Read by Darden Smith

The concept of work-life balance is anything but foreign in today's hyperconnected society, but what if finding the elusive balance lies not in tuning out, but instead bringing one more key element into our lives? In his new book The Habit of Noticing: Using Creativity to Make a Life (and a Living), slated for release on Thursday, September 13 at the Business Innovation Factory (BIF) Summit in Providence, R.I., Austin-based singer-songwriter Darden Smith says the secret lies in embracing and using your creativity every day.. Now, in his most adventurous and deeply personal project to date, The Habit of Noticing is Smith's collection of stories that serves as a personal manifesto on the value of art and creativity in daily life. A guidebook for those seeking to bring more creativity into their daily life, Smith dives deep into his inspirations and influences, the importance of commitment and endurance in tough times, and the beauty that comes from finding meaning in your work and your life. "From my experience, working artists are people with heart and passion; hard workers, self-starters, doers," says Smith. "They wake up in the morning looking for a way to make a difference, to tell a story. They follow their words and dreams with action. They create."

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