what happens after success? the scary thing we need to talk about….

One scary part about putting yourself out there is that you might fail.

Another (even scarier part) is that you might succeed.

If you put your best work out there and do something really great and it happens to be well-received, then what?

→ More people will see you and hear you and potentially judge you.

→ People will expect more of you.

→ You may question whether or not you’ll ever create anything as good.

Pretty terrifying on all fronts, right?

Personally, I’ve felt these fears after every “good” blog post I’ve written or dance piece I’ve created.

“Oh sh*t. There it goes. My last good idea. People liked it...what the hell am I going to do next?!”

Or:

“That was just luck. I’ll never be able do another one.”

The only thing I can do in these moments (which happen over and over again, by the way) is to stop thinking about it and just keep writing, dancing and living my life. I keep showing up and I keep creating consistently, whether any of it is “good” or not.

Because here’s the thing -

We don’t control creativity.

We don’t control people’s reactions to what we make.

The only thing we have control over is our commitment to keep going and to keep making space for our creative process. That’s all.

There is no end goal. Sure, there are exciting and important milestones like the Oscars, the talent competition shows, the “big breaks,” - but none of those are the end. In many cases, they are just the beginning.

Your job is to structure your life so that it allows you to continue creating in a sustainable, nourishing way, and to keep practicing and putting yourself out there repeatedly.

Are you up for the job?

Tell me more about your process with success in the comments below.

AND -

Here’s a way to take it a step farther:

If you are an entrepreneur or artist (or aspiring entrepreneur or artist) who:

• wants to bring more of your creative voice into your work

• feels stuck or at a crossroads in your life and career

• clings to fears that hold you back from creating the work you truly want to create

...I’m opening up 5 Creative Guidance Sessions in my calendar, on scholarship, specifically for you.

This is an opportunity to have a complimentary, no-strings-attached 30-minute phone call with me 1-1 in which we’ll talk more about exactly what you’re struggling with, what you desire to create in your life, and how I can help you get unstuck and get where you want to go. If it seems like any of my program offerings could serve you at this time, I’ll share more about them and how we can continue working together.

To apply for one of these 5 spots, simply email me a few sentences on what you’re struggling with and why it’s time for you to take action. (Bonus points if you also include how Creative Fridays has helped you!)

to your success and the process beyond it,

Jess

p.s. For those of you who have been keeping up with my New York’s Got Talent adventure, here’s the update:

I did not win the audience vote or judges vote in the first round, however, I got fantastic feedback from the judges and found out the next day that I was invited back to the Wild Card night! This is a another chance to perform and possibly move onto the semi-finals.

Here’s the recording of Wednesday’s performance with the judges feedback if you’re curious.

(And yes, today's article is totally relevant for me as I think about "What the hell am I going to perform next!?" The answer is to just get into the rehearsal studio and find out ;)

the best new creative business tactic

Guys, I have a groundbreaking discovery to share with you this week.

Especially if you’re in a place where you feel like you’re trying really hard to get your passions going but are still hitting a wall, or you’re working many many hours and left feeling exhausted and drained.

This one’s for you.

I’ve been there and have worked so hard trying to get certain business things going until I practically was banging my head against a wall.

I’ve been at my laptop til all hours of the night “working” on stuff, feeling like it’s ok since it’s work that I actually love. (But it’s left me feeling too tired to go dance class or do something as simple as food shopping. Not a sustainable model!)

I’ve experienced the shame and stress of having no one sign up for a program that I had put my heart and soul into creating.

And after all that, here’s the new business tactic I discovered that’s really doing the trick:

It’s the “F*CK IT, HAVE MORE FUN” method.

“Oh, you mean, I can actually go out dancing and socialize with people instead of sitting behind my laptop plotting my next program?”

Yup.

“Oh, you mean, I really deserve to enjoy myself and have fun, even if I don’t feel super successful with my business at the moment?”

Yes indeed.

“Oh, you’re saying that when I open up to having fun and say f*ck it to the work-more, do-more, push-it model, I actually have a better flow of ideas and income?”

Abso-f*cking-lutely.

There it is.

Close your laptop.

Stop trying to figure it out.

Grab your dancing partner or find one on Tinder, and go have fun.

I bet you’ll be shocked at what opens up after.

I know I was.

Stay tuned for more on what has opened up - because it might be helpful to you! - but for now, I’m peacing out because the world of fun is calling my name.

handing you your permission slip for fun,

Jess Grippo

p.s. One of the things that’s lighting me up right now in my business is getting to coach the 7 members of the Take Your Passion, Make It Happen program, currently in progress. Rockstar-status breakthroughs are in process.

If you missed that boat, but sense my kind of guidance is the boost you’re needing in your life, check out my self-guided online program, Find Your Rhythm. 

things change, but does the essence stay the same?

In honor of the 4-year anniversary of Creative Fridays, today’s post features a throwback post, one that I originally wrote on February 17th of 2012.

[4 years of jazz hands]

It’s fascinating to me that I’ve been writing this blog weekly, consistently, for the past 4 years. Especially since there had been multiple other blogs and ideas that I started before it, but never quite kept going.

It’s also fascinating that the essence of what I wrote about then is still the same as what I’m writing about today. So much has changed, but yet the core of it has remained. (Including jazz hands.)

Think about where you were 4 years ago.

Perhaps your life circumstances were completely different. Perhaps they were similar to now.

No matter what the outside circumstances were like, what was the inner constant? What was that essence for you? The thing you ached for. The dream you tended to. The part of you that felt compelled to keep going.

Do you recognize an inner constant, too?

Share in the comments below - I’m curious to know how this lands for you :)

And here goes that post from 2012:

Do you have a dream?

You know, the kind of dream that might feel a little far off from where you are now, the kind of dream that whispers to you “anything is possible,” even if your rational mind shushes it up all too soon.

Do I know exactly what my dream is? Not really. I have ideas (and many of them involve being on stage with Lady Gaga or traveling the world making dance videos), but I’m starting to think that the uncertainty, the curiosity, the questions, are where the real juice is.

Isn’t that what pulls us forward into our dreams in ways that are even better than we could’ve imagined?

I used to get down on myself for not having a more traditional path, for not committing at a very young age to a single art form or trade. But now I’m beginning to cherish the many outlets I’ve explored and passions I’ve pursued. And in the process I’ve become so grateful for the circuitous path I travel upon.

I have a hunch that you have a dream (or multiple dreams), too. Even if they seem cloudy or completely out of sight, they are there within you. And they matter. And they are precious and need to be tended to if you ever want to discover what they really are and what they could become.

My hunch also tells me that you don’t have to abandon your life as you know it in order to pursue a dream. Of course sometimes we do feel compelled to quit our jobs, leave our primary relationships, move across the country, etc, etc, but for some of us who aren’t ready for that much of a leap, you can start small.

Start with one impulse, one picture, one dance class.

Start with Fridays and declare it your day to put more focus on your creative spirit.

Commit to nothing but yourself.

Learn from little kids and senior citizens.

Be curious.

Write down what you dream of at night.

Don’t wait for permission or a degree or certificate. You’re already an artist (or an athlete or an alchemist or a ….)

“Live the questions now,” as Rilke tells us.

I dare you to.

with love through the changes,

Jess

you don’t have to pick just one creative passion.

--> If you have multiple interests and creative inclinations...

--> If you cringe when people ask you, “What do you do?” because the real answer is a mile-long...

--> If you don’t want to box yourself into Just. One. Thing…..

This article is for you.

My short answer is: You don’t have to pick just one thing.

And here’s the longer answer of why that is:

Let’s use the example of basic human biology.

Women aren’t born with one single egg in their ovaries. They are born with thousands. Each month hundreds of them grow until one (or sometimes 2 or 3) gets big enough to be hatched into ovulation and released from its sac.

That egg has the potential to be fertilized and create new life. If it’s not fertilized, it’s released and the whole process starts again.

Nature makes sure we don’t put all our eggs in one basket. It gives us cycles so that the multitude of eggs contained within us have chances to be hatched at different times.

Why would your creativity be any different?

Give your multiple creative eggs time to marinate. There’s nothing wrong with having many of them in your basket. In fact, it’s basic biology and smart survival to do so.

Take turns tending to each of them. You’ll know when the time is ripe to fertilize one, and that will guide you naturally into spending more focused time on one of your growing creative babies. (for 9 months? or more? Who knows. You’ll know when you get there.)

Instead of feeling ashamed for not being more focused, get excited and proud of all the potential creative life that’s inside you!

Comment below and tell me:

What are YOUR multiple passions?

Are any of them calling for your attention right now?

Say it outloud and we’ll all feel less alone in our multi-passionate pursuits.

loving all your creative eggies,

Jess

p.s. Have a desire to start fertilizing one or two of your creative passions more fully? In keeping with the metaphor, I’d love to act as your creative midwife and help you fully give birth.

In my 6-week self-guided online program, I will take you through powerful and effective dance-based practices, writing tools, resources, and coaching lessons, that will help you manifest your creative project, business idea, and/or your unique voice into this world.

Check it out here.

why am I working SO much, but not making any headway?

Why am I not making any headway?

Why do I feel like a failure?

What am I supposed to be doing with my life?!

Questions like these can plague you for weeks at a time - or even longer.

What I’ve learned is that when you keep the questions in your head, they just stay there.

When you dance through them, you begin to embody answers.

Quick example of this from my own life:

I was feeling frustrated yesterday morning because I woke up late, launched right into work, and didn't do my morning dance. I was tired of doing so much "outreach" in my search for more dance teaching gigs, as well as filling my current group coaching program.

The question was: “Why does it feel like I’m not making any headway but I’m working SO much?!”

So I remembered my own advice and took an emergency dance break.

In an empty studio at the YMCA, I danced it out hard.

And then it was like magic happened - within an hour after dancing:

• someone signed up online for my group coaching program

• someone signed on to work with me as a copywriting client

• someone called me back from a nearby dance studio that opened up a huge door for my teaching.

Bam.

Dance IS the answer.

It got me out of my head and the cycle of trying to "figure everything out" and it made me more receptive to these opportunities.

Call it manifestation, call it the law of attraction, call it whatever you want, but in my book it's simply DANCE.

So remember next time you hit a wall, feel frustrated, or ask the same question over and over again….

Stop everything and take a dance break.

(Here’s a video prompt for my dance-based exercise to access your truth and get you unstuck!)

Magic happens if you simply decide to move your body.

So! That brings me to a special invitation for you -

If you could use more of THAT kind of magic in your life, listen up -

Did you Find Your Rhythm yet?

In this 6-week self-guided online program, I will take you through powerful and effective dance-based practices, writing tools, resources, and coaching lessons, that will help you manifest your creative project, business idea, and/or your unique voice into this world.

Check it out here.

dancing into the answers,

Jess

ask me a question. i'm the magic 8-ball of dance answers.

http://jessgrippo.com/danceanswer/

During next week's live online video event you will:

• literally get up and dance
• learn movement tools for activating your body’s wisdom
• break mental patterns that have been keeping you stuck or frustrated
• have a chance to get your question answered LIVE through interpretive dance, in the style of a human magic 8-ball
• leave the experience feeling clear and focused, with new opportunities for connection, community, and support

All you have to do is click here to sign up.

And please comment below with your questions - a few lucky askers will have their questions interpretively dance-answered by me, live on video next week!