ESSAY 1
How to Kill a Man Without a Plan?
It was November the 5th 2008. The day after President Obama was first elected. “I killed it all!” my uncle said. His expression was odd, but then I thought; what might one learn from a killer? There are so many reasons why one should never kill; but in my uncle’s line of work it was a hit after-hit after –hit! He believed he was invincible.
“Jay, this is not right! How can I ever do something so carelessly? I wish I could turn back the hands of time. I don’t even sleep anymore. I killed it all!” my uncle said with a grievous tone. He was not referring to taking another person’s life but my uncle spoke as if he was directly responsible for a homicide.
“How did you kill it all, uncle?” I asked. I knew he was an extremely successful music executive through 1980’s and early 2000’s. He instructed me to look at President Obama and to think of what brought him to the White House. “That’s someone who has ‘It’!” he stated. “What does he have?” I replied? He responded in a ministerial tone; “it’s clear he has a whole lot of things but he most definitely has a plan!”
“I killed millions of dollars and murdered countless hours!” he said tiresomely!” Then he stated, “I killed it all because I had never had a plan. I was winging it the whole time. Obama won because he has a plan! You need to get a plan and everyday work smarter at accomplishing your goals!”
This was a tremendous turning point in my life. I discovered what having a plans means. I analyzed my uncle’s success, along with his current position, including the accomplishments of President Obama as he won the White House. That exercise enabled me to understand the importance of developing clear aims for my future. Furthermore, in an extreme sense, my take-away from my uncle’s conversation: not having a plan is almost like living without a life.
3 responses so far
Hi Jay,
For someone who had been a “successful music executive for such a long time,” I won’t call his life as “winging it.” Haha, moving on…..
This is a short– very short– interesting story that I enjoyed reading throughout its length. I think you sound very genuine and I am sure that the abundance of dialogue in your essay played a big part in creating that effect. It is interesting to hear from a very successful person about the importance of having a plan and I can totally understand what you are getting at.
One thing I really admire about your writing is how you manage to conflate your experience, not only with Obama’s glory manifested in that inauguration, but also how your uncle is also present to show the juxtaposition.
However, I don’t much of “Jay” in here. Why is “having plans” important you? Just give us an anecdote where not having a plan has cost you dearly. You said that “it was a turning point in my life.” If it really was, I think I wish to see more weight on why you think so. Describe your uncle’s histrionics, and give us more about the gravity of the scene and the setting. I think one way to do that will be how your relationship with your uncle is like? How different of a person he is from the one described here.
It is just that I need more feel and more antecedent stories to really get the feel. As far as your writing is concerned, I think having many dialogues make you less susceptible to criticism– I can’t really say that I really don’t like how or why someone said the way he did. But in general, I think it is simple and flows nicely. Just wish it was a paragraph or two longer.
Jay, that is a very interesting way of writing an essay, which reminded me of a suspense story. During all the essay you keep the reader unaware of what you are talking about, giving small hints, which made me want to read more and more and finally find out what is that “killing” means. Finally, at the very end you finally name the main topic, which is having a plan in your life. This is a very powerful device which I now want to try in my writing. Your essay made me think about my own plans on my life, in general it will make any reader think of theirs.
I liked the range of words (or your word choice) of the main topic you used in the essay: goal, aim, plan. They basically have the same meaning, but it is good you found so many synonyms.
The use of dialogues makes the story more vivid. The choice of the title was good, it made me want to read your story right away. Another device that made your story interesting was a metaphor: “I killed millions of dollars and murdered countless hours!” (Jay)
I liked the story, I loved how you (or your uncle) made the connection of a success in ones life depending on a plan with Obamas success.
Jay,
I really enjoyed reading your essay. I definitely think “having a plan” is great in many situations.
However, I believe although it is very important to have a plan, and travel “along the path of life”; one should always remain open to change. One might change direction, or learn something new, perhaps improving their current “plan”, or “aim”, or “path”.
One might learn something new they believe is totally unrelated. They may think they are wasting time, but it may come in handy somewhere else; either in their current “path”, line of work, etc. or personal life. Even if they do not think so at that particular moment.
Most inventions, discoveries, “original” work, ideas, and/or thoughts are based on…, based on…, based on…
Thanks for sharing your story. Your uncle definitely does not sound like he “killed it all”. It sounds as though he was quite successful.
Michelle