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1 DEGREE WEEKLY


What's Your Scene, Man?
I moved to NYC in 1994 to go to grad school. Back then, I didn't know I wanted from life. I just knew what I wanted right then : I wanted to be with other artists. At NYU's Tisch School, I was part of a scene, I guess — a thoughtful, creative, courageous community that helped each other make things and think hard things through. Now squarely in my mid-fifties (turned 55 yesterday!) I still thrive in a community of other creators who want to support each other's growth
Feb 12


Fear-Mongers, Couch-Loungers, The Office Bingers, No More!
There is something big calling you into 2026, my friend. I know this because you’ve been saying so. Yesterday, two artists who opted in for sample coaching calls said exactly that to me: “I want to go big.” And within minutes, it became clear that as much as they want to go big—and as much evidence as they have that they are ready to take the risks they want to take—they haven’t taken action yet. Why? Because the moment we imagine going big, we disturb fears that
Jan 13


Jump into the Deep End with Me!
I jumped into the deep end again my dear creator! Of the dozen speaker applications I submitted this fall, one was finally accepted. It feels great to get a yes. 🎉 And… there’s a caveat. • It’s unpaid.🙃 • It’s pay-to-play.🙃 So — do I accept? I’ll skip the suspense. I said Yes . Why? I’ve invested a lot of time and money over the past two years creating my signature talk. And it’s been over a year since I’ve been in front of a large audience. I know this:
Jan 13


Who Knew A Do-Si-Do Could Do That?
Yesterday, my partner and I spent a few hours reflecting on 2025. (He’s a social worker and I’m a coach, so that’s just how we do. 🌀) When I did a similar exercise with my coach earlier this year, I felt stuck — believing I hadn’t accomplished as much as I’d hoped, and feeling discouraged and scared. But when I slowed down yesterday — really slowed down to do this structured reflection — I could see how essential this year has been in ways that matter just as much as an
Jan 1


Maybe don't blow it up 💥 all up at once, try a little shake first.
There are two ways of being in the 🌎 world: The old way. The old way of being may be something you acquired long ago and then repeated. It’s familiar 👋🏼 and predictable. As we come to the end of 2025, I invite you to check in with yourself. How are your patterns and habits serving your creative desires? Has the old way begun to feel limiting at all? …Your old way of running your biz, of treating your practice, of investing in vision. Be honest, here. Beca
Dec 29, 2025


Fried Onions, Big Feelings and Your 2026
How ya doin' brave creator?! The holidays brings sweetness. Yes, they do. My daughter came home from her junior year so full of ease; my son so excited for a mid-year break from senior year of high school; my partner and my kids spent an entire meal together and even stayed to play a few rounds of dreidel. AMAZING. (The house still smells like fried onions). So much to be grateful for! Roger that. And as is human nature, on the other side of sweetness there will alw
Dec 24, 2025


Fear-mongers – couch-loungers — The Office bingers …. no more!
There is something big calling you into 2026. I know this because you’ve been saying so. Yesterday, two artists who opted in for sample coaching calls said exactly that to me: “I want to go big.” And within minutes, it became clear that as much as they want to go big—and as much evidence as they have that they are ready to take the risks they want to take—they haven’t taken action yet. Why? Because the moment we imagine going big, we disturb fears that have been
Dec 18, 2025


300 of your biggest fans + 1 message for you
I’m writing to you from Santa Fe this morning, surrounded by almost 300 organizers who run artist residencies all over the US. No — I don’t currently run a residency, but I do work with artists whose lives and practices are transformed by them. And as I sit here in this room filled with people who care about your success, I am so excited for you! Because if there’s one thing my work seeks to do, it's to open up the possibility that you will say “yes” to opportunities
Dec 13, 2025


What Am I Doing?
What am I doing? Ever have that doubt? The thought that arises after you've committed to something big. The last-ditch efforts of the mind to get you to turn the car around, cancel the ticket, forfeit your spot. Yesterday, at the Artist Communities Alliance conference, Avis Charley—a Dakota + Diné artist and Mellon Research Fellow—told a story about the drive she made to the AIA Research Center for Contemporary Native Arts from Lost Angeles to Santa Fe. She was
Dec 12, 2025
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