4 MAJOR LEARNINGS FROM THE BOOK: STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST.

1. NOTHING IS ORIGINAL

What a good artist understands is that nothing comes from nowhere. All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.

If we are free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing, and we can embrace influence instead of running away from it.

2. PRODUCTIVE PROCRASTINATION.

Creative people need time to sit around and do nothing. You get some of your wonderful ideas when you seat and do nothing. So take time to do nothing and just sit.

If you are running out of ideas, go for a long walk. Por stare at something as long as you can. As artist Maira Kalman says, “Avoiding work is the way to focus my mind”.

3.KEEP YOUR DAY JOB.

A day job gives you a daily routine in which you can schedule a regular time for your creative pursuits. Establishing and keeping a routine can be even more important than having a lot of time.

4. SCHOOL YOURSELF.

School is one thing. Education is another. The two don’t always overlap. Whether you are in school or not its always your job to get yourself an education.

You have to be curious about the world in which you live. Look things up. Chase down every reference. Go deeper than anybody else – that’s how you will get ahead.