No successful person can actually depict how hard and tireless it is to keep going for what they want. We get so caught up in getting there that we truly forget that no matter how “special” we think we are or how much you think your service or craft will do wonders for the world. If it was just about putting in “all you got” a lot more people would be doing it - total cliche, I know… but no, I’m not talking about the ones who say they are going to do it and never come around to it, or the ones who try for a couple months (or year or two) and it doesn’t work out. I’m talking about the one’s who do put in “all they’ve got” and years of persistence and it still isn’t enough. I know you know a few. There are a few things that separate you from them and it boils down to work ethic and the ability to pivot.
I hear persistence all the time, and yes persistence is good, great in fact but you can be persistent in the wrong direction. I’ve seen it, shit I’ve done it but I’ve also caught on to it. For others, it takes many years for the realization to hit and sometimes it’s a little too late. Having the ability to continue to fight for your business and/or purpose takes a lot out of you, it does. Having the ability to pivot with grace is truly something that can save you from missing opportunities. You may start your craft or business idolizing it to be one way to realizing down the line that that way won’t work (at least in that moment). When you get to those crossroads, that’s where you as the creative, as the business owner has to make a decision and face reality and not the idolization.
Most give up but you, you don’t.
You are down for a bit but you get back up, dust yourself off and you pivot. You pivot and as you do, you get to see the glimpses of the goal and aspirations you forgot about. You have moments of self doubt, you have moments where you wonder if you are doing it right this time. WE all go through it and the mental strength and resillence it takes to look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself “You’ve got it” or my personal favorite “we believe in you” (talking from a collective standpoint of course, cause I need all the help I can get OK).. but the shit is HARD.
Sometimes you can say it all, just to end up staring at a blank canvas, paper, product or duty and not do shit. There are those days but those are the days you give yourself grace which again, is hard too. But as long as you’re trying (and the real trying, not the fake kind - you know the difference), you remember those moments, the moments where although you weren’t successful in getting anything done it serves as encouragement to know, you didn’t want to give up. Because when you do sit down to draw, to write and to create, it feels like E V E R Y T H I N G. All the self-doubt in that moment, gone *Thanos finger snap* and your purpose is able to materialize right before your eyes and don’t it feel it good.
Of course, it’s an endless cycle, at least for now but those rewards are just enough to make you create more every time!
Nobody and I mean nobody will know the battles you face to put your work out there but guess what - they are not supposed to.
So from one creative to another and one business owner to another, don’t give up - Keep going. We believe in you, wholeheartedly.
I’M BACK BITCHES HAHAHAHA ;)
