Hi Sarah
Jake sounds to me like the many well meaning but normal ordinary people I encountered when I decided what I wanted to do. Teachers, school counselors and family friends. My mom was an accountant and my family had a accounting firm. My dad was a small but somewhat succesful merchant. They all wanted me, their eldest son, to go into business or at least take over the family store. They even talked about me getting a job with the government and retiring after 25 years. When I told them I wanted to go into the arts and that was my dream. I crushed my family. Teachers and school counselors circled the wagon and advised me not to do it. They told me the odds against making a living in the arts was highly against me. That I would face years of suffering.
Well I never listened to them but to my heart. I met a little old lady who was my art teacher in high school with a heart of gold. She urged me to follow my dreams and not be satisfied with the lowest expectation but the highest. I think she was talking about her own regrets.
I came to California with $400 in my pocket with 2 pairs of pants and shirts. One pair of shoes. I worked hard for over 10 years studying my art night and day. I even took a janitors job in a design studio/workshop just to be around great artists/performers. I was cleaning toilets. My family was really disappointed and I had become a joke as one of the blacksheep of the family as cousins of mine became doctors, dentists, whatever. I took every art job that no one wanted. In podunk towns across the country.
Then I started getting calls. It was from other people who had the same kinds of dreams as me who I had worked with in the past and had started to make it. After 12 years I got a call from 20th century fox to work on a big job for them. 6 weeks for $20,000. doing what I loved. As I got better I got more recognition and havent stopped doing what I do. All the naysayers now are the ones back home who are claiming that it was they who gave me guidance and inspiration. My mom even took credit when she was the one who fought me every inch of the way. This past year I have a contract with Disney, HBO, and Cartoon Network. I bought a home in NY because I am often there on business and have a home in California. I travel to Asia and Europe a lot because of work. I still work hard and keep trying to improve because the competition is great and the young ones are always trying to replace you. But I love it. Sure there is a lot of things I missed out because I sacrificed for my dream but all in all it is worth it. All because of one lovable little old lady who gave me a few words of hope.
Sorry to make this into a long post but I wanted to make sure you made the right decision for yourself. I wanted to give you support as was given to me to fight against the nay sayers. You are doing a great thing. Just how many of us could wish they could do what you are doing. Some people will encourage you. Others will put you down because it is they who wish they could have the courage to do what it is you are doing. Just work hard. Keep on doing what you are doing not taking any short cuts. You will find whatever the outcome you will only prosper because you were honest to yourself.
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Jake sounds to me like the many well meaning but normal ordinary people I encountered when I decided what I wanted to do. Teachers, school counselors and family friends. My mom was an accountant and my family had a accounting firm. My dad was a small but somewhat succesful merchant. They all wanted me, their eldest son, to go into business or at least take over the family store. They even talked about me getting a job with the government and retiring after 25 years. When I told them I wanted to go into the arts and that was my dream. I crushed my family. Teachers and school counselors circled the wagon and advised me not to do it. They told me the odds against making a living in the arts was highly against me. That I would face years of suffering.
Well I never listened to them but to my heart. I met a little old lady who was my art teacher in high school with a heart of gold. She urged me to follow my dreams and not be satisfied with the lowest expectation but the highest. I think she was talking about her own regrets.
I came to California with $400 in my pocket with 2 pairs of pants and shirts. One pair of shoes. I worked hard for over 10 years studying my art night and day. I even took a janitors job in a design studio/workshop just to be around great artists/performers. I was cleaning toilets. My family was really disappointed and I had become a joke as one of the blacksheep of the family as cousins of mine became doctors, dentists, whatever. I took every art job that no one wanted. In podunk towns across the country.
Then I started getting calls. It was from other people who had the same kinds of dreams as me who I had worked with in the past and had started to make it. After 12 years I got a call from 20th century fox to work on a big job for them. 6 weeks for $20,000. doing what I loved. As I got better I got more recognition and havent stopped doing what I do. All the naysayers now are the ones back home who are claiming that it was they who gave me guidance and inspiration. My mom even took credit when she was the one who fought me every inch of the way. This past year I have a contract with Disney, HBO, and Cartoon Network. I bought a home in NY because I am often there on business and have a home in California. I travel to Asia and Europe a lot because of work. I still work hard and keep trying to improve because the competition is great and the young ones are always trying to replace you. But I love it. Sure there is a lot of things I missed out because I sacrificed for my dream but all in all it is worth it. All because of one lovable little old lady who gave me a few words of hope.
Sorry to make this into a long post but I wanted to make sure you made the right decision for yourself. I wanted to give you support as was given to me to fight against the nay sayers. You are doing a great thing. Just how many of us could wish they could do what you are doing. Some people will encourage you. Others will put you down because it is they who wish they could have the courage to do what it is you are doing. Just work hard. Keep on doing what you are doing not taking any short cuts. You will find whatever the outcome you will only prosper because you were honest to yourself.
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Do you give lessons?
