From the Inspirational Thought Unit
This week I launched a kickstarter for a book I believed in, but wasn't sure would be accepted like my past work. I've sold a lot of DRAWINGS books (for an indie self publisher) and it made sense to do another DRAWINGS book. I've also sold a lot of comics. It made sense to do another graphic novel. But this hybrid thing that is Kepler's Intergalactic Guide to Spaceships seemed risky.
The ONLY way I would know for sure was to buckle up and make a pitch to people that this thing was worth their time and attention. That takes some courage.
"Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one's better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk—and to act." -André Malraux
Betting on your ideas is still a bet. Sometimes you lose. At the end of the day though, losing a bet with yourself is still a win. You get knowledge on what works and what doesn't. You still get experience. You still grow. Most importantly you exercise that courage muscle.
The alternative is the "sure thing." Which gives expected results, expected experience, and sure, growth (maybe?). The worst part though is your courage muscles atrophy. Some day you'll want them, even need them and you'll wish you had the strength to take the bet.
-Jake