Embracing Life's Revisions
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Standing in a local TV studio at thirteen, I was living what I thought would be my only dream: becoming a journalist. The path ahead seemed crystal clear as I crafted segments about teenage trends during my first internship. I imagined myself as the next Christiane Amanpour, travelling the world to uncover stories that needed telling. I couldn't have known then that this storytelling seed would be just the first draft of a much richer narrative.
"You need to focus on one thing to be successful." Like red marks on a manuscript, this critique has followed me throughout my career. But just as every story needs multiple drafts to reach its full potential, I've learned that our lives benefit from continuous revision. My journey has wandered through fashion, hospitality, business, and retail, each chapter adding new dimensions to my narrative. These weren't false starts or abandoned drafts but essential revisions that shaped my unique voice.
Look at Leonardo da Vinci, who refused to choose between being an inventor or an artist. Think about Brian Eno, who flowed from musician to visual artist to startup advisor—or Ava DuVernay, who rewrote her story from publicity expert to groundbreaking filmmaker. Like them, I've discovered that embracing multiple passions isn't a weakness; it's a form of alchemy where each new skill and experience enriches everything else I do.
What excites me is the blank slate. Whether it's a startup seeking its voice, an event waiting to be brought to life, or a film story yearning to be told. I see possibilities in their purest form, and I love being able to both dream big and dive deep into the details needed to make it real. It's this ability to hold both the vision and the execution that makes each project come alive.
People often truncate the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none," missing its complete wisdom: "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." This centuries-old insight resonates more than ever in today's world of constant revision and reinvention. Success isn't about perfecting a single draft; it's about being willing to revise, adapt, and weave different skills into a compelling narrative.
As a director and producer, I craft worlds that transport audiences. As an advisor and strategist, I help businesses and brands find their narrative voice. These roles aren't competing storylines but interweaving plots that enrich each other. The strategic thinking required to guide a startup informs how I structure a film's story. The creativity needed for directing enhances how I approach business challenges.
My definition of success isn't a linear plot but a story told in multiple genres. I've learned to reject the traditional outline of achievement we're expected to follow: the conventional career ladder, the single focus, the predictable arc. Instead, I've written a life on my own terms, where success is measured by the diversity of chapters I collect, the stories I tell, and the impact I create across different narratives.
That young journalist in the TV studio may not have become Christiane Amanpour, but she discovered something more valuable – the power of embracing life's constant revisions. Today, I find myself as an editor of sorts, building bridges between worlds that others see as separate: business and creativity, strategy and storytelling, vision and execution.
Some might say I wear too many hats: producer, director, advisor, entrepreneur. But I've learned that embracing these multiple drafts, rather than forcing myself to stick to one version, has been key to creating work that resonates deeply. Each role adds depth to the others, creating a narrative richness that makes me better at everything I do.
In a world that increasingly demands innovation and cross-disciplinary thinking, our willingness to revise and blend different skills isn't just an advantage; it's essential. When someone tells me to focus on one thing, I smile. I've learned that my ability to see connections where others see divisions, blend strategy with creativity, and be both dreamer and doer, that’s my focus. And like any good revision, it gets sharper with each iteration.
That thirteen-year-old in the TV studio was unknowingly writing the first draft of a career that would defy traditional boundaries. Today, I continue to revise and refine one story, one project, and one vision at a time.
So go ahead, tell me to focus on one thing. I'll show you how embracing life's constant revisions can create something extraordinary.