Comments on: When Ego Provides Success http://www.castallare.com/2009/10/when-ego-provides-success/ haven't the slightest... Sat, 19 May 2012 13:36:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Castallare http://www.castallare.com/2009/10/when-ego-provides-success/#comment-231 Castallare Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:59:49 +0000 http://www.castallare.com/?p=1173#comment-231 Oh no, don't get me wrong; I DEFINITELY think that confidence is necessary or nobody'd ever hear about any of the art that's changed our world. Not that art has to be marketable to make a difference but the world has never been changed by an artist whose friends constantly pushed him into the spotlight. (Hell, even Kurt Cobain had to have a little bit of confidence.) But there's a very specific difference in confidence and blind arrogance. I deeply respect those people who have a humble sense of confidence in that they know their talents, they've accepted these as a gift from the Universe and they see that using that talent is their mission and purpose in life. That's what I think everyone's life is ultimately about: using what the Universe gave you to the best of your ability to make the world better. Being confident in your gifts/talents in order to pursue your higher purpose is one thing. Being a totally arrogant prick who's deluded and may have chosen something they're not really talented at to pursue is something completely different. The latter is what I'm talking about here. I can deal with and admire someone who is certain in their abilities and can give back to the global community with confidence that they're doing their best. I can't tolerate idiots who are overinflated with a sense of their own self-importance, whether they're talented or - most common in our culture - not. Oh no, don’t get me wrong; I DEFINITELY think that confidence is necessary or nobody’d ever hear about any of the art that’s changed our world. Not that art has to be marketable to make a difference but the world has never been changed by an artist whose friends constantly pushed him into the spotlight. (Hell, even Kurt Cobain had to have a little bit of confidence.)

But there’s a very specific difference in confidence and blind arrogance. I deeply respect those people who have a humble sense of confidence in that they know their talents, they’ve accepted these as a gift from the Universe and they see that using that talent is their mission and purpose in life. That’s what I think everyone’s life is ultimately about: using what the Universe gave you to the best of your ability to make the world better. Being confident in your gifts/talents in order to pursue your higher purpose is one thing.

Being a totally arrogant prick who’s deluded and may have chosen something they’re not really talented at to pursue is something completely different. The latter is what I’m talking about here.

I can deal with and admire someone who is certain in their abilities and can give back to the global community with confidence that they’re doing their best. I can’t tolerate idiots who are overinflated with a sense of their own self-importance, whether they’re talented or - most common in our culture - not.

]]> By: brody http://www.castallare.com/2009/10/when-ego-provides-success/#comment-230 brody Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:35:53 +0000 http://www.castallare.com/?p=1173#comment-230 I dunno, I don't see it as arrogance/delusion as much as confidence. Famous artists (and I use that term loosely) are confident. They believe in themselves, they do what they love, and people either respond or don't. The current crop of celebrities/musical artists who are popular has more to do with the mental state of the general public (read: frightening, shallow) than anything else. It's self-perpetuating and self-diluting, but it still works once you add in advertising, cult of celebrity, etc. One really confident, unique person does something that garners attention. A crop of imitators/people who riff off that theme suddenly pay attention and move their art in that direction.... some of them get popular... and the cycle continues. It takes a lot more effort to become popular with a New Thing than it does with a watered-down mimicry of something else that's established. But, I think, the rewards are greater. All that being said, I think the confidence is necessary. People don't get famous or successful if they don't believe that they're super fucking awesome. You have to put yourself out there. I dunno, I don’t see it as arrogance/delusion as much as confidence. Famous artists (and I use that term loosely) are confident. They believe in themselves, they do what they love, and people either respond or don’t.

The current crop of celebrities/musical artists who are popular has more to do with the mental state of the general public (read: frightening, shallow) than anything else. It’s self-perpetuating and self-diluting, but it still works once you add in advertising, cult of celebrity, etc.

One really confident, unique person does something that garners attention. A crop of imitators/people who riff off that theme suddenly pay attention and move their art in that direction…. some of them get popular… and the cycle continues.

It takes a lot more effort to become popular with a New Thing than it does with a watered-down mimicry of something else that’s established. But, I think, the rewards are greater.

All that being said, I think the confidence is necessary. People don’t get famous or successful if they don’t believe that they’re super fucking awesome. You have to put yourself out there.

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