Getting Out of Your Head and Into Service

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther King Jr.

We live in a world that pushes us to hustle, build a personal brand, and climb the career ladder as fast as possible. But here’s the twist: focusing on serving others often unlocks the very success and clarity you’re chasing for yourself.

The Gift of Clarity

By the time he was eight, one of my childhood best friends could recite every route across Chicago’s sprawling transit system from memory. Today, he’s an executive at the Chicago Transit Authority. Another friend, raised by physicians, had mapped out his medical career by fourth grade. Now he runs genetic medicine at a world-class institution.

Some people just know.

Me? I had no roadmap. Even after a fancy degree and a rise through sales roles, I felt a lingering emptiness. Something about endlessly pursuing titles and paychecks left me uneasy and unfulfilled.

Breaking Convention

So, in my mid-20s, I did something most people labeled “career suicide”: I enlisted in the Army. My friends shook their heads. My family practically held an intervention. “You’re tossing away your future!” they said. Maybe I was. But sometimes you have to ditch the script everyone else wrote for you in order to find your own.

Finding Clarity Through Service

In the Army, I learned more than discipline and crisis management. Serving as a combat photographer and producer for the Armed Forces Network meant churning out five news stories and thirty broadcast pieces every week. I lived in chaos—crazy deadlines, constant travel—yet I found purpose by spotting patterns and meaning in all that mayhem.

My real lightbulb moment happened when I stopped asking what I could get from the job and started asking, “How can I serve something bigger than me?” That mental shift clarified everything. Turns out, real purpose often appears when you’re not staring in the mirror but looking for ways to contribute.

The Art of the Selfless Deal

Imagine you’re a film producer pitching your dream project to a major streamer. Executives are flipping through budgets and market data, trying to decide if your show is worth the risk. Instead of steamrolling them with your creative vision, you take a moment to ask about their broader goals—where they see their content strategy going over the next few years. You listen—really listen—and discover they’re struggling to break into a demographic they’ve never fully reached.

It just so happens you’ve spent time working with that very community—maybe even volunteered on a local film series or festival—so you share insights and offer to connect them with collaborators you trust, no strings attached. Suddenly, they don’t just see you as another producer; they see you as the person who can solve their biggest problem. A few months later, they do more than greenlight your show—they bring you in on other projects, too. Why? Because you led with their needs and earned their confidence by helping them achieve what they couldn’t on their own.

“When you make others successful first, your own success follows. It’s not magic—it’s just how value works.”

Service in Action

Here’s how I’ve seen this principle work in different sectors:

• Media & Entertainment: Picture an indie production house developing a series about a historic Black neighborhood. Instead of swooping in with pre-written scripts, they spend months meeting with local leaders, shop owners, residents, and artists—learning firsthand about the community’s history and its current challenges. They share their production resources, invite local creatives into the process, and treat each episode as a collaboration rather than a one-sided vision. The result is an authentic series that resonates far beyond the neighborhood’s borders, supported by genuine community enthusiasm and trust. It succeeds not just because of demographics or data but because the production team put service—and true listening—at the heart of the project.
• Government Contracting: A federal contractor tackles an agency’s needs before the official bidding process even starts. They become the trusted problem-solver—so when bids open, they’re the obvious choice.
• Film Investment: The savviest investors don’t just chase returns; they support filmmakers by solving real production problems. That genuine help earns them future opportunities on breakout hits.

The Service-First Operating System

Every resilient business I’ve consulted or worked with has put service at the center of its strategy, not just as feel-good window dressing. Here’s what happens when you run on service-first principles:

1. You spot opportunities others miss because you’re hunting for real problems to solve.
2. You build deeper relationships because you genuinely care about helping, not just closing a transaction.
3. You make better decisions by thinking beyond your immediate gain.
4. You develop new skills as you adapt to what others need, expanding your own capabilities.
5. You achieve sustainable success because you’re delivering true value, not just chasing short-term wins.

Beyond Business

This mindset isn’t limited to million-dollar deals. It can guide you in everyday life—whether you’re launching a startup, job-hunting, or managing a small team. Shifting from “What’s in it for me?” to “How can I help you get what you want?” lifts a ton of mental fog.

• Building Companies: Start by tackling actual pain points for real people.
• Launching Products: Prove the true value before worrying about revenue.
• Career Growth: Offer up your existing skills, even if you’re not sure what’s next.
• Leadership: Put your team’s success first, and watch them go the extra mile for you.
• Networking: Give more than you take—the return on genuine goodwill is huge.

From Self to Service

If you’re in film, TV, media, or tech and laid off, stuck, or underemployed, shifting away from self-focused worry and toward service can be a game changer. Research in BMC Public Health found that volunteers experience lower rates of depression and higher life satisfaction. It won’t necessarily pay the mortgage this month, but it can open doors you never knew existed.

Here’s what you can do today:

1. Pause the Self-Analysis: Stop overthinking your next move, especially if you’re coping with layoffs.
2. Look Around: Find three problems—big or small—you can help solve now. It might be editing a friend’s short film or troubleshooting a local nonprofit’s website.
3. Start Small: Volunteer your skills where they’re needed. A simple pro bono gig can restore your sense of purpose and connect you to people who value your expertise.
4. Stay Present: Don’t obsess over the return on investment for you. The point is to serve first and let momentum build.
5. Notice Patterns: Pay attention to how your service leads to new ideas or connections. Sometimes your next big break arrives while you’re busy making someone else’s break happen.

And yes, I know this approach isn’t a magical solution, but it can soften the fear and spark possibilities. Often, we find our calling in the middle of helping others find theirs.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, you can only stare in the mirror for so long before it fogs up. Step outside your own head, help someone else, and see what unfolds. Service isn’t just about kindness; it’s a practical way to uncover new paths for yourself while making a real difference.

Give it a shot. Whether you’re offering creative skills or pitching in at a community event, you might be surprised by the clarity that emerges when you focus on bringing value to others.

When You’re Ready, Let’s Transform Your Vision into Reality

Whether you’re trying to win government contracts, produce standout media content, or get the inside track on the film industry, here’s how we can help fast-track your vision and turn it into reality:

1. Government Contract Advisory Navigate complex government opportunities with veterans who’ve secured over $100M in federal contracts. From Joint Venture structuring to proposal development to post-award management, let’s unlock the federal market together.
2. Media & Content Production Get full-service production from concept through distribution. Whether you need compelling corporate videos, documentary storytelling, or broadcast-quality content, our military-trained team delivers under any conditions.
3. The Negative Pickup Newsletter Get industry intelligence and exclusive access. Attend industry events, meet A-list directors, and explore prestigious projects before they hit the trades. Whether you’re funding films or making them, our signature programs guide you through every stage—from development to distribution.