Upon entering my first semester of college, I was invited with the rest of the freshmen art students to the senior art student’s exhibit. It is a great way to inspire well adjusted freshmen as to what they will soon be capable of. When I entered the gallery with the other students, I took a look around at all the incredible artwork on display in the gallery and thought, “What’s the use?” The enormity of ever being able to accomplish what they had done was too much for me to bear. So I left and joined the Military. I figured this act of patriotism would mask my cowardice. During my five years of active duty I learned a valuable tool for success; a silly little slogan, “inch by inch, life is a cinch, by the yard it’s hard.” Discharged from active duty and armed with this slogan I had the courage to pick up where I had left off and re-apply to an Art School.
After being accepted to an Art School, this slogan became a regular mantra of mine. Everyday when I felt like giving up because the goal seemed too incredible to reach, I would remind myself of this simple truth, “inch by inch, life’s a cinch, by the yard it’s hard.” It calmed me down. It deactivated my self-imposed pressure. I could focus simply on what I was doing at that moment and nothing more. This prevented me from getting caught up in the overwhelming thoughts of where I should be and everything I needed to do to get there. I began to just enjoy finishing each assignment, one by one, inch by inch.
It did not take long for this method to start paying off. I began receiving scholarships and awards for my work. And while still a student, I was invited to become an honorary member of the NJ Art Directors Club. At the Club’s reception, one of the members, who was also a college professor, asked if I would be available to speak to her students on the secret to my success. I was flattered and without hesitation said, “Of course!” When she told me where she taught I was blown away. She was a Professor of Art at the very school I had left defeated by my own outlook years before. How ironic, I left that school overwhelmed by the burden of my own doubts and I got to return as an inspiration. I brought hope to a new generation of art students sharing the secret of my success; a silly little slogan that when applied brings so much more than expected. Inch by inch, life really is a cinch and a lot more fun too.
(click on image to enlarge)
It was so incredible that I saved one of the posters that hung in the Student Center.
