What is the real price of bringing something meaningful into the world? This week on The Workshop, Chance and I sat down with Seb Lavoie to go beyond the highlight reels and motivational quotes to explore the raw, unseen “Cost of Creation.” The conversation was a deep dive into the sacrifices, the self-doubt, the temporary obsessions, and the relentless discipline required to bring a new idea, a new craft, or a new version of yourself into the world. It was an honest look at the price that must be paid long before any reward is reaped, and a reminder that anything worth doing will have a sting.
This Week’s Guest:
– Seb Lavoie: Retired RCMP ERT Sgt. Major, BJJ black belt, and performance coach.
Key Insights from Our “The Cost of Creation” Discussion:
1. Creation Demands a Price
Seb kicked things off by highlighting the unseen costs of my recent book-writing journey in Asia. This set the stage for our core theme: anything worth creating demands a significant sacrifice, and you must believe the “juice is worth the squeeze.” The cost extends far beyond the creator, rippling out to affect those closest to them.
2. The Difference Between Meaning and Obsession
We explored the fine line between a meaningful pursuit and a hollow obsession. Meaning, we argued, must be real and often supersedes your own feelings. It’s about serving a purpose larger than yourself, like helping the collective. Obsession without that deeper “why” can become a trap, a relentless chase with no real fulfillment that often burns out when the initial dopamine hits fade away.
3. The Unfolding Vision
I pushed back on the idea that you must have a crystal-clear vision of what you will create from day one. When I started writing the book, the vision was murky, and the process was janky. There were days of self-doubt and backward progress. The key was to stay engaged in the moment, trust the process, and find new anchors of motivation—like not letting the team down—when the initial inspiration faded.
4. Hardship is the Proof of Value
I made the point that if the creative process had been easy, I wouldn’t have appreciated the outcome as much. The struggle, the frustration, and the less-than-ideal conditions were what made the accomplishment feel earned and valuable. As I put it, if the book had taken me only three hours to write, I’d have paid someone not to buy it. Anything truly worth doing should have a sting to it.
5. The Last 100 Meters
Seb shared a powerful metaphor: “On the last 100 meters to the top of the mountain, nobody’s left.” That final, brutal push is where most people quit, where motivation has long since vanished and only discipline remains. For a certain mindset, knowing this—knowing you’re in the part of the journey where attrition is highest—becomes its own source of fuel and a powerful anchor.
6. Theoretical Hard vs. Operational Hard
We discussed the vast difference between thinking about a hard thing and actually doing it. Seb noted that in CrossFit, a 500lb squat in the gym often becomes a 375lb squat on the competition floor. The pressure of reality, the “operational hard,” changes everything. You can’t know the true cost of creation until you’re in the arena, where the consequences are real.
7. The Reward of Creation
I reframed the “cost” as a “reward.” The price you pay to create something is a minor entry fee for the journey. The real payback is the growth you experience in the process, the satisfaction of building something real, and the positive impact your creation has on others—often in ways you’ll never even know. The reward isn’t just the finished product; it’s the person you become while making it.
8. The Process Over the Outcome
We concluded that an over-focus on the finish line can be a form of self-sabotage. Seb shared the insight that a 19-hour drive can feel easier than a 4-hour drive, because on the long journey, you surrender to the process and live moment to moment. On the short trip, you’re constantly focused on an end that never seems to arrive. The creative journey is the same; a focus on the outcome creates frustration, while a focus on the process creates resilience.
Final Thought: The journey is the value.
The process of creation is not a clean, linear path to a finished product. It’s a messy, difficult, and often frustrating struggle. But it is in that very struggle—in the doubt, the discipline, and the decision to keep going—that we forge not only our creation, but ourselves. The cost isn’t a bug in the system; it’s the most valuable feature. The cost is the point.
What are you willing to pay for what you want to create?
Listen to the full “The Cost of Creation” discussion here: The Cost Of Creation
Keep building,
Shaun & The Collective Crew
