What It Takes

Rethinking Book

By Callie Oettinger | Published: March 30, 2012

I hesitated when I read the words video book in Steve’s upcoming post “Betting on Yourself, Part Two“.

Maybe video? Or video series? But, not book. (more…)

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Writing Wednesdays

Betting On Yourself

By Steven Pressfield | Published: March 28, 2012

If you’re an artist or an entrepreneur, your working life is by definition about risk. You’re already rolling the dice or you wouldn’t be doing what you’re doing. But beyond the inherent hazards of the artist/entrepreneur’s life, how should you manage risk?

No, we're not "swinging to the sweet sounds of Risk Management"

(I’m not referring, by the way, to the Seinfeld episode featuring George Costanza and his protégée.)

My theory is to bet on yourself.

If I have $10,000, should I put it in the stock market? Or should I use that cash to back my own dream?

My stuff has crashed and burned 90% of the time. But always when I find myself with money, I use it to buy time—time for me to work.

I bet on myself.

Why does the chef who has opened three restaurants, all of which have gone belly-up … why does he leave his safe, lucrative, prestigious job running someone else’s four-star kitchen to take another flyer on another new eatery? Is he crazy? Yes. But he knows his own heart. Is he driven by a dream of fame, money, recognition? No doubt. But in his deepest soul he is impelled by his own vision. At night after work, snuggled up with his sweetie, our chef sees new menus scrolling before his eyes; he sketches designs for stunning entryways and scribbles rosters of all-star staffs; he envisions the entirely new cuisine he will invent and elevate to perfection. He can’t help himself. Should he splurge his bankroll to take his squeeze to St. Bart’s? Okay. But the lion’s share must go to a seed account for the Next Big Try. It has to. His only alternative is to hang himself. (more…)

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What It Takes

Vacation

By Shawn Coyne | Published: March 23, 2012

Thank God there is a beautiful ocean outside to cool me off.

I’m on vacation and a couple of things popped upped for Black Irish Books. They aren’t the end of the world.  Steve found a typo on one page of his next book.  We both agree that it is crucial that we fix it. (more…)

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