It seems as we grow up and those bills start to mount, we begin to choose security, putting our childhood dreams to the wayside. Seth Godin’s book, The Icarus Deception reverted me back to ideologies of my early teens. It felt good to go back.
Godin’s book arms the reader with inspiration and realistic expectations. In the midst of college loans and a consumer-oriented society, some of these quotes from Godin resonated with me and helped put things into perspective, especially when an endeavor becomes intimidating.
“It’s impossible to connect with a device or an automaton. It’s worthwhile to connect with a person…”
Technology is propelling us at rapid speeds through our daily lives, wedging more and more screens between the personal eye contact of two people. We should certainly invest in learning more about technology, but make a conscience effort to find a balance where our gadgets don’t get in the way of relationships. The human connections we make will always be more fulfilling than “the next big thing”.
“Figure out who your art is for, get better at connecting with that audience, and ignore the rest.”
It’s impossible to please everyone, so don’t even try. This is where those human connections become essential. Connect with people who understand and appreciate our work. Don’t compromise the dignity of our passions just to please those who don’t value our art. Revising to please others is when we begin to lose ourselves in the process.
“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” –Bill Cosby
A Millennial's Musings 