Resources for the Disciplined Creative
The published writer scolds the erratic painter, “you should be more disciplined about your painting. You hardly finish any work, and move on to the next one. And you don’t even publish your art, how can you even call yourself an artist?”
This is the conversation I have with myself. I was a published writer (articles, books and a song!), but my “painting” was no where to be found. Yet I would doodle more than I’d write.
This section is a collection of resources that helped me, and now help countless other creators, on how to:
– find more discipline for their creations
– build a brand online, so their art gets “published” and is taken to the market!
I have almost 300 videos on YouTube around these two subjects. And countless articles. That’s a lot of content. So I have tried to put the guides, the tools, the workshops, the articles together on this page. Hope this helps, yes?
Most articles are in English, most videos are in Urdu.
These are hand-picked, proven, field-tested material that has been shown to work! I wish you all the best! Do join our community if you want regular updates when such content is added!
Productivity for Artists (Creatives, Creators)
How to structure your self to produce more of what you want to produce!
How I (Almost) Wrote This
When in doubt, just write anything that comes to mind. I think that is one way to keep the pen moving. But is that an effective way to write? What about the quality? Don't you want quality over quantity? This debate of effectiveness vs efficiency is a valid one. But...
Are you afraid?
I can't do that: I am too lazy. I can't do that: I am not capable. I can't do that: I don't have the resources. I can't do that: I don't have the time. I can't do that: I am not good enough. It boils down to fear: fear of not being good enough. That's the story you...
Reader Question: How to Get More Out of Life
I got the following email from a reader of this blog: Assalam-o-Alaikum Momekh, I am female and I am from Pakistan and working as SSE (senior software engineer) in one of the software houses of Pakistan. I am working since 7 years. These days I am really struggling to...
Finding The Good
The flight was delayed and the airport was overcharging as usual. Bought a book, a cheap print of Coelho's The Valkyries. The salesman at the well-stocked bookstore told me, "we are 20% more expensive than the market". He seemed pretty OK with that. Airports charge...
What You and I Can Do
In Kung Fu Panda 1, the yet-to-be-mighty Poe is thrust into the training dojo of Master Shifu. Shifu, ever the master, asks Poe about his Kung Fu level. Poe, being a big fan but with no skills, suggests that he be put on a training level of zero. "But we don't have a...
My 5 Embarrassing Blunders in Business (Avoidable Mistakes)
I have made each and every one of these mistakes and have paid the price. I write them here so someone who is starting off on the self-employed road can be ready! But even if you are a seasoned entrepreneur, see how many of these mistakes you don't make!?...
Building a Brand and a Business for Artists (Creatives, Creators)
Discover the fundamentals of brand building, how to go about creating your community of “1000 true fans” and building a meaningful, high-impact online business for yourself.
Adventures ahead (what do you think of the last idea?)
Things are getting tough. I like that. Here is a list of adventures planned for the next few days! Praise the Lord! Subscriber Toolbox for LifeETC blog I am working on two things right now, to include in the Subscriber Only Toolbox: The Blog As A Business...
Work-Life Balance: Why you should not do it
I met an old friend. Works in one of the largest banks in Pakistan. He has a high ranking post: he manages the operations for pretty much half of the country. He told me a little story. “I was at this opening ceremony on behalf of the bank,” he said, “and one of my...
The Labour Movement: What a trade off!
The labour movement in the early 1800's had the following as one of their slogans: 8 hour work. 8 hour recreation. 8 hour rest. More on the eight-hour day movement here. The day is divided in 3 sections. Work, play and rest. All three are given equal weight. Which I...
Do This to Live a Boring, Mediocre Life
Beginner's Luck is the ultimate mistress, always there to seduce me into thinking I am good enough. You try something for the first time, and you surprise yourself. The first time I let go of the arrow, it hits the bullseye. The first time I send in an article to a...
The Well-Connected Hard Worker
Tell me if you know someone like this: doesn't work that much, just enough. But the “higher ups” are friends with him, they like him. He gets the promotion. Or you know a hard-worker, who does great work, but he doesn't know the “right people”, so no one seems to...
Why Attend Conferences
I am writing this perched over a makeshift work place: a table in front of a bed. I am in Islamabad right now, for the Social Media Summit 2014 that took place at the Serena Hotel. The event lasted two days. I couldn’t make it for the first day: I was happily busy...