Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash
An amazing thing happened to me recently. I was talking to a total stranger on a video call. She was interested in purchasing a writing device I was selling in a Facebook writer’s group. I agreed to her request to chat live so she could make an informed decision.
Early on in the conversation we got off track and started discussing our writing journeys. She told me about her goals, as she hadn’t started her writing trek yet. She wanted to buy the device to help her start, and she was confused about where to go and what to do. Her anxiety was palpable, a wound string that would break if plucked. I understood the place she was speaking from. We’ve all been there.
Then it was my turn. I told her the truth. I told her that I left my full-time career to pursue writing. I told her of the struggles. I told her as much as I could about what I knew and the steps I took. After I told her my story, she said something I will never forget.
“I want to be just like you.” I’ve heard this multiple times before in my day job. Because of my success there, people have wanted to learn from me and replicate my path. But here in my budding writing career, I’m completely unknown. I wouldn’t expect to hear something like this until I’m a famous, published author. I know I still have years to go.
Once she said this, the energy in our conversation completely changed. We smiled more, laughed more, and gabbed about what we hope to accomplish. We were gushing about the uncertainty of our futures and brainstorming the next big step. We both dared to dream. It was magical. We felt connected.
After the call, I paused to think about what had happened. Why did she want to be like me? I’m still unpublished. I haven’t even begun the difficult road on my true love, fiction. My story reading stats are relatively low. Although I have social media accounts that I’m active on, I don’t have a true presence.
What did she see in me? And then I realized. My belief that anyone can do this with the right amount of effort. The years of hard work I’d already put in to educate myself. The courage to take the road less traveled by leaving prosperous, full-time work to pursue this uncertain path.
There’s nothing more attractive than someone talking fiercely about what motivates them to get up every morning. It fuels the passion within others and reminds them of what it’s like to believe in something so strongly. They want that for themselves.
That was the unknowing gift I gave her in that call. And I could see it. She was transformed. She became exhilarated to start her path. She realized her dream within grasp through me. If you have passion, pay it forward. You never know the fire you may ignite.