New Year, New Sparks of Creative Freedom!
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An immigrant with humble beginnings, she rose above limited resources and overcame countless challenges to become a leader in AI innovation. Her resilience and unrelenting curiosity are a reminder that creativity thrives when we dare to ask bold questions and are willing to explore the unknown, one small incremental step at a time. It’s a well-told story of an amazing journey. In The Worlds I See, Fei-Fei beautifully connects her personal story with her scientific pursuits, showing how curiosity and creativity are deeply intertwined. Along the way, we learn important lessons about what AI is and is not.
A Must-See Movie: Flow Breaks New Ground in the Animated Worlds of Visual Storytelling
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Through imaginative storytelling and without any dialog, human beings, or even English-speaking animals, Flow proves that sometimes it’s not about having more resources—it’s about making the most of what you have. This film is a brilliant example of how innovative tools and creative vision can produce something truly extraordinary.
You gotta see it. It will open your eyes to a new kind of creative storytelling.
All of these examples point to a fun-filled, creative future you might not have thought possible. Are you in?
If you need help, I want to hear from you. What do you need?
If what you need is more insights into how AI can help, stay tuned. I’m planning some live online events for January.
If you have any questions or want to dive deeper, please let me know how I can help. I’m currently offering free 1-to-1 discovery sessions. Just reply to this message and let me know.
Let’s rediscover your creative joy and build something you’re excited to wake up for.
Wishing you the happiest of Holidays
and a bright, creative New Year!
Jon Leland, creativity evangelist
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Hi Reader, In the last 24 hours, something magical happened. During one of our weekly live Creativity Sandbox Community sessions, I felt a spark—a nudge, really—to reconnect with something I’ve always loved: playing music and singing. In this case, it meant re-engaging with my on-again, off-again relationship with my electronic piano. Earlier that day, I had discovered an online piano teacher, Brianne Paik, whose approach felt tailor-made for me. She’s all about making music accessible, joyful, and easy for “adult beginners” like me. Her philosophy? Learning should feel like fun, not work. So, I got started again; and it feels so right! Here’s what I realized: when we allow ourselves to explore, play, and just begin, creativity doesn’t just stay in the realm of ideas—it reminds us of who we really are. It opens doors. It feels like coming home. I’ve been playing music and singing or chanting for decades; yet, like we all so often do, I get “lost” and need to remember where home is. And it gets better: the spark that started all this new inspiration wasn’t random. It was the direct result of being part of a community that values creative exploration. It reminded me that creativity isn’t meant to happen in isolation—it thrives when shared, supported, and celebrated. Does this inspire you? If you’ve been holding back on trying something new—or returning to something you love—this is your sign:
Creativity doesn’t ask us to be perfect; it just asks us to start. And when we do, I’ve learned that it transforms not just what we create but also how we feel—we feel more connected, more alive, more ourselves, more at home with our true selves. What’s your next step? I’d love to hear about it. Hit reply and let me know—I’m here to cheer you on. Warmly, |
Liz Wilcox, the “fresh princess of email marketing,” and Jon Leland, media innovator since “71 and the host of “Video Mojo,” delve into the power of email and video to spread joy and creativity in cultivating community and authentic relationships.
This week’s guest on Video Mojo shares his inspiring journey of rebuilding his life and business after the devastation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After he was forced to close his coffee business, he started a video editing company from scratch and grew it to a staff of six within a year, offering valuable insights into entrepreneurship and success on YouTube.
Ukrainian entrepreneur Anton Kosheliev exemplifies the importance of persevering in business, helping others, and creating valuable, educational content to achieve success on YouTube.
He does all this despite facing the challenges of living in a war zone. Anton’s courage and just-do-it attitude are an inspiration for those of us living in much less challenging circumstances.
There’s much that we can learn from him, including his insights about what works on YouTube.
00:00 Learn how this Ukrainian entrepreneur built a successful video business in less than a year despite conflict, starting a YouTube channel and growing a team of editors.
05:28 Rather than create a virtual team, Anton hired local editors and taught them YouTube skills so they could succeed. He also recommends creating educational videos to support audience goals in their industry.
09:32 Anton recommends consistently delivering value through educational videos and prioritizing starting and improving over time rather than thinking you can achieve instant success on YouTube.
12:28 For most businesses, outsourcing video editing allows for more content creation and business growth, while creating evergreen content is more valuable for building a successful YouTube channel vs YouTube Shorts.
17:36 Create valuable long-form content, prioritize thumbnails for high click-through rates, and avoid becoming a slave to the algorithm if you want sustainable YouTube success.
22:45 Be inspired by how Anton started small, put his ego aside, and focused on creating a name and recognition to achieve success on YouTube despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
25:25 Despite conflict and economic challenges in Ukraine, Anton emphasizes the importance of persevering in business and helping people survive.
28:37 Even for someone living in a war zone, YouTube adds value for Anton by showcasing this creator’s intentions and reputation, leading to increased trust and business opportunities. Anton is an inspiration making a big difference in people’s lives.
JOIN JON’S EMAIL LIST and/or ALL his links:
TOOLS THAT JON USES & RECOMMENDS (affiliate links)
Riverside for remote recording
Descript for transcript-based, AI-assisted video editing
ConvertKit for email marketing
Circle for community building & courses
Tella for screen sharing & educational video production
You’re warmly invited to Cohort #2 of my Video Mojo Creativity Sandbox, a three-week creative adventure designed to move your creative practice, in any medium, into a higher, more active gear.
If your creativity has been somewhat dormant, consider this a call to reactivate it through the power of community supported by my expert guidance and inspiration. Learn more including watching a couple of testimonial videos here or get the details here.
Dive into the Future of A.I. & Creativity with Richard Gutjahr and Jon Leland!
Join the journey through common misconceptions about A.I. with your host, media pioneer Jon Leland, as he engages in a profound conversation with the German journalist, speaker, and master storyteller, Richard Gutjahr.
Watch Video Below
A Revolution Bigger Than the Printing Press & Steam Engine!
We stand on the precipice of a technological revolution, potentially dwarfing the impacts of the printing press and steam engine combined! It’s a chaotic, thrilling, and transformative era where, if navigated wisely, the positives can monumentally overshadow the negatives.
A.I. Journaling: A Symphony of Stunning Outputs
Witness the marvels of A.I. journaling, as it consistently delivers outputs that are not just stunning but also mind-blowingly creative, crafting combinations that are as unexpected as they are innovative.
Boundless Creativity: A Global Tapestry
Explore how creativity, unbounded and limitless, weaves a global tapestry, connecting minds across continents, inspiring, and being inspired, in a magnificent exchange of ideas and innovations.
Generative A.I.: The Creative Accelerant
Discover how Generative A.I. isn’t just a tool but an accelerant, propelling creative individuals to new heights, amplifying their abilities, and enabling the production of more exhilarating outputs.
A.I.: A Fundamental Shift in Our World
Contemplate the birth of A.I. as a pivotal moment in human history, altering our creative landscapes and steering the course of our collective future in unprecedented ways.
A.I. Isn’t Replacing You…Unless?
“Your job’s not going to be replaced by AI. It’s going to be replaced by somebody who knows how to use AI.” Navigate through the nuances of this profound statement as we dissect what AI means for our professional futures.
A Future Teeming with Possibilities
Benefit from Richard Gutjahr’s excitement and optimism about residing in a time brimming with technological advancements, and share in the eager anticipation of what the future, intertwined with AI and creativity, holds for us.
Join Us on Video Mojo as we unravel these threads and more, exploring the depths of AI and creativity, and pondering the profound impacts and possibilities they hold for our future!
Connect with Richard Gutjahr on Instagram
Jon’s “A.I. Peeps” Twitter/X List
JOIN JON’S EMAIL LIST and/or ALL his links:
TOOLS THAT JON USES & RECOMMENDS (affiliate links)
Riverside for remote recording
Descript for transcript-based video editing
ConvertKit for email marketing
TIME STAMPS
00:00 The keys to understanding AI’s potential
05:24 The value of experimentation and play
09:12 Practicing and sharing creative content on social media can nurture creativity & inspire others
10:46 AI is creative in its own right
13:20 AI is a game-changing technology that enables universal participation and learning, surpassing expectations
16:07 Invest time in learning and experimenting with AI to become more creative
18:39 Investing in oneself and embracing the intersection of technology, AI, and liberal arts is essential for staying competitive in the workplace
21:42 Focus on how you can use AI and collaborate with others to explore its potential
Marketing AI Institute’s Chief Content Officer, Mike Kaput and Video Mojo host Jon Leland explain why marketers who do not embrace and adapt to AI are rapidly being left behind.
They also recommend the best apps to get started with copywriting, image generation, and concept video production.
Key insights include strategies and approaches for marketing executives and agencies on how to use AI marketing tools most effectively. Kaput and Leland explain how to use AI as a creative collaborator in order to generate content and revolutionize creativity.
The most important takeaway is that AI tools should only be used as an additive component to your established marketing strategies, not a replacement. These tools can dramatically enhance and empower your strategic positioning, but more content for the sake of more content won’t help anyone and can turn off your prospects.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Adapt to AI in order to stay competitive, as using AI marketing tools is essential for success
03:48 How to get started with AI for marketing
07:08 Recommended AI marketing tools
13:34 YouTube’s collaboration with Universal Music Group
17:56 Image generation apps: Midjourney and Adobe Firefly
22:54 Video tools like RunwayML can help generate concept trailers and videos to showcase ideas
26:44 Job challenges for voice-over announcers
31:36 Be cautious of vendors making wild claims about AI, focus on producing quality content and building relationships
LINKS MENTIONED
ChatGPT Plus: ($20/month)
Generative AI Images:
Firefly (rights-controlled images) Jon’s “A.I. Peeps”
Twitter/X List
AI’s you can talk to:
YouTube-Universal announcement on YouTube blog
Past Video Mojo Episodes Referenced:
David Boyle: How Can ChatGPT & AI Help You Make Your Business Better? – Guest: Marketing Strategist, David Boyle
Nicolas Neubert: Amazing AI-Powered Video Apps. How Were MidJourney & RunwayML Used to Go Viral?
The Genesis Concept Movie Trailer: Genesis – Official Trailer (Midjourney + Runway)
ElevenLabs.io (ai-generated voices)
Jon’s video on the categories of AI video: Top 8 Kinds of Amazing AI-Video Apps. What Are They? What’s Useful?
ChatGPT Plug-ins including Code Interpreter (data analysis): openai.com/blog/chatgpt-plugins
TOOLS THAT JON USES & RECOMMENDS (affiliate links)
Riverside for remote recording
Descript for transcript-based video editing
ConvertKit for email marketing
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