, launching ideas — you're going to hear "no." A lot. And while that might feel discouraging at first, it's actually a sign that you're in the arena. That you're taking risks. That you

Hey friends, Chase here If you're a creator who's ever wondered why someone with "less talent" seems to get more opportunities… this episode is for you. Because here's the truth: being great at your craft is only the price of admission. It gets you in the door. But what happens after that? That's where your career is made. In today's micro-show — Craft Is the Entry Fee — I'm talking about the things that matter most in the work you do… and the things that matter just as much in the way you do it. The stuff you can't always point to on a resume. The stuff you can't show in a portfolio. The stuff you can't always "prove" — but everyone can feel. Because what you can't see matters. The Big Idea Let's start with a reframe that will save you years of frustration: Great work is the "get in the door" fee. Yes — you have to be good. You have to practice. You have to care about the craft. You have to put in the reps. But if you're trying to get hired, land clients, build long-term relationships, or get re-hired again

Hey friends, Chase here There's a myth that quietly messes with a lot of us — especially if you're a maker, builder, or artist. It's the myth that creative fulfillment is something you find. That if you just get lucky enough… brave enough… talented enough… you'll stumble into "the thing" and everything will click. But here's what I want to remind you today: Your path isn't discovered. It's designed. Not as in "perfectly planned." As in: you choose it. You shape it. You tend it. You build it on purpose — even when you don't feel ready. This episode is a short one, but it's dense. It's about why wildly creative careers aren't an accident… and how to return to what makes your heart sing. Here's what this episode explores: Creative lives don't happen by accident. They happen intentionally. They're designed. The Core Idea Creative lives are built on purpose. The "lucky ones" didn't just stumble into it. In some way, shape, or form, they created a vision and worked toward it. This episode is about doing that — deli

Every creative journey starts the same way. Excitement. Possibility. Momentum. And then — somewhere between the spark and the breakthrough — it gets hard. The novelty fades. The results slow down. Doubt gets louder. And that's when most of us go looking for certainty. Better gear. Better tactics. The "right" answers. But what if the discomfort isn't a sign you're off track? What if it's proof you've finally reached the part that actually matters? In this episode, I break down why the messy middle — that stretch between starting and mastering — is where your identity gets forged. Why we hide in measurable answers when we're uncomfortable. And how to reconnect with the love that made you begin in the first place. Because the middle isn't a detour. It's the proving ground. In this episode: Why creators obsess over tools when the work gets uncomfortable The psychological comfort of "right answers" What the messy middle really is How to develop internal clarity instead of chasing certainty Why rememberin

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on a truth most of us spend years trying to outgrow: playing it safe has a cost. Not just a financial cost. Not just an "I didn't take the leap" cost. I'm talking about the hidden cost — the slow trade of your originality for approval, your curiosity for compliance, your honest voice for whatever feels least risky. A lot of us were trained early to optimize for fitting in. To sit still. To follow directions. To avoid disrupting the room. And to be clear: the people who guided us usually meant well. But the system most of us came through wasn't designed to help you uncover what you're here to make — it was designed to produce consistency. Efficiency. Predictable outcomes. Over time, that training can dull the very thing that makes your work matter: your vitality. Your weirdness. Your edge. The parts of you that feel a little too honest, too quirky, too intense, too much. Here's the core idea: The price of playing it safe is your creative

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that quietly changes everything once you see it: You don't get paid first for the work you want to do next. You build it first. Most people wait for permission. They wait for a client, an investor, or an opportunity to show up before they start creating. But in my experience, it works the other way around. The next chapter of your career is built in parallel with the one you're already in. I've always balanced paid work with deeply personal exploration. The commercial projects put food on the table. The personal work is where curiosity lives. And it turns out, that curiosity-driven work is where every meaningful breakthrough in my career has come from. Here's the core idea: Build the next chapter before you're paid. Your portfolio becomes your future. The work you make on your own time — without guarantees — becomes proof of what you're capable of next. Clients don't hire potential. Investors don't fund intentions. They respo

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that runs counter to how most of us try to solve creative problems. When we feel stuck, uncertain, or restless, our instinct is usually to think harder. To analyze. To wait for clarity. But here's the truth I've learned the hard way: you can't think your way forward. Clarity doesn't come from sitting on the couch running mental simulations. It comes from action. From making. From trying things in the real world and paying attention to what happens next. Early in my career, I hit a real creative rut. I questioned whether photography was truly my thing, or whether some other medium might be a better fit. And I could have stayed stuck in that loop for months — thinking, debating, second-guessing. Instead, I ran experiments. I tried painting. I learned from it. And just as importantly, I learned what wasn't my path. Here's the core idea: action beats intellect. Thinking has its place, but it's a terrible primary strategy for gett

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and practical — and it centers on a simple idea that tends to hit a little deeper once you really sit with it: you are not your goals. You are not your intentions. You are what you do repeatedly. Around this time of year — or anytime you feel the urge for a reset — it's easy to assume the problem is motivation. That you just need to want it more. In my experience, that's almost never true. Most people aren't stuck because they lack drive. They're stuck because their daily habits aren't aligned with what they actually want. Goals matter. Vision matters. But goals don't run your life — habits do. How you move your body. How you eat. How you focus. How you rest. How you show up for your work and your relationships. Those small, repeatable behaviors quietly shape everything. Here's the core idea: You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your habits. This episode is framed as a mid-January check-in, but it's not really about the calendar. It'

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that quietly changes everything once you really see it: most people aren't stuck because they're lazy or unmotivated. They're stuck because they confuse urgency with importance. We've been trained to react. To answer what's loud, immediate, and demanding. Emails. Notifications. Small fires that feel productive simply because they need attention right now. But being busy isn't the same thing as making progress — and activity is not the same as effectiveness. What I've learned over time is that the best work of your life rarely feels urgent in the moment. It's the work you could put off. The work that doesn't break anything if you ignore it today — but quietly shapes everything if you commit to it consistently. Here's the core idea: Real progress lives in the important, not the urgent. When you prioritize what actually matters — even if it doesn't scream for your attention — chaos starts to fall away. You still work hard. You s

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that's easy to overlook: rest isn't something you earn after the work is done. It's a skill you have to learn while you're doing the work. Most of us don't struggle because we lack motivation. We struggle because we don't know how to manage our energy over time. We push past the point where the work is actually getting better and mistake exhaustion for progress. What I've learned is that rest isn't about quitting or losing momentum. It's about staying in the game long enough to do meaningful work without burning yourself out. Here's the core idea: Rest isn't a break from discipline — it's part of it. Learning when to pause, step back, or reset isn't a sign of weakness. It's awareness. And like any skill, it gets better with practice. This episode is about recognizing those signals earlier, respecting them, and building a pace you can actually sustain. In today's episode I cover: Why rest is a skill, not a reward How to avoid

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it's built around a question I think most of us care about more than we admit: what actually makes a great friend? Friendship is often treated as something casual. Easy. Automatic. But as life gets fuller — work, family, responsibility, distraction — the quality of our friendships can quietly slip into something surface-level. Not because we don't care, but because we stop being intentional about how we show up. What I've learned is that great friendships aren't defined by history or proximity. They're defined by behavior. Being a great friend isn't about always having the right words or fixing someone's problems. It's about presence. Courage. And a willingness to show up in ways that actually matter — even when it's uncomfortable. Here's the core idea: Great friendships aren't built on convenience — they're built on intention. That intention shows up in a few specific ways. In the courage to be vulnerable instead of polished. In choosing shared g

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it's built around a simple idea I've come to believe deeply: the most important creative tools are free. Most creators assume they're stuck because they don't have the right gear, the right resources, or the right opportunity. But after decades of making work, interviewing hundreds of top creators, and studying the lives of artists across disciplines, I've noticed a different pattern. What actually holds people back isn't a lack of tools — it's a lack of the right conditions. Creativity doesn't break down because you don't have enough. It breaks down because you don't give yourself what the work requires. Here's the core idea: The foundations of great creative work aren't things you buy — they're things you practice. Experience. Space. Reflection. Discipline. Rest. These aren't nice-to-haves. They're the infrastructure that makes creative work possible. And most of them don't cost a thing — but they do require intention. One of the biggest mistake

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct: most creators don't struggle because they lack talent — they struggle because they quit at 95%. They get the work to "pretty good," ship it, and move on. And for a lot of things in life, that's fine. The 80–20 rule works. But when it comes to your core creative craft — the thing you want to be known for — good enough is the trap. The last 5% is where the details live. It's uncomfortable, slow, and often invisible. Which is exactly why most people stop before they get there. Here's the core idea: 80–20 works for most things — but mastery lives in the final 5%. If you keep shipping at 95%, you're training yourself to miss the point. When I worked with Apple to help create the foundation for Today at Apple, the first draft came together fast. In less than a week, we were 95% there. But Apple doesn't hire creators for "pretty good." Pushing through that final 5% took nearly ten times as long — and it set the standard for creative education across hundreds

Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and honest: if you don't love the work you're making, don't ship it — or better yet, figure out how to love the work before you ship it. I know that sounds blunt, but the market — and more importantly, your audience — can smell half-hearted work a mile away. You can't fake the stuff that matters. Loving the work isn't about perfection. It's about clarity, curiosity, and being willing to do the uncomfortable thing: choose a direction, commit to it, and then grind the craft until you actually love the result. That's the difference between noise and meaning. Here's the core idea: If you're not excited to promote what you made, you probably didn't make what you love. Shipping is great — but shipping love is better. Two common traps I see: Approval chasing: You try to design for everyone and end up designing for no one. Activity without affection: You're busy making lots of stuff, but it never lights you up. That work will struggle to find real fans. So what do you d

Hey friends, Chase here This time of year, I get a lot of messages from folks ready for change — they've declared an intention, they want the next chapter, but something's holding them back. Some have the ideas and energy but no system to ship. Others have the systems but aren't listening to the quiet that tells them what to build next. Different gaps, same problem: without space to reflect and a mindful plan to act, momentum stalls. Here's the truth most people ignore: Intentions are the spark — but they won't transform your life without quiet, synthesis, and daily practices that turn ideas into meaningful work. You can declare you're "a creator" all you want, but without adventures that feed your curiosity, habits that produce work, and a practice of listening and asking questions, your intentions stay inspirational notes instead of real projects. If you only scribble ideas and never synthesize, they evaporate. If you only measure outcomes and never give yourself quiet, you miss the intuition that points to

Hey friends, Chase here This week I had back-to-back coaching calls with two different clients. One had the skillset but not the mindset. The other had the mindset but not the skillset. Different people, same roadblock — they were both stuck at the edge of their next level because they were avoiding the hard stuff. Here's the truth most people don't want to hear: You don't level up because you "get discovered." You level up because you build both your skillset and your mindset — and that requires doing the uncomfortable work you've been dodging. Skillset without mindset? You become the talented person who keeps getting passed over. Mindset without skillset? You're inspiring, but not shipping meaningful work. You need both. And the only way to build both is by leaning into hard things. In today's episode: The real difference between mindset and skillset (and why both matter equally) How avoiding difficult work quietly caps your potential The simple practice that makes doing hard things a habit, not a hurdle