Xavier Bertels

The assignment was to create an interesting image with two elements: a vase and a hammer. I did what most people would do in that scenario and I drew an obvious image of a hammer nearly hitting the vase.

The assignment was part of the admission test we had to take in university when I wanted to start studying design. Afterwards I learned it had two goals:

1. Can you go beyond the obvious?
2. Can you get over the fear of a blank canvas?

I miserably failed the first goal but had successfully completed the second. Little did I know that my journey of getting over the blank canvas would just begin. The ensuing years were a relentless endurance marathon of getting over myself and increase creative output. Something people underestimate to this day when I talk with them about any creative effort.

All creative endeavours effectively begin with a violent crime. Unless you have the cojones to kill the perfect idea that exists in your head and start by putting something in the messy, real world, you will never get on a path to create anything worth existing.

In a world where instant is the norm, it seems anachronistic to stand out by taking pause and being steadfast.

There is no hack to win in your category. No shortcut to win at sales. You must put in the work of coming up with a 10-year plan. Even when that may seem pie-in-the-sky, philosopher-like or unattainable. And you must defend the plan with vigour. This is the part where people try to convince you you’re the crazy one, and everyone else is normal.

There are no long term results with short term thinking. If you want long term results, you need to apply long term thinking.

The stupidity of people comes from having an answer to everything. The wisdom of the novel comes from having a question for everything.

In an age where every reader can become a writer we must wonder: are we still asking the right questions?

No feeling ever really tops Launch Day. How will new features be received? Will the app manage the load? Did we forget some critical detail?

Today we launched an entirely new product. With the biggest French real estate network on board from day one. A way to search for real estate directly from ChatGPT.

It’s difficult to explain the mix of emotions: excitement, doubt, satisfaction, uncertainty . . . But it’s Launch Day. So now we get to work.

I used to love you, em dash—
with your casual flair,
your stylish pause—
until you became
the calling card of lazy bots
churning endless thoughts—
soulless
and bare.

But perhaps—
one day,
you’ll reclaim your throne—
the elegant interruption
of writers
once again
alone.