In his book, Creative Mischief, advertising genius Dave Trott writes:
"I hear people complaining that there are no opportunities.
That no one will give them a chance.
There's nothing they can do and it's not their fault.
Here's a thing.
There have never been any opportunities.
No one was ever feeling sorry for themselves, when someone knocked on the door and said, "How would you like me to show you a way out of this?"
It doesn't happen like that.
Never has, never will.
That's like sitting around hoping to win the lottery.
It's about hope.
And hope is putting your problem in somebody else's hands,
Hope isn't very creative."
THE ALTERNATIVE TO HOPE IS ACTION
Trott goes on to give some examples of people in the advertising world who took action when there were no opportunities. I've done it a few times myself:
When I moved to Hollywood and had no contacts, I started a newsletter about screenwriting and interviewed agents, producers, and experienced writers. Through those contacts, I was able to get an agent.
When I noticed that there was a new person appointed to be the head of a publishing division for business personal development books, I called to find out her email address. I congratulated her and mentioned that I happened to have an idea for that kind of book and described it in a couple of lines. She asked for more information, then to meet, and eventually published three of my books.
And one non-business example: When I was a teenager I read in the paper that Rod Serling, the producer, writer, and frontman of my favorite TV series, The Twilight Zone, was ill and in the hospital. I wrote him a letter care of the hospital and got a handwritten thank-you note from him. I cherished that note until it burned up in my house fire, and I still cherish the memory of it.
WHAT IF YOU DON'T FIND THIS EASY?
In case you're thinking, "Sure, you're the kind of person who finds that sort of thing easy."
Not true.
I've always suffered from what these days is called social anxiety.
One time, I had the chance to go to a basketball game with Walter Matthau and some of his friends--a great networking opportunity. I was too shy to go.
Another time, I signed up for a residential writers' conference sponsored by the Writers Guild. It was a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. I drove all the way there, panicked, and drove all the way back.
However, the times I managed it have accounted for some real breakthroughs, so it's worth the push. If you are frustrated because there don't seem to be any opportunities, try thinking of how you can make some--even if it's a challenge.
