I have not been much of a writer or even understood why people take the time to write. But I find myself taking the time to write for the sake of saving time.
When I was young I turned to mentors and people I did not know but was told were experts in their fields to teach me critical skills with the goal of making myself competitive in my career field. Pre-internet, the fact the author of the book or publication took the time to write about the subject seemed to be the only bonafides required to be considered knowledgeable about a subject. Post-internet, the entirety of the person’s life establishes credibility and is readily available to all who care to google the person. In the early days of the internet when integrity still existed in our society, an author seemed to take the time to source and cite their positions to confirm a point of view, today misinformation is abundant, authors talk about subjects with no prior experience, and credibility seems to come from how many likes they can get.
For these reasons I cannot possibly write about any subject until I have personal experience in the subject I write about. How would I know when the time arrived and I had enough experience to benefit someone? For me, when two or more people ask my advice on a particular subject or concept.
I am always happy and get a lot of enjoyment from providing advice and helping others, but find it difficult to continuously repeat advice. Therefor I write. I don’t write to leave a legacy behind, I write to leave my advice laying around for those in need and could possible benefit from my life experiences. It is up to those who read to accept or toss aside my advice. I am not offended by disagreement and encourage everyone to do what they feel is in the best interest to themselves and their families at all times, even if it is not something I would choose to do.
My failures are my bonfides. My successes are quickly forgotten. My philosophy in life cannot be adopted by many. My views are unique and influenced by unpopular perspective. I offend more times than not. I don’t apologize, for I am who I am. I am self-aware and my own critic. I am often judged by inexperienced people who have figured out life without living it. Who rejoice in my failures without understanding they make me stronger and wiser. Who take no risk and do not understand why their life is mediocre.
My failures reveal to me important lessons in life. For this reason I am neither afraid to make mistakes nor do I dwell on them. They tell me what does not work. They refine my thinking and life. They reveal true friends and enemies. They inform my advice to others. The pathways to success are paved with my failures.
People familiar with where I started attribute my success to luck. Luck has played a huge part of my success. How does one get lucky? They take risk, they fail. They adjust, they put themselves in the pathway of luck. They play the game otherwise they are watching someone else get lucky.