3 Boring Elements of Success

Jane at AWP 2011
Jane moderating AWP 2011 transmedia panel

I don’t think my age is a secret, but just to be clear: I’m 34.

Sometimes when I speak at conferences, people say they expected someone older. I’ve been hearing this since 2002.

I think there are a variety of reasons for this—not least among them that many decision makers in publishing are younger than what you’d expect—but I did attain a significant position by the age of 30.

How did that happen?

It’s not talent or smarts.

No, the conclusion I’ve come to is that it has been about these 3 things:

1. Being extraordinarily focused and stable in my career direction
I stayed in one place for a long time (F+W Media, 12 years). I outlasted a lot of other people and gained more responsibility as the years passed. I focused on developing my skills in a very specific area, and I didn’t waste energy on anything but that one, single passion: publishing (or: writing/editing).

 2. Being dedicated and consistent. This is nearly the same as No. 1, but relates to what I pushed out to the world, or my external-facing career. When I started a blog, it wasn’t immediately successful. But I stuck with it, and I improved my skills. Same with speaking at events, same with Facebook, same with Twitter, same with other stuff that isn’t yet fruitful.

Not every effort can be a winning one, but most ventures require patience for them to pay off. Given that we live in an environment of instant gratification, people who can see things through are often the ones who get a return on their time and energy.

3. Being aware of trends & industry
I’ve always loved reading news and opinions about the publishing industry. I seek out stories about who’s succeeding, or who’s pushing the envelope. When you read trend stories year after year after year, even if you can’t articulate it, you’re learning something fundamental about how the industry operates, and where it’s going. You’re soaking up the DNA of the industry, the texture and context of every decision, success and failure.

 

What I’m Still Missing
I have a mile-long list of things I’ve wanted to do, but haven’t. Why? Here are the 2 biggest weaknesses I battle.

1. Discipline
I am the most undisciplined accomplished person you will ever meet. I procrastinate, I waste amazing amounts of time (e.g., watching 8 episodes of Battlestar Galactica in one night), I am rarely strategic with projects since I wait until last minute.

2. Time to really think about breaking the rules
My blog is called There Are No Rules, yet I find myself short on time—due to No. 1!—which means I will rush without having time to truly think about how I can do something innovative. For me, meaningful, groundbreaking work takes solitude, quiet time (to write/sketch), focused reading across diverse fields, experimentation. It requires time to fail (planned time to fail).

All that said: I make it a point to enjoy myself. So I seek gentle self-coercion tactics to be more disciplined, so I can plan more carefully, so I can fail in time to be more effective and innovative.

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Greg Ioannou

Ha! I just assumed that you were older than you looked.

Jane Friedman

LOL. I think that happens a lot.

Maureen Rank

Jane, I’ve coached for Fortune 500 execs, and you should know you’ve just given yourself excellent insight and advice — and saved yourself hundreds of dollars by “insourcing” this! Good work.

Jane Friedman

Wow! Good to know. 🙂

Becky Levine

Jane, I read this earlier & then, after a conversation I had with my husband, I had to come back and comment. I was talking about how I wouldn’t mind having just a little bit of Jane Addams’ get-all-this-done ability. His comment was that she was extremely focused. And I said I didn’t think so–not in the sense of going away for seven hours & working on one thing. I think she could carry a baby around on her hip and handle about 16 other things at the same time, BIG things. I think she was someone who somehow managed to see the big picture and handle all the little details of all the PIECES of that picture, simultaneously. And she enjoyed herself. So, honestly, I think you might be in some very good company!

Jane Friedman

That certainly gives me hope—and a little more acceptance of my lack of focus some days! Thank you. 🙂

Richard Gilbert

From your wisdom in this blog, which I recently discovered and am really enjoying, I thought you were a lot older, too.

Great post. And it’s so great to get different snippets from friends and bloggers about what AWP this year was like. I have not been in a couple, myself.

Jane Friedman

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope we cross paths at a future AWP.

Jill Kemerer

Your top three list has me nodding. It’s all about working hard and working smart, isn’t it? Perfection, though, is not in the cards!

Jane Friedman

Agree!

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Anonymous

I’m really glad to hear you, too, struggle with procrastination, etc., because I was beginning to wonder if you were some sort of demon!

Jane Friedman

🙂

Shari Lopatin

Jane,

This is an incredibly uplifting blog post for me. Why? I’m 28. I’ve been published (as a journalist) in local magazines, as well as national magazines. I started my career as a newspaper reporter and won two Associated Press awards by the time I was 25. I now work as the main health writer for a large company based out of Arizona and helped develop its social media marketing strategy.

BUT, I’m just starting the journey of making myself my own writer, my own “brand.” I’m working on a novel and trying to write and publish some short stories in reputable literary magazines. I started a blog less than a year ago, I’m on Twitter, but sometimes I get frustrated with building a truly engaged following. Seeing someone such as yourself who reminds me that she did gain success, but only after lots of follow-through, is a huge help. It helps lift me up when I think I’m not going anywhere.

Thank you!

You have yourself a new subscriber to your sporadic newsletter. 🙂

Shari Lopatin

Jane Friedman

YES!! I’m so glad you stumbled on this post. Stay passionate & persistent. It will pay off.

Susannabarlow8

Thanks for writing about the publishing world. It is a ever changing industry that is a mystery to me. I decided to take your advice and just keep reading and learning.

Michelle D. Keyes

It’s so nice to hear about someone my age, who has had some success. In my twenties I firmly believed that I would be in my fifties before I would ever be published or be able to actually call myself a writer. Thankfully, at 31, I have my official first CV and writing clips. It’s nice to know perseverance, dedication, and good-old-fashioned hard work still pay off when you hear so many people talk about how difficult the publishing industry is. Thanks for the dose of hope!

Jane Friedman

Absolutely, it DOES pay off. Thanks for taking time to share your experience here. 🙂