Chad Prevost, Ph.D.

Coach | Workshop Leader | Author | Community Builder

From Copywriter to Creative Maverick: Unpacking the Journey of Redefining Success and Chasing Authenticity

How Career Shapes Our Identity but Not Our True Self with Richie Daigle – The Humanist

Chad Prevost and friend of the show, Richie Daigle, discuss their experiences with identity and purpose, exploring the complexities of being identified by one's profession. Richie shares his struggles with being defined solely as a professional baseball player after his playing career ended, and what he did upon graduating during the economic recession of 2008. They delve into the idea that our actions and experiences offer glimpses into our character, and emphasize the importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity. They also examine the concept of true self, recognizing the importance of acknowledging and accepting our complex and dual nature. They conclude by emphasizing the ongoing nature of self-discovery and personal growth, and the value of introspection and self-awareness in leading oneself first before attempting to lead others.High Notes:Identity, career paths, and personal growth.Richie Daigle shares his experience as a semi-pro baseball player and almost-famous person.Richie's shares his diverse work experience, including bartending, baseball lessons, and insurance sales.Self-discovery, failures, and personal growth.Chad and Richie discuss the concept of identity and how it relates to their experiences and actions.They explore the idea that our actions and experiences can reveal aspects of our identity, but are not solely defined by them.The stigma around labeling failures and the importance of exploring emotional responses.The nature of struggle and its impact on life.The idea that desire and motivation are propelled by the mystery of life and death.Chad shares a tool from Phil Stutz and Barry Michaels' book, which involves visualizing oneself on deathbed to create urgency and motivation.Embracing authenticity and living in the present moment.Emphasizing the importance of enjoying the process rather than just focusing on results.The shift from linear thinking to embracing the act of competition and enjoying the journey.Authenticity, true self, and the complexity of human nature.The concept of authenticity, and how it's difficult to define.Authenticity can be both off-putting and make others feel uncomfortable, as seen in Enneagram types and overly caring individuals.Richie questions the idea of a "true self" and the concept of removing the ego.Personal growth through self-awareness and recognizing brokenness.On leading oneself through self-awareness and disruption to uncover hidden truths about oneself.A prayer by Thomas Merton, emphasizing the importance of desire and trust in God's guidance.The idea of recognizing and embracing one's brokenness as a means of growth and learning.Find out more about Big Self School:Big Self School seeks to democratize wellbeing and happiness. Our methodology is rooted in science and ancient wisdom to help clients improve their outcomes and design their dream life. We are innovating the way coaching is currently practiced. We’re building a community to serve in a variety of high impact ways from coaching to in-person trainings to even using AI. Let's dream of a better future for everyone. Lead yourself first. Others will follow. bigselfschool.comDownload our free book, What Do You Expect? Discovering Methods for Deep Calm.Book a discovery call for <a href="https://coachingcompany90341.hbportal.co/schedule/6307e324cc33a90f6cd8f41d&quot; rel="noopener…

The central focus of the first month's theme for The Humanist podcast is understanding Authenticity. Why? Partly because the title of the podcast almost featured authenticity in the first place. Partly because authenticity seems to be having "a moment" culturally, and we aim to find out what's going on: How authentic is authenticity really when it comes to ways it's used an understood?

Chad Prevost and Ben Cake discuss the challenges of maintaining authenticity in creative pursuits and leadership roles. They explore how advertising and marketing can perpetuate idealized versions of life, and the impact of judgment from others on one's creative identity.

They also discuss the balance between artistic integrity and commercial success, using examples from various art forms. They explore the importance of living authentically and being willing to make changes to ensure satisfaction in one's creative pursuits.

In the end, they don't arrive at hard conclusions, but the discussion itself does seem valuable.

Authenticity, creativity, and snapshots in life.

  • Ben Cake discusses authenticity, creativity, and the struggle to stay engaged with life.
  • Speaker discusses how snapshots can be harmful, leading to unrealistic expectations and suffering.
  • Exploring and acknowledging snapshots can help improve self-awareness and authenticity.

Leadership, self-awareness, and the importance of following one's passions.

  • Chad and Ben discuss the importance of leading oneself before leading others.
  • Rick Rubin's success was due to luck and not planning.

The value of persistence in creative fields despite lack of recognition or financial success.

  • Chad admires writers who persist in publishing despite lack of recognition.
  • Chad and Ben discuss the concept of mastery in writing and the challenges of achieving it.
  • Ben argues that pursuing expertise can lead to a paradox where one becomes so focused on pleasing a narrow audience that they neglect to appeal to a broader one.
  • Chad suggests that artists may feel sad or frustrated when they pour their heart and soul into their work, only to find that it goes unappreciated or unnoticed by a wider audience.

Creativity, ambition, and judgment from others.

  • The idea of commitment to art and family, and admiration for authors who commit to their craft despite potential regrets.
  • On judgment from others and its impact on authenticity.

Creative identity, authenticity, and career changes.

  • On peaking early in their career and the challenges that come with it.
  • The impact of criticism on one's self-narrative and identity.

Find out more about Big Self School:

Big Self School seeks to democratize wellbeing and happiness. Our methodology is rooted in science and ancient wisdom to help clients improve their outcomes and design their dream life. We are innovating the way coaching is currently practiced. We’re building a community to serve in a variety of high impact ways from coaching to in-person trainings to even using AI. Let's dream of a better future for everyone. Lead yourself first. Others will follow. bigselfschool.com

Download our free workbook, 7 Soul Needs You Must Meet to Avoid Burnout.

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