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Copying is about reverse-engineering.

Austin Kleon

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Austin Kleon
Age: 41
Born: 1983
Born: June 16
Author
Musician
Visual Artist
Writer
Ohio
United States
Copying
Engineering
Reverse

More quotes by Austin Kleon

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Inertia is the death of creativity
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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Usually, when we talk about creativity, it's about self-expression, which is great, but for work to be art or design, there has to be someone on the other end. The audience makes the work come alive.
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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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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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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You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.
Austin Kleon
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You're ready. Start making stuff.
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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Don't wait until you know who you are to get started.
Austin Kleon
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If you’re worried about giving your secrets away, you can share your dots without connecting them.
Austin Kleon
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Do good work and share it with people.
Austin Kleon
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If we're 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 from it.
Austin Kleon
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Eat breakfast. Do some push-ups. Go for long walks. Get plenty of sleep.
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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The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others.
Austin Kleon
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Enjoy your obscurity while it lasts.
Austin Kleon
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You can't find your voice if you don't use it.
Austin Kleon
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Become a documentarian of what you do.
Austin Kleon
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Be boring. (It’s the only way to get work done.)
Austin Kleon