This video is a collaboration I did with American Family Insurance about 3 rules you should totally break if you are serious about achieving your dreams. Inspired by my book, A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything. In the early 2000s, a comedy skit turned the phrase “more cowbell” into a cultural phenomenon. And although it’s considered comedy gold, it’s also a good metaphor for looking at things from a different perspective. …
The Blog
3 Rules You’ll Need to Break to Achieve Your Dreams
This video is a collaboration I did with American Family Insurance about 3 rules you should totally break if you are serious about achieving your dreams. Inspired by my book, Penguins Can't Fly +39 Other Rules That Don't Exist. Although a little bit of structure is good when it comes to planning out your future and working towards your goals, certain ‘rules’ can hold us back. Think about it, who says you have to go about your life a certain way? Who says following the rules is the recipe for success? Remember, everything is impossible…until it’s not. …
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Awesome Boss, Ugly Cake
Tina Oldham is the Principal of Cowden-Herrick Elementary School in Illinois. After attending a program I did for educators earlier this year, in which I talked about the beauty of ugly cakes, Tina's teachers were inspired to create this Boss's Day cake for her. Nice work huh? (I like the toothbrush, which I imagine came in handy after finishing said cake.) And I especially liked the quote in Tina's email signature: "Show Up, Work Hard, Be Kind." A good strategy for whatever you do in life! …
Outgrowing Our Sense of Wonder
C Plane by Jason Kotecki. 20x20 inches. Oil on canvas.Original is SOLD. Prints available. Remember alphabet soup? I ask you to remember because the last time you had it probably wasn’t yesterday, or last week. It may have been a decade or four. Something about alphabet soup brings out a sense of wonder and curiosity in us as kids. We stir it around to see if any secret messages emerge randomly, like a vegetable fueled Ouiji board. We use our spoon to carefully arrange our own words, spell our name, a simple sentence, or maybe a dirty word...Just me? But then we outgrow alphabet soup. Why? Are we afraid our sophistication will be challenged? That we’ll be considered immature? That people won’t take us seriously? in a seemingly unrelated note, it’s impossible for me to see an airplane and not think of my father-in-law Gary. He loves airplanes. He used to drag his wife and four daughters to air shows. Their reviews of the regular excursions are mixed, but one thing was …
Studio Sneak Peek #95: Monkeys & Star Wars
A candid look behind the scenes of Jason’s studio, through the eyes of his biggest fan... …
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Heather Haas, December 2019 Adultitis Fighter of the Month
An Adultitis Fighter is someone who rallies against rules that don't exist and engages in ruthless, senseless acts of silliness that undermine Adultitis and its unadventurous version of adulthood. Once a month, we shine a light upon the most remarkable among us, holding them up as a dazzling example of what we should strive for in this epic battle against a formidable enemy. Heather Haas' example of fighting Adultitis is beautiful. She walks her talk. She lives a bright, unapologetically bold life and it's refreshing and inspiring (and maybe sometimes even a bit challenging - in a good way) for all of those who come near enough to witness her life of awesomeness. It’s all about her perspective and intention, as you’ll read below. One thing that stands out about Heather is that she takes the necessary time needed to fill her cup and in turn has a generous amount of love and kindness to pour out into those around her. This delicate balance is found with mindfulness, love, a …
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Hope in the Desert
"Hope in the Desert." 16x20 inches. Oil on canvas.Original and prints available. When Kim and I started this adventure, we were optimistic. Very. When we decided to abandon my career as a freelance illustrator and designer, we felt very strongly that my comic strip Kim & Jason was going to hit the big time. We planned to live on Kim’s kindergarten teaching salary, which we knew would require sacrifice, but we were fairly certain that within a year, Kim & Jason would take the world by storm and we’d be exchanging phone calls with Oprah and her people. We had no idea it would take five years before we’d be able to earn a living with our business. And by earning a living, I mean simply replacing the Kim’s robust $23,000 teaching salary. It didn’t take long for the optimism that launched our big dream to fade. For much of those five years, it felt like we were living in the desert. Any encouraging email from a reader, or an order on our store that …
Studio Sneak Peek #94: A Trip to Cloud City
A candid look behind the scenes of Jason’s studio, through the eyes of his biggest fan... …
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Wondernite 2019 Recap
The third annual Wondernite was another magical affair filled with smiles, wows, and even a few tears. The exclusive art collecting event is where I premiere never-before-seen originals and limited edition artwork, but more than anything, the team and I strive to create an inspiring and entertaining evening of wonder. I wanted to share a few thoughts (and a lot of photos!) from the evening. Enjoy! Guests came from all over to the top of the Park Hotel, with stunning views of the majestic State Capitol building, to enjoy a fancy night out and browse my newest creations. Along with the original art, we also have a ton of other fun goodies on hand, including our newest product releases, which make perfect gifts that accommodate any sized-budget. Kim and I were excited to have our children join us for the first time this year. We weren't sure how they'd handle the late night and the fancy dinner, …
Sticky Concepts that Stifle Stress and Burnout
I believe the mark of an effective presenter is the level of impact that lingers long after the speech is over. Although I love creating a funny, inspiring and insightful experience, I am most delighted to hear the ways people and organizations keep the message alive years after my presentation. One of the ways I do this is by providing sticky concepts and unique terminology that anchor the principles I share in people’s minds. Perhaps the clearest example of this is my introduction of Adultitis, which represents a bully that is eager to facilitate burnout, sow discord, and stifle innovation. Establishing a common enemy allows a team to rally together in a fun and effective way, rather than pointing fingers of blame at one another. I also encourage people to accomplish big things by being mindful of celebrating the little wins along the way. Recently, an organization I spoke to several years ago reached out to share some ways they continue to keep Adultitis at bay by …
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