
Hosted by Shawn Buttner · EN

After creating 700+ YouTube videos, 430 landing pages, 175 podcast episodes, and 10 years of newsletters, I realized the problem wasn't showing up or producing. It was clarity about myself in relation to the work. In this episode, I'm soft launching a new format for the show exploring the creator as the ultimate input into all technology, systems, and processes. I share my personal clarity journey and introduce a 5 step framework to help you get clear on who you are as a creator so you can lead your tools, team, and creative process. You'll learn why borrowed language keeps you disconnected from your work, how treating content as idea exploration changes everything, and the five elements that become your input for AI, team communication, and better results. Topics discussed: Intros: The 700 videos problem (00:00)The Input: My background and hiding behind borrowed language (01:00)The Signal: Five Areas of Creator Clarity (06:00)The Output: How clarity changed my creative process (08:00)Wrapping Up: Quick self assessment on the 5 elements (10:00)New Workshop announcement (12:00)Finishing Up: Final thought (13:00) The 5 Step Clarity Framework: Ideas: Your ownable IP Beliefs: What you stand for Taste: Your quality standards Stories: How you communicate Expression: Your tone and style Want to go deeper? Join the You First Framework webinar series at www.shawnbuttner.com/ai to get AI prompts that help you define these elements and create your communication document. Have thoughts on this new format? Email support@shawnbuttner.com

700 videos. 430 landing pages. 170+ podcast episodes. And a decade of newsletters. So why wasn't anything sticking? In this mini update episode, Shawn gets real about what's been happening behind the scenes, and the common thread he found running through all of it. If you've ever felt like you're putting in the work but not getting the traction, this one's for you. Topics discussed: Where Shawn's been (00:00) The numbers that forced the question (00:00) The common thread — and what it revealed (00:45) What the last five months looked like (01:15) What's coming next to the podcast (01:45) How to co-create the new show (02:00) Listen to Creators That Crush on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYGHMT5cuFigp3efE8FwNw/ Connect with Shawn Buttner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner/

The best thing YouTube does for creators has nothing to do with views — it's the 1% improvements you make every single time you hit record. In this episode, freelance videographer Joseph Burda shares what that growth looked like as a stay-at-home dad and how a no-niche sandbox approach helped him avoid burnout as a new creator. You'll learn how to escape the sunk cost trap that keeps so many creators stuck, find your creator cohort, and actually enjoy the journey. Topics discussed: Introduction (00:00) What 1% looks like for creators (01:42) The impetus to finally get on YouTube (05:45) How YouTube grows you as a person and creator (07:11) Joseph’s creative process (15:18) The sandbox approach to avoid burnout and just get started (17:28) Finding your YouTube cohort (19:06) Why so many creators lose their agency (23:37) How to live a regret-free life as a creator (27:09) Why you should lean into your interests (32:45) Closing (38:12) Joseph Burda is a creative director, editor, and dad. The Bham Burdas is where he documents real-life experiments with money, mindset, family, and living a regret free life... Among other things. Connect with Joseph: https://www.youtube.com/@CreatorControlGroup https://www.youtube.com/@B-hamburdas Listen to Creators That Crush on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Listen to Creators That Crush on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zm76yT667pFBQfvPYhDl8?si=7f0267d0366742f7 Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYGHMT5cuFigp3efE8FwNw/ Connect with Shawn Buttner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

How do you find "your thing?" The answer isn't another tactic or course — it's connecting with your unique voice. In this episode, Jeremy Enns of Podcast Marketing Academy breaks down the three pillars of your creative DNA that make your work uniquely yours. You'll learn how your early experiences can signal what your creative DNA is made of, why best practices alone turn your work into a commodity, and what can truly separate you from the rest. Topics discussed: The three pillars of creative DNA What helps creative growth (and what doesn’t) How to avoid clichés and generic approaches Why it's important to follow your creative impulses The EARS Framework for identifying weak points of your show Jeremy Enns is the Founder of Podcast Marketing Academy, where he helps expertise-based business owners add $10k/mo to their business through conversion-optimized podcast strategies. Pinpoint the problems keeping your show from more listeners and more clients with the free, 2-minute EARS Assessment. https://podcastmarketingacademy.com/audit Every podcaster runs into the 7-year burnout wall. Podcast coach Kev Michael shares his journey of burnout, and rediscovering the joy in his business, and what creators can do to get back on track when they feel burnt out about their work. https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/creators-that-crush/episodes/2149073093 Listen to Creators That Crush on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Listen to Creators That Crush on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zm76yT667pFBQfvPYhDl8?si=7f0267d0366742f7 Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYGHMT5cuFigp3efE8FwNw/ Connect with Shaw Buttner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

If you’ve ever wondered why some creators stay consistent, grow their work, and keep loving the process while others quietly burn out, this episode will show you the difference. In this solo reflection, Shawn Buttner shares his initial case for enthusiasm as the true currency of creativity, why sustained excitement for your craft predicts long-term success better than hustle, algorithms, or luck. Drawing from his own journey from business school to Walmart, Apple, and finally coaching, Shawn shows how enthusiasm guided every major pivot and how losing it nearly ended his creative drive. You’ll also hear what Shawn learned from studying dozens of “I Quit” creator videos and how fading enthusiasm, not failure, was usually the real reason people walked away. He then unpacks five lasting benefits of protecting and amplifying your enthusiasm: clearer career decisions, creative freedom, contagious energy, sustainable motivation, and deep personal satisfaction. If your spark has dimmed or you’ve been pushing through out of obligation, this episode will help you reconnect with why you started. What are your thoughts on enthusiasm? The two questions from the episode are: When is a time when your enthusiasm helped lead you to success? When is a time when you were, your enthusiasm dropped and it caused you to quit something? Feel free to email support@shawnbuttner.com with your answers or thoughts. To see a creator enthusiasm journey, check out Kev Michael's interview here: https://youtu.be/u3mvOCXj5xU

Tired of overthinking? Doubting your work and letting fear hold you back? Mindset can only get you so far. What you really need is the resilience to show up and build real confidence. Resilience coach Carlos Garcia is an expert in resilience training and performing under pressure — especially when you're stuck in a cycle of anxiety and self-doubt. In this episode, he shares actionable tools and real-world practices you can start using today to rewire your nervous system, get out of your comfort zone, and feel confident in your content. You'll learn how to face the fears keeping you stuck and manage the discomfort of being a creator! Topics discussed: The vulnerability of being a creator Overcoming fear of judgment and imposter syndrome How to create a “personal constitution” The role of physical activity in resilience training Embarrassment drills and the exposure ladder tool How to rewrite the stories you tell yourself 3 common fears that hold creators back How to rewire your nervous system Carlos is co-founder of True Progress Lab, where he helps people get calm under pressure, get bold, and go after big opportunities. He’s also an attorney by trade, an Army reserve JAG, and an Army certified resilience trainer where he trains soldiers and leaders on tools to stay calm and resilient under stress. Links: Learn more about the Fortress Program that helps people get calm, get bold, and get after it: https://www.trueprogresslab.com/innerfortress Connect with Carlos on Instagram: @trueprogresslab Listen to Creators That Crush on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Listen to Creators That Crush on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zm76yT667pFBQfvPYhDl8?si=7f0267d0366742f7 Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYGHMT5cuFigp3efE8FwNw/ Connect with Shaw Buttner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

Feel like you're creating but your content isn’t landing? The solution could be as simple as treating your content like a product. Not sure what that means? In this episode, Diana Ordoñez explains how to define the “job” of your content, clarify your audience, and create content that connects. You’ll learn a simple exercise to discover your core values and how to use empathy as a strategic tool for growth. If you want to turn your content from a hobby into a business, this episode is for you! Topics discussed: The product manager mindset for creators Why creators need to niche down The “jobs to be done” concept How to create content that connects (and sells) How to define your values and build a business around them What it takes to sustain a creative business Diana Ordonez is an Executive & High Performance Coach (CHPC, BCC) with a Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. She draws on her decade of experience as a corporate product management director, along with her journey of personal resilience and growth, to help leaders lead with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Connect with Diana Ordonez: https://www.lifeonpurpose.coach/thrive https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBVp_swZl5Mqx_nVCi6fFQ https://instagram.com/lifeonpurpose.coach/ Listen to Creators That Crush on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Listen to Creators That Crush on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zm76yT667pFBQfvPYhDl8?si=7f0267d0366742f7 Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYGHMT5cuFigp3efE8FwNw/ Connect with Shaw Buttner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbuttner/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

If your publishing feels heavy, your positioning probably is. In this episode, Shawn shows professional creators how to define their audience using AAM—Audience, Aspiration, Method—and a 10-second one-liner you can actually say out loud. When AAM is crisp, creation gets easier, outreach lands, and platform changes don’t shake you. You’ll hear clear AAM examples (Creator Science, Calm is the New KPI, GrowthDay) and Shawn’s own pivot from fuzzy messaging to a weekly outreach process and product clarity (premise/promise/delivery). Then we run a timed AAM Drill: 5 minutes on audience identities/psychographics, 5 minutes on concrete aspirations, 5 minutes on the transformation (your method). Cap it with the Flow / Memorability / 10-Second checks so you can use your AAM this week. Topics discussed: What is AAM and examples from other creators The 10-second test, and how you can accomplish it Where creators get tripped up Links: Link to Susan Boles's Episode: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/creators-that-crush/episodes/2149041136 Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zm76yT667pFBQfvPYhDl8?si=7f0267d0366742f7 Free 30-min Strategy Session: www.shawnbuttner.com/30

You know your stuff... so why are you still struggling as a creator? Are you undervaluing your work or confused about your message? In this episode, branding coach Christine Blosdale breaks down how confidence (not talent) is holding you back and what it takes to own your expert power. If you're afraid to charge more for your services or call yourself an expert in your niche, her tips will help you overcome imposter syndrome, build your brand, and reach the right audience! Topics discussed: Common mistakes creators make How imposter syndrome holds you back How to define your message and your audience Six ways to overcome imposter syndrome Why you should embrace failure Christine Blosdale is The Expert Authority Coach — and for over 25 years, she's helped entrepreneurs, coaches, and business leaders stop playing small and start commanding the attention they deserve. As a five-time #1 bestselling author and award-winning media personality, Christine has contributed to major platforms like America Online and Microsoft - and now she helps entrepreneurs amplify their message with high-impact branding, marketing via podcasting, and bold visibility strategies that get results. Her mission? To help you master your message, magnetize your brand, and become the go-to authority in your niche. For more information visit ExpertAuthorityCoach.com Connect with Christine Blosdale: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristineBlosdale https://www.ExpertAuthorityCoach.com Get your free gift: https://mailchi.mp/4bbbfb0a3de4/survivalguide This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

Most creators are told the answer to slow growth is more output, more tactics, or more courses. But what if the real breakthrough comes from looking inward? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own podcast and walking you through the nine things I believe are wrong with Creators That Crush. From a name that might be sending the wrong signal to unclear episode expectations, inconsistent quality, and engagement issues — I’m sharing it all. You’ll hear how I gathered feedback, spotted patterns, and boiled it all down into three big changes that will help me (and maybe you) create better, faster, and with more joy: Refocus on the show’s core promise. Lean into a consistent, transformation-driven episode structure. Invest more in pre-production to tighten clarity and packaging. If you’ve been creating for a while and feel stuck, this episode is your step-by-step example of how to use self-reflection to move forward. Listen in, then try this process for yourself. Check out the previously mentioned episode with Kev Michael Here: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/podcasts/creators-that-crush/episodes/2149073093 Apple: https://apple.co/3duh0xG Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zm76yT667pFBQfvPYhDl8?si=7f0267d0366742f7 Free 30-min Creator Strategy Session: https://www.shawnbuttner.com/30