Since my last post I've been spending quite a bit of time with my son Rory, The Youngest Younger. He just celebrated his first birthday and I'm so glad that I've been able to spend a great deal of time with him during that first year. Not having a day job has it's privileges and contrary to the popular image of being a comedian, he doesn't allow me to sit on the couch and spend the day watching daytime television in search of new comedy material. He has however become my hero. There's so much to admire about him that inspires my art. As an actor I'm inspired to be in the moment because he's totally capable of doing just that and displays it when he starts to cry abruptly when he drops his favorite toy but becomes the happiest baby on the face of the earth when I pick it up and put it back in his hand. I also like his spirit. The spirit that allows him to fall down, hurt himself, cry with all the passion he can muster but get back up and go try to do the same thing that made him fall in the first place.
Tonight I came so close to not writing this post. I think one of the main reasons that I almost walked away from completing this entry tonight is that I usually open each post with an update on what I've done in my career since the last post and I really didn't think I had much to report, but I realized that was not a good excuse. It made me think about all of the things I say to myself when I'm in between gigs or I'm waiting for the next great thing to happen in my life. One thing I've realized in this journey of artistic pursuits is, there is always preparation involved with creating. Some of that preparation is us getting ready and some of it is in the hands of outside forces. One thing I like to say is, "before you book that gig, there are some people in a room talking about you when you don't even realize". While you think no one is thinking about you, there are people speaking highly of you who are about to give you your next job.
Another form of preparation for the next great thing is the inner preparation that we must do. I've found that great things tend to not happen for us until we realize our greatness. That's a hard thing for most of us to swallow because we spend all of our life trying to not let people feel that we think we're "all that". We're told that we have to be humble, but eventually to achieve a great thing we have to tap into our greatness. We all have greatness within us. We're great creations even if we never achieve anything great. Just living is a manifestation of greatness.
Most "great" people can tell a story of knowing very vividly that they were meant to do something great. It's just a knowledge they have. Most can remember the first inkling of it in their childhood. One thing for certain is that they were able to achieve greatness because they realized their greatness. I say all that to say, stop holding yourself back. Most of the time when we play humble it's only for the benefit of someone else, so they don't feel so bad or so that we don't look like we think we're better than anyone else. That's the thing, you have to realize that you are great. You are good and you're worthy to be the person who achieves the "great thing".
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Keep At It
Since my last blog post, I shot a commercial for T-Mobile, attended the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival for the screening of my film "Whistle and Snap" and made another appearance on the "Today Show" on the recurring segment, "Guys Tell All".
I've been sitting in front of the computer for quite some time trying to do this post that you're reading. Yes, you are reading this, even if you're the only one. I made the mistake of opening other windows as I attempted to start blogging. I've chatted and checked e-mails, stopped to eat, poured myself a glass of wine all to finally decide to get started. I guess that's also makes up the Life and Times of a Renaissance Man, the starting and stopping and the journey one has to take to create. It can be a circuitous route that one takes to the final product but it's a great journey with every inch of it necessary to get to the final destination.
I recently attended a writing workshop where the instructor discussed how most creative people spend a large percentage of their time tearing down their own efforts. I have to admit that I've definitely witnessed it amongst my artistic colleagues. We allow our inner critic to shoot down whatever we attempt before we dare unveil it before the world. Another thing that she shared with us is that anyone who still has artistic aspirations after the age of 12 is truly extraordinary because we're presented with so many obstacles that make us feel that we'll never be successful. I guess I'm sharing that info to pass on some encouraging words. Don't let your inner critic or any outer critics stop you from doing what you want to do. The visions and aspirations in your mind are messages from God telling you what you can achieve if you don't give up. Following your dreams can be a lonely road. There are times when you have to go alone, but that's a part of the journey. It's your dream and with that said, you have to do it for yourself. Just keep at it, just like I did tonight to finally complete this blog post!
I've been sitting in front of the computer for quite some time trying to do this post that you're reading. Yes, you are reading this, even if you're the only one. I made the mistake of opening other windows as I attempted to start blogging. I've chatted and checked e-mails, stopped to eat, poured myself a glass of wine all to finally decide to get started. I guess that's also makes up the Life and Times of a Renaissance Man, the starting and stopping and the journey one has to take to create. It can be a circuitous route that one takes to the final product but it's a great journey with every inch of it necessary to get to the final destination.
I recently attended a writing workshop where the instructor discussed how most creative people spend a large percentage of their time tearing down their own efforts. I have to admit that I've definitely witnessed it amongst my artistic colleagues. We allow our inner critic to shoot down whatever we attempt before we dare unveil it before the world. Another thing that she shared with us is that anyone who still has artistic aspirations after the age of 12 is truly extraordinary because we're presented with so many obstacles that make us feel that we'll never be successful. I guess I'm sharing that info to pass on some encouraging words. Don't let your inner critic or any outer critics stop you from doing what you want to do. The visions and aspirations in your mind are messages from God telling you what you can achieve if you don't give up. Following your dreams can be a lonely road. There are times when you have to go alone, but that's a part of the journey. It's your dream and with that said, you have to do it for yourself. Just keep at it, just like I did tonight to finally complete this blog post!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Sunday, October 4, 2009
What's Next?
I've been away for a couple of weeks, but I haven't been idle. I went to 2 film festivals with the film, "Souled Out Comedy" , found out that "Whistle & Snap" has been selected to the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival, shot an episode of the F/X series "Damages", and booked a T-Mobile commercial. In addition to all of that, "Souled Out Comedy" won the Audience Choice Award at the Friars Club Comedy Film Festival.
I have to say it's been an exciting time. It feels nice to see your efforts rewarded and to feel like you're making progress as you live your dreams. I also have to admit that it makes me think. I spend a lot of time thinking and observing in general anyway. I'm always observing to find deeper meaning in life's everyday occurrences. One of the things about being a comedian is that I'm always observing life and human behavior. I've come up with a conclusion(not based on any real facts, just strictly my observation and conclusion), that most human beings are looking for an opportunity to stop working. We work hard hoping for some type of recognition so that we can continue to do what we love at a higher level with greater compensation and with less effort. We want to get a promotion so we can get more money and do the job that's a little higher up the totem pole and allows us to tell someone else what to do. Even as an entertainer, we're hoping to book the gig that pays more money, gives us a personal assistant and allows us to just show up, hit our mark and go home.
It's the "Human Nature Trap"(I totally created that name for it)! Feel free to sing Michael Jackson's, "Human Nature" in your head as you continue to read. It's a trap I struggle everyday to fight. I realize as I achieve more things in life and in my career, that it's a result of hard work. Hard work that I have to continue to put in if I want to continue to rise. I can't help but believe that many people who don't realize their full potential are probably guilty of not continuing to work because they reached a comfortable place.
Maybe it's easy to just relax after you reach a certain point. It's a lot of pressure to keep producing. What if what you do next isn't as good or well received as what you've already done. There's also a lot of pressure once people start realizing that you exist. Before you get recognized for being good at something you have the luxury of being good quietly without judgment and expectation, not to mention all of the critics that come out of the woodwork once you have a more public platform. Then of course there's the ultimate "no pressure" question, "What's Next"? That's the question that really works on your mind. "What's Next?, does that mean that what I've already done isn't enough? What if I'm totally satisfied with what I've already done and want to quit right here and now?"!
I just said all of that to say, I'm not gonna put pressure on myself. I'm just gonna trust that the gifts that God has given me will continue to produce more good stuff. So I don't know what's next. I'm just excited to keep working and let what's gonna happen, happen. Trust me, I'll probably be just as surprised as you are, at what comes next. But here's a little hint, THINK BIG!!!
I have to say it's been an exciting time. It feels nice to see your efforts rewarded and to feel like you're making progress as you live your dreams. I also have to admit that it makes me think. I spend a lot of time thinking and observing in general anyway. I'm always observing to find deeper meaning in life's everyday occurrences. One of the things about being a comedian is that I'm always observing life and human behavior. I've come up with a conclusion(not based on any real facts, just strictly my observation and conclusion), that most human beings are looking for an opportunity to stop working. We work hard hoping for some type of recognition so that we can continue to do what we love at a higher level with greater compensation and with less effort. We want to get a promotion so we can get more money and do the job that's a little higher up the totem pole and allows us to tell someone else what to do. Even as an entertainer, we're hoping to book the gig that pays more money, gives us a personal assistant and allows us to just show up, hit our mark and go home.
It's the "Human Nature Trap"(I totally created that name for it)! Feel free to sing Michael Jackson's, "Human Nature" in your head as you continue to read. It's a trap I struggle everyday to fight. I realize as I achieve more things in life and in my career, that it's a result of hard work. Hard work that I have to continue to put in if I want to continue to rise. I can't help but believe that many people who don't realize their full potential are probably guilty of not continuing to work because they reached a comfortable place.
Maybe it's easy to just relax after you reach a certain point. It's a lot of pressure to keep producing. What if what you do next isn't as good or well received as what you've already done. There's also a lot of pressure once people start realizing that you exist. Before you get recognized for being good at something you have the luxury of being good quietly without judgment and expectation, not to mention all of the critics that come out of the woodwork once you have a more public platform. Then of course there's the ultimate "no pressure" question, "What's Next"? That's the question that really works on your mind. "What's Next?, does that mean that what I've already done isn't enough? What if I'm totally satisfied with what I've already done and want to quit right here and now?"!
I just said all of that to say, I'm not gonna put pressure on myself. I'm just gonna trust that the gifts that God has given me will continue to produce more good stuff. So I don't know what's next. I'm just excited to keep working and let what's gonna happen, happen. Trust me, I'll probably be just as surprised as you are, at what comes next. But here's a little hint, THINK BIG!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
