Tag: inspiration

“I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.” Quote Art

April 13, 2018 / Kevin Chung / 1 Comment

“I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.”

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Inspiration is a cruel master. It pushes us to create. It tells us what to work on. It dictates what we do.

The problem often lies in when inspiration strikes. It is a great giver, but it is also a fickle master. You can’t summon inspiration on command.

That’s why many of us have trouble coming up with our next great idea. We will spend countless hours wracking our brains for the next great idea but still come up empty handed. This brute force tactic rarely works.

You know what does work? Creating consistently and building good habits. I know what you may be thinking. You like being an artist because you are free to create whatever you want whenever you want to. You hate restrictions. You like the freedoms being an artist affords you. But this way of thinking only leads to more frustration.

The key to building a great creative practice is to build a habit around it.

Let’s take a quick look at that quote again. “I only write when inspiration strikes.” That sounds like many of us who like to create on command. But the second part of the quote is key. “Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.” This seems contrary to the first statement, but it isn’t. It speaks to the fact that you can’t just pull inspiration out of thin air. Inspiration comes when you build a habit and schedule around creating.

You know a saying has merit when you can’t attribute it to a single person. In the case of this quote, it has been attributed to at least six people including William Faulkner.

These people all believed in the consistently working on your craft, whether you want to or not. They believe it is important to keep a schedule instead of waiting for inspiration to strike.

If you constantly rely on inspiration to create, you won’t create much. That’s why building a consistent habit is so important.

The time you choose to create is not important. You can start right when you wake up or right before you go to sleep. What matters is that you stick to the same time and make it a part of your daily routine.

Stop waiting for inspiration to hit. Build a habit around your creative process and inspiration will find you.

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Photo by Dariusz Sankowski

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi Quote Art

January 17, 2016 / Kevin Chung / 5 Comments

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Print available on Storenvy.

Everyone wants to live in a better world but have you done your part to make it better?

I am by no means better than anyone else. I am fallible to mistakes. I lose my temper. I don’t give as much as I can. Despite all of this, I am still trying to make the world a better place in my own way.

No, I’m not aspiring for world peace or trying to end world hunger, but I am trying to make my own dent in the world. Here are a few ways that I am trying to make a change in the world:

Inspiring Others

[bctt tweet=”The best way to inspire is by example”]

I have always found inspiration an interesting topic. We can’t force someone to be inspired. We can try to inspire people all we want, but I believe the best way to inspire is by example.

Even if you are in the beginning stages of your adventure, you are still farther along than others. If you can show people what is possible, you can become an inspiration to them.

Telling Positive Stories

Every day, we encounter people telling us how horrible the world is. The news mostly shows us the negative side of humanity. In my pursuit to help artists, I try to share the positive aspects of humanity.

I want to show people what is possible if you are dedicated to your craft. I want to show people that success is possible. I want to promote people who are making a difference in this world.

Sharing Knowledge

Knowledge is one of the most important things you can attain towards becoming a better artist, a better creative, and a better person. I am constantly on the quest to find new knowledge.

When you have knowledge, you can make better decisions. You can follow the footsteps of people who came before you , and you can also go off the beaten path.

[bctt tweet=”The more knowledgeable we all are, the better off we will be”]

That is why I want to share my knowledge with all of you. The more knowledgeable we all are, the better off we will be. It can be hard to make it on our own without seeking to become a more informed person.

Knowledge, however, isn’t all that is necessary to succeed in life. You must also take action.

Pushing People Into Action

What separates people who move up in life versus those who don’t? It’s not how smart you are, how attractive you are, or how loud you are. It’s taking the knowledge you have and putting it into action.

You can be smart, and still make nothing of your life. Attractiveness gives you a slight edge, but it can only take you so far. You can be the most vocal person around, but no one has to listen.

[bctt tweet=”It is only when you put your ideas into action that you can succeed”]

It is only when you put your ideas into action that you can succeed. That is why I try to push people into doing something.

If you are feeling stuck in your art practice or in your life, don’t sit around worrying about it. Do something about it.

[bctt tweet=”Taking action provides incredible results”]

Taking action provides incredible results. If I didn’t take action, I would use all my free time watching Netflix. Instead, I choose to take action and make progress on my goals. You should too.

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Why You Should Listen to The School of Greatness from Lewis Howes

June 28, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 4 Comments

Who inspires you?

That’s not a rhetorical question. I want you to think about it. If you can’t think of anyone who inspires you to accomplish great things, you need to start looking. You need people in your life who can help you get over the hump, people who light a fire under you.

For me, one of those inspiring people is Lewis Howes. If you are new to the online world of entrepreneurship you may not know his name, but he inspires thousands of people every day. Lewis has built a multi-million dollar business from scratch, he speaks around the world, and he has advised billion dollar brands.

It hasn’t always been this way. When he was younger Lewis played professional football, until injuries cut his career short. He found himself broken, living on his sister’s couch.

It was in that pivotal moment of life that Lewis decided to make a change. Instead of continuing to wallow in self-pity, he decided to embark on his next stage in life.

He learned about business, marketing, and adding value to influential people. He sought mentorship from those he admired. He began his own events teaching people about the power of LinkedIn. He mastered the art of webinars so he could reach a broader audience. He started his own podcast, The School of Greatness, and his own mastermind, the School of Greatness Academy.

Instead of giving up and settling for less, Lewis took control of his life. He pivoted when life was not going his way.

For those of you interested in Lewis Howe’s story, I can’t recommend his The School of Greatness Podcast enough. It is one of the few shows where I enjoy every episode I listen to. Below are some of the reasons to listen to the School of Greatness:

Tag: inspiration

“I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.” Quote Art

“I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.”

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi Quote Art