How to succeed even if you're not the best

I heard a comedy writer once say that he got out of stand up comedy because he heard a famous comedian's act and he thought "I'll never be as good as that guy." So he left standup comedy, and went into comedy writing. On the one hand, that's nuts to get out of something that you really want to do just because you won't ever be at the tip top. Not every comedian can be Jerry Seinfeld, but if you want to do it, you should still do it! But he did something that was not nuts . . . he found another way to work in comedy, that he felt comfortable in.

This week I'm talking tips for how to succeed at something even if you aren't the best, and never will be. I'm not the highest paid comedian, I'm not the funniest comedian, but I still have made a GREAT living at it. My tip this week is to realize that you don't have to be the top person in your field in order to work in it - there is room for everyone at all levels. AND you can always find other related avenues to work in. For me it was the corporate arena – it's not that I didn't want to compete in comedy clubs, but I over 30 when I started working in the clubs – and so I had less energy than some of the other acts. I enjoyed the comedy clubs, and did make a decent living at it, but I really excelled when I got into the corporate market, and so that's where I focused my efforts.

ACTION:  Never avoid doing something that you want to do just because you may never be the best. Go ahead and do it, and keep your eyes open to see what other areas might suit you that are still in line with what you want to do. I didn't even know I could make a living in the corporate market until I took the plunge into comedy clubs.

That's it for today. Take care and enjoy your journey.