September 22, 2011
OPEN Forum Message
Company Culture
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There's nothing like a short but eloquent manifesto to inspire and move us, especially if we're stuck in our tracks and in need of a little grease to get us moving again. And there is only one place you need to go to find the most compelling manifestos on the planet, free for all to download and share at will: ChangeThis.com.
If you've never been to ChangeThis.com, here are a half dozen of the most popular manifestos of all time to get you started.
1. How to Be Creative by Hugh MacLeod
With over 76,000 downloads, this is the all-time most popular manifesto. MacLeod, an advertising executive and popular blogger with a flair for the creative, gives his 26 tried-and-true tips for being truly creative. Each point illustrated by a cartoon drawn by the author himself. If you've ever felt the draw to do something creative but just haven't been able to pull it together, you'll love this manifesto.
2. The Bootstrapper's Bible by Seth Godin
Seth Godin needs no introduction. He's a bestselling author, entrepreneur and agent of change. Godin is author of multiple books that have been bestsellers around the world and changed the way people think about marketing, change and work. His Domino Project with Amazon.com is proof that he walks his talk. This particular manifesto, one of his many on ChangeThis.com, is a classic. It's certainly relevant for the times, as there's never been a better time to start a business with no money. This manifesto will show you how.
3. Rework: A Better, Easier Way to Succeed in Business by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hannson
Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson are the founders of 37signals—a trailblazing software company that produces products used by millions of people around the world. According to Fried and Hansson, "In the real world, you canʼt have over a dozen employees spread out across eight different cities over two continents. In the real world, you canʼt attract millions of customers without any salespeople or advertising. In the real world, you canʼt reveal your formula for success to the rest of the world. But weʼve done all those things and prospered. The real world isn't a place, itʼs an excuse. Itʼs a justification for not trying. It has nothing to do with you."
4. The Design Funnel by Stephen Hay
Stephen Hay is co-founder and Creative Director of Cinnamon Interactive, one of the first Web design and development firms to successfully combine professional visual design with open Web standards and accessibility best practices. In this manifesto, Hay asks: "Are you a professional designer? Would you like a process to create more consistently creative work which distinguishes itself from the work of your peers? Would you like a process which would help translate the often vague, unclear wishes of your clients (and yourself, for that matter) into a clear and solid basis for your design?" This manifesto will show you how.
5. What The Creative World Needs Now is Organization by Scott Belsky
Scott Belsky is an OPEN Forum expert, the author of Making Ideas Happen, and the founder of Behance, a company that develops products and services for the creative industries. In this manifesto, Scott tells us that "Great execution starts with supreme organization. Ultimately, organization comes down to how you manage your energy. Contrary to popular belief, organization is not about 'neatness,' it is about efficiency and allowing yourself to take action as swiftly as possible."
6. The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
Guy Kawasaki is also an OPEN Forum expert, a bestselling author, and the cofounder of Alltop. The original Apple evangelist, Guy encourages entrepreneurs to make meaning, make mantra and get going. According to Kawasaki, some examples of making "meaning" are: make the world a better place, increase the quality of life, right a terrible wrong, and prevent the end of something good. His FAQ's (frequently avoided questions) will answer almost all your fears about starting a new business.
Directions: Click the links. Download. Read. Share. Repeat.
Check your balance, review recent transactions and pay your bill on the go.
