Alex Vachon’s 6 Top Sources of Inspiration

Yesterday we brought you Alex Vachon, the Founder of Cartouche Creations. Alex talked about client retention, getting unstuck, and how to overcome rejection. (If you missed Alex, go back and listen here.)

Sometimes the resources the best leaders find aren’t quite on the nose of their business. Alex Vachon describes his favorites, which range from Stanley Kubrick films to avant-garde and the weird world of Seth Godin.

1) Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires

I love this book because it does a great job of explaining the laws of attraction and the fact our world is mostly inclusive, not exclusive. People aren’t so scary, after all.

2) Think and Grow Rich

A classic. Think and Grow Rich is, in my opinion, a must-have on any business leader’s bookshelf. It explains how the most successful people found their success not through specific tricks or tips, but by grit and the power of positive thinking.

3) Hitchcock

Francois Truffaut’s Hitchcock is a favorite resource because it combines two legendary filmmakers in one conversation. I’m always looking to improve my fluency in the language of film, and this collection helps me get there.

4) We Are All Weird

Seth Godin is weird and he thinks the rest of us are, too. Everyone needs to be heard because we all have different stories, Godin says. And I think that’s great advice, especially in an industry like video where creativity is always there.

5) The Movies of the Nouvelle Vague

Nouvelle Vague is French for “New Wave” and it refers to the filmmakers in the 1950s and 60s. I love them for their outside-the-box, avant-garde thinking. Even in business, where my constraints are more tight and rigid, I try to bring some flair.

6) Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen

Three filmmakers who I consider icons (and I’m sure I’m not alone) are these three. They each bring a ridiculous amount of detail and personality to their films, which helps me immensely as I try to tailor my craft.