Episode Details

“Do whatever you can to have the power to take a break or say no.”

- Michael Addis

Michael Addis is a man who wears many successful hats as an editor, writer, director, and showrunner. If you’ve ever enjoyed shows such as Impractical Jokers or projects with actors such as Jamie Kennedy or Tom Green, there is a chance you’ve come into contact with Michael’s work. Some of his recent credits include Assembly Required, You Kiddin’ Me, Famous Food Truck, and Chopped U.

In this Mastermind Q&A with my Optimizer coaching students Michael shared how he’s built a wide & varied career having so many different creatives roles that he calls himself (thanks to Tim Ferriss) a “specialized generalist,” which essentially means developing a massive toolbox of skills to be as involved as possible in every aspect of the creative process…but ultimately being great at one specific craft above all others.

In our conversation together, Michael and I dive into the specifics of the differences between working in scripted and unscripted television, how saying NO leads you to your dream career faster than saying YES can, and how focus is the number one skill that will lead you to success in the 21st century.

If you are someone who is looking to amplify your skill set in an effort to either change or dramatically advance your career, you’re going to love the sneak preview of our Mastermind Q&A.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• How Michael has been so successful across a large number of roles in the entertainment industry
• How much “luck” has to do with your success
• Who works harder? Scripted or unscripted editors
• KEY TAKEAWAY: The more skill sets you have, the more valuable you become
• One hack to having consistent employment in the entertainment industry
• How to balance going back and forth between various job roles
• How to decide whether you should say yes or no to a project
• The curse of first season shows
• The link between managing finances and the ability to say no
• KEY TAKEAWAY: You must get comfortable saying no if you want a fulfilling career
• What it really means to be a Specialized Generalist
• The number one ‘super power’ that will make you successful in the 21st century
• How to stay positive (and realize it’s a good thing) when you get fired
• The downside of making your career your identity
• How being a generalist helps you collaborate successfully
• Why industries don’t want to hire people with a single specialty
• How to market yourself across various genres of television when you only have experience in one

Useful Resources Mentioned:

LinkedIn Learning

Michael Addis' Website

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