Claim your enthusiasm.
Try-hard? Try harder.
It’s been over a year since I made the decision to turn my back on traditional work and committed to networking and writing every single day. I’ve written shitty draft after shitty draft, met hundreds of people and made thousands of notes, and I’ve pressed publish on Substack more times than I ever thought I would.
I love what I’m doing and wouldn’t have it any other way, but I must admit that sometimes it’s hard being a person on the internet who writes stories steeped in vulnerability and shares ideas that, more than once, have been ripped apart by faceless keyboard warriors. It’s also hard building a career that doesn’t fit neatly into a box that my LinkedIn feed can easily understand.
Whenever I’m in a social setting and someone asks ‘what do you do?’, my body fills with dread. Never sure how to clearly articulate the millions of things I’m working on, I casually brush off the question and mumble ‘oh…I write this little newsletter’ or ‘I’m an ex-Founder working with startups, I mentor and am also building something on the side’.
Unsure how to frame it up, I’ve played my achievements and commitments down.
I don’t tell people about my big dream to start a movement that empowers people to build lives and careers on their own terms. I don’t tell them that writing feels like my calling, and that I spend most nights pouring over the pages of my favourite authors, dissecting their unique styles and tones like I’m a modern day Sherlock Holmes. Nor do I share that I’m up at 7am most mornings talking to startups and founders in the US because I know that’s where dreams are built and made. I hold back because I’m scared of appearing slightly unhinged or deranged while playing my ridiculous, grandiose game.
I try not to be a try-hard, all while trying very hard because I refuse to let the fear of other people’s judgements win. Wondering ‘what if’ for eternity is a price I’m not willing to pay.
So here I am. A try-hard. Claiming my power and owning my dreams. I’m no longer treading softly, holding back or acting small, because life’s too damn short not to pursue a wild and wonderful vision of being a writer or artist or founder or parent or leader or President or CEO or creator…or of having a portfolio made up of any or all of the above.
So here’s to stepping into our power and owning what’s ours.
Because we’re not here to curb our enthusiasm.
We’re here to CLAIM IT.
🎧 Why I’ve decided to ‘claim my enthusiasm’ for my portfolio career:
The Aussie artistic legend who inspired me to write this week’s newsletter [0:20]
How she gave the finger to the traditional art world and decided to do things her own way [0:53]
Why I’ve been too scared to call myself a writer up until this point [2:06]
My decision to lean into this whole portfolio career topic and own it [2:46]
Why you should claim your enthusiasm too! [3:56]
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I am so grateful I found you and your words. I love everything you are doing and since being tagged in your substack I have gone down the Anna rabbit hole and want more! Let's be try-hards together because like you, I think there is a way have an 'unconventional' career that gives us meaning and lights our souls on fire!
So inspiring, thanks for sharing Anna. Got goosebumps listening to that last line, loved the audio! I didn't think about doing this but will try recording myself in the future, it's a nice touch. Fun fact, I used to work on Curb Your Enthusiasm as a sound editor back in the day. This hit home.