So I did Life Lab 12 the other day. This is the one in which you list 10 people you admire and the qualities, traits, characteristics he or she possess.

My list included my wife (if you knew her, you'd put her on your list too!) a family friend of ours, and then some famous people of course.

Since I'm a filmmaker, my list had a lot of entertainment figures, but just to give you some idea of who I put down they were -

Tom Hanks
Matt Damon
David Letterman

O.K. Then I branched out a little to

Ted Koppel

Then I went historic, both literary and Americana.

Twain
Shakespeare
Franklin
Lincoln


When I put down the words I circled that were common among at least 2 of them, I got

Loyal/loving
Humble
Brilliant
Professional
Funny
Good Story Teller
Prolific/Multi Talented

Something bothered me. And I only realized it a couple of days later when I was thinking about it.

I did not put down "successful."

Why?

Clearly, each one of the people mentioned above were or are extremely successful. I admire that. And it's also the reason I know about them - because they were or are extremely successful.

Many times I often think I'd like to be like one of these guys. I don't want these peoples' success. I applaud and admire their success, and would like to have my own success in ways similar to what they are doing.

So why did I miss "success" in my list of traits that I admire about these people? Is this part of my resistance? Or did I just assume their success?

Mylesaway

Two questions for YOU about LL12, Myles.

First, how are you defining "success?"

And, since it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks about why you left that out (we'd only be guessing), what do YOU think about that?

Many blessings, and, of course--
EXPECT Success!
Rebecca

So I've been thinking about Rebecca's post all day. Here are my answers...

1. Since I'm a filmmaker, I've always thought about, concentrated on, formed mental images of - the movies and television shows I want to make.

I see them when I'm writing the scripts. I dream about them at night. I dream about them during the day.

And I always see myself in the movie or TV show and I see it getting filmed. And I see people watching and audiences enjoying my movies and TV shows. I'm embarrassed, but I also see myself on talk shows or doing interviews about my movies and shows.

Now I'm in a business in which if you make movies and TV shows, then you're going to get very wealthy, if not rich.

So to me, success is being able to make your movie or TV show. Or create what you want and get it out there for people to buy, enjoy and react to.

I guess I've felt and assumed that the $ follows that kind of success in this business...and in fact many other creative businesses.

However, and here's the weird thing...

A few years ago I made a movie and it was released and got a lot of press. Now it's on HBO all the time.

AND I NEVER MADE ANY MONEY OFF OF IT!!!!!

So I do think I need to think about what I exactly think about.

If anyone else has some suggestions, I'd love to hear it!

Thanks,

Mylesaway

Mylesaway -

quote:

---

So to me, success is being able to make your movie or TV show. Or create what you want and get it out there for people to buy, enjoy and react

---

This is funny stuff, eh? Sounds to me like you were successful with your last movie!

Do you maybe need to redefine success to include financial gain?

Just wondering...

Susan

Susan -

That's what I'm thinking now. I do have to be very specific about financial gains too from now on.

I see how I made the mistake. I mean, come on, if you make a movie or a TV show...don't you assume you're going to be rich from that?

But no assuming!

Thanks for your input. I'm going to use it.

Mylesaway

HI Mylesaway ...... The first thing I thought of re: success.........Perhaps this is just the way YOU define what success is. By being all these things brings success or is success..........
Just a thought..........Much Love, Joy, and Success to YOU, and to us ALL..........dd