Self-Confidence

Let's face it. Succeeding in Hollywood and taking on any creative endeavor is not for the faint of heart. To decide that from nothing, you will create is a bold move. It's why some label us crazy. We are not crazy. We shape the world with our ideas. Your favorite chair, the song that moves you or the film you watch again and again -- all came from the mind of someone who believed in their creativity. On the days when I doubt, this little pomeranian makes me remember to hold my shoulders back and face life straight in the eye. I'm fabulous. And so are you.

Ways to Find Happiness

I love this website called Marc and Angel dot com. The couple who publish it offer their take on ways to do many things from 12 Things Successful People Do to 18 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I Was 18. The ideas are not new but they are thoughtfully presented. And, if you're as human as I am, you need the reminders. Keep shining.

Dream Big & Feel It In Your Heart

In her acceptance speech at the 2012 SAG Awards for her role in "The Help" Viola Davis said,

"What is there but a dream? You can't trade in your dream for another dream."

She told the children of Central Falls, RI to "dream big and dream fierce." In her 2010 Tony Awards acceptance speech (linked above), she reminds us to hold our dreams in our heart. Her words are as rich as butter to those of us who create, create anything at all. Some days we will want to give up. Let's not let today be one of them.

Burn The Ship

A ship captain approaches a shore. There are several hundred men under his command. They have come to take over an island. They are outnumbered and the island's inhabitants have the advantage because they have lived on the island for hundreds of years and they have more weaponry. As the men walk onto shore, frightened but forging ahead, the captain turns around and says, "burn the ship."

I don't like war. I believe that civilized people can find a smoother way to conflict resolution. But, what stuck with me about this story was the resolve for victory. The captain knew that any thoughts of retreating to their ship and aborting the mission would detract from the energy they needed to be present in battle. The same is true for the mission we have come to fulfill with our art and creativity. The mind can always tell us--it's too hard, so many people fail at [this] or [that], the odds are against me. It can keep you thinking about returning to the ship. But, to resolve in your mind to face circumstances, come what may, and to move through any obstacle to live the artist's life that you have envisioned --the power is in focusing on the mission. The great philosopher Howard Thurman says, "Keep fresh before me the moments of high resolve, that in good times or in tempests, I may not forget that to which my life is committed." We have within us everything we need to create our film, sculpture, play, musical or that incredible design. Stop looking back. Resolve it in yourself to burn the ship.

It's Worth It

Forget what you read in the trades.

This is the real news.

See Yourself Winning

Sometimes it really is just this simple. You are smarter than you know and more brave than you think.