> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.philsimon.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Can't
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/cant/
- Published: 2011-07-22T11:04:51.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-21T02:22:49.000Z
- Description: Dealing with that four-letter word.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Communication, Publishing, Trends, Creativity, Writing

In his excellent book [*Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music*](https://www.amazon.com/Ripped-Wired-Generation-Revolutionized-Music/dp/1416547312/ref=ntt%5Fat%5Fep%5Fedition%5F1%5F2?ref=philsimon.com), Greg Kot describes how in the mid-1990s Prince (yes, that one) wanted to release two or three albums *per year*.

The response from his record company: You can't do that.

His record company was really saying *we can't do that*.

It's an critical distinction, but that didn't stop him. Prince did it anyway by starting his own label. Check out his [discography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince%5F%28musician%29?ref=philsimon.com#Discography).

## Lessons from Prince

What does this teach us?

There are two choices when confronted with *can't:*

- Acceptance, frustration, and defeat.
- Disobedience and possible failure.

For movers and shakers, there's really only one real choice.