Herbert Lui

Blog on creativity, marketing, and the human condition.

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  • 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
  • Thank you, Keane

    My friend Keane Tan passed away eight years ago. He was 26. Thanks for encouraging me with my writing. Thanks for showing me how open the world was, and how everyone was one cold email away. Thanks for helping me and our friends win the first year case competition. Thanks for letting me in after…

    Herbert Lui

    December 20, 2025
    A Matter of Time, Creativity, Expectations, Life
  • Two articles I wrote very early in my career

    A couple of years ago, I wrote about my gig writing for Techvibes while I was an undergrad university student. I was a self-taught writer, and these posts are part of my very early work. Techvibes was acquired in 2016, and most of the articles were stripped of author credentials. Some of them have all…

    Herbert Lui

    December 19, 2025
    A Matter of Time, Around the World, Creativity, Creator Confidential
  • Fans will always be fans, even if they come and go

    During the first year of the pandemic, my wife and I spent a lot of time cooped up in our studio apartment in downtown Toronto. While we knew our travel options were very limited, and we didn’t know if a vaccine would be coming out, we found solace in a Korean variety show called Running…

    Herbert Lui

    December 18, 2025
    Creator Confidential, Promotion
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