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Personal Mantras: Got one?
Merlin Mann | Jun 6 2005
Personal Mantras - 43FoldersWiki I’ve been digging the personal mantras that people have been adding to the wiki. It’s interesting to see the different approaches and interests people have been taking; for some it’s an affirmation, for others it’s a motto or creed, and for many it appears to be a persistent reminder about the right thing to do. My mantra—if you can call it that—is “Smaller, smaller.” It’s a principle more practical than spiritual, I suppose. I say it to myself several times a day to try and always remember that small things are easier to do than big things, and that most big things are really just a pile of small things if you break them up right. In real-world terms, “Smaller, smaller” means:
There’s been very few times that “Smaller, smaller” has done me wrong. No matter how ambitious a project, idea, or problem is, there’s usually a way to break into very small pieces. Anyhow, that’s mine. Got a personal mantra or motto of your own? Why’d you choose the one you did? (And, no, “I believe I’ll have another beer” probably doesn’t count.) 98 Comments
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I forgot about this one,...Submitted by Michael Leddy (not verified) on June 7, 2005 - 2:43am.
I forgot about this one, which I pass on to my students: Rule 7: The only rule is work. If you work, it will lead to something. It's the people who do all of the work all the time who eventually catch on to things. I found this years ago in a book by the artist Corita Kent (who made the poster "War is not healthy..."). It appeared in an informal running list of rules, some serious, some not, made by the students and faculty of a college art department. Note that it doesn't say that the only thing to do is work--rather, the only necessity is work, which will make things happen. I think this is terrific advice for anyone engaged in learning (or of course in making art). » POSTED IN:
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