Philosophy that works. Insights that inspire intentional action.
What this is
Creative on Purpose is a publication for people who want their lives and contributions to mean something. No productivity hacks. No hustle culture. Ideas with edges, the kind that make you rethink how you're spending your one wild and precious life.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — Mary Oliver, The Summer Day
Why this exists
Most people drift. They plan to do the meaningful work later, after the conditions are right. Later never comes. This is the nudge to start now.
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” — Goethe
How this works
Essays that connect philosophy to daily action.
Prompts that push you toward intentional choices.
A consistent reminder that legacy isn’t built at the end. It’s built today.
And a room, for when reading isn’t enough. (More on that below.)
This is your first move
Before you explore anything else, introduce yourself in the comments by answering this question:
What excites you most about what you do?
If you publish your own Substack, share the link so we can learn more about you and support your work.
That’s it. One question. One comment. It takes two minutes, and it’s the most important thing you can do right now, because this community runs on connection, not consumption, and this is where it starts.
Get started
Go Further
Ready to take a bolder step into possibility? Start with this article, and comment and restack if it lands.
When reading isn’t enough
Here’s something I learned the slow way. You can read every article I write and still be standing in the same spot next year. Reading about purpose and taking intentional action are two different things.
That’s why there’s The Circle. Live calls every week where you bring the real work, and a community that keeps working between the calls. Accountability partners, writing groups, people coaching each other. Most of it happens when I’m not in the room.
Free readers get the ideas. Circle members get the practice.
→ [Click here to learn more about what happens in the room]
Not ready? Stay a free reader. Every Sunday’s email includes an open invitation to sit in on a call as my guest. Take one when you’re ready.
Hello, I've been hanging out with Scott online on and off for quite a few years now, enjoying interesting conversations and difficult questions.
I'm a freelance informational illustrator and observational comics artist and non-fiction graphic novelist. I like making complicated stuff easier to understand, visually, especially when that supports good work being done.
Haven't got to grips with substack at all, except to read other people's stuff, but if you click on my face you can find my website.
There was this oak tree that stood at the corner of our driveway when I was a kid that I was a little in love with. To this day, if I dream of a tree, or of living in a tree, or of opening a door in the side of a tree revealing a hidden world, it’s that tree.
One time, with my back on the ground at the foot of this tree, I laid my right hand out and imagined a narrow beam of energy moving thru it and out across the world. How long before that energy might wrap around The Earth and return into my left hand stretched out and waiting? It took some time. But it did return. And for a few moments I held this ribbon of energy in both hands as it spanned the globe. And then I let it go.
☝️this is the first time I ever told any human that story. But it’s the best way to describe what the experience of making something artful and deep and interconnecting feels like for me.
Thanks for the space you make in the world, Scott, for interconnection and idea grappling. Our conversations awaken many thoughts and I find they have purpose in my work going forward.