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

Quote by Unknown

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

May 10, 2015 / / 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.

If you want your idea to succeed you must front-load the work. Click To Tweet

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?
Don't get bogged down by minor details or you will never get started. Click To Tweet

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

Quote by 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

May 3, 2015 / / 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.

Don't be discouraged by those who have more talent than you. Click To Tweet

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 scariest moment is always just before you start." - Stephen King

Quote by Stephen King

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

March 29, 2015 / / 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.

Instead of fearing new situations, we need to understand our reactions to them Click To Tweet

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

Make Art Make Money by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens

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

March 20, 2015 / / 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.

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“The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.” ― Anton Chekhov

Quote by Anton Chekhov

“The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.” – Anton Chekhov Quote Art

February 22, 2015 / / 4 Comments

“The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.”
― Anton Chekhov

Print available on Society6.

Artists have a gift. With a single stroke of the brush, they can tell an entire story. They can make someone laugh or cry just by putting their pen to paper. Their music can bring joy or sadness.

So why do we celebrate when someone says they want to be a doctor or a lawyer, but feel sorry for them if they say they want to be an artist? There is a stigma around being an artist. They think we “sit around all day and paint pretty pictures.” They think we will starve while trying to find success. There is no room for these thoughts.

By asking questions, we create conversations Click To Tweet

By asking questions, we create conversations. We make people think about themselves and their place in the world.

Asking questions also opens people up to new possibilities. Books and movies are not only great entertainment, but they also shape our future. How much of the technology we have today was inspired by a great artist’s mind?

Artists have the ability to change the world Click To Tweet

Artists have the ability to change the world. We can change a person’s mind without saying a thing. It is time we show people what it means to be an artist.

We must show people how our work inspires movements, how it can lift you up when you are down, how it asks questions about ourselves.

Here are some ways we can be an artist that asks questions instead of answering them:

Seek Knowledge

The best way to ask better questions is by learning. Every time you learn something new, you should have more questions than answers. How does this information fit into your views? How can you reflect that in your art?

Become Curious

Curiosity should be the lifeblood of an artist Click To Tweet

Some artists choose to live in a bubble. They paint the same pictures. They do the same things. They stick to their guns. Don’t be that artist. Curiosity should be the lifeblood of an artist. What new ideas can you explore? Become curious and learn to ask why.

Explore the World

Go see what the world has to offer Click To Tweet

We live in a world where you are constantly connected. We can spend our entire life staring at the screens in front of us, or we can explore the world. Exploring the world makes you question how much you know. So go see what the world has to offer.

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"The chief enemy of creativity is good sense."

Quote by Pablo Picasso

“The chief enemy of creativity is good sense.” – Pablo Picasso Quote Art

February 8, 2015 / / 0 Comments

“The chief enemy of creativity is good sense.” – Pablo Picasso

Print available on Society6.

Whenever I have an idea that is out of the norm a nagging voice pops into my head, “That’s a dumb idea.”

I once had the idea to help people find where they can buy things they found on Pinterest or Tumblr. All you had to do is upload a photo, tag it with keywords, and tell others where you found the photo. Then the community tell you where you could buy it. I decided against investing money into building it and a few years later, multiple companies built it.

In college I had the idea for a helmet that would record exactly what you saw, and it would save it for you to watch later. A few years later, GoPros came out.

In both cases my “good sense” told me not to pursue my ideas. Both times, someone else did. I’m not saying these ideas would have succeeded. I will never know if they would have.

Good sense and creativity mix like oil and water Click To Tweet

The point is not to lament my mistakes. The point is good sense and creativity mix like oil and water. If you want to come up with creative ideas, don’t let good sense get in your way. Who knows how many great ideas have not been pursued because someone was afraid their idea was dumb.

If you want to be creative, let ideas come to you Click To Tweet

If you want to be creative, let ideas come to you. Don’t knock them down. Pursue the ones that have potential even if your mind tells you they won’t work.

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"I have no special talents, I am just passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

Quote by Albert Einstein

Talent vs. Curiosity – Albert Einstein Quote Art

January 11, 2015 / / 2 Comments

“I have no special talents, I am just passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein

Print available on Society6.

We are taught that talent is everything. Only virtuosos will be able to fill a concert hall. Prodigies are held up to an impossible standard by the rest of society. What if that didn’t have to be the case?

Talent only plays a small roll in our ability to be successful Click To Tweet

Luckily for all of us, talent only plays a small roll in our ability to be successful. Have you ever wondered what happened to those child prodigies when they grew up? Some grow up and live up to those lofty expectations. Others go on to lead a life like most people. What differentiates those who succeed and those who don’t?

You must possess some combination of talent, grit, passion and curiosity to succeed Click To Tweet

If you are a child who is amazing at playing the piano, but have not desire to do so, will you continue to play? Probably not. You must possess some combination of talent, grit, passion and curiosity to succeed.

Reach back into that childlike curiosity and learn from the world Click To Tweet

As artists, you must be a student of the world. Find out what makes you tick, and pursue that without abandon. Reach back into that childlike curiosity and learn from the world. Question things. Experiment. Don’t give up.

Talent without passion and curiosity is meaningless Click To Tweet

Talent without passion and curiosity is meaningless. Stop worrying about how much talent you have, and let your passion and curiosity guide you.

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Photo by ApertureVintage

"If we don't know what we're looking for, we're never going to find it." - Scott Dinsmore

Quote by Scott Dinsmore

Finding Your Purpose – Scott Dinsmore Quote Art

December 13, 2014 / / 2 Comments

“If we don’t know what we’re looking for, we’re never going to find it.” – Scott Dinsmore

Print available on Society6.

How often do we go through life expecting good things to happen to us? We know we want everything to be better, less blasé. We feel entitled to a better life.

That’s all well and good, but how do you make it happen? There’s no easy answer to this question, but there are some things you can do to make it happen.

Find your purpose

Having a purpose in life makes everything fall into place much easier Click To Tweet

Having a purpose in life makes everything fall into place much easier. Sure there will be obstacles, but if you find purpose, you will overcome them no matter what.

Commit to achieving goals

The only thing we can control is the amount of effort we put in Click To Tweet

There is nothing better than achieving a goal. All that hard work you put in finally pays off. Even if you fail, you will learn countless lessons on the way. There are things in life that are out of our control. The only thing we can control is the amount of effort we put in.

Improve yourself every day

When you find your purpose, and set goals for yourself, it is much easier to commit to self-improvement. You can put your energy towards things that will make you better. If you want more sales, find out what makes your audience buy, and tailor your message towards that. If you want to improve your writing, read books on writing and deconstruct what your favorite writers do.

Don’t give up

If you want to succeed and achieve your goals, don't give up Click To Tweet

Finding a purpose creates a unique sense of self. You tie your emotions and life to that purpose. When things don’t go your way, it may feel like a pointless endeavor, but you shouldn’t give up. It’s not the smartest people who succeed, it’s the people who pursue their goals relentlessly. If you want to succeed and achieve your goals, don’t give up.

It is rare to know exactly what your purpose in life is. If you are able to find it, life will be much more enjoyable. Sure, there will be ups and downs, but there is nothing better than setting out a goal and actually achieving it.

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The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Book Review & Highlights

September 16, 2014 / / 15 Comments

The Obstacle is the Way

Ryan Holiday  |  ISBN: 1591846358  |  Finished: 7/2014  |  Rating: 9/10

The Obstacle is the Way Summary

Ryan Holiday is one of those people you read about and can’t help but admire. He dropped out of college to work with Robert Greene and has advised some extremely successful authors including Tim Ferriss and Tucker Max. He also served as the director of marketing for American Apparel. He owes much of his success to the ideas and lessons he learned from stoicism.

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