The quickest way to find a mentor
Oh, hi friends!
Who inspires you? It probably changes depending on what you're consuming.
Some days I’m motivated by swaggering alpha males like Gary Vaynerchuk, Casey Neistat, Tim Ferriss.
Other days, I feel like I’m in a Steven Pressfield, Seth Godin, Malcolm Gladwell mood.
Then I think about the unmistakable style of Nora Ephron, Joan Didion, Dorothy Parker.
Or the sensibilities of Charlie Kaufman, Abi Morgan, Tina Fey.
Or the dialogue of John Patrick Shanley, Christopher Durang, Wendy Wasserstein.
And on and on.
I used to think it was confusing to have so many pseudo mentors. (It certainly makes choosing a section in the bookstore more complicated.) Then I realized it can be challenging to find people to champion you, to push you, to lead by example. But look around. There are so many people to teach you.
This year, I’m re-adding more fiction writers to my life.
Who do you want to add to yours?
Tears. Actual salty water fell from my eyes watching this. Was it jet lag or do I just really love people who work hard to achieve their dreams? Click through to watch the video. Worth it. (h/t Charlotte Maiorana)
And the Calvin Coolidge quote he referenced is this:
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
Let’s go.
My Favorite Stealth Way to Send Emails
I’ve recommended this before, but I use it so much I can’t help but mention it again: Boomerang for Gmail is the one thing that keeps me from looking like a crazy vampire. I’ll often write pitches to editors or want to respond to an email around 10pm (or 6am!), but that’s not exactly the best time to show up in someone’s inbox. Boomerang lets you schedule your emails for any time in the future (or boomerangs important messages back to your inbox after you archive them), so I’ll write a draft and have them sent at a more reasonable hour. It’s the best. (This is not an ad, this is just how I talk when I really love something—also, it's free!)
Do you like these daily emails? Please share with a friend!
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Love, Kara