The Creative Giant Show with Charlie Gilkey

Charlie Gilkey and Angela Wheeler have been together for over 18 years and discuss on today's podcast what's it like working with each other. Angela shares her struggles on leaving her academia career, catching up with Charlie's four year learning curve in the business, and surviving a near-death experience. Charlie and Angela talk on the importance of understanding each other's cycles and rhythms and to have boundaries in the relationship where it's not all work and no play.   Key Takeaways: [1:50] Angela talks a little bit about her background.  [4:30] Working with your partner is great, but there can also be bumps in the road. [7:40] Charlie and Angela have been in business together since 2010. [8:40] What kind of challenges did Angela face when she joined Charlie's business? [15:50] Charlie and Angela have been together for 18 years and have had a lot of time to grow together. [20:00] The difference in income can be awkward with your partner. [25:50] Working around your partner's natural rhythm can be challenging. [30:45] Three years after the car crash, the couple can finally talk about what happened. [31:30] Charlie talks about Angela's near-death experience. [37:10] After Angela's accident, Charlie had to plan for Angela not to be a part of the business and setup the business up accordingly. [43:10] Admitting your weaknesses can be hard, but once you do, you can build a stronger business. [47:40] So what is it like working with your life partner? [51:00] You can share something meaningful together. [52:40] Be transparent with your partner and have an open communication with them at all times.   Mentioned In This Episode: The Five Love Languages by Gary D. Chapman  

Linda Kaplan Thaler is an advertising luminary and author who is also the cofounder of the Kaplan Thaler Group and chairman of Publicis New York. She has created many iconic advertising campaigns such as Kodak Moments and the Aflac duck. She is a native New Yorker who has co-authored three bestselling books: Bang!: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World, The Power of Nice, and The Power of Small. Her newest book is called Grit to Great, which she also co-authored with her business partner Robin Koval. The book takes readers back to the old-fashioned concept of it taking grit to make you successful, rather than relying on your talent, luck, or ability. Linda joins Charlie on the show to talk about that and much more.   Key Takeaways: 02:02 – How Linda met Robin Koval. 03:57 – The idea of having grit and getting the idea to write a book about it. 07:42 – Grit never expires and the idea of retirement. 12:34 – The “lure” of retirement and how retirement should really be doing a job that you love. 16:26 – The self-esteem movement. 20:06 – Grit can be found in anybody no matter the age. 22:58 – Learn to accept failure. 25:32 – “Comfort addiction” and how we are a culture that doesn’t know how to be bored. 28:50 – Which grit builder practice Linda feels is the hardest for her at this stage in her life. 32:02 – The power of habit. 38:50 – The most unanticipated challenge Linda is currently facing. 40:12 – Everybody can get to where they want to go. Grit is the formula that gets you there.     Mentioned in This Episode: Kaplan Thaler Group Publicis New York Bang!: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World The Power of Nice The Power of Small Robin Koval Grit to Great Michael Bloomberg Colin Powell Steven Spielberg Michael Jordan Jack Ma, Alibaba Sherry Lansing, Paramount Pictures James Henry, In a Fisherman’s Language James Dyson Neil Postman, We’re Amusing Ourselves to Death Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener, The Upside of Your Dark Side Paula Radcliffe James Patterson Stephen King  

Jacquette Timmons is a financial behaviorist who helps her clients figure out how to connect their money to life in a real and meaningful way. She offers unbiased advice and helps people gain insight and clarity that they might not otherwise get on their own. She helps people blend the emotions of money with the math of money so they can move forward with their financial goals and take control. She is the founder of Sterling Investment Management, Inc. and also wrote a book titled Financial Intimacy, How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate. Her work has been featured many places including CNN, HLN, Fox, and NPR, among others. Jacquette joins Charlie on the show today and talks about the importance of having discussions about our money as well as much more.   Key Takeaways: 01:43 – How Jacquette got started as a financial behaviorist. 05:54 – What does a financial behaviorist do? 09:09 – Understanding decision making around money is a more irrational thing and the trends and differences between the way men and women make decisions about money. 14:13 – People not really having true conversations about their money and not seeing that it’s an ongoing conversation and why that is. 21:15 – Having to make hard financial decisions such as putting money toward the care of a pet. 26:10 – Some things to do to help make those difficult financial decisions. 30:33 – Recognizing and dealing with the fact that everything about money is emotional and that our decisions we make about money are often based on emotions. 34:48 – Jacquette’s book, Financial Intimacy, How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate. 37:56 – Surprising feedback Jacquette has gotten about her book and finding help in knowing other people’s situations. 42:24 – Financial success doesn’t start in your wallet. 48:44 – Being smart with money is a skill. 50:28 – The most unanticipated challenge Jacquette is currently facing. 54:11 – Money is never just about money.     Mentioned in This Episode: Sterling Investment Management, Inc. Financial Intimacy, How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate CNN HLN Fox Black Enterprise NPR The Wall Street Journal Dan Ariely, Predictably Irrational Carnegie Institute of Technology The Small Business Lifecycle  

Sarah Jones is the founder of Introverted Alpha, a place to help introverted men attract women naturally. Her work has been featured in various places including Cosmo and Business Insider and many other. Along with being a dating coach, Sarah also uses Introverted Alpha to help support the cause of ending human trafficking. She joins Charlie on the show today to discuss these topics and much more.   Key Takeaways: 01:46 – How Sarah got started doing what she does now. 04:50 – How Sarah found her niche. 08:40 – The differences in coaching men and women. 11:05 – The friend zone. 13:32 – Sarah discusses her discomfort level of coaching and talking to men about their sexuality. 16:23 – The pickup community. 20:21 – The idea of men just wanting sex. 23:49 – Whether or not Sarah has received any backlash against what she’s doing. 27:37 – Sarah learning to be a more strategic thinker in what she was doing. 34:10 – Sarah’s cause around human trafficking. 37:48 – The link between men’s sexual desire and human trafficking. 42:44 – The most unanticipated challenge Sarah is currently facing and why she thinks that’s a challenge. 48:50 – Find the things that you love about yourself and do things that will nourish that.   Mentioned in This Episode: Introverted Alpha Cosmo Business Insider The Good Men Project YourTango The San Francisco Chronicle The Game, Neil Strauss Reddit Ramit Sethi, Zero to Launch Not For Sale Managing for Results, Peter Drucker  

Charlie takes a few minutes in this episode to discuss the future of the show and the direction he would like to take it.   Key Takeaways: 00:47 – “Bullets, cannonballs, and tripwires.” 01:36 – Why Charlie wanted to get to 50 episodes. 03:33 – People saying they want more of Charlie on the podcast. 04:28 – Charlie not wanting the show to be another “how-to” show. 05:00 – How to figure out the two tensions of people wanting more Charlie on the show and it not being a “how-to” show. 07:08 – The challenges of keeping the show at 30 minutes and it still being really good. 09:35 – Going forward with the show and what that looks like. 10:10 – The publishing schedule of the podcast. 12:14 – Going through and experimental phase with the show. 13:01 – Ways to help out with the show.   Mentioned in This Episode: Great by Choice, Jim Collins Donald Rumsfeld productiveflourishing.com/podcast charlie@productiveflourishing.com productiveflourishing.com/contact    

Brigitte Lyons is a media specialist who founded B, a boutique PR agency helping organizations and individuals move their ideas. She teaches entrepreneurs how to take media outreach into their own hands. Brigitte is an advocate for emerging talent, and those she has helped have gone on to get coverage from cnn.com, The Huffington Post, Elle Décor, espn.com, and more. She encourages people to be relentlessly focused on what they’re doing in order to get their work out there to make an impact in the world. She joins Charlie on the show today to discuss her work and much more.   Key Takeaways: 01:28 – How Brigitte got started in the PR business. 04:32 – Is PR even relevant anymore? 07:58 – The value of a publicist for some people and why people come to Brigitte. 14:24 – Brigitte making the switch to work with more creative types and artists and some of the challenges that came along with that. 16:22 – Why Brigitte is happier getting out and working one-on-one, face-to-face with people rather than just sitting at her computer by herself. 19:40 – The idea that big problems need big teams. 21:55 – Why Brigitte doesn’t want to work solo by herself but also doesn’t necessarily think being a big company is for her either. 26:10 – What scares Brigitte about the transition she is making. 33:04 – Ryan Holiday’s methods for PR and what he does. 35:18 – Why Brigitte’s work matters so much to her. 41:19 – The cause, topic, or issue Brigitte feels the strongest about but isn’t using her voice for and why that is. 47:25 – Be relentless focused on what you’re doing to make a bigger impact with your work.   Mentioned in This Episode: B cnn.com Elle Décor The Huffington Post espn.com Multipotentialites Forbes The New York Times Twitter Gallup Reddit Tara Gentile charity:water IDEO Apple Basecamp Duarte The Energy Project, Tony Schwartz Action Station, Marianne Elliott Ryan Holiday All Marketers are Liars Trust Me, I’m Lying TechCrunch Gawker American Apparel Amazon Cal Newport, So Good They Can’t Ignore You Black Lives Matter Airbnb    

Ryan Haack is an author, blogger, and speaker who was born without a left hand. In 2011, he launched his website, livingonehanded.com, in an effort to help people embrace the things that make them different and realize that they are still valuable and important. He writes about his experiences as someone who was born with a physical difference and tries to give hope to others who may be dealing with the same kind of thing. He also speaks at schools on this subject and recently released his first children’s book titled Different is Awesome. Ryan joins Charlie on the show today to discuss his work and his perspective on what it means to be different as well as much more.   Key Takeaways: 01:31 – Why and how Ryan started his website back in 2011. 04:06 – Ryan going most of his life not even thinking about the fact that he only had one hand and then suddenly being more aware of it after starting his website. 08:43 – What Ryan’s arm looks like and why he is so comfortable talking about it. 13:18 – Always thinking people want to help you because they pity you and not viewing it as them just being nice and accept it. 18:32 – The dual nature of saying you’re not any different than anybody else when you have a disability but also bringing awareness to the fact that you are different. 21:49 – Ryan’s Kickstarter for his book. 28:20 – The message of Ryan’s book. 31:45 – Seeing the value in yourself will make you see the value in other people. 33:56 – Ryan hopes that people will feel encouraged and valuable because of the work he is doing.   Mentioned in This Episode: livingonehanded.com Different Is Awesome Xanga W.E.B. Du Bois Brené Brown Glenda Watson Hyatt The Art of Asking, Amanda Palmer Kickstarter Kyle Maynard Judith Caseley, Harry and Willy and Carrothead Wes Molebash Kyle Scheele InterVarsity Sleeping at Last, Ryan O’Neal    

Willie Jackson is the founder and publisher of Abernathy, a magazine for black men. He is also a tech consultant and a member of Seth Godin’s Domino Project. He is an advisor and has worked with several bestselling authors and entrepreneurs as well as speaking regularly at conferences. Previously, he served as the director of Web optimization for W3 EDGE, an interactive Web development and marketing agency. Abernathy is his latest project that was started partly because of the events in Ferguson and the Black Lives Matter movement. Willie joins Charlie on the show to discuss the weighty issues of race and police brutality as well as much more about his career.   Key Takeaways: 02:24 – Willie leaving working in consultancy and getting in to doing his own thing. 06:38 – Why Willie didn’t like the corporate business world. 12:10 – Starting W3 EDGE and how the idea formed. 16:08 – Some of the challenges with W3 EDGE. 21:15 – The importance of taking the time to connect with other people and acknowledge how hard things can be. 24:01 – Why and how Willie formed Abernathy and his feelings on the Michael Brown story. 33:27 – Abernathy being a magazine specifically for black men and issues of race that aren’t talked about enough. 42:06 – The case about Sandra Bland. 47:09 – What Willie has learned from launching and growing Abernathy. 51:43 – Willie wanting people to know that he cares about people being touched by what Abernathy is about and benefitting from it.   Mentioned In This Episode: Abernathy Seth Godin’s Domino Project Black Lives Matter Lift Off Retreat INROADS W3 EDGE Accenture Michael Brown Mark Zuckerberg Yoyodyne Yahoo Worse Than Slavery Nate Silver Hillary Clinton Sandra Bland Basecamp MailChimp The YEC abernathymagazine.com/launch  

Many of us don’t know exactly what we want to be. We wander through life dissecting our likes and our wants without realizing this is a process which gives our calling time to present itself. Life’s dopamine shots of getting it now can interfere with your ability to share your gift. If you write call yourself a writer, if you paint a painter, etc. If you believe it others will too. Jeff’s work  embodies his past experiences and it shares how he overcame his previous assumptions about what path he should be on. He believes we should ask ourselves “If I am in the same place as I am today 10 years will I regret it?”   Key Takeaways: [1:20] I always thought I would be an artist [3:17] Building an online community for a non-profit [4:59] I had a freelance writing website but no personal brand [7:02] Who exactly got pregnant and being in a dangerous place [10:05] Coaching, teaching and leading [13:45] The 7 steps you need to achieve your dreams [18:10] Expand the use of “finding your calling” [19:34] Are we too busy to listen to our lives [23:22] Assumptions about paths you find in life [27:21] Everybody quit their job, which was not my intention [28:12] I wrote this book to touch people and it’s working [30:09] Organizational challenges and acquiring discipline [33:20] The responsibility of sharing your gift with the world   Mentions: TheArtofWork Goinswriter.com TheSmallBusinessLifecycle

The impression that you make while connecting on social media can help you land the perfect job or it can haunt you. Your online personal brand is what the world sees so, make certain it is authentically you. It may be difficult in the future to cover up any regrets. In this 24 hour socially engaged world realize, it is ok to say no and ok to step offline for Its important to reasses the image you want to promote, as well as the path you want to take towards your future.   Key Takeaways: [1:34] Stephanie took note of powerhouse women in social media [4:14] The passion for video weaves through Stephanie’s life [6:08] Tips and Tricks in video got me noticed [8:24] Ahead of the curve using YouTube annotations but not on mobile [10:30] The book that helped developed my personal brand [11:28] Take a step back and it’s ok to say no [13:28] Talking about the toll it takes to be successful [15:17] Working for someone else was the next step [17:04] There were no notifications on Twitter or Facebook at the time [20:00] Get used to the stats and then measure your success in reactions [24:06] You are connected but you are really not connected [25:41] The impression of connecting [28:00] What you put on social media should be who you are, it matters [31:43] Your digital footprint  [33:52] Can you have an after 5 profile and a business profile [35:20] A day job that carries over into managing a digital lifestyle [37:52] Finding the time for everything is a challenge [39:43] Take into consideration the digital footprint you are leaving   Mentions: Trust Agents Chris Brogan Moto 360  Alone Together  - Sherry Turkle My Savvy Life 

Charlie talks briefly on the show today about an old Native American parable about an evil wolf and a good wolf and which wolf we feed. It’s about the battle that goes on inside of us. Do we choose to feed the good or the bad in us? He addresses that in this week’s show.   Key Takeaways: 00:50 – Native American parable. 01:58 – It’s not just one choice of which wolf we are feeding. It’s a long history of making that choice. 04:21 – Whatever energy we put into the world, we get back.  05:05 – Choose to feed the good wolf, even in those moments when it seems easier to feed the bad wolf.   Mentioned In This Episode: David Gray, “Flame Turns Blue” Amos Lee  

James Victore is a graphic artist, author, and activist who describes his art as “sexy” and strives to help people find their creative courage through talks and workshops. He has numerous high-profile clients and his posters have been displayed in places like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Library of Congress, among others. In addition to his life-changing talks and workshops, James also reaches people through his YouTube video series Burning Questions where he answers questions about life, love, and work. On top of all that, James also has a book out called Victore, Or Who Died and Made You Boss? He lives in Brooklyn and works with his wife, Laura. James joins Charlie on the show to talk about his life, work, and much more.   Key Takeaways: 02:27 – James’ first gig. 04:26 – Moments in James’ career that made him realize he needed to do his own art and not try to be like somebody else. 08:15 – Practicing creative courage. 11:22 – Artists and designers understanding that their work is a gift. 13:55 – The tension of wanting to create what you love but also having to pay the bills and work within the restrictions of a company. 18:38 – James not conforming to what other people want, his “sexy” brand, and walking the line between sacred and profane. 21:18 – Deciding when to take jobs and when not to and making those decision based on what makes you happy and not just because you need the money. 26:45 – The idea of the reluctant hero. 36:20 – The most unanticipated challenge James is currently facing. 40:13 – When people ask James what he’s most proud of, it’s always his sons.   Mentioned in This Episode: Burning Questions YouTube Museum of Modern Art The Louvre Library of Congress Art Directors Club Brno Biennale Adobe MailChimp Starbucks Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Aveda Time and Esquire magazines Moet & Chandon Yohji Yamamoto Abrams Publishing Victore, Or Who Died and Made You Boss? School of Visual Arts Jeffrey Davis Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Julian Schnabel Joseph Campbell Star Wars Dead Poets Society Will Smith Your Work as a Gift   Victory Lab

Known as the Suitcase Entrepreneur, Natalie Sisson has been traveling the world and living out of her suitcase since 2006 while also running a successful online business from her laptop that generates a six-figure income. She is a number-one bestselling author, podcaster, speaker, and adventure and is on a mission to help entrepreneurs create true freedom in their lives by 2020. Natalie joins Charlie on the show today to discuss her adventuresome lifestyle, how she grew her business, upcoming changes, and much more.   Key Takeaways: 2:04 – How Natalie got started in entrepreneurship and what made her want to do it. 4:35 – Natalie’s first business and what ultimately led her to leave and move on. 8:37 – Challenges Natalie faced in the first years of Suitcase Entrepreneur and what she saw as the most challenging areas of business. 12:11 – Spark moments in the first years of Suitcase Entrepreneur that let Natalie know she should keep going. 13:20 – Something Natalie learned that she wishes someone had told her before she started. 18:25 – The balance between always talking about yourself and your experiences but using that to help teach others. 19:33 – The process Natalie took in writing and publishing her book. 25:27 – Getting over the fear of asking people to support your work and help you. 28:38 – Natalie’s views on freedom. 31:41 – New things and changes coming up in Natalie’s life and work and what led to making those changes. 36:33 – The most unanticipated challenge Natalie is facing right now. 37:36 – Be true to yourself and comfortable with whatever decision you make at the time.   Mentioned in This Episode: suitcaseentrepreneur.com Freedom Plan Program Facebook Connection Point Systems FundRazr Seth Godin Jonathan Fields Fresh in Fifteen podcast Kickstarter Scrivener Pam Slim The Art of Asking, Amanda Palmer Tim Ferriss Chris Guillebeau

Sergeant Kevin Briggs is a retired California Highway Patrol officer who spent most of his time on the Golden Gate Bridge encouraging people not to commit suicide by jumping. He was nicknamed the guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge and has helped over 200 people make the decision not to end their life. After retiring, he continued his work by traveling worldwide to speak on the subjects of crisis management, suicide prevention, and leadership skills. He speaks and teaches at conferences and law enforcement departments, as well as consulting and advising major companies and corporations. His story has been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers, which includes him being a cancer survivor, dealing with heart issues, and going through a divorce. He is currently working on his autobiography set to release in July of 2015. Kevin joins Charlie on the show today to discuss his work and knowledge of crisis management, share some personal stories, and much more.   Key Takeaways: 02:35 – Kevin’s first encounter on the Golden Gate Bridge. 06:01 – The little amount of training Kevin had received before taking his first suicide call and why that is. 08:43 – The emotional journey Kevin goes through when taking a suicide call and how it changes his perspective on life. 11:06 – Kevin’s second suicide encounter. 12:57 – Handling compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma and Kevin’s own depression. 15:55 – The importance of police officers and others in that field of work getting help for their stress and depression they may feel after seeing the things that they see. 19:14 – What the Quality of Life Triad is and where that came from. 21:43 – The importance of self-care and the resistance Kevin faces from fellow officers. 25:14 – Why people are so reluctant to seek help. 27:55 – Kevin’s RELEASE model. 31:55 – Tips on how to listen to someone and help them without judging or telling them what they need to do. 33:45 – Kevin’s own personal situation he dealt with when finding out his son was cutting. 38:44 – The importance of communicating and talking with your family and friends.   Mentioned In This Episode: The New Yorker Magazine People Magazine USA Today Pivotal Points Quality of Life Triad RELEASE model

The smartest thing Carla ever did with regards to writing her book is collaborating with a person who was just as emotionally involved as she was. She was so used to going full throttle all the time she needed to learn that you can ask for help or even quit it for a while and go back to it later. She found that using online collaboration tools allowed the words to flow and increased her and her partner’s productivity. The only part of the process she found difficult was when asking for blurbs, even when Venus Williams offered to write cover quote.   Key Takeaways: [2:40] How Carla got to where she is today [4:20] Blogging is great because there is instant feedback [5:42] Simple teaching stemmed from simple learning techniques [6:55] My name was cutesy because that’s what bloggers did [9:04] People embraced my change [9:59] Struggle is universal, it’s more than fitness [11:30] Apologizing for what? [11:59] Being processed oriented versus outcome oriented [13:26] The smartest thing we ever did was become emotionally invested [14:40] Sorry this letter is so long. I didn’t have time to make it shorter [15:57] Splitting up the chapters helped us enjoy the tight deadline [18:12] This is how I flow now [19:53] Collaboration can open up so many ideas [20:41] The book was the easy part, the blurbs caused the friction [22:33] The cover quote was a reach [23:58] The Art of Asking [25:38] I rock the NO [26:27] It was the right time to write the book [27:20] Quitting and moving on doesn’t mean that you can’t go back to it [27:54] Well where to now? What’s next? [29:30] The beginning of the #wycwyc [30:18] All of our struggles are the same [30:59] Comfortability with yourself   Mentions: CarlaBirnberg #wycwyc TheArtofAsking - Amanda Palmer