Creating is something I have been doing since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Now that I work creating designs for online experiences I can see how my love of technology and design have merged over the years.

Without design we would all be lost. Our experience of our favorite brands would be diminished. We would not have that escape from reality or hit of dopamine we get when something feels pleasurable.

Being creative makes me get up in the morning and turn on my computer. Even on days I have writers block or whatever block it is. But I know once I get started the ideas will flow.

I design there for I am.

What about you? What makes you get up in the morning…

The “Think Big Revolution” is all about thinking bigger about who you are and what you have to offer the world. Michael Port is the author of “The Think Big Manifesto”  and a well known small business coach and speaker.

I took Michael Port’s 15 week small business coaching class in 2006. I was just starting out in the freelance world having done a few small gig here and there along with teaching. I had no idea who Michael was before I signed up for his course at the Learning Annex. It was the best hour of advice on small business I’d heard in ions. I signed up for his 15 week class that night.

One of the most important things I learned from Michael’s course it to be true to yourself and the path to your success will unfold. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to DO the work. You do.

When starting something entirely new. Remember all new ideas are subject to ridicule. Do it anyway. You will learn something either way. Being afraid of failure or success just keeps you in a rut. Who needs that!

Most people who are afraid…are usually afraid of what other people will think. What other people think is none of your business.

Throughout history, small thoughts have stood in opposition to big thoughts. The church reviled Galileo. The world is flat right? Darwin was disbelieved in his time. We couldn’t be descended from apes, could we?

– The Think Big Revolution by Michael Port with Mina Samuels

So what is thinking big all about?

Thinking big is means transcending our small thoughts. I’m not smart enough; I can’t risk my secure job on some flimflam dream; my parents [spouse, children, friends] won’t approve; people will think I’m crazy; nobody will like me anymore; I don’t have the time; I don’t have the energy; I can’t make a difference, I’m only one person; I don’t …; I can’t …;

– The Think Big Revolution by Michael Port with Mina Samuels

Create your own revolution or join Michael’s but either way rock it out. Your best life is waiting…

Follow Michael on Twitter - @michaelport.

I finished reading Hugh’s book a few days ago. It’s been in my pile of “to-read” books for awhile now but I got through it in two hours. It was a great read and I highly recommend it to any one with a new idea or a creative person who doubts their abilities.

The following quote is one of many that are interspersed through Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity

Great ideas alter the power balance in relationships. That’s why good ideas are always initially resisted.

According to Hugh the book condenses as follows

Work hard
Keep at it
Live Simply and Quietly
Remain humble
Stay positive
Create your own luck
Be nice
Be polite

His advice as he mentions “isn’t rocket science” so why not give it a whirl. I got a chance to chat briefly with Hugh at the event in New York and he was nice, very gracious and even asked how the widget was working on my site. Fame doesn’t seem to have gotten to his head and over a million downloads of the manifesto that lead to his book deal don’t seem to have made him a prima donna. We should all be so lucky when we achieve success.

Follow him on Twitter @gapingvoid