The life lesson: following your heart may be the fastest route to fame and fortune! The successful woman: J.K. Rowling, whose goal was to write what she loved and amuse herself in the process – not to make a million bucks or become famous. The icing on the cake? Her wildly successful Harry Potter books and movies.
I don’t think achieving fast fame and fortune should be any woman’s ultimate goal. We need to learn to follow our hearts – and be open to the possibility that fame and fortune could find us!
If your heart is set on being a famous writer, actor, or celebrity, click on How I Became a Famous Novelist for Steve Hely’s story (he’s an Emmy-award winning TV writer and book author). And, read on to learn how to follow your heart to fame and fortune, based on info from Marc Shapiro’s J.K. Rowling: The Wizard Behind the Harry Potter.
How to Follow Your Heart to Fame and Fortune – J.K. Rowling
Do what amuses you – and find a way to get paid for it. “I just write what I want to write,” says Rowling. “I write what amuses me. I never in my wildest dreams expected this popularity.” What are you doing when you lose track of time? What can you do for hours – and walk away feeling energized? Can you find a way to earn money from it? Those are the questions to focus on. Then, whether fame and fortune follows you or not, you’ll be happy!
Be selfish. Carve time out of your day to follow your heart. “In an ideal day, I’ll work six to ten hours,” says Rowling. “But now I’m fighting to get the time to write. I use cafes like offices and I try to get away from the house whenever possible.” That’s why she’s a successful woman: she knows what she loves – and she finds time to do it. If you struggle with procrastination, read 7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination at Work – Sarah Ban Breathnach.
Nourish your compulsion. “I literally don’t feel quite right if I haven’t written for awhile,” says Rowling. “A week is about as long as I can go without getting extremely edgy. It really is a compulsion.” Her compulsion to write isn’t necessarily something she was born with. Her writing habit grew: the more she wrote, the more she wanted to write. If you want to follow your heart to fame and fortune like J.K. Rowling, you need to make it part of who you are. Do you need a push? Go to 10 Habits of Highly Successful Women.
Remember that this, too, will pass. “[Fame] will go away. That’s the nature of the game,” says Rowling. “And when it does I believe I will be happy. And I will have fond memories of the time I was famous.” Whatever you’re dealing with — the struggle to do what you love, a physical or emotional illness that holds you back, a family or job that occupies all your time — remember that it will pass. You will one day be in a position to follow your heart…whether it’s towards fame, or away from fame, like J.K. Rowling knows will happen one day.
For more info about J.K. Rowling, read J. K. Rowling: The Wizard Behind Harry Potter
What do you think of these life lessons about following your heart to fame and fortune from J.K. Rowling? I welcome your comments below!
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I know people wish this worked more often than it seems to. It is unfortunate that the world would not function if everyone did what they love for a living. (I really doubt that most people who make the products we buy everyday love working in the factory doing the same thing over and over all day – but where would we be if they didn’t work that job?)
That said, I’m glad that in most of the Western world a person can decide to give following their heart a try. J.K.Rowling is an inspiration for this, as are many others.
I loved this: “Her compulsion to write isn’t necessarily something she was born with. Her writing habit grew: the more she wrote, the more she wanted to write. If you want to follow your heart to fame and fortune like J.K. Rowling, you need to make it part of who you are.”
People keep asking me if writing is my passion. It has been becoming one over the last six years even though it hasn’t always been. I’m encouraged to know it can be something that grows.
Fame and fortune? Those are unpredictable, so not good goals. Deciding what is success for you then making that your goal is more realistic. Fame and fortune are serendipities. For me, being able to get published and paid for my writing is my goal. For me, it doesn’t even need to be a livable income, just enough to be able to say writing is my career.
Though, I don’t think I’d argue with fortune.
Sandra
We’re definitely on the same page about wanting to say that writing is our career, Sandra! For the past couple of years, my goal has always been to earn a living from writing. I never cared about fame or fortune; I just want to pay my bills. And, maybe buy a small house with a view of the ocean one day!
Fame and fortune are fickle creatures. Norman Rockefeller once said, “I don’t want all the land in the world. I just want every bit of land that touches mine.”
That’s how I see fame and fortune: a little bit isn’t never enough! Unless of course you define it first (eg, “I want my book to be on the New York Times book bestseller list for 6 months.”). Of course that brings you neither fame nor fortune!
You’re right; we’re lucky to live in this part of the world, which gives most of us the opportunity to follow our hearts to fame and fortune if we so desire.
Laurie
Laurie PK´s last blog post..How to Follow Your Heart to Fame and Fortune – J.K. Rowling
love it.thankyou
Thanks for being here, Amanda
I really appreciate your comments — especially to Jessie, over on “Letting Go of Other People’s Expectations.” I’m sure she was glad to hear what you had to say! I know I was touched.
Best wishes,
Laurie
Laurie PK´s last blog post..How Not to Lose Your Personal Identity in a Romantic Relationship