» David Carr on surviving your 20s.

The following excerpt is from a letter New York Times writer and best-selling author (The Night of the Gun – get it) David Carr sent to my friends at Effable Arts‘ to be read at their premiere show – Stop, Collaborate, and Listen — a collection of works from 20-something about 20-somethings.

In an effort to infuse the evening with advice from survivors of this age-range The Effable founders (Kim Kay, Meredith Ryan Packer, and Brad Landers) reached out to New York-based luminaries in the creative world asking them to tell their tales of making it out alive. David Carr wrote back.

Carr’s letter focused on faking it ’til you make it, but also realizing that if you’re making it – even as an assistant editor, chorus line dancer, or series extra – you deserve to be making it. His was a “believe in yourself – you’ve got this” speech. But it ended with a word to the wise about all those out there who believe in themselves without reason, and behave as if their success is the only end that matters, regardless of the means…

It’s advice that goes along nicely with Elizabeth Gilbert’s thoughts on creativity from Tuesday, and my paranoia about progress, from….always…

Thanks David, and thanks Effable.

“We have all seen the gunners and heathers in our competitive cohort, the ones who walk in seemingly connected to the wiring diagram, swinging their asses and flirting mercilessly, throwing elbows as it suits them.
Ignore them.
They are compensating for their lack of actual talent, and their essence will emerge over time.
The good guys and the nice girls — gracious and generous — generally win the long game. Be fair in all your dealings without regard to hierachy or status and it will come back to you many times over.
People who are mean or callous to those they perceive to be be “little people” are actually the little people.
As a geneneral rule, always conduct yourself in a professional manner that you could easily explain to your mother if she asked.”