The Ultimate 15-Minute Personal Brand Audit Checklist

FREE DOWNLOAD

Discover What’s Holding You Back from Being Seen as an Authority

1/27/16

76: Ari Meisel – How To Optimize, Automate, and Outsource Your Life

Part of the problem we have now in society, and I know this sounds crazy, is too much freedom.

As a creative entrepreneur, I often wish that there were more hours in the day, that I had gotten better sleep or had been able to be a little more productive today. And there are ways to make that possible.

Ari Meisel, the creator of Less Doing, is the king of making the most of your time, a master of productivity. His businesses are all about optimizing, automating, and outsourcing everything in your life so that you can be the most productive, creative, and all around best person you can be.

Listen in as we talk about how he overcame Crohn’s Disease, created his business Less Doing, and optimized his life. He’ll give you some biohacks and productivity tips to help get you on track to become the best version of yourself.

By learning new things and experiencing new things, that’s how you become creative.

[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/ari-meisel” title=”How To Optimize, Automate, and Outsource Your Life” artist=”Ari Meisel” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/76_AriMeisel_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]

Some things we learn in this podcast:

  • How he got into construction [4:30]
  • What happened when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease [5:45]
  • The creation of Less Doing [6:35]
  • Why he loves construction but hates real estate [11:00]
  • How Less Doing allows him to do building, in a way [11:45]
  • Getting over Crohn’s Disease [14:40]
  • His favorite biohacks [19:05]
  • Why he does mindfulness meditation while washing the dishes [23:25]
  • The importance of having processes in place [28:00]
  • The problem with having too many choices [31:05]
  • How Evernote helps Ari produce great content [34:05]
  • His top 5 productivity tips [36:15]
  • What is the Pomodoro Technique [39:45]
  • Why he thinks everyone should try a virtual assistant [42:50]
  • How he’s incorporating virtual organization into business optimization [48:35]
  • Why he doesn’t believe in goal setting [54:35]

Links mentioned:

Connect with Ari Instagram | Twitter | Website

LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE

CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION

Part of the problem we have now in society, and I know this sounds crazy, is too much freedom.

As a creative entrepreneur, I often wish that there were more hours in the day, that I had gotten better sleep or had been able to be a little more productive today. And there are ways to make that possible.

Ari Meisel, the creator of Less Doing, is the king of making the most of your time, a master of productivity. His businesses are all about optimizing, automating, and outsourcing everything in your life so that you can be the most productive, creative, and all around best person you can be.

Listen in as we talk about how he overcame Crohn’s Disease, created his business Less Doing, and optimized his life. He’ll give you some biohacks and productivity tips to help get you on track to become the best version of yourself.

By learning new things and experiencing new things, that’s how you become creative.

[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/ari-meisel” title=”How To Optimize, Automate, and Outsource Your Life” artist=”Ari Meisel” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/76_AriMeisel_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]

Some things we learn in this podcast:

  • How he got into construction [4:30]
  • What happened when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease [5:45]
  • The creation of Less Doing [6:35]
  • Why he loves construction but hates real estate [11:00]
  • How Less Doing allows him to do building, in a way [11:45]
  • Getting over Crohn’s Disease [14:40]
  • His favorite biohacks [19:05]
  • Why he does mindfulness meditation while washing the dishes [23:25]
  • The importance of having processes in place [28:00]
  • The problem with having too many choices [31:05]
  • How Evernote helps Ari produce great content [34:05]
  • His top 5 productivity tips [36:15]
  • What is the Pomodoro Technique [39:45]
  • Why he thinks everyone should try a virtual assistant [42:50]
  • How he’s incorporating virtual organization into business optimization [48:35]
  • Why he doesn’t believe in goal setting [54:35]

Links mentioned:

Connect with Ari Instagram | Twitter | Website

1/27/16

76: Ari Meisel – How To Optimize, Automate, and Outsource Your Life

Brand Intelligence

infuse your vision with a fresh breath of  creativity and vitality

BOOK A BRAND PHOTOSHOOT

GET THE DETAILS

GET THE DETAILS

infuse your vision with a fresh breath of  creativity and vitality

PODCAST

BRAND INTELLIGENCE

CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE

LIFE INTELLIGENCE

Part of the problem we have now in society, and I know this sounds crazy, is too much freedom.

As a creative entrepreneur, I often wish that there were more hours in the day, that I had gotten better sleep or had been able to be a little more productive today. And there are ways to make that possible.

Ari Meisel, the creator of Less Doing, is the king of making the most of your time, a master of productivity. His businesses are all about optimizing, automating, and outsourcing everything in your life so that you can be the most productive, creative, and all around best person you can be.

Listen in as we talk about how he overcame Crohn’s Disease, created his business Less Doing, and optimized his life. He’ll give you some biohacks and productivity tips to help get you on track to become the best version of yourself.

By learning new things and experiencing new things, that’s how you become creative.

[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/ari-meisel” title=”How To Optimize, Automate, and Outsource Your Life” artist=”Ari Meisel” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/76_AriMeisel_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]

Some things we learn in this podcast:

  • How he got into construction [4:30]
  • What happened when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease [5:45]
  • The creation of Less Doing [6:35]
  • Why he loves construction but hates real estate [11:00]
  • How Less Doing allows him to do building, in a way [11:45]
  • Getting over Crohn’s Disease [14:40]
  • His favorite biohacks [19:05]
  • Why he does mindfulness meditation while washing the dishes [23:25]
  • The importance of having processes in place [28:00]
  • The problem with having too many choices [31:05]
  • How Evernote helps Ari produce great content [34:05]
  • His top 5 productivity tips [36:15]
  • What is the Pomodoro Technique [39:45]
  • Why he thinks everyone should try a virtual assistant [42:50]
  • How he’s incorporating virtual organization into business optimization [48:35]
  • Why he doesn’t believe in goal setting [54:35]

Links mentioned:

Connect with Ari Instagram | Twitter | Website

1/27/16

76: Ari Meisel – How To Optimize, Automate, and Outsource Your Life

When you need a trusted creative partner in the room.

Take the Fit Check

Be seen at the level you’re stepping into.

Hey! I'm Nick.

PHOTOGRAPHER
BRAND ALCHEMIST
TEACHER

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia.

Build authority from the inside out.

Emanate is a creative-direction-led photography experience for entrepreneurs, speakers, and thought leaders in a moment of expansion. This isn’t about better photos. It’s about aligning how you’re seen with who you’ve become. For seasons of rebrand, visibility, and next-level leadership.

Magnetic Authority is a self-guided container for people who feel visible, but not fully anchored.

If your message keeps shifting, your brand feels inconsistent, or your presence doesn’t match your capability yet. This is where you build the foundation before you scale.

Take the Fit Check

Start Here

For founders, creatives, and leaders who want a trusted long-term partner. This isn’t coaching or traditional consulting.

It’s an ongoing creative partnership focused on bringing your personal brand identity to life.

Your brand. Your website. Your visuals.
All shaped as a direct extension of who you are. The work also includes a bespoke process of identifying and aligning the right experts when needed, so nothing gets built out of sync with your core.

Explore the Partnership

Quiet. Precise. Highly Selective.

read the latest

Elevated Realism™ editorial personal brand portrait symbolizing intentional preparation, clarity, and visual authority before a personal brand photoshoot

A Free Download for Aligned, Effortless Shoots Most photoshoots fail before the camera ever comes out. Not because of lighting.Not because of gear.Not because of posing. They fail because of misalignment. People show up hoping the camera will figure out what they haven’t clarified yet.And the result is predictable. Good photos.Wrong signal. This checklist exists […]

Elevated Realism™ editorial personal brand portrait expressing coherence, authority, and identity alignment, introducing what’s included in an Elevated Realism™ shoot

2026 Packages This isn’t coverage. It’s coherence. An Elevated Realism™ shoot isn’t designed to give you more photos.It’s designed to give you clarity, consistency, and authority across your entire brand ecosystem. Every element of the experience exists to solve one problem:Your current visuals no longer reflect who you’ve become. Here’s exactly what’s included in an […]

Elevated Realism personal brand portrait showing a composed founder in natural light, expressing clarity, grounded authority, and intentional presence at the start of the year

Q1 isn’t about starting over. It’s about being seen correctly. The new year doesn’t create momentum.It reveals who prepared for it. Q1 is when visibility resets.When attention sharpens.When people decide who they’re listening to this year. And the fastest way that decision gets made isn’t through words.It’s through visuals. That’s why Q1 is the most […]

Nick Onken photographing a personal brand client in natural light with a professional camera

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post This Is More Than a Photoshoot These aren’t generic content sessions. Every photoshoot is individually crafted — built around your unique narrative, your energy signature, and where your brand is heading. We call these Emanate Photoshoots intentionally. The purpose is to capture not just who you are […]

Entrepreneur using AI-powered tools and custom GPTs to streamline business tasks and save time

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post AI Isn’t Optional Anymore If you’re running a business in 2026 and not using AI, you’re already behind. That’s not hype. It’s just the reality of how fast things are moving. Whether you’re a coach, creative, consultant, or brand builder — AI is how you stay lean, […]

Nick Onken directing a personal brand shoot in an editorial studio environment

Because this isn’t just a photoshoot. It’s a portal. If you’re here, you already know this isn’t about taking “pictures.” It’s about capturing essence. Crafting identity. Transmitting the frequency of who you are becoming. This is more than a brand refresh. It’s a visual rite of passage. And it begins with a simple, sacred step: […]

Personal brand shoot showing client in an iconic outdoor location reflecting their story and energy

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Your Brand Lives in a Specific Universe A personal brand isn’t just what you offer — it’s the world you create around your work.That universe gets defined through imagery. Not only your presence, but the environments you inhabit. The textures that surround you. The quality of light […]

A visual comparison between traditional headshots and editorial-style brand photography for personal branding

You’ve probably seen both. You might even think they’re the same thing. But there’s a fundamental difference between headshots and brand photography that changes everything about how your audience perceives you. One simply shows your face. The other tells your story. What Headshots Are Actually For A headshot has one job: identification. Think of it […]

Alyson Stoner dancing with a red umbrella on a Brooklyn rooftop during a personal brand photoshoot by Nick Onken

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post You Are the Brand If you’re still hiding behind your offer… If you’re still using a cropped wedding photo for your headshot… If you’re still telling yourself you need to “figure it all out first”… Let this be your permission slip: You are the face of your […]

Tattoo artist Balazs preparing his tools in studio as part of a creative ceremonial tattoo session

TLDR | What You’ll Learn in This Post This Wasn’t Just a Tattoo I’ve wanted a tattoo from Balazs for years. Not because he’s popular, but because I knew this guy was channeling something real. When the time finally aligned, I didn’t just walk into a session. I stepped into a portal. The Intention: A […]

Entrepreneur being photographed in a curated natural light space, styled for brand authority and emotional presence

If you’re an entrepreneur, your personal brand isn’t just a logo — it’s your face, your energy, and the story you’re telling in every scroll. So when it comes to choosing a personal brand photographer, you don’t need someone who just “takes nice pictures.” You need someone who knows how to translate your identity into […]

Elevated personal brand client standing in a design-forward modern home filled with natural light and styled with intention

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Your Location Isn’t Background — It’s Identity Where you shoot isn’t just about what looks cool. It’s about resonance. It’s about embodiment. It’s about visually designing a space that holds your energy. “Your brand visuals don’t just show who you are — they show the world you […]

Personal brand client in a curated studio setting, captured mid-movement during an Elevated Realism™ photoshoot

A personal brand is not your logo. It’s not your colors. It’s not just your website. Your personal brand is the perception people have of you when you’re not in the room — shaped by your presence, your visuals, your voice, and how consistently you embody your values. It’s who you are and who you’re […]

About the Blogger

I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here. 

I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here. 

NICK'S STORY