As both Matt and Matthew share here, so much of your potential success comes down to your mindset as well as your ability to do proper cold outreach.
Ep199: The Business & Craft of Trailer Editing, Making Your Side Hustle Your Career, and Staying Motivated Along the Way | with Chris MacDonald
In today’s conversation with Chris, he and I discuss perhaps the most important key mindset to learning, growing, and succeeding whether you are a craftsperson or entrepreneur – “The Beginner’s Mind.”
Ep195: When Being a “People Pleaser” Goes Too Far (and How to Set Boundaries) | with Lisa Robison, CCE
If you find yourself making the same mistakes over and over (particularly when it comes to burnout and over committing to too many projects), or if you feel as if you’ve been ‘paying your dues’ far longer than you anticipated, this conversation is for you.
Ep192: [CASE STUDY] How a Single Outreach Email Led to a Dream Job at Marvel | with Matthew Farrugia
My interview with Matthew will cover the exact cold outreach email networking steps he learned in the Optimizer program that took him from working in a paint store to, as he calls it, “working jobs he thought would be his endgame.” (pun intended Marvel fans)
[BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
If you are someone who is looking to amplify your skill set in an effort to either change or dramatically advance your career, you’re going to love the sneak preview of our Mastermind Q&A.
Ep191: Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace | with Simon Smith, ACE
In this conversation, Simon shares with us that autism is nothing more than a difference in the way the mind works, and we discuss the importance of embracing all forms of neurodiversity in the workplace such that we can utilize everyone’s value.
Ep185: | Building a Fulfilling Career Across Multiple Mediums (Without Getting Pigeonholed) | with Stephanie Filo, ACE
This is a wide ranging conversation appealing to anyone looking to make a career transition, find purpose and fulfillment in life, and wanting better strategies for choosing the right projects to match both your lifestyle needs and your creative needs.
Ep177: Mental Health is Not a Luxury…Even For “Top Guns” | with Eddie Hamilton, ACE [Pt 2]
Eddie Hamilton, ACE (Top Gun: Maverick, the last 3 Mission: Impossible films, Kick-Ass 1 & 2, and X-Men: First Class) and I candidly discuss his experience editing Top Gun: Maverick and what drove him to asking for help before it was too late.
Ep176: Why You Don’t Need to Go to Film School to Be Successful | with Eddie Hamilton, ACE [Pt 1]
Eddie Hamilton, ACE (Top Gun: Maverick, the last 3 Mission: Impossible films, Kick-Ass 1 & 2, and X-Men: First Class) and I talk about his early career choices and how he was able to become one of the top feature editors in the world…without ever going to film school.
Ep172: [CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle
When Optimizer students Nick Towle and Fabian Corrado originally came to me, neither one of them knew each other. But they both knew they were tired of the jobs they had, they felt stuck after trying for years to make a seemingly impossible career change, and they were ready to do anything to get on the right path.
Ep160: Convincing People You Can Do The Job (When You Don’t Have the Credits) | with Chris Patterson
Learn how Chris Patterson, an incredibly successful 1st AE on top-tier features, overcame his networking struggles to land a gig on a feature as the lead editor.
Ep159: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs (and Lack of Experience) to Break Into Scripted Television | with Marcella Garcia
Learn how Mexican-American editor Marcella Garcia overcame her limiting beliefs (and lack of experience in long form) to break into the world of scripted television.
Ep155: How a Tentpole Hollywood Feature Editor Stays Healthy, Fit, and Sane | with Alan Bell, ACE
Learn from tentpole Hollywood feature film editor Alan Bell, ACE how he maintain healthy habits & routines to maintain optimal levels of creativity while working on the biggest projects in Hollywood.
Ep154: Using Humility to Cultivate Relationships and Land Your Dream Gig In Network TV | with Scott Powell, ACE
Learn from award winning TV editor Scott Powell, ACE (24, The Chi, The Orville) the importance of using humility to build relationships and climb the career ladder to the top.
Ep148: “I Was Fired For Requesting a Single Mental Health Day” | with Jim Page
Editor Jim Page tells the candid story of how he was fired for requesting a single day off for mental health, and what this says about everything that still needs to be fixed in the world of freelance creative work.