How we often emulate the wrong people
Why it's often a better idea to look at those who just got what you want instead of legends and vets. Also: Focus on the next move.
A mistake many comics make is they get their inspiration from comics who are way ahead of them. They think if they get advice from someone who’s many steps ahead of them on the ladder, they’ll get some kinda magic recipe.
A problem with that: Whatever worked for that comic may not work anymore. They may tell you how to work the industry the way they did 20 years ago, but these days the algorithm matters more than the industry.
Truth is you’re often better off looking at folks who are only slightly ahead of you. They’ve been through what you’re going through recently and are likely to give more relevant advice.
Writer Anna Goldfarb offered similar thoughts in an interview with
:TH: You talk a lot about networking with peers rather than reaching up. What do you mean by that? Why is that helpful?
AG: In my experience, people who are more established in their field don’t have the same concerns as those who are starting out. Not always! But enough where it became clear to me that I’d have more support and camaraderie with someone who is in a similar point in their career. In the same way first-time parents might form tighter bonds with other first-time parents, or college freshmen form tighter bonds with other freshmen. They’re all on the same playing field; they all have similar concerns. Find your tribe, because they might be more generous with their time, contacts, and encouragement than someone who is more established.
And here’s a sorta related thought on how hacks are overemphasized:
When you focus on the outcome, the gap between where you are and where you want to go seems large. To cover ground quickly, the tendency is to look for a hack or shortcut.
The problem is that no one who got the outcomes you wanted used a hack or shortcut to get them. Instead, they consistently inched forward.
Instead of focusing on the ultimate outcome, focus on the next move. There is always something you can do today to get a little better, to move a little closer, to put yourself in a better position. It's not pretty. It's not sexy. It's not fast. It doesn't even make for a good story. But it works.
You don't build an empire in a day. You build it brick by brick. Day by day.
Consistent daily progress for a long period of time.