After working for 18 years, all of a sudden I became successful on a level where other people knew it. It's not a cat you can put back in the bag.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
When I started working, I didn't have a clue what I was doing, in that I was just wandering around, hoping that I could succeed. Then after I got a little under my belt, it took me about 25 years to feel like I knew what I was doing.
I thought if I could create a convincing cat I could say and do anything I wanted on the human condition.
I'm a writer who stacks cat food for a living. It's true: I have a master's degree in creative writing, I've published two critically successful books, and I get paid to replenish the shelves of my local food co-op with pet food, sponges and toilet paper. Nine days out of 10, I do it quite happily.
When I was 18 I worked with the Ringling Brothers circus, taking care of menagerie animals. I used to rather deliberately risk my life with the big cats.
I've learned to be one of the hardheadedest cats in the world. I've learned that.
My career has been successful, but it's been a grind of hard work.
I've been lucky enough to primarily work for myself over the years.
I've been working for many years and I think I've managed to work with some of the best people in the business, which has been rewarding and an apprenticeship.
For example, I was privileged to be working at the White House under the Clinton administration and had not finished my Ph.D., and I thought I was the cat's meow.
If you try and take a cat apart to see how it works, the first thing you have on your hands is a nonworking cat.