Today’s topic: Think about what you need a break from…and why? The answer to this question will probably involve your 9-5 day job.
If you answered that you needed a break from work, what does that mean? That you don’t like to get up in the morning and drive to your office? That you can’t stand the politics of the workplace? Does it mean you want to work for yourself? Most likely…but think about that for a minute. If you work for yourself you must be self-motivated, self-directed and doing something that is in demand. You can’t ‘sleep in’ because your living depends on you doing whatever it is you do…and that can’t wait until 10 or 11 in the morning. You may need to drive somewhere. Sure, it will be at your pace and on your schedule…but you still need to get dressed and leave the house. As far as politics, you will find that everywhere. Your story may be better than the editor’s niece…but guess who has the edge when push comes to shove? Your photographs may be as great as Ansel Adams but if you don’t knock on doors and humble yourself, they will remain framed in your storage closet. Working for yourself is hard work and that is why the majority of us will have corporate ties until we retire…because it is not easy working for yourself. I don’t know if I’d have the confidence in myself or my talent to completely walk away from a steady, corporate job…even if my endeavors paid off. Why? Because there are those days when the only thing getting me out of bed is obligations at work; because I have a meeting to run, or a worksheet is due. If I didn’t have this obligation, I would have just said the heck with it…and hid under the covers. I’d tell myself I could catch up later…why not? I’m the only one I’m accountable for. But when you depend on your talent, your aggressiveness, your competitiveness, your connections to make ends meet, you better be motivated enough to throw off the covers and attack the world…because there will always be someone nipping at your heels to get their article published or their exhibit in a show.
Susan R Noel-Cote (O'Brien) 
That is exactly how I answered the question – work. I would love to be my own boss, to put all my efforts into my creativity. You are right, though, it takes a lot of hard work, aggressiveness, pounding the payment, maneuvering through all the politics, unfairness, all the “no thank you’s”….but, in the end when success comes (note the sense of confidence), I would hope that all of that would be worth it.
You are right, it would be incredibly worth it…and that feeling of accomplishment, well there would be no words to describe it.
Nicely said Susan!