The Art of Transformation

Marc Scheff
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement

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.

  1. 3h ago

    Make. Bad. Art. | Alex Morris

    Alex Morris has sent more than 200 issues of his newsletter Strat Scraps, typos, doodled monsters and all, and about 90 percent of his strategy business now comes through it. In this episode the brand strategist behind work for Hinge and Vice explains why polish kills momentum, and why sharing half-formed thoughts early makes you a better thinking partner. Alex and Marc also talk about choosing conviction over chasing trends, the SaaS ad that promised a monster that does everything, cutting until it hurts, the one rule he holds for everything he publishes, why everyone has scraps worth keeping, and the power of being a regular somewhere. You'll learn: ✅ Why polish kills momentum, and when it's time to slow down ✅ How sharing half-formed thoughts makes you a better thinking partner ✅ Why conviction resonates more than chasing audience trends ✅ How a clear North Star protects a brand from feature bloat ✅ Why the best strategy is what you leave out ✅ The one rule Alex sets for everything he publishes ✅ How to collect your scraps and connect ideas that don't seem related 💬 "Polish kills momentum." Whether you're a creative who keeps polishing work no one sees or a business owner tempted to do everything for everyone, this conversation gives you permission to share sooner and focus harder. Follow the show for more conversations on creativity, strategy, and doing your best work. Hosted by Marc Scheff, gallery owner and transformational coach who works with accomplished people ready for their next chapter. He once spent three weeks in Prague with one goal, to become a regular somewhere, and by the end the bartenders at the Black Cat knew his name. marcscheff.com Find Alex: Newsletter: Strat Scraps (https://stratscraps.substack.com) Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Alex Morris 02:36 Strat Scraps and the Permission to Share 05:25 Why Polish Kills Momentum 07:55 Half-Formed Thoughts With Clients 10:03 Conviction Over Chasing Trends 13:36 The North Star and the Monster That Does Everything 15:46 Cut Until It Hurts 19:31 Walking Away From a Bad Tagline 22:39 His One Rule for Publishing 25:08 Everybody Has Scraps 28:55 The Power of Being a Regular 32:00 Where to Find Alex

    Make. Bad. Art. | Alex Morris

  2. Oct 13

    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

    Fear of Success: The Shrinking Alice Protocol | Shelly Waldman

  3. Oct 6

    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 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

    From Black Belt to Gym Owner: Building a Jiu-Jitsu Community | Cody Christensen

  4. Sep 29

    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

    Why Standardizing Your Business Sets You Free | Pia Silva

  5. Feb 23

    Stop rehearsing. Start Performing.

    Every step until now, in a very real way, was simply rehearsal for the next. Understanding this concept deeply will help you identify where you're holding back from the next. I want to help you start performing, personally. That's why if you sign up for our Creative Launch course by March 3, 2026, I will send you a link for a private coaching session. This is usually reserved for my 1-1 clients, and I'm offering as a limited time bonus to the first ten sign ups for our course. You can read more here: https://www.marcscheff.com/creative-launch-course/

    Stop rehearsing. Start Performing.

  6. 11/21/2025

    Creating When Your World is on Fire

    How do you create when you feel empty. In this episode Tamsin and Marc share some experiences, ones that you've probably had, and how they approached the task of moving through to even more Conscious Leadership and Creativity. You can follow Tamsin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamsin-astor/ And you can download Marc's free audio course here: https://mailchi.mp/marcscheff/inneradvisors

    Creating When Your World is on Fire

  7. 11/14/2025

    A Puzzle from the Past

    This episode is a little off brand, or maybe the start of a new one. I share a story prompted by a question from my team about why I create. The answer goes back 40 years. Find and solve your life and career puzzles Free audio course.DOWNLOAD NOW https://mailchi.mp/marcscheff/inneradvisors

  8. 09/18/2025

    Mini-Series: The Creative Habit 2.0, Part 4 of 4: adapting with authenticity

    Habits aren’t forever. But if you're a creative, entrepreneur, or leader, it can be hard to adapt. In this episode we talk about how to adapt when life shifts, and why community is essential for accountability. Tamsin shares her story of reshaping routines during a crisis, and we explore cycles of change and the power of shared purpose. Join us for the Creative Habit 2.0 live zoom workshop Sept 22-24 2025! https://www.marcscheff.com/thecreativehabitworkshop2.0

    Mini-Series: The Creative Habit 2.0, Part 4 of 4: adapting with authenticity
See All (45)

Ratings & Reviews

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Marc Scheff
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Marc Scheff
  • Show Website
    The Art of Transformation