The word success is
coming up a lot lately. Everywhere I
turn I seem to find something to read about it.
At times I start reading about one thing and low and behold it becomes
about success. I suppose with our
anthology getting close and the fact that I promised myself the novel will
follow, and my website now a modest reality, the word has become implanted in my
eyeballs and my brain. Connected somehow
to all of this is the post I did on having people’s backs. It keeps playing a
tune in my head whilst I am trying to do other things. It’s always the same
tune – there is more here to say.
I think success and
having someone’s back goes together.
Without people backing you it is a hard lonely road just living never
mind starting a new venture. That
venture could take the form of a new career, a new job, a new relationship, a
new town, a new anything; in fact it can take any form. The common thread is without support around
you success becomes singularly lonely and that isn’t any fun at least not by my
measure of success. Sometimes that
support has been as little as asking, just asking how it is going, it being me
or my work or my pot plants or these days reading the occasional post and
letting me know.
I am currently
overwhelmed. (Yes again!!!) Time is drawing near to publishing the scribbling
of the last five years after too many years to mention of day dreaming instead.
I am not afraid that perhaps people may
not like my work. That might sound
strange but I respect that right on their behalf. It is the reader’s right to choose to like or
not and a right I engage in constantly so denying it to others makes no sense. This
is not about writing best sellers no matter the wishing and hoping but about
people trying to do more in life, or taking on something new and succeeding
because those around them offer their support.
The same principles apply in whatever endeavour people choose. To stay
buoyant and confident by yourself is very difficult, not impossible but
difficult. Certainly there are traits we
need to develop to become more confident and I do believe strongly that we need
the courage within ourselves but with the support of family and friends and
surprisingly quite often strangers the journey is so much better. Better again when we in turn do the same for
others.
As a writer, a
budding writer with a new website (hint to go visit, well maybe not just yet as
there is still work to be done but just in case www.brstrickland.com
) I always write reviews. It is a small
thing but I know it helps authors to forge ahead. I comment on people’s posts where I can but I
have said all this before and the truth is there is so much more I can be
doing. One thing however I do
whole-heartedly whenever I can is to support indie authors. These days it is almost all I read. I know how hard it is to find the courage to
forge ahead when conventional avenues are not there. I know how hard it is to continue to believe
in yourself but this conversation isn’t just about the writing world. Trying something new is terrifying. It took so much courage to put my website up
especially since I have yet to publish.
By doing that my vulnerability was exposed. I may fail but I then think
about all those indie authors who took that chance and put their work up
there. I think of people I have known
who entered into a new area and I think it is so simple to give a nod, a thumbs
up, some words of encouragement and wonder why more people don’t do it.
By success I don’t
mean admiration, the acceptance of your brilliance, the kudos of fame and money
but rather about the willingness to go for your dreams. Are they afraid you may
not succeed or are they afraid you may? Do
they want to protect you or prevent you? I prefer to think there is no hidden
agenda but that leaves me wondering is supporting others really so time
consuming that people would let you go it alone? Everybody is so busy these days, so caught in
their lives that they assume you know their thoughts. It makes me so sad. Perhaps we do know their
thoughts but does it mean we don’t want to hear it said? Silence is deadly; it
undermines confidence. Sometimes life is
so difficult that without those words to remind us why we keep going we
falter. I know I do. I live a long way from my family, I struggle
in the Townsville heat and humidity, work is so often not found up here and can
become a problem, I write a blog and dream of publishing and wonder am I crazy
and now I have a website and no book and know I probably am crazy. When someone takes the time to encourage it
is everything because it builds my confidence. Confidence is my definition of real success
and confidence comes as much from what others give you as the need to develop your innate belief in
the self.
Jeff
Hayden says some very interesting things about confident
people. They take responsibility and
never blame others. They crave progress
knowing constant improvement is better than perfection. There is no gossip because it is all about
the next step, a new idea or a new plan so that positivity is never far
away. These people don’t over-promise,
say no when they need to because they are constantly surrounded with people
wanting to help because they help others. Confidence comes from looking after your mind
and body and having a purpose. If you
know you can ask for help and get it then you remain keen and passionate about
your venture. Failure is just a learning
moment and only the beginning of the journey not the end. Confident people are
the kind of people you want to know.
I may be overwhelmed
but I can do this because I have a lot of people watching my back. Thank you for going to my skeleton website
and for reading my blog when I know how busy you are and for thinking she has a
point and if we are patient enough she will get to it and actually wait.
