Born To Create

Everyone knows we live in a world that is increasingly fragmented and fractured. As a communicator, you must learn to interact with the world through empathy, understanding, and compassion.   In other words, it's hard to be relevant or successful if you're not a good listener! That's why I'm thrilled to have my good friend Elaine Grant as a guest on this episode.   Elaine Appleton Grant leads Podcast Allies, a podcast production and training company for mission-driven clients who believe in the power of high-quality storytelling. A lifelong journalist, Elaine worked at WBUR (Boston), New Hampshire Public Radio, and Colorado Public Radio. She produced Wondery’s hit podcast Business Wars Daily, which has been downloaded more than ten million times.   She also wrote Wondery’s American History Teller series, “The Tulsa Race Massacre,” and co-hosted the serialized medical ethics drama Hard Call. Podcast Allies produces Environmental Defense Fund’s Degrees podcast for climate-change-focused jobseekers.   E

Writers tend to be a pretty friendly bunch, but we do have our moments.   There are times when we get jealous of other writers. There are times when we think some other writer doesn’t deserve the success they have. There are times when we secretly enjoy it when another writer’s book bombs, because then we don’t feel so bad about ourselves.   On today’s episode, Kent shares a timeless truth from Benjamin Franklin, so we can build other writers up, instead of tearing them down.  ***    Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.    Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    Connect with Kent:   https://DailyWriterLife.com   Facebook: https

On this podcast, we talk a lot about topics that are focused on the writer. We spend a lot of time thinking about mindset, habits, and success.   Writing is a great tool for overcoming fear, building a business, making an income, and all sorts of other benefits. But all those things ultimately exist for the purpose of adding value to the world.  On today's episode, Kent reminds us that your writing is not only about you—it's ultimately about serving others.  ***    Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.    Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    Connect with Kent:   https://DailyWriterLife.com   Facebook: https://facebook.com/ken

Have you ever said to yourself, “I really wish there was a book on so-and-so topic?”   Maybe it’s a nonfiction book about a topic you are interested in. Maybe it’s a story you would love to read. Maybe it’s a book of certain recipes you would love to see in print.   The topic doesn’t matter. What matters is that you would love to see that book… but nobody has created it.   On today's episode, you’ll learn that if the book you want to read hasn’t been written yet, it's a signal that you need to write it.   ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connect with Kent:   https://DailyWrit

English teachers in high school and college often get a bad rap. Students who did not do well in those classes sometimes blame teachers for killing their writing dreams.   Some students look at their bad grades and wonder, “Am I cut out to be a writer?”  I want to challenge this question because it assumes that you are either born a writer, or you aren’t. In reality, if you want to be a writer, it’s completely within your power to do so.   On today's episode, you’ll be reminded that being a writer isn’t based on your success in your English classes, but based on your answer to a very simple question.   ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.    Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling

We writers live in a world of “yesses.” We love to say yes to that podcast interview, that new idea, that speaking opportunity, or that client work. There’s a good reason we do this. We don’t want to waste opportunities to build relationships and reach new readers. But the problem is that every yes we speak is also a no to something else. We only have so much time on this earth and we have to defend it vigorously. On this episode, you’ll learn why we should sometimes take the opposite approach. ***  Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.  Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!  Connect with Kent:   https://DailyWriterLife.com   Facebook: https://fac

Success is all about building great relationships and serving other people well. But what if you’re an introverted writer? How can you succeed in a world that is so relationship-driven?   Although extensive social interaction can be draining, introverts have unique tactics at their disposal when it comes to fostering deep relationships with others. From handwritten cards to personalized videos to thoughtful book or podcast reviews, there are many ways that introverts can use their strengths to impact others. Regardless of how we interact with people, we all need to find ways to thrive in our giftedness and develop new methods to connect with others.  On this episode, Kent shares five strategies that introverts can utilize to serve people better, grow as networkers, and achieve greater success in business, leadership, and life.  ***  Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.  

The main topic of this podcast focuses on the mindset and habits related to writing. However, a crucial element of our success is generosity. You can have the greatest writing skills in the world, but without good relationships and a giving spirit, it doesn't mean much.  That's why I'm excited to have April Shprintz as my guest today. She has spent over two decades driving growth for companies in a way that creates immense value for their employees, their customers, and their communities.  A former Air Force non-commissioned officer serving as a broadcast journalist for the American Forces Network, she went on to specialize in sales, operations, and marketing, as she supported Fortune 500 clients and generated over $1 billion dollars in combined additional revenue for the companies she served.  3½ years ago — after her highest earning, 7-figure year in the corporate world — April left to start her firm, Driven Outcomes, which helps companies around the globe accelerate their businesses. April helps them make

Mark Twain wrote, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” You can still be afraid and take action.   In fact, your fear can be the very thing that propels you to action.  On today's episode, you’ll be emboldened to take action, regardless of your fears.   ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders  Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders  Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders  

One of the most famous episodes of Seinfeld is “The Contest.” In this episode, Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer compete to see who can demonstrate self-control the longest. The one who wins will be known as “master of their domain.”   The concept of self-mastery is an important one for writers. If we don’t master ourselves, nothing else matters.  On today's episode, Kent highlights why it’s important to master yourself, instead of trying to control everything else.   ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https://facebook.com

There is a lot of talk in the writing community about finding your voice. But hardly anyone ever talks about what it means or how to do it.   In the simplest terms, your voice is how you talk. It is how you express yourself. It is your style. However, the most important thing is not what your voice is, but that you use it.   On today's episode, you'll learn that the trick to finding your own voice, is using it.  ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders  Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsan

Author and teacher Parker Palmer wrote a profound little book called Let Your Life Speak. In the book, he writes, “Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.”   What does it mean to listen to your life? It means paying attention to the signposts telling you where you should go.   On today's episode, you'll discover how to recognize the signs that offer the best direction for your life.  ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders  Instagram:

Have you ever wondered if you were doing this whole writing thing the right way?   It’s easy to feel this way when you are constantly exposed to other successful writers and “experts.” Some say you should write more books, some say you should focus more on marketing, and some say you should focus on things like videos and podcasts.   Here’s the truth: there is no right or wrong way. There’s only the way that is right for you.   On today's episode, Kent reminds us that the most important thing about creativity is finding what works for you.   ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connec

I'm excited today to feature a guest who is a gifted storyteller, as well as a music teacher. She has found a way to blend those talents into a compelling platform that we can all learn from.  Her name is Ashley Rescot, and she is a professional violinist, educator, writer, and Fulbright scholar. She has operated her own violin studio for nearly a decade. She's not only an extraordinarily talented violinist, but is also fluent in French, having spent a year in Paris as part of her education.   Ashley is part of our Daily Writer Community, and also just released her first book, which is a collection of short stories called The Chronicles of Music Majors.   In this conversation, we explore the connection between writing, teaching, and storytelling. Ashley shares why stories make such great teaching tools, where she gets ideas for her stories, and the practicalities of how she writes them. She also shares an immensely helpful framework for how to create short stories, which is worth the whole podcast in i

Today is a special episode because I have not one, but two guests who are here to help us understand some different ways to serve people with our words. Specifically, we're going to talk about building your audience through different types of content.   Keiya Rayne is an international and TEDx speaker, transformational healer, success coach, and the creator of the Success From The Soul coaching programs. For more than 15 years, she's helped her clients gain the clarity and confidence they need to experience life-changing breakthroughs in love, business, and purpose. She’s passionate about empowering women and girls to own their self-worth and power.   Dr. Kristen Donnelly (MSW, M.Div, PhD) is an empathy educator, speaker, and researcher with two decades of experience in helping people understand the beauty in difference, and the power in inclusivity. She is one of The Good Doctors of Abbey Research, COO of their parent company, and an unapologetic nerd for stories of change.   In this conversation, we

Van Halen was one of the greatest rock bands of the 1970s and ’80s. Although they had a number of popular songs and albums, they are probably best remembered for their song “Jump,” which was featured on what was arguably their best album, 1984.   The word “jump” is not just a great title for a popular rock song. It’s also great advice as you consider your next step to success in your writing life.   On today's episode, you'll be inspired by Van Halen’s most popular rock song.  ***  Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https://face

The greatest artist of all time, Leonard da Vinci, said, “The greatest geniuses sometimes accomplish more when they work less.”   But what did he mean by that?   He meant that the people who are the most successful are not necessarily the smartest or the most creative. What really makes the difference is that they find ways to be more effective.   On today's episode, you’ll discover how to truly maximize your work.  ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders  Instagram: https://instagram.com/k

A common problem among writers is that we often do not prepare. We tend to look at writing as a mainly creative endeavor, instead of as a project that should be managed.   Success in writing is not complicated. We just need to take a few steps to help ensure that we will be successful.   On today's episode, Kent shares three strategies so you can plan for success. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community. Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more! Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders  Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders  Twitter: ht

Are you having trouble writing? Do you feel like you can’t regain your focus? Do you feel short-tempered and irritable?   When we feel this way, the first conclusion we jump to is that we have writer’s block or that we’re just not creative. But the problem could be much simpler than that.   Maybe you need the same thing that preschoolers need whenever they get cranky. It’s probably time for a nap.   On today's episode, you'll learn about the restorative power of intentional rest.   ***    Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https:/

Have you ever put together a 1,000-piece puzzle? If so, you know there is a big difference between the image on the box and the reality of dumping out a thousand pieces onto the table.  We tend to look at life as one unbroken string of events that consists of people, memories, and emotions. But the reality of everyday life is much different. In fact, the way we experience life is mainly within the confines of 24-hour periods.  On today's episode, you'll rediscover why each day is critical for your success. ***   Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.    Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!   Connect with Kent:   https://DailyWriterL