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The Difference Between Building a Career vs. Finding the Next Job | with Kabir Ahktar, ACE
Description
One of the topics I get questioned about constantly is networking:
How important is networking?
Can’t I just get really good at my craft so my work speaks for me? (I hate networking!!!)
How often do I really need to do it?
Today’s guest, Emmy award-winning editor turned director, Kabir Ahktar, ACE feels very strongly that:
“It’s really important to stay networking…However much you’re doing, it’s probably not enough.”
Kabir has built his entire career through networking and creating genuine relationships, not to mention constantly practicing his craft and doing the work (no matter if he’s getting paid for it or not). His work includes Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Never Have I Ever, Arrested Development, and The Academy Awards. A three-time Emmy nominee, Kabir won for editing the pilot of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. He has now transitioned to directing full time having directed 12 episodes of television last season.
In our conversation we talk about the skills Kabir developed and the challenges he faced in building the career he enjoys today. We dig into the psychology behind building successful relationships and the perseverance that’s necessary to keep your head in the game and have the confidence to forge ahead, regardless of the setbacks.
This is the third episode in a three part series (here’s part 1 with David Rogers and part 2 with Andi Armaganian) with editors who have successfully transitioned to director. If you’re looking to advance your career, sharpen your networking skills, and learn to play the long game, Kabir drops more knowledge bombs that I could keep track of in this interview!
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Here’s What You’ll Learn:
- Why Kabir rejects the stereotype that editors work in dark rooms
- HIs first foray into editing was cutting his own mashups of songs on CD’s
- How he learned Avid being a phone tech in college
- He was an outlier, but it led him nowhere until he built the right relationships.
- How Kabir avoided being an assistant editor and went straight to editing.
- Why you want your career to look like a hockey shaped curve.
- The difference between the rockstar and the artist and which you need to be to avoid burnout.
- The small steps Kabir took to learn directing in order to make the transition.
- How his experience as an editor has informed his directing.
- The secrets he’s learned now that he’s making bigger deals as a director
- The importance of being smart with your money so you can have the power to say no when the opportunity isn’t right.
- How to know when you should walk away from a job.
