Redefining “Need”

I spent more money this year on personal and business development than any other year I’ve been in business. I can justify it too – it’s been the best year I’ve ever had, both creatively and financially.  However, when I went over my books this month, I realized I was way overspending in that category …

Continue Reading…

So Good They Can’t Ignore You

There’s a book out there that completely flips the script on the idea of “follow your passion”. That book is So Good They Can’t Ignore You, by Cal Newport. The title, on the other hand, comes from a story involving the comedian and actor Steve Martin: In a 2007 episode of the Charlie Rose show, …

Continue Reading…

“Do Not Seek To Follow In The Footsteps Of The Wise, Seek What They Sought.”

This quote is from Matsuo Basho, the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. I heard it quoted by John August during an episode of the Scriptnotes podcast, one of my weekly must-listens.

It’s rare that I stop a podcast, rewind it, and transcribe it word for word, but this was one of those times. I had to pull over as I was driving at the time, but I knew this quote was important.

For the last ten years or so, most of my adult life I guess, I’ve been obsessed with reading non-fiction books. I think it stems to a false belief that somewhere, in one of these books, if I just read enough to find the right one, is the answer to all of my questions, and all of my problems. It must be there! The promises on the back covers of these books claimed to have the answers that I was seeking, who was I to doubt these blurbs from other famous authors?

This bit of wisdom from 400+ years ago just threw that belief out the window. I knew it didn’t work that way, yet I still persisted in my fruitless search.

If you posed a question I could probably tell you exactly what Tim Ferriss or Gary Vaynerchuk or Seth Godin would say, with proper and inflection and everything. It’s rather pathetic the amount of time I’ve spent listening to and reading the words of these guys, with not much to show for it.

I’m inferring a bit but I believe that this quote is saying that each of our paths will be different, and following the path of another won’t work. The path to enlightenment or knowledge or understanding or answers is to seek what they have sought. What were these authors after? What is it that we should be seeking?

With this new direction in mind, there are some changes I’m making in my life that will allow me to seek my own path and find what it is I’m looking for. If you’re like me, subscribed to too many email newsletters, with a backlog of books to get through, might I suggest you do the same.

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.

 

What Can You Accomplish In Two Weeks?

Yesterday my wife and three boys left for San Diego to house sit her sister’s house while they’re away (and to have a nice, southern California, lazy, beach summer vacation). I knew the trip was coming, but it wasn’t until earlier this week that I realized that they’d be gone for 16 days before I see them again.

The initial emotion was sadness, but it was quickly followed up by excitement and anticipation. Think about the potential! I can do so much more work!

Continue Reading…

Morning Routine

After two months away from the gym I finally started up a new 12 week program again today.  As soon as I hit the gym at 5:30 I quickly remembered how much I miss the regimen of getting up and starting the day that way. There’s something awesome about getting up when it’s still dark …

Continue Reading…

Consume / Create

I go back to this thought often: am I consuming too much? Consumption can come in many forms – information (books, Ted talks, etc.), content (netflix, youtube), social media. Life feels out of balance if we do too much consumption in relation to the amount of creating. I tend to go back and forth in …

Continue Reading…

Here’s What You Need To Get A Film Funded

A great script.  A name actor.  A name director.  A realistic budget.  A producer.   Distribution.  Someone willing to give you money.  Seems pretty simple on paper, right? It is, until you realize how difficult each step is.  You think you have a great script. But do you? How have you validated it? What actors …

Continue Reading…

Raising Money : A Roll of the Dice

One of the great things about consistency in most things is that every amount of effort you put into it builds on the work you’ve already done. Like I said the other day, the mantra of “it will all work out” sometimes does more harm than good. However, the flip side is that you dramatically improve …

Continue Reading…