Advice to a friend

Dear yooki- was sharing tips with someone struggling and i thought i could put these down for you.



Thanks *** for sharing. This is such an important conversation and the way this industry is unstructured (this being my second career), I had a tough time adjusting to the uncertainities and state of constant hustling.
I arrived at the following multiple solutions - you can pick what works for you.

1) Adding Routine- I started adding routine to my days - dedicated 3-4 hours to exclusively writing only everyday (which are literally the purest hours that fuel my days and on days i am really stuck I see a classic film and read up discussions and video essays. So 4 hours of my everyday across space and time dedicated to creating ideas or working on stories that stick or craft improvement - (eg as a starter pack i would reco seeing movie Alien and seeing the best possible making ever or even GDT's masterclasses on youtube teaches one so much)

2) Exercise and morning walks - the endorphin theory is true.

3)Restarted Reading- I gave myself the goal of a book a week (reading instead of phone before sleeping) (days i am busy i read a very small book or a short story but it must be read). It enriched my story idea bank and helped me disconnect.

4)Acquiring new skills- I subscribed to free stanford and coursera courses on city design, philosophy and photoshop. There is a chinese saying - every skill doubles your chance of success.

5)Mentoring - many of us dont realize how lucky we are even to be in this group. There are still lots of young girls who are trying to find a foothold in the industry so many young graduates from film schools who are so lost. Its counter-intuitive but empowering someone when you are lowest low, you end up empowering yourself and also start finding your tribe. This point even extends to helping peers and seniors.

6)5 am club- on the days u have no work - it is even more important to wake up at 5 am to catch this world by surprise. Trust me on this.

7) Meditation, prayers, chanting, yoga- whatever helps you find your center, focus your goals and helps you reach a higher state of being really helps.

8)Taking a family member into confidence- Find your hype person. It can be your sibling or cousin or even your parent. You will be surprised how invested they are in your happiness.

9)Reaching out to friends and immediate community for a social life outside work - esp enthu friends who love to cook or organize events are such blessings and we shld befriend them immediately.

10) Never ever - Never ever even have a second's doubt in your potential and capabilities. Eg Trump is the president.

Once I reassimilated myself, I had - due to my routine- enough ideas to pitch to the world, or to even make myself. Additionally I was less desperate for external validations. It gave me lots of courage and intrinsic happiness. I really started optimising for energy and even now I exclusively work and reach out to people whose energies feel right.

Disconnecting, restrategizing (restructuring) and reengaging is the key.

I am sure there are lot more ideas some even better but I truly felt like sharing mine.

(Sorry for the long post)