My inspiration is Steve Wozniak.  To this day, I try to write software with the same thinking he used when he built the Apple II.  Get a clear picture of what you want, keep it as simple as possible, stand on the shoulders of giants but build your own tools when you have to, and keep all the details in your head.  (This last one has made a huge difference in my work.)<p>You have no excuse not to read about this because Chapter 3 of Jessica Livingston's "Founders at Work" is one of the best treatments of Woz and is on line here:<p><a href="http://www.foundersatwork.com/steve-wozniak.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.foundersatwork.com/steve-wozniak.html</a><p>Then check out<p>"IWoz"<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/iWoz-Computer-Invented-Personal-Co-Founded/dp/0393330435/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#38;s=books&#38;qid=1263908387&#38;sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/iWoz-Computer-Invented-Personal-Co-Fou...</a><p>"Founders at Work"<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Problem-Solution/dp/1430210788/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#38;s=books&#38;qid=1263908416&#38;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Problem...</a>