Welcome to Season 6 of Creators Grab Coffee! To kick off 2026, we’re joined by one of our OG guests—Chris Stasiuk from Signature Video Group. Chris is celebrating 16 years in business, and in this episode, we go deep into what it actually takes to survive and thrive for nearly two decades in the creative industry.
We discuss the dangers of “taking your foot off the gas” when business is good, how to handle the inevitable “feast or famine” cycles, and the scary “Lucky Strike” moment of losing a major client.
Plus, we get technical with Generative AI. Chris breaks down exactly how he’s using tools like Higgsfield AI to revolutionize storyboarding and spec work, why AI might kill the traditional stock footage industry, and why “real” process-driven content is about to become more valuable than ever.
Watch the episode here:
Watch the episode here:
🎧 Spotify: Listen on Spotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts:Listen on Apple Podcasts
Chapters
- 00:00 Celebrating Six Years of Podcasting
- 02:58 Reflecting on Business Growth and Goals
- 06:07 Maintaining Momentum in Business
- 09:02 The Importance of Marketing and Content Creation
- 11:59 Navigating Business Challenges and Scaling
- 15:10 The Role of Freelancers and Partnerships
- 17:53 The Impact of Goal Setting and Manifestation
- 33:32 Trusting the Process
- 36:56 Navigating Client Loss and Diversification
- 39:27 Maintaining Client Relationships
- 42:36 Maximizing Content Value
- 43:39 The Impact of Generative AI on Content Creation
- 49:35 AI as a Tool for Creatives
- 52:11 The Future of AI in Creative Industries
Takeaways
- Reflecting on past successes helps set future goals.
- Maintaining momentum is crucial for business growth.
- Starting small can lead to sustainable progress.
- Marketing and client relationships are key to success.
- AI tools can enhance creative processes but should not replace human touch.
- Building a strong freelancer roster can help manage workload.
- Diversifying client work reduces risk for businesses.
- Real-world assets and authenticity are valuable in content creation.
- Goal setting and visualization can lead to achieving objectives.
- Collaboration on passion projects can recharge creativity
About the Hosts
Creatives Grab Coffee is hosted by Dario Nouri and Kyrill Lazarov, co-founders of Lapse Productions — a top video production company in Toronto helping businesses create cinematic content that drives results.
