If you’re feeling anxious about money right now, you’re not alone. Shrinking budgets, AI headlines, and general chaos have a lot of us questioning our value. The default move? Grab the nearest paycheck. But here’s the truth: trading your dreams for short-term security is the fastest way to kill the life you actually want.

Paying the bills matters—we’ve all been there. I waited tables in the early days of my photography career just to get by. But that was never the goal. The real goal was building a life with freedom at its core. Because freedom is what fuels creativity. It’s what lets you chase the projects, the art, and the opportunities that light you up.

Your future self is begging you not to settle. Fear says play it safe. Freedom says create. Every time you choose freedom—whether that’s carving out an hour to shoot, write, or build—you’re moving closer to the life you want.

• Why chasing paychecks without purpose keeps you stuck
• How designing for freedom fuels creativity (and opportunity)
• What Paris taught me about building a framework for creative living
• Why clarity + momentum are the secret weapons for designing your life
• How to balance short-term security with long-term vision

The big idea?
Money matters. Security matters. But if you sacrifice your vision just to feel safe, you’ll never build the life you know you’re capable of living. Freedom isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you design, one intentional choice at a time.

I’m writing this from the beach, staring at the ocean, and I’ve got one big reminder for you today: You are your future.

Sure, AI is everywhere. New tools pop up daily. You’ve probably seen the tweets: “Anyone can type a prompt and become a world-class designer, writer, photographer.” Sounds nice. But let’s be real—that’s not how this works.

AI is powerful. No doubt. But it’s still just a tool. A $10,000 camera won’t make you Ansel Adams. And a shiny new AI app won’t magically give you taste, vision, or experience. Those come from the reps—from showing up, failing, refining, and creating again.

So if you’ve spent years honing your craft, here’s the truth: You’re at an advantage. Your taste, scars, and hard-won skills can’t be downloaded. And no AI prompt can replicate them.

• Why your creative vision is the differentiator that separates pros from amateurs
• How fluency in your craft helps you direct tools (instead of guessing with them)
• Why every new tool—from Photoshop to AI—is just another layer on the same creative job
• How to flip the “AI makes me obsolete” narrative into fuel for your next chapter
• Why your fundamentals—taste, style, voice—matter more now than ever

The big idea?
The tool is the least important part of the work. You don’t need to become a “prompt engineer.” You just need to keep showing up as the creative badass you already are—one who adapts, experiments, and leads with vision.

In this episode, Jim Murphy shares how training your mind for inner excellence leads to peace, confidence, and extraordinary performance. Jim is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and Performance Coach to some of the best athletes and leaders in the world. He began his career as a professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization, later coaching with the Texas Rangers and the South African Olympic baseball team. Jim has worked with world champion golfers, FedEx Cup champions, and world #1’s — and most of his clients experience the best year of their careers in their first year with him. In addition to coaching professional athletes and executives, he leads Inner Excellence retreats worldwide and serves as president of the Inner Excellence Freedom Project, dedicated to alleviating spiritual and physical poverty.

We dig into Jim’s remarkable story — from giving away half his possessions and heading into the desert to discovering the principles that became his life’s work. Along the way, he unpacks how courage, presence, and letting go of the past are key to unlocking human potential. Whether you’re an athlete, a business leader, or just someone who wants more peace and confidence in your life, this conversation will expand what you believe is possible.

Some highlights we explore:

• The moment AJ Brown was filmed reading Inter Excellence during every NFL playoff game, including the Super Bowl.
• Why Jim says “selfless is fearless” — and how the greatest need of the human heart is unconditional love.
• The BFF formula: belief, focus, and freedom — and why courage is the most common trait of high performers.
• The four daily goals of inner excellence: learn and grow, be present, gratitude, and focus on what you can control.

Enjoy!