Striving For #2

Yesterday I completed my seven-week freelance job.

The first real job I’ve had in over a year.

What’s nice is it brought in a couple of bucks.

It gave me a chance to make TV again.

But most of all, it reminded me that I STILL GOT IT.

The shows I produced are the best I’ve produced in the last 20 months.

Ok, they are the only shows I’ve produced in the last 20 months.

But all jokes aside, I’m really proud of what I just did.

While the subject matter didn’t really interest me, I rolled up my boots (if that is possible) and put together some very entertaining TV.

Self-confidence has never been an issue with me.


And neither has over-confidence.

I know what I can do, I know what I do well, but you won’t ever see me struttin around like Vinnie Barbarino.

Confidence is such a weird thing.

If you don’t have enough, that’s a problem.

If you have too much, that’s a real problem.

The challenge is finding that perfect bowl of porridge.

When I was working, at the peak of my day, there was nothing that was going to get in my way of putting out the best product possible.

I knew it.

I believed it.

And I had no doubt that anything with my name attached to it was going to be great.

I wouldn’t ever settle for anything less.

There was no other option.

I’m not allergic to working long hours.

I love the opportunity to be creative.

And there is nothing more satisfying than taking something from here to here.

(For those of you without the video version of this blog, I just raised my right hand from chin level to just above the top of my hairline.)

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe I am God’s gift to the entertainment business.

That would be Lindsay Lohan.

But I do believe I am damn good at what I do and I just can’t wait to do it again.

And soon, I hope.

This whole unemployment thing has sliced my confidence to shreds.

Not my confidence in me, but my confidence in pretty much everything else.

My confidence in the world.

My confidence in the business.

My confidence in good things happening to good people.

Even my confidence in my friends.   

(Don’t worry Phil & David, we are still boyz.)

Striving to be the best has always been my goal.

Becoming the best is another story.

As the great philosopher Miley Cyrus once said, “It’s the Climb.”

The climb to greatness is where most of the fun happens, but I was told a long time ago that getting to the top just isn’t possible.

(Flashback animation, insert harp music.) 

About 34 years ago, give or take, one of my pseudo-uncles was asked if his wife’s apple pie was the best in the world.

He said it was the second best. 

“How rude!,” we all thought, as we licked the crumbs off the tin.

He explained that no matter how good something is, somewhere in the world there is always something better.

As a nine-year old it sounded very profound (and negative), but 34 years later, I think I understand what he meant.

Striving to be the best is the best you can ever do.

And that’s ok.

That’s the challenge or The Climb, if you will.

Enjoy the ride.

If you feel like you’ve reached the top, enjoy the view, for a moment, and then keep climbing.

Michael Jordan wasn't satisfied with one championship.  Neither was Kobe.

This unemployment thing has taught me more than any college class I ever enrolled in.

Even more than the ones I attended.

Now more than ever I realize that my life is up to... me.

If it was only that easy.

Cabin Fever

Even though my recent three-day retreat with my daughter’s class felt like a vacation at times, as one of about a dozen chaperones, there was definitely work to be done.

There was making sure the kids cleaned their plates and cleaned their tables at every meal.

There was making sure that our group got to every assignment on time.

And of course, we needed to make sure EVERYBODY had a good attitude and a good time.

I didn’t say it was hard work, but a job is a job.  

Especially these days.

But perhaps my greatest responsibility was being the voice of reason, along with one other parent, as we shared a cabin with seven 7th grade boys, ages 12-13.

And we were really tough.  

Well, not really.

LIGHTS OUT AT 9:00PM!!!   

Ok, 11.

YOU NEED TO SHOWER!!!  

Unless you don’t want to.

WOULD YOU TALK LIKE THAT IF YOUR DAD WAS HERE?

Surprisingly, of the 25 or so boys that came on the trip, not one of their dads joined them.

Those working people really have it tough.

All of the male chaperones were there with their daughters, leaving us in a bunk with a bunch of boys we’d never met.

Of course, that gave us a great opportunity to spend some quality time with the troublemakers our little innocent angels are hanging out with.

And let me tell you, Bill Cosby had it right -- kids definitely do say the darndest things.   

If you don’t believe me, maybe you will believe them.

Here is a sample of the quotes that were fit to print:

• NOBODY is hotter than Miley Cyrus in the Party in the USA video!
• I need to shower in the morning because I get B.O. in my sleep.
• I had a nightmare about SpongeBob.

• Lucky Charms is the best.

• Miley Cyrus is WAY hotter than Taylor Swift.

• My mom won’t let me listen to Lady Gaga because she is an Atheist.

  (I’m assuming Gaga was the “she”, not his mom.)

• You bought a new tooth brush just for this trip?  How rich is this kid?

• Greek Chocolate is the best Chocolate.

• When you listen to Dr. Drew’s show, you can laugh at other people’s problems.

• Can I tell Jewish jokes?   Is anybody here Jewish?

• Who’s hotter Miley Cyrus or Demi Lovato?   Dude, Miley Cyrus!

• When I grow up, I’m either going to be an NBA Player or go into the Army.

• The Ring is the sickest movie out there.

• I want to be an Architect, Lawyer or Lacrosse Player.

• I brought four different types of deodorant to make sure I’m covered.

• Brooklyn Decker is hotter than Miley Cyrus.

The boys also informed me that none of them want to be the President of the United States, “because they make fun of you on Saturday Night Live.”


All seven of the boys have iPods.

Six of the seven have cell phones.

Two of the seven have straight A’s.

The two nights that we spent together were short on sleep, but very big on good times.

We laughed so much, I actually felt like one of the boys.

Unfortunately now my daughter wonders whose side I'm on.

The Best of Both Worlds

It was the great 21st century poet, Destiny Hope Cyrus who once spoke of The Climb.  

You may know her better as Miley, but it’s very clear that she has really connected with the plight of the unemployed:

• My faith is shaking but I got to keep trying, got to keep my head held high... the struggles I’m facing, the chances I’m taking, sometimes might knock me down, but no, I’m not breaking.

Like many of the millions out of work these days, I have lived and died and lived through this most miserable rotation of highs and lows.

Just when you think your destiny is out of hope, some small sign comes your way giving you another lead to chase.

Today it was an email from my good friend Jon.

Attached to the note was a new job posting.

Being that Jon is happily employed, his only goal was to help me and help me he did.

His note gave me more of an energy boost than the Americano at Starbucks.

Within minutes, I applied online... emailed somebody I know, not very well, at that company... found the name of the person this job will be reporting to.... emailed him...  went online to check out new job listings...  found a new job at a company near my house... and applied online for that one too, even though it really doesn’t totally speak to my background.

With about a quarter tank left, I checked my facebook account... saw a note from someone who had an big interview today in my field... emailed them to say that I would be happy to help out in any way I can.

What in the world is going on?

I was so deep in positive energy, I actually forgot that I was unemployed.

This chase was actually exciting.

Well I don’t know about exciting, but it was definitely a rush.

What is going on?

I’m writing this eight hours after getting Jon’s email and I’m still riding a high.

I know it sounds crazy, but when most of your days are spent in neutral or reverse, it really doesn’t take a whole lot of gas to get you going forward.

Today it was an email.

Tomorrow it could be a phone call.

The next day it could be a website.

The problem is, I’ve traveled down this road so many times before, I’m well aware that we are more-than-likely headed down Destination Nowhere.

I know that sounds like I’m bringing a bowl of negativity to this very positive party, but let’s be realistic here.

I’ve applied for a job that THOUSANDS of others will apply for.

The chances of getting a response from the company is slim. 

The chances of getting a response from the people I emailed are slimmer.  

The chances of getting an interview is slimmerer.  

The chances of getting the job are slimy.

But as the great Miley said:

• There’s always going to be another mountain.  I’m always going to want to make it move.  Always going to be an uphill battle.  Sometimes you going to have to lose.  Ain’t about how fast I get there.  Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side.   It’s the climb.

This Cyrus girl must’ve had some hardship in her life, because she really knows what she is talking about.

I wonder if my kids know who she is.