Things are continuing their upward trajectory here at Sleepy Dog Creative. We're set with a larger amount of money in the account than we've had before, but we are also faced with a surplus of projects to get done. With a bunch of new challenges, I'm learning there are some problems in my current business model, and these problems would push me into the hardest season I had ever walked through.

Some themes to ponder:

-Margin is critical. When you don't plan for margin, you will find yourself pushed to your limit.

-Build your business by thinking about plateaus; there are seasons of climbing and seasons of camping.

-How do you handle stress when you don't see the other side of your hardship?

If you enjoyed this show, leave a review, or like the episode or share it with your friends. With your help, this show is just getting started.

Special thanks to Matthew Shumaker, Ryan Chevrier, Cody Lindbloom, Dan Redmond, John Maxwell, and Annie Bell.

Featured Music:

"Cloudy Days" by Tim Laskowski

https://open.spotify.com/track/6EB0rI4ud961RMAp7QgTv8?si=89e1840044d844e2

Our Theme Song is "ok" by quinn from space

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BXDGt7eVH18ex2DoVNSAO?si=77078d1629214bcb

TW: This episode contains themes that may be sensitive for those who have experienced trauma in spiritual or religious spaces and contain some conversation around SA.

In this episode, we're getting into some complicated waters, particularly around the idea of the ethics of storytelling; in other words, what do you do when you find yourself creating something that you don't think that you should. Little did I know that the events that play out in this story would serve to bring the team together in a way I did not expect.

Some themes to ponder:

-What do you do when you realize your creating something for someone that you think could hurt someone?

-How do you hold to your moral convictions when you have bills to pay?

-Don't run from challenges, because hard situations can bring out some of life’s most beautiful moments.

Special thanks to Cody Lindbloom, Eric Kinsey, Annie Bell, Cuahutli Alvarado, Kristen Finney, Josh Shumaker, John Maxwell, and my therapist.

Check out Eric Kinsey's web design company, Strategic Design: https://strategic.design/

If you've been inspired by this story, help us bring it to more people! Leave us a comment, give us a review, and share it with your friends. With your help, this show is just getting started.

Featured Music:

"Grow Something Beautiful" by Micah Lother

https://open.spotify.com/track/4jHNZ4EeMBE0wg2RLW3ICl?si=6831020cc7964bdc

Our Theme Some is "ok" by quinn from space

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BXDGt7eVH18ex2DoVNSAO?si=4063fc23f4574e83

As business continues to ramp up, I begin to survey the landscape of Sleepy Dog and make a decision: I will take on as much work as I can to build a buffer in the business so I can hire my first employee. John challenged this idea, worrying that was taking on too much, but despite his advice, I pushed forward, working longer and longer hours. Little did I know that I was building a debt on my body, and my mind was about to collect.

Some themes to ponder:

-How do you create healthy work/life boundaries when you're responsible for the whole company?

-When you've officially burnt out, how do you recover?

Special thanks to Lucas Hibdon, Cuahutli Alvarado, John Maxwell, Mike Boyack, and Kristen Finney

"The Meaning of Regret" written and performed by John Maxwell. Purchase his book "Hammering Nails" here:

https://a.co/d/dJl6ebs

If you've been inspired by this story, help us bring it to more people! Leave us comment, give us a review, and share it with your friends. With your help, this show is just getting started.

Featured Music:

"Movie" by John Michael Howell

https://open.spotify.com/track/0imAbV0rmmRI2yu0Q59DkH?si=1d04b8a0a0d04d00

Our Theme Song is "ok" by quinn from space

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BXDGt7eVH18ex2DoVNSAO?si=a175a76eab6b45f9

Oh man, we’ve got a lot to talk about. What do you do when life smacks you in the face with opportunity, and how do you evolve when, in an instant, your business moves faster than you planned? Suddenly, life presented me with a choice: to hunker down and get comfortable, or to step over the edge once again and grow.

Some themes to ponder:

-The decisions you make today MUST be informed by where you want to go. If you don’t know where you are going, you will wander aimlessly.

-If you have stepped outside your comfort zone, give yourself some grace. You will walk a little funny when you’re in uncharted territory.

Special thanks to Annie Bell, Mathew Shumaker, John Maxwell and Lucas Hibdon

If you’ve been inspired by this story, help us bring it to more people! Leave us a comment, give us a review, and share it with your friends. With your help, this show is just getting started.

Featured Music:

“We Will Never Be This Young Again” by Ben Rector

https://open.spotify.com/track/7bcnTUSnxnt30Y4ynLCQ6T?si=75c2c4beb36941ce

Our Theme Song is “ok” by quinn from space

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BXDGt7eVH18ex2DoVNSAO?si=65f418beadc94aea

I’ve been reworking this episode for the past several weeks. I had it all nicely laid out. You see, this episode was supposed to be part 2 of my process on finding my niche, but no matter how much I want my life to play out in an orderly, serial tv sort of fashion, life just isn’t that clean cut.

Instead, this episode is about fear. Not so much the dreaded fear of heights or the dark or even the fear of failing. Rather, I want to talk about what that fear does to us, and how it impacts our decisions even when we might not realize it.

Some themes to ponder:

-Fear does not need a present threat, it just needs past experience

-Life is coming from you, not at you

-It’s important to recognize when fear is the one calling the shots

-Treat adversity and opportunity exactly the same; run straight at it.

John Maxwell wrote an entire book of poetry! You can find it here:

https://www.amazon.com/Hammering-Nails-Poems-strange-topics/dp/B0BNJHYVG3?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&gQT=2

Special thanks to Ryan Mjoen, Lucas Hibdon, Cuahutli Alvarado, Mike Boyack, Jesse Taylor and Quinn Savignac

Follow Spotlight Coffee!

https://spotlightcoffee.co/

Featured Music:

“drive alone” by quinn from space

https://open.spotify.com/track/1LNafMSPhNDAOh3cD5E9Bb?si=7bfbdc1a54c24e6d

Spotlight Coffee segment - Courtesy of The tune^raider

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2DFUmp55QXX2YYIBOs1QrN?si=9sqwgWbRTVanS1IiYFm82Q

Our Theme Song is “ok” by quinn from space

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BXDGt7eVH18ex2DoVNSAO?si=02822afc93a34281

We’ve got a problem on our hands. I started Sleepy Dog Creative blissfully ignorant of a couple key issues right at the center of it all. Now, I’m on a journey of soul searching, whiteboard sessions, and conversations from trusted friends to figure it all out.

Some themes to ponder:

-The more specific you can get about what you do and who you do it for, the more stable and successful your business will be.

-Pay attention to who hires you. You might have identified your target market.

-Pay attention to how the people around you describe what you do.

-Be patient with yourself, and enjoy the journey.

Check out Jeremy’s social media company, Impact Social!

Website: https://www.impactsocial.io/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactsocial.io/

Special thanks to Jeremy Wagner, Ryan Mjoen, Josh Shumaker, John Maxwell, Austin Sabella, Michel Sharritt, and Annie Bell

Featured Music:

“Make It” by Cody Fry

https://open.spotify.com/track/1fL5tgvy2oXDq46T9VZ49d?si=974f01ee5d5d410b

Our Theme Song is “ok” by quinn from space :)

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BXDGt7eVH18ex2DoVNSAO?si=4d0d9f21c4ca4cd7

It turns out life on the other side of the edge is as unpredictable as it seemed. Big wins and big losses become the norm. When life becomes so chaotic, you will find yourself in a daily clash between hope and desperation.

Some themes to ponder:

How do you hold tight to hope in the middle of desperation?

Don’t ever take for granted the people who believe in you.

When you decide to jump over the edge, make yourself a list of reasons and keep it close to you.

Life doesn't promise you anything, but it will give you moments; opportunities to catch on to good things and hold tight to them when everything else fails. Don’t miss these moments, because these are the moments that show you life is really beautiful.

If you were captured by this story, please consider rating the show and sharing it with your friends! We believe lots of people need to hear this story.

Special thanks to Ryan Mjoen, Cuahutli Alvarado, Annie Bell and a host of family and friends.

Featured Music:

“Hope” by Osei the Seventh

https://open.spotify.com/track/7gjwlD8R2XAxuYwHBUQDoV?si=2BpS4OV9SyCnQatyfcmblw

“ok” by quinn from space

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BXDGt7eVH18ex2DoVNSAO?si=FOuPhcOzSaSJ55PZKuOR8Q

Our Theme Song is “ok” by quinn from space :)

Welcome to Over the Edge! This will be a wild ride, I just know it. But if I'm going to tell you a story about the present, I need to start by telling you a story about the past.

Some themes to ponder:

How do you get back up after you fail?

If everything you had was not enough, doesn’t that mean you’re not enough?

Everything we want lies on the other side of fear.

At the edge, when all is said, is where your life's defined.

If you were captured by this story, please consider rating the show and sharing it with your friends! We believe lots of people need to hear this story.

Special thanks to John Maxwell for his contribution of the poem "The Edge." Purchase his book of poetry here:

https://www.amazon.com/Hammering-Nails-Poems-strange-topics/dp/B0BNJHYVG3

Featured Music:

"Kiss the Waves" by Harmony LaBeff

https://open.spotify.com/track/3uYQtgSKo8rOydZRFVppbU?si=a8145427af874c1d

"One More Time" by Daniel Yates

https://open.spotify.com/track/1yLpdl8Wath4jvAiw8Gc1M?si=e79bdd73ba2e4da2

"Trust in Your Time" by Emily Kathryn

https://open.spotify.com/track/3jbm2PZry1FJUhBZ2hSeZ7?si=d10f0ccea2fb433c

Our Theme Song is "ok" by quinn from space

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BXDGt7eVH18ex2DoVNSAO?si=ba1242f4c089455a