The Portfolio Life with Jeff Goins

The Portfolio Life Finale

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some things must end so other things may begin.  In this final episode of The Portfolio Life, Jeff discusses what a portfolio life is and shares the ...

Peak Performance Every Day: Interview with Eric Partaker

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On The Portfolio Life this week, I'm chatting with Peak Performance Expert, Eric Partaker. Eric helps entrepreneurs become better leaders using behavi...

The Artist's Life: Interview with Elida Field

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On The Portfolio Life this week, I'm talking to Elida Field, a professional artist whose work has been featured in the White House and on magazine cov...

Am I Still Me?

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The act of finding the deeper part of you that never fades may be the most important task of your life. It is certainly the best place from which to c...

Before You Build Your First Product, Do This

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We're at the end of the 5-day Paid to Create challenge and so far, we've identified why we create, the importance of making money off our art, how to ...

Sell Them What They Want, Give Them What They Need

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Before you figure out what you want to sell, you need to first figure out what people are willing to pay for. Your job is to create something unique, ...

More Than Passion: Getting Clear on a Business Idea

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To start a business, you need more than passion. Getting paid to create really is about getting clear on what people want. Before we get into the supe...

3 Kinds of Creators: Which One Are You?

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are, I think, roughly three kinds of creators in this world, each with their own path. Today, I want to share with you two things. First is the ...

Get Paid to Create

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we create? To share a thought: an idea, a story, a paradigm. To help another person, perhaps, simply by saying something others are unwilling t...

What Words Can Do

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what words can do. They can cut a person down or lift them up. They can overwhelm another with beauty or devast...

One Unexpected Outcome of Announcing My Divorce on the Internet

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This past week, I shared the news of my marriage ending. This has been the hardest decision of my life, something I was nervous to talk about publicly...

How to Stop Being Distracted and Do What Matters: Interview with Nir Eyal

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Distraction is no friend to a writer. But we all have had our dance with her before, haven't we? She is everywhere, all around us, from the devices we...

Taking Care of Your Creative Life in the Midst of a Pandemic

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

These days, I seem to be going through a personal renaissance, re-thinking who I am, what I do, and my contribution to the world. I keep running into ...

When I Became Me: Understanding the Life of an Artist as Story

18 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Before you can create anything, you must first create yourself. The process of changing your life—of pursuing a vocation, finding a true love, even ...

The 3 Stages of an Artist's Work: Transaction, Compromise, Gift

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What if the point of becoming a professional artist or writer was not what you thought it was? What if success wasn't the ultimate goal? What if each ...

Don't Pivot

04 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The world is in crisis, and many people are telling you to do something new. But what if you didn't have to do that? What if, instead of pivoting into...

Everything Is a Performance: Michael Port on the Roles We Play

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you respond to something like a pandemic? A crisis when the whole world goes upside down. What role is being required of you when you feel like...

Think You're Doing This Quarantine Thing Terribly? I've Got You Beat (But There's Still Hope)

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hello there from quarantine. You might be feeling some shame for being unproductive or lazy or depressed during this time of crisis and social distanc...

Now is the Time to Give Your Greatest Gift

24 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is it an act of bravery to merely survive a crisis? Maybe. But if you have the potential to be remarkable, why wouldn't you be? Now is the time to giv...

This Is About More Than Toilet Paper

17 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"What did you do with this crisis?" This may be what our children ask us about this time. And as you'll see, a crisis is an opportunity to create some...

No, We Actually Don't Need You to Write a Book (The Better Book Manifesto)

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We don't need more books in the world; we need better books. We don't need another mystery novel or cancer survival story or career advice tome. We do...

I Wrote a Book on Public Speaking and Then Became a Successful Speaker

17 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, my first ghostwriting project, The Successful Speaker, comes out. This was a collaboration with Grant Baldwin, the leading expert on what i...

You Don't Need More to Start: 3 Timeless Truths to Succeed

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I tend to think of life as a journey these days far more than a destination. If I could summarize what I believe about almost everything in life, it w...

Why We All Need to Act More Like Artists

03 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"Why do we need art?" In a world that seems to more and more focused on "work works," is there still a place for beauty? Do artists matter anymore? I ...

What Creativity Can Do That Nothing Else Can

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are three messages creativity can communicate, and these messages are what connect us as human beings. Which is to say, without the arts—witho...

222: We Are All Hyphens Now: Chase Jarvis on the Creative Calling

21 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We are all hyphens. That's what Chase Jarvis, founder of CreativeLive, amazing photographer, and best-selling author of Creative Calling, told me in o...

The Cure for a Boring Career: Build a Portfolio Life

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you're bored, out of work, or simply wanting a more fulfilling career, I believe that by embracing a portfolio life, you will finally have the...

Instead of Setting Goals, Tell a New Story

31 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to achieving goals, many of us may be thinking about them the wrong way. You and I have been told that you can have everything you want ...

What Those Winter Blues Can Teach You About True Happiness

23 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

All good stories involve dying. The often-literal death of a mentor requires the hero to grow and move on in his journey. But there is also the sheddi...

Your Questions Answered: Writing, Marketing and More

11 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A few weeks ago, I did an episode of The Portfolio Life called "Don't Build an Empire, Find a Few Friends Who Care." It was about how the secret of ma...

The Secret to Innovative Work: Be Different, Not Better

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Often, we think the way to stand out from the pack is to be better. And sometimes that is the answer: to become an improved version of who you were ...

221: Interview with Matt Kepnes

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I've often wondered what would it be like to be a nomad and travel the world. I did this for a brief time in my early 20s and then stopped, and recent...

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Yourself

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"Just be yourself" is probably the worst advice we could ever receive or give a person. Few of us actually know who we really are. And yet, if we can ...

How to End Things Well

27 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Recently while speaking on stage, I heard myself say something I didn't plan on sharing. I didn't rehearse it. I didn't have it in my notes. It just c...

Don't Build an Empire, Find a Few Friends Who Care

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The best marketing you can do for your work is not to build an empire, but to find a few friends who care. We all want to reach the masses and see our...

How to Make Email Work for You

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you want to write books, make art, or share your music with the world, having an email list of fans is a must. Email is the most effective way...

5 Ways to Build a Powerful Email Newsletter List

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's one thing to understand the importance of email marketing and quite another to actually build an email list that allows you to reach a large audi...

How to Write Better Email

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Over the years, I've seen all kinds of marketing fads come and go. MySpace FriendFeed Xanga1 Google Plus Blogging Podcasting Some of these have come...

Why You Need an Email List Now

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You need an email list. It's just that simple. If you want to write a book that sells thousands of copies or more, you need people paying attention to...

220: How to Travel the World and Write About It: Lex Latkovski

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible to live life on your own terms? Can you do what you want when it defies the expectations of others? Is the way you're living right now ...

219: Your Best Creative Tool (Is You) with Paul Jarvis

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As you may know, I've been traveling quite a bit this year. It's been fun to meet many of you at the various events I've spoken at or attended. One qu...

Why You Failed at That Last Goal You Set

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You didn't fail. The goal was to learn something, so if you learned, you succeeded. It's only when the unexpected happens and we don't learn from it t...

Why Anyone Buys Anything: How to Close the Sale on a Product Launch

31 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why does anyone buy anything? Because the cost of not having it is greater than the cost of acquiring it. This is true for almost everything but espec...

Your Guide to Launching Your First Product Quickly and Well

31 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When is it time to launch your latest product? The answer is before you think it's ready. This is where you make your product public. Is it a book? A ...

Everything You Need to Know to Build Your First Digital Product

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Digital products have changed my life. Courses. Ebooks. Coaching programs. Masterminds. Membership sites. All of it. Making things and sharing them on...

How to Create Something from Nothing

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you create something from nothing? You don't. You always start with something. Creation comes from chaos. And so will your next book, course, o...

Your Minimum Viable Product

28 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

One of the challenges of being a creative professional is that you aren't always sure what people will buy. It often feels like a game of Roulette, in...

Product Launch Failure: How to Avoid It by Testing Before Your Build

24 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So many people set out to create a product—whether it's a book, a coaching service, or an online course—and assume they know what people want. Don...

How to Make Something & Sell It in 7 Days: Your First Digital Product

24 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

People don't typically buy what they need. They buy what they want. Which is why I love the saying: "Sell them what they want, give them what they nee...

4 Signs You Might Be a Starving Artist (and What to Do About It)

14 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's time you started thriving, and that really begins with you changing your mind. But maybe you don't realize that you're a starving artist. Maybe i...

If You Want to Help People, Start a Business

10 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What I've learned since leaving the nonprofit world and starting a business, which included becoming an author, speaker, and digital entrepreneur, is ...

3 Reasons Your Writing Sucks

05 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Learning how to be unapologetically ourselves in our writing and creative work is the first step to becoming effective at what we do. If we don't do t...

218: Do the Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In life, there are so many decisions to make. And so it is with creative work. As is often the case, art imitates life (and vice versa). We are consta...

How to Meet Your Heroes and Get Them to Partner with You

19 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you get busy, important people to notice you? In this age of connectedness, it's easier than ever to meet your heroes and even partner with the...

217: The Miracle Equation with Hal Elrod

16 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you sell 1.7 million copies of a self-published book? You demonstrate unwavering faith and extraordinary effort. Hal Elrod knows a thing or two...

Your work is not for everyone. That's the point of it.

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The point of marketing is not to convince people to buy your stuff. It's to help you find the people who need your work. Don't create something for ev...

Ending Things Well: Join Us for the Final Tribe Conference

14 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I have always believed in ending things well. Recently, I shared with you why I decided to end my conference. Now, I want to share with you more about...

When You Know It's Time to Quit Something

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you know when it's time to quit something and when to stick with it just a little longer? All of creativity—and life, it seems—is really ju...

How I Work and Why It Won't Work For You

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

People often ask me how I work and I refuse to answer the question because it has absolutely no value at all. Almost every morning after dropping off ...

Let's Be Amateurs Again: The Secret to Becoming a True Professional

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you remember when you started it, this thing you now call your craft? Do you remember when you did it because you loved it, because you couldn't st...

The Secret to Creating Work that Lasts: Why The Great Gatsby Endured

22 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is your work timely or timeless? That is, is it something that is relevant to your current place in history, or does it transcend the limitations of i...

3 Steps to Start a Daily Writing Habit

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's one thing to call yourself a writer; it's quite another to actually write. So what separates the pros from the amateurs? Is it God-given talent? ...

216: The Art of Storytelling with Scott Harrison from charity: water

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Has a really good story every moved you to feel or to act? That is the true art of storytelling. Someone who knows this well and has honed this art is...

The Most Transformative Year Of My Life

07 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It was late that night as I sat on my friend Ian's porch and poured out my heart. What I had to share, though, I hadn't told anybody, and it had been ...

Everything We Do (As Writers and Artists) is Marketing

12 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For the longest time, I despised marketing. Couldn't stand it. It just felt like pure dishonesty. I felt this way long before ever becoming a writer. ...

Writing is Manual Labor

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How does inspiration happen? Where does it come from? Do we wait for it to come or simply get to work? And how does one go about capturing such a thin...

215: Creating Atomic Habits with James Clear

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There's plenty of advice in the entrepreneurial community on habits. But what are atomic habits and how can you take the reins on creating atomic habi...

Writing Lesson 1: Great Ideas

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What's the secret to writing a great book? Is it having a great book marketing plan? Hiring a PR agency? Studying grammar for years so you can craft t...

214: Becoming the Patron of Your Art with Cathy Heller

28 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There was a time when artists were commissioned to create for royalty and other wealthy patrons. While it isn't widely done today, there is a way for ...

213: The How of Happiness with Alli Worthington

21 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever think about how you can be happier? Someone who knows is here to tell us! Our guest today, Alli Worthington, is sharing her knowledge on t...

212: How to Stand Beautiful with Chloe Howard

14 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been afraid to share something special about you? Our guest has, but her journey has shown her how to overcome that fear and stand beaut...

211: How to Monetize Any Niche with Heather Teysko

07 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Three Life Lessons from Running Tribe Conference for Four Years

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

EP210: Honoree Corder

30 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

EP209: How to Use Time to Be Your Most Creative with Dan Pink

17 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

208: The Fun Formula: Why Doing What's Fun Brings Success with Joel Comm

09 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

207: Finding a New Creative Path With Food with Sonja Overhiser

04 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to Make Your Writing Absolutely Perfect Every Time

02 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Benefits of Taking Time Off: Interview with Bob Lotich

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to Handle a Mistaken Identity

23 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

205: The Best Writing Tool There Is

17 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

PL 025 - Chad Allen Interview

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Finding Significance Throughout Your Career with Ken Davis

06 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

11 Solid Reasons to Not Write a Book

31 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to Know if You Should Write a Book

30 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to Write a Bestseller (and Why That Doesn't Mean What You Think It Does)

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to Finish Writing Your Book By Abandoning It Well

14 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Embracing the Discipline to Write Your Book

07 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to Start Writing Your Book

02 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

E202: The Heart to Start Your Creative Journey with David Kadavy

27 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

E201:How Can I Live a Better Life? Interview with Casey Graham

24 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Type Delete Type: What Writers Do (or "Why I'm Editing My Life")

20 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

E200: Chasing Dreams and Finding Truth: Interview with Tim Grahl

17 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What to Do When You Feel Like a Fake

12 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

E198: How to Sustain an Artistic Career for 25 Years: Interview with Mike Herrera

05 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

E197: How to Make Your Big Break with Caleb Rexius

30 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

20 Tips to Wow an Audience and Own the Stage

29 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Building a Business Around Your Personal Brand

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Most Conferences Are a Waste of Money… Unless You Do This

21 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

3 Lessons on Becoming a Professional Writer from Tribe Conference Speakers

21 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas