As Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Who are your five people?
As a writer, you don’t want to be the best writer you know. It sounds crazy, but find people who are better than you at what you want to do. If you’re the best writer in your screenwriting group or the best writer in your class or the best writer in your hometown, you’re already at the top level of that tier – big fish little pond – but step up to the next level and you’re going to be challenged.
When you surround yourself with people who are similarly ambitious in screenwriting and filmmaking, it pushes you to be better. Seek out the ones who reach into the world and mold what they want. Find the writers who motivate you as you watch their progress, celebrate their accomplishments, and share conversations about each other’s journeys.
Like Forbes says, “To Be A Success, Surround Yourself With the Right People.”
To me, success is not just the act of accomplishing your goals, but it is also the journey to accomplishing your goals. It’s okay if you aren’t there yet. If you are trying, if you are exerting the effort, and if you are putting yourself in the best environment for your dreams, you’ve won half the battle.
So ask yourself:
Who are the people in your life that inspire and push you? What kind of people do you surround yourself with? What are their ambitions, dreams, and drive? Do they follow through on what they say they are going to do? Do you?
Do you want to stay active, motivated, and challenged?
Find people who are ambitious.
Find people who support your dreams.
Find people whose dreams you support.
Find other writers who have similar goals, if not writers than filmmakers.
Find mentors who push you hard.
Find writers, artists, and filmmakers that you can look up to.
Find people that exemplify what you want to do.