“You must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, AND at the same time have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” —Jim Collins, Good to Great
As you know, I'm a big fan of truth, telling it, facing it, living in it.
The book "The Tools" includes the "Run Straight At The Problem" way of dealing with your challenges.
What I like best and find most share-worthy about this episode in your story: you recognize that there is no guarantee that positive thinking, fake-it-til-you-make-it behavior will EVER make the thing happen.
I find that no matter what the enterprise, most young starters have much more faith in their dreams than willingness to look at the truth of their circumstances.
The recent strikes in the entertainment industry laid bare the awful truth: there are far more people who want to earn a living by writing or performing than there are jobs for such people.
The strikers "won" but in the long run, the facts win: not enough jobs paying enough money for all the people who want them. Most union members will not be able to earn the small amount required to qualify for their union's health insurance.
Dreams are stubborn! I was wondering the exact same thing during the strikes…everything they were describing about declining pay, increased hours and uncertainty, AI coming for their lunch, shorter seasons of shows, a pittance of pay, super unpredictable work — it all seemed terrible! I was wondering how they had the will to stay in the industry at all…and how they could ever expect to earn a living from it except for a tiny few?
It’s the tiny few who do make it that give maybe too much hope…that was certainly the case for me in podcasting! I just couldn’t resist but try to be the exception, a show that could provide a full-time living amongst a small stable of others that do. Wasn’t in the cards for me, for whatever combination of reasons! I’m still glad to know I tried, and proud of what I created, but the truth was — time to pivot! At least until some other income stream pays those bills again.
I love the first line of your comment: “I’m a big fan of truth, telling it, facing it, living in it.” Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but as Byron Katie says (another favorite), “When you argue with reality you lose — but only 100% of the time.” Sometimes admitting a hard truth and saying it out loud is more cathartic than a delulu dream that isn’t working any longer anyway! Thank you for the reflection and reminder :)
What about our delala selves? ooooo is perhaps surprise or crazy-goofy-ness, while ahhhhh is more satisfaction and understanding. What about Rolling in dedohdoh? Helpfully yours,
Oh my goodness, that is the highest praise coming from you Ruth Ann!! Your keen eye for what works and what matters has always been such a helpful guide for me — you’ve made my month and then some ☺️🙏🥹
As you know, I'm a big fan of truth, telling it, facing it, living in it.
The book "The Tools" includes the "Run Straight At The Problem" way of dealing with your challenges.
What I like best and find most share-worthy about this episode in your story: you recognize that there is no guarantee that positive thinking, fake-it-til-you-make-it behavior will EVER make the thing happen.
I find that no matter what the enterprise, most young starters have much more faith in their dreams than willingness to look at the truth of their circumstances.
The recent strikes in the entertainment industry laid bare the awful truth: there are far more people who want to earn a living by writing or performing than there are jobs for such people.
The strikers "won" but in the long run, the facts win: not enough jobs paying enough money for all the people who want them. Most union members will not be able to earn the small amount required to qualify for their union's health insurance.
Dreams are stubborn, though, aren't they?
Dreams are stubborn! I was wondering the exact same thing during the strikes…everything they were describing about declining pay, increased hours and uncertainty, AI coming for their lunch, shorter seasons of shows, a pittance of pay, super unpredictable work — it all seemed terrible! I was wondering how they had the will to stay in the industry at all…and how they could ever expect to earn a living from it except for a tiny few?
It’s the tiny few who do make it that give maybe too much hope…that was certainly the case for me in podcasting! I just couldn’t resist but try to be the exception, a show that could provide a full-time living amongst a small stable of others that do. Wasn’t in the cards for me, for whatever combination of reasons! I’m still glad to know I tried, and proud of what I created, but the truth was — time to pivot! At least until some other income stream pays those bills again.
I love the first line of your comment: “I’m a big fan of truth, telling it, facing it, living in it.” Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but as Byron Katie says (another favorite), “When you argue with reality you lose — but only 100% of the time.” Sometimes admitting a hard truth and saying it out loud is more cathartic than a delulu dream that isn’t working any longer anyway! Thank you for the reflection and reminder :)
What about our delala selves? ooooo is perhaps surprise or crazy-goofy-ness, while ahhhhh is more satisfaction and understanding. What about Rolling in dedohdoh? Helpfully yours,
Penney
Rolling in the Dedohdoh, too good! The mascot for that one would be a big, lovable DoDo bird 😆🦤
Hahaha!! Love the mascot!
One of the most useful-to-others pieces you have ever written, IMO, and that is a high bar.
Oh my goodness, that is the highest praise coming from you Ruth Ann!! Your keen eye for what works and what matters has always been such a helpful guide for me — you’ve made my month and then some ☺️🙏🥹