The Weekly Proof: Ambition Made Visible
Since I was ten years old, I wanted to be a writer.
Though I’ve been writing for some twenty years, it’s strange to think that only in the last two years have I started to consider myself a writer.
Not because I write regularly, but because I hit publish every chance I get.
Over the years, The Vision has matured.
These days, I want less fame and more comfort. The type of comfort that comes with not living paycheck-to-paycheck. I also wouldn’t mind giving back to my community. Help the children. Educate the people.
However, to get there, I know I have to give more than I ask.
I’m here for the journey, not the destination.
I’ve learned, time and time again, that at each level there is always a new destination you have to reach. A new goal that forms in your mind. Something higher than what you’ve already achieved.
Why?
Human nature.
I’m no different.
First it was working at Universal Studios Orlando so I could be a wizard for a living. Then, Apple, where I helped to enrich people’s lives.
These days, the goal is to live off my intellectual property. A library of content.
So far, that includes over 160 newsletters (188 issues overall as of this writing), 5 short stories and 10 pieces written over five years ago reworked with the voice I’ve developed over the last two.
As you may know, I also dream of hosting a community of like-minded creatives who support each other to help leave the world better than we found it.
Because only through art can this world be changed.
People need to be reminded of the beauty in truth, the fearlessness in love and the bravery in growing, no matter what.
Only art can do that.
Film. TV. Literature. Photography. Paint. Architecture. Design. Storytelling. Technology. Science. Spirituality. Human nature. The Self. The idea of a Higher Power.
All expressed in and through art.
And what a time we live in to contribute not to the noise of humanity, but to the heart that still remains despite the advancement of technology.
The Tension
Fear is a mile long, but an inch deep.
For over twenty years, my real ambitions were private. Simultaneously, my public identity lacked clarity and direction. I had all these ideas, but fear kept me from acting on them because I felt like I wasn’t good enough.
And thus, for much of my life, the mismatch between them has nearly driven me insane.
Until recently.
Two years in, and I see I’m building something.
Nothing is going as planned, but I’m making progress.
With more time to work on my dream, I feel better than I ever have. Despite having to work a 9-5, I’m making it work. You need money to make money.
I’ve also learned that progress is very slow at first.
Looking forward to the next 8 years (10 years overall), I’m still in the early innings.
But success also comes all at once.
When you least expect it.
After a lot of work.
But that’s the tension. The difference between work we enjoy and the work we have to do to do the work we enjoy doing. So what are we to do?
When I felt like I didn’t have enough time in the day and therefore not enough time in the week, I panicked. But eventually, I audited my time.
Turns out, I was wasting a lot of it.
At a bare minimum, I’d say 4 hours a week, 52 weeks a year would get you further than complaining you don’t have the time.
Find it!
Just as a penny saved is a dollar earned, so too do a few stolen moments add up to hours of real work--and you’ll be joyous while doing it.
The Lesson
The main lesson here is not all-or-nothing.
Please start small if you want to leave your 9-5 as I do.
If you need help with orienting yourself, take my free 10-minute assessment, the Creative Identity Scorecard, if you haven’t already.
It’ll help you figure out where you stand with your creative identity, which I’ve broken down into Hidden, Scattered, Emerging, and Clear score types.
Or, expanded, we have: Hidden Polymath, Scattered Builder, Emerging Body of Work, or Clear Signal Creative.
When I took the assessment, it stated I was Emerging.
Accurate, because I need to work on my offers, but I already have a growing library of content. So I’m further along than most. Still room for improvement.
After taking the assessment, it will point you to your best next step. Knowing where we are creatively will help us measure where we’re headed.
Dip your toe in the water.
You don’t have to jump in yet.
The Proof
This week’s proof is in the pudding.
Short and sweet,
Feel free to try out the scorecard for yourself.
The Forward Motion
Next week’s flagship issue will cover how your taste is useless until it becomes output.
I’m also working on setting up to start posting video content!
A lot of moving parts, and no set date yet, but I can say this year, and I’ve already made great progress in procuring equipment.
Stay tuned.
Closing Line
Remember, fear is a mile long, but an inch deep.
Hearing you talk about wanting less fame and more comfort makes the journey seem a lot more relatable to me. The line “fear is a mile long, but an inch deep” should be on a t-shirt! It made me realize that most of the things I’ve been putting off probably look scarier from a distance than they do once I start. Thank you Idris for pulling back the curtain a bit more this week and Happy Friday!
I like that this wasn’t another message that I read so often online about quitting your job and chasing your dream. It was more about building something steadily while life is still happening around you. That actually makes the goal feel more achievable. Sometimes consistency is a lot more inspiring than overnight success. Thank you Idris Elijah for sharing where you’re at and Happy Friday to you!