I think that one of the most dangerous things you can do to yourself professionally is think of everybody as competition. Although there are certain times and places where it is better to look out for yourself, the best way you can help yourself is to help other people.
When you reach a point where you can be looked at seriously in your field (not necessarily a pro, but at least an advanced student), you will have knowledge in certain things and you will be lacking knowledge in certain things. Some of them may be technical, like rules of grammar or learning how to use a specific writing program. But it could also be more abstract like how to come up with a good joke.
In any case, once you start going into your field, you will meet other people. In large part, you can't tell who a person is or what their future holds. Talk to everybody, make as many friends as you can, get help when you need it and offer it when you can. Keep in touch with people.
Down the line, you will find that this community of friendships you have developed can work to help you out. These people, all of whom have their own fan base, can talk about you in their blogs, provide links, and spread the word. A ringing endorsement can mean a lot, especially when you have thousands of people that hang on your every word.
Also, since we are artists, we have very little to fear as far as competition goes. People in the business world can steal trade secrets and make a lot of money doing so, but art is different. I can teach somebody how to use photo shop, but they're going to make different pictures. I can teach somebody how to tell a joke, but we're still going to make different jokes. The only thing to worry about is theft, but since your work is available for all to see, and assuming you've put your name and copyright notice on, that should be no concern for you.
Don't think of other people as competition; think of them as friends who can help you out. We all work together, strengthen ourselves, make names for ourselves, and keep pushing each other ever upwards.
About Me
- Kevin Bahler
- I am a writer. A writer is one who writes. By the same logic, I am also a thinker, an observer, and a puzzle solver. I am a graduate from the State University of New York at Cortland with a degree in Professional Writing. The idea of the program is that one studies all three aspects of writing as a whole: Creative Writing, Technical Writing, and Rhetoric. The knowledge I have gained in those subjects is put to use in every aspect of my life. The worst thing a person can be is boring. I am most interested in people who can pique my interests. An example is people who can correctly use the word 'pique'.
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