Wise words from one of social media's most listened to people, Seth Godin:
then you've handed control over your happiness to the gatekeepers, built a system that doesn't scale and prevented yourself from the brave work that leads to a quantum leap.
The industrial system (and the marketing regime) adore the mindset of 'a little bit more, please', because it furthers their power. A slightly higher paycheck, a slightly more famous college, an incrementally better car--it's easy to be seduced by this safe, stepwise progress, and if marketers and bosses can make you feel dissatisfied at every step along the way, even better for them.
Their rules, their increments, and you are always on a treadmill, unhappy today, imagining that the answer lies just over the next hill...
All the data shows us that the people on that hill are just as frustrated as the people on your hill. It demonstrates that the people at that college are just as envious as the people at this college. The never ending cycle (no surprise) never ends.
An alternative is to be happy wherever you are, with whatever you've got, but always hungry for the thrill of creating art, of being missed if you're gone and most of all, doing important work.
From Seth's blog at this link: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/
Thanks Scott Fox for sending me this good stuff.
Comments
yes. Its a balance to be 'happy with what you've got' yet yearning for more! Thanks for the reminders everyone. Ditto Nancy Sheryl Crow ... "its not having what you want, its wanting what you've got'!'. That pretty much sums it up. Enjoy the ride, no matter whats goin on!
A great definition, Barbara! I'm sure it is the motivation of many of us in this business.
I have worked very hard to determine my own definition of success. It includes, being able to make what I love to make, being loved and loving. It may sound like la la land, but it gets me up, and keeps me going.
I often feel I have the advantage over folks who are not artists. I KNOW I have a well-spring of joy and satisfaction that comes from the sheer bliss of creating art. Life would not be as bright without my artist lens to see.
Finding the balance is the challenge, isn't it? It is human nature to always want more and attitude is necessary. I heard this site referred to as the "la la land" about the art fair business... Made me laugh. I mean, what are you going to do? Do you despair when you don't sell enough at an art fair, when the weather truly sucks, when you don't get into the last year's best show, when your neighbor sells great guns and no one comes near your booth? If you listened to the podcast that I did recently with three artists you will hear all three of them at the end say that they are thrilled to be creating and working for the next show. They love the art fair life.
Happiness is OUR own choice. It's tough to remember AND live that at times.
Thanks for posting this Connie!
My fave part "An alternative is to be happy wherever you are, with whatever you've got, but always hungry for the thrill of creating art, of being missed if you're gone and most of all, doing important work."