Success and Criticism

"The man who makes a success of an important venture never wails for the crowd. He strikes out for himself. It takes nerve, it takes a great lot of grit; but the man that succeeds has both. Anyone can fail. The public admires the man who has enough confidence in himself to take a chance. These chances are the main things after all. The man who tries to succeed must expect to be criticized. Nothing important was ever done but the greater number consulted previously doubted the possibility. Success is the accomplishment of that which most people think can't be done."
C.V. White

That's so darn true! People who don't "get" what you're doing are quick to question you and criticize. Yet those who are true friends will also be the ones that, despite their doubts, will stand by you through thick and thin, and be your greatest supporters when you're a success according to the world's standards.

In the meantime, don't give up. Keep working away at your craft and celebrate the small successes as you go, knowing that the breakthrough is right around the corner -- usually right after you face your greatest challenges.

Success

"Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration."
Evan Esar

I like this quote. Success, like freedom, must be bought and paid for or it's not worth a darn thing. How many people who win the lottery actually have the money in just a few short years? Most blow it all, despite all their careful plans and good advice received. How many star athletes waste their money on wine, women and song? Sadly, too many.

Yet those of us who plow along, day after day after day, we may struggle, we make our mistakes, but we appreciate the good fortune that we have in this opportunity to work at home and do our thing -- write! 

Now don't get me wrong, I have my own winning the lottery fantasy. But I think that winning in this this lottery of life, placing myself in front of the freight train of success by using the skills that the Lord blessed me with, is way better for me in the long run.

I really believe that reaching daily goals brings success every single day.

Opportunities

"A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."

Francis Bacon

Isn't that the truth?

I think of my old boss and mentor, Bill Yenne.

Back in the day, jobs for graphic artists/designers (now known as visual communications specialists) were few and far between. The job market was just bad for us.

That didn't stop Bill, he went out and started his own graphic design firm, leading to years of successful book publishing and a whole writing career. And when the book market tanked in the mid-90s, he kept on writing and working, making his own opportunities.

Bill is now a well-known author, still writing, still doing his thing.

All because he made his own opportunities.