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Not Only Must You Be An Artist, Must You Be Generous, And Must You Be Able To See Where You Can Help But You Must Also Be Aware. Aware Of Where Your Skills Are Welcomed.
-Seth Godin
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Not Only Must You

Seth Godin
Not Only Must You Be An Artist, Must You Be Generous, And Must You Be Able To See Where You Can Help But You Must Also Be Aware. Aware Of Where Your Skills Are Welcomed.
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Artist
Skills
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Most People With A Big Idea, Great Talent And/or Something To Say Don't Get Lucky At First. Or Second. Or Even Third. It's So Easy To Conclude That If You're Not Lucky, You're Not Good. So Persistence Becomes An Essential Element Of Good, Because Without Persistence, You Never Get A Chance To Get Lucky.
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My Best Advice: Win Little Battles. Get In The Habit Of Winning, Of Shipping, Of Having Customers That Can't Live Without You. Once You've Demonstrated You Know How To Do The Art, Then Go After The Windmills.
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Don't Save The Canary. Fix The Coal Mine.
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Safe
Invisible
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You Can Raise The Bar Or You Can Wait For Others To Raise It, But It's Getting Raised Regardless.
Waiting
Bars
Mediocrity
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Different
Results
If You're Not Upsetting Anyone, You're Not Changing The Status Quo.
Upset
Status Quo
Ifs
Your Drudgery Is Another Person's Delight. It's Only A Job If You Treat It That Way. The Privilege To Do Our Work, To Be In Control Of The Promises We Make And The Things We Build, Is Something Worth Cherishing.
Jobs
Promise
Delight
What Evidence Would You Need To See To Change Your Mind About This?
Mind
Needs
Evidence
Most People Have Been Brainwashed Into Believing That Their Job Is To Copyedit The World, Not To Design It.
Jobs
Believe
People
Why Do We Value Leadership, Connection And Grace? Because It's Scarce, And That Scacity Creates Value.
Grace
Connections
Scarce
One Way To Think About Running A Successful Business Is To Figure Out What The Least You Can Do Is, And Do That.
Running
Business
Successful
Fear Is The Dream Killer, The Silent Voice That Pushes Us To Lose Our Passion In A Vain Attempt To Seek Safety.
Dream
Passion
Voice
Surprise Comes From Defying Expectations.
Expectations
Surprise
Defying
Here's The Truth You Have To Wrestle With: The Reason That Art (writing, Engaging, Leading, All Of It) Is Valuable Is Precisely Why I Can't Tell You How To Do It. If There Were A Map, There'd Be No Art, Because Art Is The Act Of Navigating Without A Map. Don't You Hate That? I Love That There's No Map.
Art
Hate
Writing
The Only Thing Worse Than Starting Something And Failing... Is Not Starting Something.
Inspirational
Motivational
Inspiring
A Brand Is The Set Of Expectations, Memories, Stores And Relationships That, Taken Together, Account For A Consumer's Decision To Choose One Product Or Service Over Another.
Memories
Taken
Expectations
I See Things Differently When I'm Focused On Opening Doors For Other People, And More Often Than Not, My Doors Are Opened As Well.
Doors
People
Wells
Will You Succeed Because You Are More Well-rounded Than Others? Because You Fit In Better Than Everyone Else? Bloody Unlikely. We Succeed When We Are Trusted To Be The Best At What We Do.
Succeed
Fit
Being The Best
I Don't Think We Have Any Choice. I Think We Have An Obligation To Change The Rules, To Raise The Bar, To Play A Different Game, And To Play It Better Than Anyone Has Any Right To Believe Is Possible.
Believe
Thinking
Games
We Live In A Vague World. And It Gets Vaguer All The Time. In This Environment, The Power Of The Specific, Measurable And Useful Promise Made And Kept Is Difficult To Overstate.
Promise
World
Environment
The Future Of Publishing Is About Having Connections To Readers And The Knowledge Of What Those Readers Want.
Want
Connections
Reader
You Can't Lose. Go, Go, Go!
Positivity
Loses
Art...is The Intentional Act Of Using Your Humanity To Create A Change In Another Person...passion Is Caring Enough About Your Art That You Will Do Almost Anything To Give It Away, To Make It A Gift, To Change People.
Art
Passion
Caring
Entertainment Has Seduced Us Into Believing That We Have A Chance To Live The Life They Live In The Movies. Even The People In The Movies Don't Live That Life. It Doesn't Take 135 Minutes To Make A Life, It Takes Almost A Century. Everything Doesn't Depend On What Happens In The Next Ninety Seconds. Ever.
Believe
Live Life
People
People Watch What You Do More Than Listen To What You Say.
People
Watches
You Have Everything You Need To Build Something Far Bigger Than Yourself.
Inspirational
Motivational
Entrepreneur
People Get Good Gigs Because They Stand Up....you Don't Get Picked. Reject The Tyranny Of Picked. Pick Yourself.
People
Mind Your Own Business
Gigs
Every Revolution Destroys The Average Middle First And Most Savagely.
Average
Firsts
Revolution
Your Generosity Is More Important Than Your Perfection.
Humor
Generosity
Perfection
I Hope I'm Better Looking Than Yoda, But - I'm Really Interested In People Who Have Something To Say, A Change They Want To Make And Can't Figure Out Why They Can't Make It Spread.
People
Want
Figures
The Market And The Consumer And Idea Trump The System.
Business
Ideas
Trump
The Job Isn't To Catch Up To The Status Quo; The Job Is To Invent The Status Quo.
Jobs
Positivity
Status Quo
Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.


2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.


2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.


2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.


3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.


3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.


3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.



4. Proper Usage of Quotes


4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.


4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.


4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid


5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.


5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.


5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.



6. Quotes in Different Contexts


6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.


6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.


6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.



7. Punctuation and Formatting


Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:


Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.


Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.


Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.



8. Ethical Considerations


Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes


Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.



Conclusion


Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.


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