"yes, but you're aware that there's an invention called television, and on that invention they show shows?... well, the way they pick the shows on tv is they make one show, and that show's called a pilot. and they show that one show to the people who pick the shows, and on the strength of that one show, they decide if they want to make more shows. some get accepted and become tv programs, and some don't, and become nothing. she starred in one of the ones that became nothing."
-pulp fiction-

the rejection hotline. i haven't had the pleasure of being rejected all that much. i mean, any more than the next person. colleges rejected me, the undergraduate business school at michigan rejected me, unseen potential employers have rejected me, girls have rejected me, but for the most part, rejection has reached me only after the point when i've already decided that rejection is not only possible, but inevitable. by preparing for an eventual rejection, it doesn't feel like rejection at all.

while this defeatist mindset is no way to attack life, it sure minimizes disappointments and sadness.

which is why i really have to give my heart out to creative folks who are forced to flesh out an entire idea before they're even given the chance to step up to the guillotine. tv producers for example, have to find writers, a director, a crew, and a cast to create an entire world. just for the honor of getting dumped by a studio. some writers have to write a whole damn book and shop it around, just to receive a chance at getting rejected. the same high effort / high risk process applies to businesses which must secure outside funding. you better come in with a solid five year projection or that money will be in someone else's bank account.

it takes amazing perseverance to take the politely worded "fuck you's" from other people who think your best work, your blood and toil, is (still) not good enough.

think about if this system were applied to other aspects of life. imagine having to plan out your entire relationship with someone, to have to think about every holiday, anniversary, friday night and special event for the next year, just for them to give you a chance to step up to the dating plate.

actually wait, that's not a terrible idea is it? if you could see a piece of paper that would detail the other person's action plan to "honeymoon period in month one, big fight in month three, holiday on tropical island in month seven, denouement in month nine, so over it in month nine and a half." wouldn't that make it that much easier to choose among potential suitors? sure it would. at least then you couldn't complain about not knowing what you got yourself into. and you'd never have to ask "so, where is this going?" just check the proposal, you'll know exactly where things are going.

action plans are the wave of the dating future.