How to turn ambitions into reality

We're currently in production on my next film, In-World War, and so I haven't had much time to blog here (you can follow the film production on my production blog, which gets more frequent activity right now). But I'm getting a ton of new experience on the set that I'll pass along in the coming months.

Today is one of our two days off (17 days of principal photography over the course of 19 days), so I had a moment to share a secret with you.

Steve, one of my best friends, wrote a nice email to say how impressed he was with my ability to clearly define and then conquer my ambitions, such as on the current film and other projects.

It was an inspiring note to get in the crazy hurly-burly of production (16-hour days, etc.), but I don't think that I'm extraordinary or even that successful. I've had my share of solid and complete failures, which is mostly what I've experienced through my life.

But I do have a secret that helps get some of my major projects done: I tell people I'm going to do them, while (at least partially) ignoring how challenging these goals really are.

Here's what I wrote to him:

My ability to tackle these crazy ideas is testament to my semi-dysfunctional ability to harness the forces of denial (of the workload) while building expectations among the people that I know. When it's time to act, I'll look like a loser and a fool if I don't follow-through. There's something to be said for telling everyone I know what I'm going to do, as a way to ensure it happens so I don't lose face.

Another way to put it: use your dysfunctions to your benefit.