What motivates you to keep going?

István Kovács

Active member
I believe many of you have gone through the following process: you are passionate about something (let’s say video editing, screenwriting or even photography). You start looking for resources online to learn more about your new passion. You research the skills you need to develop and the gear that you will need. A video editor needs an expensive video card, that means a good PC. He will also need video editing software, which also costs money. A photographer will need a camera, lens, tripod etc.
Then, a journey begins: you start saving money to buy what you need to start. You finally start doing what you love and you start earning your first dollars from it.

But then, something happens: you start losing motivation.

The process of losing motivation happens in two scenarios: you either fight too hard to make a living for your dream that you give up or you work too hard for your dream that you lose creativity and motivation.

In the first scenario, time goes by and you still cannot seem to make it. You tried everything and it just doesn’t work. You age and you want to settle down and have a family. In the end, you just give up.

In the second scenario, you manage to make a living from your passion. But it is so tiring and time consuming that you are left with little time for yourself. And even if you are left with a lot of time for yourself, you just get tired of doing the same thing over and over again. You just lose motivation over time.

My question is…what do you do to keep going? What do you do to keep that motivation from day 1, even after 7 years? Or 20 years?
 
I am doing this for a while and I am getting demotivated. In my case, every 2-3 months, I need to do something to boost my motivation levels. I look for events, workshops and other networking possibilities. Meeting new people, full of enthusiasm and meeting old connections make me feel better.
 
When you get tired, you go to sleep. You don't give up on your dreams! Take a break from what you are doing for a while. Get a part time job for a while. Or go in a holiday. :)
 
I am doing this for a while and I am getting demotivated. In my case, every 2-3 months, I need to do something to boost my motivation levels. I look for events, workshops and other networking possibilities. Meeting new people, full of enthusiasm and meeting old connections make me feel better.
I used to do this before the pandemic. It was really hard with the restrictions.
 
One of the best advices I have heard is to have smaller and more frequent goals.

Many filmmakers have big goals such as to become a Hollywood director, become super famous or to win an Oscar.

These are good life achievements and goals to strive for but if they are your only goals then you will quickly feel demotivated and question why you are underachieving.


It is important to have daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals.


By creating smaller steps and achievements you will feel a sense of progress and have more attainable goals.


Example: my daily goal is to create at least 1 good logline learn a bit of Spanish and read at least 10 pages in a film-related book or screenplay.


Most days I can achieve this, some days I don’t, but when I do, I feel like I’ve taken a step closer to my end goal.


My weekly goal is sometimes, to write 5 pages of a script, finish one VFX shot or to learn an hour of a new software.


Most artists are not organized and live their lives day by day. By planning your years into 4 quarters and thinking like a business you will be able to assess yourself and reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and constantly improve. Without cohesion you will most likely feel frustrated and lost without a battle plan to reach the top of the mountain.

So to sum it up, plan something more realistic like at least 2 short films made this year, or at least 6 short scripts or 2 feature length screenplays this year etc. If you don't have the economic means to do complicated short films, film something at your home (one location) and do it more frequently like at least 4 a year.

Another good life lesson I’ve heard repeatedly is that life is about the journey and not the destination. There are a few filmmakers who get to win the big award and walk the red carpet but many of them end up feeling unfulfilled like “is that it?”. So if your only goal is money or prestige, you will still feel the sense of emptiness when you do “make it”.

Enjoy the process and the art and eventually success and luck will come your way if it is meant to be.

Talent + perseverance = luck

Best of luck and look forward to seeing your films in the future.
 

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