The Identity Trap: Leadership, Purpose, and Playing Your Own Game

The Identity Trap: Leadership, Purpose, and Playing Your Own Game

CSA: Ready to build a sustainable growth engine that generates prosperity without funnel gymnastics? Join us for today’s Be a Blessing Marketing session. Reply ‘BLESSING’ for details! What happens when the role you’ve been playing no longer tells the full story of who you are? In this conversation, Scott Perry [https://substack.com/profile/39971827-scott-perry] joins Edgar Huitema, PhD [https://substack.com/profile/8537028-edgar-huitema-phd] to explore identity, leadership, coaching, creativity, and the shift from performing a role to practicing a way of being. Edgar shares his experience moving from scientist to leader and realizing that what animated him most was not simply biology, but learning, exploration, and working with people. Scott reflects on the “identity trap,” the difference between management and leadership, and why he sees himself less as a coach and more as a cornerman: someone who helps others get clear about where they are, what they want, and how to close the gap with greater ease and velocity. Together, they explore curiosity, humility, play, conversation, and choosing the game of life and work you actually want to play. Key Ideas Explored The identity trapRoles matter, but they are not the whole story. We can take our roles seriously without clinging to them so tightly that they limit our growth or happiness. Management vs. leadershipManagement often maintains the status quo. Leadership points toward something better and invites others to come along. From role to deeper identityEdgar’s shift from scientist to leader revealed that his deeper identity was not only rooted in biology, but in learning, exploring, and working with others. The cornerman postureScott describes his work as helping people see blind spots, reveal untapped potential, and decide what to do next. Being and becomingWe are already sufficient as we are, and we can still practice becoming more of who we are here to be. Play your own game“You can’t win a game you don’t want to play.” Success has to be defined on your terms, not inherited from society, family, peers, or the market. Begin and begin againEvery conversation, project, and moment offers the chance to return to openness, curiosity, and presence. Be interested, not interestingThe best conversations often begin when we stop trying to impress and start paying closer attention. Quoteable Moments “You can’t win a game you don’t want to play.” “We can take our roles seriously without clinging to them as the whole story.” “Management often maintains what is. Leadership points toward what might be.” “Every moment gives us the chance to begin and begin again.” “People don’t need you to be interesting as much as they appreciate you being interested.” Your Turn Where are you clinging to a role that once served you, but may now be too small for who you are becoming? And what would change if you stopped trying to play someone else’s game and started defining success on your own terms? Links and Resources Subscribe to Creative on Purpose on Substack: Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose YouTube channel for more conversations, frameworks, and practical encouragement for purpose-driven solopreneurs. Thank you Claire Machado [https://substack.com/profile/168845660-claire-machado], Duncan The Sage [https://substack.com/profile/254449706-duncan-the-sage], and many others for tuning into my live video with Edgar Huitema, PhD [https://substack.com/profile/8537028-edgar-huitema-phd]! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Why You Need to Ditch the Funnel Strategy Now

What if the fastest path to a better business isn’t another funnel, lead magnet, or content strategy? In this conversation, Scott Perry [https://substack.com/profile/39971827-scott-perry] of Creative on Purpose [https://creativeonpurpose.substack.com] joins Ryan Maxwell [https://substack.com/profile/173371684-ryan-maxwell] of Chasing Maximus [https://chasingmaximus.substack.com/] for a candid discussion about purpose-driven work, burnout, digital marketing BS, and the deeper work of closing the gap between where you are and what you actually want. Scott shares how he built a successful business that looked good on paper but felt soul-sucking in practice—and how he rebuilt around conversations, generosity, right-fit relationships, and work that funds and fits the life he wants. Together, Scott and Ryan explore identity, ancient wisdom, Stoicism, Substack, self-trust, and why knowledge is rarely the real obstacle. The real work is implementation, awareness, and becoming more of who you’ve always been. 7 Essential Takeaways * Funnels work, but they are not the only way to build a business. * Conversations are often the fastest path to clarity, connection, and right-fit clients. * Closing the gap starts by defining the real problem, not chasing more information. * Much of business growth begins by stopping what doesn’t actually matter. * People don’t pay for information; they pay for help implementing insight. * Purpose-driven work requires letting go of games you never chose to play. * Becoming is often less about reinvention and more about returning to who you’ve always been. For more conversations and principle-based guidance for building a business that funds and fits the life you actually want, subscribe to Creative on Purpose on Substack: Join the conversation, participate in the community, and explore The Circle for coaching, resources, and support. Thank you Edgar Huitema, PhD [https://substack.com/profile/8537028-edgar-huitema-phd], New Paths with Sparks [https://substack.com/profile/246832865-new-paths-with-sparks], Duncan The Sage [https://substack.com/profile/254449706-duncan-the-sage], and many others for tuning into my live video with Ryan Maxwell [https://substack.com/profile/173371684-ryan-maxwell]! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Make Decisions Better

Most of us believe the goal is to make better decisions. But the more useful practice may be learning how to make better decisions. In this episode of Creative on Purpose Live, Scott Perry [https://substack.com/profile/39971827-scott-perry] introduces a practical Stoic decision-making framework rooted in the work of Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and the three Stoic disciplines: perception, action, and will. Scott reframes these disciplines into three simple questions: * What’s now?What is actually happening, stripped of fear, drama, and distorted stories? * What’s next?What can you decide and do from here? * What matters?What choice aligns with your values, integrity, and who you seek to become? This episode is especially useful for solopreneurs, freelancers, creatives, coaches, and anyone navigating uncertainty, overwhelm, or the pressure to make the “right” move. Key Ideas Trying to make the “best” decision can keep you stuck. The Stoic approach is not about certainty or control. It is about clarity, character, and aligned action. Epictetus’ Stoic fork reminds us that some things are within our control, and most things are not. We cannot control outcomes, other people, economic forces, health, weather, or circumstances. But we can practice control over how we see things, what we decide to do next, and how we respond to what happens. Marcus Aurelius’ three disciplines — perception, action, and will — offer a practical operating system for modern life and work. Scott translates these into the Decision Triangle: What’s now? What’s next? What matters? A stressful situation becomes more workable when you strip away catastrophizing. “I’m going to fail and lose everything” becomes “I don’t have enough gigs on the calendar to pay the bills this month.” One is panic. The other is a solvable problem. The outcome is never fully in your control. Your responsibility is to see clearly, act with integrity, and accept what happens next without giving up your agency. Listener Takeaways By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to: * Understand the Stoic fork and why it matters for decision-making * Apply the three Stoic disciplines to real-world problems * Use the Decision Triangle to reframe overwhelm into clear action * Separate what is actually happening from the story you’re telling about it * Make choices that align with your values instead of reacting from fear * Accept outcomes without surrendering responsibility Estimated Chapter Markers 0:00 Welcome to Creative on Purpose Live2:20 Why Stoicism still matters today6:30 The Stoic fork: what you control and what you don’t12:45 The three Stoic disciplines: perception, action, and will18:10 Why “making better decisions” can become a trap21:20 The Decision Triangle: What’s now? What’s next? What matters?26:45 A freelancer’s real-world decision-making example31:40 Turning panic into a solvable problem35:20 Choosing the next right action39:00 Why outcomes are not fully within your control42:15 Make decisions better, not perfect45:00 Closing invitation and next steps Resources Mentioned * Meditations by Marcus Aurelius * The Enchiridion by Epictetus * The Art of Living, Sharon Lebell’s interpretation of Epictetus * Onward by Scott Perry * Annie Duke’s work on decision-making * Chip and Dan Heath’s work on decisions * Shane Parrish and Farnam Street Subscribe Subscribe to Creative on Purpose for more principle-based guidance on building a life and business that fit: Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose YouTube channel for more videos on Stoicism, solopreneurship, purpose-driven work, and practical philosophy for navigating modern life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Clarity Over Clicks: Seth Godin, Substack, and Marketing That Actually Helps

What if marketing were not about pressure, performance, or chasing attention? In this conversation, Scott Perry [https://substack.com/profile/39971827-scott-perry] and @robopulp [https://substack.com/profile/50521907-robopulp] explore a more human way to build an audience and grow meaningful work. Drawing on lessons from Seth Godin, altMBA, the Marketing Seminar, and his own journey from professional guitarist to writer, coach, and Cornerman, Scott unpacks what creators often get wrong about clarity, positioning, sales, and platform strategy. This episode gets into the tension many writers, artists, and solopreneurs feel when online attention starts rewarding the wrong things. Instead of chasing trends or forcing yourself into a narrow niche, Scott makes the case for a different approach: get clear enough about who you are, what you do best, and where you belong, then keep showing up in service to the right people. You’ll also hear why Scott believes Substack is a better fit than most social platforms for thoughtful creators, why “niching down” can be less useful than strong positioning, and how ethical marketing is really about telling true stories to people whose lives would be better because of them. This is a conversation for anyone trying to build a body of work, attract the right audience, and make a living by making a difference. In this episode: * Why external validation can pull creators away from the work that matters most * Scott’s path from music and teaching into coaching and writing * The difference between impact and easy-to-measure online metrics * Why clarity often comes through conversation and experimentation * The distinction between technician, mentor, and Cornerman * Why positioning matters more than niching * What makes Substack different from X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn * How Scott defines ethical marketing and clean sales * Why needy marketing repels people * The power of serving a smallest viable audience Memorable idea from the episodeYou do not need a massive audience. You need enough of the right people to connect with the difference only you can make. LinksSubscribe to the Creative on Purpose Substack: Subscribe to the YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeOnPurpose] for more conversations on purposeful work, marketing, and solopreneurship. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Why Service Is the Best Marketing Strategy with Bruce Bryan

What do waiting tables, ethical marketing, curiosity, and purpose-driven work have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, Creative on Purpose [https://creativeonpurpose.substack.com/]’s Scott Perry [https://substack.com/profile/39971827-scott-perry] sits down with Bruce C. Bryan [https://substack.com/profile/426124171-bruce-c-bryan] —author of Turning Tables: Everything I Needed to Know About Business I Learned as a Server [https://www.amazon.com/Turning-Tables-Bruce-C-Bryan/dp/163698729X], host of Naturally Curious [https://www.wvtf.org/show/naturally-curious], and owner of Five Points Creative [https://www.5pointscreative.com]—for a rich conversation about service, storytelling, branding, and what it really takes to build a meaningful body of work. Bruce shares how his early love of radio evolved into a career in broadcasting, marketing, and authorship, and why the lessons he learned in restaurants kept showing up everywhere else in business. Together, Scott and Bruce explore the connection between service and sales, why great marketing is really about solving problems, and how the hardest part of creating something meaningful is often not making it—but getting the word out after it’s done. This conversation also digs into the difference between trying to be interesting and actually being interested, why branding is more about the customer than the creator, and what purpose-driven solopreneurs need to remember if they want to make a difference without losing themselves in performance, hype, or self-promotion. Bruce’s closing takeaway says it all: bring value. If you do that consistently, generously, and with integrity, good things tend to follow. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * How Bruce’s career came full circle from childhood radio dreams to podcasting and authorship * Why hospitality teaches powerful business lessons * The link between curiosity, listening, and meaningful work * Why writing the book is only part of the job * How ethical marketing can be an act of service * Why the best brands help the customer feel seen, capable, and empowered * What purpose-driven creators should focus on next: bringing value Links & ResourcesBruce Bryan: brucecbryan.com [https://www.brucecbryan.com]Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose Substack: Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose YouTube channel for more conversations on work that matters and the art of living. Go Further If this episode resonated, subscribe to Creative on Purpose on Substack and on YouTube for more conversations about work that matters, ethical marketing, and building a business that fits your life. Thank You! Thank you Penny Harris ACC [https://substack.com/profile/32907226-penny-harris-acc], Duncan The Sage [https://substack.com/profile/254449706-duncan-the-sage], Claire Machado [https://substack.com/profile/168845660-claire-machado], and many others for tuning into my live video with Bruce C. Bryan [https://substack.com/profile/426124171-bruce-c-bryan]! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]