Remember Your Greatness

I’m a believer in believing. Believing has always brought success in my life. I know this. I also know that believing isn’t always easy. Believing takes practice and an occasional breakthrough. Believing requires a change in mindset.

Lately, I’ve been working on reconnecting with the self-confidence that used to be more integral to my nature. I’ve been working on the positive self-image that is vital. I need to remind myself that I rock. I need to remember my greatness.

Eleven months without full-employment and years of shopping around my film projects has eroded my expectation of a happy outcome – as it has for many of us. Yes, I still have faith that everything will work out well. It always has and I know it will again. Things have never not worked out, eventually. It’s that “eventually,” though, that can be terrifying. Over time, fear and doubt can become constant.

I wasn’t always that way. For a large portion of my life, I always just knew. I knew I’d win the 8th grade election for student body president. I knew I’d get accepted into Notre Dame. I knew I’d nail that front flip, front handspring, front flip. I knew I’d be chosen to command a specialized paratrooper unit, one of only two in Germany. I knew I’d get the job in Munich as business manager of a $250M US-German joint venture. I knew I’d successfully produce and sell my first four feature films. I knew I’d be selected for General Petraeus’ advisory team in Afghanistan, followed by being a visiting film professor at my alma mater.

That “knowing” is the greatness I need to remember.

Friends and mentors have recently told me that I inspire them, that I’m the kind of producer that they want to be, that I should see myself as others see me. Ironically, that last one is advice I have given to others, to look at themselves as their kids do – as their dog does. We must look at what we do well, and not focus on what we’re afraid we might maybe someday do wrong.

We have to remember our greatness.

Despite the aforementioned terror, there have been many things I’ve known, even during the tough times. I knew I could smoothly organize and execute countless events for the Producers Guild with A-list speakers. I knew I could comfortably teach at a top 20 university, and then instruct over 1,000 LA Film School students over five years. I knew I could confidently guide six television series safely through the pandemic as the head of the Covid safety department. I knew my producing partner and I could calmly have pitch meetings with the most prominent companies in Hollywood, resulting in all of them asking to read our screenplays. I knew I could request introductory meetings with top studio executives, and they’d be glad to talk with me.

In this way, I’m not special. All of us have greatness to remember. Look back and remind yourself of the many high points in your life. Remember when you were first chair in the band. Remember when you won the swim meet. Remember when you climbed that wall. Remember when you gave birth. Remember when you landed that role – and then aced the performance. Remember when you snapped that perfect photo or created that piece of art. Remember when you taught your kid to ride a bike or to swim, and the thrilled look of love on their face. Remember when you were the first in your family to ever go to college. Remember when you won the contract that launched – or saved – your company. Remember when you came home safely from Afghanistan or Iraq. Remember when you dropped your child off at college or cheered at graduation.

Whatever your moments of greatness were – and we each have had them – remember. Remember how it felt. Go back to that time, feel that warmth. Let that emotion envelop you and fill every cell of your being. Let that greatness be integral to your nature, like it was then.

Once you have remembered, you will know again.

I have been practicing this. I’ve been remembering how I felt as the Pathfinder commander, as captain of the gymnastics team, as joint operations center chief, as department head, as producer, as Dad. I remember how my son saw me when he said, “Don’t worry, Daddy will save us.”

From that feeling, I am remembering how to know. I know that fear and doubt are gone. I know again that I will land that perfect position at the perfect time, or get that project greenlit, or something else even better that I’m not aware of yet. I will know the comfort, safety, and security that will come with it. I can feel all of that already.

I remember my greatness and I know that I am about to be great again. I know that I have been great all along. So have you. Know it.

There is science behind this knowing and the outcomes it brings. It has to do with neuroplasticity, hormonal effects, psychology, and quantum physics. It has to do with gratitude, mindfulness, and positivity. I don’t understand most of it – any of it – and it doesn’t matter. I don’t have to understand it for it to work.

What matters is that it has worked for me before, and it will work for me again. It is working now.

I remember my greatness and I believe in it. I believe in me. I believe in you, too.