I’ve been learning more vocabulary recently. Not just hearing the word, nodding and pretending i can use it in a sentence, but actually looking up the definition and use and gaining a contextual understanding of it. -not that we like to admit that we would ever do the former. Similar to how we ALWAYS read every article that we reblog… But as I’m getting older and accepting that things take time to do, and a lot of hard work, I’m finding I am a bit more willing to put the effort in. -and admit I may not have always been right in the past.

In fact, all those nice step by step paths and guides that supposedly (I thought) take you from one stage of life and one level of a task on to the next, really don’t exist. And it’s not just in my particular, odd choice of career. It’s actually mostly everything. (Which explains all of those quizzical looks I used to get when trying not to ask for guidance and help.) it’s not that we’re on our own, per se, but in many ways we really are on our own to make decisions, work with imperfect data in an imperfect system along with everyone else just fumbling along trying to make a difference, succeed professionally, and have some level of satisfaction in daily life.

As I reflect on how I have gotten to where I am right now, I am amazed at how truly serendipitous the journey has been. I got into AV mostly because I went to a bar on New Year’s Eve and started talking to another person there that happened to do sound for the local theater. I got into landscaping via a friend of a friend. The biggest thing one can do then is to take what opportunities do appear and put all your energy in to them and to STICK WITH IT — not just for a little while, but for the long haul. Success doesn’t happen over night, and really what defines you as a person, in a career, or hobby/ area of interest, or really anything you do, is how you approach it, stick with it, and interact with the rest of the community over time. Without that longevity it doesn’t really matter how great of A song, or A story, or A piece of art you once made. Some people may disagree with me, and I’m not saying it isn’t okay to dabble. But a network isn’t built overnight, and opportunities often come from that network and from the reputation you have built within the industry.

Up to now I have done little to no networking and have spent most of my time trying to prefect my craft. Alone. In my living room. This has been, in hind slight, less than ideal, and I am actually enjoying getting out and meeting and working with new people – as utterly terrifying as it may be. People are much better than we give them credit for, and all it takes is a bit of dedication and willingness to reach out and interact on our end. I have a lot of work ahead of me yet, in building and sustaining the reputation of which I held in my head this whole time, but small steps!