You’ve Been Focused on the Wrong Thing... Here’s What Really Matters
In this episode, Rory Vaden shares how your past pain may hold the key to your future impact. Rory is a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Brand Builders Group, where he’s helped shape some of the most influential personal brands in the world—including Lewis Howes, Ed Mylett, and Amy Porterfield. We explore why so many people chase fame and followers but still feel empty—and how shifting your focus to serving others can radically change everything. Rory opens up about his own journey from self-centered success to purpose-driven impact, and breaks down the surprising path to finding your unique voice and turning it into lasting influence. If you’ve ever wondered what really makes your work matter, this one’s for you. Rory is also giving away the entire audiobook of his new book, Wealthy and Well-Known, for free. Get it at freebrandaudiobook.com/chase. Some highlights we explore: “You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were.” Rory’s core idea for finding your purpose. Why multiple income streams don’t build wealth—but focus does. How Lewis Howes 10x’d his podcast by cutting nearly everything else. A blunt truth: “If you have diluted focus, you get diluted results.” Enjoy!
--------
52:40
--------
52:40
What If Social Media Was the Best Way to Learn New Creative Skills?
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever scroll through social media and feel like you're falling behind? You see someone crushing it—their work looks flawless, their videos are sharp, their life seems effortless. And then that voice creeps in: “I’m not doing enough.” “I’ll never catch up.” Yeah. That feeling? That’s comparison doing its thing. But what if I told you the scroll doesn’t have to suck the life out of you? What if it could do the opposite? Here’s the truth: Social media is one of the most powerful learning tools on the planet—if you use it right. Not for validation. Not for endless distraction. But as a living library of creative technique, storytelling, and craft. The trick? You’ve gotta stop watching like a fan—and start studying like a student. See a photo that grabs you? A reel that feels electric? A post that hits hard? Instead of asking “Why not me?”—ask “How’d they do that?” Break it down. Steal the structure. Take notes. Try your own spin. It’s not about copying. It’s about collecting ideas. About seeing what works and remixing it with your own flavor. I call it the DEAR Method: Deconstruct what caught your eye Emulate the parts that resonate Analyze what works when you apply it Repeat the stuff that sticks It’s a creative cheat code hiding in plain sight. So yeah—social media can mess with your head. But it can also level up your skills if you stop letting it run the show. Turn the scroll into study. Flip envy into energy. Let the work you admire teach you something real. Because guess what? You’re not behind. You’re just one honest rep away from getting better. Until next time—stay curious, and keep creating.
--------
13:11
--------
13:11
What Most People Get Wrong About Failing Fast
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like failure means you're broken? You messed up. You launched something and it flopped. Maybe you put your heart on the line and it didn’t go your way. That sting? It’s real. No quote on Instagram is going to make it magically go away. But here's the truth: Failure isn’t the opposite of progress. It’s part of it. We live in a world that either glamorizes failure like it’s some kind of badge of honor—or tells us to avoid it like the plague. But neither story is complete. Failure hurts—especially when you care. That’s what makes it meaningful. A bad pitch, a failed launch, a relationship gone sideways—if you tried, if you truly cared, then the pain you're feeling is proof that you're alive and in the game. It’s data. It's a signal. It's the exact thing that helps you grow. So what's the play? Try hard. Ship often. Then do it again. Don’t make garbage just to say you did something. Don’t fake effort to avoid real disappointment. Give it what you’ve got—then put it out there before it’s perfect. That’s the sweet spot. Not hiding behind polished perfection. Not pretending you don’t care. But showing up. Again and again. And when it hurts? When you fail? Good. That means you're learning something that matters. Failure isn’t your enemy. It’s your frenemy. You don’t have to love it—but you do need to make peace with it. Until next time, stay bold, and keep shipping.
--------
15:51
--------
15:51
This moment is everything. Here’s how to stop missing it.
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like life is happening somewhere else? You're in the room, but your mind’s a thousand miles away—replaying something you said, stressing about what’s next. It's normal. It's human. But it's also how we miss the best parts of life. The past is over. The future isn’t real yet. All we ever really have is right now. It took an avalanche—yes, a literal one—for me to fully understand this. In those few terrifying seconds, time slowed down. I was completely present. Fully alive. That experience changed me. And I’ve been trying to live like that ever since. You don’t need something dramatic to wake up. You just need to start paying attention. That’s what this episode is about: why this moment is everything, and how to stop missing it. Until next time, stay present, and stay awake.
--------
13:31
--------
13:31
Your Attention Is Being Stolen. Here's How to Get It Back.
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like your mind is all over the place? Emails. Notifications. News. Noise. We live in a world designed to hijack our attention, and it’s working. Attention Is a Superpower In a world this noisy, your ability to focus isn’t just helpful. It’s everything. Viktor Frankl found purpose in the darkest of places by choosing where to direct his mind. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi discovered flow while surviving war by focusing on a single game of chess. Louis Zamperini endured torture by turning his attention toward faith and forgiveness. These weren’t magic tricks. They were choices. Repeated. Intentional. Life-saving. What You Focus On Becomes Your Life Science backs it up. As Dr. Andrew Huberman says, “The ability to focus and direct one's attention is the distinguishing factor between those who will succeed and those who won’t.” That’s not just about work or goals. That’s about everything. Your relationships. Your health. Your sense of self. Because attention doesn’t just shape what you see. It shapes who you become. Train Your Attention Like Your Life Depends on It You don't have to escape to the mountains or delete every app on your phone. You just have to start noticing where your attention goes, and gently bring it back to what matters most. Ask yourself: What am I really focusing on right now? Is it helping me or draining me? What would happen if I chose differently? Your attention is yours. Don’t give it away without a fight. Until next time, stay focused and stay free.
Chase Jarvis is a visionary photographer, artist and entrepreneur. Cited as one of the most influential photographers of the past decade, he is the founder & CEO of CreativeLive. In this show, Chase and some of the world’s top creative entrepreneurs, artists, and celebrities share stories designed to help you gain actionable insights to recognize your passions and achieve your goals.
Ireland