Since the election, I’ve—mostly—stopped watching news coverage.
Instead, I YouTube and chill most evenings, letting the platform’s suggestions lead me down one rabbit hole or another. Last night’s double feature included two deep dives on two very different men.
One strikes me as all love and light.
The other strikes me as all insecurity and darkness.
In case you’re not familiar, meet Orville Peck, the gay masked country crooner who made headlines last year for his duet with Willie Nelson, and Dave Hollis, the Disney executive turned self-help “mastermind” who made headlines last year after dying of a drug overdose.
In my opinion, Peck is a self-taught artist who’s passionate about life, love, and music. He’s routinely on top of the charts and has a growing fan base. As for Hollis, he was a faux “guru” who faked his way to the top—personally and professionally—and ended up six feet under.
ORVILLE PECK = WHO IS THAT MASKED MAN?
Orville Peck didn’t need fancy credentials or a top-tier music school to make a name for himself. He’s a self-taught singer-songwriter who’s built his career on raw talent, his love for country music, and his refusal to fit into a mold.
With his ever-evolving mask, snake charmer good looks, and soulful voice, Mr. Orville Peck does country music his way—blurring lines between the genre’s traditional roots and his own queerness. His success is proof that being authentic and going your own way is more powerful than following the “rules” of the industry’s gatekeepers.
Peck is also proof that a DIY education can not only work, but can be the secret to success. He’s a reminder that you don’t need fancy degrees—or pedigrees—to take your shot…and make your mark.
With enough luck, passion, and talent, it’s possible to go far—and still stay true to who you are. The struggle is real. But so are the rewards.
DAVE HOLLIS = WHO WAS THAT GUY?
Let’s talk, briefly, about Dave Hollis.
A former Disney executive, Dave left his high-powered corporate career to reinvent himself as a self-help “guru” and sidekick to his then-wife, Rachel Hollis.
In my opinion, Dave Hollis’ life—and his tragic, untimely death—is a cautionary tale about insecurity and misplaced ambition. Here was a man so rattled by his wife’s rising success that he gave up his “dream job” to join her world, only to turn it into a nightmare.
While I’m no fan of Rachel Hollis or her brand of toxic positivity, at least she (mostly) seemed to believe the bumper-sticker advice she was selling.
Dave? Not so much. He never appeared to understand that he wasn’t entertaining, engaging, or even likable.
Hollis went from selling Disney films to devoted fans to trying to sell himself as a “life coach” to fickle fans of self-help influencers. In the process, he fucked around and found out that selling snake-oil requires more than just a marketing plan.
In the end, Dave Hollis proved that a shiny package is no substitute for real depth or meaning. His story is a sad cautionary tale: building a life based on fluff and facades may work for a while, but it’s no foundation for a meaningful or lasting legacy.
LESSON LEARNED + LIVED = PASSION > PROFIT
So, what’s the TLDR takeaway?
For me, it that while Orville Peck continues following his creative heart and building his career based on authenticity and passion, Dave Hollis tried—and failed—to build his empire on chasing profits, not purpose.
Keeping up with the Joneses and Kardashians is not the road to health or wealth.
Orville Peck is living proof that you don’t need fancy credentials or industry connections to get started making your dreams come true.
You just need to be true to yourself and your craft.
Work hard and trust that success will follow.
It usually does.
On the other hand, Dave Hollis is a reminder that you can sell a lot of “inspirational” stuff, but most folk can—mostly—see through the fluff.
Whatever you want to create or curate is possible…as long as there’s love and respect…for your craft and yourself. Don’t chase the cash. Chase your own voice.
The money will come when you're doing what you love, not what’s trending.
In the end, DIY isn’t just a method—it’s a lifestyle. And Orville Peck? Well, he’s the proof that being your authentic self is always the best hustle. Mask optional.
Thanks for reading!
Clint
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Orville Peck Talks Shooting Your Shot (Monét X Change) 📺
Disney Executive Ruined His Life… (Not The Good Girl) 📺
The Orville Peck Story (Orville Peck) 📺
The Writing Racket (Miles Madron) 👨💻
ON THIS DAY = DECEMBER 27
BIRTHDAYS
1901 = Marlene Dietrich = German-American actor and singer 🌈
1939 = John Amos = American actor
1961 = Guido Westerwelle = German politician 🌈
1966 = Bill Goldberg = American football player, wrestler and actor
1969 = Sarah Vowell = American author and journalist
1971 = Savannah Guthrie = American television journalist
1973 = Wilson Cruz = American actor 🌈
1975 = Heather O'Rourke = American actor
1984 = Desiree Akhavan = American filmmaker, writer and actor 🌈
1995 = Timothée Chalamet = French-American actor
1997 = Vachirawit Chivaaree = Thai actor and singer
HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES
EVENTS
1831 = Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard HMS Beagle, during which he will begin to formulate his theory of evolution.
1927 = Kern and Hammerstein's musical play Show Boat, considered to be the first true American musical play, opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Broadway.
1932 = Radio City Music Hall, "Showplace of the Nation", opens in NYC.
1945 = The International Monetary Fund, based on ideas of Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keyne, is established by 29 member countries.
1947 = Howdy Doody Show premieres on NBC.
1949 = The Netherlands officially recognizes Indonesian independence. End of the Dutch East Indies.
1979 = Knots Landing, the Dallas spin-off, premieres on CBS.
PHOTO + QUOTE OF THE DAY
“When I was a teenager, in the '80s, it was 'Dynasty.' It was 'Beverly Hills, 90210.' And those were fantasies. Those weren't reflective of my experience. And I think we all want that; we all want to see ourselves, our story told, something to relate to, to help us and know that we're not freaks, that our experiences aren't odd.”
Wilson Cruz
He sings beautifully. Not my favorite style of music, but well performed; and that is a beautiful room with other excellent musicians. I might seek more of his performances.
I really like Orville Peck. That voice is a killer! He's hot but I wonder how long he'll keep the mask thing going.