The 3rd Annual Billtown Film Festival is less than a month away. Every year around this time I get a little crazy. I start worrying and fretting about numerous potential disasters. But I have good friends that come to the rescue, literally. My friend Anna Alford gave me a bit of advice that I would like to pass on…
I was whining that I am having difficulty encouraging others to join me in my vision: A bustling, dynamic film festival in Williamsport. I see great potential. I see Williamsport as a destination city. I see the creation of new jobs. I see hundreds of thousands of dollars coming into the city. I see a film festival that not only entertains but informs as well. I see movie stars and major film producers walking our streets.
But Anna said, “Richard, only you can see these things. When you compare your vision to the reality you become disappointed. Don’t be. The view from outside it that the Billtown Film Festival is successful and growing! We can’t see what you see, but what we do see, looks good!”
In a Facebook posting to me, Anna wrote:
Here’s the source for the idea I shared with you last night: “But other people do not know what you imagined. They only know what they read or see or hear, and for them, the thing you have made may well be wonderful.” (see link below)
I wrote back: I get it. I won’t be so hard on myself. I’ll still aim high and if I miss, the people around me will think I still hit the target.
I remember I was playing 8-ball with a buddy many years ago. He was pretty good and I thought I was going to lose 5 bucks. He made a critical error on the last shot, missing the 8-ball. Unfortunately for me, he left me with a nearly impossible position. The cue ball and the 8-ball were at opposite ends of the pool table just a few inches from the rails. In my mind I envisioned a bank shot to a corner pocket. I called it. (You have declare the shot that you are going to make. I said “Corner pocket” without actually describing how I was going to do it.)
It was a hard shot. Only the best pool players could make it.
However, I lost control of the cue stick just as it struck the cue ball! We both watched in amazement as the cue ball left the table and flew through the air. My buddy laughed. He thought the game was over. My heart sunk. My fiver was a goner.
But something strange happened. The cue ball arced over the table and bounced off the rear rail hitting 8-ball from behind! The 8-ball fell into the pocket as I claimed it would.
For a moment we both stood there motionless. I picked up my 5 – and his 5 and smiled.
My buddy was not happy and asked for rematch. I declined.
He said that it was a sloppy luck shot. He said that I cheated. I said matter-of-factly, “It went where I said it would go. I win.”
He was right. It was a totally lucky shot. Maybe he thought that I was the best pool player that ever lived, I don’t know. Only I knew the truth. (Now you know. But don’t tell my buddy, he didn’t know what I had envisioned. This will be our secret.)
http://neil-gaiman.tumblr.com/post/19682431271/how-do-you-get-over-the-fear-of-failing-ive-always
