The Zack Arnold Podcast

Click to Download AudioOn a weekly basis I receive emails, Facebook messages, and tweets from people all over the world who work in creative fields. Some people send me pages worth of their life stories, others are looking for quick tips to optimize something very specific in their lives, but most often the messages I receive are from people frustrated with where they are in their career who don’t know where to go next.It occurred to me recently that the advice I’m providing to an individual privately might be beneficial to many others struggling with similar obstacles in their own lives. So here goes my first attempt at a new series called ‘Dear Zack.’ If you find this beneficial, please let me know in the comments below or send me a quick message letting me know you’d like to read more of these in the future!Dear Zack,I've been editing pretty consistently for the past year and more, but recently I've been having trouble finding work and I want to make sure that I'm doing everything I can to better my chances. I've reached out to people that I have a good relationship with in the past (directors, producers, line producers, editors, etc.) to let them know that I'm available. I've also reached out to agencies with not much luck except for being hip-pocketed at [two big-name agencies].Of course, I'm staying positive since I believe that I've been turning out good cuts and people have enjoyed working with me. But I just wanted to take the extra steps and see if I can learn from a person of your experience.Is there anything more that you did during a time like this other than have patience?Thanks,Martina Hi Martina,There is no doubt that patience is a required virtue when working to build a fulfilling career. One of the fundamental mindsets I teach in all of my online programs is that life is game of chess, not a game of checkers. You have to be willing to play the long game and stop looking for the next easy move - just because a quick jump is available doesn’t mean it’s the best strategy to win the game.Don’t confuse patience with complacency, however. Often times people reach a certain point in their careers where they believe they have earned the right to their next job, and all they have to do is wait to be discovered. No matter the level you’re at in your career, every single strategic move should have one singular objective: Putting yourself in the right place at the right time so the right people discover you, and thus you “get lucky.”“Luck” is simply the intersection of hard work and opportunity.I’m not implying in any way whatsoever that you are sitting around waiting to be discovered, clearly you are reaching out to past contacts and you’ve built a relationship with not one but two big-name agencies. This is a great start! But you definitely haven’t reached the point yet where there’s nothing else that can be done except sit and be patient.If you follow my podcast and blog then you may already know I spent years jumping from one random indie project to the next (often unpaid), and I was also unemployed for long stretches before finally landing my dream job editing Burn Notice (something I dive into in great detail in my ‘Ultimate Guide to Making It In Hollywood’).While it’s been a few years since being at this stage of my career, I still remember it like it was yesterday. Furthermore, I have yet to speak to a fellow editor (or most other professions in Hollywood for that matter), where people didn’t struggle jumping to the next level in their careers. For example, it took Kelley Dixon (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Walking Dead) twenty years of working as an assistant to become an “overnight success story.”Take a breath and know this is all part of the journey. The only way to ensure failure is if you give up.Knowing you are at a similar crossroads in your career today that everyone goes through at some point, here are three questions to ask to ensure you are doing everything possible to put yourself in the right place at the right time to be “discovered.”I have also provided concrete action steps so you can start making sh*t happen!1. Do your résumé and portfolio clearly demonstrate why you are the best fit for the jobs you’re pursuing?Based on your statement, “I’ve been editing pretty consistently for the past year and more,” I’ll assume you are not brand new to the game and have some experience under your belt (most likely you’ve assisted as well?).If you did come up as an assistant editor like most people do, there is a place called “the gray zone” where it can be really tough to transition from assisting to only taking editing work. This is a tough transition, but building a fulfilling career requires pursuing projects that align with your creative passions and your skillset. Sometimes this means making tough financial decisions and (gasp!) turning down what appears to be perfectly good work short term (like assisting) because it no longer aligns with your long term goals.If you simply need a paycheck job to cover your rent and groceries, then survival is priority number one and you don’t have the room to be picky. There’s no shame in making a living. But approaching jobs with this mindset for an extended period of time can unfortunately lead to a less-than-perfect résumé that some might consider a bit “scattershot” (Don’t worry, my résumé was like this for almost a decade).If you’re concerned one of the reasons you aren’t being considered for job opportunities is because your past work experience is less than ideal, let’s get creative with how you present yourself (while staying honest, of course).Action Step: Create multiple versions of your résumé.Because I don’t have a clear sense of your level of experience from your email Martina, for the sake of argument, let’s pretend you have at least five years of industry experience and some of that includes assistant work. Perhaps you have a scattershot portfolio of past projects that includes some comedy work but also commercials, trailers, documentary shorts, indie features, and several years as a tv assistant in multiple genres. If your goal with your résumé is to show how much experience you have as a whole, having one generic list of all your past projects can actually hurt you more than it helps you.At best you have 30-60 seconds to convince someone that you are the right creative fit for the job, so make that decision as easy as possible by organizing your résumé strategically for each potential opportunity.Pigeonholing is the reality in creative industries. While I don’t believe that we should ever be limited to only doing one type of genre work, producers and directors are looking for a slam dunk, so give them the clearest picture possible of why your past experience makes you the right fit for this current opportunity...even if this means dropping a bunch of stuff from your résumé that isn’t the right fit.If you don’t feel you have enough experience to drop anything, then at least have your résumé flow in such a way that the most relevant work is listed first and the least relevant is on the bottom (or the next page). People commonly make the mistake of listing their work history chronologically as if they're applying for a middle management job at Microsoft. This isn’t necessary in creative industries.IN SHORT: Your résumé has one job - demonstrating you are the right creative fit. Make it as simple as possible and craft a unique version for each individual opportunity.BONUS Action Step: Make it braindead easy to navigate your online portfolio.If you also have an online portfolio of sample work, organize it in such a way that people can find the right genre quickly. A home page with every single piece of work you’ve ever done only confuses the person who’s considering you, especially if you’re listing projects you may or may not have edited at all (e.g. you list projects that you assisted on only).Think in terms of building funnels: If someone comes to your site and wants to only watch comedy (or action, or drama, etc), does your site flow in such a way that doing so is obvious and simple?If you haven’t already, I suggest organizing your portfolio site with categories, tabs, tags, or anything else that allows a potential producer or director to curate your content instantly. And if you’re old school and still have a DVD reel, make multiple versions or even custom versions for each job application (I know it sounds crazy, but my custom reel is the main reason I landed Burn Notice).When you reach out for potential jobs, in your email provide direct links to specific examples of your past work - do the hard work for them. While it might not be possible to have five different versions of a website the way you can have five unique versions of your résumé, by providing the right breadcrumbs you make it super simple for them, and you’ll also feel confident they are watching the right work at the right time.Lastly, if you worked on a specific show, don’t just link to the homepage for that show on your website and expect others to dig through and find the right clips. Provide sample scenes directly on your site that demonstrate your best work on that series (and list your specific contribution). If someone sends me a link to watch their work and I end up on a YouTube landing page instead, I’m not going to watch anything because I don’t know where to start or how they were involved.IN SHORT: If your prospective employer can’t find the absolute best clip that represents why you are the best fit for their project within 30 seconds, your site needs to be reorganized.2. Are you properly leveraging your past relationships?If you are good at what you do, once your foot is in the door and you have a few years under your belt, you will not build your career using your résumé or portfolio: You will build your career with referrals.One of the most frustrating parts about building a creative career in Hollywood is that most jobs are filled before you ever hear about them. You will most likely never know about 95% of the opportunities that might be perfect for you. If a job opening has become public knowledge, that simply means the people looking have already exhausted their contact list. So it’s imperative that you stay relevant on that contact list so you’re part of the “insider” conversations before employers are forced to recruit people on the “outside.”The great thing about building your career with referrals is that rather than always looking for work yourself or having just one agent potentially hunting down work for you, instead you have an entire network of producers, directors, editors, and other colleagues constantly referring you when jobs become available, and you will hear about a lot more than 5% of the opportunities that are a perfect fit for you...without any effort at all!Sounds like a dream, right?The key to building a perpetual sales machine of friends and colleagues looking for work for you is maintaining those relationships even when you aren’t working with them. Sure it helps if you are the best editor they’ve ever worked with and you are #1 on their call list, but short of that, the next best strategy is to be the most recent person on their list.Most job opportunities are filled quickly. If someone comes to me asking if I “know a good assistant,” for example, I don’t have a giant spreadsheet of every single great assistant I’ve ever worked with in my career and their current availability. I don’t take the time to weigh the pros and cons of each to determine who is the most deserving or the most able. The ones I do think of right away and refer to others are often the ones I’ve been in contact with most recently.Action step: Reconnect with people in your existing network...but without asking them to consider you for any upcoming opportunities.You mention in your email, Martina, that you’re already reaching out to past colleagues to “let them know you’re available.” Instead of reconnecting simply to land your next job, instead think of a way you can strengthen your relationship with them by providing value to their lives first.I recommend checking out The Socially Awkward Introvert’s Guide to Networking if you’re looking for creative ways to provide value to colleagues you’ve worked with in the past.For example, rather than sending a mass email to everyone you’ve worked with in the past updating them on your work history and your availability (Side note: Rarely will I consider someone who has Bcc’d me on a chain message), instead email each colleague individually and begin a conversation that shows genuine interest in what they’re working on. End the email with an open-ended but simple question such as,“I read that you are currently directing [XYZ] film. It looks like a challenging project, are you having fun? I hope it’s as much fun as when you and I worked on [ABC] together.”Start up a casual conversation, try to slip in some “in jokes” from past projects, remind them you’re a fun guy or gal. After a couple of exchanges there’s no harm in mentioning you’d love the opportunity to work together again if they’re looking. But providing value to them always comes first - your needs come second.IN SHORT: Do your best to stay in contact with people who can refer work to you, but do so in such a way you never actually have to ask them to consider you.3. Are you prioritizing the time to build new relationships?You mention in your email Martina that you are reaching out to people you already have a good relationship with, and you are also reaching out to agencies...but are you also working hard to expand your network and meet new people?Whenever I’m actively looking for my next project, I consider unemployment my full-time job, and my number one job duty is expanding my network of contacts.Similar to dating, the catch-22 of meeting new people is that it’s nearly impossible to find the time to network while you’re working, but when you’re unemployed you often reek of desperation because you need work NOW. Barring having a Delorean parked in your garage so you can start building new relationships two years ago, the next best time to start networking and building them is today. But like connecting with past colleagues, when building new relationships you cannot expect to get anything in return. Your only goal is to provide value to others.Here’s why creating new relationships is so important, especially the higher you climb the ladder: People don’t hire based on experience nearly as much as they hire based on trust and comfort.I am inundated multiple times per week with emails that say the following:“I’m just letting you know that I’m available and I would love to be considered if any opportunities arise.”Here’s the honest truth that few are willing to admit: People will not consider you or refer you for other open projects if they haven’t worked in the trenches with you before. If someone is putting their name on the line, they need to know you can hack it when the bullets are flying, deadlines are tight, and tensions are high. And even more importantly, they need to trust that you have a good attitude under pressure.If I’ve worked with someone in the past and not heard from them in a year, there’s a VERY short list of people I trust enough that I would refer jobs to if they simply sent me the “I’m available for work again” email. But if I have never worked with that person before, the “I’m available” email will have a 0% success rate (even if I like them personally).If a prospective employer is weighing your résumé against someone else who has the same level of experience, they will always choose the person they are more comfortable with. And if they don’t know either candidate, often times the tiebreaker goes to whomever has a stronger referral from within that employer’s network.Therefore, your objective is to meet new people and make them comfortable with you so they trust hiring or referring you for a job in the future.Action step: Strategically build your dream list of contacts...then start reaching out.During several of the long stretches of unemployment earlier in my career, I developed what I now call “The IMDB Game.” After having made the mistake for several years of taking the shotgun approach to networking and job hunting (i.e. sending out hundreds of résumés and demo reels to every single job opening in the industry), I decided it was time to start using a sniper rifle instead (‘Shooter’ pun intended).Here’s how “The IMDB Game” works:Make a list of all of the ‘Dream Projects’ you’d love to work on. At a minimum choose 5-10 of your favorite tv shows, or feature directors & producers, or trailer houses...whatever makes the most sense for the type of work you do.Research all of the relevant people that work on those projects and make a spreadsheet organizing them with the following columns:NameCurrent projectPast (relevant) projectsPotential connections?Contact info (email, social media, etc)Find any potential connections you have in common. IMDB Pro has a great feature for this, but if you don’t want to pay the membership fee, with a little elbow grease you can dig through credits of their past projects to see if you have worked with any of the same people.Once you’ve compiled your list, begin reaching out to either your dream connections directly or reaching out to people you’ve both worked with in the past and see if you can get a brief intro. The likelihood of someone responding to you goes up exponentially if you’re referred by someone they trust.Above all else, remember your main objective when reaching out to new contacts is not to land a job: Your sole purpose is to provide value to their lives.IN SHORT: When you’re unemployed, expanding your network should become your full-time job. Rather than taking the shotgun approach, strategically approach the right people who are the best fit for the dream projects you’d like to work on.To Summarize...Unfortunately there is no defined path to success in any creative career, especially filmmaking. But despite the lack of any road to follow, after interviewing many successful people including editing legends such as Walter Murch, Carol Littleton, Kelley Dixon, Jeffrey Ford, and Billy Goldenberg, I’ve distilled what seems like a thousand different ways to “make it” into three very distinct steps anyone can follow, all of which I discuss in detail in my Ultimate Guide to ‘Making It’ In Hollywood:You need a clear picture of the ladder you want to climbYou have to do awesome workPeople have to know you do awesome workIt sounds to me Martina like the area you need to focus most of your attention is making sure the right people know that you do awesome work. Rather than “being patient,” here’s a quick summary of the steps you can take to ensure you are making sh*t happen:Customize your résumé to fit each specific job opportunityOrganize your portfolio so prospective employers can find the right work quicklyReconnect with past colleagues and connections...but without asking to be considered for a jobStrategically expand your professional network with people working on your dream projectsI hope this helps you design your own unique roadmap to success, Martina!Be well.Zack ArnoldIf you would like to submit your own question for a future article, feel free to contact me here.

"Easy left a long time ago."- Chris AnselmoThe subject matter of disabilities, especially muscular dystrophy, is a subject matter near and dear to my heart. I spent eight years of my life producing and directing the documentary film GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story about the first quadriplegic to become a licensed scuba diver who was also a former national poster child for the muscular dystrophy association. In addition to many additional accomplishments such as becoming an honorary NASA astronaut and earning a law degree, Christopher Rush was also one of my best friends. Sadly the world lost Christopher in 2007 before I ever got the chance to really sit down and talk with him about how he developed the mental strength and courage to overcome such a debilitating disease and live a full life with optimism every day.Luckily because of GO FAR I’ve met a lot of amazing and inspirational people, many of whom have reached out to me because of the film and how it inspired them. And this is what sparked today interview with my guest Chris Anselmo.Chris Anselmo is a writer living with an adult-onset form of Muscular Dystrophy called Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2B. But here’s the catch: For the first 21 years of his life, Chris was an able-bodied, active young adult. Then one day, while going for a run, he noticed his muscles tiring out faster than normal. Over the next ten years, Chris experienced progressive, unrelenting muscle weakness, and today uses a wheelchair to get around.In the beginning, Chris struggled to accept what was happening to him. In addition to getting weaker, he found himself depressed and questioning what he could still do in life. Over time, however, through trial and error, he was able to piece his life back together and learn how to dream again. And that’s what we’re going to dig into in this interview:How can you develop a positive outlook and continue forging ahead in life when faced with extreme adversity?Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episodeHere's What You'll Learn:Recognizing when life is showing you an open door or a closed oneLearning and accepting that the dark years needed to happenThe paradigm shift of realizing you can no longer support your own body weightThinking forwards, not backwards (even if people think you're crazy)The unexpected power of asking for helpLearning to love when life throws you curveballsHow to seek out helpful role models in times of needDetermining what goals you can accomplish and moving forward one step at a timeChris's framework for dealing with adversity and how to keep your struggles in perspectiveUseful Resources Mentioned:Chris's Blog: Sidewalks and StairwellsSteve Jobs: How To Live Before You DieRewiring Your Brain to Be Happier with Shane BurcawOur Generous Sponsor:This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter.Guest Bio:Facebook|Twitter|LinkedInChris Anselmo is a 31-year-old Connecticut resident and writer living with an adult-onset form of Muscular Dystrophy called Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2B.For the first 21 years of his life, Chris was an able-bodied, active young adult. Then one day, while going for a run, he noticed his muscles tiring out faster than normal. Over the next ten years, Chris experienced progressive, unrelenting muscle weakness, and today uses a wheelchair to get around.In the beginning, Chris struggled to accept what was happening to him. In addition to getting weaker, he found himself depressed and questioning what he could still do in life. Over time, however, through trial and error, he was able to piece his life back together and learn how to dream again.Chris holds a BS in Marketing from Northeastern University and an MBA from Boston College.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Jakin Rintelman. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love!The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock the last thirty years, you’re no doubt familiar with The Karate Kid - the inspiring underdog story of Daniel Larusso, an awkward teen from Newark who moves to ‘The Valley’ and is relentlessly bullied until he learns to defend himself and find balance in his life thanks to his neighbor, mentor, father figure, and sensei Mr. Miyagi.You’re also no doubt familiar with the iconic scene where Daniel Larusso wins the All Valley Karate Tournament, defeating his nemesis Johnny Lawrence of Cobra Kai with his infamous “Crane kick.”How is it possible this was THIRTY FOUR YEARS AGO???Despite three decades of sequels (and a remake I will not mention any further), what the saga has yet to reveal is the ripple effect of taking that crane kick to the face. If you’ve ever wondered how losing to Daniel Larusso changed the life of Johnny Lawrence, the wait is finally over thanks to the brilliant new YouTube Red series Cobra Kai (the first two episodes are free).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCwwxNbtK6YI dare you to watch the trailer for Cobra Kai and not binge the whole season right afterIf you’re not familiar with The Karate Kid saga, Cobra Kai is incredibly entertaining, funny, poignant, completely self-aware, and inspiring. I highly recommend it as the next binge worthy show on your watchlist.If you’re a “Child of the 80’s” and you grew up with The Karate Kid like I did, then Cobra Kai is quite possibly the Best. Thing. Ever.Before reading ahead be aware this article is not a review of Cobra Kai (but if it were, I’d give it 4.5 out of 5 “crane kicks”).Also be warned THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS if you haven’t watched yet.While there’s no question the filmmakers crafted this series with great love, care, and admiration for the original saga, what’s not quite as evident upon a first viewing are the powerful life lessons hidden deep within.In our current climate of divisive politics and the reemergence of bigotry, racism, and hatred for those who might think or act differently than you, it’s fitting that our newest hero is Johnny Lawrence, the most notorious bully in cinematic history (and the embodiment of everyone who made my life hell growing up as a “creative” child).How 'The Karate Kid' Saved My LifeBeing highly creative, introverted, and scrawny from a very early age, I was always labeled “different” (well...the kids labeled me much worse, let’s just leave it at that). I have memories dating back to preschool of the first time I was bullied, and unfortunately those memories span well into my junior year of high school.I’ve been sucker-punched in the gut, slapped on the back of the head, tripped, had my locker super glued shut, been spit on, had gum put in my hair, had my head shoved in a toilet (and then had it flushed for what was termed a “Swirly”), been dragged through the mud, and been verbally abused and called more names than I can recount.Yup. Been there, done that.Movies became my escape from the nightmare that was elementary through high school, and The Karate Kid was THE formative film of my youth. I spent countless hours practicing the crane kick against anything I could find, including throwing my mattress against a wall. Kicking the crap out of my twin bed only got me so far, however, so eventually at the encouragement of my dad I formally started martial arts in my early teens.I did not study martial arts as a means of getting in shape, and it was not a fun extracurricular activity to boost my college applications. I studied martial arts for over a decade and earned a black belt for one reason only: Survival.I credit much of my success in life to the lessons learned from overcoming adversity in my youth, and luckily I haven’t been physically bullied for over twenty years.But that doesn’t mean the bullying has stopped.When you become an adult bullying often takes much subtler forms, and unfortunately if you do creative work for a living, there’s a high probability you were probably one of the “weird kids” like me and you are still a socially awkward introvert.While you may not get spit on in the hallways anymore, you have probably been taken advantage of or outright bullied in some way in your professional career: Whatever or whomever the figurative (or literal) bully might be in your life, there’s no better place to learn how to defend yourself and fight back than stealing from the enemy’s playbook.Here are five life lessons from Johnny Lawrence, the most notorious bully in cinematic history, to inspire you to take back your self respect and kick some ass like a true Cobra Kai.Lesson #1: "If you’re gonna be something other than a nerd with a scar on his lip, then you gotta flip the script."At some point after his loss to Daniel Larusso Johnny Lawrence bumped into Marty McFly and borrowed the DeLorean because he clearly time-traveled from the 80’s. He skipped the last thirty four years of participation trophies, sensitivity training, helicopter parents, social justice warriors, political correctness, and the bubble wrap that we smother kids with today to shield them from potential danger and failure.As he explains to his very first student Miguel on day one of training:“We do not allow weakness in this dojo. You can leave your asthma and your peanut allergies and all that other made up bullshit outside. You don’t want to be a pussy, you want to have balls.”Sensei, don’t you think you’re doing a lot of genderizing?A few months later as his dojo becomes more popular, Johnny reluctantly finds himself inundated with every freak, loser, pussy, and nerd in school who wants to learn karate. And Johnny is merciless in pointing out how different, weird, and weak they really are. In one iconic scene he relentlessly badgers Eli Moskewitz who was born with a cleft palate.“If you don’t want me to call you ‘Lip’ then don’t have a weird lip.”Because of his facial deformity, Eli has lived his whole life being bullied, leaving him weak. The principal even announces to the whole school that Eli’s mom called complaining about kids cyberbullying her child. The sheer embarrassment leaves poor Eli in tears.While his methods might be questionable, the lesson Johnny teaches Eli is that despite the bad luck of being born with a facial deformity, he has the power to flip the negative script he constantly rewrites every day about being a loser and instead become whoever he wants to be (lip scar included).Eli of course storms out of class in a huff leaving one to assume he’s gone home crying to mommy once again. But instead Eli chooses to “flip the script,” and he comes back to class the next day as “Hawk.”“It doesn’t matter if you’re a loser or a nerd or a freak. All that matters is that you become badass.”If you’re a grown adult and life is pushing you around, or even worse you are the victim of bullying, there is no excuse for others treating you with disrespect. But you’re also no longer a defenseless child who needs mommy to call the principal.You can either accept other people treating you like crap because:“This is just the way things are in my business,”“This is what it takes to climb the ladder,”or even worse, “I probably deserve it”......Or you can flip the script.Rather than thinking “I really need this job right now” everytime someone pushes you around, you can instead rewrite that script to read:There is no opportunity valuable enough that it gives you the right to treat me with disrespect.If people still treat you like crap even after making it clear that you are someone who deserves respect, then have the confidence to leave your job knowing there is always another opportunity out there somewhere.Lesson #2: "You want a fair fight? You can’t think your enemies are always going to play by the rules. You have to be prepared for anything.”If you’re familiar with the original Karate Kid series, than you already know the Cobra Kai dojo is infamous for fighting dirty. In Johnny’s mind not much has changed in the last thirty-four years, and he continues to teach the same approach...only in a much more endearing way.Rather than teaching his students how to fight dirty offensively, he instead strengthens their defenses by subjecting them to bullying far worse than just calling out their facial deformities. His methods include using pitching machines to throw baseballs at them, handing all of his students beef jerky and then unleashing hungry pit bulls, and class sessions where everyone gets punched in the face (hard) to get rid of all the ‘flinchers.’“Did you just flinch, virgin?”Now I don’t recommend starting a fight climb at your office to get rid of all the ‘flinchers,’ but if you want to be prepared for the long hours, the stress, the impossible deadlines, and people looking for every opportunity to take advantage of your time and your creative talents, you have to start taking care of yourself.When the fight comes to you, you need to have the energy to defend yourself.You aren’t going to get stronger and develop self respect by sitting for sixteen straight hours eating M&M’s, chips, pizza, and chasing your afternoon Starbucks with Red Bull.I guarantee that proudly wearing your “sleep deprivation badge of honor” and bragging about it to your boss or co-workers will not win you any brownie points either. Demonstrate that you’re okay running yourself into the ground, and others will assume it’s okay to do the same.Pushing yourself beyond your limits only leads to one destination: Burnoutsville.Take a good look at the way you treat yourself and then honestly ask if you’re treating your body and your mind with the same respect you want others to treat you with. If you’re less than satisfied with your ability to fight back, it’s time to level the playing field.If people at work give you a hard time or make offhand remarks because you’re overweight, they’re assholes. But losing 25 pounds wouldn’t hurt either.If you walk around the office with your shoulders shrugged forwards and your eyes fixed on the floor because you don’t have the confidence to look people straight in the eye, that doesn’t given them the right to passively belittle you. But hitting the gym or a spinning class a couple days a week could do you a world of good.Running Spartan Races isn’t my hobby because I enjoy torturing myself, I train for obstacle course racing because it helps me develop “Obstacle Immunity” and better manage the assholes of life.If there’s a crisis at work and people are losing their minds, I’m generally the calm at the center of the storm because I’ve prepared both my body and mind to handle extreme amounts of physical and mental stress.A shitty Monday is much easier to manage if you just spent your weekend crawling through mud and under barbed wire while getting sprayed in the face with a fire hose.You don’t need to sign up for a Spartan Race to manage a crazy job or fight back against bullies at work, but you do need to start treating yourself with more respect if you expect others to do the same.My first recommendation if you’re not sure where to begin is to step away from your desk, take a 15 minute walking break, and get moving.And if you work at a job where it’s unacceptable to take a 15 minute break, it’s time to find a new job.Lesson #3: "Just because someone lives in a nice house doesn’t mean nice things are going on inside."For thirty four years we’ve known Johnny Lawrence as only one thing: A bully. He’s a rich kid who lives in Encino Hills, gets the pretty girls, wins all the karate tournaments, rides to school on a dirt bike, and is virtually invincible.The moment that Cobra Kai goes from being great to downright awesome is when we flashback to Johnny as a young kid and learn that he too was scrawny, weak, and (gasp!) a nerd.Holy crap: Johnny Lawrence was a nerd too! Just. Like. Us.After a series of random events, Johnny and Daniel are forced to spend the day together and get to know each other better as adults. Upon learning that like Daniel Johnny also grew up in a broken household without a Dad, Daniel instantly softens and sees Johnny in a completely different light.Perhaps for the first time in his entire life, Daniel feels something he has never felt before for the guy that made his life a living hell: Compassion.Different. But same.The next time you are treated with disrespect by a client, colleague, or your boss, instead of immediately getting angry and thinking about what an asshole they are, try stepping into their shoes for a second. I’ll bet good money you’re being treated poorly because someone higher up is treating that person the same way.If you’re an assistant and the person you’re working for yells at you, odds are they are being pushed harder and treated even worse than how they are treating you.If you’re a freelancer and the client you’re working for takes advantage of you, doesn’t pay you, or belittles your lack of talent, most likely the company financing your client is squeezing them equally hard (or harder).And most importantly, if you’re constantly being pressured or bullied, take a second to make sure you’re not taking out that aggression on others.While I am embarrassed to admit it, despite being relentlessly bullied as a child, I also got in trouble on more than one occasion because...wait for it...I bullied other kids. I regret behaving that way to this day, and being a young teenager was no excuse. I’ve spent a lifetime changing my behavior realizing the only thing that hurts worse than being bullied is when you look in the mirror and realize you might be the bully yourself.When someone treats you with disrespect, instead of making your default reaction anger, try compassion instead. If it worked for The Buddha, Martin Luther King Jr, and Gandhi, it might work for you too.Maybe for once in your life it’s not all about you. Maybe their poor behavior is about them and what’s going on in their life right now.Or they could also just be an asshole.Lesson #4: “Strike first. Strike hard. No mercy.”These are the three foundational principles of Cobra Kai.If we’re talking martial arts philosophy, I do not condone this approach. When the potential for a physical altercation presents itself, I was taught to first talk my way out of a fight. If that simply isn’t possible, the next step is to walk away from the fight. And if the fight insists on pursuing me, then I use my years of training to fight the fight...but only after they strike first.Dealing with life in general is unfortunately not so simple. If life wants to pick a fight with you, you can’t use that as an excuse for why your life sucks.A Cobra Kai never plays the role of the victim.“You wake up one morning feeling great, and then life throws a spinning heel kick to your balls and takes a steaming shit in your mouth. Life shows no mercy. We do whatever it takes to keep moving forwards. We do whatever it takes to win.”While there is no excuse for others treating you with disrespect, there is also no excuse for allowing it.If you allow a superior to get away with making you work one unpaid weekend, I guarantee they’ll keep asking.If you allow a client to not pay you on time, if you keep coming back for more what incentive do they have to every pay you in time in the future?If you don’t stand up for yourself, report bad behavior, or outright quit when someone verbally harasses or abuses you, you are expliciting demonstrating that you will accept harassment and abuse in the future.To be clear: If this behavior comes out of nowhere and you are caught blindsided, there is no defense for that and your only option is to react after the damage has been done (and it’s not your fault). But if it’s not the first time, the blame must be shared.Fool me once, shame on you. But fool me twice?If your gut reaction about your new job is that someone might take advantage of your time or possibly not pay you, don’t wait and “hope” that it all goes okay......Strike first.Make it clear you will not work without a written contract and a portion of payment up front. If they refuse, you haven’t lost a job opportunity, you’ve avoided a shitshow.If a co-worker or superior belittles you, demeans you, harasses you, and outright abuses you, don’t wait for the problem to go away or for this person to change......Strike hard.After doing your best to approach the situation with compassion (see lesson #3), the next step is to confront this person (in a respectful and professional manner, of course) and make it crystal clear this behavior will not be allowed to continue. You might be surprised at how quickly bullies back down when they get a taste of their own medicine.If you’re not getting the opportunities you feel you deserve in your career, don’t use that as an excuse for why you’re stuck or unhappy even if you’re being harassed or discriminated against......Show no mercy.Continue to show up every single day energetic, attentive, and passionate, and do amazing work no matter how tough the situation might be. The number one weapon you have that will help you rise above your competition is consistency. (If you don’t have the energy to show up as your best self consistently, refer once again to lesson #2 and get moving, and then continue to lesson #5)Lesson #5: “You want to learn how to kick ass? First you have to learn how to kick.”One of the things that I love and respect about Cobra Kai is how it follows the tried and true formula of the original Karate Kid and successfully achieves the impossible by having Johnny Lawrence fill the Mr. Miyagi role.Daniel begged Mr. Miyagi to learn how to punch but instead spent his afternoons waxing cars, painting fences, and sanding floors. This of course led to the iconic scene where Daniel discovers all of his grunt work was designed for a very specific purpose: Developing the muscle memory and perfecting the proper technique to defend himself, a la “Wax on, wax off.”Like Daniel, Johhny’s first student Miguel is also eager to learn karate as quickly as possible so he can fight back against his bullies, but in true Johnny Lawrence fashion he makes his first student Miguel wash the windows, the mats, and even clean the toilets.“Sensei, is there any particular way you want me to wash these windows?”“Nah, I don’t give a shit. Whatever is easiest.”While Johnny’s methods might not be as polished or iconic as “Wax on, wax off,” the lesson is the same:If you intend to become the best version of yourself, you have to do it one step at a time...and you have to start at the beginning.No matter how useless, menial, or benign the task you’re doing might seem, as long as the people asking you to do it are treating you with respect (and paying you), there is always a lesson to be learned. Just because a job sucks doesn’t mean someone is a bully because they asked you to do it.You might think you’re too good to get people’s lunches, file paperwork, change the trash bags, or capitalize the first letter of every single folder on your boss’ computer because they’re OCD, but if you do each of these tasks with focus and attention to detail coupled with a smile, people will notice.How you do anything is how you do everything.Attention to detail, consistently following through, and showing up every day with a positive attitude are what get you to the top spot on people’s contact lists, not how amazing you are using a certain piece of software.Furthermore if you’re dying to reach the top of your career ladder and think you don’t need to put in the time, think again. You are not a special unique snowflake that has been blessed with amazing creative talents the likes of which the world has never seen before. Those whom you admire in your industry who have reached the top got where they are because they have dedicated their life to their craft. They have spent decades figuratively “sanding the floor” and “painting the fence,” and there is no shortcut just for you.Most importantly: Just showing up is not enough.Adults don’t get participation trophies.Doing your job well for a year doesn’t automatically qualify you for a promotion - performance, attitude, and real-world experience matter. So if you’re making excuses about why you haven’t reached a certain level of success, instead of pointing fingers at those around you for holding you down, have the confidence to look inwards and see if there’s something about you that still needs to improve.Shed Your Cobra Skin and Find Your True PowerWhether you’re fighting figurative bullies in your life or literal assholes, it is your responsibility to defend yourself. Nobody is going to save you but you.If you’re tired of people treating you with disrespect, stop blaming circumstances and instead flip the script.If you’re expecting life to give you a fair fight, think again. You have to expect the unexpected and be prepared.Before rushing to judgment against those treating you with disrespect, try taking an alternate approach and show a little compassion.Stop playing the role of the victim and take responsibility for every event in your life. Strike first. Strike hard. No mercy.No matter what you hope to achieve, you have to be willing to do the grunt work to reach your desired destination, and your attitude matters. How you do anything is how you do everything.Ready to shed your your cobra skin and find your true power?No matter the kind of transformation you want to make, the first step is always the hardest. Let me show you how to build your action plan step-by-step so you can start achieving the most meaningful goals in your life (and kick life's ass)...without sacrificing your sanity in the process.» Click here to shed your cobra skin and begin designing the optimized version of you

Click to Download AudioIf you work in a creative industry, you probably already know how difficult it can be to just making a living. But if you’re intention is to not only making a living but also feel proud of the work you do everyday...that’s a much taller order.It can seem hard enough to find extra time to perfect your specific craft, and it’s often even harder to find the extra time to meet the right people and build your professional network (especially if you’re a socially awkward introvert like me), but often times the barriers standing between you and landing your dream job in the entertainment industry have nothing to do with outside forces...instead the barriers are psychological.That’s right: YOU might be the biggest obstacle keeping you from greatness, and the number one barrier keep you from your dream job is the stories you tell yourself repeatedly every single day.In this episode I chat with Robert Hardy who is an indie filmmaker, writer, and entrepreneur based out of Tucson, Arizona. He currently runs Filmmaker Freedom, a site that helps ambitious filmmakers make work they're proud of and take control of their careers.We chat all about the step-by-step process you can take to become a successful filmmaker, but the key is first understanding how to define “success” for yourself. We also dive deep into the “limiting scripts” that we repeat on a daily basis that convince us we don’t have what it takes to make it and how to overcome them little by little.If you want to dive even deeper into the power of storytelling, specifically understanding the fundamental components of a good story, I recommend part 1 in my ‘Storytelling’ series with Story Greenlight founder Jeff Bartsch.Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episodeHere's What You'll Learn:Working in the filmmaking, entrepreneurial, and mental health spaces all at onceHow dropping out of film school led Robert to create Filmmaker Freedom and tread his own career pathDon't just look at your career goals, ask yourself what you want your days to look like in the futureDeconstructing your unattainable standards of successLearning how to know when you're climbing the wrong career ladderHow to avoid peer pressure to stay in a job that makes you miserableRe-evaluating the "overnight success" mythIs it possible to skip steps on the filmmaker ladder of success?Designing your steps based on their stability rather than just their proximity to your goalsUseful Resources Mentioned:Filmmaker Freedom“Empire” Editor Has 7 Steps to Network Successfully in HollywoodOur Generous Sponsors:This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter.Guest Bio: Twitter|Facebook|InstagramRob is an indie filmmaker, writer, and entrepreneur based out of Tucson, Arizona. He currently runs Filmmaker Freedom, a site that helps ambitious filmmakers make work they're proud of and take control of their careers.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Jakin Rintelman. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love!The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I've already written extensively about how being sedentary is awful for your health and how sitting can kill your creativity. But in addition to the long term detriments of not moving at your desk, the immediate effects of sitting in positions not meant for the human body include acute pains, chronic pains, numbness and tingling, and even headaches.There are few things that make it harder to "get in the zone" than constantly being in pain.There's no getting around it:Working in front of a computer all day long just plain sucks. Unfortunately if you do intense creative work under (insanely) tight deadlines chained to your workstation, finding the time for weekly appointments to the masseuse, physical therapist, or chiropractor is nearly impossible.The fact is when you do project-based work your health just isn't a priority until "hiatus," but that hiatus never seems to come. And if a true hiatus does come, you're so exhausted you'd rather just sleep off the pain (or even worse...medicate it) than fix the source of the problem.When I reached out to my creative community and asked what hurts the most as a result of working in front of a computer, the most common answer was: EVERYTHING.When I reached out to my creative community and asked what hurts the most as a result of working in front of a computer, the most common answer was: EVERYTHING.What really surprised me was not how common chronic pain is amongst "creatives," it was the mentality that we just have to accept this pain and discomfort as part of the job. Even worse is the mentality that someone else should be held responsible:I say this with all the love and respect in the world: There is someone responsible for your health, and it's YOU.Chronic Pain Isn't a Requirement Of the JobHere's the good news: You don't need 24-7 access to a licensed chiropractor or physical therapist to alleviate and eliminate the pain you experience sitting at a computer. You just need to commit to putting your health before your career for a minimum of 5 minutes a day.And then you need the right tools and the right exercises to ensure you use the little bit of time you do have to the fullest.To be clear: If you are experiencing chronic pain and discomfort you should see a licensed professional. This article is not a replacement for medical advice. But at the same time, the videos below are all demonstrated and were designed by licensed doctors of chiropractic who specialize in working with both athletes as well as people who live in front of computers, so this is just about as close as you'll get to having a licensed "Chiropractor On Demand" if all you want is a little relief RIGHT NOW.Want to understand WHY you experience chronic pain in front of your computer? Listen to my interview with Dr. Sadie Sanders from 'Health & Human Performance.'Below I have provided a series of videos from the Move Yourself Activity Video Vault that demonstrate simple stretches and trigger point therapy techniques you can use right at your desk (or at least next to it) to help you do the following:Alleviate Neck PainAlleviate Shoulder (and Upper Back) PainAlleviate Tension HeadachesAlleviate Wrist & Forearm Pain (and Numbness)Alleviate Lower Back PainAlleviate Neck PainI'm constantly battling neck pain from looking between multiple monitors all day. At one point it was so bad I couldn't even look over my right shoulder (that made LA driving really interesting). Now I'm virtually pain free, partly because of my daily habit of stretching in front of the computer. Below are my three favorite stretches for alleviating neck pain that I'll do multiple times a day:1 Deep Neck Flexion2 Cervical Spine Range-of-Motion (ROM)3 PIR of the Scalenes, Levators, and TrapsAlleviate Shoulder (And Upper Back) PainHunching over your keyboard can cause a litany of different aches and pains in the shoulders and upper back, not to mention craning your neck up or down if your monitor isn't positioned correctly. Below are my three favorite stretches for alleviating shoulder and upper back pain that I'll do multiple times a day during quick breaks:1 La Crosse Ball to First Rib2 YWTL3 Foam Roller to TeresBONUS: Want to improve your posture to prevent future pain? Click here to learn more about 'Postural Modification.'Alleviate Tension HeadachesTension headaches are generally caused either by eye strain or neck tension, so all three of the videos above for Neck Pain are a great place to start. Here are three additional stretches that I'll do multiple times a day when I get tension headaches:1 La Crosse Ball to Pecs2 T4 Extension with Foam Roller3 Cervical Towel ExtensionNOTE: This one isn't quite as easy to do when you have a "quick minute," so I've made it a habit to do this stretch for 10-15 minutes every night before bed simply using a bath towel. BONUS: If you want to drastically reduce eye strain, I highly recommend installing the program 'Iris.' Click here to learn more about eye health in front of your computerAlleviate Wrist & Forearm Pain (And Numbness)At one point I had wrist pain so debilitating I developed a cyst, and the pain was so severe I couldn't even do a single push-up. I was told by a wrist & forearm specialist that surgery was my only option. I instead chose to do the hard work necessary to learn what exercises would help alleviate my chronic pain. My daily routine keeps away 99% of the pain in my wrists and forearms and includes a combination of a bunch of fun tools I keep next to my keyboard plus the three stretches below (and a BONUS exercise I can't live without):1 Wrist Extensor Strengthening2 Wrist Mobility Stretches3 Forearm StretchBONUS La Crosse Ball to ForearmAlleviate Lower Back PainBy the age of 25 I was already moving around like a grandpa because of debilitating lower back pain and chronic tension in my hips. Little did I know it was simply because I lived all day in a desk chair with poor posture. This was the moment I ditched my Aeron chair FOREVER, and I haven't looked back for 13 years.If you're spending all your time, energy, and money searching for the perfect desk chair, I recommend you read this first.Here are the three stretches I do every single day to keep my lower back pain at bay (it never goes away completely, but now it's barely noticeable):1 Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch2 Seated Glute Stretch3 La Crosse Ball to PiriformisADVANCED Tri-Planar Hip Flexor StretchThis one takes some practice, but once you nail it this exercise is MONEY.Ready to Go Deeper?All of the individual stretches above have the potential to work wonders for the pain you experience living in front of your computer, but they only work if you do them consistently. The best way to amplify the positive effects of these stretches is to incorporate them into the proper combination of multiple exercises designed for your specific type of discomfort.You don't go to the gym to do just one exercise to get stronger, you do a routine. The same is true with these exercises.If you're interested in having 24/7 access to a library of over 100 simple exercises and full-blown routines similar to these videos to help you level up your energy & focus (as well as over 20 additional office yoga routines), check out the Move Yourself Activity Video Vault.If you're truly serious about making regular movement a habit every day so you can skyrocket your energy, sit less and focus more, check out my most popular online program Move Yourself. Let me know in the comments...which stretch worked the best for you?

If you do creative work for a living, you’re a storyteller.It doesn’t matter if you’re a film editor like me working in scripted television, maybe you work in online marketing, you are a director, writer, graphic designer, composer, or anything else creative: You tell stories. Whether it’s with a single image, a specific font choice on a poster, a music cue to increase emotional impact in a scene, or any other decision that impacts how someone perceives your work - you must understand how to make sure the story you’re telling has maximum impact.Even beyond telling stories in your work, the most important story that you need to be able to tell if you intend to be successful is your own story.If you tell other people’s stories for a living with ease but you have no idea how to translate your storytelling abilities into crafting your own story, it’s a good thing there’s now a place for that: Story Greenlight.Story Greenlight is the brainchild of Jeff Bartsch who is a multi-faceted author, teacher, and television editor based out of Los Angeles. He is the author of “Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for Powerful Video Editing” and built his career editing television for ABC, NBC, Universal, Disney, Apple, and many others. (As a side note, Jeff edits American Ninja Warrior, so I might just be a tad bit biased!)Jeff is the founder of Story Greenlight, a virtual community that helps online video creators connect with their audience, turn up the impact of their message, and change people’s lives.Whether you create online content, you just want to perfect your elevator pitch or the about page on your website, or if you just want to better understand the fundamental building blocks of good storytelling, this episode is a must-listen.And after listening if you want to dive even deeper into the power of story, specifically understanding how to make a living telling stories that you are proud of and overcoming the psychological barriers that might be holding you back in your career, I recommend sticking around for part 2 in my “Storytelling” series with Robert Hardy, the founder of Filmmaker Freedom.Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episodeHere's What You'll Learn:Learning how storytelling defines everything we experience and createStructuring your origin storyWhat does storytelling look like in a reality show like American Ninja Warrior?Jeff Bartch's guide to telling compelling storiesUnderstanding the most basic elements of story and their ubiquity in artYou can't NOT tell a story, so learn how to do it engaginglyThe dangers of comparing your story to others instead of living your ownIf you're struggling, remind yourself that you are at the beginning of your storyStop making excuses and turn your problems into obstacles to be surmountedDon't worry about being original, learn to be authenticUseful Resources Mentioned:Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for Powerful Video EditingStory GreenlightOur Generous Sponsors:This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter.Guest Bio:Jeff Bartsch is a multi-faceted author, teacher, and television editor based out of Los Angeles. He is the author of “Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for Powerful Video Editing” and built his career editing television for ABC, NBC, Universal, Disney, Apple, and many others. Jeff’s commentary on the entertainment industry has been featured in TIME Magazine, USA Today, the Associated Press, and multiple textbooks.Jeff is the founder of Story Greenlight, a virtual community that helps online video creators connect with their audience, turn up the impact of their message, and change people’s lives.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Jakin Rintelman. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love!The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Interested in joining my brand new Design Yourself program (with a 50% discount) when enrollment opens next week? Visit optimizeyourself.me/design to learn more.Let’s be honest...“A proven 5-step framework to help you overcome the procrastination, anxiety, and fear that keep you from following through with your goals” ...just doesn’t sound sexy. You know what DOES sound sexy?✓ Losing 25 pounds.✓ Landing your dream job.✓ Finishing that screenplay.✓ Paying off your student loans.✓ Celebrating a new promotion.✓ Speaking on industry panels. And people constantly asking you, “How do you do it all?” If you’re ready to start taking action, I’m ready to open my playbook to show you how to Get. Sh*t. Done.If you’re listening to this, I already know that you’re a high achiever because rather than wasting your time scrolling social media or binge-watching another four hours of The Office on Netflix, you’re here listening to me, and I greatly appreciate that. I want to apologize in advance because there not be a new episode this week because I’m just about to launch my first new online program in two years - Design Yourself. As a regular listener, you know that my mission is to provide you with the best content and interviews that help design the optimized version of you, and that’s exactly what this program does.Design Yourself is an 8-module online learning course to help you organize your priorities, get important things done (note: important is very different from urgent), and (finally) follow through with your goals...without sacrificing your sanity in the process.This program provides you with a simple step-by-step framework to break down seemingly insurmountable goals into simple and actionable tasks that will make your success look almost too easy. No longer will you procrastinate because you have no idea if the next task on your to-do list is going to change your life...or completely waste your time. Instead you will effortlessly and consistently take the right actions that will lead you down the unique roadmap to success that you design for yourself, no matter the obstacles in your way. You might think “high achievers” have access to super-secret information you don’t:They use the most cutting-edge daily planners and productivity journalsThey consume the world’s most potent “superfoods”They know advanced automation tactics in Trello & OmnifocusThey have the perfect 67-step morning ritual to “eat their frog” by 6amThey have a secret “Success Playbook” leading them down the perfect path to their desired careerThey have unlimited access to the world's best coachesHere’s the good news...none of this crap matters.Want to know the secret that most productivity experts never talk about?Most people procrastinate on taking action or downright give up on their goals because they lack just one thing:CONFIDENCEYou have lost the productivity game if you ever have to ask yourself the following question:“So...what am I supposed to be doing now?”Imagine for a second: You wake up in the morning (without hitting the snooze button twelve times) having intentionally designed your day in such a way that you have 100% clarity about the goals you hope to achieve not only today but in the next week, as well as over the next 3 months, 1 year, or even the next 5 years.Think about what it might feel like to have the utmost confidence that the next items on your daily to-do list are the right actions that will lead you to your destination (and ANY productivity app will work...including post-it notes).Picture yourself confidently taking the right actions with consistency and without struggling to summon willpower you can’t find, motivation you just don’t have, and discipline you’d rather not develop.If you’re interested in learning more about my brand new Design Yourself program, enrollment is opening the week of May 14th and it will only be open for 7 days, and the only way to sign up is if you’re a member of my email newsletter. I won’t be advertising on Facebook, you won’t see Google Ads, and there’s no link to join anywhere on my website. And only those on my email newsletter are getting 50% off enrollment as members of my very first class.If you’d like to learn more about the program and be notified the second enrollment opens and get your 50% discount, just visit optimizeyourself.me/design and provide me with your best email. It’s that simple, I’ll do the rest. Just visit optimizeyourself.me/design and I’ll see you when enrollment opens so we can design the optimized version of you together. Thank you for being such a loyal listener and reader.Be well.Zack Arnold

If you intend to climb the career ladder straight to the top, step #1 is understanding the four different types of creative jobs. Only once you understand where your job fits in can you then reframe your perspective to get the most out of every opportunity (or know if it’s time to bail out).Imagine for a moment you’ve wanted to be a doctor your whole life, and the first year of medical school is finally here.After getting a toy stethoscope for your fifth birthday, you spent the next eighteen years dreaming of wearing the white coat, helping others in need, and writing the letters ‘M.D.’ after your name.Yet despite knowing that being a doctor is the only true career path for you, you’re frustrated, anxious, and depressed.Why?You feel like all the work you’re putting in could potentially be a total waste of time because you haven’t seen enough results yet....you want to be a doctor NOW.“What if medical school isn’t right for me? I should just become an independent doctor instead.”“Maybe I should network with medical directors at local hospitals to see if there are any openings. I know I have the skills and can prove myself today.”“I deserve the white coat. Why hasn’t someone discovered me yet?”Wait a second...no medical student has ever been pulled out of their first year of medical school and given a white coat and a degree because they were “discovered.”While no one would disagree that becoming a doctor is incredibly hard, it’s also simple (not to be confused with easy). It’s common knowledge that becoming a doctor requires everyone to follow the same path, and following that path combined with hard work and good grades almost guarantees a career in medicine.Success Rarely Has a Defined PathUnfortunately following a single defined path is a luxury you don’t have if you work in a creative field (especially filmmaking).You may have gotten your first camera at five years old and spent every moment since learning the crafts of directing, editing, cinematography, etc. Yet despite the fact that in your mind you are a “filmmaker,” your current job title says otherwise.Let’s say you’re an assistant, and your job duties include fetching the director’s coffee, pickup up the producer’s dry cleaning, and getting lunch for the grumpy editors who never talk to you.In short: You’re a gofer.You’re confident you have the skills to be a successful filmmaker, but you feel like all you do is spin your wheels, stuck in the exact same place.Not knowing whether or not your efforts at your current job will pay off has left you frustrated, anxious, and depressed. You’re confident you have the skills to be a successful filmmaker, but you feel like all you do is spin your wheels, stuck in the exact same place.Even worse, you recently read a story about director Ryan Coogler who’s first feature film right out of film school Fruitvale Station won him the grand jury prize at Sundance, and now he’s directing Marvel’s Black Panther!Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, two guys way cooler than me and you.Knowing there are real people not much older (or even younger) than you who are light years ahead in the same career is demoralizing, especially when you have no clue if your current job is leading you to the promised land...or completely wasting your time.Resentment creeps in, your performance suffers, and what was formerly an “opportunity” has become an “obligation.”What if simply understanding where your current job fits into your own unique career path completely changed the way you approach your duties day-to-day and you suddenly had 100% confidence that this was the exact path leading to your dream job.Imagine having the same level of clarity as a first-year medical student that you were in the right place and all that mattered were your results.Would your mindset change?Your mood?Your performance?If you intend to climb the career ladder straight to the top, your first step is understanding the four different types of creative jobs. Only once you understand where your job fits in can you then reframe your perspective to get the most out of every opportunity (or know if it’s time to bail out).The ‘Paycheck’ JobThe ‘Paycheck’ job is unfortunately the most common simply because the vast majority of jobs in the world are things that need to get done that most people just don’t want to do. It pays the rent and keeps you from starving, but that’s about it.You aren’t passionate about the work you doYou aren’t building your professional networkYou aren’t learning new skillsYou definitely aren’t climbing the right career ladderIt’s boringIt’s stressfulYou don’t necessarily like your co-workersYou get sick often and never have any energyTime feels like it stands stillYou live for the weekendsOnce your basic needs are met, the ‘Paycheck’ job is simply stealing your time, your energy, and your life.To be clear: There is nothing wrong with working a ‘Paycheck’ job if the most important priority in your life is to cover your rent, buy groceries, or support your family. There is no shame in working to survive, it’s a stage of life everyone goes through at some point. But once your basic needs are met, the ‘Paycheck’ job is simply stealing your time, your energy, and your life.Staying at a ‘Paycheck’ job for longer than necessary comes at a tremendous cost that in my opinion far outweighs any financial benefits, and it can lead to:Diminished passion for your craftChronic anxietyIrritabilityDepressionTotal. Creative. Burnout.Assuming you have no interest in working a ‘Paycheck’ job the rest of your life and you’d prefer a different rung on the ladder, what’s the next step?The ‘Lifestyle’ JobThe ‘Lifestyle’ job is a significant upgrade from the ‘Paycheck’ job. Your basic financial needs are met so it fulfills the main benefit of the ‘Paycheck’ job, but it also comes with a host of additional benefits:Your hours are good which allows you to spend more time with your familyYour commute is awesomeYou love your co-workersYour work environment is virtually stress-freeThe pay is good and you have “fun money” to spare every monthAnd the job itself? Well...it’s…”fine.”Therein lies the rub.While the ‘Lifestyle’ job has a host of fantastic benefits for your health and well-being, it also isn’t moving you forwards:You aren’t creatively pushed outside your comfort zoneThe work is pretty easy (and sometimes feels downright boring)You aren’t learning new skillsYou aren’t expanding your professional networkYou aren’t particularly proud of the work and perhaps hesitate to tell other people what you’re working on (or you hide it on your resume altogether)There are many people who would happily work a ‘Lifestyle’ job the remainder of their careers carefree. But if the words safe, reliable, and dependable bore you to death, what’s next?The ‘Career’ JobUnlike the two previous job types, the ‘Career’ job is propelling you forwards at light speed and has a host of benefits:You are pushed outside your creative comfort zone and growing every dayYou are learning new technical skillsYou are meeting new people and expanding your professional networkYou are building your resume and proud to share what you’re working onYour current project might even be a total “resume-changer”While the ‘Career’ job sounds like a dream in many ways, it’s far from being a ‘Dream’ job and has its own laundry list of drawbacks:You may have reduced your rate in exchange for experience (you might even be working for free)The hours are grueling and you barely have any time to manage life outside of workYou are sacrificing time with your family and friendsThe commute totally sucksYou are stressed out and constantly exhaustedYour waning creativity often needs to be fueled by caffeine and energy drinksDespite being a fantastic opportunity, a ‘Career’ job can only sustain for so long before it too leads to chronic health problems, mental health issues, and eventually total burnout.There must be an alternative to choosing between either a healthy lifestyle or a successful career, right? RIGHT??????The ‘Dream’ JobThe ‘Dream’ job is the top rung of the ladder. It has all the benefits of both the ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘Career’ jobs but with none of the shortcomings:You love your workYou are creatively learning and growing every dayYou are always meeting new people and building your networkThe job and the work environment are both stress-freeYou love your co-workersThe commute is amazingThe pay is well beyond your basic needsThe hours are awesome and you have plenty of time off during the year for vacationsYou are proud of the work you do every day and love sharing it with othersYou can’t imagine doing anything elseIt’s extremely rare to find your ‘Dream’ job. Most people assume it will always be just that...a dream...and no amount of hard work can guarantee success.What if instead of relying on “more hustle,” “putting your nose to the grindstone,” or “wearing your sleep deprivation badge of honor” there was a completely different factor that ultimately determined whether or not you landed your ‘Dream’ job and enjoyed the journey along the way?The (Not-so-Secret) Secret to SuccessNotice I don’t categorize specific job titles into the four different types listed above. That isn’t by accident...that is by design.For example, I don’t classify “Janitor, intern, assistant, accountant, or PA” as ‘Paycheck’ jobs.Conversely I also don’t classify “Director, editor, writer, or studio executive” as either ‘Career’ jobs or ‘Dream’ jobs.Most people would assume an assistant who fetches coffee and dry cleaning must be working a ‘Paycheck’ job because the hours are long, the duties are downright miserable, and the quality of life sucks. But if that assistant works in an environment that fosters growth and there are networking opportunities, simply by recognizing the benefits that come along with that position, it has instantly upgraded to a ‘Career’ job.On the flip side, it’s also conceivable that despite directing $200 million studio feature films for a living, you aren’t working your ‘Dream’ job, instead you simply have a ‘Paycheck’ job (see: Michael Bay).Ultimately the only factor that determines which job type you have is the mindset you bring to it every single day.Several years back I reached a shocking point in my career I never anticipated. After editing four seasons of Burn Notice, nobody wanted to hire me.After editing four seasons of Burn Notice, nobody wanted to hire me.I couldn’t find another editing job anywhere.I assumed after working on a hit show I’d never have to look for work again, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. After several months of unemployment a referral from a colleague ended up landing me a job on a new show called Black Box, a medical procedural for ABC (with no recognizable stars).Never heard of ‘Black Box’? Don’t worry, neither has anyone else.If there’s one thing I have no interest in editing (ever), it’s a medical procedural. But here I was needing a steady income with zero other opportunities available. I knew at that moment if I was going to spend the next six months of my life doing creative work I had no interest in whatsoever, I had to shift my perspective for the sake of my mental health.There was no question that Black Box was not my ‘Dream’ job.Given the hours were long, it was a stressful first season show, and the commute sucked, it most certainly wasn’t a ‘Lifestyle’ job.And at first glance for me personally it definitely wasn’t a ‘Career’ job because I wasn’t interested in working on a medical show.So I guess I had to suck it up and accept that Black Box was just a ‘Paycheck’ job, right?Punch in...do the bare minimum...punch out. Easy enough.If I could narrow down the turning point of my entire career to one single moment, this was the moment.As I sat in the parking lot my first morning at Black Box I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and I told myself the number one goal of this job opportunity was to expand my professional network. That became my “One Thing.”I consistently delivered great work every single day because I was confident that doing great work would lead to the opportunity to do more great work in the future.Expanding my professional network required me to do excellent work every single day so the directors, producers, and show runners would want to work with me on future projects. Even though I wasn’t creatively interested in a medical procedural, I consistently delivered great work every single day because I was confident that doing great work would lead to the opportunity to do more great work in the future.This single shift in perspective on day one of what could have been a dead-end ‘Paycheck’ job led me to editing two seasons of Empire (Ilene Chaiken was the showrunner of Black Box who then became the showrunner of Empire).This single shift in perspective also led to editing three seasons of Shooter because the post-production producer loved working with me and wanted me on all of her future teams.And this single shift in perspective has led to three different offers to edit tv pilots and a Netflix series because the creator of Black Box and one of the directors loved my work as well.It wasn’t my ability to use Avid, my skills as a film editor, or resting on the laurels of my resume that landed me five seasons of editing work.I landed five seasons of editing work because of my attitude.Better opportunities will not lead to a better attitude. Having a better attitude will lead to better opportunities.Learn more about the importance of attitude in my interview with with Oscar-winning editor Billy Goldenberg, ACE.Now It’s Your TurnWorking in a creative field can be incredibly frustrating because there’s no guarantee the effort you put in every single day will pay off...ever. It’s conceivable that after 4 years of undergrad, 3 years earning a master’s degree, post-graduate internships and entry-level jobs, and yet another several years of mid-level jobs that you still end up becoming a real estate agent or insurance salesman.While there’s no guarantee that you’ll become a feature film director after ten years of hard work like the guarantee doctors have, the one thing you can control is your attitude.Perspective is everything.If you’re working an entry-level job and hating every minute of it, instead of focusing on the things you’re not doing, try focusing instead on what you can learn from the things you are doing.If you’re doing the type of job you want but working on projects you absolutely hate, think about how bringing the best version of your craft to the table every single day can lead to lasting relationships and future projects you will absolutely love.If you’re bored at your current job because it doesn’t challenge you, focus on all of the lifestyle benefits you get from working close to home with co-workers you love with a steady paycheck and some ‘fun money’ to spare.And if after examining every facet of your current job you can find absolutely no benefits whatsoever outside of the fact that it allows you to pay the bills every month......maybe it’s time to pull the plug.Interested in getting the most out of every opportunity and having 100% confidence that your actions are leading you closer to your ‘Dream’ job? Enrollment for my brand new ‘Optimizers’ coaching program opens soon. Click here to join the waitlist.

If you work a demanding creative job and you love doing creative work like I do, then you can most likely identify with how much I hate dealing with money, finances, bills, and paperwork. While I understand all of them are “necessary evils” to running a business and being successful, on an emotional level I feel like when I’m reconciling transactions, creating invoices, or organizing paperwork to do my taxes, I’m simply wasting my time because I’m not creating.Any time when I’m not “making cool stuff” is time I’m wasting.Luckily I no longer have to manage mounds of unfiled paperwork, paying bills, or reconciling transaction thanks largely in part to crossing paths with my guest today Sylvia Inks. She’s the founder of SMI Financial Coaching where she’s a business and financial coach who helps entrepreneurs and small business owners learn the financial skills necessary to succeed.Even though you may have never thought about it this way before, even if you just jump from one freelance job to the next, YOU are a small business. So this episode is especially helpful for those who work with multiple clients even if you don’t technically have a “business” with your own employees.Sylvia and I dive into all of the necessary steps to organize your finances so you spend less time wading through paperwork and more time creating things you love.If after this interview you are inspired to get your financial life organized, Sylvia has created an amazing guide where you can follow along one simple step at a time to organize your business finances and make your life easier. Click to download her 'Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Business Finances.'Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episodeHere's What You'll Learn:Shifting your focus from being freelance to viewing yourself as a small businessPreventing the "week of pain" before taxes are dueFinding the expenses that you didn't know you could write offMaking your finances as simple as possible with helpful softwareTaking control of your finances, not just to save money, but to find money you didn't think you hadGetting into the mindset that time spent organizing your finances is not a waste of timeUsing Shoeboxed to digitize your important paperworkThe distinctions between an accountant and a CPAUseful Resources Mentioned:Small Business Finance for the Busy EntrepreneurFreshbooks Invoice and AccountingSMI Financial CoachingUltimate Guide to Organizing Your Business FinancesQuickbooksXero Accounting SoftwareDueShoeboxedSylvia's Folder StructureOur Generous Sponsors:This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter.Guest Bio:Facebook|Twitter|LinkedInSylvia Inks is a business and financial coach, who helps small business owners become confident by learning the business and financial skills to succeed in business, allowing them to spend more time and money on their family (and themselves).Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Jakin Rintelman. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love!The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Click to Download Audio[Dad•bod] (noun):A male body type that is best described as "softly round."The type of physique a man "earns" when the increasing pressures of work life, married life, and especially fatherhood no longer allow him the time or drive to maintain a hard, toned figure. As a result, what was once a sculpted, chiseled frame digresses into a soft, flabby heaping pile of “I Don't Give A Shit Anymore.”A male who is usually over 30 years old that used to be jacked or in good shape, or an ex-athlete who is now an average Joe Blow with kids. Usually also hairy.Yup. Urban Dictionary1 pretty much nailed it, but they missed one small detail: They didn’t provide a photo. I’ll spare them the research.This was me just 3 months ago, the only day in my life I’ve ever tipped the scale over 200 pounds. And that one single day was more than enough to remind me I’m way closer to forty than thirty, and “getting back into shape” isn’t going to get any easier the longer I put it off.January 1st, 2018: 200.7 pounds, 38” waist, 25.3% body fatIt was this very moment when I decided “Tomorrow” is no longer a day of the week on MY calendar.Given I spent ten years of my teens and early twenties obsessively training for a black belt in martial arts (and living in the weight room), and knowing it was only a few years ago that I crushed P90X2 and completed my first Spartan Trifecta, the only question that continually ran through my mind when I saw “200.7” on the scale was:“How the hell did I get here?” It didn’t take long to do the math.15 years of 12+ hour days living behind a computer (under constant stress...in the dark)Thousands of afternoon snacks in front of the television watching raw footage or reviewing cuts (because after a hard morning, “I deserved it”)7 years of sleep deprivation after having two kids (they’re now 8 and 6, so I finally have sleep under control again)Only prioritizing exercise when I was training for events instead of turning it into a lifestyle choice and a regular weekly habitA lifetime of being a workaholic and prioritizing my career ahead of my well beingWorst of all...2017 was not kind to me. I frequently refer to it as “The Lost Year.”According to my public profile I crushed it: I edited the pilot, finale, and two additional episodes of the limited TV series Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac & The Notorious B.I.G., I achieved the lifelong dream of becoming a member of the American Cinema Editors (ACE), and I rebranded from ‘Fitness In Post’ and launched ‘Optimize Yourself’ shortly after running a successful 5-day fitness challenge with over 1100 participants on six continents (I still can’t win over Antarctica).I found myself in the fetal position thinking, ‘My family would be better off without me.’What you won’t learn about me on my IMDB page or Facebook is that I spent half of 2017 battling the second worst case of burnout I’ve ever faced that included months of writer’s block, debilitating social anxiety, and more than one occasion of suicidal depression where I found myself in the fetal position thinking, “My family would be better off without me.”Regular exercise and proper diet were distant memories in 2017. I spent six straight weeks between projects binging seven seasons of Shark Tank with a never-ending bowl of popcorn in one hand and Oreo’s in the other. And my daily fitness goal was attempting a 15 minute walk around the block without stopping to rest from exhaustion. (I failed more than I succeeded.)Listen here to learn more about how I dug myself out of the dark hole of depression by learning how to “rewrite my story.”So then what business does an out of shape television editor with a killer “Dad bod” have thinking he can legitimately compete against some of the top athletes on the planet on the show American Ninja Warrior?If you’re not familiar with the nationwide phenomenon that is ‘ANW,’ below I have provided clips of my two favorite runs of all time from then-rookie and now superstar Kevin Bull, as well as Jessie Graff (both of whom I’m convinced are superhuman).  On paper I clearly have no business training for one of the most competitive sports on the planet that requires ridiculous amounts of skill, strength, balance, coordination, and lightning speed:At 38, I’m “too old” to be running around on obstacle coursesAs a father of two with a demanding career I don’t have 3 hours a day, 6 days per week to train like a professional athleteI’ve never done a single day of gymnastics in my life (I can’t even do a cartwheel)My only prior knowledge of parkour comes courtesy of Michael Scott and his crew at “The Office” (Parkour!!!)Until a few months ago I had never done any rock climbing...everAt the lowest point of my depression last year, I could barely muster a single pull-upTherefore, the only sane question that comes to mind is…”Why?”My response is simply...“Why not?”It’s About More Than Just the ObstaclesDespite the show being in its 6th season at the time, I only first heard of American Ninja Warrior (ANW) a few years ago when a YouTube video went viral of Kacy Catanzaro completing a city finals course...the first woman ever to do so (she is 5’ 0”, by the way). I watched the video thinking, “Wow, that looks kinda cool. Good for her.” And that was it. Not knowing much about the show at the time, I frankly thought it was a fancier version of “Wipeout.”A few months after, my kids starting watching ANW during their summer break. At first I would walk past and watch for one or two minutes, but given I spent the last several years running Spartan Races and Tough Mudders, I quickly became intrigued and soon found myself sitting with them and binge-watching the show for hours at a time.What drew me to ANW was not the physical feats of superhuman strength, balance, and coordination. Sure the obstacles were cool, but what was so compelling were the personal stories and journeys of each of the participants, many of whom were completely “regular” people with normal jobs and families. They weren’t professionals performing for millions of dollars per year. These were people paying their own way to travel and be on that course (some of whom waited in line for weeks) because they had a mission, a larger purpose to fulfill, and people in their lives that needed a little inspiration.Participant Zach Gowen running with one legFrankly, many of the contestants had no business being there at all. Some of them were too short. Others were too old. One guy had a prosthetic leg, and another guy didn’t have a leg at all! Some participants were former athletes out to prove something, but other contestants were postal workers, farmers, teachers, computer programmers, engineers, maintenance workers, meteorologists, and ER doctors...just to name a few.Perhaps the greatest thing about ANW is that they fully embrace female participation...but the women have to beat the exact same course as the men. Women like Kacy Catanzaro, Jessie Graff, Meagan Martin, Barclay Stockett, caregiver Jesse Labreck, and elementary school teacher Allyssa Beird, are all examples of female participants who have completed insane courses the vast majority of the men couldn't.Name one other sport where women are allowed to compete at the same level with the men.Some of the top female ANW athletesThe one constant across every season of the show is that all the participants are real people willing to push themselves outside their comfort zones to achieve something amazing in their lives and bring hope and inspiration to the most important people around them (not to mention the millions of people they inspire around the world).Hmm...the idea of someone faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles who overcame them to achieve their goals. Sound familiar?Tell Me Something Can’t Be Done...I’ll Show You How It Can Be DoneBy the end of my kids’ summer break ANW had become a full-blown family obsession (It’s now basically the only show we watch together), and on more than one occasion I found myself thinking, “Wouldn’t that be awesome to do? I think I could do that.” Many would leave it at that and go back to their daily lives (at least the sane people).For me, the phrase “Wouldn’t that be awesome to do?” has a much deeper meaning. It is the word-for-word phrase that I heard over and over for seven straight years while producing and directing the documentary film GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story about the first quadriplegic with muscular dystrophy to become a licensed scuba diver. Watch the first quadriplegic with muscular dystrophy become a licensed scuba diverDedicating seven years of my life to telling Christopher’s story taught me many profound life lessons, but the one lesson that sticks out far above all others is the simplest of concepts:Everyone has a disability.Chris was fond of saying that “Everyone has a disability.” His disability was neuromuscular - he simply had no physical strength. For others it might be their sight, their hearing, a genetic disease, their financial status, or mental health issues.If you just resign and say you can’t do something because of your disabilities, then you are fundamentally cheating yourself out of the richness that your other abilities will provide for you.- Christopher RushEvery single person who competes on American Ninja Warrior has their own disability.Every. Single. One.While most of the athletes may appear superhuman, the only difference is they have chosen to focus on their abilities, not make excuses because of their disabilities.I can think of hundreds of reasons why I can’t compete, but I have no intention of cheating myself or my family of the richness this opportunity could provide us.Therefore I only need one reason to try...because I can.Welcome to the “Discomfort Zone”If a teenager without the use of his arms or legs has the courage to be weighted down, thrown into the water, and he can fearlessly swim the depths of the Cayman Islands with a smile on his face, I think I can muster the courage to overcome my own disabilities and climb the ‘Warped Wall.’I can get over my fear of heights and become a rock climber.I can get over years of “having a bad back” and dive head first into Crossfit.I can get over a lifetime of social anxiety and hang out with a bunch of teenagers to learn Parkour.Most importantly, I can make the commitment to living life outside my comfort zone and accept that failures on a daily basis are just a necessary part of writing my new “origin story.”Gymnastics, rock climbing, and parkour might not be my things (yet).But summoning intense, ninja-like focus to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and achieve a truly meaningful goal that everyone says can’t be done?Yup...that’s tailor made for me.