The Daily Practice That Has Changed My Life & Income (1 Change Most People Ignore)

Summary

This video challenges creatives to break free from a fixed mindset and scarcity mentality, urging them to embrace new possibilities and value their work higher. Through personal anecdotes, the speaker shares his journey from earning $30 an hour to $30,000 for a 45-minute talk, attributing success not to privilege but to curiosity, persistence, and mindset shifts. He emphasizes that skills and hard work are essential, but mindset and belief systems are what truly determine one's potential to thrive. The key message is to act boldly and embrace the unknown for growth.

Takeaways

• 💡 Your mindset limits your potential; thinking in a finite, scarcity-based way keeps you from achieving more.
• 🐜 Like fleas in a jar, we can condition ourselves to not push beyond limits we once encountered.
• 🧠 You manifest your reality: believing you're not worth $50,000 for a project means you won't seek out or connect with those who value your work that highly.
• 🎓 Success comes from curiosity, willingness to work hard, and constantly challenging your limitations.
• 💰 You control your earning potential by challenging what people are willing to pay you and increasing your rate over time.
• 🇺🇸 Being in an environment like America, where opportunities are accessible, can enable you to change your financial and social standing.
• 🏋️ Skill and deliberate practice are essential, but true transformation comes from changing your mindset and positioning yourself differently in the market.
• 🎤 Chris moved from earning $30 an hour to $30,000 for a speaking engagement by building experience, improving communication, and shifting his belief system.
• 🧗 Progress requires letting go of limiting beliefs and the baggage of past experiences to open yourself up to new opportunities.
• 📈 To grow, you must embrace failure, risk, and being uncomfortable, as these are essential for breaking through to the next level of success.

Q & A

What is the main mindset issue the speaker is addressing in the video?

The speaker addresses the fixed mindset problem, where designers or creatives limit themselves by believing they are not capable or deserving of higher-paying opportunities, like receiving $50,000 for their work. He encourages shifting to a growth mindset, believing in the possibility of greater success.

How does the speaker relate the story of fleas to mindset limitations?

The speaker uses the flea story as a metaphor for how people limit themselves. Just as fleas stop jumping higher after repeatedly hitting a lid, people limit their potential when they believe they can't go beyond a certain point, even when those restrictions are removed.

What personal experience does the speaker share to illustrate overcoming self-imposed limits?

The speaker shares his journey from earning $30 an hour to eventually being paid $30,000 for a 45-minute talk. He highlights how he consistently challenged the limits of what he thought people would pay him by increasing his rates over time.

Why does the speaker believe mindset is crucial to success?

The speaker emphasizes that mindset is fundamental because beliefs shape actions. If someone believes they are worth more, they will take steps to position themselves for higher-paying opportunities. Without changing this mindset, success remains limited.

How does the speaker respond to people who doubt their ability to earn higher rates?

The speaker argues that self-doubt and limiting beliefs are the main reasons why people don’t earn higher rates. He emphasizes that it’s not about the market but about one’s willingness to challenge those beliefs and take actions that align with higher expectations.

What advice does the speaker give for creatives looking to break their limiting beliefs?

The speaker advises creatives to question their current belief system, assess whether it's serving them, and be open to radically different ideas. He stresses that they need to change their operating system by being willing to take risks and challenge their assumptions.

What role does skill and deliberate practice play according to the speaker?

The speaker acknowledges that skill and deliberate practice are crucial, especially the first 10,000 hours of mastering one’s craft. However, he emphasizes that after mastering the craft, the key to financial growth lies in changing one’s mindset and approach to marketing, communication, and value perception.

How does the speaker view the importance of risk and failure in achieving success?

The speaker sees risk and failure as essential components of growth. He highlights that fear of failure or humiliation is the price of entry for progress. Without risking failure, creatives won’t be able to explore new opportunities or achieve higher success.

What personal background does the speaker share to counter claims of privilege?

The speaker shares that he immigrated to the U.S. as a poor refugee who didn’t speak English and worked his way through lower socioeconomic strata. He explains that his success is due to his mindset and hard work, not privilege or a silver spoon upbringing.

What is the speaker’s ultimate goal in sharing his story and advice?

The speaker’s goal is to empower creatives by helping them realize their potential through mindset shifts. He wants them to understand that their beliefs are the main barriers to achieving financial success and higher value for their work.

Outlines

00:00

💭 Mindset and Limiting Beliefs

The speaker challenges the limiting belief that most designers will never be offered high-paying opportunities, such as $50,000 for a project. He uses the metaphor of fleas in a jar, who stop jumping higher even after the lid is removed, to illustrate how self-imposed limitations can restrict one's potential. He emphasizes the importance of shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of openness and curiosity. The speaker shares his personal experience, starting with a dislike for sushi and later growing to love it, highlighting the need to approach life with an open mind. He encourages creatives to break free from self-limiting beliefs and explore new possibilities.

05:02

💰 Increasing Value and Breaking Through Financial Ceilings

The speaker shares his journey of increasing his freelance rates over time, starting at $30 an hour and steadily increasing it by testing what clients were willing to pay. He discusses how he progressively raised his day rate from $240 to eventually $30,000 for a 45-minute speaking engagement. This growth, he explains, came from constantly asking what he needed to do and who he needed to become to justify higher rates. He emphasizes that personal growth and skill development are key factors in reaching these financial milestones.

10:03

📈 Belief System as the Key to Growth

In this section, the speaker emphasizes that success is rooted in one's belief system. He argues that belief systems shape actions, which in turn reinforce those beliefs. To break free from financial or professional limitations, one must change their mindset and belief in what is possible. He stresses that improving one’s craft alone will only lead to incremental growth, but transforming how you position yourself and the problems you solve is what leads to significant change. Skills, while essential, must be accompanied by strong communication, marketing, and sales strategies.

15:04

🧠 Reprogramming Your Mindset

The speaker outlines the steps necessary to adopt a growth-oriented mindset. He urges the audience to first evaluate whether their current beliefs are serving them. If not, they must be willing to change their thinking, as the same mindset that created a problem cannot solve it. He explains that this process is difficult because it challenges deeply held beliefs and may seem radical or uncomfortable. However, it is essential for growth. He warns against procrastination, perfectionism, and self-doubt, which often sabotage progress. The key is to take action without waiting for perfect conditions or certainty.

🛠 Action and Risk: The Path to Success

The speaker concludes by reinforcing the importance of taking risks and acting despite uncertainty. He notes that personal growth requires the courage to step into the unknown and face potential failure or ridicule. He argues that failure is a necessary cost for achieving the desired growth. By letting go of old identities and limiting beliefs, individuals can ascend to new heights. He encourages listeners to find mentors or trusted figures who can guide them, take decisive steps toward their goals, and be prepared to invest in expertise rather than settle for mediocrity.

Keywords

💡Mindset

Mindset refers to an individual's set of beliefs that shape their attitudes and behavior. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a growth-oriented mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset, to achieve higher goals. The speaker explains that if creatives believe they will never be in a room with a client offering $50,000 for a project, they manifest that limitation into their reality.

💡Scarcity

Scarcity refers to the belief that resources, opportunities, or success are limited. The speaker argues that many creatives operate from a scarcity mindset, thinking there are no opportunities beyond their current environment or skill level. This belief limits their growth and potential to attract high-paying clients.

💡Belief System

A belief system is a set of principles or tenets that guide how a person perceives the world. The speaker discusses how one's belief system can either confine them or propel them forward. For example, the belief that you are not worth a certain amount of money prevents you from seeking out clients or opportunities that could pay you more.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is the desire to learn and explore new possibilities. The speaker stresses that an open and curious mindset allows individuals to embrace new experiences, even if they initially seem uncomfortable. For example, the speaker shares a personal story about disliking sushi at first but later growing to love it, illustrating how being open to new things can lead to unexpected growth.

💡Incremental Improvements

Incremental improvements refer to small, gradual changes or progress. In the context of the video, the speaker talks about how, after mastering a craft, further financial growth doesn't come from practicing the craft more but from shifting how one thinks and positions themselves in the market. This ties into the broader theme that mindset is the key to significant breakthroughs.

💡Self-Limiting Beliefs

Self-limiting beliefs are thoughts that constrain an individual’s actions or goals. The speaker points out that many creatives have self-limiting beliefs that keep them from pursuing high-paying opportunities. These beliefs, like the idea that one is only worth a certain hourly rate, act as barriers to progress and success.

💡Perfectionism

Perfectionism is the refusal to accept any standard short of perfection. The speaker highlights how perfectionism can hinder progress, as some people believe they need a flawless plan before taking action. This mindset leads to procrastination and prevents growth, as one is waiting for ideal conditions that may never come.

💡Procrastination

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks. The speaker mentions that many people put off taking action toward their goals because they believe they need more time or preparation. Procrastination becomes a tool that people use to avoid risk, but it ultimately prevents them from achieving the success they desire.

💡Value Creation

Value creation refers to the process of providing solutions that solve significant problems for others. The speaker explains that designers are paid based on the value they bring to clients. If a designer solves a $50,000 problem, they can command a fee that reflects the value of that solution. This idea encourages creatives to shift their focus from hourly rates to solving bigger problems for clients.

💡Risk

Risk involves exposing oneself to potential loss or failure. The speaker discusses how taking risks is necessary for growth, emphasizing that the fear of failure or humiliation is the cost of entry for the success and growth individuals seek. Without risking failure, creatives limit themselves to what feels safe, missing out on greater opportunities.

Highlights

Designers should not confine themselves to a limited physical space or mindset.

The story of fleas and a jar illustrates how we can limit ourselves by learned behavior.

Changing the fixed scarcity mindset to an open one is crucial for growth.

The speaker's personal journey from disliking sushi to loving it symbolizes overcoming initial aversions.

Approaching life with curiosity and an open mind is essential.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of not letting one's past determine their future.

The belief system influences actions and results, not the other way around.

The speaker shares their personal financial journey from $30 an hour to $30,000 an hour.

The speaker's mission is to teach people how to make a living doing what they love.

Belief in one's abilities and the value they create is foundational for success.

The speaker discusses the importance of skill and deliberate practice.

Improving communication skills and understanding marketing and sales is crucial for financial success.

The speaker shares their background as a motion designer and director, working with big brands.

The speaker's true identity is as an educator, leveraging their industry experience to help others.

The speaker discusses the importance of mindset over experience in achieving success.

The speaker encourages viewers to challenge their core beliefs to achieve their goals.

The speaker shares the idea that risk and potential failure are the cost of entry for growth.

The speaker talks about the need to let go of old identities to grow and achieve more.

The speaker encourages viewers to be brave and explore the unknown.

Transcripts

yeah this is all great but most

designers will never even be in a room

with someone that might offer $50,000

for a

[Music]

design let me respond to

this this is a mindset problem if you

confine yourself to certain physical

space and you say well there's nothing

beyond the edges of this universe that

Beyond it is monsters and Peril and and

certain death and doom and despair

you'll never Venture forth Beyond a

certain perimeter and we can understand

that there's a story of fleas that a

flea can jump X number of times it's

height and if you put fleas in a jar and

you put a lid they jump and they hit

their head they jump and they hit their

head eventually you can take the lid off

and the fleas will no longer jump beyond

the confines of the jar so it's kind of

interesting how we can learn certain

ideas and behaviors and then predestin

ourselves to never achieving more than

that so if you confine yourself to

saying I will never never get on a plane

I will never marry someone before this

age I will never be able to be in a room

where people will consider the things

that I do to be worth of x amount of

money we have to change this kind of

finite scarcity fixed mindset to being

open to anything that's possible and the

way I look at it is like there was a

time in my life I I didn't like sushi I

didn't like raw fish and I ordered a

large plate of tuna Sashimi I didn't

understand that's what I was ordering

and then I tried to eat it and I almost

wanted to get and throw up in the

bathroom now today if you ask me what is

my favorite type of food to eat I'll

tell you point blank look you right in

the eye and say sushi so the first time

you do something is guess what the first

time that you do it all you have to do

is approach life with a curious and open

mind which I think most of you would

think if I were to ask you and we bumped

into each other on the street how

open-minded are you in a scale of 1 to

10 are you going to tell me one are you

going to tell me 10 or 12 this is what I

talk about when I talk about this kind

of fixed mindset so when somebody say

most of us creatives will never be in a

room where someone has a $50,000 problem

for us to solve you are absolutely

you're

right because you manifest it into your

life you say I'm not worth this so then

you therefore you don't associate with

people that are in a position to pay you

more than $50,000 to do the work that

you do you don't seek out a peer group

who thinks like this because you feel

like they're fake there must be

something wrong you don't you don't go

to Workshop you don't read books you

don't take courses on how to do this

because you've resigned yourself to the

fact that this is not possible and I

know this idea is so offensive to so

many people that they comment with such

great vitrio saying this is not possible

I'm a scammer I'm a liar easy for you to

say this is all fake I'm not here to

prove you otherwise you can do whatever

you want you can have the life that you

want that's up to you but for me the way

I look at it is design solves problems

my job is to get into a room when

someone has a big enough problem that

they're willing to pay a certain amount

of money to make that pain go away and I

want to be there for that conversation

and I have been so I'm going to take you

on my whole Arc because I think some of

you might falsely assume easy for Chris

to say he's got a silver spoon he's got

a trust fund set up for him he's got all

the advantages set up in life I would

admit to one of them specifically and

the other are totally untrue the

greatest advantage that I have in my

life is I was raised in

America that I have to acknowledge

because here through opportunities for

anyone you can create the kind of future

that you want despite your Origins

despite your backstory because my family

and I we came to America in

1975 as poor refugees who didn't speak

the language didn't understand the

customs and the cultures English is not

my first language we move through the

lower socioeconomic strata to being I

think to the time my parents by the time

I was 18 upper middle class so I don't

know what I'm not capable of and I I

don't know what I'm capable of all I

know is just try and see what happens

and that Mantra has carried me pretty

far so when I go to Art Center I've got

a scholarship 50% scholarship I have

some loans no grants so I was able to

get a Stafford Loan and some

contribution from my parents and a

credit card and through the combination

of those four things I was able to get

myself through college with quite a bit

of debt in student loans and credit card

debt I think I had maxed out two credit

cards this is all Financial context for

everyone who's listening to this when I

was in school I did some freelance work

and I think the most I was paid was $30

an hour doing Bank brochures I didn't

let how my life began determine how it's

going to end every part of your life

there's a chapter and it's Unwritten and

you get to decide how it's going to play

out and that's entirely up to you soon

after earning $30 an hour I was thinking

this is the most I've ever made in an

hour I wonder what the limit to that is

and I'm going to try it out so for most

of you $30 time8 8 hour a day is $240

that's the day rate so when I started

freelancing I'm not even a year out of

school yet first started freelancing I I

tried $300 a day and they said yes then

I said if they said yes to that what

will they say no to so I kept playing

this game with Myself by increasing the

rate whenever possible any new job

opportunity any new client so it went to

$400 $450 500 650

$700 and I think I met a theoretical cap

and I didn't say to myself the most I

will ever be paid is $700 a day which is

an outrageous sum of money by the way I

want to acknowledge that I just kept

asking myself what do I have to do what

do I have to know who do I have to

become such that people would say it

would give us great pleasure to give you

this money so I want to fast forward a

bunch of bumps in the road here because

I don't want to bore you with all that

stuff but then we get to this point now

where people happily pay me

$30,000 to have me speak for 45 minutes

I've traveled all the way from $30 an

hour to quite literally $30,000 an hour

but I'm not the same person I have the

same curiosity I have the same

willingness to do the hard work and it's

built on Decades of experience personal

stories and actual examples of things

I've done to put myself in a position

where someone will pay me $30,000 to

speak for less than an hour if you're

new to this channel you don't know who I

am my name is Chris I want to introduce

myself I'm a loud introvert I have this

really big mission to teach a billion

people how to make a living doing what

they love in a previous life I was a

motion designer and director I worked on

commercials and music videos for some of

the biggest bands and brands in the

world like Coldplay like jet like Justin

timberl and worked on commercials for

Audi for Microsoft and I use this

experience to build up a financial Nest

Egg for me so such that I can pursue my

deepest passion which is education and

my true identity is an educator so I'm

here leveraging 20 plus years of working

in industry in the most competitive

market Los Angeles to help translate

some of those experiences so that you

wherever you are in your creative

Journey can apply some of the principles

that I'm talking about in creativity and

business design mindset leadership so

that you can have some of that success

that I've been so fortunate to receive

that's who I am I'm sure some of you are

sitting here thinking okay well you were

blessed fortunate whatever the word you

want to use in that the experience then

allowed me to have this mindset

and normally I'd like yeah you're

probably right but natur I think you're

totally wrong it's that I have this

mindset that the experience happens

without the mindset The Experience

doesn't happen when someone posts on the

job board at Art Center looking for

designer $30 an hour to work on Bank

brochures I tear that thing I take the

phone number I call a person I show them

my portfolio they say okay you're hired

we'll give you some work to do so the

market told me $30 an hour that's my

experience and if I left it there I

would have just stayed at $30 an hour I

might have after a year of doing this

might thought like to myself like maybe

I should charge $40 an hour but it was

my belief system My Philosophy to ask

myself I wonder what the limitation is

of what someone would pay me to do the

work that they're asking me to do so

then that allowed me to take a different

set of

actions because your belief system

determin what you're going to say and

what you say is more likely going to

indicate what you're going to do and

when you have the result of what you do

they inform or reinforce your belief

system and so we can be stuck in this

thing where we're only PID $30 an hour

and then it tells us that's the maximum

what I'm trying to tell you right now

the biggest fundamental change that

you're going to have in your life isn't

necessarily to change what you're going

to say or do but it's to start with what

you believe to be true what you believe

you're capable of

doing now I also need to say this

because people will get up in arms about

it and say well not everybody can do

what you do that is true thankfully not

everybody can do what I do not everybody

went to a four-year private Art School

University and did everything they could

to be at the top of their class to work

on their portfolio to have some Mastery

of craft most of my videos make the

assumption that you've done the work I'm

not here to sell you shortcuts I'm not

here to tell you about life hacks about

how you don't have to have any skill you

have to have skill you have to put in

your 10,000 hours of deliberate

intentional practice at working on your

craft once you've done that you'll find

out that doing another 10,000 hours of

practiceing your craft will only create

incremental improvements in your

financial well-being that after you did

after you've done that initial work the

rest of the transformation is going to

happen believe it or not in your mind

and not the craft itself about how you

position yourself about how you think of

your work and the kinds of problems

you're trying to solve improving your

communication skills understanding

things like marketing in sales how you

handle objections when they come in the

buy s cycle if you have a healthy

attitude about the work that you do and

the value that you create built on a

foundation of skill and deliberate

intentional practice then we should be

having this kind of dialogue and this is

who this video is for so it's your

belief system that informs how you're

going to behave it's not the other way

around if you're listening to this and

you're still here with me and you're

thinking okay if the belief system is

the thing that creates the path for you

you what does one need to do to be able

to have this kind of mindset okay

there's a there's a couple of simple

steps all right first I want you to ask

yourself is my current belief system my

identity my world view is it serving me

right now and if you're watching this

video chances are it's not serving you

right now because you're like why can't

I achieve these things so in order for

you to achieve these things you cannot

use the same operating system you can't

continue down the same path there's a

quote somewhere that says the thinking

that created the problem can't be the

thinking that solves the problem because

you created the problem you've designed

a beautiful luxurious prison for your

mind and you live in it so if you've

decided enough is enough I don't want

this thing that I keep getting then

that's the first step to say like okay

I've tried it my way for months years or

decades it's not working for me I want

to try something else you have to be

open to this thing

and the thing that you're going to hear

is going to challenge your core

fundamental beliefs it has to otherwise

it's not worth pursuing it has to be

such a radical idea it feels like a slap

in the face and it's something that

challenges your perception of reality

and the rules of life this is why so few

people are able to make the kind of

progress that they need to make in their

life to improve their standing because

they hear an idea that's foreign that

challenges their belief systems and they

systematically just reject and push away

and there's many forms that this will

take place because it's deceptive one

form will be well that will probably

work for some people but it won't work

for me you have the the exceptional rule

it'll work for everyone except for

me there's the other thing that says you

know

what I'll do this tomorrow so that's the

procrastinator speaking in your ear

saying you know what we do believe this

we believe we're capable of doing this

but today's not the day I have too much

at stake we'll we'll put this off till

tomorrow there's the third voice in your

head that's going to say well we need a

perfect plan and proof before we should

do this because we have too much to risk

this is the perfectionist voice that

tells you everything must be lined up

because the fear of failure is enough

for us to not want to take action well I

read something from Leila hosi that said

the risk of being humiliated or failure

is the cost of entry for the growth that

you seek in your life so we have to risk

failing which might seem like

humiliation and

ridicule and that's just the cost of

playing the

game and you have to surrender you have

to let go of your old identity to say

like you know what that got me here I'm

grateful for all my beliefs and my

culture my customs and my habits but now

in order for me to go and Ascend the

next Mountain I have to release myself

of some of this baggage to make myself

lighter physically spiritually mentally

so what we do is we seek people who we

trust and just need to be me seek

whoever you want who can say something

to you and say do this next

step and for us to be able to accept

that and hold it in our heart and say

okay I don't understand it I don't have

a perfect plan I believe I'm capable of

doing this I don't have any Assurance

it's going to work but I'm going to do

it just going to do it and I have

countless examples of people who

approach me up on the street at a

convention at a coffee shop say you know

Chris I didn't think it was going to

work the thing you said for us to do I

didn't think that whole double your rate

thing was going to work I didn't think

saying no or making myself less

available is going to work and I did it

you know what I sit there and I smile

like what pray

tell it worked Chris I'm like you don't

say you don't say the thing that I've

been telling you to do for the last 9

years over and over in every form that I

know how to say it in in words in role

plays on a whiteboard on a keynote

present on a prescripted talk I was

trying to say in a different way so you

can hear

me and so the only thing you need to ask

yourself

today are you ready to hear

me are you ready to cast aside your

limiting beliefs your self-doubt and

your need for perfectionism and

procrastination as defensive tools to

achieving the life that you want if

you're ready I'm here for

you and the step forward not that

complicated act in spite of any

assurances that anything's going to work

C Seas don't make great Sailors you want

to go out there and explore the world be

an Explorer you have to Brave be brave

enough to face some unknown things some

potential Peril you have to risk

something but uh as another quote if you

think I'm

expensive wait till you get the bill

from someone who doesn't know what

they're

doing