Part of iconic fashion designer Virgil Abloh’s ethos was to change something by just 3%. It’s a reminder we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. By putting our own unique spin on any idea we can change how others perceive it (and how they’ll remember us presenting it). Here’s Sam Reiss describing Abloh’s 3% rule … Continue reading Virgin Abloh’s 3% Rule
Tag: creative
Selling Out Of Your Stuff Without Feeling Like A Sell-Out
There’s a famous Nirvana shirt describing the band as, “Flower Sniffin’, Kitty Pettin’, Baby Kissin’ Corporate Rock Whores.” It was a reference to a never-published book about the band, Cobain, and Courtney Love. They successfully blocked the book from ever seeing the light of day in the mid-90s. The phrase was also a cheeky jab … Continue reading Selling Out Of Your Stuff Without Feeling Like A Sell-Out
The Secret To More Good Ideas Is…
If you want more good ideas, you have to start with more ideas. Regular, terrible, brilliant - any and all ideas count. Up the overall quantity, then dig for overwhelming quality. Idea generation becomes an essential step. Podcasts are one of my personal favorite sources. One thing I love about my Spotify podcast feed … Continue reading The Secret To More Good Ideas Is…
Podcast Of The Week: A Crazy-Smart Creative Pro’s Peek Inside Her Week
Hey! On Saturday’s I highlight a podcast about being a creative professional. Sometimes it’s direct, sometimes it’s indirect, but it’s always entertaining and educational. Check these out and send anything good you’ve heard lately my way! Amy Porterfield is a powerhouse. From humble beginnings to helping build Tony Robbins’ empire to her own career, she … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: A Crazy-Smart Creative Pro’s Peek Inside Her Week
Podcast Of The Week: Josh Spector Dissects His Creative Business
I'm a huge fan of Josh Spector's work. Without being Seth Godin or James Clear, he's been Godin/Clear-level good for my brain. He recently gave an excellent interview on a new (to me) podcast: Creator Business Show. Spector discusses tricks he's used to boost his own conversion rates (by tweaking how he frames content), getting … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Josh Spector Dissects His Creative Business
Make The Kind Of Art A Kid Would Walk Out On Their Job Over
Questlove, before the fame, when he was just Ahmir, a teenager working in the kitchen at Big Al’s in Philly. One album and one lunch break helped change the trajectory of his life. It was the day he got his copy of It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy … Continue reading Make The Kind Of Art A Kid Would Walk Out On Their Job Over
How To Know If It’s “Creative” Work
How you'll know if it’s creative work: you can’t do it perfectly. You can’t write the perfect message, play the song exactly right, fully nail the presentation, crush teaching the class, figure out where the blender looks best on the countertop, etc. Maybe you think “they” can. But that’s not how creativity works, it’s how … Continue reading How To Know If It’s “Creative” Work
Your Creative Streak Is Worth (Much) More Than You Think
"What are you going to do with that degree? You're going to need a plan B. And a plan C. You're wasting your money." Ever been told that? Good. This one is for you. Listen up - your creative streak is worth (much) more than you think. The world may not know how to value … Continue reading Your Creative Streak Is Worth (Much) More Than You Think
Fashion Advice From Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel gave this piece of fashion advice, and you can just as readily apply it to your writing: On your way out the door, stop and look in the mirror. Then take one thing off. There’s almost always something to cut. Even if it doesn’t feel right or like it violates our prior work. … Continue reading Fashion Advice From Coco Chanel
Podcast Of The Week: Storyboarding (Where You Make Your Mistakes)
Storyboarding, or the act of breaking a story down into individual panels (think like a comic strip), has always fascinated me. It's a reminder that the sweeping story that floods past you is actually created from all of these individual frames, stitched together. And, in movies, somebody like Jennifer Yuh Nelson has the job of … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Storyboarding (Where You Make Your Mistakes)