Showing up

Woody Allen, the patron saint of all cerebral comics, once said: -

"80% of success is just showing up" 

Earlier this week I was scheduled to meet with another comic about a 2009 project.  Fifteen minutes before we were due to meet he sent me a text message citing problems with an ex-girlfriend to cancel the meeting.  This is a talented and funny guy who has committed to a career in stand-up comedy.  In other words, this is what he does for a living.

Maybe he was telling the truth or perhaps he had more 'professional' reasons for ditching our meeting but didn't want to hurt my feelings.  Either way he didn't seem to approach the appointment as part of the job.

If your impulse towards self-employment is driven by a desire to blur the lines between work and hobby then you're probably better off treating everything with the seriousness of work.