Fred Newton stepped into the Mississippi River in July of 1930 and aimed to become the first man to swim from Minneapolis to New Orleans and therefore swim the entire length of the river.
He swam through manure and freezing waters and finally, he arrived in New Orleans in December of that year-three months later than his projection.
This incredible feat of endurance and fortitude earned Newton little more than the world record. He lived his life as an insurance salesman and later as a business owner.
The story reminds me of my artistic roots. Not everything you do has to make you money or garner fame. Not everybody has to “like” it for it to be good work. Nobody on Facebook or Instagram had anything to say about Fred Newton, yet he still put in the work and saw the project through to completion.
Do the work in the dark and let the fame decide if she comes or not.