Positive Motivation (Thurs. Aug 26, 2010)

Hi again everyone,

Today's story is another about following dreams. I don't know about you, but some of my dreams were getting squashed down so deep that I forgot about them. I became disillusioned and lost faith in my abilities - so I (wrongly!) figured they were unrealistic. I let my own dreams get trashed! Now I'm re-examining them, dusting them off, and rekindling my desires. I hope this story inspires you to find your dreams again and to find ways to follow them, whatever they may be.

*hugs*

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The Manager Who Couldn't Write

What launched Amy Tan's career was not a big break, but a kick in the butt.

Before the million-copy sales of The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God's Wife and The Hundred Secret Senses, Amy Tan was a writer. A business writer. She and a partner ran a technical-writing business with lawyer-like "billable hours."

Her role with clients was largely that of account management -- but this daughter of immigrants wanted to do something more creative with words, English words.

So she made her pitch to her partner: "I want to do more writing." He declared her strength was doing estimates, going after contractors and collecting bills. "It was horrible stuff." The very stuff Tan hated and knew she wasn't really good at. But her partner insisted that writing was her weakest skill.

"I thought, I can believe him and just keep doing this or make my demands." So she argued and stood up for her rights.

He would not give in.

Shocked, Tan said, "I quit."

And he said: "You can't quit. You're fired!" And added, "You'll never make a dime writing."

Tan set out to prove him wrong, taking on as many assignments as she could. Sometimes she worked 90 hours a week as a freelance technical writer. Being on her own was tough. But not letting others limit her or define her talents made it worthwhile. And on her own, she felt free to try fiction. And so The Joy Luck Club, featuring the bright, lonely daughter of Chinese immigrants, was born. And the manager who couldn't write became one of America's bestselling, best-loved authors.
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"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds..."
~ Albert Einstein
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“Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember… the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you...”
~ Zig Ziglar
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Great story, Chick.  Never give up on a dream! "Anyone can give up, it's the

easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would

understand if you fell apart, that's true strength."

Thank you, Shirley, you are the best little engine that could and we all love you to bits.

Robin - what a wonderful quote. It is good to read it - it fuels the inspiration fires. Thanks.

Debbie - isn't it fun to know things like this - that those who made it didn't always know they could? I shamefully admit I haven't read any of her books - but she's going on my library want list now. :) Thanks for your support.