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Inspiration comes unannounced. And if you don’t write it down, it never happened. SO, HERE’S THE SECRET: create a portable creative environment. My new favorite creativity Big Shot is Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. (Try saying THAT one three times fast!) Anyway, he says, “Shape your immediate surroundings so as to feel in harmony with the small segment of the universe in which you happen to be located.” So, if you’re a…

1. Because the more you give away for free, the wealthier you will be. Read more about this theory here. 2. Because stuff that you create doesn’t do you any good sitting in a folder on your computer. 3. Because you can let the world be your editor. By sharing your ideas (for free) with lots of people, you will get unexpected, unsolicited feedback on how to improve it….

Some artists create art for fame. Some artists create art for money. Some artists create art for awards. Some artists create art for getting laid. Some artists create art for recognition from critics. Some artists create art for recognition from other artists. Some artists create art for people who don’t appreciate it. Some artists create art for the needs and wants of a certain target market. Here’s what I…

I don’t believe in MARKETING. Sure, I do a lot of stuff that might be considered marketing: blogging, ezines, publicity and articles. But to me, that’s not marketing. That’s storytelling. That’s sharing expertise with fans. That’s positioning yourse as a resource. That’s consistently and uniquely sticking yourself out there. I don’t believe in BRANDING. Sure, I do a lot of stuff that might be considered branding: answering the phone…

1. The Paradox of Choice. There are more choices than ever before – approaching infinite. So, people are just going to pick the best choice. Often times, it’s the first choice. Are you at the top of the list? 2. Time isn’t on your side. There are more thieves of time, attention and mental energy than ever before. You’re not the only important thing in your customers’ lives. THINK…

A common thread shared by most successful entrepreneurs and innovators is that they all were, at some point in time, pissed off. Pissed off at someone. Pissed off at something. Not willing to accept the status quo. Always willing to abandon popular delusions. Dissatisfied with what they saw around them. Happy to invest the time, energy and money in finding a better way. I think Tom Peters said it…

When you’re writing… When you’re creating art… When you’re brainstorming… REMEMBER THREE WORDS: detach from outcomes. For five reasons: 1. When you detach from outcomes, you relax more. 2. When you detach from outcomes, you lower your guard. 3. When you detach from outcomes, you lower other people’s guards. 4. When you detach from outcomes, you produce better quality work. 5. When you detach from outcomes, you lower the…

1. You get (really) good at writing by writing a lot. 2. You get (really) good at writing by being willing to suck at the beginning. 3. You get (really) good at writing by reading good writing. 4. You get (really) good at writing by reading bad writing. 5. You get (really) good at writing by studying the architecture of pages. 6. You get (really) good at writing sharing…

We live in a My Culture. Here’s why. Because of the exponential growth of Internet, humans now have instant access to infinite amounts of information. This creates a hyperspeed, infinite-choice society where people are BOMBARDED by thousands of marketing messages on a daily basis. Which makes customers’ patience dwindle. Which reduces attention span to about six seconds. Which ultimately means: customers are going to get WHAT they want, WHEN…

Ideas are your major source of income. As such, you need to become a MASTER of entertaining those ideas. Aristotle once said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Note the distinction. He’s talking about being objective. Being open. Brainstorming. Considering the possibility that an idea MIGHT be good. Or, that it might suck. You won’t know until…