Rich has assembled a list--5 Things That Hold You Back. I suspect these things might be universal and that fear of failure is our biggest obstacle to success in almost everything we attempt. What do you think?
You know I occasionally check my hometown newspaper's website to scan the obituaries (morbid, I know, but I'm at that age). Over this past weekend, I read the obituary of Indiana State Senator Anita Bowser . She was a noted Democrat who championed causes protecting the neediest in the state's population. She was respected on both sides of the aisle for her intelligence and plain and outspoken approach to law making. The picture on her senate page is lovely. I remember none of those things about Anita Bowser . My first year or so in college was spent at a branch of Purdue University, and in the early 80s, Anita was a political science professor. She taught my American Government class my freshman year, and she was a mess. Somewhere in my old text book, I have a sketch of her drawn on a particularly dull day in class--her hose sagged at her ankles, her slip showed at least half an inch all the way around, her hair had been slept on but not brushed, and her bright red lip stic...
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Good list, Rich.
Holding you back from what, however?
This time of year, I like kicking through piles of leaves and eating baked apples, squash (ick, Robyn) and chestnuts.
Fear of failure doesn't hold me back.
Keep your goals small. You get to grin a lot more that way.
My next goal is catching sight of autumn leaves against a blue sky. I get a lot of grinning done in November …
Dive, when I read Rich's list, I was slightly startled because those are my issues as well. I can't speak for Rich, but by "hold back," I mean keeps you from attempting to reach some of the larger goals. I can kick up leaves with the best of them, but it takes a lot more courage to play in a orchestra with seasoned musicians, and I'm the novice. And I've missed some opportunities because of fear and self-doubt.
I'm working on taking each goal, big or small, one at a time and remembering my successes.
Remembering successes is great, too. High point of my life? Coming out on stage alone in front of a little over 25,000 people, sticking one foot up on a monitor and gazing out at them; then cranking up my Les Paul and watching 'em go ape …
Believe me, that feels goooood.
And if I can do it, then you certainly can.
The other musicians, no matter how crustily seasoned they may be, all started out as novices. They know just how you feel and will be supportive.
Don't hold back. Fear of failure is merely ignorance of your own abilites. If you were not good enough to be in the orchestra, you would not be in the orchestra. Period.
I like to think that I have my seat because I'm good enough, but I sometimes wonder if I'm only there because I'm a volunteer, and our orchestra is short on cash. It was suggested once by a pompous ass in the group.
And ALL orchestras are short of cash.
As for 25,000: you get to play in front of a lot more than that at festivals, but they're not all there specifically to see you. That lot were a bit special and I shall hug them to me on my deathbed.
I played in front of about 15,000 people when I marched drum corps back in the day.. "dadedadedadaa"