- Site: sive.rs - By: - Date published: 2008-04-29 - Date read: [[2024-10-04]] - [Read Original](https://sive.rs/restr) - [Read on Omnivore](https://omnivore.app/me/restrictions-will-set-you-free-derek-sivers-1925272a618) - Tags: #Better_Living #Productivity #Smarter_Living - Notes: **Note:** Below is the text from the article, with any ==highlights== done by me. None of the writing below is by me. # Article text <DIV id="readability-content"><DIV data-omnivore-anchor-idx="1" class="page" id="readability-page-1"><article data-omnivore-anchor-idx="2"> <header data-omnivore-anchor-idx="3"> <audio data-omnivore-anchor-idx="4" src="https://sivers.becdn.net/sive.rs.restr.mp3" preload="none" controls></audio> </header> <p data-omnivore-anchor-idx="5"> Someone says, “Write me a piece of music. Anything. No restrictions. Go!” </p><p data-omnivore-anchor-idx="6"> You’re stumped. It’s the blank page syndrome. </p><p data-omnivore-anchor-idx="7"> Instead, someone says, “Write me a piece of music using only a flute, ukulele, and this toy piano. You can only use the notes D, E, and B. It has to start quiet, get louder, then end quietly. Go!” </p><p data-omnivore-anchor-idx="8"> Aha! Now that’s an inspiring challenge! </p><p data-omnivore-anchor-idx="9"> You can use this approach for business, too. <strong data-omnivore-anchor-idx="10"> If you’re feeling stuck with marketing, give yourself restrictions. </strong> </p><ul data-omnivore-anchor-idx="11"><li data-omnivore-anchor-idx="12"> Contact fifty fans using only personal emails — no mass-mailing. </li><li data-omnivore-anchor-idx="13"> Make a music video using only stock footage. </li><li data-omnivore-anchor-idx="14"> Give promotion a time-limit of just 15 minutes per day. </li><li data-omnivore-anchor-idx="15"> Spend a week only contacting people you’ve never contacted before. </li></ul><p data-omnivore-anchor-idx="16"> Whenever you’re feeling uninspired or unmotivated, use creative restrictions to set you free. </p> <img data-omnivore-anchor-idx="17" data-omnivore-original-src="https://sive.rs/images/restrictions.jpg" src="https://proxy-prod.omnivore-image-cache.app/0x0,snHwKjBWb6DkvifEMqj9Ypc7LcsDy5wMuFkq-cI_oKqU/https://sive.rs/images/restrictions.jpg" alt="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22526319@N00/483258529/"> </article></DIV></DIV>