Survivor Skills

Part of the appeal of living and working in New York is that the city draws such a confluence of over-achievers, creative talents, and intellectuals. Being among so many talented people who are determined to 'make it here' provides a constant source of energy, inspiration and competition. But the downside of being surrounded by so much ambition is that there is always someone else who's more wealthy, successful, famous [or insert any attribute here] than you are. And it's easy to feel discouraged in a city of super-achievers. There are plenty of examples in every profession--from fashion (Zac Posen) to finance (Zachary George)--of people who are younger than I am who have already made it big.
I confess that there are times when I wish I'd applied myself just a bit more in high school so I would've gotten into an Ivy League school. It sounds cliche, but I can tell you from experience, that having a Harvard degree definitely opens doors in this city, probably in part because so many Harvard grads occupy powerful positions here and are only too happy to hire someone else from their alma mater. Of course, an Ivy League degree isn't a prerequisite (or even a guarantee) for success. Persistence can open doors too--eventually--if you've got the patience and the confidence to keep knocking. That's why thousands of people come here each year to find their fame and fortune, and why I'm still here.
Still, sometimes you need a little reminder of how far your own personal drive can take you. So I've been reading Mark Burnett's new book "Jump In!"--a mix of anecdotes and advice drawn from his own experiences. Burnett is best-known as the creator of Survivor and The Apprentice, two of the most successful reality shows ever aired in the States. He's a multi-millionaire producer with another show on the way that's bound to be another hit, The Contender.
But when he arrived in Los Angeles from London in 1982, he had only $600 and a few years experience as a British paratrooper. He had no TV experience--he didn't even have a college degree. Burnett's first job in the U.S.? He was a nanny (and, not suprisingly, he has even been able to turn this experience into a new show, a WB sitcom called, yep, "Commando Nanny").
He went from cleaning homes and driving kids back and forth from school and soccer practice to selling insurance and then T-shirts on Venice Beach. With the money he saved, he invested in real estate and made a handsome profit, which he used to start his own marketing company. Then, on a whim, he decided to compete in the Raid, an international extreme sport/globe-trekking competition. His team placed last. But he lined up sponsors and TV coverage and the experience gave him the idea to launch the Eco-Challenge, which went on to become a top-rated show on the Discovery Channel and then the USA Networks--and led to his being asked to take an idea about throwing together a group of 'castaways' and having them compete for a prize and turn it into, yes, "Survivor."
Sure, Burnett's obviously got skills. But he didn't have any TV experience when he first pitched the idea of an Eco-Challenge show. Yet he never let the fact that he had no college degree and no experience and no family connections (his parents were both factory workers) keep him from dreaming BIG and reaching his goals.
Pretty inspiring stuff.