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Yesterday, I finally was back on a set, shooting video again for the first time since 2004. My company ReImagine shot a commercial for Advanced Martial Arts in North Brunswick, NJ. It has been a long time over due. Film making just feels like where I belong. I never really felt that anywhere else. For the last couple of years, when I closed a mortgage, I was happy to get paid. That’s about it.
There is nothing wrong with doing mortgages, it just was not for me. I realized after awhile that it was only for the paycheck. If you don’t put your entire heart and soul into everything you do, then a paycheck does not make up for it. I think a lot of people’s anger is sourced from this.
Doing a job is not about the pay check. Obviously, if we did not have to, we would not work a job. But I know the majority of us would not be able to sit home and do nothing for years on end. Doing a job well brings something more important than a paycheck. It brings a sense of accomplishment. A sense of success.
Some people, however, do as little as possible to get the best paycheck they can. But those people are probably not reading this blog anyway. The people reading this blog do so because they understand the utter importance of a sense of accomplishment that comes from reaching your goals.
My experience has been that doing something you love to do will get you farther in the long term, than working for a pay check. In the short term, that is probably not so. Short term means initial success, but over the course of time, it is as good as a failure. Long term means it is an uphill battle for a while. But after you make it up that hill, it is as good as the greatest sense of accomplishment that their is. Nothing feels better.
Thinking short term may seem extremely necessary. You may ask youself ‘how can you think long term if you can’t survive the short term’? My answer to you is the old adage:
Where there is a will, there is a way.
It is as simple as that. I learned that first hand yesterday. The vibes we got from everyone involved in the project were amazing. It was because we were amazing. We were amazing because we were having fun doing what we love to do most: Creating.
After a long journey these last couple of years, the last week has been pretty good to me. I received my purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (a four year accomplishment), and I shot a professional commercial for the first time since graduating film school. Let me tell you about the feeling of obtaining your goals in life. Ever see the movie ‘Flashdance’ ?
“Oooooh Whattttttt a Feeeeeeeling!!!…”
3 Comments
Congrats, Peter!
As usual, I couldn’t agree more. I really don’t know how a lot of people do things they don’t love for a living…just thinking about it makes me depressed. I couldn’t imagine actually waking up every morning knowing that the next twelve hours I would be doing something I enjoyed.
It’s a cliche for sure, but life is too short to do that. And to be honest, life probably feels much shorter if you don’t love what your doing.
I think one of the biggest problems is people don’t realize they can do anything they want. It goes back to something we’ve talked about before: Education. Based on my experience with people, a lot of people think “Well, I don’t have a degree in that. I can’t do that.” What they don’t realize is that you can become an expert in anything you want. A lot of people sell themselves short. It goes back to the “Mind is Powerful” post as well. It can sometimes be a curse if you tell yourself you can’t do something.
Sorry for such a long comment, just something I feel very strongly about and have witnessed both sides of the coin.
Ryan, please don’t apologize for the length. The response is what’s important. I love to hear when people have come to similar conclusions in their journey. It inspiring to see many of us young entrepreneurs are on the same wave length these days. You really can be anything you want to. You just have to go out and do it. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Peter James,
Congratulations on both accomplishments! I know you worked long and hard for both of them. I would love to see your commercial when it is finished. Work feels like play when you are involved with something you have a passion for.
Over the years many people have trashed the teaching profession but I have always felt energized from teaching. There are days that are better than others and children who are more challenging than others but every day I am in the classroom I learn far more life lessons than I could ever teach.
Keep following your dreams - the best is yet to come.
Love ya…