It’s not the fear of writing that blocks people, it’s fear of not writing well; something quite different.

If you'd like to be good at something, the first thing to out the window is the notion of perfection.

It's rare for people to genuinely try to understand what others are trying to say.

Innovative ideas are rarely rejected on their merits; they’re rejected because of how they make people feel. If you forget people’s concerns and feelings when you present an innovation, or neglect to understand their perspectives in your design, you’re setting yourself up to fail.

I don’t want to be perfect. I want to be useful, I want to be good, and I want to sound like myself. Trying to be perfect gets in the way of all three.

Anyone can criticize or accept praise, but initiating a positive exchange is a hallmark of a difference maker.

The temptation many creative people I know have is to strive for popularity. To make, do, and say things that other people like in the hopes of pleasing them. This motivation is nice. And sometimes the end result is good. But often what happens in trying so hard to please other people, especially many other people, the result is mediocre.