The Creative Act: A Way of Being

by Rick Rubin

The objective is not to learn to mimic greatness, but to calibrate our internal meter for greatness.

There is no wrong way. There is only your way.

This path is not for everyone. Adversity is part of the process.

It’s helpful to see the piece we’re working on as an experiment. One in which we can’t predict the outcome. Whatever the result, we will receive useful information that will benefit the next experiment.

Gratitude can also help. Realizing you are fortunate to be in a position that allows you to create, and in some cases get paid to do what you love, might tip the balance in favor of the work.

Rules direct us to average behaviors. If we’re aiming to create works that are exceptional, most rules don’t apply. Average is nothing to aspire to.

we can participate either on autopilot or with focused intention.

innovation through ignorance.