There’s no other book series I am more excited about than the one by 99u. Every single one so far has been rock solid, full of super-useful, actionable advice. Volume Three, Make Your Mark launches tomorrow and I am lucky enough to have gotten my hands on an early copy. (And was delighted to discover that Shane Snow wrote a chapter for the book that talks about how we try to sprinkle some love in all things we do at Tattly!)
The contributor list is super impressive; Keith Yamashita, Seth Godin, Jane ni Dhulchaointigh, John Maeda just to mention a few. There’s nothing I value more than advice and insights from people that are doers, getting their hands dirty, building and defining companies, making it all happen.
Make Your Mark, and the two other books in the 99u series, are business books for makers, not managers. In Make Your Mark Jocelyn and her team tapped 21 leading entrepreneurs and experts to share their best practices for launching a purpose-driven business, refining your product, delighting your customers, inspiring your team—and ultimately—making something that matters.
You can pre-order the book here or share the best advice you’ve ever been given in a comment below to enter this week’s Make Your Mark book give-away. 10 winners will be randomly chosen by the end of the week and will receive a copy. Yay! UPDATE: You can still share your best advice but the give-away has ended.
And yes, hell just froze over; Nine years in, this is my first ever give-away on this blog. That’s how much I love (!) this book series.
You can’t push on the river.
It’s my mantra with difficult situations. Sounds goofy but once I had unpacked it it was pretty liberating.
(PS: I love the other two books in this series!)
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:29 pm
“Take all your mistakes and become an Alchemist.
Take the lead and turn it to gold”
-Nicolas Cage
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:31 pm
I want this book!
My best advise is: don’t worry…none of this is real.
:D :D :D
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:35 pm
Focus on what you love, your hopes, and your goals rather than what others love. In return, you’ll create something that you love and are proud of, and people with the same mindset will find their way to you.
It’s too hard to constantly focus on achieving other people’s goals rather than your own.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:36 pm
“When you can’t be a role model, be a cautionary tale.”
A reminder to share the bad along with the good as both have value to other people.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:36 pm
To this day some of the best advice I’ve ever been given involved what on the surface sounds like a rather snarky statement.
A long ago mentor of mine used to sayn “your opinion, although interesting, is irrelevant” and while I knew even then that 90% of the time he meant it less harshly than it comes across, he was the first person to really teach me that it was ok to disregard the negativity, the naysayers and those who didn’t want ideas to be great.
I don’t say it that often, but I think it all the time.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:37 pm
“When you can’t be a role model, be a cautionary tale.”
A reminder to share the bad along with the good as both have value to other people.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:37 pm
“Always be honest.” It’s that simple.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:38 pm
“Always be honest.” It’s that simple.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:39 pm
“Always be honest.” The simplest and most effective thing you can learn.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:41 pm
This is an adventure.
Life is full of ups and downs. Times of boredom, where it seems like nothing is happening, and times of complete excitement, where you cannot wait to see what’s next. From this simple phrase, I’ve learned to find an enjoyment in all of the times of my life and see that in the broad picture, this is what makes our life an adventure, so let’s take an active role in it.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:43 pm
“Life will command whatever price you ask.”
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:44 pm
Good is the enemy of great. Do not fall victim to complacency.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:48 pm
Good is the enemy of great. Do not fall victim to complacency.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:50 pm
“Creativity is about making unexpected connections.” This quote from my favorite college professor continually inspires me to learn more, do more and be curious. Sometimes, the idea or answer you need most is hiding where you least expect it.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 3:53 pm
Maybe your mistakes can benefit others. – Amy Poehler
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:01 pm
The best advice I’ve gotten:
To always start from where you are. Whether the task is short or long, seems easy or daunting, take stock of where you are at this moment and figure out what little advance you could make to improve or further the project. Focus on that thing and do it!
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:02 pm
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”.
Waving from London.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:11 pm
Always look over your shoulder before scratching your butt. You never know who may be following you.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:12 pm
Steve Jobs had a quote that will forever be connected to me…
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well worn path; and that will make all the difference.”
For me, this means: Trust your Gut and Chase.
Sometimes you’re going to be right, sometimes you’re going to be wrong, and sometimes you’re going to be terribly-terribly wrong…but if you trust your gut and continue to chase whatever it is your chasing, it’ll all work itself out…always does.
Those dots live forever as tattoos on my wrists as a constant reminder.
Trust. Gut. Chase.
…
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:15 pm
“Remember to color outside the lines.”
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:18 pm
Steve Jobs had a quote that will forever be connected to me…
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well worn path; and that will make all the difference.”
For me, this means: Trust your Gut and Chase.
Sometimes you’re going to be right, sometimes you’re going to be wrong, and sometimes you’re going to be terribly-terribly wrong…but if you trust your gut and continue to chase whatever it is your chasing, it’ll all work itself out…always does.
Those dots live forever as tattoos on my wrists as a constant reminder.
Trust. Gut. Chase.
…
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:19 pm
find a way.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:23 pm
“You already know everything you need to know!” – an advice I’ve got when I was trying to learn more before making actions (particularly useful for (us) women because we tend to show less self confidence).
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:34 pm
“Success doesn’t lie at the end of a single highway, but is sprinkled along a thousand alternative paths” – a quote from an wonderful article I discovered on Brain Pickings. It helped me realize that there are no fixed rules one must follow in order to achieve something meaningful in life. Each person is responsible for creating their own way of learning and working, the one that suits him the best and not the one that is accepted by the majority of society.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:36 pm
Share what you learn.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:41 pm
When I hit a speed bump on a project, my coach reminded me about the importance of being flexible by sending me this quote: “Everyone has a plan – until they get punched in the face.” – Mike Tyson. His gentle reminder was accompanied by this advice: When you do get hit (hopefully metaphorically speaking), take a deep breath, take a time out, and reset from there. Taking this advice, and taking that deep breath that goes with it, keeps me from reacting without thinking. Priceless!
Nov 17th, 2014 / 4:54 pm
Seth Godin’s recipe for success from playing hockey as a kid: 1. Know what to do. 2. Be able to do it. 3. Care enough to get hit
Nov 17th, 2014 / 5:14 pm
The most dangerous phrase is “we’ve always done it this way.” I’ve taken it as a reminder to always be open to new ways of looking or experiencing.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 5:21 pm
“Don’t take it personally; take it professionally.”
Nov 17th, 2014 / 5:24 pm
You should always try to have some fun while working, because work can be hard and frustrating and can kill us early. So, make your work a way of life and not a way of death.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 5:46 pm
We’ve never been given this advice, it’s something we’ve discovered for ourselves through experience, but it’s ok to reject new prospects/clients – we’ve learnt to listen to and trust our instincts. Also, date we say it, it’s ok to sack clients. All in all these actions have made us much happier people.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 5:53 pm
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”
Nov 17th, 2014 / 6:30 pm
The advice I’ve found most helpful comes from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz – don’t take anything personally. It’s amazing how liberating it is when you start to see that nothing that people say or do is really because of you.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 7:02 pm
Shut up and Ship
Nov 17th, 2014 / 7:03 pm
The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 7:06 pm
My grandfather’s advice about clients and bosses:
Even if the horse is blind, keep loading the wagon.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 7:09 pm
Create a safe place for collaboration and don’t be afraid of different ideas. Iron sharpens iron.
Nov 17th, 2014 / 7:41 pm
“Proximity is everything.”
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
“Tools cannot replace skill.”
Nov 17th, 2014 / 7:46 pm
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
No, seriously, sit down and figure it out properly, it is rarely anywhere near as bad as you imagine initially and generally helps me overcome ‘the fear’
Nov 18th, 2014 / 4:05 am
Cause a ruckus!
Nov 18th, 2014 / 4:40 am
Do a little bit, every day.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 5:03 am
I don’t know if I can opt for the book living in Spain, but I want to try as I am your follower. My advice: ‘Hazlo bien, no importa el que’ (No matter what you do, do it well). I agree and disagree with it but the fact is that it helps me to advance when I’m overwhelmed…
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:05 am
Care.
It will shape everything you do.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 7:11 am
As you’re looking forward climbing up the ladder, be sure to look back and help someone behind you. One hand forward and one hand helping someone rise up, too.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 7:46 am
From Mark Cuban:
One thing we can all control is effort. Put in the time to become an expert in whatever you’re doing. It will give you an advantage because most people don’t do this.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 7:51 am
“it doesn’t matter what kind of degree you have: you have to show up and show people what you can do…You have to work really hard for it, and there’s an honesty to it that I love.” – Tim Van Damme
Nov 18th, 2014 / 8:07 am
Focus.
Wake up each and every day and note the 10 most important things to accomplish for the day, work on those important things, and nothing else, no matter what else happens that day.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 8:08 am
“Only worry about things when they have already happened.”
— my mother to me when I was stuck in life and kept worrying about all the things that might happen
Nov 18th, 2014 / 8:24 am
Keep going.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:00 am
Just because you’re hung like a horse doesn’t mean you have to be a porn star.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:21 am
“Don’t bring me a dead monkey.” As in, bring me a solution, not a problem.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:29 am
“Never take yourself too seriously.” Dad
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:31 am
Advice: BE INTENTIONAL. Be who you are, how you are & where you are on purpose.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:32 am
Businesses doesn’t exist to make profit. They need profits to exist.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:34 am
“A boy can be two, three, four potential people, but a man is only one. He murders the others.” – Mordecai Richler
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:35 am
Listen well.
Ask the right questions.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:35 am
Showboats always sink.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:36 am
“Be aware of what you don’t know.”
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:46 am
“Knowledge is power!” My dad, a lifetime learner, used to repeat that phrase to me when I was a kid, teaching me the value of always seeking out new information.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:46 am
Ugly is part of the process. -Mig Reyes
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:47 am
Don’t compare to anything except who you were before.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:49 am
“It’s through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good.” – Paula Scher
I absolutely love her approach and logic to design, and as designers, we are so hard on ourselves on coming up with the next big thing. But in order to do that – we need to fail, and fail again and again.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:52 am
Sometimes the best plan is to go with the flow.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:57 am
My mom’s last words of wisdom before she passed away:
Laugh Every Day.
After 20 years I’m beginning to understand her simple advice. When I laugh at challenges they seem to shrink and when I laugh during moments of happiness it seems to double my joy.
Thanks Mom.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 10:19 am
In creative fields, you’re often writing your own path, so you can be hesitant to start calling yourself a designer or an artist or whatever it might be, but the best advice I have been given was that your destiny is yours to define and that starts with declaring ‘I am an artist’. Only after you’ve embraced that fact wholeheartedly will you have room to play, explore and create because no matter what, you will always be an artist.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 10:52 am
“Don’t do thing wrong, _just_ because you can do it fast!”
Nov 18th, 2014 / 10:54 am
After all, design is hard work and more work.
Do not be afraid of long days or nights.
These long work perioids are the ones you will eventually cherish.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 10:56 am
don’t settle.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:03 am
“The expert in anything was once a beginner”
Reminds me that I need to persevere and keep moving forward everyday no matter how small the steps.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:05 am
From my grandfather: Never forget what truly matters to you. Always fight for it.
(He told it to me in spanish: “Nunca olvides lo que en verdad te importa. Persíguelo siempre”)
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:05 am
It took me a few years, a multiple failed attempts to realize that when everything seems to be going as bad as it can be to realize and understand why I was feeling that way, and most importantly that if it all is truly the worst that only means it will all get so good very soon.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:06 am
“We all have our tribes–find yours.”
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:11 am
It’s better to be rejected for who you truly are than to be
accepted for the person you could pretend to be.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:11 am
Build a business as part of your life, not around or instead of your life.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:16 am
Everybody wants to know where they are going… The point is nothing starts happening until you start dreaming…
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:16 am
Here’s to the “makers, not managers.” Creatives rule. ;)
Thanks for all you do. Much appreciated!
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:18 am
“Only take advice from people who are where you want to be.”
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:20 am
“Your fear is the least interesting thing about you”
Really helpful to remember, these days when I’m pushing past all kinds of comfort zones!
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:46 am
Do what you love, but you don’t have to make a living at it. Sometimes trying to do it for money kills the joy.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:47 am
“No act of love is ever wasted.” (via) Geneen Roth
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:49 am
“Simple trumps complete.”
-Neil Hunt
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:54 am
Kill your babies.
(Meaning, those ideas you’ve harboured for weeks or months and completely love, but you know, deep down, aren’t going to work)
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:54 am
Use your weird!
Nov 18th, 2014 / 11:57 am
“If no one has ever told you that your ideas are unreasonable or crazy, then you’re not pushing the envelope.”
Nov 18th, 2014 / 12:03 pm
Systems can be managed, people are not systems. Leaders lead people, lead as you would like to be lead. Be the example!
Nov 18th, 2014 / 12:27 pm
Ordinary people try to reduce their problems.
Extraordinary people find bigger problems to solve.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 12:41 pm
Work with your passion; be honest; and use the golden rule! Works every time!
Nov 18th, 2014 / 12:46 pm
Best advice I’ve ever received is from Seth Godin: Enrich your world by creating value for others.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 12:54 pm
“Always be shipping.” -Seth Godin
Nov 18th, 2014 / 1:19 pm
Listen
Nov 18th, 2014 / 1:21 pm
Remember the brick wall you’re building but focus on the brick you’re placing. Place it the best possible way a brick could be placed, then and only then, your brick wall will be the best.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 1:21 pm
make your own luck
Nov 18th, 2014 / 1:48 pm
Would be great reading material at this stage in my career.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 2:02 pm
“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”
Nov 18th, 2014 / 2:03 pm
‘Don’t try to be original. Just try to be good.’ That sounds sort of naive but it’s true.
–Paul Rand paraphrasing Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 2:05 pm
You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friends nose.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 2:08 pm
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle
Nov 18th, 2014 / 2:24 pm
Never give up. Always, be true to your self.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 2:38 pm
There’s always another option
Nov 18th, 2014 / 3:13 pm
Not even sure this is really so much advice, as it is something I often think back on. To make a long story short, I had some work of mine featured on a blog that I loved. Upon reading the comments, one of the first entries was the following:
“The end result is a disaster.”
I remember being really upset by that at first. But, as time went on and I kept thinking back to it, it became rather empowering. It showed me that I should look at things objectively, especially my own work, and to never take criticism personally. It’s only going to make me a better designer.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 3:17 pm
Best advice, posted above my desk: Walk tall, kick ass, learn to speak Arabic, love music and never forget you come from a long line of truth seekers, lovers and warriors. – Hunter S. Thompson
Nov 18th, 2014 / 3:17 pm
“To be great, be whole;
Exclude nothing, exaggerate nothing that is not you.
Be whole in everything. Put all you are
Into the smallest thing you do.
So, in each lake, the moon shines with splendor
Because it blooms up above.”
– Fernando Pessoa
Nov 18th, 2014 / 3:55 pm
“You do you.”
Nov 18th, 2014 / 5:16 pm
The guy person who has a reputation for arriving at work early can sleep in.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 5:23 pm
Editing!
“The PERSON who has a reputation for arriving at work early can sleep in”.
Ack…
Nov 18th, 2014 / 5:24 pm
You don’t have to say yes all the time, it’s ok to say no.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:05 pm
have a point-of-view.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:06 pm
Never give up.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:07 pm
I think that leadership quote has been misattributed.
oh well.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:14 pm
Don’t complain about what you permit.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:17 pm
Second place: Nobody owes you anything.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:18 pm
Work is easy, people are hard.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:20 pm
Knowledge is power!
Nov 18th, 2014 / 6:41 pm
Always stay true to yourself.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 8:04 pm
Don’t be a dick.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 8:49 pm
Use your imagination, dream of things that you want, and figure out how to get there. If you are consistent and persistent enough, you’ll get it.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:01 pm
Be true to yourself.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 9:41 pm
Measure twice cut once. This can save your ass from so many headaches.
Nov 18th, 2014 / 10:34 pm
When you are dreaming of what is possible for your life, you should know that anything is possible. You may not always feel it or see it, but you never for a single moment lack the capacity to change course. Your life is subject to infinite revision. – Karmapa
Nov 18th, 2014 / 10:48 pm
Of all the advice I’ve ever given, it come down to this: Always follow the path of love.
I promise that no matter how hard things might look and get, you won’t regret it. Even if you do happen to fall off the path, you’ll be right back on it soon enough. Your happiness depends on it.
Nov 19th, 2014 / 12:42 am
“Would I rather be loved or feared?
Both, I want my workers to n afraid of how much they love me”
— Michael Scott
Nov 19th, 2014 / 4:35 am
Be disruptive,
trends will make you normal & forgettable!
Nov 19th, 2014 / 5:24 am
Redo and do it right.
You can always try again, so don’t be afraid to iterate.
Nov 19th, 2014 / 7:04 am
Be kind.
You can always do better.
Nov 19th, 2014 / 8:45 am
Be nice and keep working. It is more important to be nice than to appear nice. Never be nice to your competition unless you want to buy them out.
Nov 19th, 2014 / 11:41 am
Just forward Action is sometimes better than “best” effort.
This one advice has kept me going for years.
Nov 19th, 2014 / 12:03 pm
If you chase two rabbits, both will escape!
Nov 19th, 2014 / 3:42 pm
Stay true
X
Nov 19th, 2014 / 4:05 pm
Keep your head up and your wits about you!
Nov 19th, 2014 / 9:32 pm
Time is relative. There is no calendar in the sky that dictacts where you need to be in life. Enjoy this time. Enjoy now. But don’t forget to chase your dreams.
Nov 19th, 2014 / 10:19 pm
Time is relative. There is no calendar in the sky that dictates where you need to be in life. Enjoy this time. Enjoy now. But don’t forget to chase your dreams.
Nov 19th, 2014 / 11:01 pm
Never settle! Get what you want!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Nov 19th, 2014 / 11:02 pm
“Embrace your instinct to have the discipline to be successful, successful in self sustainability and in making a small difference to people who care.
From that foundation, use your time to grow and leap
but don’t run away from what’s working.”
Seth Godin
Nov 20th, 2014 / 2:19 am
It’s okay to make mistakes … as long as your don’t do it again!
Nov 20th, 2014 / 5:47 am
Some one once told me – Sometimes you get so engrossed in designing, your adding elements, moving things around, it’s always good to stand back take a look at it ask yourself, ‘what can I take away?’
Nov 20th, 2014 / 8:16 am
•you’re
Nov 20th, 2014 / 8:16 am
Ask forgiveness, not permission.
You are the only leading lady and director in your life. Act like it!
Nov 20th, 2014 / 10:40 am
Working for yourself is way more fulfilling than working for an agency or corporation, so don’t be afraid to make the leap!
Nov 20th, 2014 / 11:26 am
something that I heard a while ago and has really stuck with me is: “don’t be so easily defined”
Nov 20th, 2014 / 11:30 am
Work for money, design for life.
Nov 20th, 2014 / 5:40 pm
I make my own luck – Harvey dent
Nov 21st, 2014 / 9:40 am
Be bold.
Nov 21st, 2014 / 9:12 pm
“This is your life. Do what you love and do it often.”
Nov 22nd, 2014 / 9:20 am
“Allow yourself the freedom to speak the truth”
Nov 23rd, 2014 / 11:06 am
Wow! What fantastic advice you all shared! I am so impressed. The winners will be chosen today, and the give-away is hereby closed. Thanks for all of you that participated.
Nov 24th, 2014 / 8:28 am