So last Tuesday I posted a blog post about my sales numbers not being of the “fly off the shelf” variety and I got some wonderful comments from a bunch of wonderful people because the world is good and I am lucky.
True dat.
However, I gotta come clean. I measure success versus failure in extremes because I grew up watching WAAAAYYYY too much TV. I don’t have a good grasp on reality. If I don’t post numbers like Stephenie Meyer, I’m a failure. If my fans aren’t Harry Potter crazy for me and my books, I’m a failure. If I don’t move millions of women ala Fifty Shades of Grey, yeah, you guessed it, total failure.
My numbers are pretty good, but for me, complete failure. When I gost B+’s in school, I thought that was the end of the world. To be better than average sucks, because I wanna be perfect. I want to be a god among men. I want to be adored by the masses. I want a stalker. But would I be able to handle all the fame and fortune at this stage? Prolly not.
A friend of mine said that the more I struggle, the more grounded I’ll be when I do become rich and famous. Like George Clooney.
My problem is that my scale is broken. Not one in a million is going to hit it big like Suzanne Collins. Ah, love that Katniss.
So I have ego problems. Yeah, who knew?
The punch line to all of this is that I have to claim my victories and celebrate even my smallest successes. Every day that I write, or sell, or market, or read the loops and try to contribute, that is a success for a guy like me. Guys like me quit and sit on bar stools and dream about doing wonderful things but then run away when it gets too hard.
Aaron signs a book for New York Times bestselling novelist Jeanne Stein
Once again, the secret is to enter into the struggle and enjoy what you can. But I do feel very lucky to have such nice writers around to support me.
Well said, Aaron! You’re living your dream. It might not be exactly like you thought it would be – BUT, you’re what hundreds – nay, thousands – want to be = A published author. 🙂 And you’re totally an A+ student in my book 😉
Aaron– number one–you will never be a failure. Number two–you will never sit quietly on any barstool. Numbers three and four–“quit” and “run away” are not in your vocabulary.
So there.
Sasha Summers. I heart you.
Okay, sitting on a bar stool, being the loudmouths on the inside, the quiet coward on the inside. Tears of a clown, baby. Thanks Jeanne!
You are a success. Any one who stands up to failure is making it happen. Besides, you got published. That’s an A in anyone’s book!
*grin*
Louann
Love that anyone who stands up to failure is making it happen. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement and support. And the grins.
I just love this post Aaron. And it was a great time for me to read it, too. Thanks!
Aaron, what a wonderful and insightful post. I’m so happy we got to chat this weekend and I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again. Also, I think books can start slow and then take off from there…yours will certainly be one!
“Once again, the secret is to enter the struggle” Brilliant!
I read “Angelfall”. You would really like it.
Thanks Darlene! Welcome to the brilliance! Angelfall. I’ll check it out.
A great post that I needed to hear right now. Just listen to the voice that says “you’re awesome!” ignore any others!
Amen to that, my friend. Amen to that.