The Zack Arnold Podcast

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**The Zack Arnold Podcast**

If you want to make things that matter, I want to help you. And if you've built your entire career around your creativity, you too may be asking: ***Is there a future for us? Or is it game over?*** I don't know what the future holds, but I do promise few are more dedicated to helping us find the answers than I am.

**You're in the right place if:**

**You live to create.** Your work isn't just a job but an expression of who you are.

**You create to live.** Your livelihood depends on your creativity.

**You love making cool shit.**

Whether you identify as introverted or neurodivergent (or both, like me)…

No matter if you're a misfit, a rebel, an outlier, or a troublemaker…

If you've been called weird, nerdy, dorky, quirky, or awkward…

Or if you’re an over-thinker, procrastinator, or perfectionist…

You are welcome here. 😊

Come join me as I have honest, authentic, and candid conversations with NYT bestselling authors, Oscar and Emmy winners, experts across many different industries, and ordinary humans achieving extraordinary things.

Latest Episodes:

erica-wernick-bio — **How to Manage An Identity Crisis (Especially When You Know You’re Meant For Something More) | with Erica Wernick** Jun 02, 2022
Show notes

"In this industry we are conditioned to believe that our voice is not important."
**Erica Wernick**, former graphic designer and founder of *Hollywood Success Coach*, has always been goal-oriented, systems-based, and a Type-A personality (at this point I’m convinced we’re separated at birth). But when she found herself during the pandemic wandering aimlessly without a clear goal and unable to “fix it” with her usual strategies and frameworks, she quickly spiraled down into the dark holes of doubt, insecurity, and ultimately a deep depression.
Identity can be a double-edged sword, especially when your livelihood is creative work. No doubt like me at one point or another you’ve said *“What I do isn’t just a job, it’s who I am.”* Yes your identity can help guide and motivate you to achieve the success you’ve always dreamed of, but it can also be incredibly dangerous when you completely define yourself by what you do, especially during unemployment..and especially during pandemics.
It wasn't until Erica learned to let go of her long held identities and listen to something deeper that she could lift herself out of the darkness, accept help, and become herself again. This conversation dares you (and me!) to test your beliefs about who you are and what you do beyond your job. Erica challenges me on my own beliefs about what the success path for creative professionals really looks like and questions whether it can truly be distilled into simple action steps. And most importantly, Erica and I hope to normalize the discussion of mental health and depression and remind anyone who’s struggling with their own issues to know you are absolutely not alone - there are resources to support you.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here's What You'll Learn:**
Erica no longer identifies herself as a graphic designer.
Erica’s thoughts on how dangerous it can be to assign your identity to your career.
How Erica got her start in Hollywood and fell in love with Los Angeles.
The book that was pivotal in influencing her career path to coaching.
What Erica’s purpose is and how she identified it.
What the #wins channel in my Slack community means to me.
The Ripple Effect: what it means and how it helps others.
My 3 step process for climbing the success ladder in Hollywood.
Erica calls me out for “mansplaining” and challenges my “simplified process.”
KEY TAKEAWAY: A coach’s number one priority should be to help people believe in themselves.
How Erica fell into a depression prior to writing her latest book, ***You are the Magic***.
The decision to take medication for her depression.
The challenges she faced with her physical health during her depression.
How she recorded and produced her own audio books.

**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**The Hollywood Success Podcast: How To Change The Culture In Hollywood With Zack Arnold on Apple Podcasts**
**Meant For This by Erica Wernick**
**You Are The Magic by Erica Wernick — Hollywood's Success Coach | Official Website of Author + Coach Erica Wernick**
**Gabby Bernstein - #1 NYT Best Selling Author, Speaker & Spirit Junkie Gabby Bernstein - #1 NYT Best Selling Author, Speaker & Spirit Junkie**
**The Official Website of Rachel Platten**
**Brené Brown**
**Ramit Sethi Podcast Interview on Forging Your Own Rich Life: Episode 105**
**How I burned out as a burnout coach (and then bounced back)**
Continue to Listen & Learn
**Ep161: Managing Limiting Beliefs, Imposter Syndrome, and all the “Chatter” In Our Heads | with Ethan Kross**
**Ep144: Redefining What It Means to Be “Productive” (and Aligning Your Values With Your Time) | with Tamara Torres**
**Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar**
**I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here’s What I Did About It.**
**Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian**
**Ep82: Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael Kammes**
**Ep01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression with Dr. Edison de Mello**
**Ep28: The Science Behind Depression and Anxiety | with Dr. D and Dr. Michael Mark**
**Ep175: Defining Your Own Version of Success & Overcoming the Loneliness of Being a Freelancer | with Michael Bauman**
**Ep165: How to Overcome Doubting Yourself When You Know You’re Meant For More | with Sandy Zimmerman, ANW**
**Guest Bio:**
Erica Wernick

Hollywood’s Success Coach, **Erica Wernick** helps artists create success in one of the most “impossible” industries so they can live the life they’ve always dreamed of.
After breaking into Hollywood with no connections, and booking her first TV show just two weeks after moving to LA, Erica has spent over a decade living her dream designing graphics for television. You can see her work on hit shows like *Glee*, *Superstore*, and most recently, *This Is Us*.
Author of *Meant For This: The Mindset And Strategy To Achieve Your Most “Impossible”* *Dreams*, Erica now helps Hollywood artists get to the next level of their career, no matter how “unrealistic” it seems. From actors to writers to directors and every craft in between, Erica has developed a reputation for helping artists access their inner greatness and achieve the goals that used to feel out of reach.
Erica is a member of the Television Academy, and between herself and her clients, they’ve booked work on over 60 television shows and films on Netflix, Hulu, HBO, FOX, ABC, and CBS just to name a few.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Curtis Fritsch**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
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).

Connect on Facebook — **How to Manage An Identity Crisis (Especially When You Know You’re Meant For Something More) | with Erica Wernick** Jun 02, 2022
Show notes

"In this industry we are conditioned to believe that our voice is not important."
**Erica Wernick**, former graphic designer and founder of *Hollywood Success Coach*, has always been goal-oriented, systems-based, and a Type-A personality (at this point I’m convinced we’re separated at birth). But when she found herself during the pandemic wandering aimlessly without a clear goal and unable to “fix it” with her usual strategies and frameworks, she quickly spiraled down into the dark holes of doubt, insecurity, and ultimately a deep depression.
Identity can be a double-edged sword, especially when your livelihood is creative work. No doubt like me at one point or another you’ve said *“What I do isn’t just a job, it’s who I am.”* Yes your identity can help guide and motivate you to achieve the success you’ve always dreamed of, but it can also be incredibly dangerous when you completely define yourself by what you do, especially during unemployment..and especially during pandemics.
It wasn't until Erica learned to let go of her long held identities and listen to something deeper that she could lift herself out of the darkness, accept help, and become herself again. This conversation dares you (and me!) to test your beliefs about who you are and what you do beyond your job. Erica challenges me on my own beliefs about what the success path for creative professionals really looks like and questions whether it can truly be distilled into simple action steps. And most importantly, Erica and I hope to normalize the discussion of mental health and depression and remind anyone who’s struggling with their own issues to know you are absolutely not alone - there are resources to support you.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here's What You'll Learn:**
Erica no longer identifies herself as a graphic designer.
Erica’s thoughts on how dangerous it can be to assign your identity to your career.
How Erica got her start in Hollywood and fell in love with Los Angeles.
The book that was pivotal in influencing her career path to coaching.
What Erica’s purpose is and how she identified it.
What the #wins channel in my Slack community means to me.
The Ripple Effect: what it means and how it helps others.
My 3 step process for climbing the success ladder in Hollywood.
Erica calls me out for “mansplaining” and challenges my “simplified process.”
KEY TAKEAWAY: A coach’s number one priority should be to help people believe in themselves.
How Erica fell into a depression prior to writing her latest book, ***You are the Magic***.
The decision to take medication for her depression.
The challenges she faced with her physical health during her depression.
How she recorded and produced her own audio books.

**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**The Hollywood Success Podcast: How To Change The Culture In Hollywood With Zack Arnold on Apple Podcasts**
**Meant For This by Erica Wernick**
**You Are The Magic by Erica Wernick — Hollywood's Success Coach | Official Website of Author + Coach Erica Wernick**
**Gabby Bernstein - #1 NYT Best Selling Author, Speaker & Spirit Junkie Gabby Bernstein - #1 NYT Best Selling Author, Speaker & Spirit Junkie**
**The Official Website of Rachel Platten**
**Brené Brown**
**Ramit Sethi Podcast Interview on Forging Your Own Rich Life: Episode 105**
**How I burned out as a burnout coach (and then bounced back)**
Continue to Listen & Learn
**Ep161: Managing Limiting Beliefs, Imposter Syndrome, and all the “Chatter” In Our Heads | with Ethan Kross**
**Ep144: Redefining What It Means to Be “Productive” (and Aligning Your Values With Your Time) | with Tamara Torres**
**Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar**
**I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here’s What I Did About It.**
**Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian**
**Ep82: Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael Kammes**
**Ep01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression with Dr. Edison de Mello**
**Ep28: The Science Behind Depression and Anxiety | with Dr. D and Dr. Michael Mark**
**Ep175: Defining Your Own Version of Success & Overcoming the Loneliness of Being a Freelancer | with Michael Bauman**
**Ep165: How to Overcome Doubting Yourself When You Know You’re Meant For More | with Sandy Zimmerman, ANW**
**Guest Bio:**
Erica Wernick

Hollywood’s Success Coach, **Erica Wernick** helps artists create success in one of the most “impossible” industries so they can live the life they’ve always dreamed of.
After breaking into Hollywood with no connections, and booking her first TV show just two weeks after moving to LA, Erica has spent over a decade living her dream designing graphics for television. You can see her work on hit shows like *Glee*, *Superstore*, and most recently, *This Is Us*.
Author of *Meant For This: The Mindset And Strategy To Achieve Your Most “Impossible”* *Dreams*, Erica now helps Hollywood artists get to the next level of their career, no matter how “unrealistic” it seems. From actors to writers to directors and every craft in between, Erica has developed a reputation for helping artists access their inner greatness and achieve the goals that used to feel out of reach.
Erica is a member of the Television Academy, and between herself and her clients, they’ve booked work on over 60 television shows and films on Netflix, Hulu, HBO, FOX, ABC, and CBS just to name a few.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Curtis Fritsch**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
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).

eddie-hamilton-bio — **Mental Health is Not a Luxury…Even For “Top Guns” | with Eddie Hamilton, ACE [Pt 2]** May 30, 2022
Show notes

“It’s your duty as a professional working with a director & producer that you tell them when it becomes impossible to do the job on your own.”
**Eddie Hamilton, ACE** is the editor of *Top Gun: Maverick*, the last 3 *Mission: Impossible* films, *Kick-Ass 1 & 2*, and *X-Men: First Class*, just to name a few. And in my second interview with Eddie (**here’s part 1** if you haven’t listened yet), he and I candidly discuss his experience editing *Top Gun: Maverick* and what drove him to asking for help before it was too late.
The grueling work hours required to produce blockbuster content can literally be deadly if you don’t care for yourself properly. When your livelihood depends on your creativity, your mental health is no longer a luxury, it’s a job requirement. But many of us have spent so many years (maybe our entire lives), ignoring our self-care needs at the expense of our jobs - no matter the cost - we don’t actually know how to care for ourselves when the time comes we have no other choice. Eddie recognized early in his career that he would have to take control of his mental health and set boundaries if he was going to survive working in Hollywood at the highest level, but not even that was enough on this job.
In this conversation (which as a crazy aside was actually recorded before the pandemic, and I had to wait to release this interview until the film released!), Eddie honestly shares the immense challenges and responsibilities he bared working on *Maverick* and he gives an inside look into challenges like managing burnout, summoning the courage to ask for help, and whether or not working at the highest level in the business is worth the sacrifices.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here's What You'll Learn:**
How Eddie got started in editing.
Eddie went from being his own assistant for his first ten movies to having 7 AE’s for Top Gun: Maverick.
What a typical day looks like while Eddie is cutting dailies on Mission Impossible and Top Gun: Maverick.
Why Eddie had to ask for help on Top Gun: Maverick
The challenge and responsibility of being an editor on high budget films and how listening to Optimize Yourself reminded him to stay healthy.
My story of the pressure I felt on Burn Notice when I had to cut a season opening montage with found footage from past dailies.
Eddie’s healthy habits of running and watching movies keep him fit and creatively informed to do his job well.
Fever dreams of close ups of actors in his head wake him up at 3am.
The hours Eddie worked when he went on location with the film.
When burnout kicked in and he found himself frozen in front of his laptop unable to cut dailies.
The foresight Eddie had to mention he was going to need help to the producers early on.
Not only could Eddie not keep up to camera in cutting dailies, he couldn’t keep up to *watching* all the dailies.
Eddie values having another editor to bounce ideas off of and get immediate feedback.
Does Eddie think the work is worth all the sacrifices he make?
Eddie insists his team attends all important events in their lives.
Why Eddie took a week off to do a personal development course and what changes it brought about in his life.
The importance of asking lifestyle questions in job interviews.
Eddie sees an appreciation for mental health growing in the past few years.
Finding employers that respect your mental wellbeing is essential and should be prioritized whenever possible.

**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**Eddie Hamilton previous episode**
**Hoffman Process**
Continue to Listen & Learn
**Ep175: Defining Your Own Version of Success & Overcoming the Loneliness of Being a Freelancer | with Michael Bauman**
**I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here’s What I Did About It.**
**Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian**
**How I burned out as a burnout coach (and then bounced back)**
**Dear Hollywood...We Create Entertainment For a Living. We’re Not Curing Cancer.**
**Dear Hollywood: We Don’t Want to “Go Back to Normal." Normal Wasn’t Working.**
**Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy**
**Ep168: Hollywood On the Record: What’s REALLY Happening On Set? | with Shay’La Banks and Nickolaus Brown**
**Ep149: How Modern Society Is Damaging Your Brain (and the Simple Steps to Reverse It) | with Dr. Dave Jenkins**
**Ep82: Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael Kammes**
**Ep01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression with Dr. Edison de Mello**
**Guest Bio:**
Eddie Hamilton

**Eddie Hamilton, ACE** is currently editing the next chapters in the *Mission: Impossible* movie series. Before that, Eddie cut Paramount Pictures' *Top Gun: Maverick*, directed by Joe Kosinski, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and *Mission: Impossible - Fallout* and *Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation* for director Christopher McQuarrie. Other credits include *Kingsman: The Secret Service*, *Kingsman: The Golden Circle*, *X-Men: First Class* and *Kick-Ass* for director Matthew Vaughn. After 23 years in the industry Eddie has cut over 20 feature films (both indies and studio movies) in a wide variety of genres as well as TV dramas, documentaries and award-winning short films. His enthusiasm for big screen storytelling is matched only by his total dedication to the craft of film editing, his nerdy technical expertise and his undisputed love of chocolate. He has given presentations on Avid Media Composer editing at NAB and IBC. Eddie is a member of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, American Cinema Editors and BAFTA, and was on the feature film panel at EditFest London in 2013 and 2018.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Curtis Fritsch**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
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).

twitter — **Mental Health is Not a Luxury…Even For “Top Guns” | with Eddie Hamilton, ACE [Pt 2]** May 30, 2022
Show notes

“It’s your duty as a professional working with a director & producer that you tell them when it becomes impossible to do the job on your own.”
**Eddie Hamilton, ACE** is the editor of *Top Gun: Maverick*, the last 3 *Mission: Impossible* films, *Kick-Ass 1 & 2*, and *X-Men: First Class*, just to name a few. And in my second interview with Eddie (**here’s part 1** if you haven’t listened yet), he and I candidly discuss his experience editing *Top Gun: Maverick* and what drove him to asking for help before it was too late.
The grueling work hours required to produce blockbuster content can literally be deadly if you don’t care for yourself properly. When your livelihood depends on your creativity, your mental health is no longer a luxury, it’s a job requirement. But many of us have spent so many years (maybe our entire lives), ignoring our self-care needs at the expense of our jobs - no matter the cost - we don’t actually know how to care for ourselves when the time comes we have no other choice. Eddie recognized early in his career that he would have to take control of his mental health and set boundaries if he was going to survive working in Hollywood at the highest level, but not even that was enough on this job.
In this conversation (which as a crazy aside was actually recorded before the pandemic, and I had to wait to release this interview until the film released!), Eddie honestly shares the immense challenges and responsibilities he bared working on *Maverick* and he gives an inside look into challenges like managing burnout, summoning the courage to ask for help, and whether or not working at the highest level in the business is worth the sacrifices.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here's What You'll Learn:**
How Eddie got started in editing.
Eddie went from being his own assistant for his first ten movies to having 7 AE’s for Top Gun: Maverick.
What a typical day looks like while Eddie is cutting dailies on Mission Impossible and Top Gun: Maverick.
Why Eddie had to ask for help on Top Gun: Maverick
The challenge and responsibility of being an editor on high budget films and how listening to Optimize Yourself reminded him to stay healthy.
My story of the pressure I felt on Burn Notice when I had to cut a season opening montage with found footage from past dailies.
Eddie’s healthy habits of running and watching movies keep him fit and creatively informed to do his job well.
Fever dreams of close ups of actors in his head wake him up at 3am.
The hours Eddie worked when he went on location with the film.
When burnout kicked in and he found himself frozen in front of his laptop unable to cut dailies.
The foresight Eddie had to mention he was going to need help to the producers early on.
Not only could Eddie not keep up to camera in cutting dailies, he couldn’t keep up to *watching* all the dailies.
Eddie values having another editor to bounce ideas off of and get immediate feedback.
Does Eddie think the work is worth all the sacrifices he make?
Eddie insists his team attends all important events in their lives.
Why Eddie took a week off to do a personal development course and what changes it brought about in his life.
The importance of asking lifestyle questions in job interviews.
Eddie sees an appreciation for mental health growing in the past few years.
Finding employers that respect your mental wellbeing is essential and should be prioritized whenever possible.

**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**Eddie Hamilton previous episode**
**Hoffman Process**
Continue to Listen & Learn
**Ep175: Defining Your Own Version of Success & Overcoming the Loneliness of Being a Freelancer | with Michael Bauman**
**I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here’s What I Did About It.**
**Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian**
**How I burned out as a burnout coach (and then bounced back)**
**Dear Hollywood...We Create Entertainment For a Living. We’re Not Curing Cancer.**
**Dear Hollywood: We Don’t Want to “Go Back to Normal." Normal Wasn’t Working.**
**Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy**
**Ep168: Hollywood On the Record: What’s REALLY Happening On Set? | with Shay’La Banks and Nickolaus Brown**
**Ep149: How Modern Society Is Damaging Your Brain (and the Simple Steps to Reverse It) | with Dr. Dave Jenkins**
**Ep82: Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael Kammes**
**Ep01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression with Dr. Edison de Mello**
**Guest Bio:**
Eddie Hamilton

**Eddie Hamilton, ACE** is currently editing the next chapters in the *Mission: Impossible* movie series. Before that, Eddie cut Paramount Pictures' *Top Gun: Maverick*, directed by Joe Kosinski, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and *Mission: Impossible - Fallout* and *Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation* for director Christopher McQuarrie. Other credits include *Kingsman: The Secret Service*, *Kingsman: The Golden Circle*, *X-Men: First Class* and *Kick-Ass* for director Matthew Vaughn. After 23 years in the industry Eddie has cut over 20 feature films (both indies and studio movies) in a wide variety of genres as well as TV dramas, documentaries and award-winning short films. His enthusiasm for big screen storytelling is matched only by his total dedication to the craft of film editing, his nerdy technical expertise and his undisputed love of chocolate. He has given presentations on Avid Media Composer editing at NAB and IBC. Eddie is a member of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, American Cinema Editors and BAFTA, and was on the feature film panel at EditFest London in 2013 and 2018.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Curtis Fritsch**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
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).

From outreach emails that get responses to having a mentor | with Jonathan Hodges [HSF] Mar 11, 2022

Show notes

What I’d love to do is give you an insider’s glimpse into the world of my Optimizer coaching & mentorship program and what we call the ‘Hot Seat.’ What you’ll hear today is a recording of an actual live session with an Optimizer student where on the Hot Seat we tackle various questions about career transitions, productivity, workflows, networking, burnout, habit formation, resumes and websites, and any number of other work or life challenges that students bring to the table as they navigate their own path towards success.

In the following hot seat session, I talk to community member Jonathan Hodges who is a promo editor in Baltimore looking to make the transition to Assistant Editor in scripted television. He has gone through my Insider’s guide to writing cold outreach and has received a lot of great responses from the people he's contacted. But he's feeling stuck on how to continue the conversation, build a long term relationship, and possibly even secure a mentor. Listen in on how I coach Jonathan to effectively build a relationship and continue to add value to the people he is connecting with.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

The Key to Writing Outreach Emails That Get a Response | with James Crouch [HSF] Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

In the following hot seat session, community member James Crouch is looking for help writing a cold outreach email. We discuss the importance of carefully selecting who you want to build relationships with and how you can provide value to that person. And we discuss the magic formula for all outreach emails that you can apply to just about any outreach situation. This session is loaded with top level overview tips for crafting successful outreach emails as well as the nitty gritty details such as writing effective subject lines. Listen in to discover how you can improve your outreach email skills. [As a bonus for listening to this episode, you can get my Insider's Guide to Writing Cold Outreach by going to www.optimizeyourself.me/emailguide]

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

Negotiating your true value (not just the hours you work) | with Denise Chan [HSF] Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

In the following hot seat session, Denise Chan is preparing to negotiate her contract as an Assistant Editor for an upcoming Netflix series. Negotiating salary, work hours, and additional benefits is something we all have to do regardless of what position we hold. The paradigm shift that I am advocating for (and have been for years) is that we as creative professionals should not get paid for the hours we work but instead for the value we provide. Listen in on how I coach Denise to approach her meeting from this perspective and how you too can use this approach for your own negotiations.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

Should I Risk Saying No to a Comfortable Job in Pursuit of My Dream Job? | with Marcella Garcia [HSF] Feb 20, 2022

Show notes

In the following hot seat session, community member Marcella Garcia is debating a job offer. She’s not sure if it is the right fit based on her career goals, but it pays well and she has a good relationship with the people she would be working with. This is a familiar situation for many creative professionals working in the gig economy. How do we know when to say no and when to say yes? What are we willing to risk losing in order to progress towards our goals? Listen in on how I coach Marcella through this common challenge and learn how you can apply the same questions to your own situation.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

michael-bauman-bio — **Defining Your Own Version of Success & Overcoming the Loneliness of Being a Freelancer | with Michael Baumann** Feb 17, 2022
Show notes

"You have to think how can I create those moments, those celebrations, the appreciation, the presence in this moment so that I can actually enjoy the accumulation of my life of days rather than trying to hang it all on one momentous achievement."
- Michael Bauman
As a freelancer or entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in “the grind,” endlessly pursuing what others define as “success,” but one of the overlooked effects of doing so is often loneliness (whether you are at the bottom or the ladder or the very top).
When I first started my career in Hollywood, I was so focused on perfecting my craft and building a resume of credits that I literally had no social life outside of work. Having friends, hobbies, and doing things outside the job simply wasn’t a priority for me...until I realized how detrimental it was for my work to become my identity, not only to my physical and mental health but also to my creativity and overall well-being.
My guest today, **Michael Bauman**, knows all too well the pain of loneliness as a creative professional and entrepreneur. Michael is the CEO of **Success Engineering** and a Tony Robbins certified coach who after failing at starting his own personal training business and having no money to support his wife (and soon-to-be child) uncovered and untangled his own feelings of loneliness and not "enough-ness" so that he could pursue a more fulfilling version of his goals. He now uses his own experiences of failure, loneliness, and hitting rock bottom to help others redefine their own meaning of success in their lives.
If you struggle with defining what success means to you, and you are often so consumed by your work and running on the empty hamster wheel chasing success that you find yourself burned out, this candid conversation is a must-listen.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here's What You'll Learn:**
Michael's origin story of how he started his own podcast called Success Engineering.
How the book, *Start with Why,* helped him climb his way out of rock bottom in his life.
What led Michael to realize that success and happiness wasn’t about money or financial gains.
The many moves and transitions Michael has navigated in his life.
Why Michael was interested in helping entrepreneurs feel like they're enough and not alone.
What the different layers of success are and how you can equate it with being enough.
What Michael believes to be the greatest gift he can give to the people in his life.
The link between identity and behavior change.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Emotions are a warning system or a fundamental need that is going unmet.
A valuable tool to deal with emotions in order to enable behavior change.
The unexpected link between my lifelong snacking addiction and my job satisfaction.
Questions to ask yourself when you are caught in a bad habit or behavior you don't like.
The difference between subjective and objective loneliness.
KEY TAKEAWAY: The quality of your relationships is a better predictor of health than your cholesterol levels.
Tools for dealing with loneliness.
The paradox of vulnerability in others vs. ourselves.
Why you should be “upgrading your interactions” and how to do it.
What **James Clear’s** Goldilocks rule has to do with habit change.
Dan Sullivan's approach called the *Gap and the Gain.*
Using a "Done" list to celebrate what you've done at the end of every day.
What Michael does to celebrate his own accomplishments each day.
Michael's advice to his younger self.
BONUS: The secret to upgrading your networking game.

**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**Start With Why | Simon Sinek**
**The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success: Sullivan, Dan, Hardy, Dr. Benjamin**
**Podcast - Success Engineering - Michael Bauman**
**Max Headroom**
Continue to Listen & Learn
**Ep82: Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael Kammes**
**Ep01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression with Dr. Edison de Mello**
**Ep165: How to Overcome Doubting Yourself When You Know You’re Meant For More | with Sandy Zimmerman, ANW**
**Ep84: How to Use 'Intuitive Eating' To Change Your Relationship With Food | with Melissa Costello**
**Ep161: Managing Limiting Beliefs, Imposter Syndrome, and all the “Chatter” In Our Heads | with Ethan Kross**
**Ep35: FOCUS: The Superpower of the 21st Century | with Cal Newport**
**Ep04: The Zen-like Art of 'Getting Things Done' | with David Allen**
**Ep144: Redefining What It Means to Be “Productive” (and Aligning Your Values With Your Time) | with Tamara Torres**
**Ep136: Promoting Mindfulness, Well-Being, and Sanity In the Edit Bay | with Kevin Tent, ACE**
**Tired of Holding it Together All the Time? Here are Five Basic Needs to Get You Back On Track**
**Ep118: Legendary Editor Walter Murch On Optimizing Creativity, Productivity, and Well-Being In Hollywood For 50+ Years**
**Ep55: How Tiny Changes Can Create Remarkable Results | with James Clear**
**Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar**
**Ep75: The Four Tendencies’ (aka ‘The Matrix’ For Understanding Yourself & Others) | with Gretchen Rubin**
**Ep105: Ramit Sethi on Forging The Path Towards Your Own ‘Rich Life’**
**Guest Bio:**

**Michael Bauman** is the CEO of Success Engineering and Tony Robbins certified coach. He help entrepreneurs feel that they are enough and not alone, along with optimizing every other area of their lives including their habits, productivity, health and relationships.
He is also the host of the podcast, Success Engineering, where he interviews experts and industry leaders, from Broadway Directors and actors, to multi-millionaire CEO’s, to neuroscientists and more to uncover how they define success, how they create it on a daily basis, and explore the challenges they have overcome both internally and externally to achieve their personal definition of success.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Curtis Fritsch**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
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).

How Can I Waste Less Time and Overcome Perfectionism When I Edit? | with Denise Chan [HSF] Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

In the following hot seat session, community member Denise Chan is struggling with perfectionism while she’s editing. She finds herself consumed with the minutiae of the cuts and bogged down in doubt that her choices are the right ones. As a recovering perfectionist myself, I am all too familiar with this problem. Listen in to hear what systems and processes I use to work with perfectionism, doubt, and procrastination that Denise can implement right away in her daily editorial workflow.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

Is Working with an Agent Going to Benefit My Career? | with Melanie Annan [HSF] Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

In the following hot seat session, community member Melanie Annan wants help preparing for a meeting with a potential agent. Melanie is an independent film editor and wants to know if an agent would be valuable at this point in her career to help her get to the next level. In this hot seat we cover the types of questions Melanie should ask when meeting with an agent as well as some common misconceptions about what working with an agent is like. Listen in to hear my thoughts on how to make the most of a meeting with an agent.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

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