Attitude trumps background, productivity defeats ignorance

Seth Godin asks, Have you heard any of these?

People who look like you aren't qualified to do this work.

Your resume is thin.

You don't know the right people.

You're too young to take this one on.

This isn't for someone as cute as you.

The thing you failed at, all those years ago, that disqualifies you from this.

I don't trust the ___s.

You live where?

We were hoping for someone younger.

I'm not sure you're a good cultural fit.

You're particularly overqualified to do this.

I once knew someone your age/race/demographic and they let me down.

I'll get back to you.

Hear these lines too many times and you might begin to believe them.

Now, more than ever, attitude trumps background, productivity defeats ignorance, particularly when it comes to the work done on the frontier, on the edges of creativity, where answers are still being found.

Too many people have told you 'no'. And many of them were wrong. Not wrong about what they wanted--perhaps what you have isn't for them. But wrong about what you could contribute.

Pick yourself, and keep making art until someone can't ignore you any longer.

It's not fair, but it's better than the alternative.