Many of us dream of dazzling people from the platform or through our prose, and this may be a key source of our motivation to become successful speakers and writers.
But are we served well by these dreams of glory, especially as we initially embark on our careers or dabble in these vocations?
You’ve probably heard the expression that says “Aim for the stars, and even if you don’t make it, you might reach the moon!” And we’ve been taught, even as youngsters, that “The only failure in life is low aim.”
But should writers set their sights super-high?
I’m not sure we should.
Instead, we might aspire to become competent, in the sense of the term, “journeyman journalist.”
A capable craftsperson is someone to be admired, even revered, because he or she has honed what they do to such a degree that its precision becomes art or science or even both.
I’m also concerned about who it is that judges whether we’re “great” or “good” or something else. Is it our readers or the critics?
To what extent did the image of Hemingway the Man affect the perception of the abilities of Hemingway the Writer? Was he overrated?
Take poet Charles Bukowski. Here we have a brawling, once drunken lout who was known more for his antics than for his verse. But he was incredibly prolific, and when I finally got around to reading him, I found he was very talented and fresh.
I don’t think he aspired to greatness at all, more toward self-immolation. But over time, I think he’ll keep getting rediscovered and elevated to higher realms of appreciation.
Keep trying to write well, not perfectly; and greatness just may take care of itself.
Best-selling author of 12 books and more than 1,000 articles, Dr. Gary S. Goodman is considered “The Gold Standard” in negotiation, sales development, customer service, and telephone effectiveness. Top-rated as a speaker, seminar leader, and consultant, his clients extend across the globe and the organizational spectrum, from the Fortune 1000 to small businesses. He can be reached at: mailto:gary@customersatisfaction.com gary@customersatisfaction.com.