I’m Rubber, You’re (Really Lame) Glue.

So, I created the very first Resume Tee in an attempt to find myself a job. I wore it anywhere and everywhere, and more often than not, people responded with curiosity and encouragement. However, one day, while working with my buddy Anna, an older man came in to buy a cup of coffee, and he offered up a very different reaction. He asked what type of job I was seeking, and I explained that I had a strong interest in writing and copy-editing positions. Well, before I could blink, he responded by saying, “Writing, huh? I sure hope you’re comfortable with failure.”

As he continued on to describe how many of his friends are “successful” writers, all the while maintaining a consistently patronizing tone and posture, Anna’s face grew red with fury and we both began to twitch…anxiously awaiting his departure. Finally, after what felt like 5 years, he exited, and a flood of expletives poured from our mouths. Really, who says that kind of thing to someone?

Well, in time, I’d realize that many, many others would unfortunately follow in suit. My business mentor, Leslie, put it best when she said people want a level playing field. When this delicate balance is thrown, it stimulates an odd dynamic, one I had not experienced before. Leslie went on to tell me that as she grew to achieve success, these types of interactions grew increasingly common. Something strange fills the space between you and the other person, and often times this substance consists of their own unrealized dreams, failed attempts, and emotional battle scars that have not yet healed. At some point, unable to bounce back, their composition slowly changes from rubber to glue. With feet now firmly stuck, fear and bitterness no longer face a moving target.

When taking a risk, your cheek will inevitably meet the pavement multiple times before anything remotely resembling success comes along. It is an endurance building exercise that will help you in the long run. Individuals who have come out the other side stronger and happier don’t say the types of things our literary name dropper said. By contrast, they offer a show of support, share their resources, and extend gestures of goodwill. So, when you come face to face with a naysayer, remember that they’re glued in place. Your best defense is to just keep moving.

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