Success = Asking a Great Question and Coming Up with a Great Answer

In Gary Keller's book, The One Thing, he talks about the importance of asking great questions in order to achieve our goals. When we ask questions of a higher caliber we're forced to face the challenge of finding an equally impactful answer.

Keller says there are 3 categories of answers: doable, stretch, and possibility. 

Doable answers are the ones we know we can do and are often already within reach.

Stretch answers are still within reach but ones that may require research, study, and extending ourselves beyond our current abilities.

And possibility answers are the type that require us to dream big and live on the outer limits of what we believe we can do.

The latter are the types of answers high achiever pursue because they understand extending one's self is the first step to enriching our lives for the better.

It Has to Be for YOU

As a creator, you're going to come up against a lot of resistance. People won't understand or appreciate what you're trying to say. You'll wrestle with your own doubts of whether or not a pursuit devoted to telling stories and creating are is worth it. You may even start to compare yourself with the careers and work of others, which never leads to anything good.

What makes be an actor or artist so difficult is how mentally tough you need to be. Because a life devoted to telling stories and creating are is such a solo endeavor you spend a great deal of time battling the voices in your own head that tell you what you do isn't impactful.

What will sustain you through those challenging times is the fact you are ultimately creating art for YOU. If it's for someone else's approval you'll never be happy. 

If on the other hand, someone finds joy in work you ALSO find meaningful, well, it doesn't get much better than that. To share your voice with the world and have it resonate with a community of like-mined people is why we do what we do.

Nobody Lives Forever

I can think of no greater motivator to go out and do the things you dream of doing than being in touch with your mortality. Nobody lives forever. 

It may be a painfully obvious fact, but I'd argue one most people don't consider enough, or aren't in touch with.

To really understand life's fickle and short nature (and not in some ominous way) can positively add a bounce to your step and inspire you to begin now rather than later.