Jumpstart Your Dream Life

Don’t Start From Scratch. Build On Others’ Successes

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When you think of the word “innovation”, certain connotations pop up. Revolutionary. Progression. Success. A person perceived as innovative flies ahead of the pack, solving problems and creating solutions based on their ability to think outside the box.

But what about the word “imitation”? Does the word carry similar connotations as well? Does it have that positive ring?

Not so much.

In fact, when we think of a person who imitates, negative associations form in our minds. We use phrases such as “copycat”, “wannabe”, or a poor man’s version. Given a choice, who would pick imitation crab over real crab?

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Expand On What Works: How to Generate Multiple Income Streams From a Single Idea

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“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.” – Beatrix Potter

Since the publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, the Peter Rabbit series has sold over 150 million copies in dozens of languages. Countless children have grown up reading the charming adventures of Peter and his friends.

What many aren’t familiar with is the story behind the series.

Beatrix Potter was born in 1866 in London. She and her younger brother grew up under the influence of their artistic parents, who enjoyed nature and spent their summers in the countryside. The two siblings were surrounded by many pets, such as rabbits, mice, frogs, and lizards.

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7 Ways to Reignite Your Creative Spark

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“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it’s yours.” – Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

In the beginning, there is always a spark. All endeavors start off fresh, exciting, and full of possibilities. Unfortunately, sparks vanish just as quickly as they are ignited.

Rejection discourages attempts at anything new. Criticism keeps us from stepping out of convention. Inner fears kill any creativity we might have had.

The good news is that, with care and focus, we can learn to create again. By practicing and developing our sense of spirit, we can step outside the bounds set by both ourselves and others. By incorporating various practices, we can rediscover concepts and ideas.

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When Is It Time to Quit?

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Quitting has a negative association. We describe it as giving up, being non-committal, or lacking perseverance. When someone quits, it’s easy to assume that the person simply didn’t give it their all.

To be sure, quitting prematurely happens too often. Whenever you try something, you’re going to have difficulties. You’re going to face obstacles. You’re going to battle doubts swimming in your head. Quitting may not be the best choice.

But other times, it doesn’t make sense to keep going. What if you attempt something, but never see any progress? What if you continue down a route, but just don’t feel passionate about where you’re headed?

How do you know when it’s time to buckle down, and when to let go?

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Want to Be Creative? Stop Being So Serious

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I own a shark. A Lego shark.

So when I went to visit a Lego store recently, I was surprised to see the exact same shark on display after so many years.

Had they kept the same shark mold all this time? Didn’t they feel the need to change things up?

You know, sharpen the fins a little, try a different color, or anything like that.

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To Get More Out of Life, Choose to Do Less

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In 1998, Google was put up to a large task: to create a search engine that would be used by people all over the world.

They weren’t the first company to launch a search engine. Far from it. In the previous years, numerous other companies had launched various search engines that were already being used.

It wasn’t long before Google’s search engine became a leader in the industry, though. Users remarked on how easy it was to use Google for internet search. The homepage was so simple, so clean, and it delivered exactly what people wanted.

On the surface, the design looks incredibly basic. There are only a few things on the page, and its design almost seems like a no-brainer. But underneath that simple design was a lot of planning, systems, and just saying “no.”

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Feeling “Weird” is Simply Part of the Process to Reaching Success

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Whenever you do something out of the ordinary, it feels weird. There are moments of self-doubt and times when you ask yourself, “Should I be doing this?”

In these times, it’s tempting to drop everything and fit in with the norm. To stop sticking out like a sore thumb and get back in line with everybody else who’s following the rules.

Well, before you do that, let me tell you a little history about the computer you’re using right now…

Steve Wozniak’s Homemade Computer

It was the spring of 1975 when Steve Wozniak first attended the Homebrew Computer Club, an early hobbyist group that focused on computing devices. Inspired by the exchange of ideas, Wozniak recounted in his book iWoz how he immediately went home to work on what would become the Apple I computer.

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The Simple 3 Step Method to Finding the Right Business Idea

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Have you been struggling to find a business idea?

Or maybe you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and have too many ideas.

“If only I could settle on one idea,” you think. “Then I could get started on my business already.”

Whether you have no idea or too many ideas, the problem is the same: you don’t have that one idea.

The one idea that will take you from a nobody to somebody.

That one idea that will give you a lifestyle you want.

That one idea that will impact the lives of others and make the world a better place.

If only you could find that one idea, everything would change.

Can I Let You In on a Secret?

You’re putting way, way too much pressure on yourself with this whole idea thing.

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