“If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the blinds.” – Tom Peters
I am amazed when I look back at my professional life as an artist and realize how many times the opportunity window appeared and I pulled down the blinds. I didn’t think I was doing that. I actually thought I was opening the window and making my way through it. I know that many other people who were watching me from a distance thought I was doing the same thing as well. But in truth I fooled myself into thinking that opening the window a crack was opening it all the way.
Actually here is a better way to think of it. Opportunity is not one window appearing, it is a series of windows, one after another, that appear. Butou have to get through the first one to see the next one. And you may not see the next one if you are so impressed with yourself that you got through the first one. I think sometimes that is what I did. I thought, ‘Wow, I just got some publicity.’ Or ‘Hey, I got a piece in a show.’ and then left it at that. What I didn’t do was continue to look for the next window with the same purpose that directed me to the first one.
I have some regrets about that, wishing I had been more diligent, wondering what would have happened if I had been. But after that tinge of regret I move on, happy about learning what I have learned and grateful to know I always have more windows in front of me.
Where are your series of windows?
Drawing © 2022 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com