Category Archives: Inspiration

Know When To Paint, And When To Cut Off Your Ear

Posted on March 24, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Your parents probably fawned over your finger paintings, or craft projects, or clay pots, or whatever crappy thing you created when you were four.  There’s an audience for everything.  Sometimes that audience is enormous, and sometimes, like with crappy children’s … Continue reading →

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Missing the Shot

Posted on March 20, 2011 by AJ Kessler

If you’re into photography on any level, you’ve missed the shot before.  That one, fleeting moment that slipped by before you could trip the shutter.  That perfect facial expression on your subject, or the ray of light that sneaks through … Continue reading →

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Kill Yourself

Posted on March 19, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I love being unproductive.  I could sit on the couch and watch football all day long.  I could play video games 12 hours a day.  I could surf and hang out at the beach for a week straight. Sometimes, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Self-Improvement | 3 Comments

You’re Probably Not Interesting

Posted on March 18, 2011 by AJ Kessler

But you could be. The most interesting people I know, in order: Those who create Those who discover Those who do Those who read about those who create, discover, and do Those who consume It’s easy for most people to … Continue reading →

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Don’t Try to be a Renaissance Man, Yet

Posted on March 17, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I wish I had heard this advice when I was 18, but it’s still just as applicable today. Derek Silver’s commencement speech Learn a skill.  Then master that skill.  Then exploit that skill to its fullest potential.  Then, become a … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Self-Improvement | 1 Comment

Doubt

Posted on March 16, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Roger Federer, perhaps the best tennis player of all time, had easily handled Andy Murray, the gifted shot-maker and #3 player in the world, 6-4, 6-4 in the first two sets of the Championship Match of the 2010 Australian Open. … Continue reading →

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Successful People Work For Free

Posted on March 15, 2011 by AJ Kessler

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”       ~ George Bernard Shaw I’ve worked for free for most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Self-Improvement | Tagged | 1 Comment

Pay Enough or Don’t Pay At All

Posted on March 13, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Why might you get worse performance out of someone you’re paying than out of someone who’s doing the job for free?  If you put on your economist’s hat, you’d say this is plainly irrational.  If someone is willing to do … Continue reading →

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How to Build a Habit

Posted on March 8, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I’ve taken vitamins every single night for years.  One day I just decided to start doing it, and I have rarely missed a day.  Contrast that with my time tracking endeavor: I found I was very consistent at doing it … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Productivity, Self-Improvement | Tagged | 3 Comments

99 Percent of the Work is Never Seen

Posted on March 8, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I was talking to a little kid the other day.  “What do you want to do when you grow up?” I asked.  “I want to be a singer!” she immediately exclaimed.  “Oh? Why is that?”  “I want to be on … Continue reading →

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smArtHistory

Posted on March 3, 2011 by AJ Kessler

One of the best things you can do to improve your photography is to deconstruct what makes a good photograph.  It’s a bit of a catch-22 when you’re starting out though.  Even if you’re able to spot a really great … Continue reading →

Posted in Aesthetics, Art, Creativity, Inspiration, Photography | Leave a comment

The Importance of Mastery

Posted on March 2, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Mastery is a complete and utter waste of time for most things.  Mastery takes enormous amounts of time and produces only marginal benefit over mere competence in an area.  When I was a kid, it took me a few hours … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Creativity, Inspiration | 2 Comments

Clarity

Posted on February 28, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I just read this article this New York Times opinion piece that really struck a chord with me.  It’s not particularly interesting or insightful.  In fact, it’s really not that good.  But the author sure does use some fancy words, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aesthetics, Art, Creativity, Inspiration, Photography, Style, Tips | 1 Comment

Pursuing Mastery

Posted on February 23, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I just stumbled across Penelope Trunk’s blog, which I’m enjoying quite a bit.  In her latest post, she discusses “mastery” and says she “will not embark on anything unless I know I can become a master at it.”  As evidence … Continue reading →

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How to Learn Faster

Posted on February 18, 2011 by AJ Kessler

My good friend works full time for a nice little financial planning and tax advice business.  He also loves going to football and basketball games, traveling, hanging out with friends, taking care of his mom, and drinking.  He’s a busy … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Creativity, Inspiration, Self-Improvement, Tips | 8 Comments