![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Pushing-through-the-concrete-200x150.jpg\" "\\"Pushing")
<\/a>Sometimes I feel like I'm pushing through concrete<\/p><\/div>\n
I had a conversation with a friend yesterday who has worked in the surf industry for many years. \u00a0We were discussing business, the economy and life.<\/p>\n
He was complimenting me on my great success. \u00a0This is a man I respect.<\/p>\n
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I feel like a failure.<\/strong><\/p>\n
The surf industry and the private club that it has become has not been very supportive of me. \u00a0To some I am just some kook who will not go away.<\/p>\n
I make a living despite them because real people and real surfers can see me and they know who I am. \u00a0I guess in some ways I do feel successful, but not in the terms most people validate themselves.<\/p>\n
My career has not brought me great wealth, but has allowed me to pursue \u00a0my goals and dreams. \u00a0My life is full of adventure, with great people, a wonderful family, and a freedom few enjoy.<\/p>\n
I would love to have more financial stability but not at the cost of what I think is right or just.<\/p>\n
Earlier in my career, I quit the two best gigs I ever had in the surf industry; \u00a0the first tried to tell me I could not create art after work, they held my job over my head trying to try to instill fear in me and the other employees, by using me as an example. \u00a0I quit on the spot because it was wrong.<\/p>\n
I left the second company when it went in a direction I did not approve of, with new people I did not trust or want to work with. \u00a0That was difficult to quit; I had to leave everything I worked so hard for and start over. \u00a0My so called friends there \u00a0thought I was stupid wasting my opportunities and turning down a great pay check.<\/p>\n
Many Companies do not want to employ people like me, they want robots, yes-men and paper pushers.<\/strong> \u00a0That’s just not me and I am not going to change for anyone.<\/p>\n
I want to get things done and speak my mind. \u00a0They want to use me but they do not want me in their club to tell them they have become what all real surfers despise.<\/p>\n
It seems I have always been here on the fringe, an outsider, independent. It is a very lonely place sometimes.<\/p>\n
I know that I am lucky that enough people outside of the industry, like my art and can see me for who I am, to stand by me.<\/p>\n
My wife and I could not have picked a more difficult way to make a living, but we have persevered beyond the surf industry and tried to lead the way for others like us.<\/strong><\/p>\n
We have had to invent new ways to do business as an artist and it has been a benefit to all artists. \u00a0\u00a0I have been a professional artist now for over twenty years and we have survived the last few years where many have not. \u00a0I guess that is success. \u00a0It has been real people who have supported us over the years, and anyone who has met us in person knows what we are all about.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Our goal is to inspire people, and from reading many of your letters and feedback it has worked. \u00a0Thank you for allowing me to chase my dreams and feed my family, it is only with your support that we do so.<\/p>\n
\u00a0I want to leave you with this request: \u00a0Support people and companies who are up to good things. \u00a0Abandon the false role models and leaders who occupy our world.<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Somewhere out there beyond all the greed, advertising, propaganda, and spin is the truth.<\/strong> \u00a0The world has become so complicated and corrupt that it is broken, from politics to banking to the silly surf industry, and maybe even the business that you’re in.<\/div>\n.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
We are all responsible for what we tolerate, what we buy and what we choose to support<\/strong>.<\/div>\n.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Wake up! \u00a0This is your only true power and voice.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I owe my simple career and what my friend calls success to the individuals who decided I was worthwhile and that I was up to good things.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
There are many great role models, companies, and leaders out there, they need our support to succeed.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Life is Good,<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Drew<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I had a conversation with a friend yesterday who has worked in the surf industry for many years. \u00a0We were discussing business, the economy and life. He was complimenting me on my great success. \u00a0This is a man I respect. I didn’t have the heart…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[298,832,1176,1343],"class_list":["post-5007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behind-the-scenes","tag-failure-or-success","tag-personal","tag-surf-industry","tag-wakeup"],"yoast_head":"\n
Am I a Success or a Failure in This Complicated World - Drew Brophy - Surf Lifestyle Art<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Drew\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/\",\"name\":\"Am I a Success or a Failure in This Complicated World - Drew Brophy - Surf Lifestyle Art\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Pushing-through-the-concrete-200x150.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-03-16T15:53:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2012-03-16T15:53:32+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#\/schema\/person\/be3bd2d4d9853e9b465d9e019e2051c9\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Pushing-through-the-concrete.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Pushing-through-the-concrete.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":450},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/\",\"name\":\"Drew Brophy - Surf Lifestyle Art\",\"description\":\"Surfer, Artist, Illustrator\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#\/schema\/person\/be3bd2d4d9853e9b465d9e019e2051c9\",\"name\":\"Drew\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fda288dc3569beeea2893937159d977d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fda288dc3569beeea2893937159d977d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Drew\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/author\/drew\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Am I a Success or a Failure in This Complicated World - Drew Brophy - Surf Lifestyle Art","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Drew","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/","url":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/","name":"Am I a Success or a Failure in This Complicated World - Drew Brophy - Surf Lifestyle Art","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Pushing-through-the-concrete-200x150.jpg","datePublished":"2012-03-16T15:53:32+00:00","dateModified":"2012-03-16T15:53:32+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#\/schema\/person\/be3bd2d4d9853e9b465d9e019e2051c9"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/am-i-a-success-or-a-failure-in-this-complicated-world\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Pushing-through-the-concrete.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Pushing-through-the-concrete.jpg","width":600,"height":450},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/","name":"Drew Brophy - Surf Lifestyle Art","description":"Surfer, Artist, Illustrator","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#\/schema\/person\/be3bd2d4d9853e9b465d9e019e2051c9","name":"Drew","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fda288dc3569beeea2893937159d977d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fda288dc3569beeea2893937159d977d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Drew"},"url":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/author\/drew\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5007\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drewbrophy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}