Grind is Dead. Creatives Will Inherit the Future.
Hustle culture is a relic of a dying economy. The grinders will suffer. AI is eating technical and physical work alive. You can’t outwork the machines.
But you can out-create them.
I know what it’s like to wear the grind like a badge of honor. Early mornings. Late nights. Smashing coffee like it’s a life source. I was in the trenches—military, business, fitness—you name it. I pushed hard. But here’s the truth:
My greatest work never came from the grind. It came from the space between the sprints—the moments when I allowed creativity to lead. That said, there are times when the iron is hot, and inspiration is surging. You’ve felt it—that force beyond your small self, when your mind is clear, and your heart is full. Those days, you go long. You push because you’re pulled by something greater. That’s not grind—that’s flow.
Those were the breakthroughs. The flow states. The moments when work stopped feeling like work and started feeling like play.
That’s where success lives. And in the age of AI, it’s the only path forward.
AI is Automating the Grind—But It Can’t Play
The world is shifting. Fast. Physical and technical work is being automated—erased. Bryan Franklin and Michael Ellsberg laid the groundwork in The Last Safe Investment, describing the four types of work:
- Physical Work: Labor. Machines are better.
- Technical Work: Skills. AI is faster.
- Creative Work: Ideas. That’s yours.
- Interpersonal Work: Relationships. Humans thrive here.
The first two? Being swallowed whole by automation.
The last two—Creative and Interpersonal work—will define the future. And if you can master them, you win.
The Creatives Will Lead
But here’s the problem: Most creatives are stuck. Drowning in admin, tech, and hustle—grinding instead of creating.
Productivity without creativity is a treadmill. You move, but you go nowhere. Your business becomes an empty shell. You lose the fire.
Creativity is what generates productivity with purpose. Without it, you’re just doing more—without knowing why.
Most people think creativity is some surprise gift from the heavens, striking at random. But it’s not. Creativity becomes predictable when you know how to Tune in. It’s a skill. A muscle. You can call on it when you need it—every day—if you understand the rhythm.
Routine kills creative moments. When every hour is locked in, you suffocate the space where inspiration strikes. Rhythm, on the other hand, allows you to move with the flow—creating space for creativity to surface naturally.
The answer isn’t to work harder. It’s to work in rhythm.
Enter: The TAP Framework
TAP is not a productivity hack. It’s a rhythm—a way of being. It’s how creative entrepreneurs will dominate in the AI age.
- Tune: Align your mind, body, and energy. Prepare your instrument.
- Amplify: Your business is the amplifier. It takes your best work and sends it out loud and clear. But it needs tuning too.
- Play: Enter the flow. Create from inspiration. Produce what only you can.
This is the rhythm. You tune. You play. Your business amplifies.
Get this: You are the musician. The business is the amp.
But most people get it backwards. They grind on their amp (business) all day, adjusting knobs, twisting dials—without ever playing their music.
Stop tweaking the amp. Start playing.
Tuning and Playing Powers the Amplifier
Your business is only as powerful as what you feed into it. Your creativity is the signal. Your business amplifies it to the world. But if you don’t Tune yourself daily—mind, body, and spirit—you’ll never have anything worth amplifying.
And if you don’t Tune the amplifier—your systems, processes, and team—your music will come out distorted, quiet, or not at all.
Mastering the Rhythm
I’ve been at this for 18 years. The first 5? I acted like an employee. Grinding. Chained to hours. Conditioned by the military and the blue-collar work ethic I inherited from my father.
It took me years to break free. To deprogram. To see that value isn’t hours—it’s output. And output requires inspiration.
This is what my rhythm looks like now, broken down hour by hour:
6:00 AM – Wake: No alarm. Rise with the sun. Feel into the day ahead.
6:15 AM – Tune (Body & Mind): Grounding. Hydrate with 32 oz of water + electrolytes. Breathwork. Stretching. Train for strength and mobility.
8:30 AM – Breakfast + Shower: Light, energizing meal. Reset and transition.
9:00 AM – Play (Creative Focus): Writing. Content creation. Creative deep work—no distractions.
10:00 AM – Play (Creative Flow Extension): If the inspiration is there, I keep going. If not, I transition.
11:00 AM – Tune (Business): Admin tasks, emails, clearing the deck. Preparing the amplifier.
12:00 PM – Amplify (Business): Team stand-up. Prioritize. Plan. Delegate.
1:00 PM – Break: Lunch. Walk outside—silence or podcast.
2:00 PM – Amplify (Content & Community): Social media content review. Post what’s resonating. Engage with community.
3:00 PM – Flex Block: Depending on energy—either more creative work, calls, or downtime.
4:00 PM – Tune (Body & Mind Reset): Movement break. Stretch or short walk.
4:30 PM – Amplify (Growth Projects): Business development. Strategic planning. Working on what scales.
5:30 PM – Wind Down: Reflect. Plan for tomorrow. Capture ideas.
6:00 PM – Free: Time with my wife. Visit with friends. Sauna. Relax. Create without agenda.
This day isn’t rigid—it flows based on energy and inspiration. But the rhythm holds. I know when to Tune, Amplify, and Play. That’s what keeps me moving forward without burning out. Below is an overview of how this rhythm expands beyond the day—into my week, month, and year.
Daily Rhythm:
- Tune (You): Breathwork, training, sunlight, grounding.
- Play (You): Writing. Creating. No distractions.
- Tune (Business): Admin, email, clarity.
- Amplify (Business): Meetings, delegation, publishing.
Weekly Rhythm:
- Tune: Reflect—what felt good? What drained me? What’s feeling clunky?
- Amplify: Review content and metrics. What resonated? What is gaining traction?
- Play: Map out creative outputs for the week. Batch create when I’m feeling it.
Monthly Rhythm:
- Tune: Systems check—what processes need tweaking? Are there tasks I can automate or delegate?
- Amplify: Identify what’s scaling well—double down on offers, content, or partnerships showing growth.
- Play: Schedule creative sprints. Block time for larger creative projects like a new article series, course module, or video content.
Annual Rhythm:
- Tune: Big picture evaluation—how aligned am I with my vision and personal mission? Plan for rest and renewal—seasonal shifts matter.
- Amplify: Review the past year’s breakthroughs—what resonated most deeply with my audience and me? Plan to expand those ideas.
- Play: Set the stage for major creative work—launching a new course, writing a book, or evolving my brand. Dream bigger. Ask—what’s the boldest thing I can create this year?
This multi-layered rhythm keeps me tuned in to my body, mind, and creativity, while ensuring my business amplifier grows without burning me out. TAP allows me to lead with creativity, scale with intention, and sustain momentum without sacrificing joy.
Final Note: This Is Your Time to Play
The world is shifting. AI is grinding harder than you ever will. The grinders are fighting a losing battle.
But you?
You can play. You can create. You can lead.
TAP is the rhythm. Creativity is your edge. Your amplifier is waiting.
Surround yourself with others who are choosing creativity over grind.
Join CreatorFlow, a community of entrepreneurs who are building businesses rooted in creativity, freedom, and rhythm. We TAP into our creative potential together—and we amplify each other’s work.
Because the future belongs to those who play.
What’s the first note you’ll play today?