By Conner Tighe For years, Kwame Christian had a simple response whenever someone made a suggestion: “Sounds good.” The problem was that it often did not sound good to him at all. Behind the agreeable answer was someone who hated conflict, struggled to advocate for himself, and routinely placed other people’s comfort ahead of his own needs. Today, that description hardly sounds like the man who leads the American Negotiation Institute, hosts the world’s most popular negotiati

By Conner Tighe If the word "sales" makes your skin crawl, you're not alone. Funnels, scripts, and hustle-culture pressure tactics have given the profession a bad name, and for good reason: most of it feels gross because it is gross. It treats people as targets rather than humans. Neil Rogers has spent decades proving there's a better way, and he learned it not in a boardroom, but behind a bar top. His whole career is a case study in sales without selling. Neil is the author

By Conner Tighe Algorithms can shift how people think, vote, and buy, often without those people ever knowing they've been nudged. That's not a talking point; it's measured, replicated research, and it's the subject of the latest episode of the Creative Entrepreneur podcast, where Julie Lokun and Jen Fontanilla sit down with Dr. Robert Epstein to unpack how it works and what it means for anyone building a business online. Who Is Dr. Robert Epstein? Dr. Epstein isn't a pundit

By Conner Tighe & Julie Lokun There's a version of this story where a guy waits tables, has an idea, gets rich, cue credits. That's not this story. This is the version where "no" doesn't mean no, where letting go is the hardest and smartest move a founder can make, and where a mountain bike ride in Boulder, Colorado quietly rewires the natural food aisle for good. What does it take to turn a single mountain bike ride and a kitchen food processor into a household name? This we

By Conner Tighe There's a version of a business conference everyone's sat through before. Rows of chairs facing a stage. A velvet rope between the people who "made it" and everyone still trying to. Polite applause, a stack of business cards, and a drive home wondering if anything actually changed. Cre8tive Con: The Boston Intensive was not that conference. On July 13th, fifty entrepreneurs, authors, podcasters, and dreamers filed into One Financial Center in the heart of Bost

By Conner Tighe Let's talk about the moment we're in right now. The global creator economy was valued at $310 billion for 2026 — up from $252 billion last year — and analysts project it will exceed $1.3 trillion by 2033. That's not a trend. That's a structural shift in how business, media, and money actually work. And if you're reading this blog, you're already closer to the center of it than you think. Creators Are Becoming Companies The old model of a "content creator" — so

By Conner Tighe Are you struggling to get your book, product, service, or business in front of the right people? You are not alone — and according to publisher and entrepreneur Dominick Domasky, you also do not have to wait around for someone else to magically make it happen. In this power-packed solo episode of The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast, Dominick steps in while Julie Lokun is out on assignment to deliver a marketing masterclass for authors, entrepreneurs, small busin

By Conner Tighe Entrepreneurship is not just about building a business. It is about building a voice, a message, a movement, and sometimes, an entirely new version of yourself. That is the heartbeat of Creative Entrepreneur: A Podcast For Business Growth, Strategy and Monetization, hosted by Julie Lokun and Dominick Domasky. The podcast brings together conversations around business growth, branding, monetization, publishing, podcasting, creativity, and the courage it takes to

By Conner Tighe For many authors, publishing a book is the dream. But what happens after the final page? That is the question Julie Lokun brings to the Women in Publishing conference with her workshop, “From Page to Podcast.” Designed for authors, writers, and publishing professionals, the 90-minute interactive session invites participants to think beyond a single book launch and consider how their message can continue to grow long after publication day. A book gives readers

A recent episode of the Creative Entrepreneur podcast dove deep into the playbooks of the three undisputed titans of the digital age: MrBeast, Alex Cooper, and Gary Vaynerchuk. While they operate in vastly different niches—from high-stakes YouTube stunts to raw, intimate podcasting and high-level business consulting—their core strategies for growth, strategy, and monetization share a common DNA.

For the modern solopreneur—the consultants, the dreamers, the makers, and the disruptors—2026 isn't just another year; it’s a defining year. We’ve moved past the phase of "trying out" AI and into the era of strategic implementation. At Cre8tive Con, our mission has always been about turning that beautiful, messy creativity into a sustainable profit center, and this year, the rules have changed in the best way possible. Here is what you need to know to "show up bigger" an

Entrepreneurs wondering how to invest money this year will learn why pay-to-play marketing is essential for business growth, lead generation, and visibility in today’s economy, with practical strategies to invest smarter and attract more clients now.

Cyber Monday deals we personally trust, use, and believe offer meaningful returns. These tools cover AI content creation, CRMs, press access, SEO, imagery, video production, automation, signage, and more. If you want your business to operate at a higher level in 2025, this is where to begin

How Much Does It Really Cost to Publish and Write a Book? Publishing costs vary widely depending on your goals, format, and level of professional support. Here’s a general guide for 2025: Low-end (DIY/self-publishing): Around $5,000—this may include editing, formatting, and basic cover design. Mid-range (professional assistance or hybrid): Between $9,000–$15,000 for a full suite of services, from editing to marketing. High-end (comprehensive packages): $25,000+

Known as the “boy with the broken brain” who became a mentor to icons like Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates, Jim Kwik has spent his life teaching people how to learn faster, remember more, and rewire their brains for success. When I sat down with Jim, I wasn’t speaking with a motivational figure — I was engaging with a man who had turned his trauma into transformation. Our conversation wasn’t about quick hacks or brain tricks. It was about belief — how it drives be

The question “Should I go to college?” no longer has a straightforward answer. For decades, higher education was a golden ticket to stability, prestige, and financial growth. Today, it’s a decision tangled in student debt, entrepreneurial opportunity, and the hard reality that a degree is no longer a guaranteed path to success.

If you want to ignite your brand’s growth and expand your reach, attending a creative business networking event is a game-changer. Imagine stepping into a room buzzing with energy, where every conversation could lead to your next big opportunity. That’s exactly what happens at a top-tier creative business networking conference. You don’t just meet people—you build relationships that fuel your business for years to come. Let me walk you through why these events are essential,

If you’re a creative entrepreneur, you’ve probably felt the constant pressure to churn out fresh content every day. A new Instagram post. A clever LinkedIn update. A Reel that might (if the algorithm is feeling generous) get traction. It can feel like a full-time job — and not the one you signed up for. The truth is, you don’t need to produce endless amounts of content to make an impact. You just need a smarter way to use what you’re already creating. That’s why I swear by

AEO is your well-rehearsed TED Talk introduction—clean, professional, polished for the digital stage. GEO, on the other hand, is your fireside chat—intimate, nuanced, and dripping with personality. AEO ensures Google’s AI recognizes your content as the best answer to a user’s question. GEO ensures ChatGPT and Perplexity quote you when someone wants expert advice.

The online world moves at the speed of thought—blink, and your competitors have already claimed the attention you were hoping to capture. But here’s the truth: the most successful brands aren’t necessarily the biggest or the loudest—they’re the ones brave enough to adapt, experiment, and lead with purpose.