3 January 10

This afternoon I was checking out the bestsellers list on amazon.com and was surprised to see The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin ranked at #21! I was familiar with The Happiness Project via Gretchen's blog of the same name, which she started while she was writing the book and to create an ongoing online project not only to promote the book but also to raise awareness about the project.
This reminded me of the recent stellar success of The Pioneer Woman Cooks, a cookbook by the very popular The PioneerWoman blog, Ree Drummond, whose cookbook recently hit #3 on the New York Times bestsellers list. I remember when I first started reading her blog two years ago.


What do these two women have in common? Brilliant success? Yes. But the more profound and daunting lesson for me is that each woman started a project, completed it, and found success in attaining their goal.


As I've been working my way through The Pathfinder, a book on discovering and creating your right career, I've come face to face with the fact that one of my greatest fears is that I will fail, even if I try, even if I complete all the necessary steps, in the end my effort will fall short and I will be no further along the path of success than I am now. So my overwhelming fear of failure, or of failing again at something I care about, is the greatest obstacle I face going forward.
The other painful admission is that both of these women have accomplished something that I have long tried and failed at, which is to become a published author. Quite honestly, I'm not sure if I have the writing talent to ever make that dream a reality, which makes it all the more bittersweet because books are a deep love of mine and there is no career in the world that would bring me greater joy than to be an author. Yet, despite my best efforts over the past 10 years, I have never managed to bring that dream to fruition. I've completed 2 1/2 novels. The half finished novel I last touched a year ago. Today I opened up those files and compiled them into one document. My goal this year is to finish that novel. Quite honestly, I'm not sure that it's good enough to ever be published but I want to see it through to the end and then start another one. The point is that whether I am ever published or not, I will complete this project.

Success is something I have experienced in life, just not recently. Completing this book, finding the right career for this next phase in my life are two important goals for this year. So is buying a house, which will follow from attaining the right career. I am hungry for success and for being in the flow of my life again.

Comments

Suzanne, You are such an inspiration. You have done so much! I completely relate to your fear of failure.

This morning I sat down at my desk to get back to work, after pretty much being off work for two weeks, and I had that sinking feeling in my tummy, how much I do not want to do this job any more. Even though it fits my life so well - working at home, still with the kids, etc. but I don't love it, I'm not passionate about it.

I really really want to break out of this.

You inspire me and I hope for the best for you. I know you can do it. you've done so much. keep writing. isn't it 90 % perspiration, 10 % inspiration?

I to have such a hard time finishing projects......
larramiefg said…
Seek fulfillment and you'll achieve a multitude of successes.

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