Take ownership for what you do:

Seth Godin: The four horsemen of mediocrity

Deniability–“They decided, created, commanded or blocked. Not my fault.”

Helplessness–“My boss won’t let me.”

Contempt–“They don’t pay me enough to put up with the likes of these customers.”

Fear–“It’s good enough, it’s not worth the risk, people will talk, this might not work…” The industrial age brought compliance and compliance brought fear and fear brought us mediocrity. The good news about fear is that once you see it, feel it and dance with it, you have a huge opportunity, the chance to make it better.
via {seth godin}

Daniel Barenboim on music, teaching, and learning.

Ken Robinson on Escaping Education’s Death Valley

Opera star, Joyce DiDonato on the Inner Critic