On this episode’s menu:

• The algorithm has changed, and that’s good news for graphic recorders.

• What it really means to be passionate.

• The way Daniel defines his work and family roles.

• We’re living in a revolution. Recognizing this “moment” and making the best of it.

• What it means that “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.”

ABOUT THE GUEST

Daniel Priestley is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and business strategist known for helping entrepreneurs build valuable businesses and become recognized as industry leaders.

His work focuses on entrepreneurship, business growth, positioning, and the changing nature of work. He is the author of Key Person of Influence, Oversubscribed, and 24 Assets, and has built and advised businesses across multiple industries.

In this conversation, Daniel brings a historical perspective to the transformation happening today — drawing parallels between the Industrial Revolution and the transition into our increasingly digital economy.

LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIALS:

Alejo Porras

IG: http://instagram.com/alejoporrasart/

LI: http://linkedin.com/in/alejoporras/

STACK:

Fresh Ideas by Alejo Porras

A weekly newsletter for creative professionals. I share sketchnotes and one article/story filled with practical tips to start the week inspired and focused.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALEJO AND HIS BUSINESS:

Website:

http://www.alejoporrasart.com

In Part 2, the conversation opens with a simple but powerful idea: most people approach life and art through a binary lens — good or bad, right or wrong. But what if the real value comes from reflection instead of judgment?

Andy introduces a different way of engaging with creativity, storytelling, and even life itself — one that moves beyond criticism and into curiosity, meaning, and awareness.

This episode explores how storytelling shapes our perception of reality, why we need both play and discernment, and how meaning isn’t something we find — it’s something we actively create through the stories we choose to engage with.

On this episode’s menu:

• Why binary thinking kills creativity

• Reflecting vs criticizing (and why it changes everything)

• How to know when you’re in “editor mode” vs “play mode”

• Why storytelling is essential to making sense of life

• The balance between “sugar” (entertainment) and “medicine” (meaning)

• How stories shape your identity, decisions, and worldview

• Why you need to engage with stories, not just consume them

Books recommended in this episode:

• Whole Brain Living → https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Brain-Living-Anatomy-Characters/dp/1401961983

• The Master and His Emissary → https://www.amazon.com/Master-His-Emissary-Divided-Western/dp/0300188374

Pull the thread

Heroes quoted or referenced in this episode:

• James Baldwin →

Musings From A Broken Heart

I do not dream of labor

Dreams are a powerful thing…

Read more

2 years ago · 775 likes · 160 comments · Robert the contemplative

• Tim Ferriss → https://davestuartjr.com/what-would-this-look-like-if-it-were-simple/

• Jonathan Stark → https://www.theagentsofchange.com/jonathan-stark

• James Hillman → https://www.noomii.com/articles/134-the-acorn-theory

• Jim Henson → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Henson

• Cookie Monster → https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/monster-cereals-oral-history

• Miss Piggy →

• Jill Bolte Taylor → https://www.sloww.co/whole-brain-living/

• Niels Bohr → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complementarity_(physics)

• Joseph Campbell → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces

• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi → https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202

• Norman Rockwell → https://www.nrm.org/collections-2/art-norman-rockwell/

• Wes Anderson

• Led Zeppelin →

• Carl Jung

• Beowulf → https://faculty.gordonstate.edu/cperkowski/1501/Beowulf.pdf

• Frieza (Dragon Ball) →

LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIALS:

Alejo Porras

IG: http://instagram.com/alejoporrasart/

LI: http://linkedin.com/in/alejoporras/

Website: http://www.alejoporrasart.com

In the opening moments, Andy challenges a common belief among creatives — that success comes from pushing harder, doing more, and chasing the next level. Instead, he introduces a different approach: asking “what would this look like if it was fun?”

This conversation dives deep into creativity as both play and strategy, how to reconnect with your natural creative instincts, and why many creatives lose their joy as they grow. It’s a refreshing and honest look at what it really means to build a creative life that feels as good as it performs.

On this episode’s menu:

• Why “leveling up” can actually make your work worse

• The difference between exploratory and strategic creativity

• How to reconnect with your natural creative flow

• Why fun is not a distraction, but a creative advantage

• How storytelling helps you find meaning in your work

• Naming the invisible and making abstract ideas tangible

Books recommended in this episode:

• Whole Brain Living → https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Brain-Living-Anatomy-Characters/dp/1401961983

• The Master and His Emissary → https://www.amazon.com/Master-His-Emissary-Divided-Western/dp/0300188374

Pull the thread

Heroes quoted or referenced in this episode:

• James Baldwin → I do not dream of labor

• Tim Ferriss → https://davestuartjr.com/what-would-this-look-like-if-it-were-simple/

• Jonathan Stark → https://www.theagentsofchange.com/jonathan-stark

• James Hillman → https://www.noomii.com/articles/134-the-acorn-theory

• Jim Henson → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Henson

• Cookie Monster (origin example) → https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/monster-cereals-oral-history

• Miss Piggy → Watch this.

• Joe (Jill) Bolte Taylor → https://www.sloww.co/whole-brain-living/

• Niels Bohr → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complementarity_(physics)

• Joseph Campbell → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces

• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi → https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202

• Norman Rockwell → https://www.nrm.org/collections-2/art-norman-rockwell/

• Wes Anderson

• Led Zeppelin →“Immigrant Song”

• Carl Jung → Archetypes

• Beowulf → https://faculty.gordonstate.edu/cperkowski/1501/Beowulf.pdf

• Frieza (Dragon Ball) → Battle with Goku

LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIALS:

Alejo Porras

IG: http://instagram.com/alejoporrasart/

LI: http://linkedin.com/in/alejoporras/

Website: http://www.alejoporrasart.com

Andy J Pizza

Pre order his upcoming book → http://invisiblethings.co

Website → https://www.andyjpizza.com

podcast → https://www.creativepeptalk.com/episodes/

“Communication is not about speaking what we think.
Communication is about ensuring others hear what we mean.” — Simon Sinek

All I wanted was to avoid rush hour traffic.

4:30 pm. The event was over, I was quickly adding the final details to my visual notes before leaving. If I was swift, I wouldn’t have to sit in a line of cars on my way home.

But then I heard a female voice behind me saying:

“What you do is so incredible! Perhaps you could give me advice. I want to learn to draw. Where do I start?” - she had an undeniable hispanic accent.

I turned around and saw this 5 feet tall, brown skinned woman with a huge contagious smile in her face.

My visual notes still needed some work, but she looked so happy and curious.
I looked at my board, then at my watch, then at her friendly smile. I was surely hitting traffic after this.

I put the cap in my marker, and replied:

“Thank you, I’m glad you like my work. About your question… you know what they say: If you know your why, your how becomes easier.
So, What’s your why? Why do you want to learn to draw?”

She opened up to me about finding better ways to express herself, and find an outlet to relax and unwind.

We talked about mediums that she could try (Painting tends to work best for expression), and some practices she could start applying.

And then I asked for her name: “It’s Carmen, What’s your name?”

“I’m Alejo” I responded.

“Wait, habla español?”

Yes, our conversation up to this point had been in English. When hispanic people talk to me in English I always respond in English. I usually consider it as “If that’s the language they are using, that must be the one they prefer.”

And all this time she hadn’t realized I was hispanic (kudos to all my English teachers for my smooth accent. Guess I learned well 😅).

But the moment she knew she could speak to me in Spanish, the floodgates opened.

She talked about her country, about her kids learning Spanish, about traveling, food… she said at one point:

“¡Que rico poder habla en mi idioma! Si ves desde el momento que supe que hablabas español hasta me emocioné y empecé a hablar más rápido.”

(So nice to be able to speak in my language! Noticed how, from the moment that I knew you spoke Spanish, I got so excited that I started speaking faster”)

It hadn’t hit me before. By accident, I was being a jerk. I thought that was the language she wanted to use, but I really was only thinking: Why shift to the language the other person is comfortable with, if I’m good with this one?

I felt embarrassed to realize how selfish I was at that moment.

Unfortunately, this is a pattern I notice often in the world of experts.

Expert’s curse

As an expert, you are passionate about what you know.

Anywhere from hardcore marvel fans, sneaker heads, and otakus, to structural engineers, marketing gurus, and health care providers. They all, at some point, default to their own jargon.

And I get it. Being fluent in your ideas makes you excited to share. But if only think about expression you are missing a crucial part: your listeners.

What about them? Are they able to connect with your ideas? Are they actually understanding you and able to communicate back what you teach?

This is not just about jargon or business terms, it’s also about the mediums you use.

• You are conformable with spread sheets, but you forget some people aren’t quick with numbers.

• You are comfortable with being matter-of-fact and data driven, but you forget people connect with stories.

• Your presentations are filled with text because you consider that information important, but you avoid visuals even though people understand them faster.

Instead of thinking only about your content, I invite you to consider your audience and the formats, channels, and mediums that allow them to engage more with your ideas.

Carmen lighted up when she knew she could speak Spanish with me. In the same way, audiences light up when they see clear visuals that tell stories.

You too can make people feel relieved, excited, and motivated to engage with you. It just requires a bit of intentionality and empathy.

Fresh Idea

Think beyond expression and into communication.

Shift jargon for visuals
Explain data with stories.

Those are the languages your audience speaks. And when you speak that way, they’ll light up.

Need a hand to share your ideas and content through visual stories?

Let's connect

If you are a visual practitioner and want to learn from me, here are some opportunities for you:

Upcoming workshops:

1. Unlimited Belief (March 12 - sold out)

2. Unlimited Belief (March 17th - registration open) -Online

3. Confident sales for Creative Pros: How to attract awesome clients without feeling gross (April 10 • At Creative South • Columbus, GA)

4. Pro Tactics for sketchnoters (April 28-29 • Köln (Cologne), Germany) (4 seats left) - If you sign up before March 6th, you’ll receive complimentary access to the Unlimited Belief workshop.

Conferences I’ll be speaking at:

Creative South 26 (April 9-11 • Columbus, GA)

Want more info? check out this document every month so you can stay on the loop

It all came down to pricing.

But, when we reached that point in our conversation I made two mistakes:

1. I said one price

“It would be probably around $5K. Would that work for you?”

Well, I didn’t give them much of an option, did I?
Either work with me for $5K or not.

Those aren’t great options.😅

Humans understand things in context, we need a reference to compare. How would they know if the $5K is a good option if they can’t compare it?

This is something I teach now with fervor in my ProTactics workshops: ALWAYS give a price range.

If I had said “It could be anywhere from $7k to $5K” their mind wouldn’t had been thinking if they should work with me or not. It would’ve been a matter of which option ($7K or $5K) was a better fit.

After I said the one price my prospect stopped and considered. The longest 30 seconds of silence in my life.

Then they said “yeah, that works. But I was wondering, what could you do for $10K or $14K?”

My face → 😱

Then came my second mistake.

2. I didn’t have a big offer prepared

I stuttered. I’ve been so focused in “not messing it up” that I forgot to think expansively. I started pitching ideas instead of asking questions (that’d be mistake 3, if you will) and sort of brainstorming with them on the call.

In the end, I sent a proposal with three options (learned lesson number one), and then waited.

They ended up hiring me for option number 2, which was in the range we had discussed on the call. Phew! I didn’t completely mess it up 😅

But I learned two things from this interaction:

1. Work first on your limiting beliefs.

   I hadn’t created a big offer because I have been doing a fairly consistent kind of work in the past 7 years. The formats are the same, the packages are the same, the tools are the same, the deliverables are the same same.
   
   This client reminded me of the role of an artist→ to defy conventions.
   
   But in order to do that, I had to confront my imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs first. That’s why I’m so excited about my upcoming Unlimited Belief online workshop (which, btw, got so much demand I had to open a second group!). Without a mindset shift I wouldn’t be able to work with the clients I work with right now, getting paid as much as I do, doing freaking fun work.
   
   With the way the market is right now, graphic recorders and creative professionals who settle on doing the same thing over and over again, will become a commodity. Commodities compete on price. Yikes.
   
   Your work must create newness and wonder. And to do that, you need the healthy mindset. A mindset of opportunity and abundance. A mindset of Unlimited Belief.
   

2. Have crazy options ready

   Since that conversation with the prospect (now client) I give 3 options: a crazy one (usually above their budget), a great one (in their budget) and a basic one (a bit more affordable than the great one, but with less benefits).
   
   What’s in the crazy one?
   
   Things I’ve been wanting to try that I believe could create a major impact in the client’s event. It’s the opportunity to create something truly spectacular and unique.
   
   Creative are meant to create new things. When you incorporate that into an offer, you can get handsomely paid to try new fun and crazy things.
   
   Isn’t that the dream?

Fresh Idea: If you want to get paid more, you can’t do the same as everyone else. You have creativity in your veins, use it to create offers that make people truly excited about working with you.

If you want to learn more about how to combat imposter syndrome, and create offers that attract your ideal clients, here are some opportunities for you:

Upcoming workshops:

1. Unlimited Belief (March 12 (sold out) | March 17th - ✌🏼registration open) -Online

2. Confident sales for Creative Pros: How to attract awesome clients without feeling gross (April 10 • At Creative South • Columbus, GA)

3. Pro Tactics for sketchnoters (April 28-29 • Köln (Cologne), Germany) (4 seats left) - If you sign up before March 6th, you’ll receive complimentary access to the Unlimited Belief workshop.

Conferences I’ll be speaking at:

Creative South 26 (April 9-11 • Columbus, GA)

Want more info? check out this document every month so you can stay on the loop

If you missed my session at the Level Up summit, don’t stress - the replay’s still available (but only for a couple more days).​

In my talk, “The Habit that Ends Imposter Syndrome”, I shared a simple but powerful way to prevent imposter syndrome from robbing you of opportunities - all designed to help you stop procrastinating and start showing up.

The replay’s free to watch until Sunday night, so grab your headphones and a snack and watch it here 👉🏻 www.alejoporrasart.com/levelup

And if you want more than just the talk... the Boss Bundle is your all-access pass to every talk, bonus, and VIP session replay… and over $2,500 USD worth of templates, tools, and trainings for creative professionals!

If that’s your jam, Grab the Boss Bundle before it’s gone for good.

Pura vida!

-Alejo

P.S. Things people have said about my talk:

Made up your mind? Go check the replay

In Part 2, the discussion zooms in on why vanity metrics are misleading, how creators can build profitable businesses without relying on massive audiences, and what actually drives high-quality leads. Rob shares real-world examples from his own experience, explains why DM volume matters more than likes, and breaks down how funnels, positioning, and belief-driven messaging outperform algorithm chasing every time.

This episode is essential for creatives who feel stuck chasing reach, posting nonstop, or measuring success by numbers that don’t pay the bills.

On this episode’s menu:

• Why follower count is the most misleading business metric

• How to attract buyers without going viral

• The difference between attention and trust

• Using funnels to guide leads instead of chasing the algorithm

• What high-quality DMs actually signal

• How to scale past six figures without burning out

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Rob O’Rourke is a sales strategist and the founder of ProfitableSkills.com, where he teaches creatives and solo-entrepreneurs how to build sales systems, close high-ticket projects, and scale their income without relying on massive audiences or constant content creation.

Known for his precision-based thinking and ability to simplify complex sales psychology, Rob has helped creators and businesses build funnels, improve conversions, and launch programs generating six-figure and multi-six-figure results.

Before the online world, Rob worked everywhere from construction engineering to Canadian oil rigs to web design in Colombia — learning firsthand how to adapt, sell, and rebuild from scratch. Today, he blends practical strategy with lived experience to help creatives build businesses that run on clarity rather than chaos.

Find Rob at:

Instagram • Website • LinkedIn

LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIALS:

Instagram • LinkedIn • Substack • Website • YouTube

Side note: When you’re ready, here are someopportunities for you to learn and connect with me this year 2026.

Conferences I’ll be speaking at:

Designer Boss Summit (February 10-13 • Free • Online)
Creative South 26 (April 9-11 • Columbus, GA) I’m speaking AND doing a workshop.

Workshops I’m hosting:

Unlimited Belief (March 12 • Online )
Pro Tactics for sketchnoters (April 28-29 • Köln (Cologne), Germany) (Limited seats)

Want more info? check out this document every month so you can stay on the loop

From the very beginning, this episode reframes the problem. The issue isn’t talent. It’s the lack of complementary business skills like positioning, pre-educating clients, and building systems that guide people toward a confident “yes.”

In this first part, Rob breaks down how scalable systems, sales funnels, and better client communication can dramatically change how creatives are perceived, paid, and trusted. This episode is essential listening for creatives who want consistency, clarity, and leverage without burning out on content or cold outreach.

On this episode’s menu:

• Why most creatives get stuck despite being highly skilled

• The business skills creatives avoid (and why they matter)

• How to pre-educate clients before a sales call

• What actually changes perceived value

• Using funnels instead of relying only on social media

• When it makes sense to hire a sales agent

LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIALS:

Alejo Porras

Instagram: http://instagram.com/alejoporrasart/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/alejoporras/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alejoporras-visualnotes

Website: http://www.alejoporrasart.com

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Rob O’Rourke is a sales strategist and the founder of ProfitableSkills.com, where he teaches creatives and solo-entrepreneurs how to build sales systems, close high-ticket projects, and scale their income without relying on massive audiences or constant content creation.

Known for his precision-based thinking and ability to simplify complex sales psychology, Rob has helped creators and businesses build funnels, improve conversions, and launch programs generating six-figure and multi-six-figure results.

Before the online world, Rob worked everywhere from construction engineering to Canadian oil rigs to web design in Colombia — learning firsthand how to adapt, sell, and rebuild from scratch. Today, he blends practical strategy with lived experience to help creatives build businesses that run on clarity rather than chaos.

Find Rob at:

Website: https://profitableskills.com

Side note: I have a lot of opportunities for you to learn and connect with me this year 2026.

Conferences I’ll be speaking at:

Designer Boss Summit (February 10-13 • Free • Online)
Creative South 26 (April 9-11 • Columbus, GA)

Workshops I’m hosting:

Unlimited Belief (March 12 • Online )
Pro Tactics for sketchnoters (April 28-29 • Köln (Cologne), Germany) (Limited seats)

Want more info? check out this document every month so you can stay on the loop

In the opening moments of the conversation, Alejo introduces Esteban as a creative who brings intention, wit, and depth into serious topics. Together, they discuss why humor sharpens perception, how quick-witted creativity is developed over time, and what it means to live with awareness of the unseen and unheard.

This episode blends philosophy, comedy, creativity, and purpose, offering a refreshing perspective for artists who want to think deeply, feel fully, and create work that actually matters.

On this episode’s menu:

• Why comedy and humor are essential for creatives

• Developing quick-witted creativity through practice and awareness

• Seeing the unseen and saying what others avoid

• Living with intention and purpose, even when it’s hard

• “Catching the ghost” and aligning creativity with meaning

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Esteban Gast is a comedian, writer, and host whose work has been described as “irreverent but aspirational” by Variety, with the LA Times calling him “the vanguard of the climate comedy movement.”

Colombian by heritage, raised in Puerto Rico and Illinois, and currently based in Los Angeles, Esteban blends humor, storytelling, and social impact. He previously taught creativity and design thinking at the University of Illinois and ran an off-the-grid eco-community in Panama before fully committing to comedy.

Esteban is the host of Spotify Original “Identity at Play”, “Comedians Conquering Climate Change,” and creator of “Heated Conversations,” a digital interview and sketch series secretly about climate and not-so-secretly produced by Adam McKay’s Yellow Dot Studios.

He has written for screen and stage, performs internationally as a stand-up comedian, and currently serves as Comedian in Residence at Generation180, where he co-founded Climate Comedy Cohort and Climate Cultura. His work has earned recognition as a Grist50 Fixer and as one of the Top 100 Latinos in the world taking action on climate change.

LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIALS:

Esteban Gast

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Alejo Porras

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

Substack

Website

Side note: I have a lot of opportunities for you to learn and connect with me this year 2026.

Conferences I’ll be speaking at:

Designer Boss Summit (February • Free • Online)
Creative South 26 (April • Columbus, GA)

Workshops I’m hosting:

Unlimited Belief (March • Online )
Pro Tactics for sketchnoters (April • Köln (Cologne), Germany) (Only 8 seats left)

Want more info? check out this document every month so you can stay on the loop

I was beaming. Out of breath, but beaming. I love being part of groups who organize cool stuff. I’ve done that for ten years in Costa Rica before I moved to the US.

I had experience. I had the drive. I really wanted to help.

But then it came the time for all of us to share which position we were applying for, and what made us good candidates.

I noticed everyone around me had dressed up a bit. At least, they were not sweating. And this particular guy in front of me on the other side of the room, he looked like a boss.

Did he smell good? I was too far to notice, but I bet he did.
You could see his muscles through his suite jacket.
He had flashcards. He had prepared a speech!

When it was his turn, he stood up and addressed the audience like he was the president. And surely, he was applying to be the president of the club.

When he finished listing his credentials, people clapped. He smiled as he sat down and looked at me like saying “beat that.”

I was applying for president too.
And I didn’t beat that.

But not because I wasn’t qualified. I made two mistakes that day that I didn’t forget. And turned out, I got a second chance to prove myself. More on that later.

These two mistakes are things you might be doing when you get on a sales call, when you show up on social media, or when you talk to other strangers about the services you provide as a creative professional.

Mistake 1: Diminishing your experience.

When I heard other’s CVs I felt like my accomplishments were not that big of a deal. The comparison trap is hyped with feelings, but it’s not reality. And because I briefly believed my accomplishments were not so relevant, I lacked conviction when I shared them.

Want to kill your credibility in a second? Speak without conviction.

Mistake 2: Not preparing

I’ve learned this before, but apparently not well enough. “Those who care, prepare.” I cared about this position, but I realized I didn’t care enough. Other people had taken the time to be presentable, rehearsed the words they’d say, and organize their ideas so they would be effective and compelling.

I just winged it. And I lost. But I learned the lesson.

How to fix those mistakes.

Mind you, there is not one single way to beat impostor syndrome. This is actually good news. You can do many things and all will help in some way.

In this scenario, the most important thing I should’ve done is to prepare.

When you are in high stakes situations, or moments where your time is limited and words really matter, planning what you’ll say and rehearsing it is critical.

I know it sounds boring. Like it’ll suck the life out of your words.
But the opposite is true. If that has been your case, you haven’t rehearsed enough.

Phil Jones says that “The worst moment to think about what you are saying is when you are saying it,” you really don’t want to let your emotions, and all the ideas you could say fight for your attention while you are trying to read the room and deliver a speech.

You prepare your words. Know them by heart. Then you can be present.

Application for you: Do you have a response ready for when people ask you “so, what do you do?”

If you don’t, then write that down today and start practicing the same response.

Here’s a format that has helped me:

“So, you know how people (problem they have), I’m a (my description). I help (target audience) achieve (ideal outcome)”

Try it out!

Prologue

The guy who had applied for president, ended up as vicepresident. The woman who came up with the idea proclaimed herself president. I was made Exhibitions Officer. I organized opportunities for graduates to share their work to the public.

Three months went in, the vice-president quit, the president graduated, and the rest of the team asked me to step in as President.

I didn’t even had to pitch for it!

What made that happen? Something I call the Four Levels of Value, which is part of my talk “Level Up your mindset: The habit that ends imposter syndrome and fuels your creative power.”

You can listen to this talk in February 11th for FREE, as part of the Designer Boss Summit.

It’s an online conference for professional designers and creatives worldwide who want to learn how to do better in business.

It’s free, but if you decide to upgrade you’ll get tons of valuable resources from every speaker, VIP and lifetime replays. And you’ll help me because I may make a small commission, which helps me to keep creating content that’s valuable to you.

If that’s your jam, click the button below. (Did I say it’s free?)

Get your FREE ticket

Side note: I have a lot of opportunities for you to learn and connect with me this year.

Conferences I’ll be speaking at:

Designer Boss Summit (February • Free • Online)
Creative South 26 (April • Columbus, GA)

Workshops I’m hosting:

Unlimited Belief (March • Online )
Pro Tactics for sketchnoters (April • Köln (Cologne), Germany) (Only 8 seats left)

Want more info? check out this document every month so you can stay on the loop.

Last week I was going to give a tutorial as part of my workshop during World Sketchnote Week.

As I prepared the content and tried to condense it to a 35 minute session, I realized there was more to it that could help people like you, visual thinkers.

So I made a commitment, in public, that I would turn this into a book.
Not only that, I would send updates every Friday about my progress.

Three days into it I’ve realized the enormity of this commitment. 😮‍💨

But that’s how I roll.😅 I make big promises to myself and then rise to the occasion.
How else would you grow if don’t aim high?

Anyway, these updates are for people who paid a VIP package for WSW, should I open it for others to see? Maybe here on Substack?

Maybe I should say what this book is about, first:

This is NOT a book about how to draw.

It’s a book about understanding how human perception works, so we can draw in a way that communicates clearly and deeply.

Why write a book on perception and drawing if AI is all around?

Because even if you use AI, if you don’t understand human perception, you’ll create crap and nonsense.

And secondly, you need internet connection to use AI.
But drawing is infinitely faster and more convenient, when you want to quickly communicate an idea to someone else.

It doesn’t lag.
It has no wifi issues.
I offers the relief of existing outside a screen.

And you don’t have to be Michael Angelo to leverage this powerful tool.

So, anyway, my question to you:

Would you be interested in seeing how I create a book about visual thinking from scratch? Cast your vote below.

Regardless of what you vote, thanks for reading!

Pura vida!

Side note: I have a lot of opportunities for you to learn and connect with me this year.

Conferences I’ll be speaking at:

Designer Boss Summit (February • Free • Online)
Creative South 26 (April • Columbus, GA)

Workshops I’m hosting:

Unlimited Belief (March • Online )
Pro Tactics for sketchnoters (April • Köln (Cologne), Germany) (Only 8 seats left)

Want more info? check out this document every month so you can stay on the loop.

I’ll be teaching a few tips tome dynamic drawings, and we’ll practice a lot!

It’s free to attend. Online. 1pm ET. TODAY.

Register here for free.

Pura vida!

For those who like to go all in, there’s a VIP package. You’ll get swag, prizes, recordings, and additional content from all the speakers. You can get it here.

Disclaimer: The link above is an affiliate. The event is free, but if you end up buying their VIP package for the goodies, I’ll get a little something from it. FYI.

The words we use paint the picture we see of the world. 🎨
This is an exploration of words and their meaning.

I’ll keep it short, sweet, and insightful as possible.
Bon appétit!

Complicated vs complex.

As a creative professional you have a relationship with our creativity. And sometimes that relationship feels… complicated.

Newsflash, relationships are not complicated. But they are special.

How you think about our creativity shapes how you experience it, so let’s first get clear with definitions:

Complicated: A car engine

A complicated relationship has many parts that connect predictably.
When there’s problems, you can find a specific part or connection, fix it, and solve the issue.

The oil is depleted = do an oil change.
The spark plugs are malfunctioning = clean or replace
The tire has a nail through it = change the tire

Complex: Relationships, creativity

A complex relationship contains many parts or areas, but it’s also unpredictable and difficult to control.

If you are feeling “uncreative” you can’t blame it on one thing. It’s a combination of factors that keeps changing.

And you can’t 100% control it. The same way you can never control how your kids or partner will react to your actions and words.

Heck! You can’t always control how YOU react to things!

Every time, we respond different because we are alive. We learn and adapt (even unconsciously).

That’s why relationships, business, and creativity are things you NEVER stop learning about. They are always evolving.

What you can do.

The bad news, your creativity is not machine. 🤷🏻‍♂️
You can’t “fix it” if it isn’t working as you expect.
The same way you can’t fix somebody else you have a relationship with.

The good news, your creativity is not a machine. 🎉
It learns and adapts in ways that are not evident or predictable.
It can’t be understood, but it can be embraced.

It’s the difference between understanding what the ocean is and swimming in it.
Proximity makes a difference.

So, instead of trying to fix your creativity, my invitation is for you to be open to explore it.

One thing you can try is to provoke it. Creativity’s nature is to react. Unpredictably, but reacting nonetheless.

Give your creativity many things to react to.

Think about a it like a little weird creature sleeping. If you want it to wake up, don’t just look at it.

Sing to it. Yell at it. Throw things at it. Poke it.

Be obnoxious with “what if’s.”

You don’t know for certain what it will do. But it will do something.

I know this lacks certainty. But creativity is not a vending machine. Sometimes you put candy inside and it throws out toys or clothes.

Still, keep promoting it. Then, be ready to let it surprise you, and embrace it when it responds to you.

Pura vida,

-Alejo.

ps. I didn’t come up with this idea myself. Shoutout to Blair Enns and David Baker for sharing their perspectives in this podcast episode.

ps. If you want an excuse to poke your creativity, there’s still chance to join the World Sketchnote Week party. Workshops and talks about sketchnotes, for free this whole week. I’m doing a doodle jam on Thursday. More info here.

There’s a well known philosophy around creating habits: If you make it easier to do, it’s more likely to stick.

It is true. I knew this. And that’s why years ago I committed to writing an article for Fresh Ideas every week.

Why every week?

Every day: felt like too much.
Monthly: felt like not enough frequency.
Weekly: Sounded easier and doable.

In reality, it was really hard.

Every week I sat to write it didn’t get easier. I didn’t make a habit, I just made it a weekly struggle.

Where I was wrong, and you may be too

First mistake: I thought weekly would be easier and easier will make it more likely to stick. I wanted to create a habit, but I put too much space between my actions.

If you want to get better at something, but you only do it once a week, your progress will be slow and you will face more resistance.

Take karate classes once a week, and each week you’ll get your butt kicked.
Take karate classes every day, and your body will adapt and grow faster.

With less time between your actions, you don’t have enough time to reset to your status quo. You are forced to adapt the new habit as the norm.

The second mistake: I thought the product was separate from the practice.

This is a fundamental mistake most people, me included, make. Sure, I had committed to send a weekly article, but I showed up to write once a week when I should’ve make it a habit to write every day.

Other examples for you:

Social Media

How many times have you committed to “show up consistently”?
Most people define consistency as “posting the same amount of times per week.
If you post once per week, you are consistent.

But the point is not to send posts, but to get better at doing them so they can be more effective, more engaging, more useful and fun.

I’m not saying you should post every day. That’s the product.
What I’m saying is that, if you want to get better, writing captions, filming yourself, and drawing ideas for content daily works best. That’s the practice.

Artwork

The product: a finalized-portfolio piece artwork.
The practice: drawing every day.

Sales

The product: amount of sales per month.
The practice: practicing sales techniques and questions in everyday conversations.

You get the point.

Conclusion #1

With habits:

Hourly is easier than daily.
Daily is easier than weekly.
Weekly is easier than monthly.
Monthly is easier than yearly.

The whole point of a habit is momentum.

If you want to get better at anything: drawing, sales, writing, singing, cooking, whatever… Do it as often as possible.

Conclusion #2

When creating a habit, focus on the practice not in the product.

Do more, even if it’s just exploring or testing.

Fresh tip: Doing less is harder than doing more often.

Am I going to send an article every day now? Not sure.
Am I going to write my ideas daily? You bet.

Stay tuned for that.

And we’ll draw them together!

About the event in general:

🗓️ When: January 12–16, 2026
💻 Where: Online (global + free!)
🎉 What: A 5-day celebration of visual learning, creativity, and education

About my session:

🗓️ When: Jan 15th, 01:00 PM - 01:30 PM ET.
💻 Where: Online
✏️ What: A doodle jam with pro drawing tips.

What to expect:

✅ 25+ Live sessions and workshops

✅Prize giveaways valuing over $2500

✅A fun time with peers from all over the world!

👉 Register for FREE here: https://sketchnote.school/wsw26

For those more ambitious, you can ALSO get:

Access to all sessions recordingss for 3 months

⭐ 2 Entries for prizes

⭐ Speaker resources and bonus content

⭐ Discount on swag & products

⭐ VIP offer FULL of resources valued at over $5000

When you sign up for the Super Star package (only $37). If that’s more your jam, you can get it here.

Whether you’re a teacher, creative, parent, or lifelong learner, you’ll walk away with tools to think more visually and learn more effectively.

Hope to see you there.

Pura vida!

Alejo walks through his own story of growing up without clear role models, feeling like he didn’t belong, and constantly measuring himself against others. He explores how this inward focus fueled insecurity and stalled momentum in both life and business — until a shift in perspective changed everything.

This episode reframes “not feeling qualified” as a signal, not a stopping point. Instead of waiting to feel ready, Alejo invites creatives to look outward, identify real needs, and step into service. It’s a reminder that purpose, confidence, and traction are built through action — not perfection.

On this episode’s menu:

• Why imposter syndrome is so common among creatives

• How inward comparison creates the illusion of “not being enough”

• The power of shifting focus from self to service

• Why caring about a problem matters more than being qualified

• How action creates confidence, not the other way around

• Why becoming matters more than being “ready”

World Sketchnote Week Celebration

Five days of workshops and talks with the likes of Heather Martinez, Dan Roam, Mike Rohde, and your truly. It’s all free to attend!! 😱 Get your ticket here.

Also, you can get $5000 worth of bonus resources, and access to all the recordings, with the Super Star Pack. For just $37 (what!). Click here to get yours.

My session is On January 15th. See you there!

Your drawing skills are good enough to get paid for it.

So, why aren’t prospects saying YES to you?

Is it the economy?
Is it the algorithm?
Is it the threat of AI?

Let me ask you this: if any of those three things was responsible for your business being stuck, then... are you saying you are giving up?

If the answer is “Heck no, I won’t give up! I care too much about this!” then I have something for you.

I’ve wrestled with this for years, and every day I’m learning new things.

One thing I learned this year is that the average graphic recorder/visual note taker in the US and Europe charges roughly €1500 / $1700 for a one day event.

But my average clients pay me between $5000 and $12000… for a day.

I’m not saying this to brag. The first time I charged for visual notes I got paid $200. 😂

I’m saying this because I know what it’s like:

• to feel annoyed for people devaluing your work

• to hear people saying you are too pricey

• to have people asking you to do it for free

• to feel scared about raising your rates because “if they say NO now, nobody will say YES if I raise my price.”

If you’re a bit like me, you don’t want to give away your agency to the market, AI, or the algorithm.

You want to do everything in your power to grow your business.

If that’s you, keep reading.

I’m doing an online workshop where I’ll share with you three things you can do to get more confident at sales:

1. Asking better questions

2. Packaging services

3. Leading the next steps

This is a one hour live workshop and it won’t be recorded.

It’s this Wednesday December 17th, at 1pm ET

It’s valued at $98. However, if you join today, use the code ENOUGH and you can attend for only $25. Take it as my Christmas gift to you.

Also, if you attend and you don’t find anything valuable, I’ll give you your money back, no questions asked. I don’t want your money if I don’t help you. But if you know me, you' know I always overdeliver.

You are talented enough. What you need is to get better at sales.

Let’s fix that.

Reserve your spot here

And if you are a skilled human, don’t despair in the advent of AI. Focus on the value only you can bring.

Carly shares how getting laid off during the pandemic became the catalyst for creating her own agency, and the lessons she learned about marketing, client experience, and self-belief along the way. From freelancing out of necessity to leading a global team, Carly’s story is a masterclass in resilience, clarity, and creative leadership.

This conversation is packed with insights for creatives and solopreneurs who want to grow their business with structure, strategy, and heart especially when things don’t go according to plan.

Carly Kerndt is the Founder and CEO of FlyDog Digital, a full-service marketing agency known for bringing fresh energy and strategic clarity to growing brands.

What began as a temporary freelance pivot after getting laid off from her full-time job during the COVID-19 pandemic quickly transformed into a thriving agency supporting businesses around the world.

At FlyDog Digital, Carly leads a team of experts in branding, website design, social media, SEO, email marketing, and paid advertising. Together, they deliver more than just marketing — they offer fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and a collaborative spirit that helps clients cut through the noise and move with confidence.

Carly is passionate about helping business owners gain focus, build momentum, and create marketing systems that feel as good as they perform. With a mix of creative spark and data-driven strategy, she’s built a business that’s as approachable as it is effective.

On this episode’s menu:

• What to do when no one hires you

• How to market yourself when starting from scratch

• The difference between a provider and a partner

• Building a client experience that creates loyalty and referrals

• How to turn rejection into creative fuel

LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIALS:

Alejo Porras

IG: instagram.com/alejoporrasart/

LI: linkedin.com/in/alejoporras/

STACK: alejoporrasart.substack.com

Website: alejoporrasart.com

Carly Kerndt and FlyDog

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by.carlybridget/

FlyDog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flydogdigital/

Website: www.flydogdigital.com

We also sell some website templates here: www.flydogdesigns.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlykerndt/

FlyDog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flydogdigital

They want people to pay them better and respect their work, but they are afraid to ask for more money and set boundaries.

They refrain from changing because they are afraid the consequences will be worse than their current reality.

But you don’t have to make abrupt changes most of the time. In this episode, Alejo shares how to overcome fear by making two small adjustments he’s implemented in his own life and business when he’s faced challenges.

On this episode’s menu:

• Recap of 3 ways to conquer fear

• Thinking of “change” as “adjustments”

• How allergic and fear are similar

• The most underrated way to be more courageous

LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIALS:

Alejo Porras

IG: instagram.com/alejoporrasart/

LI: linkedin.com/in/alejoporras/

Stack: alejoporrasart.substack.com

Website: alejoporrasart.com