This was one that really shouted out to me because it's so true. Too often when I am faced with a task I will just freeze up, not knowing where to put my priorities. Or I will decide not to start a project because I don't have this or that tool. Sometimes It's just a matter of which project to begin first. If I can manage to force myself to follow this advice, I might be able to surmount such obstacles.
I find it bewildering how much people (myself included) can limit themselves out of concern for the opinions of others. The desire to appear "hip" can fuel a search for innovation (which is usually a good thing). But it isn't generally considered "cool" to maintain enthusiasm for very long. Folks for whom being "cool" is a priority often drift from one "cool" thing to another, abandoning previous passions as soon as said passions become popular with the hoi polloi. Thus, cool people are letting the rest of the world dictate their tastes, rather than following their own bliss.
Some of my best ideas come to me when I'm not actively working on anything. Conversely, I can get completely blocked the moment I sit down at my workspace. Call it the Murphy's Law of Creative Inspiration.
I have a problem with this one, mainly because Mau doesn't specify why one shouldn't enter awards competitions. Although I personally love competing with other artists (I hardly ever win anything), I can see how working to please a judge or jury could be stifling to one's creativity. But I have found that competition can provide much-needed deadlines, structure, and feedback. These factors are often necessary to jump start the creative process.