Manifesto (WIP)

1. Simplify, simplify

By getting rid of the unnecessary complications in life you gain peace, time and so much more.

2. Help people

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate.

3. Focus 

When you focus on everything, you’re not focused on anything. 

4. Don’t be cool

Cool is fixed and controlled. Be unique. Be yourself.

5. Find out why

Never stop asking why. And never stop knowing why. Everything should have a purpose. 

6. Think small, think big

Behind every problem lies a big opportunity. Those big opportunities can be found in the details.

7. Make something. Anything!

Stop thinking and start doing. Just start and you’ll get there.

8. Specialize

The people who are the best in the world specialize at getting really good at the questions they don't know.

9. Go outside

If you’re stuck, let it rest. Play a game or go for a walk and let your subconscious do the heavy work.

10. Imitate

Don’t be shy about it. Try to get as close as you can. And always give credit where credit is due. Bruce Mau's advice.

11. Fail, fail again. Fail better.

If you don’t get lost, you’ll never find a new route. Don’t get attached to the work, failures are a precondition of success.

12. Reflect

Always go back. It’s the only way to find what you missed.

13. Forget “ought to”

Our job in this life is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it. Steven Pressfield's advice. 

14. Expect the dip

The process may be fun at the beginning but a dip is guaranteed. As Seth Godin advises, anticipate the dips in advance and plan for them.

15. Keep pushing, keep moving

Found that warm and comfortable place? Don’t settle, not even with your fourth or fifth solution. Move! Magic happens outside of it.

16. Quit

Don't be afraid to quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt. As Seth Godin explains, strategic quitting is the secret of successful people. 

17. Trust your gut

Don't accept something because other people do. If it doesn't feel right, say something. Explore it.

18. Be mindful

Create meaningful work. Be a part of the Art of Information movement, not the Art of Distraction. 

19. Ditch the recipe

Avoid always doing things as they've been done before. Try something new. As long as you stick to existing processes you’ll never have real growth.

20. Stay uncomfortable

To grow, stay uncomfortable. Embrace ambiguity in the design process.

21. Speak up

Don't just speak, but speak up. Share your ideas. Share your opinions. As Seth Godin put it, it's much easier to spend a lot of time making your microphone louder or to chime in than it is working on making your message more compelling. Choose to dig deep and say more. The risk is greater but so is the reward.