The weird set an example for the rest of us. They raise the bar. They show us through their actions that in fact we’re wired to do the new, not to comply with someone a thousand miles away.
Just imagine how much you’d get done if you stopped actively sabotaging your own work.
Defending mediocrity is exhausting.
Playing safe is very risky.
The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.
So sure, start with a slogan. But don’t bother wasting any time on it if you’re merely going for catchy. Aim for true instead.
It’s never too late to start heading in the right direction.
Art is what we do when we’re truly alive.
Your art is the act of taking personal responsibility, challenging the status quo, and changing people.
The problem with the race to the bottom is that you might win.
If you are deliberately trying to create a future that feels safe, you will willfully ignore the future that is likely.
Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers.
So much easier to aim for the smallest possible audience, not the largest, to build long-term value among a trusted, delighted tribe, to create work that matters and stands the test of time.
If you can’t state your position in eight words, you don’t have a position.
Our best work can’t possibly appeal to the average masses, only our average work can. Finding the humility to happily walk away from those that don’t get it unlocks our ability to do great work.
You don’t launch a popular blog, you build one.
If you need to conceal your true nature to get in the door, understand that you’ll probably have to conceal your true nature to keep that job.
Do your art. But don’t wreck your art if it doesn’t lend itself to paying the bills. That would be a tragedy.
The secret to being wrong isn’t to avoid being wrong! The secret is being willing to be wrong. The secret is realizing that wrong isn’t fatal.
People rarely buy what they need. They buy what they want.