I just finished a book. I'm quite proud of it. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I want it to be successful. I want people to recognize my talent and unique point of view. Is that so wrong?
During tonight's Speak Away conversation, we came to a unanimous decision: we want our efforts to be recognized. Whether it's a nice dinner we've cooked for the family, long nights of studying to become an engineer, or the brilliant podcast we formed - we want to succeed, and we want others to recognize it.
But what about someone like Emily Bronte, writer of the violent and passionate 1847 novel Wuthering Heights. She wrote in secrecy, under the pen name Acton Bell, and died soon after publication. Was she writing for fame and recognition, or something else?
This seems to beg the question: Where does your motivation really come from? What do you strive toward without seeking recognition?