Are all opportunities worth it? Or are we just collecting apples hoping one turns into gold? Let’s talk about it.
The Low-Hanging Fruit Dilemma
The age-old question. Should you take every opportunity thrown your way?
Honestly, you can probably argue this both ways.
How does that old low-hanging fruit quote go again?
Oh yeah, “Don’t just go for the low-hanging fruit. Climb the tree and reach for the stars.” – Unknown
Or wait, maybe it was “Focus on the low-hanging fruit that can be picked today, not the high fruit that may never be reached.” – Shawn Achor
Wait what.
Conflicting Advice, Confused AI
Are these even real quotes? After a quick Google search, I confess, I’m still unsure about the authenticity of these lines.
Also, who is Shawn Achor and is he out there grabbing every opportunity like a man on a mission?
Google, being Google, delivers: Shawn Achor is the NY Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential.
So apparently, he’s a positive somebody.
Still, I feel like ChatGPT is just making up quotes and assigning them to random people. Yes, I used AI to search for these quotes. You really have to double check what Jarvis is saying.
Better yet, Jarvis is offering me two totally opposite sentiments.
But maybe that’s how it should be. That’s actually closer to real life, right?
Picking Fruit = Taking Action
I mean, let’s be real. Nobody just shows up to the apple tree and starts reaching for the high fruit right away.
Right?
(Professional Apple Pickers, please don’t come at me.)
For the rest of us, the answer is no. We simply take what’s right there in front of us.
You show up, sort of look around at the available fruit, and then you start to pick.
And while you’re in collecting mode, you’re casually glancing over at the couple two trees over, wondering if their tree is better.
Then, after you pick a few apples, you start thinking about the fruit a little higher up, or heck, maybe even on the next tree.
The Ladder, the Shift, the New Tree
When you’re looking over at the next tree, that’s when you notice the ladder.
You go grab the ladder and start collecting the fruit at the top of the tree.
But still, this tree is kind of sparse, even at the top.
But, when you’re at the top, you spot another tree, two isles over, and the top is brimming with the most delicious-looking red apples you’ve ever seen.
So you head over to this tree that is abundant with fruit.
The collecting is going pretty well, but you have to keep going up and down the ladder to reposition. Some of the fruit is pretty deep into the branches as well.
While you’re working, a man and woman walk by with two full crates of apples. They look done for the day, mission accomplished.
You cast a friendly but slightly envious glance their way.
The woman pauses and says, “Hey, if you head down this row of trees to the end, the trees down there are full. You don’t even need a ladder.”
“Thanks”, you reply.
The Real Point (If You’re Still with Me)
So… is this post going anywhere?
Of course it is.
The point is this: take the fruit that’s right in front of you.
You don’t always need to know where it leads. Just start. Opportunities show up in the process of reaching, not before. That one “yes” could teach you something unexpected, connect you to someone new, or lead to something bigger down the road.
This applies especially if you’re trying to build something as a creator. You don’t have to wait for the perfect gallery show, the one collector who collects everything you make, or the ideal moment.
Sometimes the most valuable opportunities are the ones that look small at first, like that first photo print sale.
Which reminds me: are you even experimenting with different income streams, or are all your eggs still in one basket? If you’re not exploring, here’s something worth reading: How to Make a Passive Income as an Artist.
Whatever you do. Act. Take the damn apple. Or the egg, if they’re offering those, because eggs are expensive!
Could it be poison?
Sure. But the experience is worth it.
Because after that, you’ll know exactly what a poisoned apple looks like and whose offering it.
Frames in Focus
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