Business | Ashton.Gustafson

Dec 12 2012

Business, Creativity, Imagination, Leadership

Copy and Paste

It’s almost too easy now…

You can walk into the store purchase the mannequin’s outfit and put it on tomorrow. Stylish (today). But you’ve copied and pasted.

You can choreograph a new dance for your studio and add a taste of Gangham Style. Funny. But, again, you’ve copied and pasted.

In your pursuit of the creating the next great burger chain you can add “your” version of The Secret/1000 Island Sauce. Good. And, once more, you’ve copied and pasted.

Fulfillment in your work will be found when instead of describing it to be “like” something, you can say “this unlike anything you’ve ever seen.”

The reward is in the work, in the creative, and in revealing what The Muse has whispered that only you can decipher.

Say no to metaphorical right-clicking copying and pasting.

Tagged art, Ashton Gustafson, blog, Copy and Paste, ltmp, success, the muse

Dec 11 2012

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Business, Change The World, Leadership, success

Empowerment

Empowerment happens when you give a way or create space for someone to experience fulfillment or joy that otherwise would not have happened without you.

This is also known as entrepreneurial responsibility.

We don’t hear this often, but your art should just as much be about taking someone on a journey or to a destination as it is an expression of yourself and your ideas.

#LTMP

Tagged Ashton Gustafson, blog, Empowerment, ltmp

Dec 06 2012

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Books, Business, Leadership, success

Top 10 Books I’ve Read This Year

In no specific order:

Entreleadership – Dave Ramsey

– This is the gold standard of running a business. I keep a copy in the top drawer of my desk.

Love Does – Bob Goff

– Whimsy whispers and we must respond. When we do…Love does His/her thing.

Art and Fear – David Bayles and Ted Orland

– When fear leaves art happens.

Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill

– I was told by everyone to read this. I still listen to it in my car weekly. It’s not about money either…its about designing what you call a rich life.

Turning Pro – Steven Pressfield

– A great question for any moment. “Are you acting like a pro or an amateur?”

Necessary Endings – Dr. Henry Cloud

– I found out ending is a chance to begin.

Simple Numbers – Greg Crabtree and Beverly Blair Harzog

– This book redefined the basics of profit, margin, and expenses for me.

The 4-Hour Work Week – Timothy Ferris

– You don’t want to put this down and you’ll want to dream even bigger than what you’re dreaming now.

Blue Ocean Strategy – W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

– Dominate – don’t compete.

Delivering Happiness – Tony Hsieh

– I now have a note behind my desk that says “Out zappos Zappos.”