Choose Your Own Path, Not Someone Else's

I used to study Christopher Nolan's career obsessively. How he made Following on weekends with friends, used those profits to fund Memento, worked his way up from seemingly nothing. I thought if I could just follow the same steps, I'd get somewhere similar.

Same with Trent Reznor. He worked at a recording studio and stayed late to use the equipment for his own projects. Built Nine Inch Nails from the ground up. Maybe I should get a job at a studio, I'd think.

Brian Eno somehow became the "non-musician" and godfather of ambient music. The instruments and techniques he used were just being pioneered.

I'm never going to be Christopher Nolan. I'm never going to be Trent Reznor, or Brian Eno. The world already has them. But the paths looks possible, if you can only repeat the same steps (so it seems).

The problem with comparison is that it's never equal, and the problem with trying to follow someone else's steps is it's never the same. You're comparing your puzzle pieces to someone else's completely different puzzle. It only breeds anxiety and keeps you from actually doing anything. I've wasted so much time doing this.

I don't have this figured out yet. But I think it's the right thing to be observing and honest about.