Your Desire to Escape is Leaving You Trapped

A counterintuitive strategy for creative people who need a career boost

“So you don’t regret your time in Hollywood?” I asked him.

The two of us had been sitting together at the Parisian cafe for several hours. Pure dumb luck seated him right next to me. In that time, I learned my dinner mate produced and directed many of the shows and movies that formed the foundation of what we watch in this decade.

Although the conversation had been generally positive, I noticed a couple disparaging remarks about the city of lights. Did Tinsel Town make really dreams come true? I had to know.

He answered immediately:

“I don’t regret Hollywood for a second. Most of the ideas get shot down, and sometimes you will work on a project for 6 months, only to have it trashed by a phone call. You know what? I’d still rather be doing that than anything else.”

He paused, gesturing to the six-foot blond woman beside him.

“Besides, whenever I need creative fulfillment, I can…