A new book of Charles Bukowski's writing just came out in late July, and I'm lucky enough to have read it. It has some useful lessons for students of business as well as budding writers.
On Writing, is a collection of letters, or fragment's thereof, he wrote throughout his long career. Many of them have never before been published. In case it's slipping your mind, among many other things, Bukowski wrote Ham on Rye, a working class answer to Salinger's Catcher in the Rye.
The letters are superb. What interests me for this column is what you can learn if you are in business. For that, there will likely be something to tickle you, whether you work for a major corporation like
Failure is freedom. "Once you pole-vault 17 feet they want 18 and it ends up you might break your leg trying. The mob must always be dismissed as something as insane as a river full of vomit."
Or in my words, if people don't have expectations of you then you have freedom to work at what you want to; be that a side project or a ground breaking idea. The one thing you don't need when developing something new is management attention. If it's truly novel it will scare them.
Don't let rejection get you down. All the way through the book Bukowski discusses the massive scale of the rejection of his work. But he knew his calling and, as hard it might have been, he kept going. You should too.
Embrace feedback. Apparently on the receipt of some negative feedback, he writes "Your criticism correct [...] I far more appreciate criticism than 'sorry' or 'no' or 'overstocked.'" There are many similar comments all the way through the book. If the critique comes from someone you trust and respect, then seek out their thoughts and listen. While you listen, just try to understand rather than respond. Whatever your field it will help you, even if you draw a different conclusion.
Sometimes an offer just isn't right. When that happens don't even bother to negotiate it. Bukowski describes a scene where he is asked to reconsider the actions of a character that he obviously thinks is central to a story. He tells them to forget it and to send back the work. Then he hangs up the phone. There will be times like that for all of us in business and in life. When that occurs we should all have the courage to back away.
Keep going. It was only after forty years of trying that Bukowski got published in Poetry magazine. He died shortly thereafter. If you want something, just keep going for it, no matter how long it takes.
Success is often luck. "Much publishing is done through politics, friends and natural stupidity." This is written about a particularly industry at a particular time (1980.) But based on my experience, it's probably true of most fields at most times. So if you don't get the success you desire immediately don't let it get you down.
Don't be a snob. Bukowski didn't have much formal education. Still, he added an enormous amount to the field. The message here is that when you meet someone 'sans' the 'necessary qualifications' don't dismiss their ability to contribute. You may be passing up a great opportunity. Likewise, if you don't have the right paper credentials don't let it stop you.
Sometimes you just have to leave. At age 50 he quits his job at the U.S. Post Office "to keep from going insane." Whether that is the actual reason or not, he was able to pursue his passion. For you that could be starting the business that you have been dreaming about for years.
If you aren't in
