Dying on Treadmills

I recently came across a Will Smith collection of interview moments.  You can watch it HERE if you are interested.  In these clips, Will Smith talks about his belief about personal greatness.

He says, “There is no reason to have a Plan B, because it distracts from Plan A.”

I’m going to paraphrase the next bit:

Will Smith says the only difference between himself and say, me, is that he’s willing to die on a treadmill.  I might keep going on the treadmill next to him, and I might get tired and stop.  But if I keep going, he’s darn well willing to die on that treadmill!

Now, I’m no Will Smith, but I can relate to his drive to succeed.  In the arts, those who make it are never overnight successes.  There is no such thing.  People succeed because they are just dumb enough, or bull headed enough to keep trying after all the logical, sane, balanced people have stopped. Of course, I believe in keeping my priorities straight.  My family comes first.  Every time.  No exceptions.  But when it comes to my writing, I’m willing to write as many full novels as it takes to get me into the market of my choice.  I’m willing be rejected as many times as it takes.  I’m willing to push myself and keep those books churning out.

The hope?  The hope is that I manage to “make it” in a bigger way than I’m making it now.  They say that writers don’t retire, they die.  So I guess you could say that I’m committed enough to die on the treadmill!  I don’t have a Plan B.  Here’s hoping that works out for me!

But I can pretty much guarantee you that Will Smith’s suit will cost more than any car I drive.  I’ll just be happy to keel over on his treadmill.