Growing up, we all have dreams.
Some people are strong enough, stubborn enough, or lucky enough to hold on to theirs and actually make them happen. But the statistics are not kind to most dreams. Becoming a comedian, actor, film director, photographer, launching a band, or writing songs has a very low probability of financial success. Not impossible. Just unlikely.
Becoming a plumber, doctor, electrician, or car mechanic is also hard. But it is far more attainable and far more predictable.
That’s the question I always ask teens sitting across from me:
Are you willing to struggle for years, sometimes decades, to fulfill this dream?
Most of the time I get a blank stare.
The idea of sacrifice is almost absent from social media. It’s not trending. It’s not glamorous. And to many teens, it feels foreign.
That’s when I introduce Plan B.
Think of your dream as a long journey. The road can take decades. You can walk it barefoot, or you can have a car. Plan B is the car. It doesn’t replace the dream. It supports it.
I don’t believe artists need to be hungry. I believe they need life experience. Depth. Something real to say. Hunger has nothing to do with art. Experience does.
Most kids also don’t understand that being an influencer is real work. Posting five times a day. Constantly creating. Staying relevant. Engaging nonstop. I know a few influencers personally. This is a 24/7 job with no off switch.
So what is a good Plan B?
A trade. A skill. Something that pays the bills while you pursue the dream. The gig economy has opened far more options than waiting tables forever and hoping for the perfect audition.
Walk into Cantor’s in LA and you’ll see aspiring actors still waiting tables in their 70s and 80s. I respect the persistence. But it wouldn’t be my choice.
How do I know?
I’ll tell you my story in the next post.
Supporting a dream is not the same as funding a fantasy.
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