I recently saw some quotes and felt compelled to write them down, first off are a few from Jay Leno that I read in the online version of the Boston Herald.
"I"m a great believer in low self esteem. The only people I find that have
high self esteem are criminals and actors. And if you have low self
esteem and you always assume you’re the dumbest person in the room,
you’ll work harder," Leno jokes.
"The real trick to show business is try not to get too excited. Try
not to get too depressed," Leno says in a telephone interview to
discuss his final week as host of "The Tonight Show."
I really like these quotes and feel that they're true and good advice for anyone aspiring for a career in entertainment. Having met Jay on a number of occasions (Sixpence played on Leno at 3 different times when I was with the band), these quotes seem as practical and as down to earth as he is (or at least seemed). Of all the Late Night/ Talk Show hosts I met, I always felt Jay was the most approachable, and "normal" of them all.
(photo info - L to R: Jerry Dale McFadden, my brother Doug, me, my sister Linda, Jay, my Mom and Dad - the fact that Jay took the time to pose with us, was pretty cool I thought.)
My next quote I found in the May 23rd 2009 issue of The Economist. It's from Voltaire, but was quoted by Ronald Harwood. Here is the opening paragraph from that review:
"RONALD HARWOOD has been a late developer. After the initial success in
1980 of his autobiographical play, “The Dresser”, his work was
regularly savaged by London critics. He was hurt, but he stubbornly
refused to retire. Then in 2003 his script for “The Pianist” won an
Oscar. “People notice when you win something, and I’ve had a lovely
time since I was 68.” He is now 74 and points out that Henrik Ibsen was
still writing hard in his 80s."
Did you catch that? It was 23 years before this guy had another success! And in those 23 years he was met with more criticism than encouragement! Talk about depressing...could you endure 23 years of that?
I found the entire article an interesting read, yet it was the last line of the article that really resonated with me:
"He quotes Voltaire: “Doubt is not a pleasant position, but certainty is absurd.”
Looking at the quote now, it makes me think of what Leno said above about low self esteem. But originally it resonated with me because of how uncertain my life has seemed in the past few years.
I've always craved a life of security, of certainty even in the midst of feeling "called" or "led" to pursue drumming as a career - I struggle with letting go and allowing life "to happen." To "be in the moment."
But as I read this quote, it gave me a sense of hope and encouragement within this "uncertain" life that I lead. It let me know that doubt is okay - of course it's not pleasant but to have certainty, really? Is that really what I want? It reminds me that I crave adventure, and the road less traveled, and that this "uncertain" life I've found myself in is really where I want to be.
Yes, it's a struggle some days, and I wish I had more of the success (and "certainty") that puts money in my pocket and in my bank, but for the most part I'm continuing to learn how to make a life for myself and my family and it feels good and right (for the most part).
Still, though, a little certainty would be nice :-)
