As y’all will already know, June 11th is the date my book, IGNORE EVERYBODY comes out.
It just occurred to me, that date ALSO marks the TWENTY FIFTH anniversary of me starting my first real job– a trainee bartender at Whigham’s Wine Bar, Edinburgh- June 11th, 1984– right after I had finished my final high school exams.
Since then, of course, I’ve had PLENTY of adventures. Attending University in Texas, working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, working in advertising, working in TV (briefly), starting a greeting card company, drawing cartoons, getting involved with blogs and blog marketing, consulting, making and selling prints, writing a book. A real roller coaster, to say the least.
Twenty five years seems a long time get from where I was then, to where I am now. Had I had my act more together, had I been a bit luckier, had my personality been more suited to some of the paths that I chose for myself, it probably would’ve taken me half the time. I’ve had my fair share of disappointment & disaster along the way, that’s for certain.
But part of me also knows that, had it gone more smoothly, more quickly, I probably wouldn’t have ended up somewhere NEARLY as interesting.
Everybody pays full price for being who they are. Only the interest rate fluctuates.
May 30, 2009 / /
twenty five years
Send to Kindle
The New Republic
Len Schlesinger
Seth Godin
Brian Clark
Fair enough,
Everyone’s journey is different. I like the economist way of looking at life’s choices. Everybody is paying their full price in terms of decisions made, consequences, results etc. The return on those investments in time and decisions, depends on the market at the time when you decide to sell your skills.
True enough — there is no free lunch.
I too have taken a circuitous route — I’ve always said we have to “pay for our educationj” some of get student loans and defer the payments, some of us pay cash, and some of us go to the school of hard rocks and we pay through blood, sweat, broken hearts, and tears.
Either way — it is still a pretty steep price!
Amen to that Hugh.
I was in Whighams last week during a visit to my home town of Edinburgh (I am based in Dubai). Rest assured it hasn’t changed in 25 years..!! That includes the customers.
Gotta agree, my experience, through mostly my own ludicrous design and firebrand attitude has been one bad rollercoaster of a ride through heaven and hell, into purgatory, despair and beyond to elation…it just wont stop… there‘s no fucking friction to be found, thank god, but it‘s really great fro authentic songwriting and story telling.
Leaving everything behind to rot and wandering around a bit is a great way to kick things off.
I know you know that nothing is wasted, Hugh. There is no such thing as “if we knew then…” because we didn’t. It’s all good, though. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Rod
I know you know that nothing is wasted, Hugh. There is no such thing as “if we knew then…” because we didn’t. It’s all good, though. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Rod
Hear hear! Keep on doing the things you do. I am enjoying your work, thoughts and visuals for a couple of years now. Nothing wasted there.
Just pre-ordered Ignore Everybody for my Kindle! Can’t wait ti read it.