In this visually rich hardcover volume, beloved artist Rae Dunn shares her favorite techniques for approaching a blank page. From drawing with your nondominant hand to sketching with objects found in nature, each chapter offers a simple yet surprising catalyst to help readers get in touch with their own creativity. Full of gorgeous watercolors, sketches, original patterns, dreamy photography, and hand-lettered insight from the author, In Pursuit of Inspiration offers a unique glimpse into the process of a successful fine artist. It's the perfect how-to book for artists of all skill levels who prefer freeform experimentation to step-by-step instruction.

Has it• Been a rough day?• Been a rough year?• Been a rough career?Do you• Dream about that creative idea just beyond your grasp?• Feel trapped in a job that pays you just enough to survive?• Regret not finishing your music, photography or screenplay?• Wish you had more time, more money, more ability to get things done?If so, The Pursuit Of Passion is the book for you.A concise book of deep thought and meditation, The Pursuit Of Passion is one of those rare experiences that comes along only once in a great while.It is a treasury of thoughtful, insightful reminders that can be read in one sitting, or can be referred to daily, one page at a time.The book takes you on a journey from the darkest days of the 2009 Great Recession to a place of recovery, creativity, hope and passion."These writings came from a promise. Right before Memorial Day 2009, I met with my business coach Joe Stumpf. After 20 years as a commissioned loan officer, I had just lived through possibly the worst year ever in the business. My previous company had collapsed in the mortgage meltdown of 2008. During the previous 12 months my assistant had earned more money than I had. About 50% of the people in my industry were either out of work or actively looking for jobs in other areas of business. Things looked bleak, and there was no fun left. Work had become a painful grind with very little financial reward to show for all the time spent.I shared my total burn out in the business of 20 years with my coach. Frustrated by what my life had become, it became clear that something had to give. Either I had to change jobs, or change my attitude. Maybe both! I promised to get up at 5:00 AM every day, meditate and journal, and focus on bringing passion back into every aspect of my life, my work, my family and my personal growth. Instead of going to work every day and having a pity party, I have decided to have a passion party.These writings (a sample of the 475+ entries from the website http://passionparty09.blogspot.com) are the outgrowth of that commitment. I hope they inspire you to find your passion, and that you enjoy reading them as much as I did writing them."-George Kahn“When a person integrates the practical and the artistic, the material and the spiritual, I listen. The world has more than enough disconnection; I am inspired by people who put things together. Real passion flows from these poems, the product of a mind and heart in synch.”-Shmuel Klatzkin, Rabbi

Boston homicide detective Angie Carlucci thought she was getting a much-needed vacation. But her Florida Keys holiday is interrupted when she sees someone dump a body bag in the ocean. In the tangle between arms dealers and treasure hunters, she's the only witness—and the main target. Unless a certain boat captain can keep her safe… A pretty cop complicating his mission—and endangering his cover— is the last thing federal agent Jason Bodwell needs. Yet the more Jason and Angie work together, the closer they grow. Jason's willing to risk his life to solve the case…what will he risk for love?

The co-founder and longtime president of Pixar updates and expands his 2014 New York Times bestseller on creative leadership, reflecting on the management principles that built Pixar’s singularly successful culture, and on all he learned during the past nine years that allowed Pixar to retain its creative culture while continuing to evolve. “Might be the most thoughtful management book ever.”—Fast Company For nearly thirty years, Pixar has dominated the world of animation, producing such beloved films as the Toy Story trilogy, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, and WALL-E, which have gone on to set box-office records and garner eighteen Academy Awards. The joyous storytelling, the inventive plots, the emotional authenticity: In some ways, Pixar movies are an object lesson in what creativity really is. Here, Catmull reveals the ideals and techniques that have made Pixar so widely admired—and so profitable. As a young man, Ed Catmull had a dream: to make the first computer-animated movie. He nurtured that dream as a Ph.D. student, and then forged a partnership with George Lucas that led, indirectly, to his founding Pixar with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter in 1986. Nine years later, Toy Story was released, changing animation forever. The essential ingredient in that movie’s success—and in the twenty-five movies that followed—was the unique environment that Catmull and his colleagues built at Pixar, based on philosophies that protect the creative process and defy convention, such as: • Give a good idea to a mediocre team and they will screw it up. But give a mediocre idea to a great team and they will either fix it or come up with something better. • It’s not the manager’s job to prevent risks. It’s the manager’s job to make it safe for others to take them. • The cost of preventing errors is often far greater than the cost of fixing them. • A company’s communication structure should not mirror its organizational structure. Everybody should be able to talk to anybody. Creativity, Inc. has been significantly expanded to illuminate the continuing development of the unique culture at Pixar. It features a new introduction, two entirely new chapters, four new chapter postscripts, and changes and updates throughout. Pursuing excellence isn’t a one-off assignment but an ongoing, day-in, day-out, full-time job. And Creativity, Inc. explores how it is done.

Everyone can measure their lives in a number of days, weeks, or even years. For me, I measure my life in intervals of thirty seconds; everything hinges on these sets of thirty seconds. Thirty seconds will determine whether I am seen as a "winner" or just another athlete who missed the mark that day. What most people don't see, is that for every thirty seconds of my life put on display before hundreds of thousands of people, there are years of preparation behind the scenes. It's those years of hard work, motivation, and preparation that determine how these thirty seconds will go.

Best-selling author Myles Munroe reveals in this book the key to personal fulfillment: purpose. We must pursue purpose because our fulfillment in life depends upon our becoming what we were born to be and do. In Pursuit of Purpose will guide you on that path to finding God's purpose for your life.

A master class in achieving and sustaining excellence, even in the most challenging of times—from the host of The Learning Leader Show and author of Welcome to Management Millions of business professionals aspire to become effective leaders. But for hardworking, growth-oriented top performers who are always looking to improve and for rigorous thinkers who are never quite satisfied with the status quo, the true goal is the lifelong pursuit of excellence. Leadership advisor Ryan Hawk has interviewed hundreds of the most productive achievers in the world on his acclaimed podcast, The Learning Leader Show, to discover the best practices for pursuing and sustaining excellence. He found a pattern of uncommon behaviors that set these stellar individuals apart. By following their examples, you will learn how to: Commit to yourself and the process―and build purpose, focus, and discipline Develop resilience to face new challenges―and find inspiration for the long haul Seek guidance―and lead others to new heights Meet the moment―and make the most of every opportunity to excel Create a trusted group of advisors―and become a lifelong learner Packed with specific actions to take, experiments to run, and tools to analyze what works best for you, this uncompromisingly practical guide will inspire, challenge, support, and empower you to become your very best. Put mindsets into action and turn behaviors into habits with The Pursuit of Excellence.