• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

  • HOME
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT

The Truth About Success

November 17, 2011 by WendyB

I got a kick out of this illustration that gorgeous blogger Jennine of The Coveted sent me.


(I’ve seen this, uncredited, all over the Internets. If it’s yours or you know where it originated, let me know so I can credit it.)

It’s reassuring to see that some experiences are universal. The saying, “It takes ten years to be an overnight success,” has a similar effect on me. It helps to know that my jewelry business has a few more years to go before I need to panic. But I don’t want to wait too long, so I was alarmed when singer Cee Lo Green said it took him 18 years to become an overnight “sensation.” Then I recalled my less-than-sensational experience with Cee Lo at Lollapalooza this summer. Yeah, there might be a reason he needed the extra time.

My photo of Cee Lo at Lollapalooza. Click for my original post.

You might also like
My Best Dressed at the Grammys: Sia and Her Child Minion
Throwback Thursday: Jennifer Hudson's 2007 Oscar Look
A Tale From the Thievery Archives

Filed Under: advice, Celebrities

Previous Post: « What Wendy Wore: “Vintage” Moschino and Manolo
Next Post: Important Health Tip From Courtney Love »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cameron says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:40 am

    And all it took for him to make it was a conversation with a reckless rodent set to a simple collection of notes. Does that make him crazy?

    *looks at photo*

    Possibly.

    Anyway, may we all be a success someday. And if not, at least Bill Shatner knows our pain. Even wrote a song about it, I believe. 😉

  2. Rowena says

    November 17, 2011 at 3:51 am

    According to Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers), it takes 10,000 hours of practise to become an expert – in anything, which is about ten years. So you can have talent, but the success comes with the time spent doing what it is you do until you become amazing. I’m sure a lot people have read this/know this already, but still, it’s very interesting…

  3. Rowena says

    November 17, 2011 at 3:53 am

    I think Cee Lo was clearly distracted by the pain in his underarms from those straps….

  4. Fashionistable says

    November 17, 2011 at 5:39 am

    Great illustration, made me smile. It is all about enjoying the journey really. Xxxx

  5. Collette Osuna says

    November 17, 2011 at 6:47 am

    You are right…..to most people on the outside, everything looks wayyyy easier than it really is.
    Only YOU know the countless hours of hard work and lost sleep you have endured …..you ARE a great success Wendy:)

  6. Patti @ NotDeadYet Style says

    November 17, 2011 at 8:07 am

    you did drop him as a role model, right? right?? Your jewelry is fabulous, as are you. You = success!

  7. savvy gal says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    so agree with that chart.

  8. Susan Tiner says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Not to be a Debbie Downer, but at some point even waiting ten years is too long.

  9. The Style Crone says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    I’m always pondering the definition of success and the process seems to be as important as the outcome!

  10. Pam @over50feeling40 says

    November 17, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    Thanks, Wendy, this post helped me more than you will ever no today…right time, right message!

  11. lisa says

    November 17, 2011 at 3:03 pm

    The other funny thing about success is, is there ever a point when you look at yourself and consider yourself successful? I’ve been contacted for blog interviews profiling “successful career women,” but in my head I can see myself having a long way to go. For Christ’s sake, I’m only 27! There’s still a lot to do before I’ve “arrived.”

  12. brett says

    November 17, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    lol @ CLeo
    love the illustration
    brett

  13. K-Line says

    November 17, 2011 at 7:25 pm

    I do love that…

  14. Topaz Horizon says

    November 17, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    I like this one:

    Success is like being pregnant. Everyone congratulates you but no one knows how many times you were fucked.

    😉

    • WendyB says

      November 17, 2011 at 9:45 pm

      Frances, I didn’t know you had this kind of comment in you. A+++++++

  15. Mary says

    November 17, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Since when are you not a success?

  16. stacy says

    November 17, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    What the hell is that?
    I’m scared!

  17. Elizabeth says

    November 18, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    Dang, he watched “The Road Warrior” too many times!

  18. lexi says

    November 21, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    Love this post. And thank you – I needed the pep talk!
    lexi xx

Primary Sidebar

MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ARCHIVES

CATEGORIES

Facebook Pagelike Widget

POPULAR TOPICS

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe for Email updates.
* indicates required

Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

© 2016 · FOODIE PRO THEME COPYRIGHT BY · SHAY BOCKS GENESIS FRAMEWORK · BUILT ON THE WORDPRESS