There you are, sitting with a cup of something warm in your hands, mulling over your career and the choices you’ve made. You’ve been on this path for as long as you can remember, pouring your heart into your craft. But it’s been a while now—too long since you’ve landed a meaningful project. You know what you want, but it seems further away than ever.
You hear it all the time: “The industry is slow for everyone.” “Things are tough all around.” Yet, there it is—another new project announced, another new name in the spotlight. You start to wonder, If things are slow, why is it only affecting me?
You devour books, listen to podcasts, and watch videos from the so-called “successful” ones, each preaching a gospel of risk and reward. “Take a chance,” they say. “Push the boundaries,” they insist. You’ve tried that. You’ve stepped outside the box, doing what felt right in your gut, only to be met with scepticism or outright criticism. Somehow, the risks you’ve taken seem to do more damage to your spirit than good.
It’s a maddening cycle. You know you have to stand out, but every time you try, you feel like you’re further from the mark. You’re left wondering, Am I doing something wrong? You’ve watched others take similar risks and be celebrated for them. And yet, when it’s your turn, the acknowledgment never comes.
So now you’re here, wrestling with the fear that nothing will change, that your bank account will stay as empty as the space where opportunities should be. And the doubt seeps in, whispering that maybe you’re the one exception to all those motivational quotes.
But what if you’re not?
Maybe, just maybe, the silence is not a sign that you’ve gone astray but a part of the process. It doesn’t make the uncertainty any easier, but perhaps it’s worth considering that this is what growth feels like. Not always exciting, not always celebrated, and certainly not always understood. But maybe that’s okay.
Because, deep down, you know you’re not going to give up. You’ll take another risk, and then another. You’ll keep pushing because that’s who you are, even when it seems like the world is too quiet. Maybe the quiet is just giving you space to find your voice, once again.
So, here’s to those who keep going when the applause fades, when the inbox is empty, and when the world feels silent. You’re not alone.
