dispatches from the new world of work

I'm a Loser, Baby

My previous post to this blog I thought would be my last, but, at Tom's urging, I am posting a bit on my thoughts on coming home after my 7 week trip through Cambodia and Vietnam (last posts here, here and here).Tom has been encouraging me to comment on my ... intestinal challenges ... since arriving in Vermont from Hanoi on Monday. Tom, let me just say the Tet Offensive was less offensive, and leave it at that.

Last night I went out to see The Samples, a local band that made good in the nineties and still sounds great. All my old friends from my small Vermont town were there. It gave me pause to think that among all of them, the guy on stage and I were the only ones who never graduated from high school yet we were living our dreams.

In the local school system I was branded a loser, a lost cause, and encouraged to drop out. But my bumpy road less traveled became literally my clear path ... my failures became the roots of my successes, at least for now ... and ultimately I have come to recognize that I have realized my dreams.

When I was a kid, Tom told me he preferred a bold failure to a mediocre success ...

Thanks, Tom ... I now know what you meant ... and I do, too.

James Hathaway posted this on 03/17/05.

Comments

Against all odds James. Kudos and congratulations, keep up the priceless work.

Posted by Steve at March 17, 2005 4:42 PM

Seriously powerful post, my (old) friend.

Posted by tom peters at March 17, 2005 4:51 PM

And for those of you who don't know The Samples- check out thesamples.com. A truly great band that just keeps on trucking thru the small venue world. They're playing Maxwells in Hoboken New Jersey this Saturday night. Always a reunion among old friends.

Posted by Glen at March 17, 2005 5:43 PM

Thanks, Steve! I had a lot of help, though, that many others in my situation may not have had available to them... and some good timing.

And Glen is right... The Samples are a lot of fun... the song that inspired this post is Seany Boy... It is a simple, little song but it articulates Sean's frustrations, and also echoes the frustrations of many creative, dynamic kids stuck in an outdated, rigid, myopic, bureaucrat-rich educational system.

Great Quotes on Public Education:

"They hate the clever and they despise the fool"
- John Lennon, 1970

"They keep finding new ways to celebrate mediocrity!"

- Mr. Incredible, 2004

Posted by James at March 17, 2005 6:12 PM

Wow. When success is measured by others opinion or ideals perhaps you can feel a loser but when your life follows your heart you can never feel a loser. As a confession I will tell you that I have felt a loser for a long time, not because i did not represent the pattern of the hero, but because I have not been able for years to do what I wanted to do when I was 20. ItÂ´s now when I have gained more autonomy (not as much as I want, but more year after year)and can build my life, now I am starting to fill my soulÂ´s solitude. But there are lots of people frustrated for following social patterns instead of their vocation.

Posted by felix gerena at March 17, 2005 7:21 PM

Amen!

Posted by Gabriel Salcido at March 17, 2005 9:25 PM

well put, felix... thanks for all your good words while I was in Asia.

Posted by James at March 18, 2005 4:51 AM

I second Jamie's nod to you, Felix. Thoughtful post!

Posted by tom peters at March 18, 2005 5:12 AM

Please, Mr. Peters, I would like to have an explanation on this subject as you have been writting about it and also about women topic,if you can find the moment to answer I'd trully appreciate it.
Here is a woman with so many failures (and no little ones) on her life that just listening to one of them will make many people here shake deeply. So woman + failure = what?...I guess many possible things but would honestly like listening to it from a leader because seems that most followers don't say a word on the subject.

thanks.

Posted by Omara at March 18, 2005 5:44 PM

Many traditonal thinking people didn't believe me when I said 20 years ago I was writing a book. viagra for sale online

20 years later my book was published.

Even if I don't sell one more copy the book will always be on my own bookshelf - and my mum's!!

The absolute joy of proving the system wrong - simply by faith in your own ability; hard work; determination; and following your dream is wonderful - nothing scientific or rational about it - just follow your heart.

pfizer viagra india A fabulous discussion guys and James - you are a star - what a battler!!!

Warm regards
Trevor

Posted by Trevor Gay at March 21, 2005 5:12 AM

Trevor, I like that optimism, belated congratulations for the book (!).

Posted by Omara at March 22, 2005 8:37 PM