Signs You’re Drifting Away from Your Purpose (and How to Get Back on Track)
Release Date: 02/12/2025
How Taking More Risks Can Unlock the Life You Actually Want
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
In this episode, I share how not playing it safe can be the most powerful decision you make—for your creativity, your career, and your life. I open up about scrapping a nearly finished book to write something bolder and truer, and why embracing discomfort is the path to fulfillment and impact. This is a syndicate episode from the LinkedIn Speaker Series, where I sit down with Ashley Levy, Senior Director of Brand Marketing at LinkedIn, for a deep conversation about my latest book Never Play It Safe. We talk about trusting intuition, the myth of the linear career path, and the hidden cost of...
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Feeling Stuck in Serious Mode? Here’s How to Flip the Script with Play
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like you're taking life a little too seriously? Wake up. Work. Hustle. Repeat. Somewhere along the way, we stopped playing—and started grinding through our days like machines. Why We Get Stuck in Serious Mode We were taught that being serious means being responsible. That fun is a distraction. That joy is something we earn. But let’s be real—seriousness without joy just leads to burnout. Play Isn’t the Opposite of Progress Play is where creativity begins. It’s what makes challenges fun and failure less scary. It helps you breathe, think, connect,...
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How Sharing Your Work Can Change Lives Including Your Own
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
In this episode, I share how putting your creative work into the world—no matter how small—can lead to massive, unexpected impact. I open up about my early days as a self-taught photographer, the pain and joy of learning through film, and how a backpacking trip with my wife turned into the start of an unconventional creative career. This is a syndicate episode from the , where I sit down with Derek, Jill, and Mike to trace the arc of my journey—from building the Best Camera app and pioneering mobile photography, to founding CreativeLive and finding purpose through community. We talk...
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How to Reconnect With the Intuition You’ve Been Taught to Ignore
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever get a gut feeling—but second-guess it because it doesn’t “make sense”? You’re not alone. From a young age, we’re taught to value logic over instinct. To follow the rules. To ignore the quiet signals coming from within. But science shows that your body—especially your gut—is constantly processing more than your conscious mind ever could. That inner knowing? It’s real. And it’s powerful. Why We Lose Touch With Intuition In this post, we’ll talk about why so many of us lost touch with our intuition—and how to start tuning back in, one small...
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Stop Hiding Behind ‘Not Ready’ and Learn How to Begin Anyway
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
In this episode, Debbie Millman shares how to begin—even when you feel unready, unqualified, or full of doubt. Debbie is a designer, author, educator, and host of the pioneering podcast Design Matters. She's also the chair of the Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts and editorial director at Print magazine. We talk about the creative risks Debbie took later in life, why fear and shame shaped her early path, and how she found fulfillment by making deeply personal work—without waiting for permission. From the grief of losing family to the joy of marrying at 57, this is a...
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What If Play Is Actually the Most Important Work You'll Ever Do?
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like your life is all work and no you? Emails. Deadlines. Chores. Repeat. Somewhere along the way, we traded play for productivity—and we’ve been tired ever since. Why We Forget to Play From a young age, we’re taught that play comes after the work is done. But here’s the catch: the work never ends. So we keep pushing joy to the sidelines. Play Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline Play isn’t just fun. It fuels creativity, lowers stress, and helps us feel alive. It’s not the opposite of work—it’s what makes work meaningful. What If Work Could Be...
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What If Your Hardest Climb Is Within?
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
In this episode, Melissa Arnot Reid shares what it really takes to climb—not just the highest peaks on Earth, but the deepest valleys within ourselves. Melissa is a world-renowned mountaineer, professional mountain guide, and the first American woman to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. She has spent years guiding others to the top of the world’s tallest mountains, but in this conversation, she opens up about an even greater challenge: facing the internal struggles that no summit can fix. We dive deep into the difference between achievement and self-worth, the pressure of...
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What’s Stopping You From Taking the Risk That Could Change Everything?
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
In this episode, Jenny Wood shares how to overcome fear and take bold action. Jenny spent 18 years rising from entry-level to executive at Google, where she founded one of the company’s largest career programs. Now, she’s the author of Wild Courage, a book that flips the script on success by reclaiming nine so-called “negative” traits—like being reckless, nosy, or shameless—and showing how they can fuel massive growth. We get into what it really takes to break through fear, bounce back from rejection, and build the kind of courage that moves your life and career forward. Jenny...
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Overwhelmed by Doubt? Here’s How to Quiet the Noise and Trust Yourself
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever had that gut feeling nudging you toward something bigger—only for fear to barge in with doubts? "What if I fail?" "What if this is the wrong move?" "What will people think?" I’ve been there. When I walked away from the U.S. Olympic Development soccer program to pursue photography, people told me I was crazy. And honestly? I wondered if they were right. But there was another voice—quieter, but just slightly louder than my fear. That whisper was enough to take the leap. Why Trusting Your Gut Feels Hard Our brains are wired for survival, not fulfillment....
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Stop Waiting for Permission to Create—Here’s How to Start
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
In this episode, Amie McNee shares why the world desperately needs your art—and how to overcome the inner obstacles that keep so many creatives from stepping into their full potential. Amie is an author, speaker, creative guide, and founder of the popular Instagram account . Known for her candid conversations about creativity and self-doubt, Amie has helped artists all over the world reclaim their creative power and build a sustainable, fulfilling practice. She’s also the author of , a manifesto and practical guide for anyone seeking to live a more creative, authentic life. In our...
info_outlineHey friends, Chase here. Today, I want to talk about something we all face at some point—the moment when what once felt like a dream becomes a trap. It’s a tough place to be, but if we can recognize it early, we can turn it into an opportunity for growth and reinvention.
When Success Becomes Stifling
Back in 2010, I co-founded CreativeLive with a simple but ambitious idea: to give the world access to free, world-class creative education. We started small, but over time, we grew to serve tens of millions of people and raised more than $60 million from top-tier investors like Richard Branson, Reid Hoffman, and Google Ventures.
At first, my unconventional background as a creator—not an MBA—was celebrated. I brought a personal brand and a community along for the ride, and it seemed like a competitive advantage. But eventually, the pressure to conform crept in. The same people who once admired my unique approach began questioning it.
The Subtle Drift Away from Purpose
What started as small adjustments in how I operated became a slow drift off course. It wasn’t dramatic at first—just a few degrees off. But after walking that path for long enough, I found myself far from where I wanted to be. The very thing I had built to inspire creativity felt stifling and uncreative.
And here’s the thing—this story isn’t unique to me. It happens to many of us. The artist who becomes a manager. The entrepreneur buried in spreadsheets. The corporate climber who wakes up one day and wonders how they got there.
If you’ve ever felt that way—or if you do in the future—this is for you.
Signs It’s Time for a Change
- Listen to Your Gut
When something feels off for too long, it’s your gut telling you it’s time to move. Ignoring that voice comes with real consequences—stress, poor health, and a fog that clouds your creativity and joy. - Nothing Lasts Forever
Even the most exciting roles can run their course. Dreams change, and that’s okay. Letting go of a title or identity that no longer serves you is hard, but it’s often necessary for growth. - Build Your Escape Pod Early
Don’t wait for a crisis to figure out your next move. Start building skills, connections, and momentum now. When it’s time to make a change, you’ll be ready to transition on your terms—not out of desperation.
Embrace Change as a Constant
Change is inevitable. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s almost always a catalyst for something better. When you start hearing that little voice whispering about a new chapter, don’t ignore it. Trust it. Your future self will thank you.
Until next time, take care and keep pushing toward what feels true and right for you.
Enjoy!