Process with Marcella Chamorro: Recent Episodes

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Welcome to episode #038 of Process, with Spencer Fry.

Spencer is a 32-year-old serial entrepreneur from New York. His latest project, Coach, is his fourth project, and it focuses on helping creators make a living off their passion. From email marketing to online courses to landing pages, Coach is dedicated to helping creators grow their audience while making money.

(Because you're listening to this podcast, chances are you have a passion that you'd love to make a living off of, so I'm pumped to share Spencer's experiences with you.)

During the episode, we talk about:

• His favorite part of all his projects (past and present)
• Simplifying the sales process for online entrepreneurs
• Competing against behemoths like Mailchimp and InfusionSoft
• Marketing authentically, instead of traditionally
• Hiring a team that are makers that sell digital products, too
• Spending the majority of his time talking to people (customers or potential customers)
• Avoiding burnout when he works nearly 7 days a week
• Starting his journey as a creator at 11 years old

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on your phone! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Connect with Spencer Fry across the web:

• his company, Coach

• his personal website, SpencerFry.com

• on Twitter at @spencerfry

• on Instagram at @spencerfry

"There are two main ways that people put their work up online. One is to get jobs, so the artist and designer side. The other is to make a living and make a profit and become successful, and that's who I wanted to work with next."

— Spencer Fry

Thanks for listening to this episode! I'd love to hear what you thought, so let me know on Twitter? And if it resonated with you, I'd appreciate if you'd post a review over on iTunes. That way, more people will find the show, too.

Click to leave a review on iTunes → Tune in next week for another coffee break episode with yours truly. If you're interested in more of the behind-the-scenes look at creating a new project, be sure to listen in.

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to episode #037 of Process, with Violeta Nedkova.

Violeta is an online entrepreneur based in Bulgaria who helps creative rebels build unique and authentic businesses. She's spent the last few years exploring the online space: writing, consulting, becoming a coach, and much more. Starting this year, she's decided to make building community her biggest priority.

Fun fact: We recorded this episode the day before her 30th birthday AND launched her latest project! 🎉

During the episode, we talk about:

• Why she chose to make her next project a community
• How she uses Twitter to build her business
• What changed when she finally hired an assistant
• When she schedules her work to connect with customers in different time zones
• How she vets people before letting them into her community
• What she does to fight her business's lows
• Her number one tip for creativity

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on your phone! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Connect with Violeta Nedkova across the web:

• on her website, VioletaNedkova.com

• her latest project, The Creative Rebel Academy

• on Twitter at @violetanedkova

• her Facebook group, The Creative Rebels

"You need to learn to enjoy community without thinking of it as a business commodity, even though it is." — Violeta Nedkova

Thanks for listening to this episode! I'd love to hear what you thought, so let me know on Twitter? And if it resonated with you, I'd appreciate if you'd post a review over on iTunes. That way, more people will find the show, too.

Click to leave a review on iTunes → Tune in next week for an interview with Spencer Fry of Coach!

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to episode #036 of Process!

It feels so good to be back with the first interview in months and months. And what an interview to start with—a talk with Moose Winans of CameraTips.com.

To be honest, Moose and I recorded this interview back in July. I wasn't able to publish it for you until now because I spent a few months dealing with some personal health issues (morning sickness sucks).

BUT, better late than never, right?

Even if it's been months and months since we sat down to chat, Moose's wisdom about online business is gold. His approach to the online space—always putting people first—is so refreshing and not something you hear everyday. I can't wait for you to hear it.

So, before you listen in, let's get to know Moose Winans, photography master!

Moose is a photographer who runs a website called CameraTips.com, which he describes as "the beginners only tree house in a backyard filled with photographers of all skill levels." I personally have used his products to get to know my new camera and take better photos. But photography isn't Moose's greatest passion—that honor belongs to his family.

During the episode, we talk about:

• Is his name really Moose?! 🐃
• How he got into photography way back when, and how it developed into CameraTips.com
• What it took to purchase an ultra-coveted domain like CameraTips.com
• The journey from blog into full-blown business—as a newlywed, no less!
• Why he created his first paid product (which started out as free)
• How putting people first has led to a business large enough to sustain his entire family
• The Netflix show we both love and how it's inspired us as creators
• How he deals with the ebb and flow of his creative inspiration

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on your phone! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Connect with Moose Winans across the web:

• on his website, CameraTips.com

• on Twitter at @moosewinans

• on Instagram at @moosewinans

• on YouTube over here

"If you put in the time, if you wait patiently, and you reply to every single comment and reply to every single question, you go out of your way to help other people, that it's going to return back to you."
— Moose Winans

Thanks for listening to episode #036! I'd love to hear what you thought, so let me know on Twitter? If it resonated with you, I'd appreciate it if you'd post a review over on iTunes. That way, more people will find the show, too.

Click to leave a review on iTunes → Moose, thanks for taking the time to chat with me and share your stories with everyone listening.

Tune in next week for a new episode with Violeta Nedkova. 🙋🏻

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to the Process podcast!

It's been months and months since my last episode, but I'm coming back full swing in 2017. I've got great episodes scheduled for the next few months, so stay tuned for all of this awesomeness on creativity and making stuff with peace of mind.

This first episode of the year (#035) is what I'm calling a Coffee Break, or an episode where I take you behind the scenes of my own creative process and struggles I'm navigating with my projects.

In this episode I'll dig into the question:

How should I manage my shift in writing topics?

More specifically:

1. Who is my new target audience?
2. Should I create a new project for this new writing topic, or should I keep writing at my current website?

Let's get to it!

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on your phone! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show Notes:

Things I mention:

• Minimalism: Documentary on Netflix
• Crush It!: Gary Vaynerchuk's book
  - Everyday Salt: the mini project I launched with friends in December 2016

Questions you can use to help define your audience:

• What is their age range?
• Are they male or female?
• Are they married or single?
• What’s their pain … what problems are they trying to solve?
• What hobbies do they enjoy?
• What kind of movies or TV shows are they attracted to?
• What’s their favorite genres to read?
• Do they read or subscribe to specific magazines?
• What other publications do they subscribe to?
• Are they Super Readers (meaning they devour anything in the genre)?
• What authors do they read (meaning are they Super Fans of any)?
• Do they buy on impulse or are they coupon clippers?
• Are they sports fans?
• What social media platforms do they hang out on … and are you using them?
• What do they want, like, and need?
• What kind of thing will make them laugh or settle in to read more?
• What are the pain points and stressors in their lives and business that they wish they could find a solution to?
• What will induce them to buy, or what will hold them back from taking the leap?
• What will make them feel like they have achieved success, or like they’ve failed?

If you're facing a similar issue in trying to figure out who your target audience is, feel free to take these questions and answer them yourself.

Thanks for listening to episode #035! And thank you for coming back in 2017! Let me know what you thought on Twitter? I'm @marcinator over there.

If this Coffee Break episode resonated with you, I'd appreciate it if you'd post a review over on iTunes. That way, more people will find the show, too!

Click to leave a review on iTunes → Remember to tune into the next episode with Moose Winans over here!

xo,
Marcella

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This is episode #034 of Process!

I'm pumped to go back to our regular format here on Process: an interview.

My guest on this episode is Anna Quinlan!

The best way to describe Anna is the word storyteller. She likes to tell all kinds of stories: about motherhood, fitness, nature, and more.

For many years, she worked a corporate job—but, after a serendipitous encounter with a photographer on the beach, she worked hard to make her jump into freelance writing and achieve the freedom to live every day the best way possible.

During the episode, we talk about:

• When she fell in love with storytelling
• What role fitness plays in her creative life
• Why writing is a "party trick"
• Her journey from a marketing job to a full-time freelance writer
• How Instagram has impacted her business
• The one "magic trick" to becoming a writer

After we finished our conversation, I actually replayed it a few times just because I needed to hear some of Anna's kick-in-the-pants motivation again. So, I hope you enjoy hearing all about Anna and her journey as much as I did.

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Connect with Anna on the interwebs:

• on her website, annaquinlan.net

• on Instagram at @quinlananna

Here are the links mentioned during the episode:

• The blog post where I first found Anna: "The Hardest Mile"

• Picture of Anna on the Megaformer (not Mega-reformer, woops 😂)

Again, thanks for listening to episode #034!

I'd love to hear what you thought about this interview! Let me know on Twitter?

Also, if this episode resonated with you, I'd appreciate it so much if you could post an honest review over on iTunes. It would help me reach more people that may find these episodes valuable, too.

You can leave a review by clicking the button below:

Leave a review on iTunes → Oh, and...

I'll be back next week with another interview—with a drastically different kind of maker.

In next week's episode, I'll be talking to someone who focuses exclusively on selling photography "cheat cards" online. The best part? His approach to business is so refreshing.

Until then! :-)

xo,
Marcella

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Photo credit: Craig Garner at unsplash

I'm BAAAACK!

After a few months "on a break" from the podcast, I'm back with episode #033 of Process. Which kind of begins "season 2" of the podcast, I think?

In the last episode, I told you about why I felt it was necessary that I go on a creative "break" of sorts, to really do some heavy thinking about this upcoming book and work hard on finishing it.

WELL, I have some news about that...

You can listen to the full episode below to get the entire story, during which you'll hear more about:

• What the break was like
• How the book changed over the break
• Why I'm podcasting again, even though the book isn't quite finished yet
• What's coming up on this "season 2" of the podcast

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Also, if this episode resonated with you, I'd appreciate it so much if you could post an honest review over on iTunes. It would help me reach more people that may find these episodes valuable, too.

You can leave a review by clicking the button below:

Leave a review on iTunes → Thanks so much for sticking with the podcast through this "break" and listening to today's episode. I hope the backstage view at my book-writing process is helpful to you in some way. :-)

I'll be back next week with an awesome conversation with Anna Quinlan, a talented writer. I loved our conversation and can't wait to share it with you!

Sending you lots of love and light!

xo,
Marcella

PS. I missed you! 🙈

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Photo credit: Lauren Mancke at unsplash

Welcome to episode #032 of Process!

I have a new podcast episode for you—and it's a special one because it's the LAST one for a few months. 😱

Not going to lie, I'm a little sad about it because I love recording the show ... BUT there's a very exciting reason behind this decision. Which I explain in depth during this episode, including:

• What I define as "making" (and an example from a good friend)
• Why I need to stop podcasting to make ONE thing
• How to better understand our creative energy
• The ONE question that focused my work
• More details on my next project

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Also, if this episode resonated with you, I'd appreciate it so much if you could post an honest review over on iTunes. It would help me reach more people that may find these episodes valuable, too.

You can leave a review by clicking the button below:

Leave a review on iTunes → I'll be back in two months or so! Wish me luck?

Sending you lots of love and light!

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to episode #031 of Process!

While the last episode was great fun to put together, it's a bit of a relief to be back to our regular format here on Process: an interview!

I love talking to creative people from around the world and getting to know their journeys. On top of that, I love learning from them—and this episode is a great example of that. Because, to be honest, I know nothing about sales!

My guest on this episode is Jean Powell, master of sales!

Jean is an old friend of mine, and I've asked her to come on the show to talk to us about how selling can be a creative endeavor—and something we don't have to shy away from! While she's currently VP of Sales at MiiR (which she loves), she's also a writer, and I'm excited to ask her all about her love for sales, her job, and her own creative process.

During the episode, we cover:

• How she fell in love with sales in the first place
• Why sales can lead to personal transformations
• How everyone can fall in love with sales (even if its a sore point for most creators)
• Her very different approach to managing a team
• The "Hell yes!" framework that helps her choose who to hire ... and who to date 😏
• How selling can be creative
• The system she uses to teach her team to think for themselves and improve their craft
• What she's creating and why she chooses to not publish some of it

I hope you enjoy hearing from Jean!

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Connect with this episode's guest, Jean Powell:

• on her blog, jeanontap.com

• on Twitter at @jeanontap

Here are all the links mentioned during the episode:

• World Domination Summit (where I first met Jean)

• SxSW, a conference we've been to together a few times

• Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"When we have arrived at the question, the answer is already near."

• And my favorite thing Jean shared with us:

"Approach sales from the angle of 'This is an opportunity to interact with a person where there's a transaction that will happen.'" Thanks for listening to episode #031!

I'd love to hear what you thought about this interview! Let me know on Twitter?

Also, if this episode resonated with you, I'd appreciate it so much if you could post an honest review over on iTunes. It would help me reach more people that may find these episodes valuable, too.

You can leave a review by clicking the button below:

Leave a review on iTunes → Also? Just a heads up that I won't be releasing a new episode next week. I'm going on vacation, w00t w00t! So I'll be back with a new episode the first week or April.

Until then! :-)

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to episode #030 of Process!

I can't believe it's already been 30 episodes. How did that even happen?! Time really does fly.

So, today's episode is very different from any I've recorded in the past. I decided to ask a bunch of my friends to share a short clip with us. Each of them tell me the following:

• What they're making
• What they're struggling with
• How they're managing that struggle

I hope you enjoy hearing from some of my favorite makers!

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Below, you'll find everyone who contributed to this episode and a link to their Twitter account:

• Mario Callejas

• Natalie Hornsby

• Rick Manelius

• Jason Swett

• Sue Caulfield

• Helen Arceyut-Frixione

• Aldo Aguirre

Here are all the links mentioned during the episode:

• Mario Callejas's music over on Spotify

• Article on clearing friendships: 3 strange areas of my life that need tidying

• Caroline Kelso on episode #016 of Process

• Quote by C.S. Lewis:

"Friendship has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”

• Aldo Aguirre on episode #005 of Process

• Quote by Cyril Connoly:

"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."

Thanks for listening to episode #030! I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode's different format: hit me up on Twitter and let me know?

Also, if this episode resonated with you, I'd appreciate it so much if you could post an honest review over on iTunes. It would help me reach more people that may find these episodes valuable, too.

You can leave a review by clicking the button below:

SUBSCRIBE + REVIEW ON ITUNES → Have an awesome week! :-)

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to episode #029 of Process!

This episode is actually a very special one.

Last summer, I was invited to Panama to give a talk during the Central American Entrepreneurship Forum. Being there was an honor—and so much fun, too! I loved sharing my talk with the 300 people who attended plus everyone who watched the livestream online (including my family back home)!

But I haven't given that talk ever again.

Until this episode.

For the first time, I'm going to share the talk all over again—in English, of course! Recording this episode was fun because I got to revisit the talk I prepared almost a year ago. I'm now able to see so clearly how this particular experience in Panama planted the seeds for this podcast (which launched just one month later).

Some of the topics covered in this episode include:

• The downsides of entrepreneurship
• Why every entrepreneur needs a therapist
• My entrepreneurial story—including how I absolutely failed and ended up hating myself
• Why creativity and peace of mind are more important than "success"
• The difference between external and internal development
• How to avoid burnout and stress
• The ridiculousness of worry and how to avoid it

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Here are all the links mentioned during the episode:

• Panama's Entrepreneurship Week, where I gave this talk for the first time back in July 2015

• Jose Bolaños over at Centro del Lider

• David Cain on episode #03 of Process and his article How to stop your mind from talking all the time

Thanks for listening to episode #029! This talk is near and dear to my heart, so I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any comments or thoughts on it, hit me up on Twitter?

Also, if this episode resonated with you, I'd appreciate it so much if you could post an honest review over on iTunes. It would help me reach more people that may find these episodes valuable, too.

You can leave a review by clicking the button below:

Subscribe + Review on iTunes → I'm curious to hear what you'd like me to cover on next week's episode? Tweet me your suggestions. :-)

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to Episode 28 of Process!

My guest on this episode is John Lynn of Startup Institute. Our conversation is geared toward a topic dear to my heart: education. Which I know you're interested in—because if you weren't, you wouldn't be listening to podcasts!

John and the team at Startup Institute work hard to give people the skills, mindset, and network to find a job they love, doing work that matters. Essentially, it's a full-time eight-week program that takes place in Boston, Chicago and New York City, all focused on helping students find awesome jobs and help startups build awesome teams.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why most startups fail
• The hardest part about building a business
• How his past projects influenced his current work at Startup Institute
• The bad habits we learn from our current education system
• How to learn all kinds of things to help serve your project better without having to become an expert at everything
• Why emotional intelligence is crucial to creating better

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Here are all the links to mentioned during the episode:

• Connect with John: @jmlynn7 on Twitter / Startup Institute

• Aldo Aguirre on episode #005 of this podcast

• Ben Horowitz's book The Hard Thing About Hard Things

• Jane McGonigal's book Reality Is Broken

Thanks for listening to episode #028! I'd love it if you could leave an honest review over on iTunes, so just click below to do that:

Subscribe & Review on iTunes → Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to Episode 27 of Process!

This is another solo episode where I discuss the ups and downs of my own creative process.

Most episodes of this podcast are interviews with the makers and creative people I admire, but all of you listeners have spoken! You want me to talk about my own projects and what it feels like to create them...

Your wish is my command!

In this episode, I discuss:

• Why I'm going "pro" and what that means
• How I'm allocating my time to different projects
• The big branding change I've been looking forward to for months
• A progress update on my upcoming book
• Why I wrote a free email course called Mindfulness for Makers to promote the book

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Show notes:

Here are all the links to mentioned during the episode:

• Michelle Armas on episode #008 of this podcast

• Michelle Armas's blog post On the Other Side

• Mindfulness for Makers

• Make, more details on the book

• Content audit episode of the Smart Passive Income Podcast

• The quote I love and read at the end of the episode:

“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so." ― Mary Jean Irion

Thanks for listening to episode #027! I'd love it if you could leave an honest review over on iTunes, so just click below to do that:

Leave a review on iTunes → Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

PS. Remember to head on over to MindfulnessforMakers.com to receive a totally free email series on why mindfulness matters to creatives and how to use it to help your creative process. :-)

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This is the 26th episode of Process, and I'm so grateful you're tuning in!

Let's get to it...

In this episode

Listen on iTunes or below:

My guest today is Consuelo Reinitz of Pink Fries Paperie. She tells us her story: how she got into watercolors and art (a very unexpected hobby turned Etsy shop) and what it's like juggling her creative work with caring for her 9-month-old son Lucas.

I've known Consuelo since I was in diapers, but I never in a million years would've guessed she had an interest in art—and neither did she! I spend the majority of this interview digging into how she unsurfaced this love for watercolors and creativity.

During our conversation, we cover:

• How a joke turned into an Etsy shop
• What drives her watercolor aesthetic
• Finding the time and space to create, produce and market her work
• Discovering the reason for her past "laziness" and uncovering what she's passionate about
• Where she pulls her inspiration from and finding her unique artistic expression

My favorite moment is when Consuelo says:

"This isn't just about selling art on Etsy. This is about me and my journey and what I'm enjoying."Show notes

Here's everything we mention during the show:

• Connect with Consuelo and Pink Fries Paperie: the Etsy shop / on Instagram

• Austin Kleon's book Steal Like An Artist

• Caroline Kelso's episode #016 of Process and her "You're more than your likes" artwork

• David Rock's book Your Brain At Work

• Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Consuelo for joining me on this episode #026 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd be so grateful if you could take a moment to hop on over to iTunes to leave an honest review! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes → xo,
Marcella

PS. I'll be back next week with another solo episode—an update on my own creative process, the projects I'm working on, and everything that's going on in between. I love recording the raw solo episodes, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. :-)

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This is episode #025 of Process. Thanks for tuning in!

Let's get to it...

In this episode

Listen on iTunes or below:

My guest today is A.J. Leon, founder of Misfit, which he describes as the "coolest company on this beautiful planet." About eight years ago, A.J. left his prestigious job in finance in New York City to explore his love for travel, Shakespeare, and changing the world. Shortly thereafter, he founded Misfit, which started off as a boutique digital agency but now is also a conference, an incubator, a publishing house, a foundation, and more.

I mention A.J. on so many past episodes of this podcast because his influence on the creatives I surround myself with is just palpable. I'm so pumped to share this interview with you because A.J.'s creative defiance is contagious—consider yourself warned!

During our conversation, we cover:

• How he juggles all the projects he's involved in with Misfit
• Finding the intersection of money and passion
• Why he chooses to lose money on certain projects—his subsidy business model
• Pricing his conference to attract the right kind of person
• Going from starving to traveling / changing the world
• Turning the mirror on the town of Fargo
• Why he wakes up before the sun rises, and the morning routine that drives his day
• Working with his wife

My favorite moment is when A.J. shares this:

"My blog is called The Pursuit of Everything, so I'm not willing to leave anything on the table. If I want to do something, I'll figure out how to do it ... if something is very important to me."And I love this other quote so much, as well:

"You're going to have days where you feel everything has been taken from you, but do not relinquish the last inch."Show notes

Here's everything we mention during the show:

• Connect with A.J: on his blog / on Twitter / on Instagram

• Misfit, which is an agency / incubator / conference / foundation / publishing house + more

• Photos of Misfit Con 2013

• Greg from Fargo who is Fargo's best ambassador

• Galo Naranjo talks about the benefits of movement on episode #022

• James Clear talks about the importance of habits on episode #12

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to A.J. for joining me on this episode #025 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd be so grateful if you could take a moment to hop on over to iTunes to leave an honest review! Just click the button below:

Review + Subscribe on iTunes → Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

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This is episode #024 of Process, and it's a special one.

Lately, I've gotten great feedback on my solo posts where I give a behind-the-scenes look at my creative process and record all by myself, instead of interviewing someone else.

So I've decided to include more solo episodes on the podcast every few weeks. And this one is the first of 2016!

Let's get to it...

*In this episode*

Listen on iTunes or below:

During this episode, I cover:

• A quick read-through of this week's article on doubt
• An update on how I'm decreasing self-doubt in my creative life
• The truth about my upcoming book Make
• Being enough versus always striving for something more

*Show notes*

Here's everything I mention throughout this episode:

• Previous solo episodes I've released: episode 14 and episode 19

• This week's article, "The revolutionary truth about self-doubt I didn't know until now"

• My upcoming book, Make

• Cal Newport's book, Deep Work

• A recent article, "I have no advice to give"

Thanks for listening! What do you think of these solo episodes? I'd love to hear! Hit me up on Twitter over at @marcinator?

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, would you consider helping me spread the word about this episode? You can tweet it here or give it ★★★★★ on iTunes.

Review & Subscribe on iTunes → xo,
Marcella

Oh, and next week on the podcast...

Next week, I'll be back with an interview with the legendary A.J. Leon, founder of Misfit. You've probably heard me mention Misfit on so many episodes of this podcast, so this interview is absolutely momentous.

Can't wait to share it with you next Friday. :-)

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This is episode #023 of Process. Thanks for tuning in!

Let's get to it...

In this episode

Listen on iTunes or below:

My guest today is Steve Kamb, founder of a fitness website called Nerd Fitness. Can you guess what it’s about? And who it’s for? … YUP! It’s a website that helps nerds learn about fitness. Over the past few years, Steve has grown Nerd Fitness to an incredible community of hundreds of thousands of people getting healthy and fit together. Nerd Fitness offers courses, a summer-camp like event and more—all dedicated to helping “nerds” get fit.

I invited Steve to be on the show because I’ve personally watched him grow from being a writer to being a boss and now an author. And Steve just published his book called Level Up Your Life!

During our conversation, we cover:

• When he decided to go from writing online to writing a properly published book
• What the creative process was like for him
• Why he chose fitness as a way to get people to level up their lives
• How he stays healthy and fit: being extremely disciplined or being leniently balanced?
• Why he considers exercise a “gateway drug” to everything awesome in life

My favorite moment is at around 29:25 where Steve shares a quote that impacted him:

"Screw motivation. Cultivate discipline."

Show notes

Here's everything we mention during the show:

• Steve's projects: NerdFitness / on Twitter / on Instagram

• Level Up Your Life, Steve's new book

• Camp Nerd Fitness

• Question on Quora on motivation vs. discipline

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Steve for joining me on this episode #023 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd love if you'd take a moment to leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes →

Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

I hope your holidays were awesome! This episode (#22) is our first of 2016, so thanks for joining this year. I took a few weeks off for the holidays to spend time with the family (you can check out our adventures on Instagram), and I’m excited to be back on the podcast, speaking to all of you, and bringing you conversations with creators I admire.

Especially today’s creator, Galo.

I'll tell you why...

In this episode

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My guest today is Galo Naranjo, who’s focused on one thing: movement. Galo subscribes to the philosophy that moving our bodies is the gateway drug to an amazing life, ultimately bridging the gap between mind and body. He describes movement as the cross-pollination of ideas and stories from many different areas of study—literature, anthropology, science, art, design, philosophy, history, psychology, and more.

Currently, Galo coaches CrossFit and documents his journey with movement at his website The Movement Project.

I’m excited to talk to Galo about the difference between fitness and movement, why that’s important and what teaching CrossFit has taught him about people and (most importantly) himself.

During our conversation, we cover:

• How to differentiate fitness and movement
• What struggles he's faced in moving from a career in finance toward a movement-based career
• Extrinsic versus intrinsic benefits and personal journeys
• How he's designed accountability into his day-to-day activities
• Why the "second follower" is so important to his movement around movement ;)
• Finding someone to work with through Instagram

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"My job is to make people play, in any way, shape or form. If I can do that and open your mind in some way, shape or form, I'm happy."Show notes

Here's everything we mention during the show:

• Galo around the web: The Movement Project / Instagram / Twitter

• MOTUS magazine: website / on Instagram

• Kinfolk, a magazine that Galo reads

• YouTube video of toddler leading a dance class

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Galo for joining me on this episode #022 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd love if you'd take a moment to leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes → Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

This is episode #021, and it's the last episode of this year. I hope you enjoy this special episode, which is all about a topic close to my heart: women in technology.

In this episode:

Listen on iTunes or below:

Kate Brodock is my guest on this episode #021 of Process, and this episode is all about how Kate's passion for women in entrepreneurship and technology has led her to all kinds of opportunities throughout her career.

I first met Kate at SxSW when she was working with an organization called GirlsInTech. Since then, Kate's expanded her work to other ventures and I'm excited to hear about how she's incorporating that passion into her projects.

Show notes

• Kate's personal website

• Kate on LinkedIn and Twitter

• Kate's writing on Forbes.com

• Untapt, where Kate is currently working

• Girls in Tech, the organization through which I met Kate

Thanks for listening!Like I mentioned before, this will be the last episode of the podcast for 2015. Thanks for listening! Whether you tuned in for just this episode or many past episodes, I'm so grateful for your time, your support and your ears!

And, of course, a huge thanks to Kate for joining me on this episode #021 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode (or past episodes) of Process, I'd love if you'd take a moment to leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes → I'll be back in the new year. I'm wishing you the happiest of holidays! :-)

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

Before we get to the episode, a little note...

I'm so grateful you're tuning in this week. This is episode #020, isn't that crazy? Time is flying and I'm having so much fun working on this podcast. But the best part is hearing that you all are enjoying it, too.

Thank you for hanging around and listening to our conversations. I appreciate the support and hope that these interviews help you on your creative path, too. :-)

Anyway, let's get to today's episode....

In this episode

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Victor Saad, my guest on this episode #020 of Process, is taking higher education by storm. His creative journey started when he chose to design his own 12-month Master’s program instead of applying to an existing school, wrote a book about his experiences and then created an organization that provides a similar learning experience to students every year, called Experience Institute, which is his main project nowadays. He was even named on Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work in education.

I’m excited to talk to Victor about what it’s like to disrupt (and improve) higher education and what his big goals are for the future.

During our conversation, we cover:

• How his own experiences led to his project Experience Institute
• Why he feels so passionately about higher education
• What crowdfunding has done for improving his reach
• Who he chooses to work with at EI and other projects
• How disconnecting from his work and ideas eventually helps to inspire him

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"You're running so fast, so hard all the time that if you don't just stop and look at how far you've come you don't really piece it all together or see everything you've learned or share the best things because all you're doing is just running."Show notes

Here's everything we mention during the show:

• Victor's projects: Experience Institute / Leap Kit on Kickstarter / Twitter

• Misfit Con, where we first met

• Jason Zook on episode of #009 Process

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Victor for joining me on this episode #020 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd love if you'd take a moment to leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review + Subscribe on iTunes → Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

Let's get to it!

In this episode

Listen below or check out the episode on iTunes:

This is episode #019 of Process. And guess what? It's just me on this episode!

This is a solo episode—and a very special one—where I share a behind the scenes look at the creative process behind my upcoming book Make. I talk about:

• Choosing Amazon over Gumroad
• How I almost messed up the book's landing page
• How much I'm writing and how often
• What Resistance feels like and how I'm dealing with it
• Who I'm writing the book for—which is a bit strange, I realize
• and more...

Hope you like it! And thanks for listening, of course.

Show notes

• The landing page for my upcoming book Make

• CreateSpace: the service I used to publish a physical book on Amazon back in 2011

• Gumroad: the self-publishing service I've used in the past but won't be using ever again

• Steven Pressfield's book The War of Artwhich covers Resistance at length

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Click below:

Leave me a glowing review on iTunes Pretty Please → By the way, next week I'll be back with a regular interview episode—and I get to talk to Victor Saad of Experience Institute! Super excited to share that with you.

Stay tuned...

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

Let's get to it!

In this episode

Listen below or check out the episode on iTunes:

Cathryn Lavery and Allen Brouwer are my guests on this episode #018 of Process.

Cathryn and Allen are the duo behind the latest Kickstarter success the SELF Journal, a powerful yet simple daily planner to help you structure your day, enjoy life, and reach your goals quicker than you thought possible. The duo behind this project asked for $15,000 to make the SELF Journal happen … and received $322,695.

Talk about a crowdfunding success!

During our conversation, we cover:

• How they found each other online and became co-founders
• Why they chose to create a physical journal, no technology included
• The life-changing benefits of morning rituals
• What it's really like to bring a best-selling Kickstarter campaign to life
• The challenge and opportunities they're facing now
• How they collaborate living in 2 different states
• Beating Resistance when it creeps up on you
• The balance between quantity versus quality
• PS. Be sure to listen through to the end for a special downloadable gift from Allen & Cathryn. (Thanks, peeps!)

My favorite moment is when Allen shared the truth and hardest part of being an entrepreneur:

"Being an entrepreneur, there's no one looking over your shoulder or giving you deadlines to get things done. It's yourself at the end of the day pushing yourself forward."

Show notes

Here's everything we mention during the show:

• Best Self's website and the SELF Journal on Kickstarter

• The Foundation

• The 5 minute journal

• Fitbook fitness journal

• Article on SumoMe: Kickstarter Step-by-Step: Making $15,000 in 28 hours

• Clay Hebert's guide for crowdfunding

• News Feed Eradicator Chrome extension

• Steven Pressfield's book The War of Art

• Article on Cathryn's blog: How Overcoming Resistance Can Lead to a 322K Product Launch

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Allen & Cathryn for being on episode #018 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Click below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes →

Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

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image courtesy of breather.com

Welcome back to another episode of Process!

Let's get to it!

In this episode

Listen below or check out the episode on iTunes:

Julien Smith is my guest on this episode #017 of Process!

Back when I met Julien at SxSW a few years ago, he was a popular blogger and a New York Times bestselling author. Fast forward to today, and he's added a new title to his repertoire: CEO of a venture-backed startup. Today, running that startup, called Breather, is his #1 priority. Very quickly, Breather is growing its team, the cities it operates in, and the number of people that use its spaces.

But being a CEO of a startup is no easy feat. I talk to Julien about how he makes it all happen without impending doom levels of stress.

During our conversation, we cover:

• How past ventures (writing and podcasting) led him to Breather
• What being a startup CEO is really like
• Why he focuses on getting the most amazing collaborators possible
• How he integrated design from the beginning of the project
• What company he considers Breather's biggest competitor—and how he addresses that "threat"
• "Software eats the world" and how that changed his first concept of Breather
• How his disabilities force him to stay healthy
• His favorite activities for disconnecting and staying in the present moment
• What he's currently reading and writing

My favorite moment is when Julien talks about the creative rollercoaster:

"The ups are great, the downs are great, but if you manage to be somewhere in the middle, it's the most productive place to be."Show notes

Here's everything we mention during the show:

• Julien's blog

• Breather, on-demand spaces where you can work, meet, or relax

• The Flinch, Julien's book which was edited by Seth Godin

• Two biographies of Charlie Munger, by Tren Griffin and Janet Lowe

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Julien for joining me on this episode #017 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes → Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

Let's get to it!

In this episode

Listen on iTunes or below:

Caroline Kelso is my guest on this episode #016 of Process!

Caroline started off in the advertising industry but quickly decided that wasn’t for her and eventually ended up trying her hand at freelancing and entrepreneurship. A few years down the road, Caroline’s work is helping soulful creatives become their most vibrant selves through handlettering, teaching online courses, writing and more. But this isn’t your typical “left my job, fell in love with my own work" story.

I’m going to ask Caroline about what life is like AFTER realizing you're able to make a living on your own. Caroline’s work now is well-established, so how does she keep pushing the boundaries to enable creative people like us?

During our conversation, we cover:

• Having her work support her life, instead of vice versa
• Why she transitioned to product work instead of freelancing
• How being a "deep feeler" led her to make all her difficult decisions
• How starting a blog can lead to things you never expected a few years down the road
• Retreats and personal practices she follows to channel her creativity
• Her favorite books and how they inspire her journey
• What taking ownership of her life means
• Why she's learning to protect her boundaries as an introvert
• How she powered through the lowest moment in her business

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"You ultimately are the person in control of the path your life is going to take ... Things don't happen to me, I happen to them."Show notes

Here's everything we mention during the show:

• Caroline's projects: Made Vibrant / Lettering course / Branding course / Color Your Soul

• Caroline on social media: Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest

• Jason Zook on succeeding through struggle on episode of #009 Process

• Misfit Con, where A.J. Leon shared "This is not a practice life."

• A photo of Marcella's *NSYNC-filled room:

• Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander's book The Art of Possibility

• Elizabeth Gilbert's latest book Big Magic

• Slack community for Caroline's Self-Made Society

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Caroline for joining me on this episode #016 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes → Until next week!

xo,
Marcella

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In this episode

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Matt Wilson is my guest on this episode (#015) of Process. MI AMIGO!!!

Matt and I go way back to my early days on Twitter. After a few years of exchanging tweets, we finally met up in real life down here in Nicaragua where we hung out with my family, his customers and another blogger. Nowadays, Matt is focusing more than ever on his travel business (Under30Experiences) while always putting his wellbeing first. (He currently lives the surfer-dude life in Costa Rica!)

During our conversation, we cover:

• What spurred him to become an entrepreneur (as far back as the lemonade stand times)
• How he runs his business out of Costa Rica when his team is all in the USA
• The communities he's grown at every stage of his life, and especially now with U30X
• How he balances the fun parts of his job with the not-so-fun parts
• Why and how he is letting go of wanting more
• What he learned about himself (and his ego) through yoga

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"I detached from my business and realized it doesn't mean anything about me."Show Notes

Here are links to everything we mention during the show:

• Matt Wilson on Twitter and Instagram

• Under30CEO and Under30Experiences

• Matt's article My Battle Banishing Stress: Why I Detached From My Business

• The book Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes → Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Matt (amigo!) for being on this episode #015 of Process.

xo,
Marcella

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In this episode

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This episode of Process is a bit different. There is no guest on this episode—it's just me!

I'll be speaking mostly on creative vulnerability and its twisted sister: self-doubt.

During this episode, I cover:

• The butterflies you feel in your stomach when creating something new
• How a fear of judgement is at the root of much self-doubt
• Stories of failure from my past
• The big wins I've achieved by taking creative risks—changing lives
• "What will they think? What will they say?"
• My creative challenge for everyone listening—and for myself

A little snippet of what I shared:

"Remembering everything we're supposed to do each and every day every single moment is impossible! But you know what counts? That I try. And you know what counts even more? That I'm compassionate with myself as I try."Show notes

Because this episode was just me, the show notes are a little shorter.

• Gary Vaynerchuk's book Crush It! that got me into blogging, and later entrepreneurship

• Join me on Instagram where I'll be posting proof that I'm creating!

• The quote I share at the end of the episode:

“Give up on yourself. Begin taking action now, while being neurotic or imperfect, or a procrastinator, or unhealthy, or lazy, or any other label by which you inaccurately describe yourself. Go ahead and be the best imperfect person you can be and get started on those things you want to accomplish before you die.” - Shoma Morita

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & Review on iTunes → Thanks for listening! Let me know if you enjoyed this episode #014 (of just me)?

xo,
Marcella

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A new week, a new episode of Process!

Are you ready?! Let's get to it...

In this episode

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Aaron Gailmor is my guest on this episode #013 of Process.

Aaron and I met our first week of college in Boston in the fall of 2004. After graduation, though, we never kept in touch ... but Facebook, of course, kept me posted on his whereabouts. That's how I found out about his new company SuperEats, and I knew I had to invite him on Process to tell his story. You can hear more about this in the episode, but I'll give you a bit of backstory: Aaron left his corporate job in New York City to start a company that makes kale and chia chips to provide healthier snack options. Brave, am I right?

During our conversation, we cover:

• The family crisis motivated him to create his company
• How he formulated the recipe for his kale chip (despite not being a chef)
• Who he chose as a cofounder and why
• How he discovered the healthy snack niche
• What he did to overcome entrepreneurship's many learning curves
• His concerns for the future of SuperEats

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"The little things are the big things happen."I also loved this:

"Everything is stuff that you need to do, but it's all stuff you can teach yourself ... Teach yourself how to teach yourself everything and have the confidence that everything can be learned."Are you down with healthier snack options? If I lived in the US, I'd be all over SuperEats! You can find Supereats here on their website or on their Facebook page.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & review on iTunes → Thanks for listening. And a huge thanks to Aaron for being on this episode #013 of Process!

xo,
Marcella

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You know why I love Fri-yay?! Because it means a new episode of Process!

Are you ready?! Let's get to it...

In this episode

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James Clear is my guest on this episode (#012) of Process.

PUMPED!!!

I met James a few years back at World Domination Summit, and I'm so glad we were able to catch up again ... this time via Skype for this podcast! For those of you who haven't read his stuff yet, James is an accomplished writer who studies behavioral psychology, habit formation, and performance improvement. If you're looking for science-backed advice on habits and productivity, James is your guy!

During our conversation, we cover:

• How he lets his audience decide which topics he'll cover
• Why he wrote in private for about a year before publishing it online
• What content he decides to post on which social network
• The main driver behind his business and creativity
• How his sleep habits help his output
• The key rules for every entrepreneur
• Why he manages his energy instead of his time
• How he focuses on cutting habits out of his life

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"I manage my energy rather than my time ... You can have one hour available to to do a task but if you don't have any energy to do that task and feel exhausted then having the time doesn't really matter. Time management is overrated in that sense."

I also loved this:

"You need to have more than just your work. If you rely or pour your sense of self-worth into just one thing and that one thing happens to stagnate, then all of a sudden you're judging yourself and feeling shameful."

Show Notes

Here are links to everything we mention during the show:

• James's website, where you can find his articles and seminars

• James's article Identity-based habits: How to actually stick to your goals this year

• The book The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz

• The app Freedom for Mac to block certain websites

• The book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Curry

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes →

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to James Clear for being on this episode #012 of Process.

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

This episode is a special one, to me at least. There's a lot of talk about parenting and motherhood in this one, but, even if you aren't a parent, I'm sure you'll still find tons of insight and laughs in our conversation.

Let's get to it!

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Ashlee Gadd is my guest on this episode #011 of Process! This conversation is a bit longer than most other ones ... mostly because Ashlee and I could've kept talking forever.

As a photographer and writer based in California, Ashlee has been exploring the online world of motherhood by running a collaborative blog called Coffee + Crumbs. It's a site that hosts articles that speak honestly and openly about the art of motherhood and what she calls "the good kind of heartache." Currently, Ashlee is on a journey of grow Coffee + Crumbs as much as she can, which we'll talk about in the episode.

During our conversation, we cover:

• When the idea for Coffee + Crumbs came to her
• How she taught herself photography
• Why it's important she tells her children she's "going to work"
• How she faces and conquers self-doubt
• The role of internal development in our success
• What constitutes a creative low in her life
• My "personal research" question about working on projects that don't make money (yet)
• How her faith compels her to work on her projects

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"A lot of times God can call us into different areas of serving and creativity. Not listening to that and denying those gifts and denying that opportunity to glorify Him ... I would be more worried about that than not spending two hours with my kids on a Tuesday morning."Show notes

You can find Ashley online here:

• Her blog "Where my heart resides"

• Coffee + Crumbs, her collaborative blog on motherhood

• Twitter @ashleegadd

• Instagram @ashleegadd

Also, here are a few odds and ends we mentioned throughout the episode:

• Sarah Bessie article "In which I don’t mind if my tinies see me on the computer"

• Elise Cripe, whose work we mention

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Ashlee for joining me on this episode #011 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes → xo,
Marcella

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

This is our tenth episode. Time sure does fly. I'm having so much recording all of these episodes and conversations with creators I admire. I hope you're learning from them as much as I am — because I can't get enough! If it were up to me, I think I'd be recording a new episode every single day!

For everyone reading and listening out there, it's been an honor serving you these ten episodes so far. Here's to many more!

Without further ado, let's jump into episode #010 with Justin Jackson!

Listen To this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Justin Jackson rocked it on this episode (#010) of Process. I'm so excited to share this conversation with you because I had so much fun recording it. Justin calls himself a maker, probably because there's no better umbrella term for all the things he does. He writes for his blog and e-books, makes tech products like Wordpress plugins, runs membership sites, hosts various podcasts ... all while running a consulting business AND being a father to four kids.

Seriously?!

During our conversation, we cover:

• How Justin manages to do ALL THE THINGS
• How Justin "packages" himself as a brand
• Which of his activities is his very favorite — writing
• The creative constraints of parenting
• The creative low he experiences — a loss of momentum
• What gives him energy to keep creating — shipping

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"When you put something out into the world, you don't get to dictate how people respond to it. And I think that's always hard."

Show Notes

Here are links to everything we mention during the show:

• Justin's blog

• Product People podcast

• A list of all his other projects

• MegaMaker, a new podcast project Justin is working on

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Justin Jackson for joining me on this episode #010 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Review & Subscribe on iTunes →

xo,
Marcella

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Thanks for tuning in to episode #009 of Process! Are you ready for the awesomeness about to ensue?! :-)

Let's get to it.

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

My guest on this episode is Jason Zook, an entrepreneur daring enough to make a living wearing t-shirts, selling his last name, and most recently selling his entire future. During our conversation, we talk about:

• How he found a way to stop doing the one thing he hates: selling
• Coming up with the price on his latest project
• Why he chose to journal his creation process (including fears and doubts) on Medium
• Who he turns to for encouragement and overcoming fear
• Who he doesn't turn to for feedback
• What a regular day is like
• A book that's helped him embrace the low moments he faces
• Why he thinks struggles and lows are super important

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"Your hurdles and unfortunate events and lows are pivotal moments that take you to success and achievement. "Show Notes

Throughout our conversation, we mention different sites and events which I'm linking to below:

• You can find Jason online here: BuyMyFuture / Jason's blog / on Twitter

• Project Galaxy 60-day journal on Medium

• Misfit Con, an awesome event in Fargo, North Dakota we've both attended (and where we met!)

• Ryan Holiday's book The Obstacle is The Way

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Jason for joining me on this episode #009 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & Review on iTunes → xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to the eighth episode of Process!

Let's get to it...

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

My guest on this episode is Michelle Armas, an abstract expressionist painter whose blog and Instagram accounts are overflowing with adoring fans. As a new momma to a beautiful one-year-old daughter, Michelle has an inspiring and insightful approach to parenting and creativity.

During our conversation, we cover:

• Which of her bestselling pieces were originally "rejects", and how she turned them around
• How she turned to art (oiling painting) when she hated her job
• Where she "learned" her confidence and work ethic
• How her bootcamp-style art training prepared her for the work she does today
• What it feels like to approach a blank canvas
• What she defines as a "creative low"
• How motherhood changed her creative output

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation, where Michelle shares what she gained from attending an art school that required her to work and experiment non-stop:

"That's really how you evolve. If you don't have the mentality that you have to work at it all the time, you will never get to a place where your work resonates with that kind of of pursuit and experience, which is what art it and it's really what people are drawn to when they look at your work."Show Notes

Throughout our conversation, we mention different things I link to below:

• You can find Michelle here: Michelle's website / @michellearmas007 on Instagram

• Popular piece we reference which was rejected by a client (and now it's hanging in my living room!): That Bowtie I Like

• Another popular piece Michelle references which evolved from a painting she disliked and ended up painting over until it looked like this: Secret Garden

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Michelle for joining me on this episode #008 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & Review on iTunes → Oh, and just a head's up... Stay tuned for next Friday's episode. I'll be speaking with Jason Zook on his brand new currently under-wraps project!

xo,
Marcella

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Welcome to the seventh episode of Process!

Let's get to it...

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

My guest on this episode is Ryan Allis, a technology entrepreneur that sold his first company, iContact, for $170 million before turning 28!

Nowadays, Ryan is the founder of Connect, an app that helps you get together with friends, and Hive, a global network of leaders and entrepreneurs who are creating a better world. As you can imagine, community is important to Ryan, and we'll get to that in this episode. More importantly, though, we dive deep into what makes entrepreneurship sustainable.

During our conversation, we cover:

• Becoming an entrepreneur before even becoming a teenager
• What it looks like to help run 2 companies and attend business school at the same time
• The two important elements he looks for in a project
• Why email is "the biggest tyranny"
• The wellness habits that have transformed his mind and body
• How caffeine is destroying your energy levels—and how to quit

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"In entrepreneurship, calmness and slight patience—take the action to make something happen and then wait a few hours—is so important to not blowing up and allowing yourself to get through the day calmly."Show Notes

Throughout our conversation, we mention different sites and events which I'm linking to below:

• You can find Ryan and his projects here: @ryanallis on Twitter / Connect.com / Hive

• Ryan's blog post about the programs he's attended

• The Resources page where you can find Ryan's presentation "Lessons from my 20s" and more

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Ryan for joining me on this episode #007 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & review on iTunes → And stay tuned next Friday for an episode of Process with my favorite artist!

xo,
Marcella

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I'm back with the latest episode of Process, this time with a great friend of mine: Adii Pienaar!

I'm honored that Adii shared all this amazingness with me. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it!

Let's get to it...

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

My guest on this episode is Adii Pienaar, founder of Receiptful and WooThemes. This conversation happened across the globe, from my desk in Nicaragua to Adii's in South Africa. The result is a raw, honest, and insightful talk that left me energized for the rest of the day! During our conversation, we cover:

• Dealing with foreboding joy when a business is going well
• What determines who rises after a fall?
• How many different identities we all juggle, especially as parents
• How spending time in nature and with our hobbies helps restore our energy reserves
• The role ego plays in our burnout
• How he makes working remote (and at home) effective
• Hiring to avoid connection and burnout
• The different experience as a 2nd or 3rd time founder—and what he's learned
• How he's learned to deal with the inevitable hiccups that happen

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"Shame dies with exposure."

Oh, and here's another! But you'll have to listen to the full episode to get the joke. :-)

"I'm most excited about being the chair!"

Show Notes

Throughout our conversation, we mention different sites and events which I'm linking to below:

• You can find Adii and his projects here: @adii on Twitter / Receiptful site

• Adii's favorite quote that he mentions in the episode:

"Everything I've done up to today has set me up for success and happiness. Everything I do today will leverage that and continue this journey."

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Adii for joining me on this episode #006 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & leave a review on iTunes →

xo,
Marcella

PS. I'll be releasing the next episode of Process next Friday. Stay tuned. :-)

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Welcome back to another episode of Process!

This is episode #5 of our podcast, and I'm so excited to share it with you. There are a few reasons why this episode is special:

1. My guest is Aldo Aguirre, a new friend of mine and someone I love talking to.
2. Aldo is not currently an entrepreneur. Everyone I've talked to up to this point has been an entrepreneur, but Aldo is doing his creative thang from with an organization.

Before I reveal any more, let's get to it...

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

Like I mentioned, my guest on this episode is Aldo Aguirre. He's the LATAM Director of Techstars Community Programs. If you haven't heard of Techstars (or Startup Weekend), Aldo will tell us all about how why it's an awesome place to work—and how he exercises his creativity within the organization, as an "intrapreneur". During our conversation, we cover:

• Being creative and not realizing it
• Is being funny the same as being creative?
• Creativity as a means to an end
• Teaching vs. serving vs. selfish goals
• Intentionality and setting expectations

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"Whenever I had something that I really struggled with, it was either because I didn't set expectations ... or because I wasn't intentional about creating value."Show Notes

Throughout our conversation, we mention different sites and events, including:

• You can find Aldo and Techstars here: Aldo's blog / Aldo on Twitter / Aldo on Instagram / Techstars website

• As promised, the gif Aldo emailed me when I told him about the podcast:

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Aldo for joining me on this episode #005 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode of Process, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A REVIEW ON ITUNES → xo,
Marcella

PS. Stay tuned for next week's episode with Adii Pienaar of Receiptful (and formerly WooThemes). That conversation blew my socks off, and I can't wait for you to hear it!

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Welcome back to another episode of Process. :-)

I hope you enjoyed the first 3 episodes I released on Tuesday (our launch day!), and now we begin our regularly scheduled episodes. I'll be releasing a new episode every Friday. Today is our first Friday!

Let's get to it...

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

My guest on this episode is Angela Mader, founder of fitlosophy and creator of the popular fitness journal fitbook. What a conversation this was! I feel like we could've kept recording for hours. Maybe there will be a second episode in the future? :-) During our conversation, we cover:

• Creating something completely different from what people expect
• Struggling to balance creative and administrative tasks
• Learning to work in a way that's best for her own style and personality
• Why starting over on social media with new accounts and zero followers is a good thing
• The real result she's looking for in her customers
• What she's really passionate about right now

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"I am more than just fitbook."

Oh, and here's another!

"I learned to be an entrepreneur on someone else's dime."

Show Notes

Throughout our conversation, we mention different sites and events which I'm linking to below:

• You can find Angela and her creations here: fitlosophy / aisforangelam.com / @aisforangelam on Instagram

• An image of the fitspiration journal now at Target

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Angela for joining me on this episode #004 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & leave a review on iTunes →

xo,
Marcella

PS. I'll be releasing the next episode of Process next Friday. Stay tuned. :-)

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Thanks for listening to the third episode of Process! This is our launch day, and this is the third and last episode I'll be releasing today. The next one is coming up on Friday!

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

My guest on this episode is David Cain. Through his blog, Raptitude, David reaches readers on the topics of mindfulness, his personal experiments in improving his life, and more. During our conversation, we cover:

• How un-zen his creative process can be at times
• His creative schedule, in depth
• An accidental negative visualization he experiences, which leads to happier results
• Batching tasks he doesn't enjoy
• The importance of having a "business mind" to allow for more creative time
• Balancing serving others versus serving himself

Here's my favorite quote from our conversation:

"You can't disaster-proof everything, but you can read as much as you can and be as prepared as you can be."Totally agree!

Show Notes

Throughout our conversation, we mention different sites and events which I'm linking to below:

• You can find David and his writing here: raptitude.com / his books

• An excerpt from David's article in New Escapologist

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to David Cain for joining me on this episode #003 of Process. :-)

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & leave a review on iTunes → xo,
Marcella

PS. Next episode coming on Friday! Stay tuned...

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Thanks for listening to the second episode of Process! Today's our launch day, and I'm so excited you're listening to the show. I'm also very grateful for your support. :-)

Listen to this episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

My guest on this episode is Sean Ogle. As a location independent entrepreneur, Sean has worked on creating his ideal lifestyle over the past 6 years. During our conversation, we cover:

• The struggles of being a solopreneur
• Breaking down traditional work practices to build his ideal lifestyle
• What to do when money is no longer your primary motivator
• Making time for his hobby (golf!) during the workweek without ignoring his business
• The main piece of advice he wishes he would've known when he started out

Here's my favorite quote from our talk:

"The worst case scenario isn't as bad as you think and the chances of it happening are not very likely." — Sean OgleShow notes

Throughout our conversation, we mention different sites and events which I'm linking to below:

• You can find Sean and his businesses here: Location 180 / Location Rebel / Breaking Eighty

• World Domination Summit

• TropicalMBA

• Why you should stop working at noon everyday

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Sean for joining me on this episode #002 of Process.

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes! Just click the button below:

Subscribe & leave a review on iTunes → xo,
Marcella

PS. I've got a third episode lined up! Listen to it here →

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Thanks for listening to the first episode of Process! Today's our launch day, and I'm so excited you're listening to the show. I'm also very grateful for your support. :-)

I want to hear from you!

I'll be honest with you—creating this podcast didn't feel like hard work because I enjoyed it so much. Recording this episode (and the other two also released today) was fun!

And I can’t wait to hear what you think.

I hope I get to join you in different aspects of your day: while you exericse, while you work, while you commute, while you hit up the supermarket, or whatever else really!

I'm grateful you're here, that you're letting me into your ears. :-) I'm happy to be on this journey with you, and I hope these conversations lead us all toward more creative flow and peace of mind.

Listen to the episode

You can also listen on the go! → iTunes // Overcast // Stitcher

My guest on this episode is Ali Nelson. As a handlettering artist and designer, Ali has amassed quite a following on Instagram and is sending printed versions of her work all over the world through her #alimakesmail product. (I've bought it myself!)

During our conversation, we cover:

• The catalyst that led to her transition from Criminal Justice to artist
• How she became a "reluctant entrepreneur"
• Focusing on serving others instead of selling to them
• Why she stopped creating commissioned art and transitioned to her own aesthetic
• How exploring her art without expectations led to where she is today

Here's my favorite quote from our talk:

"I asked myself, 'What is the work that I want to be doing?' And then I started creating. And at the time I didn't necessarily have clients who wanted that work. But in order to even show that you can do that work, you have to create it, people have to see it and know that it's possible for you to do it."Show Notes

• You can find Ali and her art here: alimakesthings.com / @alimakesthings

• A quote she loves by Leonard Cohen:

"You will never untangle the circumstances that brought you to this moment … Embrace your fate."

• An event where she'll be speaking in October: Story Nashville

Thanks for listening! And a huge thanks to Ali for joining me on this first ever episode of Process!

If you enjoyed this episode and Process as a whole, I'd love if you could leave a review on iTunes. Just click the button below, thanks!

Subscribe & leave a review on iTunes → xo,
Marcella

PS. There's another episode coming right after this! Listen to it here →