Three Books to Unlock Your Inner Artist

This is the time of year that a lot of people start to “reflect” and plan for greater things. Over those shared vacation weeks we make notes. During family gatherings ideas get bounced around. We say, “things are going to be different next year.” All that kind of stuff.

Through blogs, we’re being conditioned to look for “seven simple steps to living your dream.” Or maybe “31 days to greatness.” A four hour work week? Or even something as crazy as “three books to unlock your inner artist”! Well, no, no, no, and well, maybe.

What makes these three books so great? Together, they gave me an inside look at:

1. The mindset and work ethic of a prolific artist
2. What it takes to move from amateur to professional and break through any “resistance”
3. How anyone with the right story and enough of #1 & #2 can not only threaten, but create more meaningful things than today’s largest factories.

They all agree, being great at anything comes down to work, fighting through distraction, and putting in the hours to make cool stuff. It’s not just pressing through a long day, or a rough week, month or year. It’s going at it everyday both when no one’s watching and when everyone is.

They also might agree that the stuff that changes industries, people, organizations, movements, technology, whatever… is art. And it’s done by artists. Not necessarily beret wearing, cigarette smoking, beard growing types, but folks that obsess over their work to the point where it’s not work, but it’s part of an identity.

So if you’re looking to start something big, trying to figure out how to be amazing, or want to know what it really takes to “break through”, start with these three books. If you’re looking for a quick fix, a 7 point list, or 140 characters that will part the sea, then you’re better served moving on to the next thing, then the next thing, then the next thing…

I’ll reveal one book a day this week with quick highlight reel, so, I’ll see you tomorrow!  In the meantime, feel free to guess in the comments.

UPDATE:

• Book One: Stephen King’s ON WRITING
• Book Two: THE WAR OF ART
• Book Three: TRIBES by Seth Godin

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Disclaimers: I’ve read all three of these books multiple times. None were given/comped to me or Techshelf.  I am an “affiliate” with Amazon.com and stand to make some loose change if you decide to buy a book. Either way, you’ll get more out of this deal than I will.