Author: Kevin Chung (Page 18 of 21)

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

May 17, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 0 Comments

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

Print available on Society6.

Every goal you have is like a mountain waiting to be scaled. Before you begin your ascent, you are filled with hope and excitement. You believe you can accomplish anything. Then you hit some unforeseen obstacles. Do you quit in the face of adversity or continue on?

If you are like many people, you give up. You are defeated and humiliated. “I can’t do it.” “It’s too difficult.” When you let these thoughts creep into your head, you have already lost.

What separates those who scale the mountain of adversity versus those who give up?

[bctt tweet=”Our attitude affects everything we do.”]

The answer lies within ourselves. Our attitude affects everything we do. If you approach obstacles with a stoic mindset, you will have a much greater chance of success. Instead of viewing adversity as a hindrance, think of it as an opportunity to stretch your capabilities. How can you approach this problem in a new way? What can you do to turn that obstacle into a solution?

[bctt tweet=”Conquering the unconquerable is much more satisfying than giving up.”]

Conquering the unconquerable is much more satisfying than giving up. Don’t let a defeatist attitude get in the way of accomplishing your goals. Face your fear head on and don’t give in.

When we are finally reach the peak of the mountain top, we know it was worth it. Our accomplishments do not lie in the goal we’ve achieved, but in our ability to achieve that goal.

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Photo by Zach Dischner

Cracking Creativity Episode 1: Joshua Carrasco aka Madd Illz on Freestyle Rapping, Battle Rapping, and Creativity

May 11, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 4 Comments

Madd Illz is one of the most respected freestyle rappers and the founder of Grind Time Now a battle rap league. In this episode he shares the differences between freestyle and researched rap battles, the creative process, his work with the United Nations, how pop culture, chess, and poker make you more creative, among many other things.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Quote Art

May 10, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 0 Comments

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

This quote is often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.

Print available on Society6.

When you consider starting on a new venture, your excitement and enthusiasm is unparalleled. You have so many ideas. It has to work this time. Sure you’ve failed those other times, but this time is different.

Fast forward a year or two later and your enthusiasm has turned into distress. Things aren’t going as you originally planned. Your idea has worked for others, why isn’t it working for you?

You didn’t prepare. Enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, if given the proper direction. Otherwise, it will lead you down the wrong path. I have encountered this problem more than a few times in my life. Each time, my failure could be attributed to a lack of preparation.

One thing we often ignore when embarking on a new idea or project is doing our homework. We get so caught up in our idea that we ignore the necessary work that must be done before we begin. Without doing this work, we wander aimlessly trying to figure out what works. There is no rhyme or reason to our actions.

[bctt tweet=”If you want your idea to succeed you must front-load the work.”]

If you want your idea to succeed you must front-load the work. Do your research and determine whether your idea is viable at the beginning, not at the middle or end, of your project. To get started, you can ask yourself the 5 W questions:

Who benefits from this project?
What will make this project a success?
When do I plan on releasing this project to the world?
Where can I promote this project?
Why am I doing this project?

[bctt tweet=”Don’t get bogged down by minor details or you will never get started.”]

The more you know about the project before you begin, the more likely it is to succeed. You just need to make sure your research is relevant to the task at hand. Don’t get bogged down by minor details or you will never get started.

The most important thing to remember is you should be as prepared as possible before beginning on any new venture. It will save you a lot of time and frustration later on. Sharpen your axe before chopping down that tree.

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Background photo courtesy of Bartosz Makara.

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter

May 3, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 4 Comments

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”
– Derek Jeter

Print available on Society6.

Greatness can be found in every walk of life, from the artist to the athlete. In each case, there are those that stand out and those that don’t. What is it that separates the two?

Derek Jeter is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He is what sports fans like to call a first ballot Hall of Famer. In sports, the Hall of Fame recognizes the best players to ever play the game. First ballot Hall of Famers are voted in on the first eligible ballot.

Jeter ended his career in the top ten of three statistical categories. He was sixth in hits with 3,465. He was seventh in at-bats with 11,195. And he was ninth in runs with 1,923.

What do these stats prove? They prove that Jeter had staying power. Some athletes can make it in sports based off of their natural talents alone, but those who do quickly fade away. Others, like Derek Jeter, become masters of their craft. They hone their skills to perfection.

A New York Times article estimated that Jeter swung a bat 342,000 times in his professional career. His deliberate and methodical practice can seen in his signature stance and swing. Each at bat is preceded by a very distinct routine.

Derek Jeter did not achieve greatness through luck or pure athleticism. Like every great athlete to play a sport, he spent countless hours practicing and becoming better.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t be discouraged by those who have more talent than you.”]

Even if you don’t know anything about baseball, you can still appreciate what Derek Jeter has done. He was meticulous at his craft and worked hard to be the best. Don’t be discouraged by those who have more talent than you. Use it as motivation to become better. If you work harder than everyone else you are sure to find success.

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Photo of Yankee Stadium by m01229

“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” – Abraham Lincoln Quote Art

April 19, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 0 Comments

“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”
― Abraham Lincoln

Print available on Society6.

Being an artist can be overwhelming. You have to create and update a website, you have to market your work, and you have to go to art fairs and other events, among many other things. It’s a wonder you have time to actually create art.

How can you stay focused and productive when there are so many things you need to accomplish?

[bctt tweet=”Instead of trying to multitask, concentrate on your most important tasks”]

The secret is living in the present moment one day at a time. Most people become overwhelmed because they try to do too many things at the same time. Instead of trying to multitask, concentrate on your most important tasks. Too often we think we have to do everything all the time. That is simply not the case.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, figure out the most important task you need to accomplish, and do it. It is that simple. Forget everything else on your plate. When your attention is divided, you are not giving each task the proper attention it deserves.

[bctt tweet=”Forget about the future and concentrate on the present”]

We are too often concerned about the future. Forget about the future and concentrate on the present. The present moment is the most important moment of your life because you are living it. If you are too wrapped up in the future, you are not living in the present.

Luckily, time is constant. Each day is 24 hours. Each hour is 60 minutes. Each minute is 60 seconds. This means we can determine the amount of time it will take to complete a task. Once we know this, we can give each task its proper due.

[bctt tweet=”The future will come no matter what, but it only comes one day at a time”]

The future will come no matter what, but it only comes one day at a time. If you can plan for the future while living in the present moment, you can accomplish anything.

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“You’re an artist when you say you are. And you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.” - Amanda Palmer — Quote by Amanda Palmer

What Makes a Good Artist – Amanda Palmer Quote Art

April 12, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 0 Comments

“You’re an artist when you say you are. And you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.” – Amanda Palmer

Print available on Society6.

People are always arguing about the value of art and whether someone should or shouldn’t be considered an artist. Amanda Palmer perfectly explains my sentiments on the topic.

Who are we to say who is and isn’t an artist? Why do we feel entitled to label people? Anyone who creates art has the right to call themselves an artist. That being said, just because you are an artist, doesn’t mean you are a good artist.

[bctt tweet=”Anyone can make art, but not everyone can make you feel something…”]

To me, this is the important part of the quote “You’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.” Anyone can make art, but not everyone can make you feel something when viewing their art.

Most artists don’t create because they want to, they create because they have to. There is a force calling on them to create their art. It will eat at them until their art is complete.

[bctt tweet=”You can recognize a great artist by how their work makes others feel”]

Good artists turn that energy into something beautiful. They use it to fuel their creativity and make work that resonates with others. Anyone can be an artist, but you can recognize a great artist by how their work makes others feel.

[bctt tweet=”Only those who transcend the ordinary can achieve the extraordinary”]

Art at its core should make you feel something. Why else would we create it? Art is our way of expressing ourselves to the world. Whether you deal in the visual or performing arts, your art should make people feel something. That is the difference between artists who have staying power and those who don’t. Only those who transcend the ordinary can achieve the extraordinary.

Quote courtesy of Brain Pickings.

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“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.” – Voltaire Quote Art

April 5, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 2 Comments

“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.” – Voltaire

Print available on Society6.

Humans as a species have always questioned their existence in the universe and their knowledge of it. Throughout history philosophers, scientists, and explorers have tested their assumptions. We have never stopped questioning what we assume to be true.

Even now, there are so many things we don’t know about the universe. We are constantly exploring new frontiers and making discoveries. What drives this curiosity?

[bctt tweet=”We are uncomfortable with the unknown”]

We are uncomfortable with the unknown. We want to know how the world works. We want to know what lies beyond our tiny part of the universe. We want to know how the mind works and what drives us.

It ‘s only through this position of uncertainty that we can expand our knowledge of the world. Don’t believe me? Just look at all the things people throughout history have been certain about.

We used to believe the Earth was flat. We used to believe we were the center of the universe. We used to believe sacrifices would please the Gods.

It wasn’t just individuals who believed these things. Entire societies held these beliefs. They believed in these ideas so much that they would persecute anyone who didn’t believe them too. That may sound harsh, but it is still happening today.

[bctt tweet=”Let go of all your assumptions about the world and become comfortable with uncertainty”]

That is why we should never pretend to know all the answers. We must question what we believe to be true and figure things out on our own. Don’t let people tell you things are certain. It is only by having an inquisitive mind that we can learn and grow as people. Let go of all your assumptions about the world and become comfortable with uncertainty.

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Voltaire Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” – Stephen King Quote Art

March 29, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 2 Comments

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” – Stephen King

Print available on Society6.

Our revolutionary ancestors lived in a time where they always had to be on high alert. I’m not talking about Medieval or even Ancient times. I’m talking about our cave dwelling ancestors.

Humans have lived on Earth for a minuscule amount of time relative to the age of the Earth. Evolutionarily speaking, we have evolved very little in that amount of time. We still have the same fight or flight instincts that helped keep our ancestors safe.

Their fear was in reaction to the large prey animals that roamed among us. If they were not prepared to fight off the larger predators, they would have died off like other species, and we would not be here.

Since that time, we have built thriving civilizations and have lived in relative safety. We no longer need to be in a high state of alert. Yet, we still have those fight or flight reactions. Our instincts are no longer used to protect us from danger. We feel them when we encounter something new.

Were you deathly scared before giving a speech in front of a large crowd for the first time? Did your stomach churn before going on your first roller coaster? Are you afraid of starting a business and working on your own?

These are all fight or flight reactions. In these moments, we enter a heightened state of awareness. Unlike our ancestors, we aren’t in serious danger. Our bodies are telling us to pay attention to the situation at hand.

[bctt tweet=”Instead of fearing new situations, we need to understand our reactions to them”]

Instead of fearing these new situations, we need to understand our reactions to them. Once we do, we will be better prepared to react. Beginning new things can be scary, but if you can hone that anticipation into productive energy, you can conquer your fear. You can overcome the initial bump that scares most people off. If you do, you will be one step closer to success.

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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover." - H. Jackson Brown Jr — Quote by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

“Explore, Dream, Discover.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quote Art

March 22, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 9 Comments

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”
– H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Print available on Society6.

As far as we all know, we only get one life to live. If you look back on your life, what regrets will you have?

This is the exact question an Australian nurse, Bronnie Ware, explored. She spent several years caring for patients in the last weeks of their lives and recorded their responses on her blog called Inspiration and Chai. The posts became so popular that she turned her observations into a book: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

The biggest regret of the dying patients was “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

[bctt tweet=”Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it”]

According to Ware, “This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.”

What are we doing every day to live a fulfilling life? How many of your dreams have gone unfulfilled? Don’t let the expectations of others affect what you truly want to do.

[bctt tweet=”A life of regret is a life unfulfilled”]

We have the choice of living the life we want to live or living the life others want us to live. Don’t ignore what your heart is telling you to do. A life of regret is a life unfulfilled. Take Brown’s advice and “Explore, Dream, Discover.”

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Make Art Make Money by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens Book Review & Highlights

March 20, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 6 Comments

Make Art Make Money

Elizabeth Hyde Stevens | ISBN: 1477817387 & 978-1477817384 | Finished: 1/2015 | Rating: 9/10

Make Art Make Money Summary

Make Art Make Money by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens is a gem of a book. Before reading Elizabeth’s book I didn’t know much about Jim Henson’s life and career. After reading it I feel like I went along on his journey. I followed his transformation from humble beginnings to one of the most well known artists of the modern era. If you are an artist or creative trying to make a living off your art it is a must read. This wonderful biography will change your mind about what is possible for creatives.

Here are some things I found especially interesting in the book.

Author: Kevin Chung (Page 18 of 21)

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

Cracking Creativity Episode 1: Joshua Carrasco aka Madd Illz on Freestyle Rapping, Battle Rapping, and Creativity

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Quote Art

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”
– Derek Jeter

“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” – Abraham Lincoln Quote Art

“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”
― Abraham Lincoln

What Makes a Good Artist – Amanda Palmer Quote Art

“You’re an artist when you say you are. And you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.” – Amanda Palmer

“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.” – Voltaire Quote Art

“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.” – Voltaire

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” – Stephen King Quote Art

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” – Stephen King

“Explore, Dream, Discover.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quote Art

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”
– H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Make Art Make Money by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens Book Review & Highlights

Make Art Make Money

Make Art Make Money Summary

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“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

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“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

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“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter

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“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” ― Abraham Lincoln

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“You’re an artist when you say you are. And you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.” – Amanda Palmer

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“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.” – Voltaire

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“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” – Stephen King

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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

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“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”
– Derek Jeter

“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”
― Abraham Lincoln

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”
– H. Jackson Brown Jr.