“It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be.” by Paul Arden
“It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be.”
by Paul Arden
This small book is creatively crafted. With thick pages and purposefully laid out text and graphics. “It is a pocket ‘bible’ for the talented and timid to make the unthinkable thinkable and the impossible possible.” I like books like this that take an artistic flare and advertising premise to how the pages are laid out and presented.
It doesn’t give you the top seven or 10 tips to make you successful, or promise that it’s all you need to turn mediocrity into success. What it does do is lay out simple facts that help revitalize your creative juices to get you out of your own way and unleash your vision and ambition. It offers insights as to why it’s a good thing to be fired, why it’s often better to be wrong than right, and why seeking criticism rather than praise is the information you need to re-energize your vision and drive.
Here are some excerpts:
“Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great. You will become whoever you want to be. Firstly you need to aim beyond what you are capable of.”
“’I want to be as famous as Persil Automatic.’ As a teenager, Victoria Beckham’s ambition was not just to be better than her mates or even a famous singer, but to become a world brand. She didn’t compare herself to her singing contemporaries, rather she saw the fame of Persil Automatic as her yardstick. …it’s her highly original imagination that got her where she is today.”
“Don’t be afraid to work with the best. The best people can be difficult. They are single-minded. They have tunnel vision. That’s what makes them good. They are reluctant to compromise.”
“Creativity is Imagination and Imagination is for everyone.”
If you feel like you’re stuck and want to rev up your creative juices, then take an hour to read this little gem.
Photo by Gaelle Marcel
