The Zack Arnold Podcast

Author’s Note: In the wake of the possible IATSE strike I wanted to share my two cents specifically regarding turnaround times and overall hours. I know the pension plan is the headline of negotiations (as it should be), but I want to ensure we're not overlooking the health, safety, and sanity of everyone working behind-the-scenes. A pension plan is meaningless if you don't live long enough to use it. For those of us in Hollywood working behind computers in dark rooms for a living, will there ever come a time when we realize it’s counterproductive, unhealthy, and downright dangerous to work insane hours at the expense of our health and our creativity simply for the sake of our jobs? How much is our time (and our sanity) really worth? For years now I've stood on my soapbox proclaiming from the hills that sitting is killing us and that success happens BECAUSE you prioritize your health above your career, not DESPITE it. If you think living in a dark room for sixteen hours a day under constant stress is good for your creativity, think again. If you value your health, all you have to do is ask yourself this simple question honestly: Is the job you’re doing every single day worth dying for? If your answer to this question is ‘No,’ I suggest reading on. Because if we don’t begin collectively standing up for ourselves and do what's necessary, things will only get worse. C’mon...Is It Really That Bad? Wait a second...using words like “unhealthy” or “dangerous” is irresponsible. For those of us who are film editors, visual effects artists, composers, animators, and everyone in between, we just sit at desks all day long in air conditioned luxury suites and have our meals handed to us twice a day on a silver platter. We’ve got it easy! It’s not like we’re blue collar workers slaving away in steel factories or coal mines losing limbs or dying of black lung…..(Note: The typical seated office worker has more injuries than any other industry sector worker including construction, the metal industry, and transportation1). It’s not like we suffer through grueling days on movie sets working sixteen to twenty hours a day, often deep into the following morning….. And we certainly aren’t out on the front lines sacrificing our lives for the sake of a stunt or “getting the perfect shot”..... Here’s the difference: All of the dangerous professions listed above have rigorous safety regulations to protect the health and wellbeing of their workforce with extensive training to minimize accidents. Those of us in post-production are told in the same safety meetings to bring a cardigan because it can sometimes get “chilly in the edit suite.” Tee-hee. If someone dies after falling off scaffolding while doing a stunt or is (God-forbid) hit by a train while setting up a shot, the entire community rallies around this negligence. There’s no choice but to address the problem and ensure the same mistakes aren’t made in the future. When someone is recklessly injured or killed while on the job in a public setting, people pay attention. Sedentary “creative workers” are unfortunately not afforded the same protections. If we’re asked to work through lunch (for free), we don’t have a crew of 150 people to demand we all get meal penalties. If we’re expected to work 16 (or more) hours every day sitting in a small dark room without breaks or weekends off, we feel like we're all alone if we’re being treated unjustly and have no choice but to submit. If someone working in any sector of the post-production industry dies as a direct result of the long hours, the chronic stress, the poor working conditions, or gets into a car accident as a result of sleep-deprivation, it’s no different than a tree falling in the woods when no one else is around. If an editor dies in the edit bay, does it make a sound? The sad fact is there are countless stories of people dying (or barely surviving 3 heart attacks in 24 hours)  as a direct result of their jobs working in post-production (Unfortunately nobody is willing to share the details of those stories publicly). We may mourn those who pass from cancer, but because stress is a slow burn, despite it being the number one cause of death in first world societies, nobody notices or creates a direct connection between the diseases and the lifestyle. (Note: The World Health Organization ranks sitting too much as the fourth biggest preventable killer globally, killing over 3.2 million people per year1.) Even worse, there are plenty of stories of editors dying suddenly at their desks or assistants dying on the road in car crashes after falling asleep due to numerous stretches of long days and long hours. But nobody talks about these. Because if you do, you get blacklisted. Yes we have a supportive union ready to stand up for every single one of us, but how can they do so when nobody is willing to speak up about what’s really happening on the front lines every single day? We don’t have a Sarah Jones to rally around and affect real change. But it’s time for us to start behaving like we do. “Then Get More Flies…” There is nobody in Hollywood the business loves to exploit more than socially introverted “creatives” who will do whatever it takes to deliver top quality work and meet a deadline, no matter how unreasonable. Furthermore, those making said requests know on some level that creatives consider their work part of their identity and are almost always willing to go the extra mile because they love their jobs. Artists are willing to give their knowledge and expertise away in service of “the greater good” of their art. But what happens if you say no? You’re told to just shut up and do your job because there are hundreds of people lined up ready to do it for you. As Walter Murch explained on our podcast together, several decades ago when approaching a studio executive to address the extreme working conditions, stress, and deadlines on a feature film he was editing, he described the situation as: “People are dropping like flies.” The studio executive simply replied with: “Then get more flies.” Sadly not much has changed in the last several decades. Back in the “film days,” it took an afternoon (or even overnight) to process a single dissolve. Now that we can create a dissolve with a single keystroke, it’s not like we have our afternoons to ourselves. We just fill the time with more work. And the studios continually make increasingly unrealistic calendars and delivery schedules because we continue to meet them. It’s so tempting to blame the studio executives and producers for the poor working conditions and the unhealthy lifestyles in post-production, but it’s not their fault. We cannot sit back and expect the next new contract negotiation to magically change the demands placed upon us. This is our fault. We have enabled a work culture where it’s okay to eat lunch (and dinner) at our desks because the schedule doesn’t allow enough time to get five minutes of fresh air and sit outside in the sun. Our meals might be handed to us, but if it were possible they’d probably just slide our meals under our doors twice a day. We have enabled a work culture where it’s okay to chronically stay late and put our kids to bed via Facetime rather than tucking them in and kissing them on the forehead because some producer has a few more notes and “just wants to get it right.” https://youtu.be/CHZN2y3XsTk “Whoosh” is unfortunately neither a parody nor a stereotype We have enabled a work culture where working 60 hours per week is now considered a “standard” contract (Standard!!!!!!), and we’ll even work additional hours late at night or on the weekends - UNPAID - because we fear asking for overtime will label us as “the difficult one” because we don’t have a crew of 150 other people to demand the overtime alongside us. Don’t think things are that bad? Consider this for a second… We have enabled a work culture where we are literally embarrassed to take breaks. Walking breaks. Water breaks. Even bathroom breaks. God forbid somebody sees us away from our workstations and thinks we’re “lazy.” But it’s still 100% acceptable to step out for multiple smoke breaks all day long. We have accepted and perpetuated this reality, yet we constantly complain that “Nobody respects us!” REALITY CHECK: Nobody is going to respect us until we collectively start respecting ourselves. The reason we put up with and accept a work culture that perpetuates and celebrates horrible lifestyle choices every single day is fear. We are afraid that if we fight back or say no, we will simply be replaced. And we will. Because there are always going to be more flies. There will always be people willing to put themselves through hell for the sake of a paycheck, another credit on the résumé, another rung on the ladder. The only way this vicious cycle stops is if we change the culture until we reach the point where there simply are no more flies. “IT WAS JUST ONE ANT” Our time is our most valuable asset in life, but unfortunately it’s not like a 401k. We don’t get to set it aside but then have it returned to us tax-free plus interest 30 years later. Once we spend it, it’s gone. Start prioritizing your time as if you don’t have any left. If you’re hoping someone is going to step in on your behalf and make sure you stay active throughout your day and take breaks...keep hoping. If you’re wishing for your "crazy" schedule to get pushed just a day or two so you can catch up on sleep...keep wishing. If you’re dreaming of the day when studios and corporations come to their senses and realize less working hours actually leads to increased productivity and higher quality work...KEEP. DREAMING. Yes we should all band together and collectively fight for better contracts with longer turnarounds and less hours overall, but even new contracts can’t affect real change. There is only one person that can affect change: You. Change is going to happen in the trenches one soldier at a time. It’s time to stop thinking of ourselves as flies and start thinking of ourselves as soldier ants. As a father of two young kids, I spend A LOT of time watching Pixar movies, and one of my favorites is A Bug’s Life. While my kids may overlook the following scene, there is a tremendously profound moment when the grasshoppers realize their power is nothing compared to the ants if they were to stand together. https://youtu.be/VLbWnJGlyMU “You let one ant stand up to us, then they ALL might stand up! Those puny little ants outnumber us 100 to 1. And if they ever figure that out, there goes our way of life.” Only banded together can we demand the respect we deserve and affect real change for ourselves and future generations of “creatives” just entering this industry with stars in their eyes and love for their craft in their hearts. Only collectively can we do what is necessary to fight back against the impossible deadlines, the long hours, and the poor working conditions. One ant at a time. It Starts With You The next time you’re sitting alone in a dark room feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and yours alone, remember there is a worldwide community of creative people like yourself fighting the same battle in dark rooms everywhere. If you’re too afraid to stand up for yourself and you’re looking for a reason to muster up the courage to fight back, just remember this: Your time is your most valuable asset, and no amount of overtime is worth sacrificing your health, time with your family, or your sanity. Let’s get real Hollywood: We create entertainment for a living. We’re not curing cancer.   Additional Reading & Listening: Sitting Is Killing You, But Standing Isn’t the Answer (Neither Is Exercise) Are Creative and Tech Workers the New ‘Blue Collar?’ | with Maxim Jago Life After 3 Heart Attacks In 24 Hours | with Marc Wielage It Is Possible to Be Both Successful and Kind at the Same Time Surviving 50+ Years In Post | with Walter Murch, ACE I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via Facetime Every Night. Here’s What I Did About It. --- 1 Starrett, Kelly (2016-04-26). Deskbound: Standing Up to a Sitting World (p. 8). Victory Belt Publishing. Featured image courtesy of Jeremy Bishop via Unsplash.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

Click to Download Audio Summer is officially here which means the first season of the Optimize Yourself Podcast has come to a close (don't worry...I'll be back right after Labor Day). I cannot express enough how grateful I am to all of my listeners who inspire me to keep this program alive every single day. Please feel free to continue reaching out and sharing your stories (and your challenges) with me. I read every single message I receive. It is my belief that it's no longer necessary to sacrifice your health (and your sanity) in pursuit of your creative career or your business, and in season 2 I promise to continue finding the best experts I can to help design the optimized version of you...one small action step at a time. Since entering the world of podcasting 4 years ago now (it's been four years already???) I've interviewed over 150 people ranging from world-class experts in many different fields to everyday people sharing their personal journeys, their challenges, and their triumphs. I learn something profound and meaningful from every single interview, and I hope that you do as well. While choosing my favorite episodes (and your favorite episodes) from the past year is like choosing my favorite child, I've done my best based on user feedback, download statistics, and my own personal feelings as well. Below are my top 10 favorite podcast interviews from Season 1. 1. Breaking 'Bad' From Assistant to Editor | with Kelley Dixon, ACE Click here for this episode's show notes Kelley Dixon is simply a badass. She has edited some of the most iconic shows in television history including Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and The Walking Dead...to name a small few. What most people don't realize is that she spent over twenty years working as an assistant editor before becoming an "overnight success." This interview was EPIC, diving in for over 2 1/2 hours into the intricacies of Kelley's journey from the bottom to the top. We also discuss her ninja-like strategies for perfecting her craft despite working long and demanding hours as an assistant. 2. Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression | with Dr. Edison de Mello Click here for this episode's show notes This is the first episode of the Optimize Yourself podcast, and that's by design. One of the fundamental themes I revisit in all of my podcasts, articles, and my online courses is the idea of optimizing creativity. Unfortunately if you are blessed with creative abilities, they often come at a price. And that price is battling mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout. In this interview I do a deep dive into the link between creativity and mental health issues with the man who saved my life many years ago, Dr. Edison de Mello of The Akasha Center For Integrative Medicine. 3. How to Rewrite Your Own Story | with Dr. Steven Isaacman Click here for this episode's show notes I recorded this episode more for my own personal reasons than because I thought it would be popular, but it ended up being the 3rd most downloaded episode of the whole season! In this episode I do a deep dive into the practice of psychoanalysis and the stories we write for ourselves every single day that could be holding us back from achieving great things. Dr. Steven Isaacman and I also have an in-depth discussion about the dreaded 'imposter syndrome' and how to overcome it when you work in creative fields. 4. The Disciplined Pursuit of Less | with Greg McKeown Click here for this episode's show notes "Less. But Better." This is the mantra of best-selling author of Greg McKeown, and I couldn't agree more. This is one of my favorite episodes because Greg takes a very honest approach towards all the noise and busy-ness we deal with in society today, and he helps us understand what is required to truly prioritize our lives properly and say "No" to everything urgent in our lives. If you want to start focusing on achieving important things in your life (and start ignoring the urgent), this episode is a must-listen. 5. FOCUS: The Superpower of the 21st Century | with Cal Newport Click here for this episode's show notes Cal Newport is quite possibly one of the world's foremost experts on the concept of 'Deep Work,' and we wasted no time diving deep into what is required to regularly get into this mental state to achieve maximum levels of creative flow. I learned a ton from this interview that I am now incorporating into my upcoming Focus Yourself online program, and if you feel like you're constantly distracted with no real direction, it's time to start developing focus as your next superpower. 6. How to Reverse Depression, Anxiety, and ADD at the Genetic Level | with Dr. Ben Lynch Click here for this episode's show notes The work that Dr. Ben Lynch is doing in the world of genetic testing and diagnosis is absolute LIFE. CHANGING. Having battled anxiety and depression for over a decade now I've experimented with numerous supplement and prescription medication routines, much of which was trial & error. But thanks to new technology from companies like 23andMe we can now get an accurate picture of our unique genetic makeup. Unfortunately most of the data is near-impossible to interpret, but that's where Dr. Lynch comes in. His "Clean Genes" protocol helps you understand your unique genetic code and also design the right lifestyle changes to optimize your own genetic expression. Of all of the episodes I released this year, this episode has received the most profound feedback from my listeners. 7. Finding Your 'One Thing' | with Jay Papasan Click here for this episode's show notes Whenever listeners and readers reach out to me confused about where to go with their careers or how to improve their health, often times the biggest problem is they have too many goals, too many priorities, and too many different projects they are taking on at one time. Thanks to Jay Papasan, co-author of the best-selling book 'The One Thing," there is now a simple formula to figure out the most impactful actions you can take to see the most results in your life. There isn't a single day that goes by for me when I don't ask myself, "What is the ONE THING I can do today such that by doing it everything else becomes easier (or unnecessary)?" 8. Your 'Smart' Phone Is Killing Your Creativity | with Kevin Holesh Click here for this episode's show notes Talking about the exploding epidemic of tech addiction is one of my favorite subjects, and in this episode I do a deep dive into specifically being addicted to "smart" phones (which in my opinion could just as easily be called "dumb" phones, because that's what they're doing to us). My guest is Kevin Holesh who designed the wonderful app Moment which is basically a Fitbit for your phone usage. Not only can it help you more clearly understand how much you're using your phone on a daily basis, the app can also help you drastically cut back on your addiction to your "smart" phone. 9. How to Tell Good Stories | with Jeff Bartsch Click here for this episode's show notes Storytelling has been my life's work for almost twenty years, and in this episode I chat with fellow film editor and Story Greenlight founder Jeff Bartsch about the components required to tell great stories. This applies to anyone who works in creative fields, not just editor or writers like us. But more importantly, not only do we discuss how to tell good stories, we discuss the importance of being able to tell your own story. 10. The Right Way to Network In Hollywood | with Chris Visser Click here for this episode's show notes I'm probably a bit biased when recommending this episode as one of my favorites, but that's because the guest Chris Visser is my (current) assistant editor. In this episode we do a deep dive into Chris' approach to building a relationship with me over time and networking the right way to become an integral part of my team. For anyone who's a socially awkward introvert struggling to build a professional network, this is a must-listen.   I'd love to know in the comments below, which was your favorite interview of this season? What would you like to learn more about Season 2?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

“Why.”It’s an incredibly simple word that carries tremendous power when used correctly. But unfortunately ‘why’ is a question we are often afraid to ask of others because we don’t want it to look like we don’t know something. And more importantly, ‘why’ is a question we rarely ask ourselves because we either don’t know the answer...or we’re afraid of it.The chances are extremely high you can clearly explain WHAT you do for a living.“I’m a reality editor that works on competition shows.”“I’m a production coordinator for a local television station.”“I’m an online entrepreneur that teaches other entrepreneurs how to organize their business finances.”If you spend a little time thinking about it or referencing your own portfolio or resume, there’s also a good chance that you can clearly identify HOW you do your job.“I communicate clearly and effectively.”“I harness the raw emotion in every story I tell.”“I bring everything I have to every client I work with.”But now it’s time to ask yourself....can you clearly identify WHY you do what you do?While it might seem trivial, not having a clear understanding of why you do the work you do every single day can have a significant impact on the quality of your work, the energy and attitude you bring to your job every single day, and it can have a negative impact on your health as well.When the bullets are flying, deadlines are looming, and stress levels are at DEFCON 1 across your entire team, if you don’t enjoy your work or understand why it’s important work to you, it’s easy to get sucked into the black hole of overwhelm, depression, and burnout.In today’s episode I chat with David Mead, the ‘Chief Igniter’ at the organization Start With Why, and their sole mission is to inspire people to do work that inspires them. David is also the co-author of ‘Find Your Why’ which is a practical hands-on guide to help anyone find their deeper why and apply it to their work, their relationships, and their entire lives. David and I chat about the importance of defining your why, and then we walk through a very practical exercise helping me define my own why at a much deeper level than I already have in the past.If you’re struggling to find a deeper meaning behind your work or your relationships, this episode is a must-listen.And if you find this exercise helpful and you want to start building an action plan that will help you achieve the most important goals in your life that align with your deeper why, ‘finding your why’ is just one of the many exercises I teach in my FOCUS Yourself program.Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episodeHere's What You'll Learn:People don't buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do itThe concept of the Golden Circle and learning to articulate the "how", "why", and "what" you doRecognizing when you are headed for burnout"I've got to make money somehow" is not a strong or fulfilling enough "why"Why discovering the deeper meaning in your work is essential for health and creativityLiving out your deepest and best self is not dependent on your job or paycheckIf you don't know your deeper "why" then the "what" will never be truly satisfyingHow to properly interrogate your "why" by honing in on the driving themes of the stories your tell about your lifeUseful Resources Mentioned:Find Your WhyOur 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:David Mead is the co-author of Find Your Why, a practical guide on how to discover the Why for any individual, team or organization. He's also a guide of the online Why Discovery Course. David's 'Why' is to propel people forward so they can make their mark on the world.Specializing in organizational culture and leadership, David shifts perceptions about the reasons why organizations really exist, what leadership is and how human biology plays into it all. David started by developing content to help Simon Sinek (author of 'Start With Why) share his powerful ideas and in 2012 he began speaking and facilitating workshops to help shift people's perceptions about leadership and culture.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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

Click to Download Audio   “Who’s stupid idea was this anyway?” It definitely wasn’t the first time I had asked myself this in the last six months since declaring that my #1 goal for 2018 was transforming From ‘Dad Bod’ to American Ninja Warrior. I was asking myself this question this particular instance after having just woken up at 5am on a Saturday and driving 350 miles north to Monterey so I could pay good money to run 10 miles in the mountains, carry sandbags and buckets full of gravel up hills, army crawl under barbed wire, climb 2500+ feet of elevation gain, and wade through mud (just to name a few of the over 30 obstacles). Here’s the catch: Three days before the race I couldn’t bend over to tie my shoes. I had strained my QL muscle (lower back) earlier that week doing kettlebell deadlifts. To add insult to injury, two weeks before that I landed awkwardly while practicing a vault in parkour class and had a deep bone bruise in my left knee...which I later discovered was also a sprained MCL. Needless to say, I don’t know a lot of other sane people who would wake up at 5am on a Saturday after having worked a 60+ hr week, drive 700 miles in a day, and run a 10 mile Spartan Race on a bum knee who can barely tie their shoes. But sane is boring. Striving for a life of comfort ultimately leads to complacency which leads to boredom which leads to unhappiness which leads to self-loathing which leads to hours spent in front of screens every day to escape the drudgery of life. Living life outside your comfort zone is where real growth and change occurs. To quote one of my favorite ANW superstar athletes: “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” - Flip Rodriguez Having spent the majority of 2018 up until this point being very uncomfortable on a daily basis, here are six lessons I’ve learned after six months of training for American Ninja Warrior. LESSON #1. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is today. At 38 years old I have a lot of excuses for why becoming an American Ninja Warrior is just a stupid idea. Most of the athletes that compete on the show, even those who are my age or older, have an athletic background. Many are former gymnasts, track & field stars, pole vaulters, professional and amateur rock climbers with decades of experience, gym owners and personal trainers, or freerunners and parkour artists. The last time I did anything truly athletic was in high school when I trained for (and earned) a black belt in martial arts. Once I hit college and then the real world I was 100% career focused. A few years ago once the weight started to pile on I took up obstacle course racing and did a few Spartan Races and Tough Mudders...but as a hobby. I was a “Weekend Warrior,” and my only objective was finishing the course and having some fun along the way. Training intensely for 10+ hours a week for a sport like American Ninja Warrior is a world I haven’t inhabited since my face was covered with acne, my voice cracked, and I was studying for my driver’s test. There’s no question the best time to become an athlete was twenty years ago. I can’t even imagine how much easier training would be today had I chosen to continue my martial arts study, or take up gymnastics, or become a rock climber in college. But that’s no excuse. Rather than thinking “it’s too late,” I instead look at my circumstances from a different perspective. In December 2017 when I decided my #1 goal for 2018 would be to train for American Ninja Warrior, I closed my eyes and jumped into my mental time machine to travel forwards 12 years. I pictured myself at fifty years old at my daughter’s high school graduation. I was (still) bald, at least 50 pounds heavier than I am now with chronic lower back pain, two bum knees, constant visits to the cardiologist for heart issues, and still battling depression and anxiety. As I sat there watching my daughter walk across the aisle and receive her diploma, my future self thought: “I wish I hadn’t been too afraid to train for American Ninja Warrior when I was 38. My life would be so different right now.” That single mental image was more than enough to compel me to jump into training right on January 1st because my only true fear is regret. IN SHORT:It’s never too late to begin writing chapter 1 of your new “origin story.” LESSON #2. If you set your goals improperly, tremendous success can end up feeling like total failure. For the past fifteen years I’ve been completely obsessed with learning everything I can about the psychology of high performance and the habits that lead to success. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned during this journey is that achieving a goal is meaningless if you set the wrong goal. Your goals are the foundation that your house is built upon. If you build your house on quicksand, it doesn’t matter how strong the walls or the roof is, your house will collapse. It’s imperative that you take the time to clearly define a goal properly before taking a single action towards achieving that goal. I spent weeks painstakingly clarifying my “macro goal” in December of 2017 before taking a single moment to plan my diet, map out my training regimen, or stepping foot in a gym and doing a single pull-up. The conclusion I came to after working through the steps I teach in my Design Yourself program is that “Getting on American Ninja Warrior” is NOT going to be my goal. Wait...what? Bear with me for a second. Let’s assume this is the goal I set: “I will be on season 11 of American Ninja Warrior in 2019.” This goal depends on outside circumstances that I have no control over. I could show up to the gym every morning, lose 25 pounds, drop to 10% body fat, and become an expert at ninja obstacles over the next 12 months. To everyone but me, this would look like tremendous success. But if I’m not chosen as one of the over 40,000 people who submit audition videos every season? I would be a total failure. The problem with this goal is that it’s binary - there are only two possible outcomes. Outcome 1 is I get on the show - Success. Outcome 2 is I don’t get on the show - Failure. I’d rather set myself up for success and build systems around a goal that is completely within my control. Simply put, as long as I put in the work consistently, I will be successful. Therefore, here’s the macro goal I set for 2018: “I will weigh 175 pounds and be in American Ninja Warrior shape by December 31st.” The difference is subtle yet completely changes the systems I build that ensure I follow through and achieve my goal. This is a SMART goal. It’s Specific. My goal is not to “be healthy” or “lose weight” it’s to be in a very specific kind of physical shape. It’s Measureable. I will weigh 175 pounds. Weight is a metric that can be tracked. It’s Actionable. Taking concrete daily actions will lead me closer to success. It’s Relevant. This goal aligns with the work I do in my business. It helps raise awareness of my documentary film GO FAR. And I’m setting a good example for my children. It’s Time-Sensitive. I have a specific deadline of December 31st. My goal has nothing to do whatsoever with being on the show. If I lose 25 pounds, drop five inches off my waist, shed body fat, and develop the strength and coordination to compete on ANW-level obstacles, not being chosen is immaterial. I will have succeeded come December 31st, 2018. IN SHORT:Before you invest a tremendous amount of time, energy, and attention in achieving a difficult goal, make sure you have set the right goal first. LESSON #3. The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. When you’ve just crossed the threshold of 200 pounds for the first time and you max out at (barely) 5 pull-ups, the thought of running one of the most difficult obstacle courses on the planet sounds downright impossible. I already know I have to lose at least 25 pounds to even be in the same conversation as most of the other athletes on the show (I’m 5’ 11” so getting below 170 just ain’t happening). It would also be nice if I could dead hang from a bar for at least 3 minutes and be able to do a minimum of 20 pull-ups by the end of the year. That’s great...but so what? What the hell am I supposed to be doing this morning? Often times people procrastinate and avoid taking action towards their goals because the result is too far away and seems like success will never come. The key to overcoming the procrastination and fear that accompany pursuing difficult goals is to break down a “macro goal” into tiny “micro goals” that seem so simple there’s no reason not to do them. My macro goal was crystal clear on day 1, so now it was time to break that down into an action plan with very doable micro goals. Being in “ANW shape” by December 31st requires that I develop a series of skills including: Rock climbing, Parkour, and Crossfit. And I’ll probably need to train 5-6 days per week. Over the course of the next year, assuming a few recovery weeks and family vacation time, that’s “hitting the gym” over 200 times in the next twelve months. Um….no thank you. Yet despite the massive overwhelm of going to the gym over 200 times this year, by the six month mark I’m over halfway there. Workout stats courtesy of Fitdigits.com Daily activity stats courtesy of Fitbit.com (I use the Fitbit Blaze) I didn’t go to the gym over 100 times in the last  6 months and burn over 1.1 million calories in the last six months by focusing on the end goal, I focused on the single actions steps that would get me to show up once. My first action step on day one was simply “Research gyms near me.” Anyone can do that! Once I found the places that made the most sense, the next step was not to commit to a 12 month membership, it was to “Try a free Crossfit class.” Yup, seems simple enough. My next action step after that was setting my gym clothes out the night before so when I woke up it was one less excuse to not show up. Easy peasy. Once I tried my free class, I immediately discovered that fifteen years of living in front of a keyboard have destroyed my body far worse than I anticipated. My flexibility and mobility were in the toilet. Therefore my next micro goal had nothing to do with losing 25 pounds or doing 20 pull-ups at once. My next micro goal was learning where to put a lacrosse ball and foam roller to loosen up my hip flexors and glutes so I can get into a proper squat. I can do that too! Rinse. Lather. Repeat. This mentality has led to 101 training days in 6 months, losing 14.8 pounds, and dropping 3 inches from my waist. Jan 1st, 2018 200.7 pounds, 38” waist, 24.1% body fat (per Fitbit scale) June 30th, 2018 185.9 pounds, 35” waist, 20.1% body fat (per Fitbit scale) IN SHORT: No matter how difficult the goal you set for yourself, if you break it down to the simplest of actions, as long as you take action consistently, success becomes inevitable. LESSON #4. Failure is the fastest path to success. I wish I had been wearing a GoPro my first night in parkour class (Not familiar with parkour? Here’s a brilliant overview). The camera would have not only captured my complete ineptitude with the most basic of skills, the footage would have also demonstrated that I was a few short years away from easily being mistaken as the dad to any other person in the class...including the instructor. There is quite possibly nowhere further outside my comfort zone on the planet then being surrounded by a bunch of seventeen-year-olds in a parkour class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kvw2BPKjz0 Here’s the “missing” footage from my first parkour class Because parkour is a necessary skill I must develop in order to achieve my macro goal, I know that to have even a slim chance of being considered I must be ready to embrace failure...a lot of it. If I were afraid of failure or “looking stupid,” I simply would have stood in the back corner during open gym time and watched other people who were practicing “The Warped Wall” (the most iconic obstacle of ANW). Then when no one else was watching, I might have attempted it, but only as long as nobody was watching. After all, what if I fell? God forbid I look like an idiot. Screw that. During my first open gym session one of the first things I tried was the warped wall. And I failed. So I tried it again. And I failed again. I then tried another 10-15 more times before I decided to call it a night and find another obstacle I could fail at repeatedly. Guess what I did the following week at open gym? I failed getting up the warped wall another 10+ times. https://youtu.be/TKzN4IEQQ4s My first (failed) attempt at trying the obstacle course at ‘Ninja Beach’ A few weeks later during open gym a couple guys showed up who have been on the show and successfully run the course more than once. Sure I could’ve been super intimidated and stood off to the side as a socially awkward introvert (my default mode). But instead I walked right up to them, introduced myself, and asked if I could “join in” on the practice runs they were concocting around the gym. When the time came to run up the warped wall I approached one of them and asked, “So what’s the trick to getting up the wall?” He asked me to run it, and of course I failed. He began to tweak my form, my steps, and my technique. And I failed a few more times. Then I got up the wall. Eventually on my own I would’ve gotten to the top of the wall, but being willing to publicly embrace failure (a lot) and ask questions shortened my learning curve and got me to the top infinitely faster. Now I have more time to perfect my technique and move onto other obstacles I cannot do yet. IN SHORT: Obstacles are inevitable. You will fail. But failure is only failure if you give up and quit. Be willing to ask questions, learn from your mistakes, embrace failure publicly, and reframe it as a learning experience that gets you one step closer to success. LESSON #5. Focus on the process, not just the results. When undertaking any kind of athletic training, whether you have done it your whole life or you’ve chosen to dust yourself off after living behind a computer for almost twenty years, it’s SO easy to get caught up in the numbers. Especially in sports like Crossfit it’s easy to become obsessed with metrics like max reps, AMRAP’s, EMOM’s, and WOD’s...just to name a few. And the temptation is always there to compare where you are to everyone else in the class: “Hey bro, what’s your deadlift PR?” (Personal Record) The problem with chasing after metrics whether your own or the person next to you is it makes it much harder to focus on the process, and comparing your progress to others only wastes energy you could be spending on yourself. That’s why I believe in “Running Your Own Race." If the only reason you’re going to the gym today is to hopefully lose twenty pounds six months from now, you will be miserable unless you embrace how every single piece of the puzzle fits together. And thinking to yourself, “Why is that person so much better than me?” only leads to self-doubt and frustration. Working with my Crossfit trainer (one of 3 different specialists I’ve enlisted in my pursuit of ANW), we have spent weeks doing super simple exercises with tiny weights, small resistance bands, and a lot of bizarre balance exercises with no weight at all. I pictured my life being nothing but pull-ups, push-ups, squats, deadlifts, and all the other crazy hardcore exercises that come with Crossfit (and there has been some of that). Instead I’ve found myself struggling to lift a 5 pound plate with my body in some bizarre balance configuration while the guy next to me is squatting 300 pounds. To put it simply, instead of working towards doing 20 pull-ups at once no matter what it takes, our goal is making sure I can do ONE pull-up with 100% perfect form and minimal effort before ever doing a second. The “One Thing” I focus on every single time I train is moving my body as efficiently as possible. I don’t care about reaching a certain weight, I don’t care about how fast I do things, and I certainly don’t care about anyone around me going faster or lifting more. All I care about is my form. Once my form suffers, I know it’s time to stop. I would rather do 5 perfect reps than 15 sloppy reps. While this approach requires more patience, this laser-sharp focus on the details will yield much bigger long term gains. When the time comes I do have the strength, balance, and stamina to participate with the pros on a real ninja course, focusing on the tiny details (like where my hand should grab the bar, or how I should place my feet, or the angle my shoulders should be when flying from one bar to the next) will be easier because above all else, the muscle I’m training one rep at a time is my “focus muscle.” IN SHORT: No matter the goal you are trying to achieve, stop focusing on the results you might get someday and instead focus on the process today. LESSON #6. Life is too short to live it without Snickers ice cream pie. When I made the proclamation that I was going to dedicate the entire year to not only losing weight and “getting back in shape” but to training intensely for ANW, I knew the possibility was there to turn this into a truly miserable experience. Just about anyone can lose 25 pounds if they’re willing to deprive themselves for a few months. In fact, the TV series The Biggest Loser is proof-positive that anyone can make radical short-term lifestyle changes and receive tremendous gains. The problem with radical short-term lifestyle change is that it doesn’t stick, and the process sucks every single day. The vast majority of TBL participants, for example, end up gaining back all of their lost weight (with more weight on top of that1). Choosing to train for ANW was not a 12 month decision for me that involved cutting calories and going to to gym as often as possible. Becoming an American Ninja Warrior goes much deeper. Becoming an American Ninja Warrior is a lifestyle. Becoming an American Ninja Warrior is an identity. Yes I am much more careful about what I eat 6 out of 7 days per week. Yes I spend a lot of hours in the gym, and yes I’ve made a lot of personal (and financial) sacrifices to find the time and money to completely change my life over the next 12 months. But I’ve been very clear with myself that every single change I make has to be one I’m willing to stick with for a minimum of 3-5 years. If a specific dietary choice or workout routine is one that involves deprivation and misery, I won’t do it. I don’t care about short term gains, I care about permanent lifestyle change. I’m playing a game of chess, not a game of checkers. Taking a Saturday off to have pizza and ice cream with my kids might mean it will take a little longer to reach my weight and body fat % goals, but I’d rather my kids remember the fun Saturday afternoons when we all had ice cream together, not the Dad who munched on celery and peanut butter at the ice cream store because “He is always training.” I’d rather celebrate a successful Spartan Race binging at a BBQ joint with ribs, biscuits with apple-cinnamon butter, pulled pork on the side, and a giant dessert to chase it all down than not celebrate a short-term milestone because my stats might suffer for a week or two. Yes I’m 100% dedicated to becoming an American Ninja Warrior...but life is too short to live it without Snickers ice cream pie. IN SHORT: Radical lifestyle change is a slow process. Don’t choose behaviors that you’re not willing to stick with for a long time. Life is a game of chess, not a game of checkers. 1 http://www.businessinsider.com/new-show-biggest-loser-winners-regained-weight-big-fat-truth-2017-6 Further Reading & Listening: From ‘Dad Bod’ to...American Ninja Warrior? How to Develop ‘Obstacle Immunity’ | with Spartan Race founder Joe de Sena Finding Your ‘One Thing’ | with Jay Papasan Defining Your Purpose and ‘Living Large’ | with Tony HortonSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

Depression. Burnout. Imposter Syndrome.I’ll take “3 Things I’d Rather Not Admit That I’ve Experienced” for $1000, Alex!In today’s society we are conditioned to believe that we have to show up to work every single day, all day, for ridiculously long days, and always be able to perform at an equally high level. The expectation is that we should be able to summon creativity on demand, and while it is possible to learn how to do so on a more consistent basis, it’s just not realistic to expect that you can push yourself at 100% capacity all the time. Subsisting off Red Bull, M&M’s, and pizza definitely doesn’t help either despite that being the standard diet in most creative office spaces. And if you’re a woman in a male-dominated field, let’s just say the deck is not stacked in your favor either.I’ve shared my story more than once about the many times I’ve experienced depression, burnout, and imposter syndrome throughout my career, and in today’s episode I’ll be sharing more of my experiences alongside my guest Genevieve Malone, the founder of The Inertia Project who is also a civil engineer as well as a competitor in the sport of female bodybuilding, specifically as a figure competitor.Genevieve founded The Inertia Project to empower other women to take control of their lives and habits, but if you’re a guy listening today, don’t let that scare you away. Even though Gen specializes in working with women, she has plenty of killer tips & tricks for the men out there as well. She focuses on fun, quick, effective workouts and incorporates behavior change techniques to make the changes stick.If after listening you’d like to start taking real action, Gen has been kind enough to provide a bonus for this episode. It includes:A shopping list with healthy recipes using food to stay alert and focused all day long3 energizing workouts to sharpen your focus and prevent burnoutHer “Crystal Ball Technique” to harness the power of visualizationWant to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episodeHere's What You'll Learn:What burnout looks like, the ugly side, especially when dealing with "Imposter syndrome"Going from a civil engineer to a female body builderFraming failure as a learning experience, especially if it leads to depression and burnoutHabit stacking and visualization to go from unlikely behaviors to likely behaviorsDealing with common misconceptions around being a body builderProcessing depression in the midst of becoming a public figureEvaluating the standards you define yourself by in the wake of burnoutRelieving yourself of the obligation to help people and giving yourself permission to failThe simplest steps you can take to move towards health while in the throes of depressionUseful Resources Mentioned:The Intertia ProjectOur 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:Genevieve founded The Inertia Project to empower other women to take control of their lives and habits. She focuses on fun, quick, effective workouts and incorporates behavior change techniques to make the changes stick. On top of running TIP, she works full-time in a demanding field – so she knows a thing or two about living the Side Hustle life while trying to not go insane. Genevieve put together a special bonus for the Optimize Yourself listeners to help them in their journey – [click here for more!]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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

"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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

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=xCwwxNbtK6Y I dare you to watch the trailer for Cobra Kai and not binge the whole season right after If 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 Life Being 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 Power Whether 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 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

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.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content

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 Job Here'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 Pain Alleviate Shoulder (and Upper Back) Pain Alleviate Tension Headaches Alleviate Wrist & Forearm Pain (and Numbness) Alleviate Lower Back Pain Alleviate Neck Pain I'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 Flexion 2 Cervical Spine Range-of-Motion (ROM) 3 PIR of the Scalenes, Levators, and Traps Alleviate Shoulder (And Upper Back) Pain Hunching 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 Rib 2 YWTL 3 Foam Roller to Teres BONUS: Want to improve your posture to prevent future pain? Click here to learn more about 'Postural Modification.' Alleviate Tension Headaches Tension 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 Pecs 2 T4 Extension with Foam Roller 3 Cervical Towel Extension NOTE: 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 computer Alleviate 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 Strengthening 2 Wrist Mobility Stretches 3 Forearm Stretch BONUS La Crosse Ball to Forearm Alleviate Lower Back Pain By 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 Stretch 2 Seated Glute Stretch 3 La Crosse Ball to Piriformis ADVANCED Tri-Planar Hip Flexor Stretch This 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?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content