For mid-career creatives reinventing their work.
Short, honest insights with experts who have have lived through their first, or last, years in their dream projects.
Fear of Success: The Shrinking Alice Protocol | Shelly Waldman
Shelly Waldman spent nearly a decade building a commercial photography career and was finally landing triple bids and bigger clients when she moved to London and had to start over. In this episode she names the pattern that stalls so many multipassionate creatives, a fear of success, and shares the four-step Shrinking Alice Protocol she uses when someone else's work makes her feel smaller.
Shelly and Marc also talk about remixing the assets you already have, how to tell when to pause a project and when to let it go, why she pivoted from kids photography to food, and the belief that makes a big move worth it: everything is figure-outable.
You'll learn:
✅ How to tell a fear of success from a fear of failure
✅ The four steps of the Shrinking Alice Protocol: name it, reality check, redirect, anchor
✅ Why a competitor's success proves there's a market for your idea
✅ How an evidence list of kind notes stops the spiral
✅ How to mind map and remix the assets you already have
✅ How to decide between pausing a project and letting it go
✅ What it takes to rebuild a creative career in a new country
💬 "If they're succeeding, there's a market."
Whether you're a multipassionate creative who keeps stalling out on good ideas or you're rebuilding your career somewhere new, this conversation gives you a protocol to use the next time you feel yourself shrinking.
Follow the show for more conversations on creativity, courage, and building a creative career.
Hosted by Marc Scheff, gallery owner and transformational coach who works with accomplished people ready for their next chapter. He has lost two Toyotas to Montreal, AirTags and all, and figured that out too. marcscheff.com
Find Shelly:
Free bundle: https://creativecamp.pro/bundle
Marketing without the algorithm: https://5marketingtips.subscribepage.io
Instagram: @shuttershelly (https://www.instagram.com/shuttershelly/)
Instagram: @creativecamp.pro (https://www.instagram.com/creativecamp.pro/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Shelly Waldman
03:30 Fear of Success Versus Fear of Failure
06:28 The Shrinking Alice Protocol
11:40 Mind Mapping and Remixing Your Assets
15:32 Quitting Too Soon or Holding On Too Long
17:28 Pivoting from Kids to Food Photography
19:23 Energy, Resources, and the Season of Life
21:35 Moving to London and Starting Over
25:54 Why the Move Was Worth It
29:06 Everything Is Figure-Outable
31:10 Where to Find Shelly
6 Oct 2026
From Black Belt to Gym Owner: Building a Jiu-Jitsu Community | Cody Christensen
Cody brings a black belt mentality to growing his business at Train Stop Jiu-Jitsu. He chooses slow, mindful growth over rushing. He talks about pushing through fear and uncertainty, building a culture that puts values and community first, and leading with empathy and consistency so members feel safe, supported, and at home.
Cody also opens up about jiu-jitsu's deeper purpose as a path to healing, mental health, and personal growth, and how inclusivity and attention to small details shape a member experience people never want to leave.
You'll learn:
✅ How a slow, mindful approach reduces risk and builds resilience
✅ How to overcome fear when starting a business
✅ How to create a gym culture rooted in values and mission
✅ How empathy and consistency build trust and community
✅ The healing and psychological benefits of jiu-jitsu
✅ How to adapt to injuries and keep your passion alive
✅ Practical advice for aspiring martial arts entrepreneurs
💬 "Jiu-jitsu is a path for healing and personal growth."
Whether you're a martial artist dreaming of your own gym or an entrepreneur building a community-driven business, this conversation is packed with lessons you can use.
**
Learn more about Cody's inspirational jiu-jitsu gym at
https://www.instagram.com/trainstopjiujitsu/
**
Follow the show for more conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth.
Hosted by Marc Scheff, gallery owner and transformational coach who works with accomplished people ready for their next chapter. He also trains jiu-jitsu 5-6 days a week and is on a first name basis with his osteopath. marcscheff.com (https://marcscheff.com)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Cody Christensen
02:02 From Black Belt to Opening a Gym
03:56 Overcoming Fear and Uncertainty
07:03 Building a Gym Around Personal Values
09:50 Creating Community and Trust
14:02 The Deeper Purpose of Jiu-Jitsu
17:00 Healing and Mental Health Benefits of Martial Arts
20:00 Leadership, Empathy, and Consistency
22:59 Adapting to Injuries and Staying Passionate
25:04 Advice for Aspiring Martial Arts Entrepreneurs
28:03 Small Details and the Member Experience
30:02 Inclusivity and Transforming Lives Through Jiu-Jitsu
29 Sept 2026
Why Standardizing Your Business Sets You Free | Pia Silva
"Confidence comes from a clear process."
aka "The key to creative freedom is doing the same thing every time. Sort of."
From Marc: Pia's insights changed my life. In this episode, she shares ideas that might change yours.
In this episode, Pia Silva breaks down how creatives and entrepreneurs can simplify their business model to grow faster and work less. She explains why standardization frees up creative energy, how clear systems build real confidence, and why relationships are the true currency of sustainable growth.
You'll learn:
✅ Why standardizing your offers makes selling easier
✅ How to balance customization with efficiency
✅ How structure fuels creativity instead of limiting it
✅ Practical ways to protect your time and avoid burnout
✅ How to get past the fear of asking for referrals and sales
✅ How to build authentic connections that grow your business
________________________________________________
PS - In this episode I mention a program that changed my life. That program is Pia's flagship NOBS Mastery program. It has an early bird price and it ends Oct 2 at midnight!
https://nobsmastery.com/
________________________________________________
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Pia Silva's Approach
02:05 Helping Creative Entrepreneurs Succeed
03:56 The Simplicity of Pia's Business Model
07:06 Confidence Through Clear Processes
09:52 Customization vs. Standardization
12:58 How Structure Fuels Creativity
16:00 Managing Time and Avoiding Burnout
18:58 The Power of Relationships and Networking
22:02 Overcoming the Fear of Asking for Referrals
25:13 Building Authentic Connections
27:52 Controlling What You Can in Business
30:55 The Importance of Genuine Engagement
34:00 Creating a Life and Business You Love
#Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #CreativeEntrepreneur #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #PiaSilva #Productivity #Networking
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
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