by PC Muñoz
I ran into an old friend at the post office. From 6 feet apart amidst a long row of PO Boxes we offered catch-up capsules in pithy statements: work is good, family is good, we’re hanging in there, this whole thing is rough on everyone. Then we got specific.
She works in television/online content, and casually mentioned an upcoming project with a major film star. “Awesome,” I said, genuinely happy for her. She’s always been smart, talented, hard-working. In fact, she’s pretty great.
In the entertainment industry, casually dropping well-known names into a conversation is a fine art. On a practical and subliminal level it indicates a co-sign of your project or work. At the very least it telegraphs something I call a proximity to greatness.
Proximity to greatness is the reason we have autograph hounds, fan conferences, paid meet-and-greets, “influencers”, and selfies with celebrities. It’s the reason people flip out when their favorite musician, actor, writer, thinker, or general internet gadfly interacts with them on social media.
What are we seeking in this proximity to greatness? That part can be fuzzy. Certainly, entertainers and ambitious business folks have strategic and even soulful reasons to seek out well-regarded or deeply admired connections and trumpet their proximities to them. Others may be hoping to absorb a particular way of working, thinking, or being from a specifically admired person. It’s only natural to want to spend time with and learn from individuals we find supremely impressive.
But as I was leaving the post office I found myself saying to my friend, “(Famous Actor) should be happy to work with you.” I meant it. She’s already very impressive, even without this new project under her belt. Who’s to say her particular greatness is any less great than (Famous Actor)?
We sometimes forget about the greatness within ourselves. The proximity is so close, we take it for granted. Or maybe we’ve allowed ourselves to become disconnected from it in some way. While you’re sheltering-in-place, take a moment to get in touch with the greatness that resides within you.
It’s closer than you think.
Photo by Danny Zingarelli, I think.