Gifted Underachievers

Have you ever been to a party where another guest asks you what you do for a living? What do you say? Do you confess to being an artist, writer, performer or musician, then wait for them to ask why they don’t recognize your name? Or do you lie low and make stuff up?
What about when you’re pitching your own work. Do you have a strategy for explaining it in a way that makes the pitchee want to buy it?
Finally, in the unlikely event that someone’s curious about how your creative process works, would you be able to describe it to them?
These are the scenarios Gifted Underachievers James and Pat kick around. Unsurprisingly, things get a little weird.
Questions for Listeners:
* How do you explain your creative work at a party?
* In a pitch?
* Viz your process?
Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book
Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!
For Further Exploration:
Talking About Your Art More Good – 10 tips from Raffi and Klee
Gigi Rosenberg, Learn HOW TO Talk About Your Artwork as a Professional Artist
Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.

If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Life gives everybody more than enough to feel guilty about. It’s endless. Creatives, by contrast, are given a double helping of guilt.
In this segment, Pat and James explore what we should and should not feel guilty about and how to manage guilt when it crops up unbidden by actually doing something to earn it.
Hint: Getting our work done does not make the feel guilty list.
Bad parenting? Absolutely does.
Questions for Listeners:
* What gives you unearned guilt?
* How do you navigate it?
* Or are you more like Picasso?
Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book
Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!
For Further Exploration:
What All Those Half-Done Projects Are Really Telling You
Want to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?
Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch Shop
We have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!)
Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.

If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Gather around, creative friends, and listen closely. It’s clear that here in the Gifted Underachievers clubhouse, we are underachieving all over the place. It’s not only our “brand,” it’s our way of life.
How do we do it? We set the bar very, very low.
Questions for Listeners:
* What’s the last thing you underachieved at?
* Or is it a way of life?
* How does underachieving make you feel?
Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book
Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!
For Further Exploration:
Solving the Riddle of Underachievement: Kenneth Christian (TEDX talk)
Yogi Cameron asks, “Is it time to underachieve in parts of your life?”
Want to Show Your Support for the Gifted Underachievers?
Visit the Gifted Underachiever Merch Shop
We have T-shirts, notebooks, hats, fridge magnets, mugs, and more. (Note: We’re working on getting free or low shipping in all countries!)
Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.

If you aren’t already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! No spam, unsubscribe any time.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

When the Gifted Underachievers meet for their Friday meetings they usually spend about an hour laughing and telling stories. During one such period of buffoonery, James noted his copious cowlicks. Pat took it from there…
Questions for Listeners:
* How do you get rid of a cowlick?
* Ever have a perm?
* Ever have a moustache hair grow up your nose?
Buy the Underachievers a Coffee and Win a Book
Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!
For Further Exploration:
Core Quaker Beliefs
How to Deal with Cowlicks in Beards
Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.

If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, unsubscribe any time.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The dumpster fire known as 2025 is in the rearview mirror and your Gifted Underachievers are taking stock. Pat’s welcoming the new year, while James suspects it’s still a dumpster fire but now with potential to expand to something bigger. Both are battling burnout, and both have plans to make the most of their projects in 2026. How are they doing it? By rearranging TIME.
Questions for Listeners:
* Have you been doing anything new with your time lately?
* Is it helping you get where you want to go?
* Or do your old habits take over?
Buy us a Coffee and Win a Book
Here in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!
For Further Exploration:
How to work less and achieve more by focusing on fewer projects: https://youtube.com/shorts/2he5qrXKIsY?si=OeXnqXcWrssBtbwT
Achieve more by doing less (enhance downstream effort to reach authentic goals):
Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.

If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse. No spam, unsubscribe any time.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com