Doing Your Own Thing - It's A Leap Of Fate

An Open Letter To Those Who Are Contemplating Making The Jump To Control Their Own Destiny

By David Miranda

It's inevitable for those with talent and experience to ponder the possibility of "doing your own thing". It is the most exciting (and scary) consideration in anyone's life. Musings, however, are plagued with self-doubt, timing, fear of the unknown, fear of failure and on and on and on. Those with steady and fruitful employment consider the security of the steady paycheck and the natural procrastination that ensues by rationalizing that it might be better to consider it at some future date when they have more money in the bank account and more experience under their belts.

Although one should always consider the practical side of going out on your own, it is, generally, this thing called fate that is the most powerful influencer in controlling one's own destiny. Think about your own life up to this point. Chances are you are where you are because of a serendipity of people, events, circumstances and the resulting choices you made - not some master plan you developed.

There are two types of people in the world - those that just dream and those that make their dreams come true. Walt Disney, the great dream maker, once said "You can dream, create, and build the most wonderful thing in the world, but its takes people to make the dream a reality."

Take marketing, for example.

The traditional marketing model (TV, radio, print, etc) is broken and a new marketing landscape is being created before our very eyes; enabled by new techology and a myriad of marketing media and channels. Brands, both large and small, are desperately searching for new creative ways to reach a harder-to-reach audiences. In this environment, those with the talent and experience will prosper. So go prosper.

Bottom line for those considering the jump from employee to employer - do it now before you become too comfy and risk-averse. It should be noted that the older one gets, the least likely one is to do it. That's why you meet a lot of old people using language like "I was gonna" or "I should've" or "I wish I had" as they look in that rear view mirror called hindsight.

So take that leap of fate into the marketing pool of opportunity. The water's great.