The Accidental Creative with Todd Henry Todd Henry

In this episode of The Accidental Creative, we sit down with Amos Heller, the touring bass player for Taylor Swift, to discuss his craft, gamifying growth, and the importance of living in the moment.
Amos shares how his exposure to different genres and the enthusiasm of others has influenced his interests and knowledge. We dive into his journey as a musician and his experiences working with Taylor Swift, exploring the balance between staying true to his strengths while collaborating in a professional context to help the team accomplish its goals.
Amos also reveals his practice routine and the physical and mental demands of being a touring musician, and how he copes with them. Join us as we gain insights from Amos's experience and learn valuable lessons about creativity, preparation, and the power of being yourself.
Listen to our past interview with Amos here.
Follow Amos' YouTube channel.
Key Learnings from the Episode:
1. Surrounding yourself with passionate people and exposing yourself to different genres can greatly influence your interests and knowledge.
2. The act of listening is crucial for growth as a musician and artist.
3. Being true to your own artistic vision may make it harder to work with others in a professional context, but you must seek opportunities to find work that aligns with your aesthetics and ideas.
4. Preparation is essential for bringing your best to a professional and collaborative setting. Don't wing it.
5. Balancing staying true to yourself and submitting to the mission of the team is key to success in a creative career.
Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.
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In today's episode, we will be exploring three career investments that every creative professional should be making. Todd brings a unique perspective on the topic, emphasizing the importance of making small investments now that can lead to significant dividends in the future.
The first investment he discusses is the flexibility of focus and engagement. He encourages listeners to take a broader view of their career and seek out roles that offer increasing levels of flexibility as they grow professionally. This flexibility allows them to navigate their way into work that is personally meaningful and uniquely contributive.
The second investment Todd highlights is diversity of income. He cautions against becoming overly dependent on a single source of income, especially for freelance creatives. He urges listeners to start diversifying their portfolio of income streams to protect themselves from potential disruptions in the future.
Lastly, Todd explores the connection between financial freedom and the ability to do meaningful work. He emphasizes the importance of keeping expenses low and avoiding debt, as it gives individuals the freedom to pursue work that truly matters to them.
So, whether you're just starting your career or already well-established in your field, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice to help you make these three career investments. Tune in now and take the first steps towards building a resilient and successful creative career.
Five Key Learnings From The Episode:
1. Investing in flexibility of focus and engagement is crucial for building a resilient and successful career in the creative professions. This means seeking roles that offer increasing levels of freedom and focus as you gain mastery.
2. Building a diverse portfolio of income streams is essential, especially for freelance creatives. Relying solely on one source of income can be risky, as it can disappear unexpectedly. Side hustles and non-competitive projects can serve as a hedge against future income disruption.
3. It's important to view your career as an investment portfolio that requires long-term thinking. Just like you forgo immediate spending to save and invest for future gains, you may need to do work now that you don't love in order to create opportunities for more fulfilling work later on.
4. Financial freedom is closely tied to the ability to do meaningful work. Avoid increasing your spending in proportion to your income growth, as it can lead to trade-offs and compromise your ability to pursue work that truly matters to you.
5. When seeking career advice, be cautious of seeking validation for decisions you've already made. Advice should be context-specific, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's best to consider your individual path and make informed decisions based on your own circumstances.
Timestamped Overview:
[00:00:25] Three career investments for creative professionals.
[00:05:49] Diversify income streams; start a side hustle.
[00:09:09] Build equity, not just earning income.
[00:11:30] Income, location, equity - keys to flexibility.
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Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative.


Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first...

In this episode, Todd Henry interviews Liz Elting, the co-founder of billion dollar translation solutions company TransPerfect, about her new book Dream Big and Win and her entrepreneurial journey.
Liz shares her experience of leaving her job at a finance company and starting TransPerfect, a language solutions company, in an NYU dorm room. She discusses the concept of perfecting existing ideas rather than inventing something entirely new, highlighting the importance of identifying gaps in the industry and providing better solutions.
They also discuss the importance of taking calculated risks and reinvesting in the business to achieve long-term goals, and Liz's decision to stay with TransPerfect until it became the world's largest language solutions company.
Key Takeaways:
1. Dreams alone are not enough for success. Taking action and employing verbs is essential.
2. Perfecting existing ideas can be just as successful as inventing something entirely new.
3. Taking calculated risks, especially in the early stages of entrepreneurship, can lead to long-term success.
5. Minimizing financial commitments and being willing to throw yourself into your business.
If you want to receive weekly inspiration and practical tips from Todd Henry, subscribe to the newsletter 3 Things at toddhenry.com/subscribe.
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Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative.


Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first order.

In this episode, I'm diving into a game-changing technique that's been a total game-changer for me—time chunking. You know, it's one of those simple concepts that can make a world of difference when it comes to getting stuff done and unleashing your creativity.
We all know the struggle, right? You sit down to work, and before you know it, your day's hijacked by emails, calls, and endless meetings. It's a tough challenge to overcome, but here's the thing: dedicating specific time slots to your important creative work can change the game.
In this episode, I break it down step by step. Time chunking is all about setting aside dedicated periods (usually an hour or two) for your high-impact, not-so-urgent tasks. It's like creating a fortress around your precious work time, making sure you're focused and productive.
I'll show you how to pick the right project for time chunking, find those sweet spots in your calendar, and protect your work periods like you would with any important meeting. But don't worry; I'm not advocating for a rigid schedule. Flexibility is key, and I'll share tips on how to strike that balance.
By the end of this episode, you'll have a practical game plan to reclaim your time and boost your productivity. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative pro, or just someone looking to crush their to-do list, this episode will equip you with the tools you need to make a real difference in your work.
So if you're tired of feeling overwhelmed and want to tap into your creative potential, join me as we explore the power of time chunking. It's time to break free from distractions and make meaningful progress on what truly matters.
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Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative.


Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first order.

Today we have an absolute treat for you. We are revisiting a conversation from a few years ago with a legend in the world of music, a man who has continued to define, then re-define the art of DJing—none other than DJ Z-Trip.
Z-Trip is considered one of the founding fathers of the mash-up movement, seamlessly blending genres from rock to hip-hop, jazz to electronica. His ability to read the room and adapt in real-time is almost supernatural, and it's a skill that not only puts him in high demand but has also earned him awards and accolades.
But what's fascinating is that Z-Trip is not just a master of mixing tracks; he's a master of mixing ideas, cultures, and even business models. In today's conversation, we're going to dive deep into the creative process that allows Z-Trip to stay consistently ahead of the curve. We'll explore how he manages the tension between art and commerce, and how he found his unique voice.
So whether you're a musician, a designer, an entrepreneur, or just someone looking to tap into your own creative potential, today's episode is a masterclass in navigating the complexities of modern creativity.
Oh, and one more thing - Z-Trip actually took this conversation and re-mixed it before we originally released it. Also, if you'd like to hear a remix that Z-Trip did of an entire episode of the podcast, you can listen to it here.
Get ready to be inspired in the best ways by Z-Trip.  
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Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative.


Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first order.

There is nothing more frustrating to those doing creative work than hearing feedback from a client or manager that is vague, imprecise, and lacking any sense of direction. In order to effectively perform, talented people need clear boundaries within which to operate. That’s the role of the leader – to specifically challenge them within clear guide rails. As I wrote about in Herding Tigers, this is bounded autonomy – freedom within limits.
But giving feedback about creative work can be a tricky task. It’s not just about giving a thumbs up or down, but about providing constructive critique that can help the person grow and improve their work.
On today's episode, I share three quick tips for doing it well.
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Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative.


Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first order.