Here's an important reminder: you'll never feel ready to start. But you've got to do it anyway. And the operative word there is "do."

Just start.

This episode is the kick in the ass you need. Too often we get bogged down in the dreaming, the research, and the preparing - without the DOING. Feel me on this? It's a common excuse that most of use…that we just need a little more planning… Wrong.

This is not to say that planning isn't necessary, just that it shouldn't be the crutch that prevents you from executing. And for most it is. Let's change that.

If you've ever felt stuck - or heck - you're feeling stuck now, this episode is for you. We talk about the right balance between the planning and executing in a way that will get the results you want.

In this week's episode, we're revisiting a powerful conversation that originally aired back in 2015 — one that feels even more relevant today. Brené Brown joined me to talk about courage, connection, and what it really means to find true belonging in a divided world. Her insights on creativity, loneliness, and the power of standing alone have only become more urgent as we navigate today's culture of comparison and noise.

Since our original conversation, Brené has continued to expand this body of work through her bestselling books — including Atlas of the Heart and Dare to Lead — and her podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. She remains one of the most trusted and transformative voices on leadership, belonging, and vulnerability in the modern era.

Whether you're hearing Brené for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, this episode is a reminder that belonging isn't something we negotiate with the world — it's something we carry within us. It's about having the courage to stand alone, create from your truth, and use your art to help others feel seen and connected.

Some highlights we explore:

• Why true belonging starts within — and how creatives can hold space for both solitude and connection.
• How art transforms loneliness into shared humanity and despair into hope.
• The four practices of true belonging — from speaking truth to BS (with civility) to holding hands with strangers.
• Why every creative must be willing to be misunderstood and stand alone in the wilderness.
• How boundaries and self-worth protect your creative energy and integrity.

This conversation reminds us that the path to connection begins with courage — the courage to show up, tell the truth, and make something real. As Brené says: "Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don't belong… because you will always find it."

Enjoy the revisit!

If you've ever found yourself hesitating to start a project because it didn't feel "portfolio-worthy," this one's for you. I've fallen into that trap more times than I'd like to admit — obsessing over whether something I'm making is polished enough to represent me. The irony? That mindset kills the very creativity that fills a portfolio in the first place.

Somewhere along the way, we started treating our portfolios like prisons instead of playgrounds. We only want to show our "best work," so we start *only* making work we think will fit that box. Every idea gets judged before it's even born. That's not curation — that's fear dressed up as professionalism.

Here's the shift:
Separate creation from curation.

When you're creating, you're exploring. You're playing. You're trying things that might fail — and that's where originality lives. When you're curating, you're editing. You're selecting what best represents your voice *after* you've made a lot of things. These are two different modes, and mixing them up is where people get stuck.

Let yourself make a mess. Create hundreds of sketches, photos, prototypes, or drafts that no one will ever see. Then, later, curate like a maniac. The discipline is in the separation — not in perfection.

Some of the best gigs of my career came from "throwaway" experiments — the projects I almost didn't share because they weren't polished enough. Those experiments showed curiosity and risk-taking. Clients and collaborators see that energy and think, *I want that.*

You don't need every piece of work to land in your portfolio. You just need to make enough to find the pieces that truly speak for you.

• The portfolio trap: how obsessing over "shareable" work limits your creativity
• Separate creation and curation: freedom in process, discipline in presentation
• Messy work = momentum: why experimentation builds better portfolios
• Play over perfection: creativity thrives when the stakes are low

The big idea?
Your portfolio should reflect your growth — not restrict it. Make more. Edit later. The only "wrong" project is the one you were too afraid to start.