Herbert Lui

Blog on creativity, marketing, and the human condition.

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  • Creative Doing
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  • Build your own supply chain, gain more control, do more work

    If an author works with a traditional publisher, they’re using the publisher’s supply chain. They need their book proposal accepted by the publisher. The author needs to apply the publisher’s feedback, even if they don’t agree with it. The publisher will schedule the book’s launch, and the author will follow. The publisher will, hopefully, put…

    Herbert Lui

    September 18, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential, Promotion, Turning Stories
  • Skill mindset

    Being happy is a skill. When you’re making a difficult decision, you can ask yourself this: In 1,000 parallel universes, which decision makes you happier in 999 of them? If the decision makes you only happier on the condition it turns out your way, then you need to consider what’s in your control, and the…

    Herbert Lui

    September 17, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential, Expectations, Turning Stories
  • When someone persuades you it’ll be easy, it’s a signal to feel uneasy

    Many years ago, when I was still a student, I attended a seminar for a multi-level marketing (MLM) program. The idea was, you’d sell products that a company provided you with. It could be vitamins, knives, dishware, or a vast swath of other products.  The presenters emphasized all of the perks: that you could work…

    Herbert Lui

    September 16, 2025
    A Matter of Time, Expectations
  • Studying, in an age of instant knowledge

    If you want to drive one of London’s black cabs, you’ll need to pass a test called The Knowledge. It usually requires studying for 3 to 4 years.  Nowadays, you have another option: an app like Waze or Google Maps can help guide you around London. Once an app like Uber onboards you as a…

    Herbert Lui

    September 15, 2025
    A Matter of Time, Creativity, Creator Confidential
  • Questions to assess your project’s momentum

    When you say yes to a project, you’re also saying no to something else. If a project isn’t showing momentum, consider quitting it to make space for something new. Here are some questions you can ask yourself: What resources are you putting in to keep a project alive? The fewer the resources, the easier it…

    Herbert Lui

    September 14, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential, Expectations
  • 0.1%

    Over 2 million people have bought Tim Ferriss’s book, The 4 Hour Workweek. Let’s say the goal of the book was to set the reader up to create a lifestyle where they don’t need to find a job. While they might need to work more than four hours, success means they’ve designed their lives for…

    Herbert Lui

    September 13, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential, Promotion
  • Today, now

    A sense of immediacy means doing something today, now. Not tomorrow, the day after, or someday. Not putting it on a to-do list or into a task management system. Not until you feel ready or confident. Today, now. Backlogs don’t exist. You can delete them. Clear your mind as well. Spontaneity is a driving force.…

    Herbert Lui

    September 12, 2025
    A Matter of Time, Creativity, Creator Confidential, Turning Stories
  • Progress happens between practice sessions

    In response to my post on voluntary discomfort, marginalia_nu writes:  I think expectations matter quite a lot. For example, when practicing a practical skill, the actual practice session itself will likely suck. Not only will you see no progress, you may even feel you’re going backwards. You’ll also get mentally and physically tired and quickly…

    Herbert Lui

    September 11, 2025
    A Matter of Time, Creativity, Creator Confidential, Expectations, Turning Stories
  • Creative competition

    A recording artist had started writing a book about creative work. Not long after, he read The Creative Act by Rick Rubin. “Every page made me feel better about my own artistic pursuits,” the artist writes.  Then, doubt came over him. Rick’s book was so good that the artist wondered if he needed to write…

    Herbert Lui

    September 10, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential, Turning Stories
  • What I got out of business school

    In university, I attended a business school. It was good, with a decent reputation, nothing fancy enough to name drop. I picked it because I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do after studying, and the skills seemed flexible enough to apply to all sorts of jobs. Worst case, maybe I would be able…

    Herbert Lui

    September 9, 2025
    Creativity, Creator Confidential, Expectations, Turning Stories
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