Recently I was caught inside a bit of indecision.
The amount of time that I have been working on the kids TV show in Wales was suddenly going to be cut short. Budget concerns and all that. Staring in the face of only having two days a week of income from that wasn’t fun so, I put the word out to see what other opportunities came up. Almost immediately a couple of gigs were presented to me. One, to design a new TV show and one to be involved in the design of a new animated movie. This put me in the position of not quite knowing which way to turn…
One of the projects didn’t work out so it was a choice of… do I leave the show that I am working on in Wales. Which incidentally I am co-creator of. Or do I jump ship and go work on the movie. By the way, the movie would mean being away from home all week and a lot of travelling etc.
Still with me? life is complicated sometimes, right?
Anyway. I pondered these choices. The third possibility (and in some way quite an attractive option) was to not do the movie (save on all that travelling and hotel living), continue working part time on the show in Wales (you know, the one that I co-created) and just spend the ‘downtime’ doing sketches and selling bits of art and some books online to make ends meet. Sounds pretty cool and laid back, I thought.
Then something happened.
I was out walking our little dog, Eddy. Oh by the way, Eddy (well an animated version of Eddy) will be appearing in the kids show. Ya know, the one being produced in Wales, ya know, the one that I am co-creator of etc, etc. So, I am out with Eddy and I suddenly notice something out of the corner of my eye. A quote stencilled on the back of a car. A bright blue Subaru parked up the road. I read it and moved on.
Now then. there is an old saying in life coaching circles (and there are many variations of this) that goes something like ‘you are always where you need to be’ or ‘you are always in the right place’.
I looped round the block and passed the car again. And stopped and read the quote. It is by Colin McRae, the Subaru rally driver who tragically died in a helicopter crash a few years ago. It read…
“If in doubt, flat out”
And there it was. the answer right in front of me. DON’T kick back and just survive. Don’t step over doing things because it will be difficult. I was in doubt what to do so… flat out was the way forward.
I got in contact with the relevant people and put together a plan to be able to work on BOTH projects. Yes, it’s going to be hard work but, be involved in making a movie and work on your own TV show? Bit of a no brainer really.
Thanks Colin. You created a breakthrough for me there.
And don’t forget; you are always where you need to be. Not because you necessarily want to be there, or would choose to be there. But because it is where you are. And wherever you are is the place where you will have an opportunity to learn, grow and experience. Anywhere else is not where your life is happening.
Speak soon
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