There’s a huge difference between the shallow pleasure of instant applause and the long-lasting impact of true connection. It’s easy to market and manipulate your way into the quick smile or the Broadway-theater obligatory standing ovation. What’s more difficult is to do the less-congratulated work of getting under someone’s skin, of changing the conversation, and of being missed when you’re gone. Who decides if your work is good? When you are at your best, you do.
