Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jonny Zeller. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jonny, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
It’s not always easy. Sometimes your brain just doesn’t want to be creative. And that’s ok!
Creativity can strike at any moment, so I consciously try to keep my mind open for inspiration. It takes practice, but after a while, it becomes second nature. Sometimes my creativity can be sparked by a person I see in the street or even an ad on a billboard. If my headspace is open and has a particular project (or multiple) running through it, the chances of finding inspiration are much higher.
A person’s surroundings fuel how they express themselves creatively. The saying goes, “write what you know,” so the more you’ve seen and “know,” the more depth you can add to your work. My perspective has been shaped and continues to evolve by the cultures I’ve encountered, and I am forever indebted to those cultures for how they have helped me.
Lastly, BE OK WITH MAKING SOMETHING BAD. It’s easy to get bogged down trying to make a masterpiece and then never releasing the work because it didn’t meet your expectations. Make a thing, analyze it, learn from it, and return to creating the next thing.
Find creative partners to help inspire you, give feedback, and help you realize the vision. It’s impossible to do it all yourself.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As a Director, I get to tell stories of all shapes and sizes. Lately, I came to the conclusion that there must be a better term for what I actually do. I’ve grown to like “Storyverse Architect.” The backbone of my creative inspiration is rooted in multi-platform/transmedia storytelling as a way to create a new style of content that engages audiences in a more robust “story world.” This goes far beyond having extra deliverables for social platforms: It’s about creating a journey the viewer chooses to go on, a journey that helps the audience migrate across platforms. I’m very passionate about this type of storytelling because it can be applied to all forms of content, from feature films to branded campaigns.
For the past year, I’ve been working on building a Web3 brand called Cloud Niners and it’s set to launch publicly in March of 2023. The project was created by Champagne & Gyoza, which is a creative studio that works with brands, studios, and talent of all types to produce multi-platform content for any sized screen. We have such a brilliant team of developers, artists, and marketers so it’s been a lot of fun to bring this one to fruition. Shoutout to Chris Garrison and Tim Frazier!
Cloud Niners comes to life as an NFT collection wrapped in a story-driven cinematic universe with a dash of marketing in the form of branded collaborations. More than a traditional NFT, Cloud Niners is a multi-platform expedition released through NFTs, videos, photos, cryptic clues, and much more. We wanted to build an entire content ecosystem that can eventually evolve into a television series or feature film, or graphic novel series.
Additionally, the first “season” of Cloud Niners acts as a brand-safe platform (with a bit of an edge). Companies, artists, and influencers can participate in our Web3 cinematic universe without the massive time, cost, and commitment associated with launching their own collection.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Follow through This seems simple, but it’s astonishing how rare it is to find people that actually do what they say they’re going to do, whether it’s large or small.
2. Everyone is their own brand
This is SO important for those working in a creative field. Our careers are a mix of artistry and business, and it’s easy to neglect the business side of our creative talents.
3. Provide value
Realize that everyone wants something. Even the world’s most powerful people have something they “want.” Go into every situation with the mentality of “how can I provide value here?” ahead of “what do I want to get out of this?” and you’ll naturally build a better network while becoming more in demand. This is tricky to comprehend, and it’s taken me much practice, but I promise you it works.
Overall, if you can build a reputation for being honest and someone that follows through with what they claim, you’ll be ten steps ahead of the pack. Don’t over promise, and don’t commit to things that you can’t deliver on. I’m not saying to always play it safe and simple, because you have to take risks. But make sure those risks are calculated. I also think soaking up as much marketing, advertising, and business management info as possible from books or classes or podcasts is key to a successful creative career. Spend some down time learning and growing your personal brand. Seeing tangible results from putting those techniques into practice can be pretty fun.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
It’s difficult to pick just one book as I have so many “favorites.” Below are some nuggets of wisdom that have stuck with me.
Think And Grow Rich:
You don’t need anything more than to know what you want and the determination to chase that desire until you get it. All achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin with an intense, burning desire for something definite.
The E-Myth
Think deeper than, “The customer is always right.” Their values, needs, wants, and desires are what’s right. Put yourself in their shoes and then provide a valuable product from that perspective.
As an entrepreneur, the business will require you to wear many hats…at first. However, the end goal is to be working on the vision and direction of the business, not the daily tasks the business requires.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jonnyzeller.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonnyzeller/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyzeller/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonnyZeller
Image Credits
FIORELLA OCCHIPINTI
