Big dreams often surface quietly, then get talked down by doubt, timing, or other people’s opinions. What if the real work is not letting them disappear?

How do you know which dreams are worth pursuing, who to bring along, and what tradeoffs actually matter?

In this episode, Bryan Sweet sits down with Nick Nanton, Emmy Award winning filmmaker, producer, and bestselling author, to talk about dreaming intentionally, using creativity as a practical tool, and building teams that allow big ideas to become real. Nick shares how clarity, values, and persistence shape meaningful progress, why failure is part of the process, and how choosing gratitude over anxiety opens doors even in uncertain seasons.

Key takeaways:

• Why creativity is about using your natural strengths, not artistic talent or inspiration alone
• How surrounding yourself with people you admire accelerates progress toward meaningful goals
• The role of values and alignment when choosing projects, partners, and risks
• How failure, timing, and persistence shape long-term fulfillment
• Why intentional living requires clarity about what you want and why it matters
• And more!

Resources: 

• Book: The Bezos Letters by Steve Anderson
• Book: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• Book: Pappyland by Wright Thompson
• Book: It’s Never Too Late by Kathie Lee Gifford
• Book: No Easy Day by Mark Owen

Connect With Nick Nanton:

• Website: Nick Nanton
• Instagram: Nick Nanton (@nicknanton)
• Facebook: Nick Nanton

Connect With Sweet Financial Partners:

• 1 (507) 235-5587
• meetingwithsweet.com
• Sweet Financial
• LinkedIn: Bryan Sweet
• Facebook: Sweet Financial Partners
• 📖 Get our book, “Dream Architecture,” here

About Our Guest:

Nick Nanton grew up not with a safety net, but with a relentless curiosity and the belief that possibility was something you created, not something you waited for. That belief carried him from law school to launching the Celebrity Branding® Agency, and eventually to founding DNA® Films—a studio that has now produced 60+ films and earned 22 Emmy Awards. It didn’t happen because conditions were perfect. It happened because again and again, Nick bet big on what mattered. And when it worked? He doubled down.

The opinions voiced in The Dream Architect Life Podcast with Bryan Sweet are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, financial or tax advisor prior to investing. Guests on the show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More