Mechanics of Success
I am so pumped up this week! The Sorcerer - Lies of Lesser Gods Book Three is now live, and is doing so well! The feedback from fans has been really gratifying. I'm officially launching the new book this Friday at a local independent bookstore.
Here's a free chapter preview: http://lgamcintyre.com/free-chapter-p...
But after all this, it got me wondering at the mechanics of success. What is success, truly?
After much soul searching, this is what I came up with.
Success comes not at the hands of fame, nor fortune, nor other bouquets and accolades - i.e. from the outside - rather success is the result of personal achievement which cannot be measured against someone else's ideal.
I remember how it felt to get my first copy of my first book. I swear, I wandered around my house cradling it like a newborn with a wide grin on my face. And it was that moment, right then, that I felt success. I hadn't sold a single copy, but it didn't matter. I had reached a personal goal.
Everything that has come after, the sales and the great response from fans, has been wonderful. In a more "traditional" sense this is success but it's a transient thing at best, and completely dependent on others. Maybe "good fortune" would be a better term?
You don't have to be an author, artist, musician, or whatever to achieve success.
Maybe you're a student and you're about to graduate.
Success.
Maybe you've just landed a new job.
Success.
The point is - you define what success means to you. It cannot be measured against what someone else did, or can do. It is only measured against yourself, and what you want to accomplish in your life.
What is that? Well, I think everyone has a dream of something they want to do...someday. And when you think of doing it you feel excitement, fear, anxiety. The more you want it, the worse you feel. LOL. I think that's why it is so hard to get done.
So this holiday season my wish for you is to celebrate your achievements. Because you did it. You reached and surpassed a personal goal. And you are a success.
XOXOX L.G.A. McIntyre
Here's a free chapter preview: http://lgamcintyre.com/free-chapter-p...
But after all this, it got me wondering at the mechanics of success. What is success, truly?
After much soul searching, this is what I came up with.
Success comes not at the hands of fame, nor fortune, nor other bouquets and accolades - i.e. from the outside - rather success is the result of personal achievement which cannot be measured against someone else's ideal.
I remember how it felt to get my first copy of my first book. I swear, I wandered around my house cradling it like a newborn with a wide grin on my face. And it was that moment, right then, that I felt success. I hadn't sold a single copy, but it didn't matter. I had reached a personal goal.
Everything that has come after, the sales and the great response from fans, has been wonderful. In a more "traditional" sense this is success but it's a transient thing at best, and completely dependent on others. Maybe "good fortune" would be a better term?
You don't have to be an author, artist, musician, or whatever to achieve success.
Maybe you're a student and you're about to graduate.
Success.
Maybe you've just landed a new job.
Success.
The point is - you define what success means to you. It cannot be measured against what someone else did, or can do. It is only measured against yourself, and what you want to accomplish in your life.
What is that? Well, I think everyone has a dream of something they want to do...someday. And when you think of doing it you feel excitement, fear, anxiety. The more you want it, the worse you feel. LOL. I think that's why it is so hard to get done.
So this holiday season my wish for you is to celebrate your achievements. Because you did it. You reached and surpassed a personal goal. And you are a success.
XOXOX L.G.A. McIntyre
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message 1:
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Anne-Rae
(new)
Dec 25, 2016 12:27AM
I completely agree with your definition of success. True artists are driven by the inexplicable desire to create...and only in doing so can they satisfy their hunger... success is bringing the idea to life.
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