Live your own life

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"I did it my way"

- Frank Sinatra

As a child, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would tell adults of my dreams of becoming a filmmaker. I would often hear friends and loved ones exalting me as "the next Steven Spielberg!" which bothered me. I never said it out loud, but I usually thought to myself, "no, I'm going to be the first Stephen White." I suggest you follow a similar line of thinking in your career.

There is nothing wrong with having heroes, in fact it's good to learn from the successes and failures of those you admire. But it can be dangerous to hold yourself to following in your forbearers' footsteps. Every individual person has a unique path to travel. Each situation is different from all others. As the world changes, art and industries follow suit. Techniques and careers trajectories that worked less than a decade ago can't promise the same or even similar results today.

During a conversation I had with an established Hollywood producer and career manager we began discussing potential strategies for beginning writers. He said quite plainly that he wouldn't know what to suggest - he'd never seen a marketplace as it exists today and wouldn't know what to do if he were beginning his career now. In some ways it's a scary comment, but it also reveals the boundless possibilities and opportunity the future presents.

Trying to duplicate the career of another individual also poses the danger of creating false feelings of failure. American culture places great emphasis on youth and "early" success. Comparing another's position based on their age can present misleading markers to your individual track. Some people gain worldwide fame as teenagers, others gain fame in their 50's, I don't think either is better than that other. Personally, I'm glad I haven't acheived fame at my age - if and when I do I'm prepared to pay the prices of fame, but I will do so with my eyes open. I enjoy the little luxuries relative anonymity provides - the ability to shop or visit a restaurant without undo attention, or even taking advantage of other's underestimation of my abilities. I'm not certain my wife or I would enjoy the rigours of public life. Regardless, I don't compare my current level of success to others; I have my own path to tread.

The point is that each person's career is unique to that individual. False comparisons based on age or order of events can lead people to believe they aren't living up to their potential and cause undo stress. Free yourself of these unneccessary pressures, continue to learn your craft, study history and make the best decisions you can. As long as you are making progress you are doing exactly what you should be doing. Keep confidence in yourself and your abilities, your story is always just beginning.