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Dear John

Staying focussed

Question:
As a film director who has had some degree of success, one of the greatest challenges I face when working on a project is to remain focussed and confident. While my initial projects were made with my own money - and that was scary enough - now that I am working with investors' money too, I constantly worry that something will go wrong and I think sometimes this gets in the way of the creative process. How can I stop myself doing this?

Answer:
Well, they do say fear of success is as common an obstacle to success as fear of failure. Lyn Burgess of the Magic Key Partnership specialises in creative coaching for television and film people and often works with directors, so I thought I'd ask her for some direction regarding your dilemma.

Lyn says: "This is a problem I hear frequently, so you are certainly not alone. Most people who are working on a project will have a wobble at some stage, with them thinking 'Can I really do this and can I do it well?'.

"The reality is, by the very nature of what you do, something probably will not go according to plan. However, does that make it wrong?

"It is only your perception that makes it so. Very often the reason why something needs to be changed is because it will actually make it better. In order to remain focussed, you need to get really clear on what you are trying to achieve. At some stage, you will have seen, in your mind's eye, your finished project and felt in your body the excitement at its completion.

"This should never be far from your thoughts and you need to connect mentally to this image every day. If you also visualise yourself coping with all the different facets of the project, you will find that if and when problems do arise, you are more able to deal with them effortlessly. Worry is a complete waste of emotion. No outcome was ever changed by you worrying. Keep concentrating on being able to make things go right and you will find that they will."

Thanks Lyn. I guess that's why 'lights, camera, action!' is the cry rather than 'lights, camera, worry!'.