Little Bets
So I have a confession to make: I often enjoy some business-adjacent self-help-light content. There's a ton of crap in this area, but there's also some very small nuggets of wisdom. As someone almost habitually interested in reflection and introspection, the way some of these writers blur psychology, anthropology, life advice and career writing can sometimes (sometimes) really light me up.
When I was finishing University, way back in 2010/2011 I stumbled across something called "Early Retirement Extreme". It was a forum, and a book, all about anti-consumerism and DIY ethos so that people could decouple from a day job and live a more self-reliant and free life. While it may sound a bit trite, I really loved the humanistic contrarianism of it all: don't keep up with the Joneses, live for something more interesting. For most people in that community, more interesting meant like growing potatoes, busking, making art, reading a lot or learning to build things.
Since then I've shifted away from most of that thinking - the discipline and commitment needed just aren't things I really have - but I still enjoy reading the occasional book or article (or podcast) about the intersection of aspiration, career and reality. Life is a compromise, isn't it? None of us get everything we want - so how we make and live with those compromises, and what compromises we make become really fascinating to me.
A concept I've found useful is one of 'little bets'. Now I have to admit I've not actually read the book where this concept comes from, but the idea is that instead of making 'all or nothing' plays it's much more effective to have a couple of little bets. Instead of quitting it's perhaps more effective to drop a day of work. Instead of placing all your money on one thing, it can be more effective to spread it out. Instead of trying to become a stadium-gig-rock-star a better starting place might be an open mic, then a bar gig, then an opener, etc.
Sometimes we bite off more than we can chew. Often big bets take longer to pay off and, ironically, little bets can quickly become positive momentum. At a time where there's some economic uncertainty, a little bet may also give me some good protection if things go poorly.
Over the last week I've been thinking a bit more explicitly about this. After getting back from hospital, my workplace announced quite large cutbacks, about 10% of the workforce. The next day I got a phone call from my big boss: of the three people in my team, one of us will lose our job. After some thinking I decided it might be best if that was me. I don't really like my co-workers much and don't really believe in the work. For context I'm working in Online Education which is, I think, sort of a clear second best, vastly over-rated and probably contributing to sliding standards, achievement and the erosion of education.
Coming back to 'little bets' the question then is: do I quit and try and become a full time artist, or are there more reasonable little bets? Since I've already made a few little bets this year, it seems more effective to look for part time work, and continue to bring in more income through different artistic avenues. Ultimately, I'm quite tired by working for others - everything from the obsessive drive for futile metrics, to the pedantic fixation on consistency (a value neutral outcome if there ever was one), most of the culture of workplaces just pisses me off. I'd rather do my own thing, even if it's more risky and less safe.
So, what little bets have I made this year?
Tall Poppy Press is publishing four books (last year we published two), the edition of one or two of these will likely be higher than previous. One is a safe bet, two are standard bets, the last is a bigger bet. But this comes off a pretty successful 18 months so one larger bet feels appropriate.
I'm teaching a bunch of workshops - which is new for me - and working hard to ensure these are valuable for participants. This is a good time to spruik one coming up in March in Melbourne (and another in April in Perth!).
I've started a book fair, happening March 18+19 in Melbourne, and am attending at least one overseas book fair to try and sell lots of books. I'll be at Singapore Art Book Fair in April.
I'm, I hope, writing a big article for Australian Geographic. This has been in the works for ages - we're waiting for a court case outcome as a woman has been killing lots of eagles, as soon as the outcome is locked in then the article work begins. I'm also trying to drum up more paid writing work - so if you have any going, need a hand or know anyone looking for some non-fiction writers please let me know.
Trying to step down to 3 or 4 days a week at my day job (whatever that is) and freeing up more time for art making, paid art work and collaboration.
So those are some little bets I'm making. In a lot of ways this ethos comes from Early Retirement Extreme, which was all about living a life that felt interesting and free. To me, freedom is really open time - the option to go and do what I want when I want. Mostly what I want to do is go for walks, drives or cook, so freedom (for me) is usually just free time. It's a very lucky position to be in not only because it's attainable, but also because, well, I live in a peaceful country and I'm a person who isn't discriminated against. I suppose what I'm driving at is my privilege and relatively modest aspirations mean that the life I want to live isn't too far away, and it's worth trying to get there.
Till next week :)