Motivation Archives

Focus on Your Strengths, Not Your Weaknesses

Do you work hard to overcome your weak points? What if you focused on your strong points instead? An accompaniment to Gallup’s popular online strengths test, StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath helps you understand and implement your test results to maximize your potential. Both the test and book are based on the idea that you shouldn’t try to correct your weaknesses—as most schools and workplaces have you do—but should rather build upon your strongest innate abilities. Doing this gives you the greatest chance of succeeding in whatever you pursue. Here’s more on why you should focus on your strengths, not

What Are Process Goals? The Key to Creativity

What are process goals? Why do process goals help stimulate creativity? In Keep Going, artist Austin Kleon says that creative people benefit from creating process goals. While outcome goals make creating work a means to an end, process goals make creating work an exciting and joyful experience. Check out how to pursue process goals to embrace your creative side.

3 Motivation Tips for Struggling Artists

Are you an artist struggling with motivation? What advice does artist Austin Kleon give on persevering through hard times? In Show Your Work!, Austin Kleon emphasizes that being an artist isn’t easy. However, he offers three tips to help you stay motivated: maintain momentum, refresh and recharge, and reframe your past work. Keep reading to learn artist motivation tips from Show Your Work!.

How to Cultivate Creativity: 4 Tips for Creative Freedom

Is your creativity getting you anywhere? What’s getting in your way on your path toward creative power and independence? In the book Mastery, Robert Greene identifies creative independence as the second stage of mastery. It comes after you’ve established a foundation of skills and knowledge—when you’ve come to a point where you can apply these in your own way. He offers four tips on how to cultivate creativity: commit to a creative project, keep your mind flexible, create a major insight, and overcome emotional obstacles. Keep reading for details on these recommendations.

Personal Legends in The Alchemist: What They Mean

What is a Personal Legend in The Alchemist? Why do people tend to abandon their Personal Legends in life? In Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist, the main character, Santiago, embarks on a life-changing journey to follow his dreams. Following your dream, or your Personal Legend, is the core message of the book. Let’s take a look at following your Personal Legend, and what can happen if you ignore it.

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath: Overview & Exercise

What’s the problem with modern self-improvement? How does the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment address this shortcoming? StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath is a companion book to Gallup’s widely-used online strengths test—formerly called StrengthsFinder 2.0 and now called CliftonStrengths. This isn’t your average personality test: Rather than helping you pinpoint your weak spots, the Strengths Test helps you find your greatest strengths. Tom Rath, who’s written several bestselling self-help books (including How Full Is Your Bucket?), argues that, to be truly successful, you must channel your energy toward capitalizing on existing talents rather than working to eliminate weaknesses. Here’s our overview of

Outcome Goals: Examples + Why They’re Harmful

What are examples of outcome goals? Why should you avoid pursuing outcome goals? According to Austin Kleon in his book Keep Going, outcome goals are unhealthy because they focus more on the result and less on the process. This especially applies to people working on a creative project. Here are two outcome goals examples and why Kleon says you should avoid them.

3 Important Life Lessons From The Alchemist

What are the main lessons in The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? How can you apply the book’s lessons to your own life? The Alchemist is the story of an Andalusian shepherd boy’s journey of spiritual awakening. The boy gives up everything to embark on a long journey across the desert toward the Egyptian pyramids, to look for a treasure he has dreamed of. He follows omens and the wisdom of spiritual guides he meets along the way. Here are the biggest lessons Santiago learns during his journey.

Process Goals vs. Outcome Goals: The Main Difference

What is the difference between process goals vs. outcome goals? Which one is better to pursue? In his book Keep Going, Kleon says that to be creative without feeling overwhelmed or burned out, you have to use your creativity to pursue the right goals. He separates the goals into process goals and outcome goals. Let’s take a look at the difference between these two types of goals.

3 Levels of Mastery: Robert Greene’s Path to Excellence

What’s the path to excellence? What are the different levels of mastery? In Mastery, Robert Greene argues that there is a clear path anyone can follow to achieve mastery, the highest level of creative excellence. He explains the three levels of mastery, and he argues that pursuing it yields a fulfilling life and great creative power. Keep reading to learn about these three levels of mastery.