You're competing against people in a state of flow, people who are truly committed, people who care deeply about the outcome. You can't merely wing it and expect to keep up with them. Setting aside all the safety valves and pleasant distractions is the first way to send yourself the message that you're playing for keeps

Initiative is the privilege of picking yourself.

Cheap is the last refuge of a product developer or marketer who is out of great ideas.

We are too focused on avoiding criticism and not enough on making a difference.

The only people who get paid what they're worth are people who don't follow the instruction book, who create art, who are innovative, who work without a map.

Everyone will think it's stupid!" "Everyone says it's impossible." Guess what? Everyone works in the balloon factory and everyone is wrong.

If failure is not an option, then neither is success.