TED WILSON REVIEWS THE WORLD: THE WRITING JOB I TURNED DOWN

★★★★☆

Hello, and welcome to my week-by-week review of the world. Today I am reviewing the writing job I turned down.

This week a stranger on the internet invited me to write for free for his or her website. It’s flattering to think a complete stranger likes my work enough to want to publish it on an actual website, but unfortunately I must devote my time to paid opportunities because I need to buy a new summer wardrobe. Last summer all my clothes were out of fashion and I looked ridiculous.

Here’s a picture of the job opportunity conversation.

On the surface it was a pretty compelling offer: get to do work for someone. But I was surprised they could not afford to pay me. Everything I hear about startups is how they have so much money. Gobs and gobs of money. Not this one though. I guess maybe the media is wrong about startups after all. That’s the only explanation I can think of.

I stayed up all night wondering if I had made the right decision. Sure, DHN-TV might only have 365 Twitter followers, but so did Kanye West at one point. Now look at him. Was this a missed opportunity? Could this have been my big break? I’ve been waiting 80+ years for my big break and it would be a shame if I let it slip between my fingers.

It’s very privileged of me to be able to turn down a job opportunity, even if it was unpaid. People all over the world would love the chance to work for free. Many of them work for close to free already. Who am I to think I’m so special?

Perhaps there is a parallel universe where I accepted this opportunity and am living a much richer life full of both career and emotional fulfillment. I guess there’s no way to ever know if I made the right choice. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if I’ve made a terrible mistake. I’ll go to my grave wondering.

It may be too late for me, but it doesn’t have to be too late for you. If someone offers you an opportunity — any opportunity — even if it’s from a complete stranger and it appears you have literally nothing to gain, JUMP AT IT! Because a stranger doesn’t have to owe you anything, but don’t you owe it to yourself?

BEST FEATURE: It’s hard to name just one best feature. Everything about this opportunity sounds amazing.
WORST FEATURE: The overwhelming regret and pain I’m unable to quell.

Please join me next week when I’ll be reviewing Kleenex.