This is a spin-off from Phil's recent post about the Twilight author Stephanie Meyer, from a video he found on Oprah from which he quotes her saying:

“The way I write, it’s what makes me happy. I can’t write when I feel like people are looking over my shoulder. So, I have to tell myself that this book I’m not going to publish. It’s only for me. It’s never going to leave my computer. And, I have to really believe that to be able to work on it.”

This appeared at a very opportune time for me and seemed the culmination of an internal journey I am still flowing though. This will likely be long, but if you have a dream, and are not achieving it, I hope that you may find something in these words that may shed some light on things.

Mr. Wattles says:

"When you are in doubt, wait. Fall back on the contemplation of your vision, and increase your faith and purpose; and by all means, in times of doubt and indecision, cultivate gratitude."

"A day or two spent in contemplating the vision of what you want, and in earnest thanksgiving that you are getting it, will bring your mind into such close relationship with the Supreme that you will make no mistake when you do act."

A few days ago, I decided to do just that. It is quite possible I may have even been previously hiding from that "hardest work in the world" of spending real time with my own thought. Luckily for me, in doing so, I learned a lot!

Many times I have written about what it was like for me as a child doing my art. I would fill notebooks full of comics, even during school hours. When computer graphics came around, I would make my animated productions, just because. There was no thought beyond the doing. It was fun. It was what made me happy. I would, always show it to friends and family. I even took one animation I did to school on a VHS tape. That was all there was to it. It was my play. My dad bought my brothers cars when they reached a certain age. I asked for a powerful graphics computer that cost as much as a car. (computers were expensive back then)

There were times in my adult life, albeit few and far between, that I was able to draw like that, with no thought beyond the work itself. Usually it was when I was drawing something that I thought no one would want to see anyway, or that I couldn't imagine a market for. I just wanted to draw it. On the whole, though, my thought patterns were completely different by this time.

When I entered the working world, beginning in the video game industry, I started learning how it was supposed to be done. I learned that you have to have scripts, and then storyboards, and this person has to approve something before it goes on to this next person. Things were decided in meetings. It seemed a very laborious process that stifled all creativity. But these were the professionals! They couldn't be wrong, right? Never mind the fact that I had already created complete cartoons where I drew every frame, wrote all the music and voiced every character, now I was learning the "proper way."

Eventually, I went to Los Angeles to work with some of the guys who did the early 1990's science fiction show Seaquest DSV. I learned a ton from these guys. In fact, all of these experiences greatly improved my skill and made me a better artist, but I was unable to separate and take what was useful for me and leave what was not. I fell into the system, though not completely.

By the year 2000 I was unsatisfied with my daily work. I began to put my money into building a home studio, and I made my first film. I did it for me, because I wanted to do what I could not do in my day job. That was an amazing experience. By the time I got around to making my second film, though, there was no day job. I was on my own and my survival depended it. It became about the money. I had to make what I thought could sell. By the time I neared the end of that production, I hated waking up everyday with that to work on. It wasn't something I really wanted to make.

I found this pattern in many areas of my life. In 2002, blogging was a very new thing. I started a blog because it seemed like fun. I would sometimes post nonsense on it, or post about what I was doing. I would sometimes show samples of my art or talk about movies and animation I liked. That blog got a great response and brought huge numbers and high traffic rankings to my site without my even knowing about all that stuff.

Eventually, though, I did learn about all that stuff. I learned about SEO and keywords. I took numerous internet marketing courses. I learned how it was supposed to be done. After years of fun posting and goofing around, writing on my blog became a chore. It became something I had to do, as part of my business. It became about survival if I wasn't "doing it right." So I hated it. Needless to say, I haven't written anything useful there in a long time. I even closed it twice, but brought it back because of fan response.

I could go on with examples. I used to love showing how I did my animation. That led to creating training videos. I learned how it was supposed to be done and came to despise it. I did a short stint creating comics for the iPhone. I did it just because I loved that gadget and creating for it. I garnered some interest from a major publisher. I was, however, doing "mature" stories and they told me it had to be stuff for kids. My thought was, the iPhone cost $600 at the time, how many kids were going to have one? So I stopped doing that too. Anyway, I think you clearly get the picture.

When I was doing it for me, it was fun. There was a flow. It made me happy. Over time, I learn the so-called professional way or proper way or I start feeling I have to do it their way in order to get an audience and make money. I listened to too many comments of people I should have simply ignored. In the end, it resulted in nothing of consequence getting done. No new films, comics, cartoons or anything.

I also became obsessed with time and speed. The Web 2.0 adage that "content is king" led to the belief that you have to come out with something everyday or, at the very least, every week in order to keep people interested or capture an audience. Animation, of course, takes a lot of time. I started thinking of how many corners I could cut or how many cheats I could use to make it that fast. Of course, that leads to something I no longer like or have interest in. Basically there was no way to win!

That quote from Stephanie Meyer, the author of Twilight, really says it all. I can't enjoy it if I think it has to be done a particular way for certain market demographics or whatever. I can't enjoy it if people are looking over my shoulder, asking me about it, interested in my progress, or asking me to attend weekly meetings. I can truly enjoy it when it is just for me!

Can you imagine? In the last ten years I don't think I have taken the time to even consider what I would make were it just for me! I don't even know what I would do, without considering what market it will be in or what publisher to try for, without thinking about how much action or fighting it has to have in order to sell. I have never sat and thought about it. What if the animation I would do is nothing like anything I have imagined up 'til now?

HI,

Here is a simple response, that, if need be, I (or someone else) will expand on in due course, which not only applies to you, but equally to all of us.

Just do the thing you wish to do, primarily for the love of it, and with the belief that the Supreme Intelligence (call it what you will) will open up ways for you to be compensated for your efforts - without attempting to predict beforehand how it will actually happen - and stick to that course with faith, purpose and gratitude - and behold, the rest will fall into place.

May seem ridiculously simple - but then, as the saying goes, why use a hatchet, when a screw-driver is adequate for the task?

Hi teruchan

I have a question for you to ponder. Do you consider yourself to be a perfectionist?

i have a friend with incredible talent in drawing. He sets himself such highly demanding goals for himself that he struggles to break through his limits, and when he fails to do it, he gets very frustrated and chooses to give up rather than continue using talents in a constructive way because he feels that he is just not getting the results he wants.By doing that, he loses all enthusiasm and energy for the things he did originally because he enjoyed it and not because he wanted to get a certain result.

I think it's true not just for the creative endeavours but for all endeavours we want to undertake. If we do it because we are happy, instead of trying to get happiness from it, I believe that it will go a long way to addressing the kinds of challenges like you mentioned, and which a lot of us face from time to time.

Just some thoughts

Teruchan said:

quote:

Can you imagine? In the last ten years I don't think I have taken the time to even consider what I would make were it just for me! I don't even know what I would do, without considering what market it will be in or what publisher to try for, without thinking about how much action or fighting it has to have in order to sell. I have never sat and thought about it. What if the animation I would do is nothing like anything I have imagined up 'til now?

OMG, I can SO relate!!!! As I was reading your post, it brought up an old memory of a painting that I did while I was in art school illustrating a dream that I had. I had a ball doing that painting, When I brought it in for "critique", the professor trashed it. So I had a HUGE resentment and to "punish" him, I stopped painting. HA! I punished myself in a really big way, let me tell you! The way it was "supposed to be done" as I perceived it at the time almost drove me to madness, because for me, not to create the way I want, or worse, not to create at all, to is to die.

It wasn't until discovering Wally Wattle's book, the PG course, and this forum that I FINALLY gave myself permission to do the work that I love to do the way that I want to do it. It was then that I let go of the old belief that "to make real money, you have to do it the way that you're SUPPOSED to" and replaced it with "You CAN prosper doing what you love to do."

I really think that with anything one does, if you're not doing it because you love it, then you're on the wrong track. We're so programmed to please others that we TOTALLY forget about ourselves! And if you don't take care of yourself, you're really no good to anyone else either. I applaud you Teruchan, for seeing and recognizing this.
...and there was rejoicing, YAY!!

Wayne said:

quote:

May seem ridiculously simple - but then, as the saying goes, why use a hatchet, when a screw-driver is adequate for the task?

YES!!

SOGR teaches us that we must do what makes us feel good, because our feelings are our spiritual guide to our purpose on earth.

I've always believed that the best art is done to please only the artist. Some artists appeal to a very large audience and some to a smaller group. So what? The world population is big enough today that even a very small market share can produce big profits for the artist. If the artist has no passion for the project, I think that makes the end result a lot less interesting.

Sure, there are movie formulas that will get people to go to opening weekend, but those films don't win many awards and don't become classics. Personally, I have no interest in seeing the same stuff recycled and rehashed just because some marketing person said it would sell. There is a first time for everything and it's ridiculous to assert that all the good ideas have already been tried. There are lots projects that broke all the rules -- fit into no existing marketing categories and still became successful over time.

In my opinion, the more different your ideas are, the more valuable they will prove to be.

How often do you read your own signature? Follow your bliss!

Love and blessings,
Rachel

quote:

Just do the thing you wish to do, primarily for the love of it, and with the belief that the Supreme Intelligence (call it what you will) will open up ways for you to be compensated for your efforts - without attempting to predict beforehand how it will actually happen - and stick to that course with faith, purpose and gratitude - and behold, the rest will fall into place.

ITISWAYNE

I like what you've said here Wayne, so basic and commonsense. Equally to all the other responses on this thread.

Why?

It is a timely wake up call for me, in that, despite the negative perspectives that I lived by, prior to joining this course, I realise now that there is at least one part of that life that I really loved.

I really loved growing my own vegetables, naturally (similar to organics). The reason why I say naturally, is because eventually I had planned on investigating the cultivating and harvesting of natural medicines in their natural environment, without recourse to contemporary cultivation practices. And because I am surrounded by native bush, boardering on several thousand acres of scenic reserve, it just seemed like a natural extension of my gardening practices.

I guess what I'm also saying here is that, since starting TSOGR I had thought that I didn't want to go back to living the way I use to live. But that is not entirely true, the way I lived did not create the lack that existed in my life at the time, it was the way I thought and veiwed life.

So would I live that kind of life again?

If I can have all the riches in the world so that I can provide anything, anytime, anywhere for my loved ones, then OH YEAH... I will happily live like that again.

So this posting is an opportune reminder for me as well Teruchan.

Thanks for this one, and also the many practical responses.

Blessings
Anaru

quote:

Who Killed The Animation Dream?!

You did. But you didn't know that you were killing the dream at the time! You can still get it back; by doing what you love without fear of failure.

As has been discussed in many other posts on these forums; most of the really successful people in life created something without anticipation of selling it but because they loved it!

Follow your dream! Create what you want to create! Have fun and be grateful for your talent!

quote:

Originally posted by Kevsky:
Hi teruchan

I have a question for you to ponder. Do you consider yourself to be a perfectionist?

I don't consider myself a perfectionist. I like speed and getting things done. At the same time, there is a certain visual level below which I will not allow my work to fall. I know what I want my shows to look like.

I don't think I stopped myself, like your friend, from doing something I want to do because I set my sights too high. I think I stopped myself by believing I had to do something I do not want to do, because other people said it had to be done.

Have you ever noticed that some of the best athletes have really odd form? They have found ways to move their bodies that accomplish the goal (hitting the ball with the bat, or whatever) but they are very different from everybody else. How do coaches decide what "good form" is? By watching people who are very good, and trying to imitate their style. But there will always be that maverick athlete who does it in a completely different way.

To me, that means that YOU have to find what works for YOU. Information about how others do it can be useful, but only if it actually helps you.

I discovered that with my dance students. Some people just have to figure it out for themselves, and if I try to beat MY way (the "right" way) into them, they just become discouraged and quit. If I allow them to work it out for themselves, they often move very quickly, skipping levels and adding a personal style that no one else has.

This is tough for a teacher who has invested a lot of time and energy into learning how to teach a certain way. But really, the goal is for the student to accomplish what HE wants. Not for the teacher to stay in her comfort zone.

In your case, follow your own inspiration and take only what actually works for you. Throw the rest OUT! You clearly have so much inspiration that you will find shortcuts and innovative ways to accomplish far more than others have by following the "rules".

Follow your bliss!
Love and blessings,
Rachel

quote:

Have you ever noticed that some of the best athletes have really odd form?

This reminds me of Dick Fosbury’s famous before-him-never-done backwards, new Olympic Record setting high jump technique (named the Fosbury Flop). I read that even after it became the status quo there were university level coaches advising their jumpers against it.

On a personal note, a friend of mine who was a stand out fine trumpeter in high school and college thought he might gain by going to what was then a very prestigious trumpet teacher, even though everyone else, including professionals and other teachers, said he didn’t need it, and his routine was fine. Well, that prestigious teacher nearly caused my friend to blow out his chops, insisting on his personal method.

I also remember reading a story about a famous opera singer (I don’t recall her name) who went to study with the most famous teacher in Europe at the time. After 6 months this teacher said she just didn’t have what it takes to be world class. This girl left the teacher and went on to indeed become world famous.

Like Rachel said, it’s an extraordinary teacher that can see beyond their own curriculum.

On another personal note, my wife has a university degree in music, and she hates rap. She says it’s not music. I’m sure she has many who agree with her. Well, it certainly didn’t stop Jay Z or 50 Cent, P Diddy or others. And before that, when rock & roll was being called the Devil’s music, didn’t stop many a rocker.

Follow your you-know-what

Phil

quote:

Originally posted by Phil:

I also remember reading a story about a famous opera singer (I don’t recall her name) who went to study with the most famous teacher in Europe at the time. After 6 months this teacher said she just didn’t have what it takes to be world class. This girl left the teacher and went on to indeed become world famous.

Phil

Hmmm, ... the nearest I can come to possibly clafifying that one would be a reference to Madame Ernestine Schumann-Heink (1861-1936).
According to the account given by Napoleon Hill in his "Think and Grow Rich", during her teenage years, an opera director, without even granting her an audition, concluded that "she can never be a singer".

Of course, history went on to demonstrate that the director made a ... as the line from the movie went ... "Big mistake - BIG, HUGE.