(First, there are magicians and if you ever come back to Chicago I would love to take you to the Chicago Magic Lounge.)
I used to always embellish how long I've been working professionally as a lighting designer/technician. Sure I started when I was 18, but I didn't get paid to do it as a professional until I was 20, and even then it wasn't consistent until quite a while after that. I always thought it would give me more authority, a person to trust when he voiced his opinion, someone who mattered. I desire(d) to be seen as important, because a lot of times, I don't feel it.
Even if we counted that 20-year old a professional, there have been large chunks of my life where I haven't done theatre at all due to life kicking my ass, so to say I've been working professionally for 15 years now still feels like an embellishment. However, it's such a nice, round number and invites people to assume I'm an expert while I'm dealing with imposter syndrome.
I knew saying that no one is a magician would ruffle some feathers ;)
To your other point, totally. Length of time is a big one for embellishment, especially when it comes to career. There's a big difference though between counting your start from 20, even if it wasn't consistent and therefore leaves room for embellishment, and counting your start from 3 and claiming to have worked for 5 decades when you're only 35: https://www.businessinsider.com/35-year-old-andrew-giuliani-spent-5-decades-in-politics-2021-5
I'm pretty sure the embellishment you're talking about happens to everyone. Giuliani on the other hand...
(First, there are magicians and if you ever come back to Chicago I would love to take you to the Chicago Magic Lounge.)
I used to always embellish how long I've been working professionally as a lighting designer/technician. Sure I started when I was 18, but I didn't get paid to do it as a professional until I was 20, and even then it wasn't consistent until quite a while after that. I always thought it would give me more authority, a person to trust when he voiced his opinion, someone who mattered. I desire(d) to be seen as important, because a lot of times, I don't feel it.
Even if we counted that 20-year old a professional, there have been large chunks of my life where I haven't done theatre at all due to life kicking my ass, so to say I've been working professionally for 15 years now still feels like an embellishment. However, it's such a nice, round number and invites people to assume I'm an expert while I'm dealing with imposter syndrome.
I knew saying that no one is a magician would ruffle some feathers ;)
To your other point, totally. Length of time is a big one for embellishment, especially when it comes to career. There's a big difference though between counting your start from 20, even if it wasn't consistent and therefore leaves room for embellishment, and counting your start from 3 and claiming to have worked for 5 decades when you're only 35: https://www.businessinsider.com/35-year-old-andrew-giuliani-spent-5-decades-in-politics-2021-5
I'm pretty sure the embellishment you're talking about happens to everyone. Giuliani on the other hand...