Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

“We have a strategic plan. It’s called doing things.” -Herb Kelleher “Stagecraft can be learned only onstage, in front of a paying audience. For as in most things it is the blunt trauma of failure that is the necessary spur to knowledge.” – book, Theatre by David Mamet “The key to happiness is not beingContinue reading “Doing It”

If a country is governed wisely,its inhabitants will be content.They enjoy the labor of their handsand don’t waste time inventinglabor-saving machines.Since they dearly love their homes,they aren’t interested in travel. There may be a few wagons and boats,but these don’t go anywhere.There may be an arsenal of weapons,but nobody ever uses them.People enjoy their food,takeContinue reading “Back From Break”

“There’s nothing to feel guilty about for being idle. It’s not reckless. It’s an investment. There is nourishment in pursuits that have no purpose—that is their purpose.” – Ryan Holiday, Stillness Is The Key “I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful… I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful… I feel good,Continue reading “Taking A Break”

“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” -Archilochus “Goals can provide direction and even push you forward in the short-term, but eventually a well-designed system will always win. Having a system is what matters. Committing to the process is what makes the difference.” – JamesContinue reading “A Systems Problem”

If it were as easy and straightforward as paint by numbers, we’d all be Van Gogh’s. Art is hard. It’s messy. It’s not linear. And it might not work. Do it anyway.

“I went into photography because it seemed like the perfect vehicle for commenting on the madness of today’s existence…Sell the public flowers–things that they can hang on their walls without being uptight.” – Robert Mapplethorpe “He wasn’t certain whether he was a good or bad person. Whether he was altruistic. Whether he was demonic. ButContinue reading “Triggered”

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” -Nelson Mandela Wrath and anger are hateful things,yet the sinner hugs them tight. – Sirach 27:30 “Mankind is born for mutual assistance, anger for mutual ruin: the former loves society, the latter estrangement.” -Seneca, Essay On Anger “Fear is the path toContinue reading “Anger…And Forgiveness”

“If you need to be proven right, learning is a challenge. If you’re eager to be proven wrong, learning is delightful.” -Seth Godin “Strong opinions. Weakly held.” -Marc Andreessen Yes, you absolutely need the vision, the belief, the conviction, to start your passion project. But you also need to be open-minded to new information youContinue reading “Prove Me Wrong”

“Faced with a choice between changing one’s mind and proving there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy with the proof.” -J.K. Galbraith “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be madeContinue reading “Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds”

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” -Teddy Roosevelt The best athletewants his opponent at his best.The best generalenters the mind of his enemy.The best businessmanserves the communal good.The best leaderfollows the will of the people. All of them embodythe virtue of non-competition.Not that they don’t love to compete,but they do it in the spirit ofContinue reading “Healthy Competition”