The Secret of Contentment No Matter the Size of Your Audience

by Marcus on October 7, 2009

In a world of mega brands, it’s hard to be content with small. Why write a book when I know I’ll get maybe 20,000 readers? Why take the risk of starting a new business if I’m only going to serve a tiny community—as compared to Costco or Starbucks or Pixar or Disney?

Big companies and big names change the world—and intimidate us regular folks. But we don’t make culture to change the world. We do it to change ourselves.

Not many people are going to see the Halloween train my family made with our O Scale lionel set this year, even though we spent about five hours on our styrofoam mountain tunnel. It was a culture making project for us, because it affected the cultural dynamic of our family. Tonight we’re going to make some trees with spray on glue and sticks from the yard.

Take that megabrands.

  • Take that megabrands! :)

    A friend of mine worked for Heifer International for the past four years. He wants to change the world, but he's beginning to realize this kind of change happens almost inadvertently. Now he has a job helping homeless centers in Arkansas and I can see the long haul settling into him. His audience is getting smaller and closer to home. His vision, however, and potential for culture making, is growing and expanding.
  • LLB
    Honestly? I find this new call to "culture make" rather depressing and burdensome. One more thing to try to achieve in life.

    Like Sam (and you, in this post), I've been thinking I just want to live where I am and do what I do... naturally, happily, thoughtfully, generously. I don't want to change the world. That doesn't mean my actions won't change the world. But to think that way seems a form of distraction.
  • heatheragoodman
    Someone's been reading Andy Crouch.

    Laura--but that's exactly the point (as I see it). Culture making isn't about changing the world. It's not about the larger forms of culture in some big, abstract way. It's about one poem or frisbee game or layer cake. When I write, I don't do so to change the world. I do both because I'm communicating how I understand the world but also so that someone out there--even if it's one person--won't feel alone.
  • Claire
    I could not agree with LL more. I just want to live without trying to prove a point. I was wondering just this morning where the closest train station was so that I could get off of this crazy ride.

    You and the family are building a train of another kind and I like the sound of it very much...
  • I had to jump on this train b/c I like the track it's on! I agree—there is value and honor in living faithfully for the Lord, loving others well, doing what needs to be done . . . and I do not need to give it a name and develop a logo to do it. How I live is meaningful b/c the Lord empowers me in it, not because my name or ministry or writing is known by an audience of twenty-thousand-and-one. (Now, I just need to remind myself of all this when my pride itches for what the world offers.)
  • The common thought is that if it isnt 'big' it isnt worth it.
    I still love the small hardware store, the family owned coffee shop , and the one man grocery stores. I do all I can to frequent them.

    And your post is a reminder to do the faithful, little things -- because that's what God wants me to do

    David
    www.redletterbelievers.com
  • Yup. Be faithful in the small stuff... because it is all small stuff.
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