|
|
|
|
Happy Friday Dotties!
One of the things I am really trying to focus on this year is to read. I have always been a bookworm, but lately the last thing I have wanted to do after a day on the computer is to pick up a book - so this year, one of my main goals centred around reading more. With that, comes a dive into some of the business books I have bought over the years and never opened properly. And because I love a good review - I am planning to share these with you. First cab off the rank? Everything I Know by Paul Jarvis.
|
|
Paul Jarvis is a bit of an online star, A web developer and online business guru, he is known for his opinions on running a business that works for you creatively while being sustainable. He works alone and has no desire to grow bigger, as long as his creative needs are fulfilled.
I have long subscribed to Paul's Sunday newsletters, something he proclaims to be his only marketing. So I was eager to get his book upon its 2013 release (which also just showed me how much I need to actually get into my bookcase, oops).
"Everything I Know" is less like a business guide, and more like a motivational monologue. Paul writes short grouped paragraphs that take the reader on a journey of how to find creativity, how to "ship it" and how to motivate oneself beyond the day to day minutiae.
"“The only way to really see if and how your work connects with people is to do it and then put it out there.” – excerpt from Everything I Know by Paul Jarvis.
The book takes you through Paul's creative process and his ideas around that in a really quick easy to read way. Paul shares how he doesn't set goals and why, how he shows up and works on projects even when he doesn't want to, how he can improve, how he tests the waters before committing to greater projects.
The book is full of motivational fodder that shows how to turn a creative idea into a sustainable product. Or not as the case may be.
|
|
And in all honesty, I found the book made me really cranky. I am not at the stage of my business where I need motivation and pep talks - I need really implementable tools and ideas to make the things happen that I know I need to do. So at times, I felt like yelling "I know I need to do that, but how?". The book was so filled with bite sized segments, that i felt like it was a little stop start- stopping before it got into the real crux of exploring a thought.
However, if you have trouble motivating yourself out of fear, if you find yourself stuck, if you find yourself stuck in a creative rut and unsure of your passion or your dreams - then this book is something I highly recommend. There are particularly good sections on the judgement of others and how to break out of the influence that has on your work, that I particularly loved.
"Fitting in is the safest thing we can do. But there’s already too much fitting in.” – Paul Jarvis.
And that's the crunch - Paul's book is not full of concrete steps and tips to push you forward, but rather manifesto style guidance that questions the beliefs, the social conditioning and the status of our own minds that holds us back from achieving incredible things.
So I'd like to know <<First Name>>, Have you read this book by Paul Jarvis? What did you think? What are your favourite business books? What would you love to see reviewed?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
