Thoughts on SixtyFive: Small Victories
As I enter my social security years I reflect on lessons from the journey
I entered the work force while in college in the late ‘70s, interning for two publications for class credits and a little pocket change. Since starting there I have done sports writing and film reviews for a black newspaper, written press releases, wrote a weekly music column for a trade publication, reviewed music for an alternative newspaper, wrote a monthly column for that same paper, free-lanced articles for woman’s magazines, business mags, and teen appeal publications, wrote liner notes, published non-fiction books, published novels, did some TV entertainment reporting, produced and co-wrote feature films, directed cable movies, wrote detective novels, produced and directed some live events, acted a little, wrote songs, hosted travel television programs, did commercial voice overs, taught at a couple of universities, lectured, and produced and directed documentaries. I’m leaving out quite a few things, but you get my point — I’ve worked hard, I’ve hustled, and I’m still doing both.
My biggest take away from these decades of work is that you must always be prepared to surf the transitions. I haven’t had a 9 to 5 office gig since 1989 and, in that time, I’ve had professions disappear while I was in them, such as newspaper reporter and full-time music critic. While I was climbing those ladders the wood was breaking apart all around me. No matter how good you are at what you do (or did), there will be years where you’ll be at sea, not able to go back and not sure what’s next. Once I wanted to be “the world’s greatest rock critic,” a job that currently is no longer financially viable or culturally important.
What’s helped me is having friends, collaborators and rivals to compare myself to. The last time you’ll be graded empircally is in school. In the real world most judgements are subjective. So the people in your generation are a yard stick you should measure yourself against. I know someone reading this will say, “That’s terrible. You can’t compare yourself to others.” Well human nature is more powerful than any self-help book. You’ll see people ahead of you and you’ll see people behind you. You’ll see people stumble and you’ll see people evolve. There are lessons for you in the lives of others, so watch them closely, and constantly educate yourself.
What’s your definition of success? It’s very important to have goals, but those goals can’t be itched in stone. As you evolve, age, and mature, your goals have to move with you. I believe firmly in having short term, easily obtainable goals. Maybe one goal is to finish a story by a set date or go to the gym three times in a week. Simple things that still require effort and commitment, but can be done consistently. The idea is to complete your goals and generate a sense of accomplishment. Goals that are too far away, too grandiose, can create a sense of incompleteness and inadequacy. You wanna be as big as Michael Jackson? Well master one dance today and another next week. You don’t become MJ in a day but, in a series of days defined by small victories. If you stay on that path you’ll find yourself better than when you began.
The mantra of “small victories” is an essential part of my life. It keeps me happy and focused. Takes away a lot of anxiety and helps me smile through adversity. You have enough small victories and you’ll look up one day and see you’ll have traveled quite far from where you started.
So that’s my view from sixty-five. (Actually I’m not sixty-five yet, but this is my last newsletter before then so…)