Synopses & Reviews
"Embrace the importance of now and refuse to allow the lull of comfort, fear, familiarity, and ego to prevent you from taking action on your ambitions...The cost of inaction is vast. Don't go to your grave with your best work inside of you. Choose to die empty." Most of us live with the stubborn idea that well always have tomorrow to do our most important and valuable work. We fill our days with frantic activity, bouncing from task to task, scrambling to make deadlines and chase the next promotion. But by the end of each day were often left asking ourselves, Does the work I did today really matter? We feel the ticking of the clock, but were stuck in first gear, unsure of the path forward and without a road map to guide us.
Heres the hard truth: sooner or later all of our tomorrows will run out, so how we choose to spend today is significant. Each day that we postpone difficult tasks and succumb to the clutter that chokes creativity, discipline, and innovation results in a net deficit to the world, our organizations, and ourselves.
Die Empty is a tool for people who arent willing to put off their most important work for another day. Todd Henry explains the forces that keep us in stagnation and introduces a process for instilling consistent practices into your life that will keep you on a true and steady course.
Its not about slaving over a project or living on a whimits about embracing the idea that time is finite and making the unique contribution to the world that only you can make. Henry shows how to cultivate the mind-set and the methods you need to sustain your enthusiasm, push through mental barriers, and unleash your best work each day. His guiding principles and checkpoints include:
DEFINE YOUR BATTLES: Counter aimlessness by defining your goals wisely and build your life around achieving them.
BE FIERCELY CURIOUS: Prevent boredom from dulling your senses by approaching your work with curiosity.
STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE: Make a valuable contribution to the world by getting uncomfortable and embracing lifelong growth and skill development.
Sure to bring clarity and a sense of urgency to how you approach your work every day, Die Empty will help you reach for and achieve your goals.
Review
"My copy of
The Accidental Creative has notes and highlights throughout. Invaluable for anyone who thinks for a living."
-Seth Godin, Author of Linchpin
"Mr. Henry's prescription for maximizing productivity is sagacious, innovative, and sublimely practical. I've already incorporated into my own regimen three of his notions and they are working like gangbusters. The Accidental Creative is high-octane fuel for creative productivity."
-Steven Pressfield, Author of The War of Art
"Todd Henry has spent years breaking down the secrets of highly effective creatives. Read this book and prepare to ramp up your brilliance!"
-Chris Guillebeau, Author of The Art of Non-Conformity
"The Accidental Creative is an inspiring and practical guide for staying fresh and doing brilliant work. If you regularly need great ideas, this book will help you find them."
-Tony Schwartz, Author of Be Excellent at Anything
"There are two definitive versions of you with Todd's book: you before reading it, and you to the 100th power immediately after."
-riCardo Crespo, SVP/Global Creative Chief, 20th Century Fox FCP
"This book is a practical awakening to a life of surprise and usefulness. It contains wisdom, practices, and guidelines to help calm and focus us in a world vibrating with distraction."
-Peter Block, Author of Community
"The Accidental Creative should be required reading whether you are starting out in business or already a CEO. It presents a step-by-step model that will immediately help you generate business-building ideas for your job."
-Bob Gilbreath, Chief Strategy Officer, Possible Worldwide, and Author of The Next Evolution of Marketing
"I was struck with how relevant and practical this book is for anyone in the creative field at any level. It is full of invaluable life lessons."
-Tim Hale, SVP of Marketing and Design Communications, Fossil
"The gift of creative insight is not to be squandered! Todd Henry has assembled a guide that will enrich your creative pursuits. Don't dream without it."
-Scott Belsky, CEO, Behance, and Author of Making Ideas Happen
Review
“Todd Henry has spent years breaking down the secrets of highly effective creatives. Read this book and prepare to ramp up your brilliance!”
—Chris Guillebeau, author of The Art of Nonconformity “Mr. Henry’s prescription for maximizing productivity is sagacious, innovative, and sublimely practical.
The Accidental Creative is high-octane fuel for creative productivity.”
—Steven Pressfield, author of The War of ArtReview
“Mr. Henrys prescription for maximizing productivity is sagacious, innovative, and sublimely practical.
The Accidental Creative is high-octane fuel for creative productivity.”
—Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art
Review
“In a field crowded with rivals, Todd Henry stands out as a unique and original voice. I love Todds outstanding thoughts on how each of us possesses a career-in-potential, and its our challenge to bring it forth so that we can ‘die empty. If you can read this book and not be inspired, you need a 100 percent full-body-and-soul transplant.”
—STEVEN PRESSFIELD, AUTHOR OF THE WAR OF ART AND TURNING PRO
“Todd Henry says to create a life of meaning and impact you need to map, make, and mesh. Youre probably doing one or two of those right now, but just imagine how interesting your work will get when you incorporate all three into your daily life. Todd gives you the tools and points the way.”
—MICHAEL BUNGAY STANIER, SENIOR PARTNER AT BOX OF CRAYONS, AUTHOR OF DO MORE GREAT WORK
“Die Empty looks past simple slogans to highlight detailed strategies for building a meaningful life; a must-read for anyone interested in moving from inspiration to action.” —CAL NEWPORT, AUTHOR OF SO GOOD THEY CANT IGNORE YOU
“In this powerful book, Todd reminds us that the world will not be changed by what we want to create, it will be changed by what we created. Life is short. Learn how to die empty.” —PAMELA SLIM, AUTHOR OF ESCAPE FROM CUBICLE NATION
“No matter your role in your family, community, or business, Todd Henry will open your eyes to new ways to unlock your purpose and set you on the right path to pursue your personal mission. Die Empty will keep you on a true and steady course and help you reach your full potential every day.”
—TIM SCHIGEL, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, SHARETHIS, INC.
“You have a limited number of days on Earth. This book sends an urgent message: make them count!”
—CHRIS GUILLEBEAU, AUTHOR OF THE $100 STARTUP AND THE ART OF NON-CONFORMITY
“I can think of no better phrase to live your life by nor any better person to explain the message. Bravo.” —JULIEN SMITH, FOUNDER OF BREATHER.COM AND AUTHOR OF THE FLINCH
Review
“You have a limited number of days on Earth. This book sends an urgent message: make them count!”
—Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup and The Art of Non-Conformity
Synopsis
Have better ideas, faster, without the stress and burnout. It isn't enough to just do your job anymore. In order to thrive in today's marketplace, all of us-even the accountants-have to be ready to generate brilliant ideas on demand.
Business creativity expert Todd Henry explains how to establish effective practices that unleash your creative potential. Born out of his consultancy and his popular podcast, Henry has created a practical method for discovering your personal creative rhythm. He focuses on five key elements:
* Focus: Begin with your end goal in mind. * Relationships: Build stimulating relationships and ideas will follow. * Energy: Manage it as your most valuable resource. * Stimuli: Structure the right "inputs" to maximize creative output. * Hours: Focus on effectiveness, not efficiency. This is a guide for staying inspired and experiencing greater creative productivity than you ever imagined possible.
Synopsis
"You go to work each day tasked with (1) inventing brilliant solutions that (2) meet specific objectives by (3) defined deadlines. If you do this successfully you get to keep your job. If you don't, you get to work on your résumé. The moment you exchange your creative efforts for money, you enter a world where you will have to be brilliant at a moment's notice. (No pressure, right?)" Many of us assume that our creative process is beyond our ability to influence, and pay attention to it only when it isn't working properly. For the most part, we go about our daily tasks and everything just "works." Until it doesn't. We treat our creative process like a household appliance. It's just expected to work quietly in the background, and we lose sight of how much we depend on it until the day we're stuck with dirty socks.
Adding to this lack of understanding is the rapidly accelerating pace of work. Each day we are faced with escalating expectations and a continual squeeze to do more with less. We are asked to produce everincreasing amounts of brilliance in ever-shrinking amounts of time. There is an unspoken (or spoken!) expectation that we'll be accessible 24/7, and as a result we frequently feel like we're "always on."
Now business creativity expert Todd Henry explains how to unleash your creative potential. Whether you're a creative by trade or an "accidental creative," this book will help you quickly and effectively integrate new ideas into your daily life.
Born out of his consultancy and his popular podcast, the book offers a practical method for discovering your personal creative rhythm, whether you're a manager or a consultant, a designer or a performer. As he writes:
"The always-on manner with which many creatives approach their work is arrhythmic, but the creative process is naturally rhythmic. Working harder and staring more intently at the problem to achieve better ideas is like trying to control the weather by staring at the clouds. Rather, you need to incorporate practices that instill a sense of structure, rhythm, and purpose into your life. You need to create space for your creative process to thrive rather than expecting it to operate in the cracks of your frenetic schedule. This will not only help you generate better ideas now, but it will also ensure that you are acting on the things that matter most instead of drifting through your days."
Synopsis
A guide for reclaiming your passion, finding your voice, and unleashing your brilliance every day Most of us live with the stubborn idea that we’ll always have tomorrow. But sooner or later all of our tomorrows will run out. Each day that you postpone the hard work and succumb to the clutter that chokes creativity, discipline, and innovation will result in a net deficit to the world, to your company, and to yourself.
Die Empty is a tool for individuals and companies that aren’t willing to put off their best work. Todd Henry explains the forces that keep people in stagnation, and introduces a three-part process for tapping into your passion:
Excavate: Find the bedrock of your work to discover what drives you.
Cultivate: Learn how to develop the curiosity, humility, and persistence that save you from getting stuck in ruts.
Resonate: Learn how your unique brilliance can inspire others. Henry shows how to find and sustain your passion and curiosity, even in tough times.
Synopsis
Todd Henry has spent years breaking down the secrets of highly effective creatives. Read this book and prepare to ramp up your brilliance!” Chris Guillebeau, author of The Art of Nonconformity
Many of us assume that our creative process is beyond our ability to influence, and pay attention to it only when it isnt working properly. For the most part, we go about our daily tasks and everything just works.” Until it doesnt.
Adding to this lack of understanding is the rapidly accelerating pace of work. Each day we are face escalating expectations and a continual squeeze to do more with less. We are asked to produce an ever-increasing amount of brilliance in an ever-shrinking amount of time. There is an unspoken (or spoken!) expectation that well be accessible 24/7, and as a result we frequently feel like were always on.”
Now business creativity expert Todd Henry explains how to unleash your creative potential. Whether youre a creative by trade or an accidental creative,” this book will help you quickly and effectively integrate new ideas into your daily life.
Synopsis
A guide for reclaiming your passion, finding your voice, and unleashing your brilliance every day
Most of us live with the stubborn idea that well always have tomorrow. But sooner or later all of our tomorrows will run out. Each day that you postpone the hard work and succumb to the clutter that chokes creativity, discipline, and innovation will result in a net deficit to the world, to your company, and to yourself.
Die Empty is a tool for individuals and companies that arent willing to put off their best work. Todd Henry explains the forces that keep people in stagnation and introduces a three-part process for tapping into your passion:
- Excavate: Find the bedrock of your work to discover what drives you.
- Cultivate: Learn how to develop the curiosity, humility, and persistence that save you from getting stuck in ruts.
- Resonate: Learn how your unique brilliance can inspire others.
Henry shows how to find and sustain your passion and curiosity, even in tough times.
Synopsis
A must-read for anyone interested in moving from inspiration to action.” Cal Newport, author of So Good They Cant Ignore You Most of us fill our days with frantic activity, bouncing from task to task, scrambling to make deadlines and chase the next promotion. But by the end of each day were often left wondering if any of it really mattered. We feel the ticking of the clock, but were unsure of the path forward.
Die Empty is a tool for people who arent willing to put off their most important work for another day. Todd Henry explains the forces that lead to stagnation and introduces practices that will keep you on a true and steady course.
The key is embracing the idea that time is finite, so you should focus on the unique contribution to the world that only you can make. Henry shows how to sustain your enthusiasm, push through mental barriers, and unleash your best work each day.
Synopsis
Todd Henry has spent years breaking down the secrets of highly effective creatives. Read this book and prepare to ramp up your brilliance!” Chris Guillebeau, author of The Art of Nonconformity
Many of us assume that our creative process is beyond our ability to influence, and pay attention to it only when it isnt working properly. For the most part, we go about our daily tasks and everything just works.” Until it doesnt.
Adding to this lack of understanding is the rapidly accelerating pace of work. Each day we are face escalating expectations and a continual squeeze to do more with less. We are asked to produce an ever-increasing amount of brilliance in an ever-shrinking amount of time. There is an unspoken (or spoken!) expectation that well be accessible 24/7, and as a result we frequently feel like were always on.”
Now business creativity expert Todd Henry explains how to unleash your creative potential. Whether youre a creative by trade or an accidental creative,” this book will help you quickly and effectively integrate new ideas into your daily life.
About the Author
Todd Henry is the founder and CEO of Accidental Creative, a consultancy that helps organizations generate brilliant ideas. He is the author of The Accidental Creative and runs a top business podcast of the same name. He is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and coach. He lives in Cincinnati. Visit accidentalcreative.com