Picture this: I’m on holiday in beautiful hill country in the North of England with my family, including my 88 year old father-in-law who is wheelchair-bound.

We all decide to go and see a water fall, which is nearly 4km (about 2 1/2 miles) from the car park. As it’s very hilly, the journey is quite a challenge for me. But we make it, and are amazed by the powerful noise of the waterfall running down a steep gully near the reservoir outlet.

Then I face the journey back. I am now tired, it’s evening, and the return trip back to the car is more up than down.

As we race back, trying to get there before sundown (there are *no* lights anywhere, as it’s literally miles from civilization), we reach the home straight and suddenly the sun breaks out behind some high cloud, glimmering late golden sunshine onto the reservoir, and us.

The sight, as you can see from the image above, is quite breath-taking. And I find myself saying the following to my father-in-law:

“I’m glad we went as far as the waterfall John. I’ve learned in life that if you want to get something special, you have to do something special. And I know we won’t be coming back here, so I felt it was worth going the extra distance.”

Not only did we get to see the fast torrent of water, but we experienced the awe-inspiring sight as we completed the final leg of the journey back.

The takeaway is very clear: if you want to gain something unique, something inspirational or special in life, you must be willing to do what other people might not be willing to do.

You will be richly rewarded (in the best and broadest sense of the word ‘rich’) as you do this.

In case it has been a hidden truth: the finest treasures always require hard and often unique work, plus a willingness to do things that others would not do.

One final thought: during our 3 hour round trip and tour, we only saw one other family. Don’t be deceived into thinking that because there are few treading the path you are headed, that it’s the wrong path. It’s more likely to be the other way around.

Special Results Require Special Actions is a post from: Dez Futak's Internet Marketing 101 Blog.

If you want to learn how to use the internet to automate your online marketing, consider joining Dez Futak’s Internet Marketing 101 course – it’s FREE & could save you thousands of dollars (and gain some dollars too!!)

In his book The War of Art, Steven Pressfield outlines and fleshes out the battle of creativity and artistry that any entrepreneur goes through in order to give birth the things of real value from which others will gain benefit.

Through his own experiences and reflections on humanity, Pressfield powerfully makes the case for the releasing of the artist (or artisan) that lies within the creative higher self we each have.

Although Pressfield doesn’t use the word artisan, but artist, in my book the only tangible difference is the territory traditionally ascribed to each.

And, it’s in the idea of territory that he asserts his premise that this is only real ‘place’ where every true artist can flourish, whether they are a fusion researcher, scientist, entrepreneur, body builder, fashion designer, or writer.

‘Territory’ in essence, as Pressfield defines it, is the region of expertise or influence within which the true artisan flows with purpose and energy, giving birth to what is hidden within, purely for the purpose that it must be released into the world.

On the other hand, the opposite of territory – hierarchy - is a stultifying and inhibiting framework of operation. In a hierarchy, the artist is reduced to being a hack: someone who produces only for affect; not for the higher ideal of releasing inspiration into the world, but for the egocentric accolades they wish to receive from others as a consequence of their creation.

As Pressfield defines it then, the hack has sold out on the higher goals of sharing their intrinsic creativity, to a baser version which is only interested in producing something that will promote the hack’s ego contra his or her peers.

In plain English: the hack does his or her work thinking of how their potential audience will or won’t like the results, but the artist does her work to bring forth of what is within, whether or not an audience exists to receive it.

The artisan gains his or her energy and sustenance from doing the work itself, and not from the praise they hope to receive.

So, is it better to be an artist/artisan or a hack? Clearly not a hack, because at worst a hack is a sycophantic people-pleaser, pandering to the perceived opinions of those the hack is trying to impress, with the hope of receiving some positive affirmation or recognition.

When none comes, the hack is devastated, not having any internal reference point from which to seek solace.

The artist/artisan, on the other hand, travails like a mother-to-be in labor, and as Pressfield beautifully describes, and cries in awe when the miracle baby is held in her arms.

So, can only the hack become wealthy? The answer I believe, is that the hack is never wealthy, even if they are a multi-millionaire, because their offering is never given: instead, the hack always remain the victim of the approval of others, always seeking to compete in a hierarchy rather than operating with skill in their own territory or expertise.

Can the artist/artisan be wealthy? My point is that they will always be wealthy, whether they live in a wooden shack in a shanty town, or in a grand mansion in Beverley Hills. What defines the artist is not the approval of of others’ praise or money showered upon them, but the satisfaction that comes from within at having completed the work that they ached to bring forth, regardless of onlookers’ nods or shakes of head.

Make up your mind then, to be an artist/artisan, and not a hack.

And if you are in any doubt, read Pressfield’s book, the War of Art.

Are You an Artisan or a Hack? is a post from: Dez Futak's Internet Marketing 101 Blog.

If you want to learn how to use the internet to automate your online marketing, consider joining Dez Futak’s Internet Marketing 101 course – it’s FREE & could save you thousands of dollars (and gain some dollars too!!)

Carbon Copy PRO 10 for 10 – What is it? is a post from: Dez Futak's Internet Marketing 101 Blog.

If you want to learn how to use the internet to automate your online marketing, consider joining Dez Futak’s Internet Marketing 101 course – it’s FREE & could save you thousands of dollars (and gain some dollars too!!)