1) Make your mind go empire
We all know that the world we want to build has to be first created in our minds. The moment you think something is impossible is the same moment someone else makes it possible. I challenge you to think big, and I mean really big this year. Even if you don’t achieve your crazy-ass goals this year, you’re going to get damn close. If you have unrestricted online access, you can build whatever the hell you want to build.
Remember the cute animales in the imperial image above. Sure, they’re small & look plush-y, but the weapons they’ve built from their mind give you a hint of the epicness that dominates their thoughts.
2) Plan your crusade
Listen, I’m not the greatest planner either, but I do make a BASIC layout of what I want to achieve this year. I don’t believe in “By the 24th of December I’m going to get 1.2343,948 visitors and make 2939,399 bucks.” Life offers way to many possibilities to be that specific. But I create my basic goals like “build my ecommerce store”, “create a gallery” etc. = 8 major goals that I want to OWN this year.
Have something to work towards to and then deal with whatever comes your way.
3) Be an angel in a devil’s body.
I don’t want to get over-religious on your ass, but I thought this visual image perfectly supports my message: Be edgy with your execution, but have a soft heart that cares for your customers & clients. ’nuff said.
4) Remember your why
Simon Sinek inspired the heck out of me, and his simply message of finding your why made all the difference. No matter what you build, you have to know WHY you build it. What’s the purpose behind your doing ? And how can you formulate that purpose into a captivating mission statement that connects with your community ? DO THAT.
5) Blow away your customers
Or better: Create something so amazing that it makes his or her heart burst out like a fucking heart attack on acid. This is one of my major goals this year – I will hone my creative-visual skills to make artwork that hopefully causes you to drool like my 91 year old grandma. I know I’m still far away from that, but the intention to create remarkable stuff will eventually lead to build remarkable stuff.
Remember the empire mindset ? First comes the thought, then the action.
Promise yourself to rock your client’s world this year !
6) Crash & Burn
This sounds super-harsh, but it’s another visual image I want you to remember this year. In order to blow away your customer’s world, you have to create some stuff that’s worth talking about. And the more uniqueness you aim for , the more you will fail & crash along the path. That’s ok, because the car crash is going be digitally & therefor harmless. Only your ego will break some bones, but that’s the price you have to pay in order to be outstanding.
I’m going to create a lot of (art)work that will not please everyone – trying out different wacky things and going all the way to the edges (thank you Seth!). By the end of the year, I will have so many valuable experiences that I’ll know what works and how far I can go. And that knowledge will help me create stuff that will be worth opening your mouth for.
Be like the skater in the pic above. He’s crashing like crazy, but look at his attitude. It reads: Whatever. I can take it. And I’ll move on.
7) Yellow your pants
Nobody wants to pee their pants, but I’m afraid that’s what you have to endure if you want take your life & biz to the next level. In order to thrive, you have to grow, and the only way to grow is to constantly step into the unknown. And that can be a fucking scary thing. I have to admit – I did dwell in my comfort zone in the past, and it messed up my biz pretty bad. Not anymore. I’m constantly doing scary things (scary for me at least) and expanding my zone. I challenge you to do the same.
Find ONE thing that scares your socks off A DAY, and watch how much you will grow. In a year, you can become the most epic version of yourself that you’ve always dreamed off.
8) Don’t become a snakey-sleezy-scumbag sales person
Thinking “empire”, surviving “car crashes”, “blowing away” your peeps and “peeing in your pants” all help you ROCK THIS YEAR, but remember: Don’t sacrifice your most important values. I have seen cool people turning into sneaky-sleazy sales men along the make-money-online path, and it’s breaking my heart.
Reaching your big-ass goals means nothing if you mutate into a nasty creature along the way. I don’t agree with the saying:”whatever it takes” – I’m ambitious like megalomaniac, but I certainly wouldn’t kill, harm or spam peeps along the crusade.
Follow your goals while remaining true to your ethics . This way you will both enjoy your outside and inside fortunes ;)
9) Pave your own path
If you really want to be obnoxiously ambitious, you should leave a new trail. Whatever has been done before is boring, and will not advance our world. Creating something fresh is both risky and rewarding, because you’ll march into new territories.
As for me, I want to create a unique hybrid career mix between a marketer and an artist. I luv marketing and I luv art, and I’m going to experiment like crazy to combine these two paths into a new one. After all, the best job in the world is the one you create yourself.
10) Make the little bunny proud
I agree that epic is one of the most overused buzz words ever. But what I can do ? I luv that word, and seeing a little bunny screaming it certainly fires up my heart. If you suffer from an imaginary form of Alzheimer, remember at least this war cry:
Get off your fucking ass and do some epic shit.
Let’s make this year so glorious God will pee his pants in awe.
Who’s with me ?
Share this manifesto with your community.
Join a community of Create & Conquerors
In addition to my best content, you can also get my free comic branding guide and weekly, inspirational cartoons straight into your inbox:
