December 21, 2004
"successful"
Last week I was moaning about being broke. Luckily, my situation has since changed, thanks to various ships coming in at the last minute. But yeah, it was a close call. Regardless, last week I was spending a lot of time beating myself up for not being more "successful".
Then this morning I was thinking. I graduated from college in 1989. Since then I've been making a living exclusively as a writer, with the occasional cartoon gig to add to the mix. I've somehow always managed to survive, sometimes even the money was pretty darn fabulous. I've never had to go back to tending bar or working retail, like I did in my student days. Besides writing the occasional piece I was proud of, and the fact that I mostly enjoy it- even the boring stuff- writing has afforded me intensely interesting experiences in places like New York, LA, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Chicago...
Writing paid for it all, plus it gave me the time and confidence to work on the cartoons. Just a guy, sitting at his laptop, doing what I'm doing now.
Yeah, maybe I should count my blessings more... maybe I'm more "successful" than I give myself credit for.
Heh. Merry Christmas, Everybody.
Posted by hugh macleod at December 21, 2004 9:20 AM | TrackBackYou know, I was having a little bout of depression myself a couple of days back. The company is doing well, and is actually making a modest profit just six months after being launched, but I need to make more cash to be able to survive. I will probably need to take a CD gig again. Which annoyed me no end for a while.
Then I went for a walk in the snow and when I came back my mood was lighter. Like you, I am doing exactly what I want to do. My talent supports me, I've worked for some world class clients and did some work I am proud of. I've worked all over the world, I got a wife I couldn't be happier with and things really are groovy, everything considered.
So yes, I am too counting my blessings after all. Merry Christmas everybody.
Posted by: Andreas at December 21, 2004 1:55 PMdoh.
Posted by: Jon Husband at December 21, 2004 2:46 PMIf you've been making a living with your talent and creativity directly, you're very successful. I've never been able to break thru and just do that so far, and I'm 39. I've been stuck in the "work for someone else" thing, using a fraction of my talents indirectly, for a long time. Still working on breaking out... crossing my fingers (and socking cash in the bank in the meantime, a new luxury for me)!
You're doing great, Hugh. People are listening to you, appreciating what you say and being inspired by it - myself included. Be pleased with yourself! Heh, but not TOO pleased... ;)
Posted by: jeff z at December 21, 2004 7:00 PMI was reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about a woman from England who started designing eCards and now has an unintentionally thriving $1.7M business from her loyal fans. I suspect that your business card art is much better and more poignant.
I bring it to your attention not because your work and hers is similar. Rather, maybe there is a parallel business plan in there somewhere for you!
From the WSJ:
The e-card had been forwarded over and over, and each person replying to Ms. Lawson wanted to know the same thing: Got any more cards?
Today, 61-year-old Ms. Lawson occupies a coveted niche in the electronic-commerce world: a profitable, subscription-based Web site where she sells her highly-stylized e-cards without a blip of advertising. Revenue comes solely from 300,000 members -- 81% of whom are based in the U.S. and pay $8 a year. Her sales last year totaled about $1.7 million; by year end, sales are expected to jump to as much as $5 million with her typical holiday surge in new subscribers.
Although her small inventory (fewer than 50 cards) frustrates some subscribers, the curious popularity of www.jacquielawson.com has put it on the radar of industry-watchers.
Leading an interesting life is not always easy, and the occasional close call is to be expected.
But then, who wants to live a boring life?