Category: Creativity

• It’s always worth spending time up front to make the process smoother

  A lumberjack once said, if his life depended on cutting down a tree in five minutes, he would spend three minutes sharpening his axe. More and more, I’ve appreciated this approach to life. Here are some ways I’ve applied it: A few days ago, I wrote about how cleaning the dishes and kitchen before I…

  Herbert Lui

  December 31, 2025

  A Matter of Time, Creativity, Expectations, Turning Stories

• The asymptotic queue

  I write every day at this blog. It’s a rule that I respond very well to. Some people who write every day queue up many posts ahead of time, so something goes live every day. I imagine some people are 60 or even 100 days ahead. That means a post they write today will go…

  Herbert Lui

  December 29, 2025

  Creativity, Creator Confidential

• Whatever you struggle with is a great place to start writing

  “A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people,” goes a quote attributed to Thomas Mann. The difficulty is, precisely, why you’d want to write. There’s something you need to make sense of, that you can’t avoid, and you need somewhere to put everything you think and feel.…

  Herbert Lui

  December 28, 2025

  Creativity, Creator Confidential, Turning Stories

• Maybe promotion isn’t about making money, it’s about helping your work find other people

  A few years ago, I republished my post on longcutting at Forge, with the headline asking readers, “What are your favorite anti-shortcuts?”  “Clean the kitchen before you start cooking. Empty the drain rack and dishwasher, clear and wipe down the counters. You might not get something [on] the table as quickly, and you will feel…

  Herbert Lui

  December 27, 2025

  Creativity, Creator Confidential, Turning Stories

• Finding an answer to a question nobody else could answer

  There have been many moments when I could have stopped writing at this blog every day.  For example, this year alone, I might’ve been several days behind on posts. I was determined not to fall behind during my trip to Asia, and I didn’t, but then I fell behind upon returning to Canada. What can…

  Herbert Lui

  December 26, 2025

  Creativity, Creator Confidential

• Why Allen Iverson stopped dunking

  A basketball game’s regulation time is 48 minutes. When Allen Iverson played in the NBA, he would play, on average, over 41 minutes. That’s over 85% of each game. During the playoffs, that number went up; Allen played over 45 minutes each game (93%). Allen loved basketball, and he hated sitting on the bench. In…

  Herbert Lui

  December 25, 2025

  Creativity, Creator Confidential, Turning Stories

• The point of writing every day isn’t to write every day

  Since 2007, every year, Tony Stubblebine publishes an article on things he feels grateful for. Except, sometimes, he’s late.  A couple of days ago, he published the one for 2024—the year before this one. As I dove into his archives, I noticed he’d aggregated some years—one article might contain three or four years’ worth of…

  Herbert Lui

  December 24, 2025

  A Matter of Time, Creativity, Creator Confidential

• When is a best effort enough?

  Japanese transportation is well-known for its precision. For example, when a train runs more than five minutes late, the railway company will issue a delay certificate for its passengers to show their employers and teachers. In other words, Japanese transportation all but guarantees results. In business-to-business deals, this type of guarantee is enforced by a…

  Herbert Lui

  December 23, 2025

  A Matter of Time, Creativity, Expectations, Turning Stories

• Participation is more important than the outcome

  Whether an outcome turns out your way in the near term—which you and I usually call, “success”—or not, isn’t that important.  Showing up to participate in the outcome is much more important. Bringing good energy, showing your expertise, and starting a working relationship before a formal engagement, is much more valuable.  Participating, and constantly improving,…

  Herbert Lui

  December 22, 2025

  Creativity, Creator Confidential, Expectations, Turning Stories

• The joys of blooming “late”

  For much of my 20s, I spent a lot of time feeling like I was late. I blamed my teenage self for slacking off and having fun. I blamed him, effectively, for being a teenager. I wasn’t being nice or kind.  When I was 25, I considered myself a late bloomer. I wrote to my…

  Herbert Lui

  December 21, 2025

  A Matter of Time, Creativity, Creator Confidential, Expectations, Turning Stories