Take Your Shot
Why do we let opportunities pass us by?
What was the last great idea you had? You know, the one that you were sure was a winner but didn’t act on it. Why didn’t you? Why do we let opportunities pass us by? Do we get comfortable being uncomfortable? We might say, ‘oh I can’t do that because of this, or that— or maybe, I can do that once I retire’.
“Ideas are cheap. The ability to take ideas and make them great is what people are looking for.” -Brandon Sanderson
I heard that while watching a series of the BYU professor’s YouTube writing lectures. I was actually on the tractor, turning-dirt at the time🤠 that’s one of the things I like about that job. I’m able to do research by listening to audio books or lectures while farming. When I heard it, my first thought was— Wow, I wish someone’d told me that when I was nineteen. I rewound it, and listened to it again. And, again a third time.
It’s said that, ‘When one door closes, another opens’. I wonder if sometimes the universe closes that door because we’ve become complacent with it— so that we then, have no choice other than to find another exit. Maybe we’ve missed the signs, or more than likely we’ve just ignored them.
Well I’ve been seeing signs. Nothing crazy, it’s not like God has sent one of those kids with the spinning signs beside the road to flag me down or anything— but I’ve been seeing them all the same. Here and there over the past few months, just a little nudge or maybe a whisper. In one of my favorite Paulo Coelho quotes, he says that we should make a habit of speaking to strangers, because our Guardian Angel uses them to pass along messages to us. So I heed this advice, and spread the light of love whenever I get a chance. Maybe my smile is just what someone else needed today😁
“True good fortune is what you make for yourself.” -Marcus Aurelius
Since deciding that writing was my path, one thing after another has revealed itself to me along the way. Every time I begin to get lost or discouraged, I run across or learn some new information that pulls me along. Leap and the net will appear— So I keep taking these steps into the unknown, confident that the path will reveal it’s self as needed.
I saw a note by Dark Philosopher recently that said, “As long as the probability isn’t zero, the realm of the possible remains endless.”
Well, I’ve taken my shot. And I’m sinking threes like Stephen Curry! I’m living my dream because I’m no longer afraid to chase it. One of my very first essays is titled, The Courage to Write, it’s still one of my favorites. And in it I say, “I do want to be published, or for others to read my works and be inspired. And, it certainly would be nice to get paid to write.”
In the beginning I’d thought that making a living writing would be virtually impossible. I am writing a novel, and anyone who is on that same path knows that it is pretty unlikely for a novel, or even two to provide enough income to live comfortably. And when I’d just about decided that I’d need to keep my day jobs and maybe one day I could write my book, I learned about Copywriting. 🤔 Copywriting is just Sales, using Words, hey I can do that! I’ve been in Sales my entire adult life.
But again, how do I break in? My first advice came from a friend that I met at an artist’s retreat, a now retired big-time marketing executive from Boston. Her advice was to simply be myself. Lean on what I do best. So I revamped my website, and started working on my portfolio. Then I learned of Substack— it gave me a platform to begin to show my writing skills. One that fits me. And not only is it a place to actually monetize my writing, but I’ve also connected with a great writing community, something that I was sorely lacking.
And then today, I landed my first copywriting client! Not only that, but this new account also has the potential to lead to many others, which could provide me with the means to continue to do what I love and get paid for it.
This morning, I took my shot and made it! What’s stopping you?
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