“You can make it if you try, push a little harder, think a little deeper.”
I recently heard Tony Robbins’ interview of John Reese in which John said that it’s the people who do just 5% more than their competitors that earn all the money. He was discussing making money, but this applies to the creative process as well.
As a creative writing teacher I came to especially love the students who gave just a little bit more than the others in class. These individuals were characteristically the ones who spoke up more often, did their homework, and overall just seemed to care more than their peers. Keep in mind that they weren’t necessarily planning on becoming creative writers — these students were just the generous souls who applied themselves regularly and risked their ego by initiating conversation in class.
No surprise, no secret, these students earned A’s. Can you judge someone’s effectiveness based on how they perform in class? Not definitively, but you can learn something about how they are willing to contribute their efforts. Creative writing classrooms may not always seem like the most friendly place to workshop the results of your creative process, but it is extremely friendly when contrasted to most other niches in the real world.
Would someone who wasn’t motivated to contribute in a class devoted to the craft of writing be able to succeed? Of course, but they’ve got a long road ahead of them. So take Sly’s advice. Loosen up, believe in what you believe in, and work hard. Some say all you need to do is 5% more than your peers. If you’re looking to stand out, that may be all it takes.
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