Comapre for inspiration, not emulation

Me and legendary Hideo Kojima have something in common - we both love going to bookstores to get inspiration. But why? What is so special about looking at books (or other forms of media) that sparks our imagination? Read on to find out!

🚀 See others’ success as proof it can be done! 🏁

While reading the Freelance Business Community’s freelancing guide, I came across a concept I’ve always liked but was never able to put into words. Fortunately, Claire Anjos did it for me - she shares how we should compare ourselves for inspiration, not emulation.

She argues we cannot avoid comparing ourselves to others. However, the best approach we can take is to look for inspiration, not emulation. Often when we look at another’s success, we get discouraged that we have not achieved the same level of achievement.

Instead of this negative view, we should look at others as proof that such success is possible and it was a product of hard work, not of magic.

This is why I enjoy surrounding myself with art and media by visiting bookstores, reading newsletters, or simply looking at posts on LinkedIn.

Sure, I sometimes feel discouraged that my work is not (yet) published on a shelf somewhere or that I’m not a founder of a successful business, but more often than not I instead feel a surge of inspiration that there are still people who are successful doing what they (and I) love, and that if they can do it, so can I!

We all still need a pinch of self-discipline to not chase every shiny object we see - if we feel profoundly moved by an opera, we shouldn’t immediately start spending our precious time learning to sing. But instead, we can transfer that passion and energy into our own work.

📚 Shelf Shocks 💥

1. Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein

When activist Naomi Klein found herself confused for another author online, she struggled with how the fake reality online started seeping into the real world. This urged her to write this Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction-winning analysis of how our reality is being manipulated online by people who do not want the best for us.

AI, fake news, and the misleading reality of social media start to blur the lines between what is real and what is not, which creates fertile ground for outrageous conspiracy theories that threaten to dissolve our reality.

🎧 Summary

2. The Creative Gene: How books, movies, and music inspired the creator of Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid by Hideo Kojima

Hideo Kojima is praised as one of the most influential and visionary creators in the video game world. No matter how busy he is, he follows this daily ritual: he goes to a bookstore and looks at books.

Kojima collects inspiration from countless books and other art and media, and in this collection of essays, he goes over the works that have left the brightest mark on him and his creative work, highlighting the value of storytelling and experiencing other perspectives.

🎧 Summary

3. We Need New Stories: Challenging the Toxic Myths Behind Our Age of Discontent by Nesrine Malik

If you think public discourse has gone a bit crazy, you are not alone: award-winning journalist Nesrine Malik shines a light on the problematic political and cultural beliefs we hold.

From free speech and misinformation to identity politics and far-right movements, she sees a lot wrong in how we approach cultural issues. In this book, she offers a refreshingly level-headed counterargument to the toxic narratives that divide and oppress us.

🎧 Summary

Fun Links ⏰ ❗️

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You've reached the end of my newsletter. Hooray! If you’d like to see more of my work, you can GET MY BOOK Write Better: A Simple Guide to Better Business Writing or connect with me on LinkedIn for more fun and educational content.

If you have any comments or would like to share what you enjoyed the most, feel free to get in touch! See you in two weeks!