After School Special
NicoYou remember those after-school specials, don't you? Those cheesy, 15-20 minute stories of how sticking to your moral fortitude will always result in a happy ending?
I'm sick of this type of messaging in social media. I keep seeing posts about "follow you dreams and it'll happen", and, "you can do anything you put your mind to". My favorite is, "do what you love, and the money will come". That one is particularly comical!
You might think I'm cynical, but hear me out. I think it's important for people to have hope and dreams. I think it's even more important for people to have perspective. People who I have met and look up to have never said things like, "just keep going man, you can do it if you really work hard". The one thing they have all said to me is this: "I got lucky as hell, and I never take it for granted". This really speaks to me because I've seen people work tirelessly, for many years and never make it. They are so crushed at the idea that they've put their heart into something and they see no returns. It's not that these people are any less smart, or hard-working. In fact, some of these people I know are BETTER than people who "made it".
The truth is, in my opinion, you either "make it" or "you don't". There's no formula. No guarantee. Having a positive attitude doesn't give you a better chance. Working that much harder doesn't make you stand out. "Making it" is dependant on a lot of circumstances working together at just the right time. There is so much variation in this, making it impossible to narrow down how to achieve the elusive "success".
My point: if you realize that you ARE great at what you do and do it for that reason only, you will be happier. It HAS to come from within. While we as humans need validation, you will very rarely (or never) get it. Don't beat yourself up or think that you're not any good because you haven't "made it". Hard work and determination doesn't always equal "making it". If there is any truth to these cheesy concepts and after-school specials, it is that you have to love yourself and what you are doing. If you expect to "make it", you will most likely be disappointed (let's face it, there can't be an entire population of rock stars).
Focus on what you're doing. Do it well. Take pride in it! THAT is success, in my book.
