We recently connected with Andrea Simon and have shared our conversation below.
Andrea , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from family members. My mother and grandparents escaped religious persecution in Eastern Europe and came to this country before World War II. My maternal grandmother endured pogroms and brought her children to Ellis Island, not knowing the English language. These immigrants settled in a foreign land and eventually made successful careers, some battling antisemitism and gender restrictions. My maternal grandmother, in particular, brought up nine children, had three marriages, and traveled widely. She survived the death of two sons. She was a charismatic storyteller and mesmerized me with tales of her adventures. As an adult, I realized how much these relatives influenced me. Though I had several jobs in the publishing industry, and operated my own business, these family stories settled in my unconscious and soon made their way into literature. Trying to get work published and accepted as an author requires a great deal of resilience. We writers face constant rejection and criticism. I had to learn to bounce back and forge ahead. As an adult, I also faced three bouts of serious cancers that required surgeries, chemo, and other treatments. My journey to health has been miraculous and I am very grateful to look to the future, whatever that may be.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Most of my working life has centered around the business of writing. Shortly after graduating from college, I worked in various areas of publishing as a copywriter, editor, proofreader, and project manager. After years of these jobs, I joined forces with a friend and we started an editorial/production company, specializing in health-related newsletters and patient aids. Frustrated by the demands of clients, I decided on a more literary path and began sending out my short stories and longer pieces. Before long, I was a full-time author. After years of writing books and getting my MFA in Creative Writing as a senior citizen, I now have published four well-reviewed and award-winning books and am hoping to see two others come to fruition in the near future. I have also been a teacher of creative writing on the college level, as well as an online instructor for a range of adults.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When I was growing up, I saw many of the adults around. me dissatisfied with their career choices or educational opportunities. I vowed that I would not be a person who lived with regret. So my first quality is perserverance, the ability to withstand frustration and keep trying various avenues to attain my goals. The second quality that has helped me is a certain perfectiionism in my craft, honing the skills of organizing ideas, editing, proofreading, and layout design. The third quaility that has helped me is an ability to help and teach others to appreciate their spontaneous expressions and writing skills.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed by work, personal stress, or the world around me, I usually turn to a good friend or close relative. Sometimes, this happens with a phone call or even an e-mail. But the best balm for me is to go for a walk or have lunch and be in a setting that grounds me in the physical world. If, at first, I am shy or reluctant to talk about my problem, I am pretty sure that this friend would know me well enough to realize that something was wrong and soon we would be discussing the problem. Just by unburdening my issues to a compassionate person gives me the strength to feel better and often changes my perspective. I highly recommend that others follow this advice: when burdened by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, turn to a caring person (which includes a professional if necessary) who will listen with love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andreasimon.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005598465031
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