The great Steve Martin, in his book, Born Standing Up, defines naivete: “That fabulous quality that keeps you from knowing just how unsuited you are for what you are about to do.”
With that logic, every person who’s ever done anything great is undeniably, unequivocally naive.
If we were all aware of how hard something was going to be before we embarked in projects or work, I believe very little would get done.
Think about it. Doctors are like, “Eight-thousand years of college?” No sweat. But what they don’t account for before enrolling for their first $2 million class is the tedious lectures, the endless research, the nerve-jarring tests. Not to mention no money, no food, no sleep. College has its perks, but we forget how much dehydrated noodles can make us gag after the thirtieth consecutive cup.
“Let’s make a movie!” Easy. But first you’ve got to scrounge up the money for filming equipment, put out ads for crew members and actors to work for cheap (or for nothing at all), not to mention the hundreds of takes, waiting for the traffic to die, the weather to clear, the dog to stop barking. . . And the grueling editing hasn’t even begun.
Writing a book? Easy. Just tappity-tappity on the keyboard and off to New York you go! (I’d hate to be the one to break it to that naive amateur that you’re lucky if you sell six copies even after less than fourteen rewrites – of course when I broke that news to myself after years of writing, I wanted to kill myself.
My wife says, “You don’t know when to quit, do you?” I take that as a compliment. No, I don’t know how to quit because I’m too naive to believe I can fail. Even though I probably will. But who knows.
Steve Martin failed as a comedian for eight years before he achieved even a modicum of success. And then he had to refine everything he ever knew.
But it’s a gamble. And the odds are in no one’s favor. For every gazillion stand-up hopefuls, there’s only one Steve Martin. For every gazillion-billion-trillion writer (because, let’s face it, who’s not?), there’s only one J.K. Rowling.
How’s that for a drop of inspiration? No? Not good?
Try this: Nativity makes the world go round. So help me keep spinning it.
Of all the writers I read, you are one that I believe I could see in a book store with a real live best selling book…. Me? I have an idea for a book, have had it for years, think about diving in and then remember I am not really that strong of a swimmer…
Remember, there was a time Michael Phelps sucked as a swimmer, too. I used to not know how to write. Still learning.
I have been published, a short story. I have wonderful rejection letters, that I so loved (truly, I did) receiving because I then knew that someone had had to read my words in order to receive a rejection. Just need to get back onto that diving board and jump!
Go for it!
Maybe once hubby is officially back up on his own two feet, almost there, he graduated to driving again… I may catch my breath and dive in…
Good luck!
I love the Steve Martin quote! It is so true that one never knows how close they are to their definition of success. Inspiring post!
He didn’t even know he had achieved it until it was over.
I agree with you nativity does make the world go around. Inspiring post. Just read another two rejection letters. I can so relate to your post.
Rejection letters will look awesome when we’re finally accepted.
I agree they will indeed.
I actually think the opposite! If we go into a situation knowing it will be difficult and knowing the chances are high that we will fail, it sets our expectations properly and we won’t get as discouraged when things go wrong because we are expecting them to. The easier you think something is (or the more naive you are), the more likely you are to give up when things get difficult. Know what I mean?
I think I want your willpower and endurance. But you’re going to have to take this up with Mr. Martin.