Comments on: The Difference Between the Stars and the Rest of Us http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/ Creativity + Productivity = Success Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:16:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: camille Jolicoeur http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-6201 camille Jolicoeur Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:35:25 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-6201 Thanks, you confirmed what I love to do: setting the trail for others who want more information on what I love: web programming, designing and technical services. This first one is highly appreciated! Thanks, you confirmed what I love to do: setting the trail for others who want more information on what I love: web programming, designing and technical services.

This first one is highly appreciated!

]]> By: Mark http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-549 Mark Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:01:28 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-549 "success really depends on how you respond to failure, or like you mentioned, rejection" - Nail on head. There's usually an opportunity in there somewhere, the trick is to see it at the time, when you're in the middle of it. Good for you for approaching it that way. “success really depends on how you respond to failure, or like you mentioned, rejection” – Nail on head. There’s usually an opportunity in there somewhere, the trick is to see it at the time, when you’re in the middle of it. Good for you for approaching it that way.

]]> By: Chris http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-544 Chris Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:03:28 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-544 I guess rejection is just another challenge. And you can rise up, get a little better at what you're doing, and try again. Thanks for the reminder. It's too easy to stop when things are going bad. Case in point: I used to run a website that was getting great traffic and producing great revenue, until one day it fell from the serps and only does a fraction of the business it once did. I had to convince myself to start over with new ventures--and that was a tough conversation with myself. But I know that my next website--or whatever project I focus on--will be better. There were problems with my old site and I didn't deal with them because it was doing well. I now feel free to move on to other things and it feels great. It has freed up my time which allows me to focus on finding clients interested in internet copywriting, which is something I've been wanting to do for a while now, as well as pursue other things that will be more profitable in the long run. In sum, what I am learning is success really depends on how you respond to failure, or like you mentioned, rejection. And when you write that rockstars are just like us, normal people with fears and all the same things we worry about, it hammers the point home that it takes a constant effort to deal with failure, and of course, success. I mean, imagine if the Beatles had quit after being blown off by those major record companies. That's just crazy. I guess rejection is just another challenge. And you can rise up, get a little better at what you’re doing, and try again. Thanks for the reminder. It’s too easy to stop when things are going bad. Case in point: I used to run a website that was getting great traffic and producing great revenue, until one day it fell from the serps and only does a fraction of the business it once did. I had to convince myself to start over with new ventures–and that was a tough conversation with myself.

But I know that my next website–or whatever project I focus on–will be better. There were problems with my old site and I didn’t deal with them because it was doing well. I now feel free to move on to other things and it feels great. It has freed up my time which allows me to focus on finding clients interested in internet copywriting, which is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now, as well as pursue other things that will be more profitable in the long run.

In sum, what I am learning is success really depends on how you respond to failure, or like you mentioned, rejection. And when you write that rockstars are just like us, normal people with fears and all the same things we worry about, it hammers the point home that it takes a constant effort to deal with failure, and of course, success.

I mean, imagine if the Beatles had quit after being blown off by those major record companies. That’s just crazy.

]]> By: Mark http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-462 Mark Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:15:35 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-462 Seamus -- great example, I'm intrigued how you managed to destroy it ... but will spare your blushes if you'd rather not write about it. Great list -- I'm sure Tyler Durden would approve! Seamus — great example, I’m intrigued how you managed to destroy it … but will spare your blushes if you’d rather not write about it. Great list — I’m sure Tyler Durden would approve!

]]> By: Seamus Anthony http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-406 Seamus Anthony Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:29:07 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-406 Seeing as you asked :-) My biggest success ever, career wise, was becoming the singer in the biggest rock band in my home city of 1 million people. It took two years of hard work and relentless focus to achieve and it was very, very easy to destroy - as I discovered the hard way. The lessons I learned from that are with me every day. 1. Focus like a laser beam 2. Be deaf to nonconstructive criticism 3. Work like a slave 4. Believe unwaveringly 5. Never believe your own hype 6. Never stop working unless you want out Seeing as you asked :-)

My biggest success ever, career wise, was becoming the singer in the biggest rock band in my home city of 1 million people.

It took two years of hard work and relentless focus to achieve and it was very, very easy to destroy – as I discovered the hard way.

The lessons I learned from that are with me every day.

1. Focus like a laser beam
2. Be deaf to nonconstructive criticism
3. Work like a slave
4. Believe unwaveringly
5. Never believe your own hype
6. Never stop working unless you want out

]]> By: Mark http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Mark Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:50:29 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-385 Kathy -- Exactly. Some people prefer to tell you how 'lucky' you are. Melissa -- Ouch! sorry to hear that. But great to see you're looking for the opportunity in the situation. When I was made redundant, a little over 10 years ago, it was pretty scary but pushed me in the direction of following my dream and going full-time as a therapist, which is one of the best things I ever did. Kathy — Exactly. Some people prefer to tell you how ‘lucky’ you are.

Melissa — Ouch! sorry to hear that. But great to see you’re looking for the opportunity in the situation. When I was made redundant, a little over 10 years ago, it was pretty scary but pushed me in the direction of following my dream and going full-time as a therapist, which is one of the best things I ever did.

]]> By: Melissa http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Melissa Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:16:00 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-383 Good article. I really need to give myself a swift kick and I pretty much got one today. I guess I'm another victim of the economic crisis and lost my job today. I was comfortable but no work to do. I felt in a way that I let things just go one when I know I have to be determined to do my thing, my film. I made some great friends along the way, but I cannot consider myself so much a victim, I'm a survivor and yes I'm the kind of person that believes that things happen for a reason, so maybe there is something different out there for me. Things can only move up from here and I need to take action. Take action in working on my own endeavors and also finding a source of income that is consistent with my own goals and heart. Good article. I really need to give myself a swift kick and I pretty much got one today. I guess I’m another victim of the economic crisis and lost my job today. I was comfortable but no work to do. I felt in a way that I let things just go one when I know I have to be determined to do my thing, my film. I made some great friends along the way, but I cannot consider myself so much a victim, I’m a survivor and yes I’m the kind of person that believes that things happen for a reason, so maybe there is something different out there for me. Things can only move up from here and I need to take action. Take action in working on my own endeavors and also finding a source of income that is consistent with my own goals and heart.

]]> By: Kathy http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-381 Kathy Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:50:34 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-381 James – brilliant point about how difficult and stressful success can be. People tend to covet the success others have, be it at work or personal, but they never covet the hard work and sacrifice it took to get there. Not to mention the hard work and sacrifice it takes to stay there. Mark, thank you once again for another brilliant post. James – brilliant point about how difficult and stressful success can be.

People tend to covet the success others have, be it at work or personal, but they never covet the hard work and sacrifice it took to get there. Not to mention the hard work and sacrifice it takes to stay there.

Mark, thank you once again for another brilliant post.

]]> By: Mark http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-379 Mark Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:09:19 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-379 Thanks guys, great stories. I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it a rollercoaster ride. :-) Shane -- great to see you here, I learned a lot from your modules at Teaching Sells. Brian -- yes there's a wall of fear you have to go through. Fear, failure and faith -- the (un)holy trinity that accompany you on the road to success. James -- good point about stress involved in success. Hugh MacLeod had a brilliant post recently on that theme, pointing out that success is a lot more complex and therefore difficult to deal with than failure. http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/004674.html Thanks guys, great stories. I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds it a rollercoaster ride. :-)

Shane — great to see you here, I learned a lot from your modules at Teaching Sells.

Brian — yes there’s a wall of fear you have to go through. Fear, failure and faith — the (un)holy trinity that accompany you on the road to success.

James — good point about stress involved in success. Hugh MacLeod had a brilliant post recently on that theme, pointing out that success is a lot more complex and therefore difficult to deal with than failure. http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/004674.html

]]> By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens http://lateralaction.com/articles/the-difference-between-the-stars-and-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-377 James Chartrand - Men with Pens Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:02:54 +0000 http://lateralaction.com/?p=515#comment-377 You know, coming back to the question, <em>"What did success cost you?"</em>, I had another thought. When we found ourselves propulsed into a new level of success with our blog, we realized that isolation increases. People see the glory, the front, the spectacular side of success. They forget that behind the star is a real person with real feelings and real worries just like theirs. (Which is what your post says.) People stopped asking how we were just for the sake of making sure life was good on our end. They stopped asking if we had a good day or bad. We kind of fell into an odd sort of state of isolation because of that - hey, have to maintain the front that it's always amazing, all the time, right? We couldn't complain or say we had a shitty day. No one understood. We had everything they wanted - how could that be bad? Okay, I'm adding some drama here, but the point is there. Success gave me new understanding of <em>just how difficult and stressful it can be to be successful.</em> It's worth saying. You know, coming back to the question, “What did success cost you?”, I had another thought.

When we found ourselves propulsed into a new level of success with our blog, we realized that isolation increases. People see the glory, the front, the spectacular side of success.

They forget that behind the star is a real person with real feelings and real worries just like theirs. (Which is what your post says.)

People stopped asking how we were just for the sake of making sure life was good on our end. They stopped asking if we had a good day or bad. We kind of fell into an odd sort of state of isolation because of that – hey, have to maintain the front that it’s always amazing, all the time, right? We couldn’t complain or say we had a shitty day. No one understood. We had everything they wanted – how could that be bad?

Okay, I’m adding some drama here, but the point is there. Success gave me new understanding of just how difficult and stressful it can be to be successful.

It’s worth saying.

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