Why would we ever carry a suitcase with no wheels?

I want to be a writer. It’s my greatest vocational desire. You may never read me in print beyond this blog. However, I will still be writing. It’s fun. I love it. It’s an escape. It causes me to pay better attention to the world around me.

In my endeavor to become a modern day Hemingway, save for the bullfighting, hard living and well, the tragic end of his lfe. I came upon a book entitled “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott. You can watch my review HERE. I had heard of this book many times before. Tim Ferris has touted it often as a great companion for any aspiring writer. So I finally bought a copy.

It’s a fantastic read by a fantastic author. Like Chuck Palahniuk’s “Consider This” I think it’s a must read for anyone who wants to take writing seriously. In Lamott’s book she discusses setting a scene in a book. She was trying to write a vineyard and wanted all the proper detail. She began writing about a bottle of champagne. In her description of the bottle she needed to know what you call the “wire thing” that holds the cork down. What do you call it? Yea. Me, too. It’s the wire thing.

She decided to call a vineyard. She finally made her way to the head winemaker, who she said sounded like “Noah having just completed a brisk walk.” He was old. Not only did he answer her question, but he was happy to do it. He told her he was glad she called.

I hate asking for help. Part of it is my ego or it used to be. Now that my hobby is basically learning I realize just how much I don’t know. That’s a funny thing. If you think you really know a lot, set out to learn more. You will soon realize the further you venture from the shore the deeper the water.

I don’t want to bother people. I hate asking for someone’s time. I know it’s the most valuable non-renewable resource they have. However, stories like the one above have taught me something. People, with rare exception, like to talk about subjects they really know well.

My podcast, The Jason Wright Show, has taught me this more than anything else. Now that the show has grown in popularity, I have experts actually reaching out to be on the show. Previously, I would feel so bad asking for someone to come on. Most people I asked said yes once I told them why I wanted them.

Even those who were so worried about coming on and having nothing to say were blown away by how quickly the conversation flew by. Why? It’s because I chose them for the subject they knew, and people like to talk about things they know.

I remember hearing a story about a guy who used to carry a suitcase with no wheels. He said he felt like using a rolling suitcase was kind of cheating. Then he got a suitcase with wheels. He ditched his old suitcase.

I think when we refuse to ask experts for help, guidance or instruction we are basically refusing to carry a suitcase with wheels on it. I have no idea how the suitcase feels. But I think if you have burning questions, there is probably an expert out there who would love to help. Just ask.