We live in a time like no other. I know I know, every generation before ours has uttered those very same words. Certainly with good cause, reason, and conviction. Though as I stand on my soap box I shall not waver one bit. We’re at the peak looking down at the trials and tribulations that our forefathers bore to become successful and in comparison our plights are trivial.

If you had aspirations to make it big as a hollywood celebrity you’d have to climb the ladder. It wasn’t exactly an easy task to court the right people, build the appropriate network, and then sell off a pound of your flesh. You had to know people with camera equipment or the tools to edit your film, not exactly cheap prospects. With the advent of the wonderland that is the internet youngsters around the world are finding celebrity through youtube. Hardware for filming and software for editing have been, to a point, commoditized. Point and shoot. Compare this idea of point, shoot, and prosper to the old way and it’s easy to see that in stark contrast becoming famous is now a breeze. In some cases one needs not do any work to become famous just be the one on the shooting end of the camera. I point to the dubious celebrity of Rick Astley of Rick Rolling phenomenon fame.

What’s baffling is that fame on the internet does in fact translate to fame in the real world. Rick Astley was seen in this years Macy’s day parade by millions of viewers. There are others such as Tila Tequila and Perez Hilton who have made the awkward transition from internet celebrity to real world credibility. So the lesson is no longer whether or not you have the fortitude to take the blows and remain steadfast but do you instead have the drive to pick up the camera and make something (anything).

My students languish in this old hat 50s notion of a rise to success when they should be the generation to embrace the new order. They still believe that one must court the right people, build the appropriate network, then sell off a pound of their flesh. If your only means of transmitting your ideas is through people evangelizing you then of course you need a network. The internet is a far more powerful dissemination tool than real life social networks. Fall a sleep and in the morning you’re a surprise hit. You simply need to do something really well and you’ll bubble to the top. Though, there should be a nod to serendipity as well.

Want to write television sitcoms? Why not make one. The Fox show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia was an internet episodic adventure written, filmed, and acted in by internet novices. The fact that it was really great allowed it to become a full fledged show. Television execs can’t deny the popularity of your product when you can show that millions of people are already watching you. If the old way was for someone to take a flyer on you then the new way is for you to actually prove your credibility. Such a daunting and exciting prospect both at the same time.

There is nothing keeping you from writing your first novel and putting it out there on the internet. Someone will read it, and if it’s any good then someone will pick it up. Want to start a band? Start playing instruments with some friends, record yourselves, and spread the love. Someone will listen to you, then the friends of that someone will listen to you in turn, so on and so forth.

Ask yourself why you aren’t making that film, writing that novel, starting that band, blossoming into a famous artist, or even building a career. It’s nearly 2009 and your excuses are antiquated.