Follow your dreams.
If you spend any time on social media these days, you’ll see endless videos from influencers saying your dream life is just waiting for you to reach out and grab it.
I love the idea. I think we should all have the opportunity to do what we love and love what we do. However, what sometimes gets lost is the unrelenting faith and hard work it takes to make a dream happen.
Rarely does someone stumble into greatness. LeBron James doesn’t remain in rarified air at 40 just by showing up at the arena on game days.
Well-executed dreams, like any construction project, require a plan, execution, and then a little more execution. And when all that’s done, a little luck or a helping hand along the way never hurts.
This week’s Spilled Ink guest knows exactly what it takes to chase a dream. In fact, Trenton Cotten’s relentless pursuit of a comedy career is a big reason why I’m here, writing this today. So if you like this content, give him a shoutout.
When the pandemic hit, I was working with Trenton as a content creator for the XFL’s Seattle Dragons (if you want to know what the early days of the pandemic were like for people working in sports, definitely listen to this episode). We both lost our jobs, and Trenton moved home to Colorado Springs.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, I was visiting family in Colorado Springs, so I sent Trenton a text. He invited me out to a comedy show where he was performing. It was clear, he was committed.
A lot of people see someone making a drastic career shift and say, “Don’t quit your day job.” But it was obvious this was more than a hobby or a side hustle.
Trenton didn’t wait for an invitation. He didn’t politely knock. He kicked the door down, ruffled a few feathers, and charted a new course.
I recently watched one of Trenton’s performances, and it’s clear he’s been refining his game. The cadence and delivery made the jokes hit exactly as intended.
Now, for that bit of good fortune. After moving back to Washington, he found his way to Nate Jackson – if you’re unfamiliar, you won’t be for long – and has used his combination of videography and comedy to travel the world, create content, and get stage time.
While this week’s episode is tangentially related to sports, I hope it serves as a reminder that success is a byproduct of investment – the hard work that puts you in front of people who can help you realize a dream.
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