My biggest, biggest dream in 1985 was to be a writer for David Letterman on his late-night show. I thought my entire destiny depended on whether or not I got that gig.
I sent in a packet I really liked…and it came down between me and the other guy. And they went with the other guy. When I got that phone call from Steve O’Donnell
Conan O’Brien on his podcast Conan Needs A Friend with Stephen ColbertI thought my comedy life was over.
Success doesn’t happen overnight. It demands perseverance and tests our resolve. Setbacks and disappointments are the only sure thing we should count on.
Maybe you didn’t get the job you really wanted right out of college. Maybe you’re working in an industry that you never planned to be in.
It’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out right now. By all means, you should be proactive about exploring new opportunities and challenging yourself to find the right fit for your career.
But it would be a mistake to let a current frustration keep you from being your best where you are right now.
Regardless of what you’re doing today, take the perspective that it’s training you for what you’ll do later. Look around you for opportunities to learn a new skill. Continue to find ways to improve. Given enough time you might be surprised by what opportunities present themselves due to your hard work and
Early in our careers, we don’t always keep the right perspective on our current situation. We can be more susceptible to discouragement when things don’t go the way we think they should.
I challenge you to read more biographies this year. Be inspired by the stories of people like Benjamin Franklin or Elon Musk. I find it extremely motivating to read how someone else persevered or took an unconventional path.
Too quickly we forget the real story – the one that’s filled with speed bumps and detours.
Had I worked for Dave, I wouldn’t have gone to SNL. Lorne wouldn’t have seen me. I wouldn’t have been plucked foolishly to replace Letterman in ‘93, and my improbable career wouldn’t have happened. If the thing I wanted most had happened at that point, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Conan O’Brien
We can’t always control the path we take, but we can influence the outcome by how we choose to react. Choose hard work and perseverance, especially in the midst of a setback or disappointment, because that’s when it counts the most.
Are you facing a detour in your career? What are you doing to make the most of your current situation? How do you think it might help you in the future?
Leave a Comment