When Hugh MacLeod was a struggling young copywriter, living in a YMCA, he started to doodle on the backs of business cards while sitting at a bar. Those cartoons eventually led to a popular blog – gapingvoid.com – and a reputation for pithy insight and humor, in both words and pictures.<BR><BR> MacLeod has opinions on everything from marketing to the meaning of life, but one of his main subjects is creativity. How do new ideas emerge in a cynical, risk-averse world? Where does inspiration come from? What does it take to make a living as a creative person?<BR><BR> Now his first book, <I>Ignore Everyone</I>, expands on his sharpest insights, wittiest cartoons, and most useful advice. A sample:<BR><BR> * <B>Selling out is harder than it looks</B>. Diluting your product to make it more commercial will just make people like it less.<BR> * <B>If your plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail</B>. Nobody suddenly discovers anything. Things are made slowly and in pain.<BR> * <B>DonÂ't try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether</B>. ThereÂ's no point trying to do the same thing as 250,000 other young hopefuls, waiting for a miracle. All existing business models are wrong. Find a new one.<BR> * <B>The idea doesnÂ't have to be big. It just has to be yours</B>. The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will.<BR><BR> After learning MacLeodÂ's 40 keys to creativity, you will be ready to unlock your own brilliance and unleash it on the world.