“Nobody can tell you if what you’re doing is good, meaningful or worthwhile. The more compelling the path, the more lonely it is.” Hugh MacLeod in IGNORE EVERYBODY.
Only you know what’s right for you, so ignore everybody else. This includes family, friends and the smartest guru in town.
Most of us are unknowingly trained to NOT trust in our own judgment. Our parents made decisions for us, our teachers told us how things should be done, and society has its own rules on what is right and wrong.
After being beat down by authority for years on end, many people just become one of the sheep. They follow the status quo. It’s easier that way.
The wolfs, also known as the stubborn trouble makers (I was one) tend to have their own ideas of how things should be. They stand away from the crowd, make waves and piss a lot of people off. But they also find great happiness, because they follow their own dreams and make their own plans. Their lives tend to end up just the way they want them to.
Wolfs trust in their own desires. They lean towards the professions that they were meant (made) to do. Wolfs are the innovators, the inventors and artists and writers. They ignore everybody. They have to or they’d never get things done.
There’s a price for ignoring everybody: You’ll become the lonely wolf, separated from the bored sheeples.
But there’s great payment that you’ll receive for trusting in yourself: Success, happiness and sometimes a lot of money. And you’ll get in the habit of tapping into your intuition, your own brain and your passions, which will lead to more success.
Making sense of modern life, Hugh MacLeod’s cartoon drawings on the back of business cards get to the heart of the truth. Hugh’s art is simple and often delightfully offensive.
Though his artwork has not been recognized by the New York art gallery mafia (his term), he’s captured the hearts of millions of people with his art and his Best Selling Book IGNORE EVERYBODY.
I’m glad to say that his success has made a mockery of every person who told him that drawing on the back of business cards is meaningless.
Hugh’s book, IGNORE EVERYBODY, will inspire you to be more like a Wolf than a Sheep. And the world needs less sheep.
Here’s a (shortened) excerpt from the first chapter of IGNORE EVERYBODY:1. Ignore everybody.
The more original your idea is, the less good advice other people will be able to give you. When I first started with the cartoon-on-back-of-bizcard format, people thought I was nuts…
You don’t know if your idea is any good the moment it’s created. Neither does anyone else. The most you can hope for is a strong gut feeling that it is. And trusting your feelings is not as easy as the optimists say it is. There’s a reason why feelings scare us.
And asking close friends never works quite as well as you hope, either. It’s not that they deliberately want to be unhelpful. It’s just they don’t know your world one millionth as well as you know your world, no matter how hard they try, no matter how hard you try to explain…
…Good ideas come with a heavy burden. Which is why so few people have them. So few people can handle it.
If you’re going to get anywhere with your crazy, ass-backwards ideas, you really have to just do things your own way. That means not caring what anyone else says, and if you do care, ignore them anyway.
This is hard for many humans to digest. Most people worry incessantly about what others think, and they sadly make their decisions based upon the opinions of losers who haven’t achieved anything for themselves.
Don’t be a SHEEPLE! (Sheeples follow the herd in a group-think mentality. Sheeples will make a decision, then change their minds once they hear from other sheeple that their idea is stupid. They can’t think for themselves.)
You don’t need confirmation from anyone else that you are doing the right thing.
THE PROBLEM WITH ASKING FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOUR IDEA IS GOOD
Nobody really KNOWS if it’s good. If Hugh MacLeod would have taken heart to those who laughed off his cartoons on the back of business cards, he wouldn’t be the artist-success story that he is now.
I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S GOOD. Often, I’ll have artists ask me to look at their artwork and tell them if they have a chance to succeed with it. Even if I think their art looks like a fourth grader painted it, I won’t tell them. Because how do I know if it’s going to make it or not?
I’m not going to crush a dream. When an artist asks if they stand a chance with their art, my standard answer is “It doesn’t matter what I think. The only thing that matters is how far you want to take it. It’s your choice.”
The main driving force for success isn’t just the greatness of the idea or the level of talent, it’s the PASSION and COMMITMENT and the TIME YOU PUT INTO IT. None of the other stuff matters as much. And no-one’s opinion matters. Except your own.
IT’S LONELY AT THE TOP: THE PRICE OF BEING A WOLF
It’s not all that lonely at the top. The only lonely part is that you alone have to make decisions for yourself. And that can be scary, but also liberating, because being fully responsible for your own success allows you to have more control over your own life. You get used to having that control with practice.
Often I dream of finding a wise person who can tell me what my next move should be. It’s very difficult cutting a new path with very little advice from others. But that wise person doesn’t exist, so I’ve become used to trusting in myself.
The founder of Virgin Atlantic, Richard Branson, is a wolf. But he doesn’t look very lonely. And trust me, he’s taken his share of criticism and crap from people over the years. He doesn’t let it stop him – he’s always having fun, embracing life, and laughing at the naysayers.
But Toby Myers is bored. He’s at home doing the same ‘ol same ‘ol. Every now and again he comes up with a brilliant idea and runs it by at least 14 friends, 12 of which shut it down. And so he goes back to watching T.V. and resigns himself to the will of the Sheeples. (What, you’ve never heard of Toby Myers?!)
Ironically, Hugh MacLeod’s art will not be taken seriously by the Art World anytime soon. Most critics and professionals aren’t able to recognize the brilliance of new art forms until at least a decade or two after everyone else gets it. Andy Warhol is a great example of this fact.
That’s why it’s a good thing that Hugh has decided to Ignore Everybody. Because that’s what it takes to get your nutty idea from no-where to somewhere. You can’t buy into what everyone else is doing. Sheeples don’t know what’s cool, they only know what everyone else thinks is cool.
I urge you to ignore everybody and cultivate a hard head and a strong backbone. Being stubborn is a trait shared by many successful people, and ignoring everyone but your own instinct can be very powerful.
Why don’t you go get a copy of IGNORE EVERYBODY and get inspired? And while you’re at it, check out Hugh MacLeod’s newsletter, in which he regularly delivers new ‘toons to your e-mail.
I wrote this blog post because Tyler Hurst, who, like most bloggers, came up with a unique idea to stimulate conversation and at the same time get other bloggers to cross-promote their blogs and the artwork of Hugh MacLeod. I am one of 100 people who signed up to choose my favorite cartoon out of the IGNORE EVERYBODY book. Thanks, Tyler Says, for allowing me to be a part of the 100!
Ignoring Everybody, Maria “the wolf” Brophy xxoo
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19 Responses
I guess you’re up at 2 am just like me! Doin’ Work! I love all of your blogs, just when I feeel a little twinge of questioning myself, every once in a while getting caught up on the anxiety of what others may think, and why I am up at 2 am (like right now haha), I get a little ray of hope in my e-mail! Thanks for the motivation and the hope that not getting sleep is totally worth it! This was a fun topic! :o)
Rebel Rebel……… Two Thumbs Up.
@Heather: Thanks for reading my stuff in the middle of the night! Ha!
Yes, we all worry about what others think. But it’s my absolute belief that everything and everyone is perfect just as they are….
@Dennis: Luv being a rebel, don’t you?!!!
Yes, I’m glad to read this article, for I am and always have been a lone wolf in my thinking, which (all your examples are male) is more difficult for a woman. It would be nice if you would include more examples of women artists in your articles. Do you know that the world population is 52% female and 48% male, but, IMO, males receive about 99% of the attention for what they do.
I don’t think Andy Warhol fits in the article as an example. I love his work, and the Andy Warhol Museum is the best art museum in the world–really, IMO. But Andy Warhol had tons of success, and recognition from the beginning. It is true that his amazing art is becoming more appreciated for what it really is by more….but Andy Warhol was always a style and trend SETTER and in a class by himself.
Marie, YES, you’re right, I should talk more about female artists. I didn’t realize I wasn’t until you pointed it out. I’ll be more mindful of that. (Although I do mention Hazel Dooney in a few different articles…)
Andy Warhol: I mentioned him because in the VERY beginning, nobody got what he was doing. It took awhile for the rest of the world to catch up to his ideas. And that’s what gives me inspiration to keep going even when people don’t get it!
I think I can’t *help* but stand out? I’ve ALWAYS been weird and completely unable to fit in. I tried really hard to please people but it’s completely impossible. I’m happy that I’ve mostly given that up. I’ve learned to embrace my uniqueness as a strength, not a weakness. Gotta work with what you got and flaunt it while you got it!
http://xkcd.com/137/
Just what I needed to “hear” this morning! Thanks for bringing on the encouragement and thoughtful insight!
Hi Maria
Came over from “Small Biz Bee” where you have written a guest post.
Great looking site you have here – love the subdued colours.
Being that lonely wolf is all about confidence, something that perhaps comes with age.
When I have an idea, I go for it – full out.
Of course it is nice to have support from family and friends.
So perhaps I’m not such a lonely wolf!
I’m definitely a wolf and proud of it!! hehe Love this post! Never heard it described quite like that! But you described not only my art career – but my LIFE! I don’t care what others think about what I do! They never quite “understand” it anyway! It’s not a 9 – 5…behind a desk…regular paycheck kind of thing! In life I do what I feel like doing – and not what others expect of me. I care what I think – and how I feel! I don’t “go along” with the norm – you might say! Or what’s “expected”! I fly my own path – and I have a great husband and family who love me for it! Happiness — your OWN happiness – is the secret to a great life! If others don’t understand – or get it – too bad! 🙂 I’ll take the lonely – but I do know a lot of other wolves that will keep me company when I need it! hehe Keep up the great posts Maria! I’m sharing this one with my artist friends! Take Care!
I completely agree with you in that you should not be afraid to stand out in the crown in what ever artistic values you have. My opinion is if they do not agree with me or my work then you know were you can take it you get what I mean don’t you.
The type of art I do is that of 3D wood carvings with a rustic painted result. I will use whatever material that I can get my hands on even it is twigs from the back yard. I hope to soon have some of my work online.
Kenneth Young
This is great advice! I like your blog. As an artist who doesn’t have a ton of artist friends in real life, it is great to find good sources of information. I found your posts on Drew Brophy’s website helpful, and now I will follow these!
OWOOOOOOH!
I could not agree more…her in the UK I’m a champion of The Goats and the sheep…Goats just do it…sheep follow what everyone else is doing..all those dreadful formulaic landscapes…why portraits? when the camera was invented about 140 years ago…ditto pet portraits
OH I so agree that we people should be doing what we were gifted to do as we are here only once and why not do something we are passionate about and good at. I used to ask for peoples opinion on my work but not anymore as the way I look at it, either you like it, or you don’t (case close).
Kenneth Young
Excellent reading, very informative,very thought provoking! Loved every minute of it! Look forward to reading more of your advice. Fantastic!!!
Hi Maria*
100% agree that to be an artist you must have your own vision.
Wolf-like.
(working together in a pack does have its’ benefits, but ultimately You must create that which You believe in.)
Exactly right. But what if you fail to even meet the basic things of a human being while you are working alone?
A food and a shelter?
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