“The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all.” – Pablo Casals, Born Dec. 29, 1876 I’ve written to you here before about developing an appearance of effortlessness. It creates the perception of your mastery among your audience. Sort of like how a ballet dancer is actually straining intensely and using weightlifter […]
Why You Shouldn’t Make Your Work Seem Difficult or Complicated Read More »
“Men value things in three ways: as useful, as pleasant or sources of pleasure, and as excellent, or as intrinsically admirable or honorable.” – Mortimer Adler, Born Dec. 28, 1902. Let’s make today about practicality. We write to sell things. That’s our goal. Our duty. And to do that, we have to make people see
Shortcut to Creating a Perception of Value in Absolutely Any Piece of Information Read More »
“A movie and a stage show are two entirely different things. A picture, you can do anything you want. Change it, cut out a scene, put in a scene, take a scene out. They don’t do that on stage.” – Cabell “Cab” Calloway III, Born Dec. 25, 1907. Being able to PERFORM for your audience
A Secret to Portraying Mastery is the Confidence to Wing It. Read More »
“It is important to know that what I do is not artistic. I am just a film-maker. I live how I live and I do what I do, which is recording moments of my life as I move ahead. And I do it because I am compelled to. Necessity, not artistry, is the true line
Don’t Wait Until the Summit – Help Those Two Steps Behind As You Climb Read More »
“Journalism: an ability to meet the challenge of filling the space.” – Rebecca West, Born Dec. 21, 1892. The hardest part about writing is the writing. Having ideas is easy. Everyone has ideas. But not everyone writes. I mean, most people CAN “write” – in the sense that they are literate. But most people can’t
Most Wannabe Writers Lack the Muscle to Reach Page Two Read More »
“The fame of heroes owes little to the extent of their conquests and all to the success of the tributes paid to them.” – Jean Genet, Born Dec. 19, 1910. Let’s talk about idols. Idolization. Idolatry. Let’s talk about you in that role. It’s yours if you want it. But most people don’t understand how
To Become a Guru, You Must Nail This Change Read More »
“If you have extraordinary bread and extraordinary butter, it’s hard to beat bread and butter.” – Jacques Pepin, Born Dec. 18, 1935. Something simple, like bread and butter – can be elevated to a level that is sublime. All it takes is for the two components of that simple recipe to be extraordinary. I love
Do You Wanna Live Deliciously? Here’s the Recipe. Read More »
“Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.” – Ludwig van Beethoven, Born Dec. 17, 1770. The main thing I like about this advice is that it’s about putting in the work. Not on some kind of 24/7
Discovery of Hidden Value Always Requires THIS Read More »
“Indeed, the hereditary gift of prophecy will go to the grave with me.” – Nostradamus, Born Dec. 14, 1503. Man, this dude was a genius of bullshittery. There wasn’t anything “hereditary” about his “gift” of “prophecy”. Basically, he would write a metric shit-ton of vague nonsensical poems, and then eventually some real-world event could be
How to Predict the Future: Predict ALL the Futures! Read More »
“Great genius takes shape by contact with another great genius, but less by assimilation than by friction.” – Heinrich Heine, Born Dec. 13, 1797. I don’t think I am a genius. You’re probably not one, either. But discounting that, there is something for everyone to grab onto in this quote. Whatever your craft is, study
Sharpen Yourself Through Friction and Testing Your Edge Read More »
