Ep. 17 – You’re Not Luke Skywalker: Ego, Empathy & Freelancing Like a Pro (ft. Daniel Adoff)

In this episode of The Creative Adventure Podcast, I sit down with Daniel Adoff — creative director at Dyno Creative and a mentor who’s helped countless artists and freelancers thrive — to unpack what it actually takes to succeed in the freelance and creative world in 2025.

Whether you're an art school grad or a self-made YouTube University survivor, this episode is a roadmap to mastering your mindset, building real community, and communicating like a pro.

Topics!

• Why you're not the star of the story — and why that’s a good thing

• The 3-tier mentorship model: mentee, peer, mentor

• How to blend advocacy and humility as a creative

• What successful freelancers really do differently

• Speaking in the client’s language (not just the creative one)

• Ego, empathy, and the “new golden rule” of communication

• The difference between selling and translating value

• Freelance loot: why Kombucha > Exposure

Whether you're deep in the trenches or just stepping into your freelance journey, this episode is packed with mindset shifts and practical advice you’ll keep coming back to.

D20 roll included — he rolled an 18. Good things are coming.
Daniel Adoff - Dyno Creative