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You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.

Austin Kleon

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Austin Kleon
Age: 41
Born: 1983
Born: June 16
Author
Musician
Visual Artist
Writer
Ohio
United States
Stuff
Going
Good
Surround

More quotes by Austin Kleon

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The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others.
Austin Kleon
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Art that only comes from the head isn't any good. Watch any good musician and you'll see what I mean.
Austin Kleon
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Copying is about reverse-engineering.
Austin Kleon
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Unless you are actually a ninja, a guru, or a rock star, don't ever use any of those terms in your bio. Ever.
Austin Kleon
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Every artist gets asked the question, 'Where do you get your ideas?' The honest artist answers, 'I steal them.'
Austin Kleon
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There’s an economic theory out there that if you take the incomes of your five closest friends and average them, the resulting number will be pretty close to your own income. I think the same thing is true of idea incomes. You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.
Austin Kleon
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Not everybody will get it. People will misinterpret you and what you do. They might even call you names. So get comfortable with being misunderstood, disparaged, or ignored -- the trick is to be too busy doing your work to care.
Austin Kleon
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The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.
Austin Kleon
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Travel makes the world look new, and when the world looks new, our brains work harder.
Austin Kleon
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In order to be found, you have to be findable.
Austin Kleon
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Find the most talented person in the room, and if it's not you, go stand next to him. Hang out with him. Try to be helpful. If you ever find that you're the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room.
Austin Kleon
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We're always being told 'find your voice.' When I was younger, I never really knew what this meant. I used to worry a lot about voice, wondering if I had my own. But now I realize that the only way to find your voice is to use it. It's hardwired, built into you. Talk about the things you love. Your voice will follow.
Austin Kleon
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Become a documentarian of what you do.
Austin Kleon
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Don't wait until you know who you are to get started.
Austin Kleon
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Amateurs know that contributing something is better than contributing nothing.
Austin Kleon
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The people who get what they’re after are very often the ones who just stick around long enough.
Austin Kleon
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Don't worry about doing research. Just search.
Austin Kleon
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The artist is a collector. Not a hoarder, mind you, there's a difference: Hoarders collect indiscriminately, artists collect selectively. They only collect things that they really love.
Austin Kleon
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You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life.
Austin Kleon
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So go on, get angry. But keep your mouth shut and go do your work.
Austin Kleon