Not so big in Japan in Book Two

Start with this:

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.
All things end badly, (otherwise they wouldn’t end.)

Those thoughts are related.

We live in worlds of our own creation. Peaceful, dramatic, busy, whatever we want. Worlds of expectations and aspirations. We think, if we want it, we can have it. We can achieve it. We are told, growing up, that we can achieve anything if we want it enough. What we are not told is the amount of work needed to achieve whatever it is we want. We have aspirations and expectations. We have world views about the way things should be.

But expectations meet reality. A leopard does not change its spots. We are unprepared to do the work necessary to achieve our dreams. Without actions our aspirations become expectations. Our aspirations become unfulfilled dreams. We give up. We become angry. We move on.

My friend Allen is travelling in Taiwan. His dream is to become a full-time YouTuber. He spends so much time watching videos about how to become a successful Youtuber. He spend money on cameras too. He follows trends. He tries.

In my opinion, he tries too much. He thinks too hard. He should just do it, (instead of thinking about doing it.)

He is not consistent. He follows his viewing numbers far too closely. He analyzes why one video will do well and another not so well. He’ll give up making videos for a month and then do three videos in 2 days. He’ll have excuses. He’’ become conflicted. He’ll message me and say that he spent the day out and about but couldn’t think of anything to shoot.

He doesn’t live it and breathe it. He wants it, but only when it’s convenient.

I noticed in my working world that the people who lived to work did well. You have to live and breathe what you do. Anyone can do most anything poorly. With a little effort most of us can do most things well. But it takes true dedication to be at the top. Allen is not going to become a successful full-time Youtuber. He has the aspirations but not the drive.

To paraphrase Tom Waits:
He’s got the bread but not the butter
He’s got the window but not the shutter