Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

Per my meaningful consumption practice, I try to log all the films, plays, albums, and books I consume in a year. It only takes a few minutes each day and doing so provides a nice look back at the end of the year. In 2024, I saw 128 films (my goal was 100). I preferContinue reading “Favorite Films I Saw In 2024”

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” -Joseph Campbell “If you’re not feeling those butterflies, you’re not taking a big enough risk.” -Ray Manzarek “Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true…If you want the ultimate, you’ve got to be willing to pay the ultimate price.”Continue reading “Feelin’ Alive”

“Make before you manage.” -Tim Ferriss “Make movies. Not meetings.” -Mark Duplass “I like to find (a) simple solutions (b) to overlooked problems (c) that actually need to be solved, and (d) deliver them as informally as possible, (e) starting with a very crude version 1, then (f) iterating rapidly.” -Paul Graham “Remember that whateverContinue reading “More Making”

“After a while I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain.” -last sentence of A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway “I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath, and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass;Continue reading “Finish Strong”

Loyalty is an admirable virtue. It simply means showing up and doing what you said you were going to do. Perhaps you pride yourself on your loyalty. You always come through for your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc… But are you loyal to yourself? Do you keep your own promises? If not, why not? P.S.Continue reading “Loyal To Yourself?”

“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” -RalphContinue reading “The Gift Of Your Enthusiasm”

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” -C.S. Lewis “Humility is not a lowering down to the ground, as the word’s Latin root (humus) suggests, but a rising up and a reaching toward something we can never quite touch yet must trust is there. Some call this faith — faithContinue reading “Humility Means Trust”

Uh-oh, I feel a sports metaphor coming on… It doesn’t matter that the only reason you got in the game is because you brought the ball. Or that there were nine players and they needed you for ten to run full court. All that matters is what you do once you get in the game.

“If you truly do your best, and only you will really know, then you are successful, and the actual score is immaterial whether it was favorable or unfavorable. However, when you fail to do your best, you have failed even though the score might’ve been to your liking. I want to be able to feel,Continue reading “10-4 Over 4-10”

Care about people’s approvaland you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back.The only path to serenity. -excerpt from Verse 9 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu (Stephen Mitchell translation) The Master does his joband then stops.He understands that the universeis forever out of control,and that trying to dominate eventsgoes against theContinue reading “Love It Or Hate It”