Herbert Lui

Blog on creativity, marketing, and the human condition.

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  • Creative Doing
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  • What is your relationship with your craft?

    A contemplative exercise: If writing was a person, what would it be like? What would your relationship with it be like? For example, are you in a relationship with writing only because you hope it will bring you success and wealth? Is writing more like a friend, a spouse, or an acquaintance? Or is it…

    Herbert Lui

    August 16, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential
  • The courage to tell (yourself) a new story

    A young man discusses his latest challenge with a philosopher. Whenever he sees another young person’s story of success in a newspaper, he feels a strong sense of envy and frustration. He feels inferior, like he’s less than the other person. He’s reminded of his social standing, his modest education, and even the pimples on…

    Herbert Lui

    August 15, 2025
    Creativity, Expectations, Turning Stories
  • A more resilient confidence

    When you put your confidence in external events—such as results or outcomes—you are also setting it up to be shaken by disturbances, setbacks, and rejections. While it might feel more exciting—high highs, low lows—this type of confidence is less resilient.  One minute, your stock is up and you feel like you can take over the…

    Herbert Lui

    August 14, 2025
    Creativity, Expectations
  • The 12-year-old author

    One of my favorite authors, Gordon Korman, started his writing career when he was 12. I recently found out how. He found a publisher’s address on the back of one of their books. He mailed his manuscript to them, and it was accepted. He didn’t have an agent. The book was published when Gordon was…

    Herbert Lui

    August 13, 2025
    Creativity
  • Make your place interesting

    If you want to do interesting things in your town or city, you’ll need to do homework. You might be signing up for local newsletters, checking out event calendars, or just walking around and observing. If there isn’t anything that’s interesting, your homework will be to start an event. There will always be people looking…

    Herbert Lui

    August 12, 2025
    Around the World, Creativity
  • New Material on Creative Odyssey

    When I meet my friend Hamza to record our podcast, New Material, I’m usually sitting at a desk with a podcast mic.  A few months ago, Hamza and I joined Emil Drud at his podcast, Creative Odyssey. (I’d mentioned this episode here, and previously joined Emil here!)  It was a beautiful day outside, so I…

    Herbert Lui

    August 11, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential
  • Accept, commit, and endure

    Two related, and really useful, ideas from two psychologists: You don’t need to feel better—prepared, ready, in control—before you do the difficult thing. All life asks of you is that you participate. When you avoid negative emotions, you make them feel stronger. Steven C. Hayes explores experiential avoidance and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in…

    Herbert Lui

    August 10, 2025
    Creativity, Life, Turning Stories
  • Two practical approaches to focus

    The survival approach: Choose the best option available, while you’re looking for your ideal option. Do whatever it takes to survive. There’s a Chinese saying, 騎牛搵馬, which translates to, “Ride a cow until you find a horse.” Seth Godin writes the second rule in The Bootstrapper Bible, “Things get better. But first, youʼve got to…

    Herbert Lui

    August 9, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential
  • Ask for help

    Everybody needs help, at some point. (Entrepreneurs need the most help.)  You will need help. Sometimes, the less you want to ask for help, the more you stand to benefit from it. People can’t help you if they don’t know you need help. Asking for help is your responsibility. Be open about your problems. People…

    Herbert Lui

    August 8, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential, Turning Stories
  • How many steps ahead?

    Thinking one step ahead is generally a good idea. When you anticipate what will happen, you can prepare a response. Most people will not think a step ahead, so you’re in a good position by doing this simple planning. Two steps ahead can be helpful as well, if you want to get ahead of the…

    Herbert Lui

    August 7, 2025
    A Matter of Time, Expectations
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