One great story about Paul Rand:<p><pre><code> "He is one of the most professional people I've ever worked with, in
the sense that he thought through all of the formal relationship
between a client and a professional such as himself -- obviously very
deep thoughts about this -- and therefore he had very clear conclusions
about what the relationship meant to both parties and how it should be
conducted. For example: I asked him if he would come up with 'a few
options'. And he said 'No, I will solve your problem for you. And you
will pay me. And you don't have to use the solution -- if you want
options go talk to other people! -- but I'll solve your problem for you
the best way I know how, and you use it or not, that's up to you, you're
the client -- but you pay me.' And there was a clarity about the
relationship that was refreshing."
-- Steve Jobs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb8idEf-Iak
</code></pre>
I really enjoyed his uncompromising attitude, "I'm not going to attempt to solve the problem 4 times for you; you can consult 4 people who wholeheartedly attempt to solve the problem once." The idea that art is not something to be half-assed but something to be pursued, as the Tibetans might say, "one-pointedly", is a deep lesson which I myself resonate very strongly with.