I <3 Paul Arden

06Jan09

Paul Isakson passed a great book my way recently – “It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be” by creative genius Paul Arden. I think it’s important to be reminded about what success means, what failure means, and what advertising and marketing mean in the greater scope of the world that surrounds us. With so much stimulus and places for advice and inspiration online, it’s refreshing to see a little book – an actual paperback book – that holds simple truths and words to work by. Sometimes it’s nice to embrace analog and remember that it doesn’t have to be technologically complex to be poignant or meaningful.

A lot of the ideas suggested by Arden can be easily woven into the fabric of our everyday lives if we are willing to make the effort: “You will become whoever you want to be.” Awesome, I was hoping someone would tell me that.

A few of my favorites:

Your vision of where or who you want to be is the greatest asset you have.

Do not seek praise, seek criticism

Do no covet your ideas

Don’t look for the next opportunity. The one you have in hand is the opportunity.

Don’t promise what you can’t deliver.

Fail, fail again. Fail better.

I’m aware that this book is already well known in the advertising world, but I just wanted to share how significant I think Arden’s writing is for young people in any kind of creative industry. Everyone can use simple words to live by – what are your favorite books, simple truths or inspirational texts?

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