Sterling Terrell

recovering economist

The Big Break Is A Pernicious Myth?

The Big Break Is A Pernicious Myth?

There is, of course, no big break.

At least in the sense that most people are talking about.

Sure you can have a breakthrough when a post goes viral – but that usually only lasts a short time.

One can go from part-time to full-time in their dream job – but that is always after mountains of work.

And many athletes finally “arrive” in the NFL – after playing football since the age of 6.

Heck, even Mozart took 10 years to discover talent is overrated.

Prodigy is a myth and the big finally made it break is a myth.

It’s mostly just a bunch of work.

We love to praise the “Big Break,” that wonderful moment when the stars align and serendipity visits you, making you an instant success. We wait for such moments, even long for them. But here’s the truth: the Big Break is a myth.

Work Adds Up, That Might Be All You Need

Work Adds Up, That Might Be All You Need

I love that work adds up.

Think of a singer, for example.

There is little chance to be heard after the release of one single.

But what about releasing one album a year for 30 years?

See, the larger your back-catalog is, the larger chance you have of being heard.

And here, I think, is the catch:

The more attention one piece of your work gets – the more valuable ALL of your work becomes.

One hit today will increase the sales of all previous albums.

This is true for all artists.

I don’t know about you, but I find this idea both fascinating and encouraging.

Keep going!

Build a body of work.

One day you might just surprise yourself with what you have created.

More often than not, our creative dreams aren’t launched overnight. They are built gradually. When you are in a season of life when you can’t dedicate hours a day to your craft, it can feel like you’re standing still. But at those times, when the odds are overwhelming and the busyness is suffocating, you still have something to give. The effort may seem small and insignificant, but the work adds up.

-Jeff Goins, Real Artists Don’t Starve

Sterling Terrell