As a self-aware leader, you know that true growth lies in owning your path, embracing discomfort, and leveraging tools to amplify impact. In this episode of the Self Aware Leader Podcast, I sat down with Troy Plota, founder of Plotaverse, the world’s first all-AI social platform for artists. Troy’s journey—from a 17-year-old “surf rat” kicked out of his home to a tech pioneer empowering creators—embodies the high-agency archetype. We dive into his resilience, the transformative power of AI, and how Plotaverse is rewriting the rules for artists. This is a call to action for leaders to reject excuses, harness technology, and build systems that serve.
The Mythic Beginnings: From Camera to Empire
Troy’s story reads like a hero’s journey. At 17, he left home with just a camera, defying his father’s skepticism about photography as a career. “I just picked up my camera and I’ve never had another job ever since,” he says. This is the essence of high-agency leadership: betting on yourself when no one else will.
In Miami and Atlanta, Troy served others by organizing portfolios for a modeling agency, earning paid shoots and exposure to elite clients. His work landed in GQ and on a groundbreaking Times Square digital billboard—the first shot with a digital camera. “You started serving right off the bat… creating a ton of value,” I noted. Troy’s early hustle shows how small, deliberate actions can compound into massive leverage.
Psychological Upgrade: Reframe “starting small” as strategic. Serving others isn’t subservience—it’s a power move to build trust and opportunity.
Actionable Takeaway: Identify one way to serve someone in your network this week (e.g., share a resource, make an introduction). Track how it opens doors within 30 days.
The Crucible: Turning Betrayal into Vision
Every leader faces a crucible. For Troy, it was Apple’s betrayal. His Plotograph app, the first to animate stills, was promoted for the iPhone X launch. After a $6 million giveaway, Apple lowballed him and failed to deliver exposure. A competitor copied his app, reaping hundreds of millions. “This is age-old—making a profit off an artist… there’s always this boogeyman behind them,” I observed.
Troy didn’t wallow. He channeled pain into Plotaverse, a platform that empowers artists with control and authenticity. This is high-agency in action: owning the setback, rejecting victimhood, and building something better. As self-aware leaders, we must alchemize adversity into fuel.
Philosophical Lens: Per David Deida, masculine purpose thrives in challenge. Resistance isn’t a barrier—it’s the forge for your mission.
Actionable Takeaway: Face a current setback. Time-box 24 hours to process emotions, then list three ways to reframe it as leverage. Act on one within 48 hours.
Plotaverse: A Platform for Creators, by Creators
Plotaverse is Troy’s rebellion against platforms that exploit artists. Unlike Instagram’s 7.5% creator payout, Plotaverse reinvests ad revenue into its community. Key features include:
Custom Profiles: “I’ve designed the profile pages to be like your website… you dictate what goes first,” Troy says.
Pixel-Shifting Patents: Protect originality.
Monetization Tools: Reward creators generously.
Diverse Collections: Showcase your full range without algorithms boxing you in.
The platform’s impact is profound. Users in hospitals have used Plotaverse to fight depression, and DJs leverage its visuals for immersive shows. One user shared, “I was in bed for months and literally addicted to your app… it saved my life.” This is leadership: building tools that uplift and inspire.
Strategic Execution: Plotaverse’s artist-first model is 80/20 thinking—focusing on what moves the needle for creators. Leaders, take note: prioritize stakeholder value over short-term gains.
Actionable Takeaway: Audit your current project or business. What’s one feature or process you can tweak to give your team or customers more control? Implement it in a one-week sprint.
AI: Your Creative Superpower
Troy calls AI a “miracle” for creators, comparing it to the leap from film to digital. Collaborating with icons like Ellen von Unwerth, he uses AI to animate stills and craft films once impossible. Plotaverse integrates tools like Runway, Pika, and Stable Diffusion, with an Nvidia partnership for offline models on the horizon. “If you don’t embrace this, you’re going to be left behind,” Troy warns.
Debunking fears that AI cheapens art, Troy highlights the skill of prompting and collaboration. “Even the prompt… that should be monetized,” I added. By making AI accessible via open-source models, Troy is democratizing creativity.
Psychological Edge: Fear of AI is comfort-seeking in disguise. Per Designing the Mind, reprogram your mindset to see tools as extensions of your will.
Actionable Takeaway: Spend 30 minutes this week experimenting with an AI tool (e.g., Plotaverse’s free features, Stable Diffusion). Create one output and share it with your network for feedback.
The Future: Dynamic Art and Democratized Creation
Troy envisions a decade where AI enables anyone to produce feature films without Hollywood’s gatekeepers. Dynamic digital displays will transform static art into moving, mood-setting experiences. “Things don’t have to be stationary anymore… it’s a combination of augmented reality and screens,” he says. Plotaverse also supports innovative uses, like data visualizations, uniting photographers, videographers, and data artists.
“Art has always been about what it makes you feel… now it can move,” Troy notes. This is a mythic call: as leaders, we must pioneer tools and communities that amplify human potential.
Strategic Vision: Think 10 years out. What’s the “dynamic display” in your industry? Build toward it now.
Actionable Takeaway: Brainstorm one way an emerging tech (e.g., AI, AR) could transform your work. Prototype a small project in the next two weeks and measure its impact.
Start Now: Join the Plotaverse Movement
Troy’s invitation is clear: download Plotaverse (iOS/Android), explore its uncompressed imagery, and connect with creators. Pro features unlock after 50 posts or comments, making tools globally accessible. A desktop version is coming, integrating top AI tools. “Go on, find some artists you love, and get inspired,” Troy urges.
Execution Sprint: Momentum starts with one step. Engage with Plotaverse today to spark your creative edge.
Actionable Takeaway: Download Plotaverse, follow five artists, and post one piece of your work. Track how it shifts your perspective over one week.
Memorable Quotes
Troy: “In every way in life, it’s about service and just having faith in doing what you love.”
Jason: “This is how AI is supposed to work—it helps us, makes us better, allows us to be more creative.”
Troy: “I’m curating the top tools in the world… it’s not just about what we have in Plotaverse.”
How to Connect
Download Plotaverse: iOS | Android
Follow Troy: @troyplota on X | @Troyplota on Plotaverse
Learn More: plotaverse.com | troyplota.com
Plotagraph Pro: plotagraphpro.com
Final Charge: Lead with Ownership and Vision
Troy Plota’s journey—from a teenager with a camera to a pioneer empowering artists—embodies the self-aware leader’s ethos: own your path, serve others, and turn obstacles into opportunities. Plotaverse isn’t just a platform; it’s a movement to reclaim creative control. As leaders, we must embrace AI as a tool to amplify our purpose, not a threat to fear.
Call to Action: Share this post with one creator or leader in your network. Download Plotaverse, experiment with one AI tool this week, and ask: What’s my next bold move to own my impact? Let’s build a future where creativity and leadership thrive.
Stay awake, stay in action.
Jason Rigby
Host, Self Aware Leader Podcast
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