“Academies that are founded at public expense are instituted not so much to cultivate men’s natural abilities as to restrain them.”
~ Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677)
“Would you say I’m a writer, businessman or a businessman, writer” I asked Cindy as we merged into traffic.
We were on our way home from Writer’s Workshop, the writing class we teach to a room full of fourth graders each Thursday. Cindy pondered, giving the question her undivided from one light to the next. ”Businessman, writer,” she said as I was sailing through the green.
I agreed, but it got me thinking.
I had a brief run of wanting to be a writer back when I was about 5, all the way up until age 8 or so. I use to tap out little stories on an old manual from Sears. I think most of my early work was about robots, space, and probably He-Man, though I do remember one story in particular that featured Spiderman fighting a giant snowman (I lived in Southern California and never left, lending snow a rather mystical quality to my eyes).
Unfortunately, none of these early stories has survived.
At age 8, I stopped attending the private school I’d been going to since I was two; the school where they put books in my hands so early that I have no memory of ever learning to read them. Eventually, tuition moved from difficult to inconceivable and my sister and I migrated to the best public school our parents could manage.
Our neighborhood school was an abomination.
My oldest sister was in attendance until the day one of the teachers told my father in a conference that some kids are destined for mediocrity, and that they’d both be a lot happier if they accepted this essential truth early on.
The school was a good mile and a half from our house. Still, had the rest of us been home, we could have probably heard our father’s anger echoing across the campus hallways.
That was all he needed to pull my sister, now the senior nurse in her city’s largest hospital, from campus and enroll her in a small private school just beyond our means. My sister and I immediately followed.
The private school had no grades; the students instead encouraged to reach toward their ability. One of the biggest shocks of my life was moving from a school where my brain was given breath, to one where I was bored out of my skull, day upon day, in a never ending purgatory of doldrums and deja vu.
Bored silly and drifting through days without challenge, I acquired the art of commerce.
Baseball cards, comic books, Garbage Pail Kids, repurposed G.I.Joes (don’t ask), etc. etc. I had my own black satchel, stuffed with the stock of my mobile mercantile. I carried the bag everywhere I went and considered it at least thrice as important as my schoolbag.
I opened my first bank account when I was twelve. The bank’s official policy was thirteen, but our family flower shop was spitting distance from the bank, and since our store had an account, the manager agreed to make an exception.
The remainder of my meandering years in school hold countless stories for different days. I squirmed my way through every second, finished left early, and bought my first business at 18. Fast forward a decade and a half until one day I suddenly found myself unearthing a calling that had been buried beneath the detritus of past decades dissipated.
I’ve been thinking like a businessman a lot longer than I’ve been thinking like a writer. Now I know what must be done and I’m building a bridge to balance my abilities.
About Sean Platt
Blogging/e-marketing is one perfect way of blending your skills together and we’re all grateful you do. Good writing and presentation make Blogopolis stand out, so now we just need to get your Writing Dad material onto the New York Times best seller list and making money for you and your family. It’ll happen!
Blogging/e-marketing is one perfect way of blending your skills together and we’re all grateful you do. Good writing and presentation make Blogopolis stand out, so now we just need to get your Writing Dad material onto the New York Times best seller list and making money for you and your family. It’ll happen!
It’s nice that you can combine both talents here. :)
GreenJello’s last blog post..Texting Conversation
It’s nice that you can combine both talents here. :)
GreenJello’s last blog post..Texting Conversation
Last night I was wondering if I’m really a writer, or what – slogging through an unfinished-yet-already-at-195,00-word monster can do that to a body. Anyway, I decided that I’m a storyteller, which (I think) allows me the room to include music as well as the written word (songs can be stories, too).
I think you do a fine job of melding your skills – now, it’s a matter of getting the marketing to take so people with actual dollars to spend (unlike certain blogger gals who come over here and sit on their duffs, eat all your cookies and drink all the Tang)(Ahem) to notice you. As I have no head for business, I shall be watching how you go in case it can rub off.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
Kyddryn’s last blog post..The Gallery Show, Green Animals Topiary Garden
Last night I was wondering if I’m really a writer, or what – slogging through an unfinished-yet-already-at-195,00-word monster can do that to a body. Anyway, I decided that I’m a storyteller, which (I think) allows me the room to include music as well as the written word (songs can be stories, too).
I think you do a fine job of melding your skills – now, it’s a matter of getting the marketing to take so people with actual dollars to spend (unlike certain blogger gals who come over here and sit on their duffs, eat all your cookies and drink all the Tang)(Ahem) to notice you. As I have no head for business, I shall be watching how you go in case it can rub off.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
Kyddryn’s last blog post..The Gallery Show, Green Animals Topiary Garden
I am a writer, a photographer, a business-owner…and an accountant. It is awesome when you can balance it all :)
Angella’s last blog post..Grace In Small Things: Cinq
I am a writer, a photographer, a business-owner…and an accountant. It is awesome when you can balance it all :)
Angella’s last blog post..Grace In Small Things: Cinq
Great post Sean, and one I can empathize with. I’m all too familiar with the state of our public schools (as a matter of fact, my parents pulled me out of our local school when I was young and homeschooled me).
As to the businessman, writer question — well, that’s one I’ve dealt with too and I’ve realized along the way that when I try to write for business it really takes all the passion out of it. Writing, for me, is an emotional outlet and to try to sell that almost seems like a prostitution of a talent. Business on the other hand, can add variety and flavor to not only our lives but our writing.
You seem to be doing well and I enjoy following your blog.
Bri’s last blog post..The Creative Dating Dynamic
Great post Sean, and one I can empathize with. I’m all too familiar with the state of our public schools (as a matter of fact, my parents pulled me out of our local school when I was young and homeschooled me).
As to the businessman, writer question — well, that’s one I’ve dealt with too and I’ve realized along the way that when I try to write for business it really takes all the passion out of it. Writing, for me, is an emotional outlet and to try to sell that almost seems like a prostitution of a talent. Business on the other hand, can add variety and flavor to not only our lives but our writing.
You seem to be doing well and I enjoy following your blog.
Bri’s last blog post..The Creative Dating Dynamic
I have a very small head for business but I can write (or so I’m told). Don’t underestimate the position you find yourself in and you will go far.
As for my school, I absolutely loved every day of it, would go back in an instant if it were possible :)
Marc – WelshScribe’s last blog post..Who Are You Talking To?
I have a very small head for business but I can write (or so I’m told). Don’t underestimate the position you find yourself in and you will go far.
As for my school, I absolutely loved every day of it, would go back in an instant if it were possible :)
Marc – WelshScribe’s last blog post..Who Are You Talking To?
I agree with what others have said – it’s great that you get to be both. And, being a businessman first is crucial for online success.
Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post..A Community For Good-Looking People
I agree with what others have said – it’s great that you get to be both. And, being a businessman first is crucial for online success.
Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post..A Community For Good-Looking People
I’m a crazy teacher. It’s my gift. I teach in unusual ways and would never NEVER tell someone to accept mediocrity. OMG! Send her to the teacher gallows! ( I hate when teachers give us a bad name!)
God gifts us in different ways. We know it when we hit that niche. You’re in yours Sean. He’ll make a way for you to express it so don’t give up! I can’t wait to see what your plan is!
I’m a crazy teacher. It’s my gift. I teach in unusual ways and would never NEVER tell someone to accept mediocrity. OMG! Send her to the teacher gallows! ( I hate when teachers give us a bad name!)
God gifts us in different ways. We know it when we hit that niche. You’re in yours Sean. He’ll make a way for you to express it so don’t give up! I can’t wait to see what your plan is!
I remember saying this at some point. Just wanted to mention that.
Tis cool though.
Matthew Dryden’s last blog post..Connections
I remember saying this at some point. Just wanted to mention that.
Tis cool though.
Matthew Dryden’s last blog post..Connections
Hi Sean,
Enjoyed your post. I believe that we always slap a label on ourselves and try to define who we are. We can have a variety of interests, seemingly unrelated, but yet be passionate about all of them. It may seem like we’re spreading ourselves thin but if you think about it, great artists like DaVinci and others were also astronomers and scientists besides being renowned artists. Like Angella, I’m an accountant by education but love photography, art, interior design, and am now, a wanna-be blogger. It’s fascinating how interests evolve over time.
Nithya’s last blog post..Courage is Vision
Hi Sean,
Enjoyed your post. I believe that we always slap a label on ourselves and try to define who we are. We can have a variety of interests, seemingly unrelated, but yet be passionate about all of them. It may seem like we’re spreading ourselves thin but if you think about it, great artists like DaVinci and others were also astronomers and scientists besides being renowned artists. Like Angella, I’m an accountant by education but love photography, art, interior design, and am now, a wanna-be blogger. It’s fascinating how interests evolve over time.
Nithya’s last blog post..Courage is Vision
It has recently been determined that I am The Human Money Repellent and am not allowed to try to sell anything any more. So now I edit for money and write for my blog.
I think being a writer/businessman or even a businessman/writer is pretty great. Make the bridge and you will bust through the myth of the starving writer.
Angelina’s last blog post..Mostly In The Kitchen
It has recently been determined that I am The Human Money Repellent and am not allowed to try to sell anything any more. So now I edit for money and write for my blog.
I think being a writer/businessman or even a businessman/writer is pretty great. Make the bridge and you will bust through the myth of the starving writer.
Angelina’s last blog post..Mostly In The Kitchen
This post touched me on two levels.
First, as a teacher, I don’t want to be the cause of some child having to sit there in class “Bored silly and drifting through days without challenge.”
Second, I’m the mother of a boy who sits there “Bored silly and drifting through days without challenge.”
You talked about the private school you attended as being a place where your “brain was given breath.” Would you tell me what types of things that school did that helped you to feel alive? How did you spend your days there? What made the difference for you?
Randi’s last blog post..Little Men
This post touched me on two levels.
First, as a teacher, I don’t want to be the cause of some child having to sit there in class “Bored silly and drifting through days without challenge.”
Second, I’m the mother of a boy who sits there “Bored silly and drifting through days without challenge.”
You talked about the private school you attended as being a place where your “brain was given breath.” Would you tell me what types of things that school did that helped you to feel alive? How did you spend your days there? What made the difference for you?
Randi’s last blog post..Little Men
Janice: I’m working on it. Thanks for all your support as well. It’s noticed and appreciated. The final sentence is a hint of something to come Monday.
GreenJello: I kind of do, but I can definitely do that better.
Kyddryn: You are indeed a writer Kyddryn, as well as a story teller (even if those stories are sometimes just a tray of food). I hope I have something worthy to show you.
Angela: I’m still trying to find equilibrium, but I do think I’m getting better at it everyday.
Bri: Thanks for the compliments. I just make it a game. I’ve been hired to write some pretty boring copy, but I just do your best to approach the material with a sense of humor. It’s almost like getting into character. I pretend that I’m really an enthusiast of whatever it is I’m writing. I use exclamation points in places that would make me otherwise cringe. The finished product fits the material and makes me proud of what I’ve done.
Marc: Lucky. : > )
Vered: Indeed.
Laurie: I’ve no intention of leaving the table one minute before I have to.
Matthew: Send me the link and I’ll share it at the foot of the post.
Nithya: Very true. If there was ever a fellow human to aspire to more worthy than Da Vinci, I’ve never read his name.
Angelina: I work on it every single day.
Randi: Oh, we did everything. We had music, art, reading, writing, a little computer time (and these were ancient Texas Instruments first computer ever computers). It was an all day program as well as school, so in the late afternoon we’d watch movies. Most important, they gave us a lot of language, the essential thing all children need, yet few receive in true abundance. Every person I’ve run into since I left that school, who went there as well, has been a high functioning, successful person. It was in a low income neighborhood, but it wasn’t about putting on a show, it was about teaching small children. The fact that there were no grades was awesome.
Janice: I’m working on it. Thanks for all your support as well. It’s noticed and appreciated. The final sentence is a hint of something to come Monday.
GreenJello: I kind of do, but I can definitely do that better.
Kyddryn: You are indeed a writer Kyddryn, as well as a story teller (even if those stories are sometimes just a tray of food). I hope I have something worthy to show you.
Angela: I’m still trying to find equilibrium, but I do think I’m getting better at it everyday.
Bri: Thanks for the compliments. I just make it a game. I’ve been hired to write some pretty boring copy, but I just do your best to approach the material with a sense of humor. It’s almost like getting into character. I pretend that I’m really an enthusiast of whatever it is I’m writing. I use exclamation points in places that would make me otherwise cringe. The finished product fits the material and makes me proud of what I’ve done.
Marc: Lucky. : > )
Vered: Indeed.
Laurie: I’ve no intention of leaving the table one minute before I have to.
Matthew: Send me the link and I’ll share it at the foot of the post.
Nithya: Very true. If there was ever a fellow human to aspire to more worthy than Da Vinci, I’ve never read his name.
Angelina: I work on it every single day.
Randi: Oh, we did everything. We had music, art, reading, writing, a little computer time (and these were ancient Texas Instruments first computer ever computers). It was an all day program as well as school, so in the late afternoon we’d watch movies. Most important, they gave us a lot of language, the essential thing all children need, yet few receive in true abundance. Every person I’ve run into since I left that school, who went there as well, has been a high functioning, successful person. It was in a low income neighborhood, but it wasn’t about putting on a show, it was about teaching small children. The fact that there were no grades was awesome.