There Are Only Two Questions

There are really only two questions:

Are you a Buyer?

Or, are you a Seller?

If you're creating content like I am (commercials, scripts, movies TBD), then you're most likely on the selling side of the equation. Pitching. Trying like hell to communicate value. 

In this era of noise and static and infinite content, it can appear a challenging place to be. Buyers (the people usually with the money) can appear to hold all the cards. 

But if you remember you have something buyers need (and if you really do), it is possible to flip the conversation. To get Buyers to have to sell you. Reframing the conversation is important and possible. 

Especially if you stop treating yourself like a commodity. Because you are truly not everyone else. 

Make sure that last sentence sinks in. 

BTW: if you are neither a Seller or a Buyer, you're not really in the game. 'Artists' sometime pretend to live in this space, but not the pros. The pros embrace. 

The Value of Things

What value do you place on the things around you?

I love this story that reportedly the best salesman in the world answered to Johnny Carson.

While the salesman was a guest on the show Johnny said, "I understand you sold more than any other salesman this year at your firm. How about you sell me something." 

The salesman said, "what would you want me to sell you?"

"I don't know, how about this ashtray." Johnny answered. 

"Why would I sell you that ashtray?" the salesman replied. 

"Well, it is a useful thing to have around, a lot of our guests use it, and it also matches the desk." Johnny answered.

The salesman asked, "How much do you think that ashtray is worth?"

"I don't know maybe $199" Johnny replied.

"Tell you what. You can have it for $50."

Want to get coffee?  I'm buying. 

What I learned from The Detectorists

There is most certainly the unbearable lightness of being. That moment when beauty and sorrow intersect into the sublime. It happens when we are paying attention, when we listen, when we dig deep into something. 

It doesn’t happen when we choose to be lost in things that matter least. Which is where we all live. 

That’s why I love The Detectorists. It’s languid and often hard to understand, a bit of magic that moves like a bubble through a pint glass. A look into what love and life is, mostly all of us searching. 

You have to be quiet when you watch this. And awake. It’s a strange mix that lands squarely - and expands into the depth of certainty and meaning: Treasures all around us. 

Beautiful writing and acting and directing and…. everything. You’re left thinking, why can’t I do this?  And you can.  

#Netflix. It just paid for itself again. In spades.

Want to get coffee?  I'm buying. 

My 2015 Balance Sheet

I stole this from Anthony Iannarino. Thanks Anthony. 

ASSETS

In 2015, I rededicated myself to fitness and lost 10 pounds. I recommend T25 for this, which seriously has been a game changer for me (try it - but modify). 

I've eaten a hell of a lot better too. More kale and spinach smoothies. Less junk. But boy, this Christmas was especially brutal on the chocolate consumption. Plenty of gut bombs. 

I've become a lot more disciplined in my morning routine, which starts at 6:00 and includes a 15 minute meditation and breathing practice (5 mins of affirmation, 5 mins of gratitude, 5 mins of intent). This is the best way to get the game face on. 

Raised $250K for the movie I co-wrote with Brian Young, RED TIDE. Not bad - but a lot more work to do.

Finished the first draft of the pilot, THE RIFT. More to come on this. 

Record sales at Hand Crank Films.  Some great work with some really exceptional people I'm lucky to be associated with. 

A really great wife and family, which matters most. I could go on and on and on and on....

DEBITS

I got another 5 pounds to lose, which ain't so simple. More T25 and even better food choices. 

I need to put down the damn phone. Wouldn't it be a miracle if I could connect even more with the people I adore and are right in front of me?  Try the phone stack. 

The quality of my work can vastly improve. I often fall prey to the idea of moving as quickly as possible from point A to point B, just to get the job done. But speed does not equal accomplishment. I need to focus instead on the quality of the trajectory. 

Need to practice more gratitude. 

I’m still not disciplined enough. Have I done the ONE BIG THING today, or did BS get in the way?

I did not hit some Big Hairy Audacious Goals I set for myself in 2015. Let’s get back at it. 

Overall though, a really nice year.

You? Let me know. 

My Three Words for 2016.

The illustrious Chris Brogan asks 'what are your three words this year?"

Mine are:

Deepen - how can I create deeper relationships with people. I know it starts with gratitude. 
Sharpen - how can I sharpen my game?  Pretty sure that starts with focused intent. 
Share - how can I be of more value to people? By being less concerned about holding onto what is mine (or perceived to be mine - it's all temporary).

I've got a lot of work to do. Want to help?  Let me know your three words by commenting below.

Happy New Year - One and All.  

What is Extraordinary Content?

Everybody is talking about Content. It's the buzzword that keeps gaining steam and importance across the board. But I got to admit, I get intimidated by content creation. I perceive it to be a boatload of work. 

My goal this year though, is to be all about content. 

And content can be love letters. Or drawings on the sides of coffee cups. Pottery. It doesn't have to be films, or books or screenplays or great advertising or blog posts or podcasts... 

Maybe it's making your child smile. Your partner dance. Saying thanks to a stranger. 

Great content takes many forms. Don't get caught in one, or think you aren't producing enough. It's there - right at your fingertips. 

Have fun with it.

What's in your bag of tricks right now? Let me know.

Here's One Resolution for 2016

Create content that people will talk about. 

What that might mean is stop painting by numbers. Stop being complicit in mediocrity. Say ‘no’ more to those things that stray you from your course. Instead –

Create content that people will talk about. 

I know it’s harder than it sounds. But if it’s content you’re talking about – it’s probably a lot closer than you think.

Got some audacious ideas for 2016?  Let me know.

DEAL MEMO - EPISODE 2

So I just jumped on Patreon, which is a potentially game-changing crowd-funding model. Take a look at this and let me know what you think. And don't forget to #dothework. 

DEAL MEMO - EPISODE 1

This is Episode 1 of Deal Memo, Chris Donaldson discusses the challenge of creating revenue producing content in the new age, including for his feature film RED TIDE (www.redtiderises.com). Enter - if you dare. 

Fixing Versus Improving

I used to think every thing needed fixing. 

My finances.

My relationships. 

The way I worked. 

Thinking it all needs to be 'fixed' assumes it's broken in the first place. Sometimes it is, and maybe sometimes you do need to take out the machete and start again. 

Most of the time though, you can start in a good place. A place that allows you to think about improvement on something that's already solid. That's already whole. Improvement on something beautiful? That's the place where you might try to begin. 

It's also a lot more fun that way. And a lot more true to the way we should see ourselves. From the beginning. 

Success Leaves Clues

Tomorrow I head out to AFM - a lion's den of wheelers and dealers in the film biz, some who's sole purpose is to eat me for lunch. Oh hell yes I'm nervous and excited and here I am pacing on the sidelines wanting the ball - all at the same time. And maybe with a little luck I'll exit out the other side a little better. A little stronger. A little smarter about what it will take to make this particular dream happen. 

But it doesn't all have to be about luck. As Youngblood once said: Luck is the residue of preparation. So I've been spending the last couple of weeks preparing, studying how other people have done it, what their disciplines are, how they have made it happen.

Because the clues are there. People have gone before me. Many of them want to help. It is a New World, everyday. But there are signs if you look for them. 

So look for them. Keep  your eyes and your heart open. And remind me to do the same. 

The Mathematical Formula for Happiness

This is something I came up with that I'd like your thoughts on - my secret formula for happiness. I thought of it while driving my daughter to her first day in college, which is a great time for introspection. 

It goes like this:

Happiness = Reality/Expectations

It's not so profound. It's very simple. But it does put a fine point on it. If your expectations don't match up with actuality, you're going to be disappointed. If reality exceeds your expectations, this generally leads to good things. 

Disappointment is usually caused by thinking too much of something. This is really common during the holidays, when our expectations can get jacked up beyond possibility. Like kids under a Christmas tree looking for a pony. 

This formula might help your approach. It's helped mine. And the ponies are still out there. 

Why You Need to Launch

This week we launched a 'concept trailer' for a film we hope to shoot in 2015 called RED TIDE. The trailer's purpose is simple: to attract investors, distribution partners, mentors. 

If you're into it, you can check out the trailer here:

www.redtiderises.com

Let me know your thoughts. 

This one happened fast. A friend of mine, Brian Young, thought we should write a script together. This was back in June. 

By August, we had the first readable draft. This was a speed record for me. I really squashed my inner resistance - my inner editor - that usually sits on my shoulder and criticizes every word. Instead, I just wrote. We got it on the page.

By September, we were planning the trailer shoot. October 4th, a great gang of people got together, and we shot this thing. One day = in the can.

Is it exactly the way I want it?  No. But it's out there - and next week we take it to the American Film Market to show to the Business. We shall see.

The one big lesson learned (again)?

Progress.

Not perfection.  

Your Goals Aren't Sacred

You like to think you have goals. You think of them and you think you've done the work. 

You're on your way. 

But then an email arrives in your inbox. Or the phone rings. Or a co-worker needs help with their project. And it's almost a relief, a reprieve, from doing what you really should be doing. An excuse to stop doing the work. 

Zig Ziglar Goal Planner

One thing I did was go out and buy this Peak Performance Planner from Zig Ziglar. This thing is not cheap, but is put together by one of the forefathers of Peak Performance and Personal Development. So far, so good. Here's what my first week looked like:

For me, writing down goals is the secret sauce. Some of my goals involve helping others (I need to work deeply on this), while others are more mundane like hitting the gym or cracking open a book. 

Part of the problem might be that your goals aren't sacred. Aren't rituals. This can help fix that. 

What are your tips?

Why Your Work is Getting Smaller

You have a client, one of the biggest in the tech space. They say they want 4 videos shot in one day. They say quality isn't important (although you know this is a false horizon). They say they only have a quarter of what it should cost. They say 'This is the New Economy'. 

The artist in you rebels. Curses. Wants nothing to do with people like this. You've already been there. You've already been had. 

The business person in you says 'This sure would help the month." Tries to determine just how painful it would be to take on. Maybe throws caution to the wind, and in so doing angers the artist and the other people who have to join in this 'non-quality' journey. But the month gets closer to being saved. 

There is, maybe, a third actor in all of this: the person that represents 'The Renaissance". This dreamer looks at this as an opportunity to solve a problem. A puzzle. A question of delivering in scope something that still works - for the artist, for the business person, for the customer. 

It is the New Economy, there is no denying that. Things are compressing and people (maybe you) are being disintermediated from the making of things. The question for all of us: which one of these people do we choose to be?

What is the answer?