I was talking to a guy the other day and he asked me if I was tired of being a starving artist. Huh?
If you look at my spreading posterior and portfolio, clearly I am not missing a meal.
He went on to say, “You’ve been struggling for a long time.” Excuse me??
A struggle is relative depending on how the person defines it. For me, I am on a journey to success and I’m just paying my dues.
Here are more things the dude who knows me better than I know myself said.
“You’ve been trying to be a writer for a long time…you don’t have anything to show for what you have done.” Really??
So, far my efforts have resulted in
- Articles in Forbes and Toastmasters magazines
- Interviews with Dr. Maya Angelou, Chaka Khan and Chicago music legend George Daniels
- 4 blogs
- 4 self-published books, with a printed version of 62 Blog Posts to Overcome Blogger’s Block on the way
- A newsletter I started in 2002 and published every month through 2010. I only skipped one month during that time
- Working as a contributing writer for the Chicago Independent Bulletin newspaper
- Published works on prominent writing, blogging and social media sites
- Presentations at national and local blogging and social media conferences
Most of my published successes can be found online, and I achieved most of this after I left my job in 2008 to pursue my passion of writing.
“Nobody knows you.” My response, “The people who matter do.”
Tell that to my 8400+ Twitter followers; 1100+ LinkedIn Connections; 500+ friends on Facebook, and all of the people I encounter around the big city of Chicago who tell me, “I’ve seen you somewhere” or “You’re Shorty?”
“You don’t have a lot of money.” Thanks for keeping track of my bank account, dude. If I gauged success by money, I would have quit a long time ago. No, I don’t have a lot of money right now because
- I reinvest some of my earnings back into my projects. Dreams are not cheap.
- I am willing to sacrifice the security of a paycheck to work toward my dreams. And working a 40-hour workweek doesn’t really guarantee a big payday. It guarantees more time away from working your dreams and possibly a consistent paycheck (I worked at a place where I paid on time once during my three months there.)
All of that was easy for him to say because he works two jobs. He has no life. I don’t know about his dreams but I’m almost certain that he’s not working toward them with two jobs.
During our conversation, he said that he doesn’t like what he does but it’s a check. Well, I do what I love every day, and while my paydays are not as big as I’d like them to be right now, I know they are coming.
So, to the dude who knows more about me than I know about myself and who probably doesn’t know what a blog is.
- I’m doing very well on my writing journey
- I’ve accomplished more than I ever expected because writing books was not on my list of things to do
- I eat well because writing feeds me
- And please shut up unless you’re going to introduce me to the following decision makers who has authority and can write checks
♦ Editors at magazines, trade publications, online publications and newspapers
♦ Marketing directors so I can help with their blogging and content creation efforts
♦ Book writing and publishers – I have more drafts here
♦ High schools and organizations that would like to expand the writing, blogging, social media and creativity skills of staff and students
♦ Human resources directors who need assistance with their employee and benefit communications, as well as recruitment via social media.
Thank you for reading my rant. I feel better now.
How About You?
Fellow writers, bloggers and people working your purpose: has anyone gotten under your skin with something they did or said? Feel free to share.
Image: www.sherrysnider.com
Oh my God!!! Yes, I have had a few get on my nerves since I been writing and pursing my passion and my dreams. When they look at my vision board at home they (one in particular) say, “You plan to do all that? I say, Yes I do you just watch and see. I am learning as I go since I am fairly new to chasing my dreams started 2014, that some people I have to leave behind even those that I think mean well including family members too. They don’t understand your purpose because they don’t know their own purpose let alone passion. I say continue to move forward and surround yourself with like minded people in pursuit of their purpose and passion. Folks that is chasing their dreams and living their dreams is who I support and follow and seek advice from.
Letrise, you will find that people closest to you are the worst. Like you said, many don’t know their purpose, and many more are afraid to chase their dreams. Look at your vision board EVERY day and do at LEAST one thing every day to get you closer to your dreams.
Suggestion: Get a t-shirt that says “You just watch and see” and every time you accomplish something, wear it proudly. Make so bold that they couldn’t ignore it even if they wanted to.
Hi Marcie,
“That guy” sounds like the overpuffed “little voice” inside all our heads who sometimes plays the devil’s advocate but mostly acts like the “devil on the shoulder” (humorously depicted in comercials). Nothing funny about it.
Well, real or imagined, you’ve put him in his place and provided some inspirational truths to help others do the same.
Glad you’re sending out these updates. Helps me to remember to pop over!
Vernessa, I liked your term “overpuffed little voice” because he is a little guy. I’m sure a lot of writers get that type of feedback because you cannot see the fruits of our labor until it’s published. It’s really aggravating but that’s part of the writing life. I just pray that other writers do not let such nonsense stop them from progressing.