Have you ever poured your heart into a project you were passionate about only to have it completely flop? Worms scream louder than the reaction your efforts got. Crickets chirp in the ensuing silence.
photo by w3i_yu
I have. I found it a strange place to be.
I start doubting my capabilities and tweaking my passion based off of other people’s opinions. I begin rating my abilities by the response I get. It is a very slight shift. I feel the temptation to do this often.
I have realized this is a poor judge of truly how valuable my heart’s work is.
The problem with this approach is I will end up loosing me and what I was so passionate about in the beginning.
People’s opinions are just that, opinions. I now put my blinders on and just press forward no matter the response I get. Crickets or no crickets, I do my work, the work I was created to do.
Don’t give up on something you are passionate about just because you don’t hear encouraging words from everyone… or anyone. It doesn’t mean your work isn’t important or your persistence won’t pay off.
You never know what will become of your persistence or who will be impacted by it.
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
~Calvin Coolidge
Question: Have you ever experienced the cricket response to one of your projects?
Haha yes Claudia – in fact I hear crickets chirping right now! So your encouraging post was just the thing I needed this morning to help me keep those blinders on and not pay attention to the chirping but keep pushing on. You never fail to encourage me – what a gift you have and you are!
Oh my, thank you Ann that was a blessing to me!
Here is a pat of encouragement on your hard working shoulder! Are you talking about your new project here?
What have you tried?
I guess partially – just some things that I have done that are disappointing – like offering a free health assessment. Making it clear there will be no obligation to purchase anything – but that I will ask them to email me a time when I can call them to go over their results and then provide them with a free meal plan – FREE. No obligation. I’ve had people submit the assessment and when I send an email to remind them to let me know when I can call – I have had no responses! Just amazed that they took the time to do it and yet now don’t want the results. Oh well – I was encouraged by you and that was just a bump in the road. Each thing we try that seems not to work is just more information!
hmmm, that does sound frusterating Ann! I like your approach that each thing you try and doesn’t work is more information… wise words there
Hey, Walt Disney heard those crickets chirping too – and he created Jiminy Cricket and people are still buying it! Yes, one distinct time was when a friend and I were song writing, well he had this book of writings/poems, etc and wanted me to put melodies to them. I’d never done anything like that before, but got excited once we started. I got into the recording of them and after all our efforts were done, i created a CD that I asked one of our very talented singers at church to listen to for feedback – nothing. I gave it to two others folks whose input I admired greatly – not so much a thumbs up or down. So, we quit even though we thought it was a good start. My wife and family liked it oddly enough, which is where we often hear crickets at times. I’ve been thinking greatly that song writing might be the next thing for me to enjoy, just for the sakes of enjoyment, regardless of the outcome.
As Ann said – encouraging post!
Wow Michael,
Thanks for sharing. I think we can all relate to your feeling! I remember you had mentioned music before and how much it speaks to your heart. I love that you are continuing to pursue it even through the disappointment of your previous efforts.
Don’t give up!
Hey, could you post your song?
I think I’ve had this happen before when I’ve thought that I had a really good idea, present it, and then…………… Yeah, that can be really uncomfortable. I guess the takeaway is that I shouldn’t give up on that “good” idea so easily if I’m passionate about it, but instead find another group who’s more supportive, right?
Ryan,
Yup, totally… and just keep pursuing that which you are passionate about… where does the dream go otherwise right??
Well, it either dies, or a few years later you see someone else living it out because they did what it took to make it happen. :p
hahaha and it does indeed happen!
I’ve been there many times. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve been disappointed by the lack of feedback from well thought-out Facebook posts. We probably get more feedback now than we’ve ever gotten due to the effect of social media, so we’re used to it, but at the same time, it’s never enough. I still have a tendency to get disappointed when I don’t receive much response, but I have to remember that everyone else’s life goes on either way. They’re not sitting there salivating like Pavlov’s Dogs waiting for my next blog post or project. Ultimately, we’re here to serve an audience of One (and I don’t mean ourselves).
Chris – I remember hearing this same comment from a very popular post aways back (but i forgot who it was!) – basically saying this same thing. He poured his heart into a post, just waiting for the huge feedback and then – nothing. Then something he writes, not expecting anything and the comments flood. I guess when we chase it, we’ll never get it. The feedback is very confirming, I know. I want it too, but in the end we gotta realize why we started in the first place.
Just so you know, I’ll say that I read most if not all of your blogs, but I get bogged down in work, and the stuff of life and my intentions to comments never happen. But know that I’m ‘a readin’!
Michael, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve had posts that I thought would blow the lid of the stats, and all I got were those annoying crickets. Other times, I dash something off in 30 minutes, and the comments are flooding in.
I certainly appreciate your reading my blog, and I enjoy it when you have time to comment. I never expect anyone to have time to read everything, so I’m thankful to hear that I continue to write content that you find valuable. I’m the same way – I try to hit most of your posts and comment as time allows. Keep up the great work!
Totally Chris!! I have had this happen many, many times.
Just decided to put my blinders on and just keep writing. Or as they say in “finding Nemo” … “just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”
Chris,
Ya, good point. We are used to instant gratification in this way… interesting..
haha yes, know this feeling well! it makes me wonder how many other people around us that we wouldn’t think are maybe even doing anything have the same feeling? what are we not noticing from others’ hearts? it is always so overwhelming to me because I do care so much about people’s hearts/passions, but there is simply no way to keep up with all of it and let everyone know I care as much as I do!
hmmm I hear you Tina (I’m guessing Tina 🙂 )
You have such a compassionate heart and that shines through with your hearts work. I know it has blessed me/us and I’m sure you are blessing so many others every day!! But you are right there has to be a healthy balance, and boundaries are necessary…
I like your point about noticing other people’s work/hearts. I have heard the way that you know if other people need encouragement is if they are breathing. We all need it. We all thrive on it.
The best to you both as you do exactly this for so many!!
I’ve heard crickets and sometimes that’s a sign to kill the project. Sometimes we persist but sometimes its feedback we need to hear (even if it’s silence). I just killed a project I had put about 100 hours into. It was hard but I learned a lot from the project and I’m using the energy on the not so good project to build a great project. Sometimes we should ignore the crowd but sometimes the masses speak truth.
Andy,
Thanks for your input!Ah yes, the flip side. You have a valid point and one which deserves visitation. You speak of your venture laid to rest and I and I’m sure many can relate. We have a bunch of window washing equipment in our basement from a venture to which we laid to rest.There is a fine balance between perseverance, tweaking, and simply laying something to rest… and finding it is gold. Blessings to you and your family as you continue to purse this in your own life.Looking forward to your great project!
Like everyone else, I’ve dealt with those crickets. Long time friends and family have been crickets when it comes to commenting on posts about the adventures we’re having. I’m like, “What the heck?” My “new” friends have been very responsive. When I’ve thought through this more I’ve realized it’s probably not because they don’t care or aren’t reading. In other ways they’ve shown me that are following and they are supportive, they’re just too busy living life or don’t realize the impact those supportive comments can have. Our perspectives are different.
I think you hit on something here Jody… “or don’t realize the impact those supportive comments can have.” I think that is big. A lot of people don’t comment on blogs and it feels intimidating to do so. I was one of them just a bit ago 😉
But, I am sure lots of people see and like what you are doing but don’t always know how to say so. I truly appreciate when people do, however! Never knew how much encouragement drives each of us :)at the same time… the consistency this blog has lended us/me has grown me to a place of consistency I have never known. Then it makes the encouragement more sweet when it does come because I am not depending on it to help me produce my next post… 😉
I agree with Claudia, Jody. I’ll bet there are more people that are supportive, or at least think what you and Steve and doing is neat, than you realize. Many times people simply don’t communicate that for whatever reason. Sometimes I think they don’t realize the impact or don’t think you’d need encouragement from them.
I think you are both right. People are engaged and supportive; they are just not participatory. I was just reading through a FB post from Pat Flynn where he is questioning whether he should start a forum on SPI. One guy posted a link to some research that suggested 95% of blog readers are lurkers and don’t participate. I thought the study was interesting. [http://www.useit.com/alertbox/participation_inequality.html]
Honestly, before I got inspired to be your #1 commenter last month, I rarely commented anyone’s blogs. I write on The Other Side more as a way to chronicle our journey (especially for Elijah to experience later). The feedback is just bonus, like Claudia said.
Keep up the great work guy. As always, you are inspiring. Have a great weekend!
Ha, now you have become a commenting queen… you broke the dam wide open! Watch out blogs… she is in full swing! 🙂
That is funny that he calls people lurkers. I was definitely a lurker… now I am quick to comment if I like a post.
Thanks for your encouragement Jody! It is… well… encouraging! 🙂