Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Anything creative — writing, building businesses, making videos, films, etc.
How to look at the world as an artist?
Figure out what’s worth stealing and go deeper, make it your own.
Key Takeaways
- Nothing is original — When people call something is original then 9/10 times they do not know the source. Everything is a mashup, has been done before, If we are free from thinking that everything is original then it takes the pressure off from creating, think nothing is original that takes the pressure off and now you can embrace influence (from your mentors) to run forward, the outcome is better as you are open-minded.
- Everything is a remix — 1+1=3, A good example is a genetics, you are a remix of your mom and dad and all ancestors. You are a sum of your influences, that's how art works these days, embracing the influence and creating something that is a remix, to use other people's music and applying DJ on it to remix. “Remix stuff” but consider who you want to remix from, who are your mentors?
“We are the average of top 5 people whom we hang around most”
You have to be curious about the world you live in, go deeper, google everything, google your dreams, don’t ask a question without googling it.
Collect books, “Nothing is more important than an unread library”
3. Don’t wait — start before you are ready: Start creating today, don’t think it has to be great at first, your creative stuff becomes great in the process. You don't need to know who you are before starting, in the process, you will identify yourself.
4. Imposter syndrome: Along the way of writing, you may feel like fake or fraud, or feel low. In the process of doing the work, people resonate with you more. Realize that imperfections draw people to you, laugh at them.
5. Steal but not plagiarize it: Do not rip someone else's and pass it as your own, instead of stealing is understanding it, and put it on your own.
6. Go deeper, don’t copy the style: Steal, go deep, try to practice the methods behind them, get inspired and deep.
7. Write the book, you want to read: What do you need that currently doesn't exist. Steal, Keep tweaking till it gets better and better.
8. Lifespan of the project:
9. Write it down: Whatever you learn, write it down so that you remember things way better.
10. To Simplify: Steve Jobs only wanted one button on the iPhone, they were obsessed with minimal design. Keep it simple and minimal, go with 3 points such that you can remember instead of 15 points. Simplify the message so that it is more effective. With creation, a lot of it is what we take away.
