Choose either a or b for the following questions:

1.  Success in a creative career is the result of:                                                                             a.  dumb luck  b.  hard work and preparation, as well as being in the right place at the right time
2.   Which better describes how you feel about the job market for creatives?   a. It is extremely competitive and there aren’t enough good jobs to good around.  b. Somebody is going to be hired, and it should be me.
3.  Do you feel powerful or powerless?  a.  My life is controlled by others.  b. My life is determined by my own actions.
4.  Can you control what happens to you in the future?  a.  Yes, by taking the advice of my fortune teller  b. Yes, by setting a goal and making a plan to reach it.
5.  How do you see your life two years from now?  a. Why plan for the future when I could be dead tomorrow?  b. I will be able to support myself with freelance work in two years.
6.  The future of my chosen profession is   a.  Just a minute. I am calling my fortune teller now.  b.  I have checked it out, and my field is growing by leaps and bounds. I will probably need to learn some new storytelling skills to keep ut.

\ Obviously the b answers are better.

Planning against the Odds

When you feel as though it is pointless to plan because of the overwhelming odds against you picture a stadium filled with people. These are all the people in the world who want to do what you do. This is your competion. Don’t panic because it is packed. Let’s start helping some of them to the exits.

Those who have no talent or training, please leave the park.

Remove all the people who aren’t willing to sacrifice and pay their dues.

Take away the people who don’t have the fortitude to make it.

Eliminate the people who don’t believe in themselves enough.

Remove people who sabotage their success.

Gone are the people who have no plan, who are wandering around aimlessly.

Now look around.  There are still people there, but there is room at the top, plenty of room in the middle, and loads of space at the bottom. You are unique and with a vision and a plan, you can make a start and work your way to where you want to be.

For the Record 

A vocation is what you want to do for the rest of your life. It is your ‘calling’.

A career is the line of work you are in and the work you do. You change careers, but rarely change vocation.

A job is what you are doing at this moment.