Copied and extended from a Twitter conversation with Chris Oatley (whose site can be found via the links section below).

I had a very wise Theater professor, Sarah Freeman (read her book), who said if there’s a specific kind of theater you want to do, make it. I find that’s true in every profession I have been a part of. It’s hard, and I’m just starting to really do it, but we must take responsibility for creating our own opportunities.

An example. Last January, My dad, like hundreds of thousands of others, got laid off. He chose to start a small business. I can assure you it was not easy to get the loans and capital to start a business last year, but he said to me, “It’s all out there to be done, if I have the energy to do it.”

And it’s true. He’s doing quite well right now with his shop (you can visit him at www.littlerivercigarcompany.com) I think about that quote daily as I face the transition to a traditionally difficult job in a poor economy.

I want to be an artist more than anything.  But my true dream is to produce art for things that inspire me, light the fires of my imagination, and produce stories in any format that are things that I believe in.  I’m sure other people are working on projects of which I would LOVE to be a part.  But I know two things about those projects:

1. There are probably TONS of artists and creatives who would love to be involved.
2. I haven’t earned my place there yet.

I think what my professor meant was not that it’s impossible to be involved in a project with other people and have it be the sort of project that you’d like to work on.  I think what she meant is that you must SHOW other people how hard you believe.  Make them want to work with YOU.  Show them what you can bring to what they love.  And then combine imaginations, join forces, and produce something incredible. 

This is why the artwork and stories birthed of own my imagination are so important to me.  They are my torch.  My beacon.  My Artist Signal.  Something that says, “Gather here with me, and let’s imagine other places.” 

When we create with these things in mind, I believe that other people can sense it.  They can look at our work and see the appeal of passion. 

How can I abandon my dayjob and financial security to pursue this passion?  Because, I believe, like my dad, that if I simply have the energy and will to follow through, to not quit, I’ll find my way.  I’ll end up somewhere, and the gamble that it might be worse than where I am is worth the chance that it might be everything that I dream it will.  Of course, I will attempt to make this transition intelligently.  But that will simply be putting in the footwork to do what I want to do.  Kick in the doors, shatter the windows, beat down the walls.  Carve out the niche that I wish already existed.  If I cannot find the place where my life is exactly as I want it to be, I will make it.