I’ve lost count. I can only write so many tips on how to get into this business and stay in this business. But it all came back, like an echo, the other afternoon. But first, let’s back up a minute, and go back to a point, say, about 6 or 8 years ago, big “whole” (something – something new agey) expo.
“Such short-lived wits do wither as they grow.”
Shakespeare’s Love’s Labor’s Lost (III.i.54)
Big deal, big event, and I’d offered to let “Bubba,” who was “between careers” at the moment, help me in exchange for a certain amount of cash. I figured his natural huckster ability would blend well. I figured wrong. BBQ, bourbon? He’s a “go to” person. New age hype? Not exactly his bag.
Forward to the present time. He’s working at a large, unnamed computer place these days, using that natural huckster ability to sell. A star performer, I’m sure. He called the other evening, saying there was this guy at work who wanted to be a professional astrologer.
“Oh, I’ve got a buddy who does that,” Bubba said he told the guy, “here, I’ll give you the his website.”
Bubba said he got as far as “astrofish” and the guy knew me. Bubba then added that the guy said, so this is now third-hand conversation, “That Kramer told me about how he was sleeping with all his clients.”
How many times must I repeat this?
I live like a monk.
(Anecdotal evidence?)
Now, what became crystal clear, in my little pea-brain, was that Bubba, who’s actually sat beside for the duration of a real “trade show” while I’ve worked? He’s seen me in action. He’s seen what I do. He understands the real side of the business. He’s also very aware of my monk-like stature. For years. Goes back to that expo when he helped me, half a dozen years ago. Bubba’s seen the backend of the business.
“If you saw this guy, you’d understand why he said that,” Bubba assured me.
I haven’t a clue as to who this person is, the unnamed character who said that I said, and then it all dissolves into a mess of third-hand conversations.
However, in my way of seeing the world, I do have more than a decade of work available. Plus there’s a couple of books out.
Then there’s the regular scopes that roll over every week, plus a weekly audio file. Monday morning, I was rather burnt from the fishing trip, but I did manage to spit out a weekly audio file, just as the moon was at its fullest. I’m sure that the audio file is just as confused as I was, but I was trying capture a moment.
What I like about my gig is that it involves a lot of writing. But writing without any kind of human interaction? That’s a problem. Whether it’s family and friends, or the person who served me (coffee, BBQ, chicken-fried), I tend to interact with the world. Senses, music for the soul, not an ivory tower.
The whole discussion dovetails right into an experience from the last month or two on the road, as a young Scorpio was asking about a mentoring program, and if I offered such a thing.
The problem is, there’s no mentoring for this business. It’s been years, but I’ve heard about other folks who do mentor, but I’m not sure I can do that.
The secret? To me? This whole gig started from an academic curiosity and bit of a whim. Come on, a title, like Fishing Guide to the Stars? It wasn’t all that serious. How about goals? What are the goals? To become rich and famous? Better off pursuing a gig as a musician, except, maybe not in Austin. But the idea that a gig is full of money and fame? How about a doing a job because it bring internal satisfaction?
I had three nibbles this morning, one tiny fish, smaller than bait, really. But I did fish for most near an hour – looks like it will be hot today. Need to remember to swim in the cool water of Barton Creek. Action. Take some action. or better yet, put the theories and ideas into print. To borrow an old cliche, run it up the flag pole and see if anyone salutes.
