It's not personal.

My company, Ape Entertainment, has been enjoying a string of successes over the past few weeks. A lot of hard work has been starting to pay off and people are starting to notice our work. Newspaper coverage, TV coverage, magazine and web coverage- you name it. We are delivering in spades for those people who have put their faith in us.

Then you get days like today. When other projects that you've spent months of time and energy working on and developing relationships for suddenly go *poof* and disappear like a whisp of smoke on the wind. Not once, not twice, but three times in one day.

It's difficult not to take things personally when people aren't convinced of your vision. Aren't convinced that you know what you're doing or that you are building something real and formidable. But, I'm learning not to. There's so many skeletons along the path of success in the comic field. The chances that Ape Entertainment will succeed where so many other companies have failed seems less than likely on the surface.

I know different. I know the dedication of the people in this company. I know the artistic and literary intelligence, the marketing intelligence, the business acumen of the Ape Crew. I know, at some point in the near future, more people will start believing.

Until then, I'm building a thick skin and acquiring a ton of experience. I tell myself to take satisfaction in knowing that the things that don't come to fruition aren't because of mishandling or ill feelings.

And I'm not taking it personal.