This post is part of the Exploration Party – a celebration of our inner explorers, led by Tara Swiger of Explore You. You can find other tales of adventure from artists, crafters, writers and biz smarties – and share your own story – right here.
It’s taken me awhile to figure me out.
I gather that I’m not alone in that.
I spent most of my life so far… probably half what I’ll get out of this life, actually, which is pretty sobering… pretty happily meandering along, letting life prod me in new directions. In fact, the only time I can remember deciding, “yes, THIS is what I want,” was when I got married. So I know that having a clear vision of something you want can be quite good (for 17 years and counting!).
Be that as it may, I never treated my work that way. I had jobs in Hollywood but never had a “dream job”–except writer, but that was crazy talk.
Then I taught high school english, but never had a dream job there, either. The only way up was to be a Principal and I knew I didn’t have what it took to do that. Once I remember being inspired by a teacher but she was a former-teacher-now-writer who came to our school to talk to the kids. I wanted to be a writer, but that would have been nuts, right?
Then I managed and wrote curriculum. Hey! I was a writer! Kind of… because if you tell someone you write then they say, “Oh, have I read anything by you?” then you have to say, “Not unless you taught in Philadelphia…” or something. Which is a drag.
Then I started a podcast, found a lot of really awesome like-minded people, and edited two books (with more on the way). Then I had to start thinking like a businesswoman because I had a company and it was paying people and I wanted to do that all right.
And that can be pretty hard and scary stuff.
Then I found Starship. Don’t let the pink and the Enterprise art fool you. This group hosts an amazing cross-section of creative entrepreneurs who span a wide spectrum of business types and models all led by the awesome Tara Swiger who wrote Market Yourself. Even though we come from many, many backgrounds we have one thing in common: we’re supportive in creative ways.
There is no cookie cutter model when you have a creative business and for me I joke (not that it’s all that funny) that I am a niche inside a crevasse hidden in a deep hole in the ground. I’m waaaay past niche marketing so any creative insights I can find are huge for me.
But mostly what I’ve learned is that there aren’t that many rules right now. All the tried-and-true get worn-out-and-dull and there’s technology changes every day. The one rule that holds true is there there are people out there who will love what you do and what you offer—which I’ve seen over the last 7+ years on CraftLit and Just-the-Books—and that when you find those people and listen to them and give them more of what they want, they’ll stick with you. I’ve also found that the people I’ve met through the WWMDfK? books and the podcasts are fantastically awesome people. Which makes me that much more excited about my newest adventure.
I wrote a book (a “real” one).
Exploring business the way I have—on a tightrope without a net—isn’t all that smart, but it’s been better since I found Tara and Starship. And it’s made me want to keep exploring.
And that seems to be good for all of us.
I love what you shared here, Heather!
Even though it feels like you’ve been stumbling around, the rest of the world assumes you have it all together and this was all very planned and orderly — so it’s SO great that you showed a bit of the real side of it!
Thanks for partying with me!
xoxo,
Tara
Heather, I’ve watched your transformations with so much admiration. I love the creativity, curiosity, and cleverness of all you do!
Your wrote a book! That’s so exciting, congratulations! I hope it does really, really well for you. Hooray for being writers together!
Thank you! I’m pretty excited, too! YAY US!
OMG– When ever in the world did you write a book?? *So* exciting!! Soooo…. when do we get to read it? Subscribed to the mailing list… sounds like an awesome book (love the cover art, btw:-)))
I can commiserate with feeling like we are stumbling around in the dark trying to figure out our purpose and joy! I also think that the thing that gives you joy might change throughout life. And it may not come from your job. But the important thing is the exploration and experimentation. I love that you have kept at it, whittling away to find your core. What I love most, is that you said “But mostly what I’ve learned is that there aren’t that many rules right now.” In a time of tons of e-courses and helpful tips and everyone screaming that their way will get you to your destination, it’s nice to see remember that in the end, everyone has their own journey.
Thanks for sharing!
xx Kate
😀
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I cannot wait for your book, Heather. I hope that goes without saying!
Thank you for writing your post in the Exploration Party, but thank you even more for exploring the outer bounds of teaching and what that means in the technological age by producing CraftLit. I don’t know if words are adequate to convey how deeply your podcast has enhanced my life by reintroducing me to my love of literature through your expression of a holistic appreciation of context through sharing morsels of the author’s artistic intent, and even vocabulary of the time period through a lens of awe and wonder. It’s as if a part of my brain has been tickled again, and reminded me who I am.
Thank you!
I really enjoyed reading this Heather. Thanks for sharing so honestly, Congrats on your book! How awesome is that! Checking out your links now….