Being successful is hard, says the editor whose magazine was closed down
It’s tough at the top, Dr Mumbo’s been told, but he had little understanding of just how difficult, until he read of the plight of former Grazia Australia editor Amy Molloy.
In a column published in The Daily Mail, the self-proclaimed high-achiever describes her position as “torturous” in comparison with that of her “scatty, jobless” friend.
“Now in her 30s, she tends to crash from one career crisis to another and inevitably will have just quit one job and be searching for her next,” Molloy writes of her friend. “She’ll arrive with a hangover, minus her wallet, meaning she won’t be able to pay for dinner.
“At some point during the meal, she will always say the same thing: ‘You’re so lucky, Amy — you’re so driven and successful.’ She envies my life, my career, my salary, my prospects.
What a truly ugly individual. That said, in cases like this, there’s often a deeper rooted psychological issue…
Actually I have concerns for Amy posting that article, even allowing for mischievous daily mail subs. It seems like a cry for help and the follow up comments will surely only exacerbate her issues. I don’t know why she wants to become an Aussie Samantha Brick. It’s very unedifying and she’s better than that.
I can relate to Amy’s article. I never had straight A’s but I worked hard and I had lucky breaks after graduating uni. I was promoted three times since I was 19 and started my full time brand manager role at 20. I was and still am a mere baby in the eyes of my senior directors.It is lonely and you do look at your friends who travel, have crazy lives and “live for the moment”. However in all the craziness of being in a position at the top, whilst being so young. You have to stop and realise your achievements. Never stop congratulating yourself. People will cut you down, people will comment on your performance. Be proud of what you have achieved, who you are and always keep Inspiring yourself.
So that would be the same woman who just wrote this column: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyl.....2gxvv.html. I fear losing her job has pushed her into a compensating cycle of writing anything for anyone who will buy it, suddenly her byline is everywhere. Take your own advice Amy and have some time off to breathe.
Ironic, as the Daily Mail’s right-hand ‘column of shame’ is probably what put Grazia under.
Good pickup LW. My idea of a good weekend would be staying away from Ms Molloy.
Ego much?
What a modest and humble young lady. If I were you I’d ditch that “scatty, jobless” friend… she just is your friend because your great at everything. why don’t you bask in your own glory for a bit then go on a training course to be mediocre. ! Sorted !
@LW – perhaps she just finally found a way to relax and wanted to share it with the world?
Amy is English and not an Aussie Samantha Brick. She used to work at the Daily Mail before coming to Australia. Perhaps she is trying to get a job back in the UK. Can’t be easy with a degree in Fashion Journalism from Southhampton Solent University. Straight As or not.
She thinks she has it hard? P-ah-lease. Try being a white male from a wealthy family who went to the best school in the country, cruised through uni drunk and still managed to pass, partied around the globe with a backpack for a year funded by their parents, then fell into advertising and had over-payed positions without really having to work that hard for the past 7 years while getting to sleep with any hot young think that cruises down the hallway.
Now that, is true struggle.
“I wish I was mediocre like my friends” – asbergers much?
Does she venture any opinion as to why she thinks her magazine failed to connect with readers?
Amy should fit right into the self-help group with Gina Reinhard and Tom Waterhouse.
Those poor successful wealthy people, they simply can’t get a break.
What I really want to say will probably not make it through moderation.
Take a step back people, leave the tall poppy syndrome and petty jealousy for a moment and look at what this young woman is saying.
No friends
No downtime
Very high self expectation
Fear of failure and the future
This a someone (IMO) on the edge of a breakdown, ..” I lie in bed and cry”… Im no doctor but this sounds like depression. Just because you have money or a comfortable house, doesnt mean you are happier and mentally healthier than the “battler”
This is not about bragging, this is about someone who needs help.
and when she’s on her inevitable death bed, she will realise that she only ever had one life to experience, yet never let herself have the chance.
I feel sorry for her honestly.
this also depends on one’s definition of the term “success”. Success in my eyes is doing everything you’re passionate about, loving deeply, experiencing all life throws at you, which in turn creates a better individual.
By the sounds of things, Amy has yet to experience anything other than work. There are probably 5 year olds with more life-wisdom than herself.
However difficult . . . she should make the most of it because there are no jobs when you are older
@ Jean Cave…. too true. Don’t try and be 35+ and trying to work in the magazine industry. Or print media generally…
I think this may be grandstanding, self promotion, job searching and soap opera all at one and the same time.
Selling stories to the paper seems a strange way to seek psychological help and can hardly be considered therapeutic.
I am reminded of those who seek what they call an “alternative lifestyle,” change is change, it may be as good as a rest, but it’s still only change and there is no guarantee that it will be for the better.
Who said “Life Be In It “? Whoever it was, it’s a good piece of advice.
@ awesome, I hear you brother…and I feel you. Ditto to your comment.
I think Amy needs some time off to get a bit of perspective. She may feel super-successful, but is she? Editing magazines, writing books, getting articles published – this is what we journos do. It doesn’t make you part of some sort of elite. It’s just the job. Being an editor does not mean you’re better than people in other roles. If you go around acting like you’re super-successful – and writing about it – when you’re simply another journo (a fashion journo at that!) making progress on the career ladder, you’re going to get cut down and hated on by your peers. Working for you will not be enjoyable. Referring to friends as scatty and jobless will ensure you only have imaginary ones to write about in future. Sure, we all get a thrill with each byline and each new role, but don’t let it super-charge your opinion of yourself. It’s just a bit of adrenalin. A chemical reaction.
Also, if the Daily Mail EVER asks you to write a piece about yourself… DON’T. DO. IT.
Reread this peoples….. She is sending out an SOS…. She appears painfully aware of her character ‘flaws’ and the apparent alienation they cause her. To lay bare her shame based inner dialogue for all to pick and dissect seems to be a massive cry for help.
Successful or not. Mental or emotional health issues or not. Rich, attractive,employed, married,family and all the trimmings, or not, makes not the slightest difference when the hole, the something missing, the sense of ‘seperate and different’ to others rears up whispering designer death slogans…
Amy needs urgent help and cessation of public judgment towards her artical. I urge her friends, despite possibly feeling offended, to reach out to her. It’s not the time to abandon someone who is creating a forum inviting abuse or negative responses from the public.
She may well be seeking justification to self destruct entirety….. I’m no professional but this seems rather basic. Cause people to dislike and find me so lacking, that Opting out’ is best outcome all round….
Compassion people. A little understanding we all react differently under stress. And if she does suffer from a condition such as asperges, its hardly her fault is it.