Paul Jarvis quotes

Paul Jarvis is a seasoned designer, writer, and teacher known for his minimalist approach to business and creativity. With over two decades of experience, Paul has worked with top companies like Microsoft, Mercedes-Benz, and Marie Forleo. He is the author of several best-selling books, including "Company of One" and "The Good Creative." Paul also hosts the popular podcast, "The Freelancer." His work focuses on helping individuals and businesses build sustainable, fulfilling careers. Learn more about Paul Jarvis and his work by visiting his website.

Tell the story behind your art.

- Paul Jarvis

Repeated failure doesn’t stop successful artists.

- Paul Jarvis

Your work can be great enough. Great enough means you’ve sweated out every bit of inspiration possible. Great enough means you’ve left it all on the stage. Great enough means you can push your work to the finish line. Great enough isn’t settling; it’s launching.

- Paul Jarvis

You shouldn't pay attention to things that don't grab your attention. If you do, you're being a pretentious douchebag.

- Paul Jarvis

Work means offering a valuable product or service – and that work has to inspire people to pay you for it.

- Paul Jarvis

What if instead of reading, you wrote? Instead of watching TV, you made videos? Instead of listening to music, you learned how to play guitar?

- Paul Jarvis

We need you. Not the you that you’re supposed to be, not the you that you think we want you to be, but the real you. The you that scares us a little because it’s so honest (and even a little weird).

- Paul Jarvis

There’s no path if you aren't moving. It's just a single point in the road. The view might be great, but stasis never changed the world (or bought a yacht). The only way to see if your work might have traction is to do it and put it out there.

- Paul Jarvis

The most important part of finishing anything is saying no. If I’m working on an idea, I say no to almost everything: new projects, new clients, social engagements—basically anything that would take my focus away from what I’m doing. I take breaks, but there’s a difference between breaks and things that cut into my ability to get the work done. I say no so I can say yes to what I’m currently doing – or I say yes to what I want to pursue.

- Paul Jarvis

Sometimes, in order to stay true to yourself and your values, you need to innovate through change. And sometimes that means stopping and stepping back for a while.

- Paul Jarvis

Our fear of failure often prevents us from attempting things. It feels safe not to try, but not trying is the only way you're guaranteed to fail. Don't fail in advance by not even making an attempt.

- Paul Jarvis

Most reasons to delay are invalid if you get right to the core: no time, no money, no audience. These are all future concerns, which make it hard to start anything. Worry about those things later or not at all. Make small decisions at first, and start moving in a direction that feels right.

- Paul Jarvis

Most of the time, our fears come down to being judged by others. And it's a valid fear, because other people can be really fucking judgmental. Letting that judgment actually stop you from doing something, though, only hurts you.

- Paul Jarvis

In work, we try to mask our weirdness with professionalism (I hate this word). We can wear suits or grey skirts and use the latest marketing jargon. Synergy! Viral! Conversion! Be careful not to swear, get too excited or passionate, and definitely do not let your personality shine through.

- Paul Jarvis

If we don't let our weirdness rise to the surface, we don’t let our work stand out.

- Paul Jarvis

Choosing to work on what you value means not choosing something else. This is okay.

- Paul Jarvis

Challenging myself and pushing against my fears are two of my core values, and that won’t happen if I’m endlessly building client websites. If I don’t try new things and new directions, I feel like I’ll stagnate.

- Paul Jarvis

A large part of choosing your path is figuring out which values will determine your worth. Once that’s clear, it’s much easier to decide if the work you’re doing will increase or decrease your feelings of worth.

- Paul Jarvis

A funny thing happens when you focus on work that you love; more soon starts to appear. Like attracts like. Plus, that intersection between enjoying what you do and getting paid to do it is the sweetest place of all.

- Paul Jarvis