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.

Innovation is significant positive change.

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

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

My intent is simply to know my material so well that I'm very comfortable with it. Confidence, not perfection, is the goal.

Commit yourself to taking enough risks that you will fail some of the time. If you're not failing, we're not doing something sufficiently difficult or creative.

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.