You Don’t Need Everyone
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here Let’s talk about something that quietly holds a lot of creators back — the belief that your work needs to resonate with everyone. It feels natural. We’re wired for connection. We want to be seen, appreciated, recognized. That’s human. But when that instinct starts driving your creative decisions, it can pull you further and further away from the very thing that makes your work meaningful in the first place. So here’s the truth I want you to hear clearly: You don’t need everyone. Not their approval. Not their attention. Not their validation. In fact, trying...
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Why Hearing “No” Is Part of the Creative Path
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here Let’s talk about something every creator experiences — but almost nobody talks about openly. Rejection. If you’re pursuing anything creative — photography, writing, design, building a business, launching a project — you already know the truth: you hear a lot more no than you hear yes. But here’s the twist. Most people think rejection is the signal to stop. In reality, rejection is often the signal that you’re doing the work. In this episode, I’m unpacking why hearing “no” isn’t something to avoid — it’s something to learn from, grow through,...
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Craft Is the Entry Fee
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here If you’re a creator who’s ever wondered why someone with “less talent” seems to get more opportunities… this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: being great at your craft is only the price of admission. It gets you in the door. But what happens after that? That’s where your career is made. In today’s micro-show — Craft Is the Entry Fee — I’m talking about the things that matter most in the work you do… and the things that matter just as much in the way you do it. The stuff you can’t always point to on a resume. The stuff you can’t...
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Designed, Not Discovered
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here There’s a myth that quietly messes with a lot of us — especially if you’re a maker, builder, or artist. It’s the myth that creative fulfillment is something you find. That if you just get lucky enough… brave enough… talented enough… you’ll stumble into “the thing” and everything will click. But here’s what I want to remind you today: Your path isn’t discovered. It’s designed. Not as in “perfectly planned.” As in: you choose it. You shape it. You tend it. You build it on purpose — even when you don’t feel ready. This episode is a short...
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The Messy Middle Is the Point
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Every creative journey starts the same way. Excitement. Possibility. Momentum. And then — somewhere between the spark and the breakthrough — it gets hard. The novelty fades. The results slow down. Doubt gets louder. And that’s when most of us go looking for certainty. Better gear. Better tactics. The “right” answers. But what if the discomfort isn’t a sign you’re off track? What if it’s proof you’ve finally reached the part that actually matters? In this episode, I break down why the messy middle — that stretch between starting and mastering — is where your identity gets...
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The Cost of Playing It Safe
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on a truth most of us spend years trying to outgrow: playing it safe has a cost. Not just a financial cost. Not just an “I didn’t take the leap” cost. I’m talking about the hidden cost — the slow trade of your originality for approval, your curiosity for compliance, your honest voice for whatever feels least risky. A lot of us were trained early to optimize for fitting in. To sit still. To follow directions. To avoid disrupting the room. And to be clear: the people who guided us usually meant well. But the...
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Build the Next Chapter Before You’re Paid
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that quietly changes everything once you see it: You don’t get paid first for the work you want to do next. You build it first. Most people wait for permission. They wait for a client, an investor, or an opportunity to show up before they start creating. But in my experience, it works the other way around. The next chapter of your career is built in parallel with the one you’re already in. I’ve always balanced paid work with deeply personal exploration. The commercial projects put food on the table....
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You Can't Think Your Way Forward
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that runs counter to how most of us try to solve creative problems. When we feel stuck, uncertain, or restless, our instinct is usually to think harder. To analyze. To wait for clarity. But here’s the truth I’ve learned the hard way: you can’t think your way forward. Clarity doesn’t come from sitting on the couch running mental simulations. It comes from action. From making. From trying things in the real world and paying attention to what happens next. Early in my career, I hit a real creative rut....
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You Are Your Habits
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and practical — and it centers on a simple idea that tends to hit a little deeper once you really sit with it: you are not your goals. You are not your intentions. You are what you do repeatedly. Around this time of year — or anytime you feel the urge for a reset — it’s easy to assume the problem is motivation. That you just need to want it more. In my experience, that’s almost never true. Most people aren’t stuck because they lack drive. They’re stuck because their daily habits aren’t aligned with what they actually want. Goals...
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Important, Not Urgent
The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show
Hey friends, Chase here This episode is short and direct — and it centers on an idea that quietly changes everything once you really see it: most people aren’t stuck because they’re lazy or unmotivated. They’re stuck because they confuse urgency with importance. We’ve been trained to react. To answer what’s loud, immediate, and demanding. Emails. Notifications. Small fires that feel productive simply because they need attention right now. But being busy isn’t the same thing as making progress — and activity is not the same as effectiveness. What I’ve learned over time is that...
info_outlineHey friends, Chase here
Let’s talk about something every creator experiences — but almost nobody talks about openly.
Rejection.
If you’re pursuing anything creative — photography, writing, design, building a business, launching a project — you already know the truth: you hear a lot more no than you hear yes.
But here’s the twist.
Most people think rejection is the signal to stop.
In reality, rejection is often the signal that you’re doing the work.
In this episode, I’m unpacking why hearing “no” isn’t something to avoid — it’s something to learn from, grow through, and ultimately embrace as part of the creative path.
Because more often than not, “no” doesn’t mean never.
It means not yet.
Let’s start with a simple truth:
If you’re putting your work out into the world — pitching clients, submitting work, applying for opportunities, launching ideas — you’re going to hear “no.”
A lot.
And while that might feel discouraging at first, it’s actually a sign that you’re in the arena. That you’re taking risks. That you’re moving forward instead of sitting safely on the sidelines.
The reality is that creative careers are built through repetition — through attempts, through iteration, and yes, through rejection.
You don’t get ten yeses without hearing a whole lot of no along the way.
That’s just the math of putting your work out there.
The trick isn’t avoiding rejection.
The trick is learning what rejection is trying to teach you.
The Core Idea
“No” serves a purpose.
In fact, it serves several.
First, rejection can be a powerful motivator.
If you’re competitive — and most creators are — hearing no doesn’t mean the door is closed forever. It means there’s an opportunity to learn, adjust, improve, and show up stronger the next time.
Every pitch that doesn’t land teaches you something.
Every opportunity you miss reveals something about the craft, the market, or the way you’re presenting your work.
And if you treat rejection as information rather than judgment, it becomes one of the most valuable feedback systems you have.
Second, rejection naturally filters out the people who aren’t committed.
Most people hear “no” a few times and decide the path isn’t for them.
They interpret rejection as proof that they’re not good enough — instead of recognizing it as part of the process.
But if you keep showing up, learning, refining, and improving, you start to realize something important:
Persistence quietly reduces the competition.
The longer you stay in the game, the more people fall away.
Not because they lacked talent.
But because they lacked the willingness to keep going.
Rejection Is a Signal — Not a Verdict
Another powerful reframe is this:
A “no” usually doesn’t mean your work will never succeed.
More often, it means your work isn’t quite there yet.
It hasn’t found the right audience yet.
Or it hasn’t reached the level it needs to reach yet.
And that distinction matters.
Because if the answer is “not yet,” the only real response is to keep creating.
Keep refining.
Keep putting your work out into the world.
Every swing increases the odds of eventually connecting.
If You’re Not Hearing “No,” You Might Not Be Trying Hard Enough
There’s another perspective here that might surprise you.
If everything you do gets an easy yes, you might not be pushing yourself far enough.
You might not be taking big enough swings.
You might be staying inside your comfort zone.
The legendary racecar driver Mario Andretti once said:
“If everything feels under control, you’re not driving fast enough.”
The same is true in creative work.
If you’re constantly hearing yes, it might mean you’re only playing it safe.
And playing it safe rarely leads to the most interesting work.
The projects that matter — the ideas that stretch you — almost always come with a higher chance of rejection.
Because they’re new.
Because they’re different.
Because they challenge expectations.
And that’s exactly why they’re worth pursuing.
When the Yeses Start Coming
Eventually, if you stay consistent long enough, the yeses do start to show up.
Clients say yes.
Projects get approved.
Your work gains traction.
And that’s a great feeling.
But here’s the caution:
Don’t start chasing yeses.
Because the moment you begin optimizing only for approval, something subtle happens.
You stop pushing the edges.
You stop experimenting.
You stop risking failure.
And the work becomes safer — and softer.
The goal isn’t to avoid rejection.
The goal is to keep challenging yourself enough that rejection remains part of the process.
That’s where the real growth happens.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
This episode dives deeper into how rejection actually fuels creative progress.
Here are a few ideas to listen for:
- Why hearing “no” is an unavoidable part of building a creative career
- How rejection can become a powerful motivator instead of discouragement
- Why persistence naturally reduces competition over time
- How “not yet” is often the real meaning behind rejection
- Why taking bigger creative risks means accepting more no’s
- How success can sometimes make your work safer — if you’re not careful
Timecodes (So You Can Jump to What You Need)
- 02:13 – The reality of hearing more no’s than yeses
- 03:05 – Why learning to love “no” changes everything
- 03:33 – Using rejection as motivation
- 04:26 – How persistence reduces competition
- 05:32 – Why rejection helps refine your craft
- 06:53 – If you’re not hearing no, you might not be pushing hard enough
- 07:46 – When the yeses start coming — and the trap that follows
A Reframe for the Creative Path
If you’re hearing a lot of no right now, here’s something to remember:
You’re not failing.
You’re participating.
You’re testing ideas.
You’re developing craft.
You’re building the resilience required to create meaningful work.
The creators who ultimately succeed aren’t the ones who avoid rejection.
They’re the ones who understand it.
Who learn from it.
Who keep going anyway.
Questions to Ask Yourself
If this episode resonates with you, take a moment to reflect on these:
- Where in my creative work am I avoiding rejection instead of learning from it?
- Am I taking big enough swings with my ideas?
- What feedback might be hiding inside the last “no” I heard?
- What would it look like to treat rejection as data instead of judgment?
- What’s one opportunity I could pursue this week — even if the answer might be no?
The Big Idea
The creative path isn’t paved with approval.
It’s paved with attempts.
Experiments.
Iterations.
And yes — plenty of rejection along the way.
But every no gets you closer to the right yes.
So instead of fearing rejection, learn to welcome it.
Because if you’re hearing no, it means you’re moving.
You’re risking.
You’re putting your work into the world.
And that’s exactly where the magic begins.
Until next time — keep creating, keep pushing, and don’t be afraid to hear a few more no’s.