The Resources That Shaped Me as a Creative and entrepreneur
No one builds a business alone. And looking back at my journey—from running solo shoots to leading national productions—I can confidently say I wouldn’t be where I am today without a few key resources that gave me the tools, perspective, and creative spark to grow.
These communities, companies, and creators have each played a unique role in my development—both professionally and personally. So I wanted to take a moment to spotlight a few of the most influential ones.
💼 The Wealthy Creative
Running a video production business takes more than just cameras and creativity. The business side—client acquisition, pricing strategy, workflow systems, tructuring long-term client relationships—is often where the biggest gaps are for creatives. That’s where The Wealthy Creative comes in.
This community has been one of the most valuable resources I’ve had as a business owner. It’s filled with likeminded creatives from around the country who are committed to learning, growing, and helping one another succeed. From contract structures to project workflows to mindset shifts, this group has consistently pushed me to level up.
If you’re a creative entrepreneur looking for more than surface-level advice, I can’t recommend it enough.
🏀 HallPass Media
Long before Max Miller Media became what it is today, I spent nearly a decade at HallPass Media—one of the most dynamic sports marketing agencies in the country. It was the ultimate crash course in digital marketing, event production, and brand storytelling at scale.
Here, I built and led the internal video production team for the NBA Summer League, produced national broadcasts for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, executed digital content strategies for The Basketball Tournament, and livestreamed hundreds of Adidas grassroots basketball events across the country featuring the top amateur athletes in the game.
I also managed social media accounts for dozens of high-profile brands, helping connect storylines across platforms in real time. Every bit of that experience sharpened my creative eye, taught me to think big-picture, and prepared me for the work I do today. I owe a lot to HallPass and the people I worked with there.
🎙️ Chase Jarvis LIVE
There aren’t many shows that consistently deliver creative wisdom, entrepreneurial insight, and authentic conversations the way Chase Jarvis LIVE does. Over the years, this podcast has served as a reliable north star for me when I need inspiration or clarity—not just as a creative, but as a business owner.
What sets this show apart is how grounded and honest the conversations are. Chase isn’t afraid to ask hard questions or dig deep into what it really takes to build something meaningful—creatively, professionally, and personally.
Here are three episodes that stand out as some of the most impactful and popular of all time:
1. Brené Brown — The Power of Vulnerability
Takeaway: Vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s the birthplace of creativity, courage, and connection.
In this conversation, Brené Brown breaks down how vulnerability plays a direct role in leadership, storytelling, and innovation. She also talks about how creatives often hold back because of fear—fear of being judged, of failing, of not being enough. But the more we allow ourselves to be seen, the more impactful our work becomes.
I come back to this one whenever I feel resistance to putting myself—or my ideas—out there.
2. Tim Ferriss — Deconstructing World-Class Performance
Takeaway: World-class creatives and entrepreneurs rarely succeed by accident. They build systems, ask better questions, and experiment constantly.
If The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show is my most-played podcast, then The Tim Ferriss Show is a close second. So anytime these two heavyweights sit down together, I pay extra attention. Their episodes are packed with perspective—on mindset, creativity, productivity, and navigating the messy reality of building something meaningful.
In this episode, Tim breaks down the patterns he’s discovered after interviewing hundreds of top performers across industries. One takeaway that stuck with me: the idea of fear-setting. Instead of traditional goal-setting, Tim walks through how identifying your worst-case scenarios (and then strategically reducing their impact) can unlock real momentum. It’s a mindset I’ve carried into high-stakes creative decisions and business planning alike.
3. Gary Vaynerchuk — The Future of Brand Building
Takeaway: Brand storytelling is about attention, authenticity, and volume. And video is at the center of it all.
Gary Vee talks about the sheer importance of putting out a lot of content—but doing it in a way that actually connects with people. He speaks on how video is the most powerful tool we have today to tell our stories at scale, and how perfectionism is often just an excuse for inaction. His message reinforced what I already believed: frequency builds momentum, and clarity comes from doing.
These conversations (and dozens of others from the Chase Jarvis catalog) have influenced how I think, create, and lead. Whether I’m on set directing a shoot or back at the desk scoping a strategy with a client, the lessons I’ve picked up here are in the back of my mind—quietly shaping the way I work.
If you’re a creative entrepreneur or just someone hungry to grow, I highly recommend digging into the archive.
📺 YouTube (and Premiere Gal)
Honestly, YouTube has probably been the single biggest technical teacher in my life. From lighting techniques to camera breakdowns to editing workflows, I’ve learned more from this platform than I ever expected.
One channel that’s been a steady go-to over the years is Premiere Gal. It’s one of the best resources out there for Adobe Creative Cloud tutorials, gear reviews, and staying up to speed with constantly evolving tools and technology.
If I ever hit a snag in Premiere, After Effects, or anything in between, this channel is usually the first tab I open.
🚀 Wrapping Up
Success in this industry isn’t just about talent—it’s about who and what you learn from, the standards you set for yourself, and how willing you are to keep growing. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have these resources help shape my career and my business.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your edge, I hope some of these serve you as well as they’ve served me.
And if you have a resource or community that’s helped you grow—send it my way. I’m always looking to learn from others who are in the trenches doing the work.