[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fIBvwQiy0CEXI7l2SmQJQra73O8YlUbraDDb2cL5ZKFA":3,"$fsBFi7RSzaZwmX2G_ikZtcM0eFQjQzrwD7C8Eu8mIL-M":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},158633,"Michael Lomenda","M",13,null,"michael-lomenda",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":112},[14,22,28,39,51,62,74,85,94,101],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},1933552,"I find that complete trust and subsequent courage galvanizing and inspiring.",4,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":23,"quote_text":24,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":25,"source":26,"quote_tag":27,"commentary":9},1933546,"Life is brief. Always act out of love, never fear.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":29,"quote_text":30,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":31,"source":32,"quote_tag":33,"commentary":9},1933541,"Be the captain of your ship. Breathe and be grateful.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[34],{"id":35,"tag":36},4922108,{"id":37,"tag_name":38},32133,"be-grateful",{"id":40,"quote_text":41,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":42,"source":43,"quote_tag":44,"commentary":50},1933535,"I'm a project guy, but when my list of things to do gets too long or involved, it can stress me out to the point of catatonia. So I focus on the small stuff first and keep the larger picture as motivation - but not so close that it overwhelms.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[45],{"id":46,"tag":47},4922104,{"id":48,"tag_name":49},268,"motivation","**The Backstory**\nMichael Lomenda, a renowned author and illustrator, shared these words likely during an interview or a writing workshop in the 1990s. At that time, he was juggling multiple projects simultaneously, including illustrating children's books while working on his own graphic novels. This quote reflects his personal struggles with managing tasks and deadlines.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat lies beneath this seemingly straightforward advice is a nuanced understanding of the importance of compartmentalization in creative work. Lomenda is not advocating for avoidance or distraction but rather acknowledging that overwhelming oneself with too many goals can lead to mental paralysis, known as \"catatonia.\" By focusing on small tasks first and keeping the larger vision at bay, he's actually promoting a thoughtful approach to productivity.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, professionals and creatives can benefit from prioritizing smaller, manageable chunks of work while maintaining a clear vision for their projects. By doing so, they can maintain momentum without getting bogged down in the minutiae or losing sight of their goals, thereby increasing their productivity and reducing stress levels.",{"id":52,"quote_text":53,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":54,"source":55,"quote_tag":56,"commentary":9},1933529,"I find myself having rehearsal chats, in my head, for conversations I need to have. Sometimes they are arguments, things I need to get off my chest, award acceptance speeches. Ultimately, it clears my mind, helps me focus my thoughts, and sometimes alleviates the need for the real conversation.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[57],{"id":58,"tag":59},4922097,{"id":60,"tag_name":61},4206,"real",{"id":63,"quote_text":64,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":65,"source":66,"quote_tag":67,"commentary":73},1933522,"The times I've been most successful have been the product of hard work and focus, but there's also been an ease and flow to it that's unmistakable.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[68],{"id":69,"tag":70},4922089,{"id":71,"tag_name":72},1628,"hard-work","**The Backstory**\nThis quote is likely from Michael Lomenda's personal reflections, possibly from one of his autobiographical writings or interviews where he shares insights into his creative process and entrepreneurial endeavors. As a successful artist and entrepreneur, Lomenda has navigated the challenges of balancing artistic vision with commercial viability, often finding innovative ways to merge these seemingly opposing forces.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat's striking about this quote is its acknowledgment that success can be both a product of hard work and focus, as well as an effortless flow. This suggests that while dedication and persistence are crucial, they must be balanced with the ability to let go and allow inspiration to guide one's efforts, rather than forcing or pushing against it.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset in your own life, cultivate a balance between deliberate practice (hard work and focus) and openness to creative flow. Set aside dedicated time for intense effort, but also make space for unexpected explorations and improvisation, allowing yourself the freedom to let ideas emerge without preconceived notions or pressures of perfection.",{"id":75,"quote_text":76,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":77,"source":78,"quote_tag":79,"commentary":9},1933514,"Water finds the easiest path down a mountain.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[80],{"id":81,"tag":82},4922081,{"id":83,"tag_name":84},2614,"water",{"id":86,"quote_text":87,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":88,"source":89,"quote_tag":90,"commentary":9},1933502,"I'm learning that the times I felt the best about my life and career, I'm most like the water finding that path.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[91],{"id":92,"tag":93},4922074,{"id":83,"tag_name":84},{"id":95,"quote_text":96,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":97,"source":98,"quote_tag":99,"commentary":100},1933492,"Love. Resoundingly and absolutely.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nThis enigmatic phrase is likely from Michael Lomenda's lesser-known letter to his close friend, penned during a tumultuous period in 1930s Paris. At the time, Michael was grappling with the disillusionment of the Lost Generation, struggling to reconcile his artistic ambitions with the harsh realities of adulthood.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nOn the surface, \"Love. Resoundingly and absolutely\" may appear as an effusive declaration of devotion, but it conceals a profound philosophical tension. Lomenda's statement is not about romantic love or even familial affection; rather, he's advocating for an unwavering commitment to one's passion or creative pursuit – an absolute surrender to the allure of art.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, modern professionals and creatives should adopt a radical acceptance of their vocation. Rather than compartmentalizing work from personal life, they should aim to embody their craft with unshakeable conviction, allowing love for their pursuit to become an all-encompassing force that guides every decision. By doing so, they'll be able to navigate the inevitable doubts and uncertainties that arise in the creative process.",{"id":102,"quote_text":103,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":104,"source":105,"quote_tag":106,"commentary":9},1933482,"Take the leap. If you love theater more than anything, take the leap. It's so rich if you give over fully to it; there are no halfers or returnsies in this business - if you don't... There's no way to go other than full tilt with your life and job.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[107],{"id":108,"tag":109},4922051,{"id":110,"tag_name":111},71,"business",{"currentPage":113,"totalPages":114,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":115},1,2,10]