This List Will Change Your Life
Let this new year be the best you've had so far.
You are going to have an awesome year. How do I know this? Because I have a gift for you. It is not as influential as good luck may be, or even privilege, but I know it can help. It may not be an introduction to the person that is going to change everything for you professionally, but we already sort of know each other at this point, right? This is even better than that. I have built it with the help of others, and have credited them when I can remember. I think it is pretty damn good, even if I have to say so myself. But, yeah, it still could be better. Perhaps you have something to add. If so, please do. That’s why we still allow comments here at HFF…
Do you know what it is? You should. If you know me a wee bit, you know I like lists. So that is what I have for you today. It’s a long one. I want it to last the year afterall.
It is my recommendation you build a list like this of your own and incorporate it into the end of your annual review. These are things you should embrace, or at least consider, in the new year. It’s helped me to do so, but I can’t say it will do the same for you. I guess but I just don’t know.
130+ Easy Steps To Make Your Life Better As A Filmmaker —Or Any Creative Professional
Don’t forget how few get to do what they love; show thanks to your good fortune — even when it is struggle and painful because you don’t know if it will last or later be denied. Consistently pay respect/honor to the privilege of working in a creative field. It may be the most special gift any of us will ever have.
Leave all better than you found it.
Keep the good ones close.
List what you love so you can grow better about spotting it while never growing less than amazed at the bounty.
Listen before you speak.
Don’t forget: we are all in this together.
All hierarchies are false.
Reality is a construct (but doesn’t have to be).
Progress is not linear.
Make the most of the moment.
Show up. Be in the room.
Question why. It doesn’t have to be this way. How could this be different?
Resist the status quo.
How can you maintain a child’s sense of wonder and to see with beginner’s eyes? Always try.
Lead by example.
People first.
Learn & Respect their past & current ways wherever you go.
Regularly do nothing.
Get things done.
Champion others, particularly when they may not have gotten there without your help.
Will worrying make things any better? Not likely!
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Explain what you need to do your job well — which requires you to have done the deep thinking needed to answer this.
Know the market and demand to be treated as you deserve (and not as the market indicates)
Every project & participant is unique & will best excel when treated as such.
Develop processes to lift the good into great.
Lend a hand whenever you can.
Just because they make it look like they have it under control, or don’t need your help, doesn’t mean that that is true.
Play the long game; consistency & endurance deliver unique opportunities.
Ask yourself how you will feel better about what you are doing today if you are doing the same thing 15 years from now.
Don’t be a jerk, ever.
Don’t be a shit talker, ever.
Know your priorities & don’t lose sight of them.
Learn/remember their names, faces, and interests (knowing their interests will help you remember their names & faces).
Set boundaries; good fences make better neighbors;
Never overpromise; only overdeliver;
Find & execute operational improvements at every level (how can you make this better?)
Show authentic gratitude (not in a cheesy way) when someone does that extra thing.
Look for the accident about to happen and solve it without anyone noticing.
Reward those go above and beyond.
Keep and revise your own lists of all sorts; review them periodically.
Our heroes commit acts of kindness a/o appreciation regularly.
Write letters/emails of authentic thanks &/or appreciation.
Reflect deeply on your year at the end or start of every new year (over the course of several weeks).
Arrive early.
Devote at least 1 day per week for reading.
Devote at least 1 day per week for maintenance.
Be generous (but within your means).
A fast “pass” is the best gift in any creative industry.
When you like/love something, say it publicly.
Stay in decent shape as you need to be able have stamina for the long haul.
Be prepared for several outcomes, both positive & negative.
Spellcheck very carefully.
Edit everything.
The last 10% may seem like it is only for you, but it truly determines everything.
Stay engaged in anything you participate in (no dead eyes, particularly on video calls).
Leave a positive impression (make them want to take your calls & get your emails).
Contribute vocally to everything you participate in.
Be an expert in something (no matter how small) — but don’t feel compelled to share your mastery until it is needed.
Care deeply about the outcome, but don’t let it delay getting it done.
Sometimes you have to just get out on the dance floor, particularly when no one else is there.
Over time, real leaders manage themselves out of a job, training former subordinates to be even better than they ever could be.
Create a place (no matter how small or limited) you like/love to work.
Show your personality. Help them trust the real you. Be yourself.
Write the angry email but never send it (@minhalbaig).
Occasionally do that something you don’t normally do but would like if someone did for you (like leave enthusiastic voice texts).
Solicit the opinion of those with less experience (give them a chance to shine).
Send or bring unexpected gifts when you find a kindred spirit.
Recognize it does not usually need to be an either/or scenario, or a binary choice; it is likely to have a both/and blend.
Cook (or some other gesture of sacrifice + giving) for those that work for you (shift the balance) or are visiting.
Document the journey of your creative expression ; you will need (or be inspired by) the photos/drawings/journals later. (@Kmc1213)
You are in an aesthetic field; show what you think beauty is whenever you can — sometimes secretly.
You are in the Entertaiment industry; show fun & entertain;
Host something periodically;
Put an email collect on your website (@dordotson)
Watch a movie or tv show and consider it homework — particularly when you enjoy it. Do it often. (@berntree)
Write/take notes anytime an idea comes to mind even if you don’t think you’ll ever use it. (@berntree)
Get up from your desk & take a walk around the neighborhood (ideally every day) (@SteveChivera100);.
Don’t hold grudges.
Connect quickly — authentically.
Commitments are earned (show you are extremely reliable).
Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep.
Everyone deserves a day or two of rest (do you have to send that email or text now?) each week.
Someone that treats someone badly, is likely to treat you badly, and you don’t deserve to be treated that way — get away from that person as soon as you can & don’t keep them in your life.
Most people hold a lot of hurt inside them, and it generates bad behavior. Forgiveness is the path to healing. Be generous with your love and appreciation.
You deserve a seat at the table but only if you have something to contribute. You know you do. Show you have something to add.
Be able to define yourself through multiple existing works in each art form (of others’ creation). Find them if you don’t have them already. Replace the ones you do, if you can.
Bring the things you will need (identify those ahead of time).
Find small things that make you happy that you can bring wherever you need to go (keep them close & make sure you can find them).
Periodically get away from your screens for extended periods of time — do so regularly daily.
Use your paranoid dark fantasies to stop such negative outcomes (that’s when worrying can help).
Remember: you’ve solved something similar before so as difficult as this is you will solve this to.
Work will expand to fill the time — so keep things moving.
Get ahead of schedule. You will have things slow you down later.
Take risks, but accept the consequences.
Stretch (both literally and figuratively) .
Loosen up. Get massages (both literally and figuratively).
Stay connected to the everyday (do your own laundry).
Surprise them with what you can do.
Determine when: now, soon, or much later. Put each idea or task in one of these boxes.
Share good stories & fun facts;
Learn the history of your chosen mode of expression & profession.
Don’t slouch (both literally and figuratively).
Everything should talk to everything else, both what/who came before it and what/who comes after. There is a secret language waiting to be discovered.
When the light strikes the spot (or the baby chases the puppy), remember it is better than magic ;
Choose your memories well.
Look out for others.
Share good ideas and solutions.
Share dangerous ideas that my provoke us into new terrain.
Take the opportunity to do something new.
Be silly sometimes.
Don’t worry about what they think.
The movie business needs scandals (but no one ever should get hurt); it is okay to enjoy them. The gods of creativity and destruction are one and the same.
Health & safety come first.
Don’t be stinky.
Be a responsible artist.
Don’t waste stuff.
Move things to order.
Action is the best alternative.
Simplify.
Do more with less.
You have enough.
You have always had enough.
Go further.
Look closer.
Change the perspective.
Make strange.
Reward yourself.
Wetdowns look better.
Cliches cheapen everything.
Stop putting it off.
Always be reading something; it makes you interesting.
Let your friends stay over.
Visit your friends. Go to them.
Edit as you go.
Have your writer on set.
Writers write, directors direct, producers produce, actors act, and so on!
Nothing will ever be complete.
Change is the only constant.
Happy New Year!
Great list! I would add something like - travel and try to live as locals do (i.e. not like a tourist) in another country, even if only for a week or two. Feeling like an “outsider” and learning to adapt to a new place / way of life is great life experience, and being adaptable is key in this creative business. It can help you get unstuck in many ways!