You know what else?! That Mia Dolan La La Land! And Rabbit from Eight Mile! Yes I said it! I’m controversial.
It seems like we have one shot at the big stuff in life because our shots are truly rare. Of all the attempts we make, of all the opportunities we try to open up for ourselves; many of them don’t lead anywhere. Many of them don’t even have the chance to lead anywhere. Although our shots are rare…
We have more than one shot
First impressions mean little
Maybe they mean something, but it’s more helpful to think of them as meaning little. A gatekeeper can write someone off because of a bad first impression, but that doesn’t mean there are no more impressions to make. Remember…
- Making a good first impression means presenting relaxed confidence. It’s hard to do that if we think it’s our only chance
- We must never give up in showing more value to our people.
Chris Ruggiero won’t stop
Dude got on the Ellen show because he got a shot to send a video in to the producers. They said a polite, “not yet.” He sent in new videos every single month for five years. Bingo
He wanted to get on the James Corden show. It didn’t work. One new video shot from his living room each week for a year. Bingo
He wrote to every agent in the college market and tried to get them to take him on. Nada. He paid his own way to go to a college booking convention. Showcased. The agents approached him. Bingo
Get better
A crucial thing about Ruggiero’s pursuit is he got better. He learned what his gatekeepers didn’t want and gave them what they did want. This is what we have to do. We don’t just continually try to clarify our value, we also try to add value. If I really feel that a certain publisher is right for me, I don’t just have to convince them, I have to work more to be perfect for them.
As we decide which directions we want to grow, we might discover that that gatekeeper isn’t actually guarding the treasure we want. Or, we might focus on that gatekeeper and grow myopically toward their gate.
Make more first impressions
When first impressions mean less to us, it makes it easier to make more of them. Let’s get bold and reach out to people who might not want what we have now, but may be able to communicate which directions we can grow.
You have nuance not nuisance
Why would a gatekeeper want us to be better? Why would a gatekeeper give us another chance? Because gatekeepers want something. They want to find really awesome creators. They NEED ‘EM! Gatekeepers are praying right now for an email for something awesome that is an easy yes. If a gatekeeper can see our fight, and can see progress, and can see that we’re listening to them, their dreams come true.
I liked Hamilton, La La Land, and Eight Mile by the way. I hope you give me another chance to prove my good taste.