Podcasts about optimize yourself

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Zac Arnold, award-winning Hollywood film & television editor and creator of the Optimize Yourself program. In this episode, Zac shares his expertise on how to edit your life and optimize yourself. Discover his unique approach to help creatives and entrepreneurs do better and be better in all aspects of life. Subscribe for ad-free interviews and bonus episodes https://plus.acast.com/s/the-unmistakable-creative-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GUESTS:  Zack Arnold, CEO of Optimize Yourself, a company that's helping those in Hollywood who are affected by the SAG/AFTRA strike re-shape their careers; Emmy Award winning director Don Argott chats about his new film KELCE, streaming on PRIME,  a documentary about NFL football player Jason Kelce(Philadelphia Eagles) and his brother Travis Kelce (KC Chiefs); and Chris Woolsey, Senior Director of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, shares what are some of the best streaming films and TV  viewing for September for the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment network. KELCE trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0ld-xuh898

Saul Rodriguez and Anthony Pizana have a conversation with Zack Arnold (Producer on Burn Notice, Cobra Kai & founder of Optimize Yourself) regarding the actors/writers strike, artificial intelligence, his company Optimize Yourself, and more. Optimize Yourself WEBSITE: https://optimizeyourself.me/ PODCAST: https://optimizeyourself.me/subscribe/ We are also on Facebook and Substack! Subscribe to WARR on Anchor and on YouTube and follow WARR for all the latest on our movement and stay tuned for upcoming episodes and specials from your guys. WARR Media provides the best independent coverage of sports and culture -- feel free to share our content and rate us well here or wherever you find our podcasts. Thanks for watching. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/warrmedia/message

Zack Arnold, film & TV editor as well as a career strategist, coach, and the founder of Optimize Yourself , sits down with Bridget for a conversation about being in the trenches in Hollywood for over 20 years, the writers' and actors' strikes, and the piece nobody is talking about - the fact that our entire culture is going through a major identity crisis because our collective sense of self is intertwined with what we do for a living. They discuss how we're conditioned to believe that our identity is associated with our level of productivity, whether content creation is still a viable way to make a living, the rise of the generalists and how we need to diversify, how everything feels broken, the one thing AI cannot replicate, the value of authenticity, and why if authenticity is a strategy it's not authentic. They also cover the burden of being a provider, protecting your sense of self and sense of authenticity at all costs, the mental exercise of reframing the fear and being able to confront and control that fear, redefining success and failure, changing your systems to achieve small goals, and why his willingness to fail faster than everyone else is the secret to his success. Sponsor Links: Patriot Gold - Call 888-614-9238 AG1 - https://bit.ly/AG1-WiW The Dr. Drew Podcast - https://bit.ly/DrDrew-WiW Progressive Insurance - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW

Zack Arnold, film & TV editor as well as a career strategist, coach, and the founder of Optimize Yourself, sits down with Bridget for a conversation about being in the trenches in Hollywood for over 20 years, the writers' and actors' strikes, and the piece nobody is talking about - the fact that our entire culture is going through a major identity crisis because our collective sense of self is intertwined with what we do for a living. They discuss how we're conditioned to believe that our identity is associated with our level of productivity, whether content creation is still a viable way to make a living, the rise of the generalists and how we need to diversify, how everything feels broken, the one thing AI cannot replicate, the value of authenticity, and why if authenticity is a strategy it's not authentic. They also cover the burden of being a provider, protecting your sense of self and sense of authenticity at all costs, the mental exercise of reframing the fear and being able to confront and control that fear, redefining success and failure, changing your systems to achieve small goals, and why his willingness to fail faster than everyone else is the secret to his success.Bridget Phetasy admires grit and authenticity. On Walk-Ins Welcome, she talks about the beautiful failures and frightening successes of her own life and the lives of her guests. She doesn't conduct interviews—she has conversations. Conversations with real people about the real struggle and will remind you that we can laugh in pain and cry in joy but there's no greater mistake than hiding from it all. By embracing it all, and celebrating it with the stories she'll bring listeners, she believes that our lowest moments can be the building blocks for our eventual fulfillment.Beyond Parody with Bridget Phetasy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.phetasy.com/subscribe

 With the Hollywood writers strike showing no signs of slowing down, many creative professionals have been forced to look for alternative sources of work. Zack Arnold is an award-winning Hollywood film & television editor and producer(Cobra Kai, Burn Notice, Empire, Shooter, Glee) and others. He is also the CEO of the Optimize Yourself podcast and program, which helps individuals directly affected by the strike, adjust to the situation by offering his insight and guidance to them and their careers. His interviews with outlets such as the Washington Post, The Hollywood Times, Evening Standard and Variety have enabled him to share his expertise with a wider audience.  The overwhelming response to his message has seen Zack field hundreds of calls over the past three months from creative professionals looking for new opportunities. Through his company, Optimize Yourself, he has been able to help these people find more balanced, sustainable and fulfilling careers. Visit ---  https://optimizeyourself.me/  

Before we get into the episode, I wanted to let you know about an interview I did on the Optimize Yourself podcast, hosted by my friend Zack Arnold.  He's actually doing a three part series on chronic pain specifically related to how it affects creative professionals — so I highly recommend that you check it out!     The series will consist of three experts talking about chronic pain from different perspectives. Zack interviewed a bodyworker and Somatic Movement Instructor (Julie Fahrbach) who explains how to release emotions from the body and get your system out of fight or flight. He also spoke with a medical doctor and mindfulness meditation teacher (Christiane Wolf) who uses mindfulness-based practices to change our relationship to pain.   And in my interview with Zack, you'll hear an extended conversation about my personal journey with chronic pain from my days as a reality tv editor to how I ended up where I am today as a chronic pain therapist.  You'll hear parts of my story that you probably haven't heard before and you'll hear me coach Zack through some of his own pain story while also learning some of the tools and techniques that I use to unwind tension in stress from my body.   My episode of the Optimize Yourself podcast aired on Tuesday July 11 and you can find it by going to optimizeyourself.me/podcast or searching Optimize Yourself on your podcast app of choice!   •••   And now for today's episode! A short while back, I received a message from someone whose work I was familiar with, but we'd never spoken before. And she shared a story with me that I thought was just perfect for this podcast. It's a story about her journey from chronic pain to passion. And that person is Fleur Chambers.   Fleur is a multi-award-winning meditation teacher, Creator of The Happy Habit app, author of the book Ten Pathways and her second book Wholehearted Confidence and she's also a philanthropist.  Using her experience of living with chronic pain, Fleur is helping others to see that happiness isn't an imaginary place free of disappointment, regret, insecurity or any other uncomfortable emotion. In contrast, real happiness is the ability to live wholeheartedly alongside our challenges and to learn from them.   With proceeds from The Happy Habit funding charitable grassroots projects around the world, Fleur is using meditation as a tool for social change. She believes that we meditate not only to alleviate our own suffering, but also to improve the lives of others.   The personal story that Fleur shared with me is all about the fears that come up and create symptoms just as we're about to share our creative gifts with the world. And I hope that hearing her talk about how she navigates those experiences will inspire you with the courage to share your creative gifts as well. You can find Fleur at: website: www.thehappyhabit.com.au IG: @thehappyhabitwithfleurchambers App: The Happy Habit app Book: The Ten Pathways And you can find me at: Instagram: ⁠@anna_holtzman⁠ Website: ⁠www.annaholtzman.com

Second July 2023 episode--and second of three episodes on consecutive days--of the program all about TV. Our guests: Ross Fineman, executive producer of The Lincoln Lawyer, starting season two on Netflix today; Zack Arnold, Cobra Kai associate producer/Optimize Yourself chief executive, discussing the writers' strike and its TV consequences, and Sheri Elwood, creator and executive producer of Moonshine, the dysfunctional family saga coming to The CW tomorrow night.

In this episode, I chat with Hollywood editor and American Ninja Warrior Zack Arnold on his podcast Optimize Yourself about creativity and its importance in our lives.  Creativity is a life amplifier and is fundamental to our lives, just like physical fitness, proper nutrition, and mindfulness is discussed. We delve into how creativity is a muscle that needs to be exercised regularly and that through creating small, daily things, we can develop this muscle and become more creative. Finally, we discuss the concept of creating a mosaic of all the unique things that we have done in our lives and how this can help us discover our creative calling. Highlights from our conversation: What it means to be a creator How creativity can enhance one's life and wellbeing Accepting and pursuing the side of yourself that wants to make Becoming a master of your discipline by proxy The Optimize Yourself Podcast is a must-listen for any creative entrepreneur. Check it out anywhere you listen to podcasts. Enjoy!

If are someone who's creative or passionate about your career, have you ever had an experience where, right as you were about to make a big career move or achieve some symbol of success, you were hit by a wave of symptoms like chronic pain or fatigue or burnout? If so, you're not alone — and today we're gonna explore why that is and how to navigate this with my guest Zack Arnold. Zack is an award-winning Hollywood editor & producer whose credits include Cobra Kai, Empire, Burn Notice, and Glee.  He's also a career coach, a two-time American Ninja Warrior, and the creator of the Optimize Yourself program & podcast. Zack strongly believes that it's possible for all creative professionals to love what they do for a living...but not at the expense of their health, their relationships, or their sanity. That's why via his Optimize Yourself program he provides them with the strategies, resources, mindsets, and supportive community to help them confidently discover their own unique clear path towards the more balanced, productive, and fulfilling life that they deserve. In a nutshell, Zack is Tim Ferriss meets Ted Lasso...minus the mustache. Zack has spoken across the country at numerous events and conventions about optimizing creativity and work-life balance as well as the craft of editing. His work has been featured in publications such as National Public Radio, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Variety, The Telegraph, and I Will Teach You to Be Rich as well as numerous podcasts. I became a fan of Zack's way before I became a therapist, back when I was a video editor working in reality TV and a friend turned me onto his first podcast, Fitness in Post, which was about a topic that nobody else was really talking about then — a radical idea of maintaining your wellbeing while working in the brutal field of film and TV post-production. I'm delighted to share our conversation about mind-body burnout and career rebirth. ••• You can find Zack at: website: https://optimizeyourself.me/ podcast: Optimize Yourself Zack mentioned two of his blog posts in this episode: 7 Red Flags That You Might Be Burned Out (or You're Headed There) https://optimizeyourself.me/7-red-flags-that-you-might-be-burned-out/   So You're Burned Out... Now What? [7 Ways to Climb Out of the Hole] https://optimizeyourself.me/burned-out-7-ways-to-climb-out/ ••• And you can find me at: Instagram: @anna_holtzman Website: www.annaholtzman.com

Zack Arnold is an award-winning Hollywood editor & producer (notable credits include Cobra Kai, Empire, Burn Notice, and Glee), a documentary director (GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story), a career coach, a two-time American Ninja Warrior, and the creator of the Optimize Yourself program & podcast.___Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>>  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*Behind the Human is proudly recorded in a Canadian made Loop Phone Booth*Special props

This week I was incredibly excited to welcome Zack Arnold to the show for a great conversation about optimizing your life, avoiding burnout and learning to set the right goals. Zack is an award-winning Hollywood film & television editor known for his work on favorites of mine such as, Cobra Kai, Burn Notice, Empire, Shooter, and Glee. Zac is a member of the American Cinema Editors, an American Ninja Warrior, and creator of the Optimize Yourself program.  Zack uses his experience as a creative professional to produce the Optimize Yourself Podcast which aims to give creative professionals insight into how to love what they do for a living without having to sacrifice their health, relationships, or sanity in the process. The podcast also addresses the specifics of creative burnout and ways to avoid it. Previous Episodes Mentioned in This Installment: Marc Champagne on The Importance of Asking The Right Questions Gretchen Rubin on Expectations, Habits and Happiness James Clear on Building Good Habits and Breaking Bad Ones Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Make sure to grab Shortcasts from Beyond The To-Do List by Blinkist. A Shortcast is a 7-10 min version of the podcast where you get all the core takeaways.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Routines lead to rhythm. Rhythm leads to momentum. Momentum leads into flow.” - Max Gotzler, Flowgrade My guest is Max Gotzler, a professional lifestyle biohacker who is passionate about achieving Flow State. Max is a former competitive basketball athlete in the US NCAA, the highest college basketball league in the USA. Max studied psychology, economics, and finance and is the author of two Biohacking books - Optimize Yourself and The Daily Biohacker. Max is also the founder of Flowgrade where he offers biohacking courses and products, as well as an active blogger and podcaster on The Flowgrade Show. In this episode, we dig into: What is flow state and the neuroscience behind it Suppressed emotions and how it affects brainwaves Red Light Therapy and Cold Water Exposure EQ (emotional quotient) the level of emotional intelligence How to access flow state How ADHDers connect with flow Biohacking And much more!   Check out the full podcast here: https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/podcast-108-max-gotzler   Follow Max On: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Website Follow Claudia On: Instagram Facebook YouTube LinkedIn Twitter   Past guests on The Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast include Dr. David Perlmutter, Dr. Amy Killen, Sergey Young, Dr. Dale Bredesen, Dr. Kristen Willeumier, Dr. Louise Newson, Dr. Kien Vuu, Dr. Carolina Reis, Marie Diamond, Nikolina Lauc, John Gray, Morri Chowaiki, Leslie Kenny, Maziar Brumand, Fiona O'Donnell-McCarthy, Mohamed Massaquoi, Nick Potter, Dr. Pamela Kryskow, Dr. Julia Mirer, Dr. Julia Jones, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, Dr. Richard Johnson, Isabella Channing, Dina Burkitbayeva, Raewyn Guerrero, Mario Chamorro, Mariko Bangerter, Harris Khan, Juraj Kocar, Dr. Stephanie Manson Brown, Dr. Mohammed Enayat, Dr. Molly Maloof, Helen Reavey, Elena Letyagina, Dana Frost, Niall Breslin, Dr. Limor Goren, Larisa Petrini, Leighanne Champion, Mike Bennet, Dr. Louise Swartswalter, Dr. Joseph Antoun, Patrick McKeown, John Gray, Brooke Schnittman, Natalia Spierings, Adele Wimsett, Kelly Starrett, Dr. Alan Bauman and many more!    If you enjoyed the podcast episode, please consider leaving a short review! It takes a few seconds but means the world to me to get the best guests and content for you and I love reading your reviews! Thank you!

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Zack Arnold, an award-winning editor, director, and founder of Optimize Yourself. He's also a father of two and a two-time American Ninja Warrior, which is pretty cool if you ask me. We had a productive conversation about how to pursue fulfilling careers without sacrificing our health, relationships, or sanity. Zack's work has been featured in various publications, and he's known for his expertise in productivity and entrepreneurship.One thing that stood out to me was how Zack optimized his podcast process, which he shared with us. He also talked about how he's learned to prioritize his health and relationships while pursuing his career goals. Overall, it was a fantastic conversation, and I highly recommend giving it a listen. If you're new to the podcast, this is a great episode to start with. I feel like I found a kindred spirit in Zack, and I hope you will too.Links Worth Exploring Connect with Zack: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Listen to Optimize Yourself with Mike Vardy Laura Vanderkam talks about Tranquility by Tuesday Are you Productive or Just Busy? Take the quiz! Related Conversation: Off the Clock with Laura Vanderkam Related Blog Post: 4 Tips to Make the Most of Your Working Day Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Zac Arnold, award-winning Hollywood film & television editor and creator of the Optimize Yourself program. In this episode, Zac shares his expertise on how to edit your life and optimize yourself. Discover his unique approach to help creatives and entrepreneurs do better and be better in all aspects of life. Subscribe for ad-free interviews and bonus episodes https://plus.acast.com/s/the-unmistakable-creative-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the main Geektown Radio podcast is on a little break whilst I'm away, we bring you a new episode of the Geektown Behind The Scenes podcast, in which I chat to Hollywood editor & producer, Zack Arnold, editor on the brilliant 'Cobra Kai', and founder of Optimize Yourself.Zack is an editor on Netflix's smash hit series, 'Cobra Kai'... However, he is also the Founder of 'Optimize Yourself', a brilliant podcast series and coaching programme to help creative professionals get through their working lives without having to sacrifice their health, relationships, or sanity in the process.Zack's story is an interesting one. He was a massive fan of the 'Karate Kid' films, and actively pursued the editing job on 'Cobra Kai' after watching the first season. In the interview, he discusses how his love and encyclopaedic knowledge of the movies have helped him in editing the hit Netflix drama.Outside of 'Cobra Kai', Zack's other notable credits include 'Empire', 'Burn Notice', and 'Glee'. We also chat about the documentary film, 'GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story', which he directed. You can see the entire movie for free here.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/geektown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ricky and Piotr talk with ACE editor Zack Arnold about landing this dream job cutting Cobra Kai, why he says it's his side-hustle and how Myagi-do lessons apply to our work as editors. Plus, the respectful power of the word, "No," the keys to optimizing yourself as an editor and more! Below are the articles and websites we mendtion in the episode:Zack's article "Tired of Life Kicking Your Ass? Learn to Fight Back Like a True ‘Cobra Kai'": https://optimizeyourself.me/cobra-kai-review-netflix/Zack's Optimize Yourself program: https://optimizeyourself.me/Interview Zack did with Walter Murch: https://optimizeyourself.me/walter-murch-podcast-interview/--We'd love to hear from you!Perhaps you have questions or comments on how to improve the podcast or episode ideas:Shoot us a message at podcast@cuttothepoint.comOr you can send us a voice message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/CTRWe're Ambassadors of Soundly. The best SFX platform for filmmakers: https://geni.us/cttp-soundlySponsored by the Editing Chef program: https://cuttothepoint.thinkific.com/coursesAlso, the music we use is from Artlist!Check them out here: https://cuttothepoint.com/artlist--Cut To Reveal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuttoreveal/Cut To Reveal website: https://podcast.cuttothepoint.com/Cut to the Point YT channel: https://youtube.com/cuttothepoint

What happens when you've reached what everyone else would consider success, and you're miserable? What happens next?Zack Arnold, ACE, is an award-winning film and television editor, documentary director, and founder of the Optimize Yourself program. Throughout his career in Hollywood, he found himself editing the biggest show on cable tv, then the biggest show on broadcast TV, and even the biggest show in the WORLD on the internet.But the toll those achievements took on his family, his physical health, and his mental well-being forced Zack to rethink his life. In this second of a two-part conversation, we'll hear what Zack did next – including his four year journey to become an American Ninja Warrior – and what the lessons he's learned mean for all of us.

As creatives, so many voices tell us that having the biggest audience is the ultimate goal. But when you talk to people who are there, we find that it's not that simple.Zack Arnold, ACE, is an award-winning film and television editor, documentary director, and founder of the Optimize Yourself program. Throughout his career in Hollywood, he found himself editing the biggest show on cable tv, then the biggest show on broadcast TV, and even the biggest show in the WORLD on the internet.But the toll those achievements took on his family, his physical health, and his mental well-being forced Zack to rethink his life. In this first of a 2-part conversation, we'll hear how it all went down, what Zack learned, and what those lessons mean for all of us.

In this episode, we listen to Zack Arnold, award-winning Hollywood film and television editor, American Ninja Warrior, and creator of the Optimize Yourself program and podcast. He discusses his experiences with Tough Mudder and Spartan, what optimizing yourself truly means, the power of mindset, and so much more.Connect with Zack on Social:-Website: optimizeyourself.me-Podcast: The Optimize Yourself Podcast-Instagram: @optimizeyourslf*Find your next Tough Mudder event here: http://bit.ly/35q39iH Can't get enough of Mudder Nation? Check out our blog: http://bit.ly/3iTuG4cDiscover the 2022 Tough Mudder Training Guides: http://bit.ly/3iP4pUGDon't forget to subscribe to the 'No Excuses' Podcast and follow Tough Mudder on social media:Instagram: @tough_mudderFacebook: @toughmudderTwitter: @toughmudderSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple*Welcome to the ‘No Excuses' Podcast by Tough Mudder. A place where Mudder Nation can come together to hear deep-dive conversations with fitness + health experts, everyday athletes and community members. Join us every Wednesday as we uncover the stories and inspiration that make this community so great. Hosted by Sean Corvelle.*Host: Sean CorvelleProducer: Lake Watters, Gillian GeorgeSenior Producer: Marion Abrams© 2022 Spartan

Today on the Satsang Podcast we have one of my favorite people, and the drummer for Satsang… Ben Teters. Ben is a Berklee College of Music Graduate, world music encyclopedia, one of the most creative drummers on the planet, and one of my best friends. We go in on tour life, his journey through music school, finding reggae, and all sorts of other fun shit. This and all episodes of the podcast are brought to you by Onnit. You feel low energy throughout the day, not sleeping great, workouts stalling out? Head to www.onnit.com and try the Total Human. It is every Onnit flagship product split into two convenient day and night packs. 7 days and you will see an insane difference in how you feel. Use code “Satsang” at checkout and save a little money. OPTIMIZE YOURSELF!

At the epicenter of the conversation last August during the most contentious portion of the IATSE contract negotiation was perhaps the IA stories Instagram account where literally hundreds of thousands of IATSE members discovered they weren't alone in enduring the horrors of working in Hollywood: Burnout, abusive working conditions, and sacrificing everything - including even their lives - to simply keep their jobs in the entertainment industry was apparently everyone's story. Pandora's Box opened, and it was clear people demanded change. Among those people are my guests today from Local 871 - Script Coordinator Amy Thurlow, and Art Department Coordinator Marisa Shipley. Marisa Shipley is the President of Local 871, as well as one of the founders of the IA Stories page. She has been on the front lines of the living wage and pay equity fight since 2018 and is committed to finding a collaborative approach to tackling these issues. Amy Thurlow was elected to represent Script Coordinators on the Board of Directors of Local 871 in December of 2021, and has been outspoken about the pay equity issues that have plagued her classification for decades. This conversation has been a long time in the making, and we go deep into the stories of abusive practices in their local, the criminally low wages they have endured, and the systemic nature of these problems across many other IATSE locals. You'll also hear Marisa describe the severe toll that running the IA stories page took on her health and well-being (which is ironic given how hard she works to protect the well-being of others), as well as her deep struggle with the negative blowback she received during the IATSE contract negotiations. Trust me when I say that standing up for what you believe is never easy. But our industry and the world needs more Marisa's and Amy's advocating for all of us. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Why Local 871 has the moniker of The Island of Misfit Toys. What a script coordinator does and what their day to day looks like. The duties of the art department coordinator. The importance of these two roles to making sure things run smoothly between departments. What the hours and schedules are like for both of these jobs. The difference between being flexible and putting up boundaries. Why Marisa hates the words "can't you just..." The challenges that come with running a huge Instagram page like IA Stories. How Marisa got involved in pay equity issues in Local 871 and beyond. What motivated her to start the Instagram page IA stories and the intentions behind it. The incredible responsibility Marisa felt in taking on IA Stories. Dealing with the blowback of contract negotiations and how that affected Marisa. Why they made the intentional choice to not post about the specific contract negotiations and only focus on the stories. KEY TAKEAWAY: Setting boundaries is a personal responsibility that can also be supported collectively. Why it's important to get more involved in your guild's local. The unintended expectation that came from the IA Stories page and why it caused such anger in people after the contract vote. How different perspectives determine whether the contract was a win or a loss. KEY TAKEAWAY: We need systemic culture change AND we need personal responsibility. Optimize Yourself aims to show people HOW to set boundaries and take responsibility to create better working lives. Useful Resources Mentioned: Dear Hollywood: We Don't Want to “Go Back to Normal." Normal Wasn't Working. IATSE Stories (@ia_stories) • Instagram photos and videos  How I burned out as a burnout coach (and then bounced back) Continue to Listen & Learn I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here's What I Did About It. Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian Dear Hollywood...We Create Entertainment For a Living. We're Not Curing Cancer. Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy Ep141: Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Career (Instead of Checkers) - pt1 Ep142: Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Health & Well-Being (Pt2) Ep106: On the Vital Importance of "Being Nice" | with Jesse Averna, ACE Ep168: Hollywood On the Record: What's REALLY Happening On Set? | with Shay'La Banks and Nickolaus Brown  Ep112: On Signing COVID Waivers, Kit Rental Fees, and Working Humane Hours | with Cathy Repola, MPEG National Executive Director Guest Bio: Marisa Shipley is the President of Local 871 and a freelance Art Department Coordinator, Set Dec Coordinator and Construction Estimator for tv/film in Los Angeles. She initially got involved with the Local as a member of the ad-hoc Art Department Coordinators Public Relations Committee, working to get signatures on a petition showing support for better wages for her craft prior to 2018 negotiations. As the chair of the Local 871 #ReelEquity pay equity committee Marisa has focused on a collaborative approach to tackling pay equity issues affecting women in entertainment, particularly those working behind the camera.   Amy Thurlow is a writer and filmmaker currently living in Los Angeles, California. Amy has worked in television for many years. She started her career as a Writers' PA on the groundbreaking show GOSSIP GIRL and most recently Script Coordinated for Fox's OUR KIND OF PEOPLE. Her other credits include TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES, SLEEPY HOLLOW, WITCHES OF EAST END, KRYPTON and NO TOMORROW. In December 2021, Amy was elected to represent Script Coordinators on the Board of Directors of Local 871. Amy graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts with a degree in Film and Television Production. Her work has been recognized by the WB Writers' Workshop, Sundance Institute, Austin Film Festival and Final Draft Big Break Contest. Outside of writing and activism, Amy has a myriad of interests including performing the occasional stand up routine, teaching friends how to cook the perfect roast chicken, and deciding to run marathons even though she hates running.   Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

From the outside it often looks as if the dominant factor that determines whether someone achieves their careers goals or not is luck (And you all know how I feel about “luck.”) From an insider's perspective, having helped hundreds of people successfully make career transitions, I believe luck is simply when their hard work intersects with the right opportunity. And this intersection is no accident when you have the right strategy. One of my favorite aspects of the Optimizer coaching & mentorship community is the relationships that are built when students support each other to pursue work they feel most passionate about. When Optimizer students Nick Towle and Fabian Corrado originally came to me, neither one of them knew each other. But they both knew they were tired of the jobs they had, they felt stuck after trying for years to make a seemingly impossible career change, and they were ready to do anything to get on the right path. Nick Towle had been an editor in reality tv and transitioned to the scripted world as an assistant editor (AE). He was finding plenty of regular work, and he even had the opportunity to cut in addition to his AE duties, but he couldn't seem to land his first full-fledged scripted editing gig. Nobody was willing to give him the experience…without already having the experience. Fabian Corrado was working successfully as an Assistant Editor in the trailer industry but felt unsatisfied and unfulfilled, and he knew he wanted to make the jump to scripted. He worked hard and spent many years climbing his way up the wrong ladder and felt stuck and trapped doing a job he no longer loved. If you too are struggling to make a career transition, you feel stuck in a dead end career path, or you cringe when you think of networking, this episode will help you get unstuck and think of networking in a whole new light as you learn the strategies that both Nick & Fabian used to land huge career-changing opportunities (and ultimately work together on the same show!). Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode   Here's What You'll Learn: Fabian started his career in EPK trailer houses but after 5 years wanted to make the transition to scripted. How Fabian got connected with me and the Optimize Yourself program. Fabian describes what it was like for him to 'hit the wall' in trailer editing. Nick was an editor in reality tv and transitioned to scripted television as an assistant editor. Nick talks about what motivated him to look for the Focus Yourself program. Fabian explains the importance of uncovering your purpose and determining what career path is going to be most fulfilling. KEY TAKEAWAY: Networking strategy is all about planting the right seeds. Fabian was juggling two jobs while trying to do Focus Yourself. Nick balanced raising a 3 year old while working through the program. The story of how Fabian connected with an editor on his dream show. Nick describes how he had to make the psychological switch in his own mind to see himself as an editor. Why Fabian made the decision to walk away from a full-time job to do a 3 week freelance job. The financial component to having the freedom to turn down work that isn't the right fit. What made Fabian stand out amongst other qualified assistant editors to get his dream job. How important it is to set yourself up for success in a job even if there are knowledge gaps that need to be filled. KEY TAKEAWAY: Don't pursue perfect at the expense of good enough. Nick and Fabian's advice to their younger selves. Useful Resources Mentioned: Ep62: [CASE STUDY] Transitioning to Scripted Television | with Len Ciccotello Ep146: [CASE STUDY] From “Out of Ideas” to Becoming an Idea Machine | with Paul Del Vecchio Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Ep159: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs (and Lack of Experience) to Break Into Scripted Television | with Marcella Garcia Ep134: Leveraging Your Skills to Get Hired (When You Don't Have the Experience) | with Steve Lang, ACE (pt1) Ep135: The “Playbook” For Building a Successful Career in Scripted TV | with Steve Lang, ACE (pt2) Continue to Listen & Learn Ep141: Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Career (Instead of Checkers) - pt1 Ep142: Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Health & Well-Being (Pt2) I need help making a career transition | Optimize Yourself Ep104: How to Keep Working As An Editor (After You've Made the Transition From AE) | with Susan Vaill, ACE How to Find the Right Type of Mentor For You (and When You Should Seek the Best) How to Go From Cold Contact to Your Ideal Mentor In Seven Simple Steps IMDbPro for Networking: The 10 Features That Will Take Your Outreach to a New Level Ep80: How to Avoid Getting Pigeonholed, The ‘Concentric Circles of Networking' & More | with Doc Crotzer, ACE The Socially Awkward Introvert's Guide to Networking with Industry “Experts” Ep126: On the Importance of Building Relationships, Asking Questions, and Never Giving Up | with Andi Armaganian Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Hello to all of my Optimizer readers & listeners. Today's episode is gonna be a little different in that I'm not the host, I'm the guest. This is a recent interview I did with Michael Bauman on the Success Engineering podcast. You will hear me talk very candidly about the identity crisis I suffered several years ago while seemingly at the height of my career editing Empire when I was spending months on end putting my kids to bed via Facetime and realized I didn't want to live that way anymore. You'll learn how I slowly chipped away at the incredible case of Imposter syndrome that I had around building the Optimize Yourself program as well as some deeply emotional stories about why I do what I do. I highly recommend you check out Michael's work on the Success Engineering website where you will find blog posts, book summaries from the 4 books that Michael used to help him optimize his own life, and of course his podcast episodes at successengineering.org. So now without further adieu my interview with Michael Bauman over at Success Engineering. → Click here to go to the full interview page at the Success Engineering podcast → Click here to go to Success Engineering home page

Zack Arnold is an award-winning Hollywood film and television editor having done work on Glee, Empire, Burn Notice, and most recently Cobra Kai. He is the creator of the Optimize Yourself program and host of the Optimize Yourself podcast which is about intentionally prioritizing work-life balance while optimizing creativity and productivity. When he is not doing that he is running Tough Mudders, Spartan Races, and training to be a contestant on America Ninja Warrior on top of being a loving dad and husband!This episode is a perfect demonstration of the emptiness behind the appearance of success. He was editing work that was seen by over 25million people but his son asked "Why doesn't daddy love us and want to put us to bed?" He completely changed his life after that point and he talks about how you can too, one small step at a time!Website:Optimize YourselfPodcast:Optimize Yourself podcastI would love it if you left a review for the show! Simply write, either your favorite episode or the top insights that you have gained.Write a reviewIf you're interested in joining the SPI Pro community for an amazing group of entrepreneurs to help grow your business, check out the link below...SPI Pro Community

I created Optimize Yourself so that I could provide the resources to help creative professionals find fulfillment in their work and love what they do...but not at the expense of their health, their relationships, or their sanity. A natural extension of this is that we must be valued & respected for the work that we do. Without respect, no matter how much we love our jobs, our careers won't be sustainable and our passion will eventually become indifference (and sometimes even hatred). We become overworked, disrespected, and burned out. This is unfortunately what's happening right now to tens-of-thousands of below the line workers in the entertainment industry as clearly portrayed by the meteoric rise of the @IA_Stories Instagram account. In part because of the horror stories this account has amplified, The IATSE union and the AMPTP have come to a standstill in contract negotiations and the union is asking its members to vote and authorize a strike. This is a historic moment in the union's history, and it's important that all of us understand what is truly at stake beyond the deal points and the percentages. That's why I decided to have an “All-hands-on-deck” call with my Optimizer coaching & mentorship community to provide an open forum where union and non-union members alike could ask their questions, voice their opinions, and gain a better understanding of the true impact this pending vote (and strike) can have on our industry for decades to come. Whether you are in the union or you work freelance outside the union, this conversation will (hopefully) answer your questions and paint a clear picture of why you need to be paying attention to this issue. If you haven't yet read my latest article, Dear Hollywood: If We Don't Speak Up Now, The Industry As We Know It Will Never Be The Same (It's Gut Check Time), I encourage you to check it out as it provides even more context to this timely and important conversation. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: How does the current IATSE contract dispute impact non-union workers? This negotiation outcome will be a sea change in the way we advocate for ourselves. Why we need to band together and present a united front. What does is mean if we vote yes to authorize a strike? What exactly is IATSE and who are the members involved? The red ant- black ant analogy and what we should really be focused on. KEY TAKEAWAY: We need our message to reach the other IATSE locals so they understand what is at stake and can make an informed vote. When we talk about producers in this context, we are talking about the studios and the producers at AMPTP. To support our cause, union and non-union members can sign this petition on Action Network. How do we address the issue that working less hours = less pay? What ‘lifestyle creep' is and how it cripples us. One way to help alleviate fears is to create a fund to help people pay their bills. If such a fund is created, I pledge to personally put $1000 into it. Why it's important to understand the problems of the people above you and the people we are negotiating with. The only thing that will make it change is if we no longer meet those unreasonable expectations. How voting works within the guilds to vote for a strike authorization. Director Sam Lavin weighs in about the situation and gives a director's perspective. Canceling our streaming services is not the way to fight back. It comes down to how willing we are to set boundaries to protect ourselves. Ricardo is seeing younger generation of workers stepping up and setting boundaries for themselves so there is hope for the future. Please vote with your heart and do what you feel is right as long as you have all the information you need. If you can't vote, please spread the word to the right people so they understand what the conversation is about. Useful Resources Mentioned: Dear Hollywood: If We Don't Speak Up Now, The Industry As We Know It Will Never Be The Same (It's Gut Check Time) Tell AMPTP to Give Film and Television Workers a Fair Deal IATSE Stories (@ia_stories) • Instagram photos and videos Continue to Listen & Learn Dear Hollywood: If We Don't Speak Up Now, The Industry As We Know It Will Never Be The Same (It's Gut Check Time) Dear Hollywood: We Create Entertainment For a Living. We're Not Curing Cancer Dear Hollywood: We're Not “Lucky to Be Here,” You're Lucky to Have Us Dear Hollywood: Loving What We Do Makes Us Easy to Exploit. Here's Why. Dear Hollywood: It's Time For An Intervention About the Hours We Work I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here's What I Did About It. Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian Ep112: On Signing COVID Waivers, Kit Rental Fees, and Working Humane Hours | with Cathy Repola, MPEG National Executive Director Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy Ep149: How Modern Society Is Damaging Your Brain (and the Simple Steps to Reverse It) | with Dr. Dave Jenkins Ep82: Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael Kammes Ep01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression with Dr. Edison de Mello Our Generous Sponsor: This episode was brought to you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat (my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation) and now their latest product. New Standard Whole Protein is a blend of both whey and collagen, sourced from the highest quality ingredients without any of the unnecessary filler or garbage. Not only will you get more energy and focus from this protein powder, you will notice improvements in your skin, hair, nails, joints and muscles. And because they don't spend a lot on excessive marketing and advertising expenses, the savings gets passed on to you. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

USE SOILS 10 Step Charter Gary@bcilean.com Intro Music Created by the World Famous Joey T! JoeyTbeats@gmail.com  20 Growth Principles 1. Whether you think you can or you can't, either way you are right (Mindset) 2. Discomfort leads to growth. 3. Optimize Yourself before you optimize others. 4. Responsibility is accepting that you are the cause & the solution of the matter. 5. Finding problems is easy, finding solutions is difficult. 6. Keep asking why: solve the root-cause of problems. 7. If you want things to change, then be the change: Act, 8. If it's important, make it visible.  9. Measure what matters and celebrate success. 10. Focus on what you can control, not what you can't. 11. Eliminate Waste so that only value remains. 12. Arrange your environment so that it is safe and efficient.  13. Put energy into relationships that matter. 14. Small steps in the right direction lead to big improvements. 15. Without standards there can be no improvement 16. Failing to plan is a plan for failure. 17. Start one finish one – one-piece flow – Don't multi-task. 18. You can learn from anyone: humility.  19. If you're not moving forward, you are moving backwards. 20. “Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” – Leonardo da Vinci

In case you missed the announcement, the Optimize Yourself podcast is currently on summer hiatus, but that doesn't mean we plan to leave you high and dry without engaging conversations that educate, motivate, and inspire you. We'll be back this fall with some significant changes and improvements to the show, but in the meantime… ...this week I'd like to share a fairly recent interview I did with Steve Hulfish on his Art of the Cut podcast which is now a part of the Frame.io world. In this interview Steve and I do a deep dive into my work as an editor on Cobra Kai, both creatively and how I strategically landed my dream job, we talk about my larger career, what really drives me, and of course we talk at least a little bit about staying active at the office with a bit of bonus talk about my training for American Ninja Warrior. I can't recommend Art of the Cut highly enough if you want to listen to the top editors in the world talk about their craft. You can find it via your podcast app of choice or by visiting Frame.io Insider at blog.frame.io. And now without further adieu my interview with Art of the Cut and Steve Hullfish. → Click here to go to the full interview page at Art of the Cut podcast → Click here to go to Frame.io Insider home page

In case you missed the announcement, the Optimize Yourself podcast is currently on summer hiatus, but that doesn't mean we plan to leave you high and dry without engaging conversations that educate, motivate, and inspire you. We'll be back this fall with some significant changes and improvements to the show, but in the meantime… ...this week I'd like to share an interview I did with Javier Mercedes for his show Passion In Progress where Javier inspires his listeners to get out and pursue their passions by interviewing creators about their successes, failures, and wisdom gained from putting in the work, as he puts it. I'm really excited about sharing this conversation specifically because Javier and I go deep specifically about the concept of finding and defining your deeper why so that you can really have a sense of purpose and direction with your work and your life. If you want to follow Javier and all the work he's doing in addition to this podcast interview just go to javiermercedes.com….And now without further adieu my Passion In Progress interview with Javier Mercedes. → Click here to go to the full interview page at Passion In Progress podcast → Click here to go to Passion In Progress home page

In case you missed the announcement, the Optimize Yourself podcast is currently on summer hiatus, but that doesn't mean we plan to leave you high and dry without engaging conversations that educate, motivate, and inspire you. We'll be back this fall with some significant changes and improvements to the show, but in the meantime… ...this week I'd like to share with you another interview I did last summer with Tanya Musgrave of The Practical Filmmaker, where we also discussed my viral article: Dear Hollywood: We Don't Want to Go Back to Normal. Normal Wasn't Working. In this interview we specifically talk about how to set boundaries for yourself and how reducing set hours can not only save our health and our sanity but even save productions money. I highly recommend Tanya's Practical Filmmaker podcast which can be found at thepracticalfilmmaker.com. And now without further adieu my The Practical Filmmaker interview with Tanya Musgrave. → Click here to go to the full interview page at The Practical Filmmaker podcast → Click here to go to The Practical Filmmaker home page

In case you missed the announcement, the Optimize Yourself podcast is currently on summer hiatus, but that doesn't mean we plan to leave you high and dry without engaging conversations that educate, motivate, and inspire you. We'll be back this fall with some significant changes and improvements to the show, but in the meantime… ...this week I'd like to share with you an interview I did last year with Erica Wernick, the host of Hollywood Success Coach, who reached out to me to discuss my article that went viral: Dear Hollywood - We Don't Want to Go Back to Normal. Normal Wasn't Working. We talk about what isn't working about how Hollywood does business and treats its creative professionals and below-the-line workers. I have no doubt this will be a very interesting listen one year out with a lot more perspective about how things have changed (or haven't) since the pandemic began. I highly recommend Erica's show and her work as a coach. She and her podcast can be found at hollywoodsuccesscoach.com. And now without further adieu my Hollywood Success Podcast interview with Erica Wernick. → Click here to go to the full interview page at The Hollywood Success podcast → Click here to go to The Hollywood Success home page

In case you missed the announcement, the Optimize Yourself podcast is currently on summer hiatus, but that doesn't mean we plan to leave you high and dry without engaging conversations that educate, motivate, and inspire you. We'll be back this fall with some significant changes and improvements to the show, but in the meantime… ...this week I'd like to share with you a recent interview I did with Alex Ferrari for his Indie Film Hustle podcast. We talk about a variety of topics including my work on Cobra Kai, how to maintain optimal health despite the challenges that come with being a very sedentary creative professional, and how I balance being a semi-retired editor with being an online entrepreneur, podcaster, and online coach. I highly recommend Alex's podcast Indie Film Hustle as well as his other shows Bulletproof Screenwriting, and Filmtrepreneur, all of which can be found at indiefilmhustle.com. And now without further adieu my Indie Film Hustle interview with Alex Ferrari. → Click here to go to the full interview page at Indie Film Hustle → Click here to go to Indie Film Hustle home page

Frustrated that you haven't stuck with your New Year's resolutions? Listen up. When our results don't measure up to our ambitious expectations, it is tempting to seek out dramatic, revolutionary changes, like in the movies. That strategy can be effective in many circumstances, but if it isn't working for you, consider taking a page out of nature's book. While dramatic events regularly occur in nature, by far the more common (but still very real) growth and change occurs evolutionarily, not revolutionarily. Tiny improvements, compounded by the consistency and time, create tremendous success. I discuss an exercise you can do alone or with a group, that can help you identify one or more tiny shifts you'd like to make in your life, right now. This is the kind of work that my students do in pillar one of the Ivy League Challenge, entitled "Optimize Yourself."Check out three episodes in season 1 if you'd like the science behind this strategy of tiny but consistent positive efforts. Those episodes are "Atomic Habits, episode 1, 2, &3."

Happy New Year IFH Tribe! We are starting 2021 with a bang. Today on the show with have Zack Arnold, an award-winning Hollywood film & television editor (Cobra Kai, Burn Notice, Empire, Shooter, Glee), member of the American Cinema Editors, a documentary director GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story, narrated by Mark Hamill), and creator of the Optimize Yourself program and podcast.Zach has been working on the #1 Netflix show Cobra Kai since season 2. If you haven't heard of Cobra Kai here's the skinny.Thirty-four years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now-successful Daniel LaRusso.Zack and I talk about Cobra Kai, how he became a healthy editor, what it was like working on some of the top shows on television, and how he retired early from editing, except Cobra Kai, of course, to run his own lucrative online business helping creatives optimize themselves.Enjoy my conversation with Zack Arnold.

Editor Zack Arnold, ACE was a devotee of The Karate Kid long before he joined the post team for seasons two and three of Cobra Kai .  As Zack puts it, "The Karate Kid was my Star Wars".  How he made the transition from fan on the couch to editor on the Avid was emblematic of Zack's "don't hold back" approach to life and career.  He knew what he wanted and he went for it.  And Zack's passion for the show and the work he's done comes through loud and clear in this episode of The Rough Cut.  Zack not only talks about how he got the job but also; the process of incorporating sights, sounds and themes from the original films...navigating your way through a montage...keeping sound simple in offline and avoiding the "Bourne" effect in fight scenes.  Plus, Zack explains why you should Optimize Yourself if you want to have a long, healthy, happy career in the film and television industry! Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs Get Zack's free Ultimate Guide for Making it in Hollywood as a 'Creative' Learn Avid for free with Media Composer | First Subscribe to Media Composer | Ultimate and get the best Avid has to offer Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube  

Today’s interview is a little bit different than you might be used to where I’d like to introduce you to the newest sponsor of the Optimize Yourself podcast: Evercast. If you’re a content creator or someone who works in the entertainment industry and you’ve never heard of Evercast, you need to because this technology has the potential to change the way you work and live in our post-pandemic reality. In the following conversation I chat with Roger Barton and Brad Thomas, the co-founders of Evercast. As Brad & Roger will talk about in our interview, Evercast is essentially the “Zoom for creatives,” a live streaming & video conferencing platform combined with blink-of-an-eye low latency that empowers you to collaborate from your workstation to anyone’s device worldwide. You can stream anything to anyone anywhere, but unlike Zoom, when it comes to live streaming video content, it actually works! The first time I was introduced to Evercast all I could think to myself was GAME. CHANGER. I cannot stress this enough, Evercast is changing the way we collaborate as creative professionals, whether you’re an editor like me or a director, producer, cinematographer, location scout, or just about any other job in the filmmaking industry. If you value your craft, your well-being, and spending quality time with the ones you love, Evercast now makes that possible for you and me. » Click here for a live demo to see Evercast in action Show Credits: This episode was edited by Chris Orsi, and the show notes were prepared by Zack Arnold and published by Glen McNiel. The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

It can be hard to set work-life boundaries when you know someone else could easily replace you.This week Zack Arnold, award-winning editor (Cobra Kai, Empire, Glee) talks of the article he wrote Dear Hollywood: We Don't Want to “Go Back to Normal.” Normal Wasn't Working, and shares how he learned to set boundaries to create a healthy work-life balance in the industry.Listen to Zack tell Tanya how reduced set hours saves production money, when to say no, and how his company, Optimize Yourself teaches how to overcome burnout.Show notes:Optimize YourselfOptimize Yourself PodcastSetting Boundaries in the Industry – Kory PollardDear Hollywood: It's Time For An Intervention About The Hours We WorkParkinson's LawZack's Guides  Key points:1:17- How he got started as an editor7:04- Experience during COVID9:33- About Optimize Yourself12:33- How to monetize his passion16:46- How have people responded to your article Dear Hollywood: We Don't Want to “Go Back to Normal.” Normal Wasn't Working20:47- Changes to help reduce hours22:56- Clock-in/clock-out old way of thinking25:16- Parkinson's Law27:57- How to overcome someone taking advantage of your time29:40- When to say no31:49- Indicator of being taken advantage of35:35- The word Lucky41:10- How much creative control he has as an editor45:05- Having to use bad takes48:37- The questions you ask determine the quality of your lifeGet the latest the There To Here: Film & Media Podcast sent to youFind more podcasts from CoLab INC Film & MediaFollow us on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterYouTube

Hello and welcome to a special episode of the Optimize Yourself podcast where I provide my written articles in audio form so you have the opportunity to listen instead of read if that’s your preference. My hope is that you’ll use this opportunity to get up and step away from your desk to build the habit of moving more throughout your workday. Today’s reading is for an article I wrote for Frame.io that’s all about building a workflow so you can summon your creativity on demand. » Click here to read the article at Frame.io   FREE 'DEEP WORK' MASTERCLASS If your livelihood as a creative professional depends on your ability to stay focused and consistently make good creative decisions, especially for long hours, then the ability to focus is quite possibly the most important skill you have to master if you want a long and successful career. And luckily I have just the training for you. This week only beginning September 3rd through September 10th I’m offering you free access to my 4-part online Masterclass ‘How to Build the Habit of Deep Work.  In this 100% FREE Online Masterclass You'll Learn: How to better manage your creativity and train your focus like a marathon runner instead of a sprinter The #1 tool to master to skyrocket your creativity and productivity (Hint: It's not Trello or any other fancy productivity app on the planet...it's much simpler than you think) How to rearrange your work environment and daily work habits to summon creativity at the snap of a finger (without constantly waiting for super-tight deadlines so you can avoid procrastinating) Strategies to design your 'soundscape' and your work area to minimize distractions and interruptions The 'Back to One Technique' which will make it virtually impossible for you to get stuck staring at the dreaded 'Blank Timeline' ever again  Every tool and strategy I recommend to master the art of 'Time Blocking' You can join this masterclass anytime between Sep 3rd and 10th by visiting optimizeyourself.me/focus. I look forward to seeing you there! Be well. Zack Arnold

In this episode we are taking some time to focus on the mental and overall health of editors. Laura Di Vilioa registered psychotherapist and Zack Arnold, ACE offer us a wealth of information on how we can live happier and more productive lives both in and out of the edit suite. Laura has been working as a psychotherapist for over 25 years and her experience has taught her how best to help clients gain insight, healing and inspiration. She uses a relational approach to depth-oriented psychotherapy which facilitates deep, lasting change. Laura is based in Toronto, Ontario. Zack Arnold, ACE is an award-winning Hollywood film and television editor based in LA. You can see his work on ​Cobra Kai, Empire, Burn Notice, Shooter and Glee, just to name a few​. He is also a documentary director, and creator of the ​Optimize Yourself program and podcast. He helps editors work smarter and not harder so they can do the best creative work they're capable of...without sacrificing their sanity in the process. Resources from Laura: Apps to help with depression and anxiety SuperBetter & SuperBetter at Work were developed by a game designer Jane McGonigal to help with her concussion symptoms. She uses games to improve psychological well- being. See her Ted Talk. She also has a book by the same name. Headspace meditation app that makes meditating easy. They provide really good meditation instructions as well as meditations that are as short as 1 minute. Happify claims that its games can help increase your happiness and reduce stress while teaching you life-changing habits.  Sanvello provides space for you to track your moods, health, and habits, offering relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises tailored to your specific needs. It also offers curated audio exercises to deploy if you are having a panic attack. Worry Watch helps you track your mental state over time by asking you first to write down the cause of your stress, and later asks you to return to the app to reflect on the worry and note whether the ultimate outcome was good or bad. TalkSpace matches users with licensed therapists in their area almost instantly. Brain.fm In its own words, the goal of Brain.fm, an app developed in consultation with neuroscientists, is “unlocking music's potential to influence cognitive states.” Books for dealing with anxiety and depression Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns Mind Over Mood, Second Edition: Change How you feel by changing the way you think. by Dennis Greenberger Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety Paperback – Jul 7 2015 by Robert Duff Ph.D.  Books for dealing with Work Drama: The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change by Adam Braun The No A**hole Rule by Robert l. Sutton Bossypants by Tina Fey Websites School of Life. The School of Life is a global organization helping people lead more fulfilled lives. A resource for helping people understand themselves, for improving relationships, careers and social lives. They do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community which you can connect to on their app. Resources from Zack: Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Your Creativity (And Avoiding Burnout) Optimixe Yourself Podcast A special thanks goes to Bryan Atkinson, James Vandewater, Katie Chipperfield, Krysia Szyszlo, Alison Dowler and Jane MacRae. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Sarah Taylor Main Title Sound Design by Jane Tattersall ADR Recording by Andrea Rusch Mixed and Mastered by Tony Bao Original Music by Chad Blain Sponsor Narration by Paul Winestock

I sit down with documentary director, Hollywood film & television editor, productivity nerd, and the creator of the Optimize Yourself program, Zack Arnold. We take a look at how he blended his knowledge of athletics and creative performance to build a business he’s crazy about and deep-dive into ways to optimize yourself and your business using productivity tools. What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔️ Why You Should Strive For Work-Life Presence Over Balance ✔️ The Worst Thing You Can Do To Generate Ideas ✔️ Clever Ways To Problem Solve Differently ✔️ The 3 Things To Nail In Order To Accomplish Anything ✔️ How To Attain The Sweet Spot Of Staying Focused ✔️ Strategies To Pace Yourself And Your Energy ✔️ The Best Way To Reach Default Mode Where Your Creativity Is The Highest ✔️ So Much More! This was an awesome discussion with Zack I hope you enjoy. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk!   Show Notes Schedule Your Discovery Call with me to find out how we can work together to accelerate your success.

Hello and welcome to a special episode of the Optimize Yourself podcast where I provide my written articles in audio form so you have the opportunity to listen instead of read if that’s your preference. My hope is that you’ll use this opportunity to get up and step away from your desk to build the habit of moving more throughout your workday. Today’s reading is for an article I wrote for Frame.io titled “The Ten Commandments of Working with Editors.” » Click here to read the whole article at Frame.io Curmudgeon. Loner. Keyboard monkey. Cave dweller. Hermit. These are just a few of the choice names many have come to associate with those of us who edit for a living. And they’re not 100% wrong. Stereotypes often emerge from a grain of truth. There’s no question that editors are unique creative creatures that are often misunderstood by producers, directors, and clients: We more often than not prefer to work alone. We don’t get a whole lot of sun (not familiar with “The Sun?” Here, let me Google that for you). We can be ridiculously OCD about “our way” of doing things. We don’t like to be told what to do. And we get really snappy when you touch our keyboards (sorry about that, it’s nothing personal). If you’re a producer or client sitting on the couch in an edit suite struggling to understand what makes your editor tick, and you’d like a better understanding of how we operate, I hope the following “commandments” will give you some important insights. [Author’s Note: I totally get that “editor” encompasses a wide range of job types. For those of you specifically in the Fortune 500 agency world, for example, it may be routine for the editor and producers to sit together during a session. I assure you, whether you’re with your editor every day in his or her suite, or collaborating cross-country with a tool like Frame.io, you will have a superior working relationship with your editor if you adopt the spirit of these commandments—which will yield a superior end product. And that’s something we all want.] The Ten Commandments of Working with Editors Thou shalt respect each editor’s unique personality. Thou shalt understand the creative process takes time. Thou shalt be patient and understand that “we will get there.” Thou shalt not micromanage the process. Thou shalt understand we report to multiple people. Thou shalt maintain the position of “collaborator.” Thou shalt not “play around” with our cuts (or touch our stuff). Thou shalt accept that editors are not technical wizards. Thou shalt accept that not everything can be “fixed in post.” Thou shalt accept that editing is our career and our passion—but it’s not our life.  

Click to Download Audio Summer is officially here which means the first season of the Optimize Yourself Podcast has come to a close (don't worry...I'll be back right after Labor Day). I cannot express enough how grateful I am to all of my listeners who inspire me to keep this program alive every single day. Please feel free to continue reaching out and sharing your stories (and your challenges) with me. I read every single message I receive. It is my belief that it's no longer necessary to sacrifice your health (and your sanity) in pursuit of your creative career or your business, and in season 2 I promise to continue finding the best experts I can to help design the optimized version of you...one small action step at a time. Since entering the world of podcasting 4 years ago now (it's been four years already???) I've interviewed over 150 people ranging from world-class experts in many different fields to everyday people sharing their personal journeys, their challenges, and their triumphs. I learn something profound and meaningful from every single interview, and I hope that you do as well. While choosing my favorite episodes (and your favorite episodes) from the past year is like choosing my favorite child, I've done my best based on user feedback, download statistics, and my own personal feelings as well. Below are my top 10 favorite podcast interviews from Season 1. 1. Breaking 'Bad' From Assistant to Editor | with Kelley Dixon, ACE Click here for this episode's show notes Kelley Dixon is simply a badass. She has edited some of the most iconic shows in television history including Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and The Walking Dead...to name a small few. What most people don't realize is that she spent over twenty years working as an assistant editor before becoming an "overnight success." This interview was EPIC, diving in for over 2 1/2 hours into the intricacies of Kelley's journey from the bottom to the top. We also discuss her ninja-like strategies for perfecting her craft despite working long and demanding hours as an assistant. 2. Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression | with Dr. Edison de Mello Click here for this episode's show notes This is the first episode of the Optimize Yourself podcast, and that's by design. One of the fundamental themes I revisit in all of my podcasts, articles, and my online courses is the idea of optimizing creativity. Unfortunately if you are blessed with creative abilities, they often come at a price. And that price is battling mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout. In this interview I do a deep dive into the link between creativity and mental health issues with the man who saved my life many years ago, Dr. Edison de Mello of The Akasha Center For Integrative Medicine. 3. How to Rewrite Your Own Story | with Dr. Steven Isaacman Click here for this episode's show notes I recorded this episode more for my own personal reasons than because I thought it would be popular, but it ended up being the 3rd most downloaded episode of the whole season! In this episode I do a deep dive into the practice of psychoanalysis and the stories we write for ourselves every single day that could be holding us back from achieving great things. Dr. Steven Isaacman and I also have an in-depth discussion about the dreaded 'imposter syndrome' and how to overcome it when you work in creative fields. 4. The Disciplined Pursuit of Less | with Greg McKeown Click here for this episode's show notes "Less. But Better." This is the mantra of best-selling author of Greg McKeown, and I couldn't agree more. This is one of my favorite episodes because Greg takes a very honest approach towards all the noise and busy-ness we deal with in society today, and he helps us understand what is required to truly prioritize our lives properly and say "No" to everything urgent in our lives. If you want to start focusing on achieving important things in your life (and start ignoring the urgent), this episode is a must-listen. 5. FOCUS: The Superpower of the 21st Century | with Cal Newport Click here for this episode's show notes Cal Newport is quite possibly one of the world's foremost experts on the concept of 'Deep Work,' and we wasted no time diving deep into what is required to regularly get into this mental state to achieve maximum levels of creative flow. I learned a ton from this interview that I am now incorporating into my upcoming Focus Yourself online program, and if you feel like you're constantly distracted with no real direction, it's time to start developing focus as your next superpower. 6. How to Reverse Depression, Anxiety, and ADD at the Genetic Level | with Dr. Ben Lynch Click here for this episode's show notes The work that Dr. Ben Lynch is doing in the world of genetic testing and diagnosis is absolute LIFE. CHANGING. Having battled anxiety and depression for over a decade now I've experimented with numerous supplement and prescription medication routines, much of which was trial & error. But thanks to new technology from companies like 23andMe we can now get an accurate picture of our unique genetic makeup. Unfortunately most of the data is near-impossible to interpret, but that's where Dr. Lynch comes in. His "Clean Genes" protocol helps you understand your unique genetic code and also design the right lifestyle changes to optimize your own genetic expression. Of all of the episodes I released this year, this episode has received the most profound feedback from my listeners. 7. Finding Your 'One Thing' | with Jay Papasan Click here for this episode's show notes Whenever listeners and readers reach out to me confused about where to go with their careers or how to improve their health, often times the biggest problem is they have too many goals, too many priorities, and too many different projects they are taking on at one time. Thanks to Jay Papasan, co-author of the best-selling book 'The One Thing," there is now a simple formula to figure out the most impactful actions you can take to see the most results in your life. There isn't a single day that goes by for me when I don't ask myself, "What is the ONE THING I can do today such that by doing it everything else becomes easier (or unnecessary)?" 8. Your 'Smart' Phone Is Killing Your Creativity | with Kevin Holesh Click here for this episode's show notes Talking about the exploding epidemic of tech addiction is one of my favorite subjects, and in this episode I do a deep dive into specifically being addicted to "smart" phones (which in my opinion could just as easily be called "dumb" phones, because that's what they're doing to us). My guest is Kevin Holesh who designed the wonderful app Moment which is basically a Fitbit for your phone usage. Not only can it help you more clearly understand how much you're using your phone on a daily basis, the app can also help you drastically cut back on your addiction to your "smart" phone. 9. How to Tell Good Stories | with Jeff Bartsch Click here for this episode's show notes Storytelling has been my life's work for almost twenty years, and in this episode I chat with fellow film editor and Story Greenlight founder Jeff Bartsch about the components required to tell great stories. This applies to anyone who works in creative fields, not just editor or writers like us. But more importantly, not only do we discuss how to tell good stories, we discuss the importance of being able to tell your own story. 10. The Right Way to Network In Hollywood | with Chris Visser Click here for this episode's show notes I'm probably a bit biased when recommending this episode as one of my favorites, but that's because the guest Chris Visser is my (current) assistant editor. In this episode we do a deep dive into Chris' approach to building a relationship with me over time and networking the right way to become an integral part of my team. For anyone who's a socially awkward introvert struggling to build a professional network, this is a must-listen.   I'd love to know in the comments below, which was your favorite interview of this season? What would you like to learn more about Season 2?

Click to Download Audio Depression. Burnout. Imposter Syndrome. I’ll take “3 Things I’d Rather Not Admit That I’ve Experienced” for $1000, Alex! In today’s society we are conditioned to believe that we have to show up to work every single day, all day, for ridiculously long days, and always be able to perform at an equally high level. The expectation is that we should be able to summon creativity on demand, and while it is possible to learn how to do so on a more consistent basis, it’s just not realistic to expect that you can push yourself at 100% capacity all the time. Subsisting off Red Bull, M&M’s, and pizza definitely doesn’t help either despite that being the standard diet in most creative office spaces. And if you’re a woman in a male-dominated field, let’s just say the deck is not stacked in your favor either. I’ve shared my story more than once about the many times I’ve experienced depression, burnout, and imposter syndrome throughout my career, and in today’s episode I’ll be sharing more of my experiences alongside my guest Genevieve Malone, the founder of The Inertia Project who is also a civil engineer as well as a competitor in the sport of female bodybuilding, specifically as a figure competitor. Genevieve founded The Inertia Project to empower other women to take control of their lives and habits, but if you’re a guy listening today, don’t let that scare you away. Even though Gen specializes in working with women, she has plenty of killer tips & tricks for the men out there as well. She focuses on fun, quick, effective workouts and incorporates behavior change techniques to make the changes stick. If after listening you’d like to start taking real action, Gen has been kind enough to provide a bonus for this episode. It includes: A shopping list with healthy recipes using food to stay alert and focused all day long 3 energizing workouts to sharpen your focus and prevent burnout Her “Crystal Ball Technique” to harness the power of visualization » Click here to download Gen's amazing Bonus Guide for this episode Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: What burnout looks like, the ugly side, especially when dealing with "Imposter syndrome" Going from a civil engineer to a female body builder Framing failure as a learning experience, especially if it leads to depression and burnout Habit stacking and visualization to go from unlikely behaviors to likely behaviors Dealing with common misconceptions around being a body builder Processing depression in the midst of becoming a public figure Evaluating the standards you define yourself by in the wake of burnout Relieving yourself of the obligation to help people and giving yourself permission to fail The simplest steps you can take to move towards health while in the throes of depression Useful Resources Mentioned: The Intertia Project Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter. Guest Bio: Genevieve founded The Inertia Project to empower other women to take control of their lives and habits. She focuses on fun, quick, effective workouts and incorporates behavior change techniques to make the changes stick. On top of running TIP, she works full-time in a demanding field – so she knows a thing or two about living the Side Hustle life while trying to not go insane. Genevieve put together a special bonus for the Optimize Yourself listeners to help them in their journey – [click here for more!] Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Jakin Rintelman. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love! The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Click to Download Audio [Dad•bod] (noun): A male body type that is best described as "softly round." The type of physique a man "earns" when the increasing pressures of work life, married life, and especially fatherhood no longer allow him the time or drive to maintain a hard, toned figure. As a result, what was once a sculpted, chiseled frame digresses into a soft, flabby heaping pile of “I Don't Give A Shit Anymore.” A male who is usually over 30 years old that used to be jacked or in good shape, or an ex-athlete who is now an average Joe Blow with kids. Usually also hairy. Yup. Urban Dictionary1 pretty much nailed it, but they missed one small detail: They didn’t provide a photo. I’ll spare them the research. This was me just 3 months ago, the only day in my life I’ve ever tipped the scale over 200 pounds. And that one single day was more than enough to remind me I’m way closer to forty than thirty, and “getting back into shape” isn’t going to get any easier the longer I put it off. January 1st, 2018: 200.7 pounds, 38” waist, 25.3% body fat It was this very moment when I decided “Tomorrow” is no longer a day of the week on MY calendar. Given I spent ten years of my teens and early twenties obsessively training for a black belt in martial arts (and living in the weight room), and knowing it was only a few years ago that I crushed P90X2 and completed my first Spartan Trifecta, the only question that continually ran through my mind when I saw “200.7” on the scale was: “How the hell did I get here?”   It didn’t take long to do the math. 15 years of 12+ hour days living behind a computer (under constant stress...in the dark) Thousands of afternoon snacks in front of the television watching raw footage or reviewing cuts (because after a hard morning, “I deserved it”) 7 years of sleep deprivation after having two kids (they’re now 8 and 6, so I finally have sleep under control again) Only prioritizing exercise when I was training for events instead of turning it into a lifestyle choice and a regular weekly habit A lifetime of being a workaholic and prioritizing my career ahead of my well being Worst of all...2017 was not kind to me. I frequently refer to it as “The Lost Year.” According to my public profile I crushed it: I edited the pilot, finale, and two additional episodes of the limited TV series Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac & The Notorious B.I.G., I achieved the lifelong dream of becoming a member of the American Cinema Editors (ACE), and I rebranded from ‘Fitness In Post’ and launched ‘Optimize Yourself’ shortly after running a successful 5-day fitness challenge with over 1100 participants on six continents (I still can’t win over Antarctica). I found myself in the fetal position thinking, ‘My family would be better off without me.’ What you won’t learn about me on my IMDB page or Facebook is that I spent half of 2017 battling the second worst case of burnout I’ve ever faced that included months of writer’s block, debilitating social anxiety, and more than one occasion of suicidal depression where I found myself in the fetal position thinking, “My family would be better off without me.” Regular exercise and proper diet were distant memories in 2017. I spent six straight weeks between projects binging seven seasons of Shark Tank with a never-ending bowl of popcorn in one hand and Oreo’s in the other. And my daily fitness goal was attempting a 15 minute walk around the block without stopping to rest from exhaustion. (I failed more than I succeeded.) Listen here to learn more about how I dug myself out of the dark hole of depression by learning how to “rewrite my story.” So then what business does an out of shape television editor with a killer “Dad bod” have thinking he can legitimately compete against some of the top athletes on the planet on the show American Ninja Warrior? If you’re not familiar with the nationwide phenomenon that is ‘ANW,’ below I have provided clips of my two favorite runs of all time from then-rookie and now superstar Kevin Bull, as well as Jessie Graff (both of whom I’m convinced are superhuman).     On paper I clearly have no business training for one of the most competitive sports on the planet that requires ridiculous amounts of skill, strength, balance, coordination, and lightning speed: At 38, I’m “too old” to be running around on obstacle courses As a father of two with a demanding career I don’t have 3 hours a day, 6 days per week to train like a professional athlete I’ve never done a single day of gymnastics in my life (I can’t even do a cartwheel) My only prior knowledge of parkour comes courtesy of Michael Scott and his crew at “The Office” (Parkour!!!) Until a few months ago I had never done any rock climbing...ever At the lowest point of my depression last year, I could barely muster a single pull-up Therefore, the only sane question that comes to mind is…”Why?” My response is simply...“Why not?” It’s About More Than Just the Obstacles Despite the show being in its 6th season at the time, I only first heard of American Ninja Warrior (ANW) a few years ago when a YouTube video went viral of Kacy Catanzaro completing a city finals course...the first woman ever to do so (she is 5’ 0”, by the way). I watched the video thinking, “Wow, that looks kinda cool. Good for her.” And that was it. Not knowing much about the show at the time, I frankly thought it was a fancier version of “Wipeout.” A few months after, my kids starting watching ANW during their summer break. At first I would walk past and watch for one or two minutes, but given I spent the last several years running Spartan Races and Tough Mudders, I quickly became intrigued and soon found myself sitting with them and binge-watching the show for hours at a time. What drew me to ANW was not the physical feats of superhuman strength, balance, and coordination. Sure the obstacles were cool, but what was so compelling were the personal stories and journeys of each of the participants, many of whom were completely “regular” people with normal jobs and families. They weren’t professionals performing for millions of dollars per year. These were people paying their own way to travel and be on that course (some of whom waited in line for weeks) because they had a mission, a larger purpose to fulfill, and people in their lives that needed a little inspiration. Participant Zach Gowen running with one leg Frankly, many of the contestants had no business being there at all. Some of them were too short. Others were too old. One guy had a prosthetic leg, and another guy didn’t have a leg at all! Some participants were former athletes out to prove something, but other contestants were postal workers, farmers, teachers, computer programmers, engineers, maintenance workers, meteorologists, and ER doctors...just to name a few. Perhaps the greatest thing about ANW is that they fully embrace female participation...but the women have to beat the exact same course as the men. Women like Kacy Catanzaro, Jessie Graff, Meagan Martin, Barclay Stockett, caregiver Jesse Labreck, and elementary school teacher Allyssa Beird, are all examples of female participants who have completed insane courses the vast majority of the men couldn't. Name one other sport where women are allowed to compete at the same level with the men. Some of the top female ANW athletes The one constant across every season of the show is that all the participants are real people willing to push themselves outside their comfort zones to achieve something amazing in their lives and bring hope and inspiration to the most important people around them (not to mention the millions of people they inspire around the world). Hmm...the idea of someone faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles who overcame them to achieve their goals. Sound familiar? Tell Me Something Can’t Be Done...I’ll Show You How It Can Be Done By the end of my kids’ summer break ANW had become a full-blown family obsession (It’s now basically the only show we watch together), and on more than one occasion I found myself thinking, “Wouldn’t that be awesome to do? I think I could do that.”  Many would leave it at that and go back to their daily lives (at least the sane people). For me, the phrase “Wouldn’t that be awesome to do?” has a much deeper meaning. It is the word-for-word phrase that I heard over and over for seven straight years while producing and directing the documentary film GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story about the first quadriplegic with muscular dystrophy to become a licensed scuba diver.  Watch the first quadriplegic with muscular dystrophy become a licensed scuba diver Dedicating seven years of my life to telling Christopher’s story taught me many profound life lessons, but the one lesson that sticks out far above all others is the simplest of concepts: Everyone has a disability. Chris was fond of saying  that “Everyone has a disability.” His disability was neuromuscular - he simply had no physical strength. For others it might be their sight, their hearing, a genetic disease, their financial status, or mental health issues. If you just resign and say you can’t do something because of your disabilities, then you are fundamentally cheating yourself out of the richness that your other abilities will provide for you. - Christopher Rush Every single person who competes on American Ninja Warrior has their own disability. Every. Single. One. While most of the athletes may appear superhuman, the only difference is they have chosen to focus on their abilities, not make excuses because of their disabilities. I can think of hundreds of reasons why I can’t compete, but I have no intention of cheating myself or my family of the richness this opportunity could provide us. Therefore I only need one reason to try...because I can. Welcome to the “Discomfort Zone” If a teenager without the use of his arms or legs has the courage to be weighted down, thrown into the water, and he can fearlessly swim the depths of the Cayman Islands with a smile on his face, I think I can muster the courage to overcome my own disabilities and climb the ‘Warped Wall.’ I  can get over my fear of heights and become a rock climber. I can get over years of “having a bad back” and dive head first into Crossfit. I can get over a lifetime of social anxiety and hang out with a bunch of teenagers to learn Parkour. Most importantly, I can make the commitment to living life outside my comfort zone and accept that failures on a daily basis are just a necessary part of writing my new “origin story.” Gymnastics, rock climbing, and parkour might not be my things (yet). But summoning intense, ninja-like focus to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and achieve a truly meaningful goal that everyone says can’t be done? Yup...that’s tailor made for me.

Do you find yourself dreading doing something that you’re supposed to love, something that you originally got into because of passion that’s now faded? As Zack Arnold explains on today’s episode, there’s more to leading a successful life, putting out great, original work, and just plain feeling good than the work itself. Today he’s going to share with us how to optimize our lives and cultivate our creativity. Zack is an award-winning Hollywood film editor, working on shows such as Empire, Burn Notice and Glee, and has also created Optimize Yourself, a program to help people maximize their creativity, output and well-being. He shows us how by examining our current behaviors, and pinpointing the habits in our lives that lead to destructive thoughts which can inhibit our ability to maximize our creativity, we can start to turn the ship around. Things we as creatives often don’t consider, or think of as non-important like diet, exercise and sleep can have a drastic impact on the quality of the work we’re putting out, and ultimately our ability to put out any work at all. By analyzing your habits and tendencies, Zack believes that you can have a life measured by your own version of success. Zack has a ton of energy, great stories, as well as tips and tricks of ways to develop your creativity and positively impact your business and your life. Have you ever struggled with burnout, creative fatigue, unhealthy lifestyle, or any of the other symptoms Zack mentioned? If you got through them, what did it take to turn it around? If you’re there now, what resonated most with you from this episode? Let us know in the comments yo!   In This Episode: The importance of moving and staying in motion to increase your creativity How to ignore the toxic culture of deprivation-praising in the film industry The disease of multitasking and how it is killing your productivity and focus Learn the magic formula to help you time block   Quotes: “The first warning sign is, are you still enjoying what you are doing? For me, there is nothing more magical than sitting in front of an empty timeline and having a bunch of random stuff that I have to put together with colored blocks. I essentially get to play a game of Tetris all day with people’s emotions.” (17:40)  “The key is to define your version of success. People say, ‘success for me is high profile stuff and making a lot of money’ and that’s great. But do you realize the process you have to go through every single day to get to that point and are you willing to adjust your lifestyle to that?” (21:01) “Success isn’t a destination, success is a series of habitual actions every single day. Success is a habit.” (26:12) “Think about how you can optimize your creativity. Because my creativity is the number one investment I have in myself.” (35:15)   Links: Optimize Yourself Follow Optimize Yourself on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn   Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your productions!  

Happy New Year! I hope you had a fantastic, restful, and warm holiday. And by warm I'm not talking about the temperature, I'm talking about the time you spent with family and friends, no matter if it's in the 80's like in Los Angeles or 40 below like in Wisconsin where my parents live (I picked the right year to stay home). I spent an entire week completely off the grid and it was bliss. It was the best stay-cation ever spent with family and friends...and a lot of time goofing around with my kids. Probably the highlight of the week was playing at "DojoBoom," a new trampoline park and indoor obstacle course where we got to meet American Ninja Warrior superstar Kevin Bull! In my first newsletter of the new year I'd love to tell you all about what to expect from Optimize Yourself in 2018, but before doing so I want to focus on your dreams and aspirations, because helping you design the optimized version of you is the whole point of this program. January 1st is traditionally when most people begin to make "resolutions," but if you've been keeping up with my emails and podcasts, you know I'm not a big fan of making resolutions. Instead of vague resolutions like, "I want to get healthy," I set concrete goals and create daily habits, and I teach others to do the same in my online programs. Furthermore, I'm not starting to design my roadmap for 2018 today. I've already been working on it for weeks and today I hit the ground running. Plans have been made. Calendars are created. Budgets have been calculated. Now it's time to Get. Things Done. Whether or not you've already begun designing your optimized version of 2018 or not, I want to jumpstart your progress by helping you create (and stick with) your first healthy habit that will lead you closer to reaching your goals this year. » Click here to join the (FREE) 21-Day Healthy Habits Challenge What to expect in 2018 I will be making a few changes to the program this year as it evolves and grows, and I have high expectations for what I can achieve. Here's what's on the roadmap: 1) Expect a lot more articles (and less podcasts) Since beginning this program four and a half years ago (when it began as 'Fitness In Post') I always prioritized the podcast before anything else. This year that will change. Having now done over 150 interviews with experts in a wide range of fields all of the world, I've provided you with hundreds of hours of free content all of which is available to you on the site as well as iTunes. What I've learned, however, is that listening to podcasts is a commitment. And given that I prefer my interviews to be in-depth and over an hour long, that means so many people miss out on the lessons in this program because they don't have the time to listen. Therefore my #1 goal for this program this year is to reignite the blog and write more. Given that I'm still working a demanding full-time job editing a tv series and want to spend quality time with my family, if I'm going to write more articles on a regular basis, the podcast has to become a lower priority. To be clear, I'm not quitting the podcast. But I will be releasing fewer interviews (probably 2-3 per month). The idea is to release one new piece of content per week - sometimes a new podcast interview, and sometime an in-depth blog article. That way even if you only have 5 or 10 minutes free you can still skim an article and take away a few pointers that will help you improve the quality of your life with less of an investment of your time. 2) It's time to FOCUS Yourself 2018 is the year when 'Focus Yourself' becomes a reality. This will be an 8-week online learning program that will walk you through every single detailed step of how I prioritize, manage, and execute everything in my life. This will not be yet another productivity program that simply demonstrates the HOW, e.g. 'Learning Omnifocus' this will be an in-depth look at the science of focus, creative flow, and productivity and teach you WHY focus is so important, WHAT you need to be doing every day to maintain your focus, and then ultimately the HOW as well with tutorials on everything from inbox zero and managing social media to organizing your calendar and to-do list with Trello and Omnifocus, just to name a few small things. Expect the first round of beta enrollment to open up in February or March. » Click here to add your name to the waitlist and get a steep discount 3) 'Trello Made Easy' Is Coming... You've asked for it, and this year I'll be delivering it: A comprehensive look at how to use Trello from the ground up. This will be my next online course for LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda) titled 'Trello Essentials Training' designed for beginners unfamiliar with the brilliance of Trello. This will be different than my "Trello For Video Post-Production" course and apply to a much broader range of uses. Expect this course mid-year. I have high expectations for this year, and I hope you do as well. Because life is no fun living it within your comfort zone. Outside your comfort zone is where the magic really happens. Be well. Zack Arnold Creator, Optimize Yourself P.S. For the highest achievers on my list, if you're interested in challenging yourself and working with me 1-on-1, I still have one slot open for my 'Optimize Yourself Elite' coaching & mentorship program. Email me at contact (at) optimizeyourself (dot) me if you're interested in working with me over the next three months and achieving your biggest goal of 2018. Featured image courtesy of Nicolas Tissot on Unsplashed.com

“How can I break into Hollywood or advance in my creative career if there is no set path to follow?” is by far the most common question I receive via e-mail, when I speak at events, or when I teach at USC or online. Whenever someone sends me an email or Facebook message and asks, “Can I buy you coffee and pick your brain?” this is inevitably the big question they seek the answer to. Unlike doctors or lawyers, the path to being a successful film editor, writer, visual effects artist, animator, actor, or any other creative career is not a linear path, but here’s the secret nobody tells you: There are very specific steps you can follow to be successful, but you have to be willing to put in the time and take action consistently. The key is not discovering the path and following it, the key is learning the proper steps to forge your own unique path. In this episode I dive deep into what it really takes to break into or advance in the Hollywood post-production industry with none other than USC professor and former head of the editing track, Norman Hollyn. This is a two hour marathon episode so get comfortable. This was one of the most downloaded and shared 2-part episodes of my former podcast, but I thought it beneficial to combined it into a single episode and feature it as part of the Optimize Yourself program so new people just discovering this show wouldn’t have to dig for it because people have told me firsthand this interview was the difference between them landing a job or not landing it. The advice Norman gives is seriously that universal and that powerful, and it can be applied far beyond jobs in post-production. BONUS: If this episode inspires you to start taking some real action to get where you want to in Hollywood and land your dream job, I have great news because you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. I just released my brand new “Ultimate Guide to ‘Making It’ In Hollywood as a Creative” that is an absolute manifesto on the practical steps you can take to begin forging your own path to success. And if you’re not in Hollywood, trust me when I say that if these steps work here, they’ll work anywhere and apply to any creative field. This guide includes some of the exercises discussed in this episode as well as deeper dives into clarifying your goals, perfecting your craft, and expanding your social network so the right people know you’re awesome at what you do and beg you to work for them. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Develop your skill set and then build your network of people Consider looking for work and networking your full time job Use online resources, industry magazines, etc How to use Facebook and Twitter to help you make connections Put yourself out there and make yourself valuable to people Make sure you continue to hone your craft and advance your skill set Find out what you don’t know and get good feedback! Should you take free work? People skills and social skills are more important than you think Part of advancing in your career is being able to make choices Re-evaluating your goals is growth Being fiscally responsible will give you more choices and give you the freedom to take work that’s valuable to your career and not necessarily your bank account To be happy it’s important to acknowledge that third circle: Personal needs Write down your intentions and focus -- no matter how many drafts it takes! Useful Resources Mentioned: Below the Line crew listings A Classic Case of Post-Production Burnout Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter. This episode is made possible by the HumanCharger,  a revolutionary new light therapy device made specifically for people who spend long days in the dark and don’t get enough sunlight…i.e. You and me. Simply put in the earbuds for 12 minutes a day to receive your daily recommended dosage of UV-free white light. Doing so can drastically increase your energy, improve your mood, and increase mental alertness and focus.This device has literally changed my life and I use it every morning without fail. Use the code ‘OPTIMIZE’ to get 20% off your order. Guest Bio: Twitter|Facebook|LinkedIn Norman Hollyn has been described as a “media expert,” a reference to his experience in a wide variety of media types – in both the old and new media worlds. He is the co-producer and co-host of the videocast 2 Reel Guys. He is a long-time film, television and music editor (HEATHERS, THE COTTON CLUB, SOPHIE’S CHOICE, Oliver Stone’s WILD PALMS), and is a Full Professor and Head of the Editing Track at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. He is an author of nearly 100 articles and his internationally translated book, THE FILM EDITING ROOM HANDBOOK, has just been published in a fourth edition. His previous book, THE LEAN FORWARD MOMENT, also from Peachpit Press/Pearson, has been attracting great reviews worldwide. He has taught worldwide, including several workshops for the Royal Film Commission in Jordan, and schools in Shanghai and Beijing, China. He has taught at the Sundance Film Festival, and consults and speaks at major corporations such as Dreamworks Pictures, Pixar Animation, Forbes and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He has worked as an expert witness in legal cases involving the aesthetics or history of editing, and is partner in an Internet development firm. He can be reached at norman@normanhollyn.com. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Jakin Rintelman. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love! The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Creativity and mental health issues go together like peanut butter and jelly...or do they? According to the"Mad Genius Paradox," that may not be as true as we think. In the inaugural episode of the Optimize Yourself podcast I dive deep into the connection between creativity and mental health with Dr. Edison de Mello, the founder of the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine in Santa Monica, CA. Dr. D is one of the foremost experts in the country in integrative medicine and is literally one of the people who wrote the book on becoming board certified in this field. He is also the reason I’m still alive today, which you’ll learn more about more in this episode. Being a self-proclaimed workaholic I’ve fought my share of depression and burnout for two decades now, and it was very important to me for Dr. de Mello to be my first guest because I’ve discovered how rampant mental health issues are in creative fields like mine, and more importantly how difficult it is for people to reach out and ask for help because of all the stigmas that come with depression and burnout. If you’ve ever felt like you’re broken, weak, or that there’s something wrong with you, I ask you to please reconsider after listening to this conversation, because you are none of those things. Not only are you not broken or weak, if you work in a creative industry, what you are experiencing is not the exception, it’s most likely the rule. Dr. D. and I are going to help you understand what you are battling both emotionally and biologically, and more importantly, the steps you can take to get better for the long term. Balancing yourself is a fundamental component of the Optimize Yourself program, and I hope this episode helps you find some balance in your own life. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: The complex relationship between creativity and mental health How to become the most authentic version of yourself Eliminating the stigma of depression The life-saving work of Dr. Edison de Mello The cyclical nature of depression and anxiety Cultivating an awareness of your body’s stress language The danger of placing identity within work How you can take ownership of your wellness and rewrite your story The interpersonal importance of bodily care You can measure depression and anxiety no different than diabetes Depression’s physiological influences Fighting narratives of brokenness and weakness How to have a productive relationship with your practitioner Finding a doctor that gets to know you before he gets to know your symptoms Circadian rhythms and hormonal optimization Useful Resources Mentioned: The Akasha Center For Integrative Medicine Akasha Naturals Supplements Store FiP Podcast Ep07: Integrative Medicine (part 1) with Dr. Edison de Mello FiP Podcast Ep08: Integrative Medicine (part 2) with Dr. Edison de Mello FiP Podcast Ep18: The Science of Anxiety and Depression with Dr. Edison de Mello and Dr. Michael Mark FiP Podcast Ep32: Supplementation 101 with Dr. Edison de Mello Why Supplements Are Worth the Investment (And the Ones You Can Trust) Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter. This episode is made possible by the HumanCharger,  a revolutionary new light therapy device made specifically for people who spend long days in the dark and don’t get enough sunlight...i.e. You and me. Simply put in the earbuds for 12 minutes a day to receive your daily recommended dosage of UV-free white light. Doing so can drastically increase your energy, improve your mood, and increase mental alertness and focus.This device has literally changed my life and I use it every morning without fail. Use the code ‘OPTIMIZE’ to get 20% off your order. Guest Bio:       Edison de Mello, MD, PhD, is a board certified Integrative Physician by the American Board of Integrative Medicine and a licensed psychotherapist by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. He practiced psychotherapy for 13 years before entering medical training and now practices and teaches evidenced- based integrative medicine. Dr. de Mello’s PhD dissertation, entitled “Gut Feelings – A Psychosocial Approach to Gastrointestinal Illness,” inspired his conception of a center where psychology would be combined and fully integrated with Western and Eastern medicines. The de Mello Institute was formed in 1996 with the goal of employing safe and complementary approaches to healthcare while also addressing a person’s emotional and spiritual health. Fully committed to these goals, Dr. de Mello entered residency in 1999 at the prestigious Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center Urban Family Residency program in New York City, including training at the Manhattan-based Center for Health and Healing. His training utilized a biopsychosocial model and offered innovative experiences in the integration of complementary medicine into the practice of Family Medicine. Upon completing his medical training, Dr. de Mello expanded the de Mello Institute and founded the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine. The Akasha Center on Facebook The Akasha Center on Twitter Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Jakin Rintelman. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love! The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Hello loyal Fitness In Post podcast listeners, it’s been a long time since we connected last as I’ve been on hiatus during the rebranding process making the transformation from Fitness In Post to Optimize Yourself. I finally have amazing news that I’ve been waiting to share with you for months...the podcast is officially back! Before you get too excited, it’s super important that you take a couple quick actions if you want to continue listening to future episodes. The new show is now under the name ‘Optimize Yourself’ in a new feed starting at episode 1. So what does this mean for you? Well if you want to listen to new episodes as they’re released, you have to subscribe to the new podcast, but don’t worry it will only take you 60 seconds. Your first option is to visit optimizeyourself.me/subscribe where I provide links to subscribe via iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and TuneIn, just to name a few sources. Or your second option is just to do a quick search for ‘Optimize Yourself’ in whatever app you’re listening with right now and the show should pop right up. Simply click Subscribe, and you’re in like Flynn! If you loved the Fitness In Post podcast, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. I’ll be releasing more episodes on a regular basis, covering a wider variety of topics, and doing multiple monthly prize giveaways of great products that I personally endorse and use every single day. If you want to see what the latest giveaway is, just visit optimizeyourself.me/win to learn about the latest prizes available. Thanks so much for being a loyal ‘Fitness In Post’ listener, I can’t wait to see you over at the new show after you subscribe. Thank you for listening. Be well.   Zack Arnold Creator, Optimize Yourself

Welcome to Optimize Yourself! If you’re a first-time listener, I’m grateful to have you with me and I appreciate you taking a little bit of time out of your crazy day to focus on finding a little balance and sanity amidst the chaos of 21st century living. And if you’re a longtime listener of my previous podcast Fitness In Post, welcome back. If you enjoy this introductory episode and you’re excited to learn more, I invite you to subscribe to this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or whatever app you listen with because I have a ton of interviews and free content coming your way. » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode This introductory episode is a reading of my blog post titled 'The Beginner's Guide to Optimizing Yourself.' I provide these blog readings for you because they give you a great excuse to step away from your workstation for 15 minutes and take a walking break to recover from the craziness of your job while also enriching your mind. If you’d like to learn more about how to effortlessly develop the habit of being more active during your busy day without needing extra time, download my FREE 'Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Your Creativity' and I'll also send you 6 free training and activity videos to keep you energized, focused, and pain-free at your desk all day long. I'm so happy you found me today. Now let's start designing the optimized version of you. Be well. Zack Arnold  

Want more awesome stuff (podcasts, Q&A videos, articles and more) to supercharge your people skills? Click here! --------- Between the hours of 8-5, are you typically sitting? If you are, then you need to (stand up) and listen to this episode of Become More Compelling Radio. Most of us intuitively know sitting is bad for us. But just how bad it really is may shock you. My guest is Zack Arnold (@EmpireEditor) he's the founder of Optimize Yourself and this is a podcast episode that could literally add years to your life. You're probably familiar with Zack's work if you've ever watched shows like Burn Notice, Glee, and Empire. He's an editor by trade, so he knows all about grueling 12+ hour days sitting in front of a computer. About 10 years ago, Zack decided that he would stop treating his body like a Ford Pinto, and start treating it like a Ferrari. This journey led him to spend over $75,000 and a decade optimizing his health so that he can constantly perform at a high level in his career and produce amazing work on demand.ack Most of our jobs require us to be creative problem solvers. Zack will teach us how to protect our creativity like it's our number one asset. 03:45: Zack’s preferred coffee: Bulletproof coffee 06:45: Zack’s journey: Learn, Experiment, Share 11:55: The slow death of being sedentary 16:55: Systems over goals 22:47: Why Zack always takes stairs (GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story) 25:00: Think of your body like a swamp 30:00: Find your “deeper why” to trigger intrinsic motivation 32:20: Meditation 34:26: Being radically present with people 42:00: Zack’s counterintuitive approach to smartphones 44:02: Eat to feed your brain 53:00: Zack’s global text message: “You are so much closer to achieving your goals than you think you are.” 1:01:22: Learn more about Zack at Optimize Yourself

This episode is the latest Q&A episode with my trusty sidekick Natalie Boschan, and in this episode we answer the question “How do I know when it’s worth it to take a great career opportunity that might mean sacrificing time with my family?” plus I reveal big news for the future of the Fitness In Post program. Spoiler Alert: This is the final episode of the Fitness In Post podcast. Now before you get too upset, the reason is not because I’m giving up this podcast for good or that I’m no longer interested in finding solutions to the health problems we all face as creative professionals chained to a desk all day long...in fact it’s quite the opposite. Over the coming months I plan to broaden my search and provide even more resources to this community via the podcast, the blog, as well as new online training programs I’m creating that go way beyond what I offer in the Move Yourself program. So on that note, I am announcing to you my loyal listeners before anyone else that Fitness In Post is becoming Optimize Yourself. Natalie and I talk a lot more about the thinking behind this change and what this will mean over the coming months, but in short this means there will be some down time for the podcast as I make this change, especially given that as I write this I’m editing a tv pilot for NBC Universal 6 days a week and my schedule is batshit crazy. On top of that I will be overlapping this pilot with a tv series for several weeks too, so if I intend to maintain my sanity as well as see my kids on occasion, my only choice is to take it slowly if I want to do this rebrand right. So all I ask is that you are patient as this transition occurs to the new website and the new podcast. If you’d like to learn more about this rebrand you can visit my blog post at fitnessinpost.com/optimizeyourself. Show Sponsor: G-Technology Topics of Conversation: The origins of Fitness in Post When is it worth it to take career risks? Maintaining your energy and presence while working a full-time job Knowing when sacrificing your time is worth it Addressing the confusion surrounding the FiP name Developing an awareness of your long-term goals Balancing work opportunities and family life The end of Fitness in Post and the future of Optimize Yourself Useful Links: Optimize Yourself Rebrand Blog Enjoying The Show? Leave A Rating And Review HERE FiP Amazon Link Athletic Greens Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network. The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

My guest today is an award-winning Hollywood film editor, a former sufferer of ADD, and an entrepreneur. Being an editor is hard on the body, both mentally and physically — with long hours, high stress, with long bouts of sitting in a dark room. At the age of 25, my guest was overcome with anxiety, ADD, and suicidal depression. This started him on a journey experimenting with blending high-performance and sedentary work — think sitting at a computer all day. This was the birth of Optimize Yourself, and the mission to help creative professional to move more, eat and sleep better, and become productivity masters. Now, let’s hack… Zack Arnold.

**Guests ** [Zack Arnold](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackarnold) **Summary ** In this episode of the Less Doing Podcast, Ari talks to Zack Arnold, creator of [Fitness in Post](http://fitnessinpost.com/) and [Optimize Yourself](http://optimizeyourself.me/). Listen as Zack shares with us how his transition went from being an active kid to becoming a 60-hour work week person in the film industry and his struggles of blending the two paths together that lead him to where he is now. **Key Quote ** “I've lived a life for the last 15 years in a small dark room in front of a computer for 12-16 hours a day…after a long day at work, I said, I just do not want to live like this anymore and I need to find a better way.” **What You'll Learn ** - Zack's background as a film and television editor - Why Zack's brain and body fought back - Blending intense creative work with high performance athletics - The biomechanics of your body - How Zack uses [Trello](https://trello.com/) for his day-to-day activities - The activity video vault - Changing your daily habits - Using [Zapier](https://zapier.com/) and IFTTT for Zack's personal automations - The Optimize Yourself Program's system - Understand how ineffective you are when you're sedentary **Less Doing Podcast Resources: ** Trello Board - [https://trello.com/b/jtqdNTp3/leverage-podcast-resources](https://trello.com/b/jtqdNTp3/leverage-podcast-resources%20) ------- [Get the FREE Optimize, Automate, Outsource Blueprint here.](%20https:/go.lessdoing.com/blueprint?utm_campaign=blueprint-ari&utm_medium=link&utm_source=podcast) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

Gordon sits down with Zack Arnold, founder of FitnessinPost.com, about his new project, Optimize Yourself. This new program is designed to get post-production professionals up and moving with short videos that are full of information. Learn more and get 25% off at fitnessinpost.com/aotg.

Zack Arnold is a film and TV editor (Burn Notice, Empire) and the host of the Fitness in Post podcast (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2094093/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1). The podcast focuses on how to make healthier changes to your lifestyle while setting yourself up for success as an editor. It's a great resource for finding ways to keep good upkeep on your body and mind so that you can stay creative and do your best work. Zack started the Fitness in Post podcast once he recognized that the work environment of the editor can be detrimental, especially when taking into account long stretches of hours spent sitting at a desk and not getting proper rest or nutrition. Nick has been a listener of this podcast for some time and credits it with helping make healthier lifestyle changes in his own life, including not feeling guilty about taking the time you need to take care of yourself (admit it, you've felt this way before, too). We talk about the origin story of Fitness in Post, why editors seem more prone to neglecting their own health than other trades and what can you do to fix this for yourself. AND THAT'S NOT ALL... Zack talks about a new program he's rolling out called Optimize Yourself (http://optimizeyourself.me/) where you can learn all about how to do what he's talking about in this episode. Be more active at work, eliminate procrastination and manage your time better so you can have a life outside of work. It's in beta right now and he's looking for more editors JUST LIKE YOU to sign up for it and chime in with your thoughts on it. As a Command+Edit listener you can use the link fitnessinpost.com/commandedit to get started with a discount of 25% of the current price. So go check it out and give him your feedback.   LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE DeskCycle Exercise Pedal Exerciser (https://www.amazon.com/DeskCycle-Exercise-Pedal-Exerciser-White/dp/B00B1VDNQA) Geekdesk Standing Desks (https://www.geekdesk.com/) Transform Your Edit Suite Into a Gym (https://library.creativecow.net/arnold_zack/Fitness-Post_Edit-Suite/1) Optimize Yourself (get 25% off the program by using fitnessinpost.com/commandedit to sign up)   Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/ Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

AngularConnect Track 1 Playlist Track 2 Playlist   02:30 - Going to Beta AngularConnect Keynote with Brad Green, Igor Minar and Jules Kremer 09:23 - Angular 1.x Angular 1.5 and beyond with Pete Bacon Darwin and Lucas Mirelmann 17:39 - Peter’s Thoughts as an Organizer of AngularConnect 26:33 - Highlights Routing in Eleven Dimensions with Component Router with Brian Ford Full Stack Angular 2 with Jeff Whelpley and Patrick Stapleton ngAnimate 2 0 with Matias Niemelä Testing Strategies with Angular 2 with Julie Ralph Ionic 2 Getting started in Angular 2 with Rado Kirov and Naomi Black Building apps with Firebase and Angular 2 with Sara Robinson 31:46 - Soft Skills Talks Becoming Betazoid How to Listen and Empathize with Others in the Workplace with Joe Eames Optimize Yourself 5 Key Traits of High Performing Humans with Sylvana Rochet Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable with Aimee Knight (Super)Power Management with Igor Minar @ ng-conf 2015 35:03 - What is the next big Angular Conference on the horizon? ng-conf 2016 36:09 - Going to Beta (Cont’d) Better Concepts, Less Code in Angular 2 with Victor Savin and Tobias Bosch   44:19 - NativeScript Building native mobile apps with Angular 2 0 and NativeScript​ with Sebastian Witalec 47:06 - Angular Cheat Sheet Tutorial: Tour of Heros - Angular 2 for TypeScript 49:54 - Material Design   Joe’s List for ““talks to watch if you want to get up to date with Angular 2” AngularConnect Keynote with Brad Green, Igor Minar and Jules Kremer Angular 1.5 and beyond with Pete Bacon Darwin and Lucas Mirelmann Routing in Eleven Dimensions with Component Router with Brian Ford Getting started in Angular 2 with Rado Kirov and Naomi Black Angular 2 Data Flow with Jeff Cross and Alex Rickabaugh Better Concepts, Less Code in Angular 2 with Victor Savin and Tobias Bosch Google Angular Team Panel   Joe’s Additional Recommendations Using Web Workers for More Responsive Apps with Jason Teplitz Building native mobile apps with Angular 2 0 and NativeScript​ with Sebastian Witalec Reactive Streams in Angular 1 and 2 Ben Lesh   Suggest topics and guests! Contribute to the repo aiatopics!   Picks AngularConnect (Joe) Denmark (Joe) Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer (Official) (John) Ultimate t-shirt for trolling science fiction fans (Chuck) Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh (Chuck) The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (Chuck) MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins (Chuck)

AngularConnect Track 1 Playlist Track 2 Playlist   02:30 - Going to Beta AngularConnect Keynote with Brad Green, Igor Minar and Jules Kremer 09:23 - Angular 1.x Angular 1.5 and beyond with Pete Bacon Darwin and Lucas Mirelmann 17:39 - Peter’s Thoughts as an Organizer of AngularConnect 26:33 - Highlights Routing in Eleven Dimensions with Component Router with Brian Ford Full Stack Angular 2 with Jeff Whelpley and Patrick Stapleton ngAnimate 2 0 with Matias Niemelä Testing Strategies with Angular 2 with Julie Ralph Ionic 2 Getting started in Angular 2 with Rado Kirov and Naomi Black Building apps with Firebase and Angular 2 with Sara Robinson 31:46 - Soft Skills Talks Becoming Betazoid How to Listen and Empathize with Others in the Workplace with Joe Eames Optimize Yourself 5 Key Traits of High Performing Humans with Sylvana Rochet Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable with Aimee Knight (Super)Power Management with Igor Minar @ ng-conf 2015 35:03 - What is the next big Angular Conference on the horizon? ng-conf 2016 36:09 - Going to Beta (Cont’d) Better Concepts, Less Code in Angular 2 with Victor Savin and Tobias Bosch   44:19 - NativeScript Building native mobile apps with Angular 2 0 and NativeScript​ with Sebastian Witalec 47:06 - Angular Cheat Sheet Tutorial: Tour of Heros - Angular 2 for TypeScript 49:54 - Material Design   Joe’s List for ““talks to watch if you want to get up to date with Angular 2” AngularConnect Keynote with Brad Green, Igor Minar and Jules Kremer Angular 1.5 and beyond with Pete Bacon Darwin and Lucas Mirelmann Routing in Eleven Dimensions with Component Router with Brian Ford Getting started in Angular 2 with Rado Kirov and Naomi Black Angular 2 Data Flow with Jeff Cross and Alex Rickabaugh Better Concepts, Less Code in Angular 2 with Victor Savin and Tobias Bosch Google Angular Team Panel   Joe’s Additional Recommendations Using Web Workers for More Responsive Apps with Jason Teplitz Building native mobile apps with Angular 2 0 and NativeScript​ with Sebastian Witalec Reactive Streams in Angular 1 and 2 Ben Lesh   Suggest topics and guests! Contribute to the repo aiatopics!   Picks AngularConnect (Joe) Denmark (Joe) Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer (Official) (John) Ultimate t-shirt for trolling science fiction fans (Chuck) Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh (Chuck) The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (Chuck) MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins (Chuck)

AngularConnect Track 1 Playlist Track 2 Playlist   02:30 - Going to Beta AngularConnect Keynote with Brad Green, Igor Minar and Jules Kremer 09:23 - Angular 1.x Angular 1.5 and beyond with Pete Bacon Darwin and Lucas Mirelmann 17:39 - Peter’s Thoughts as an Organizer of AngularConnect 26:33 - Highlights Routing in Eleven Dimensions with Component Router with Brian Ford Full Stack Angular 2 with Jeff Whelpley and Patrick Stapleton ngAnimate 2 0 with Matias Niemelä Testing Strategies with Angular 2 with Julie Ralph Ionic 2 Getting started in Angular 2 with Rado Kirov and Naomi Black Building apps with Firebase and Angular 2 with Sara Robinson 31:46 - Soft Skills Talks Becoming Betazoid How to Listen and Empathize with Others in the Workplace with Joe Eames Optimize Yourself 5 Key Traits of High Performing Humans with Sylvana Rochet Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable with Aimee Knight (Super)Power Management with Igor Minar @ ng-conf 2015 35:03 - What is the next big Angular Conference on the horizon? ng-conf 2016 36:09 - Going to Beta (Cont’d) Better Concepts, Less Code in Angular 2 with Victor Savin and Tobias Bosch   44:19 - NativeScript Building native mobile apps with Angular 2 0 and NativeScript​ with Sebastian Witalec 47:06 - Angular Cheat Sheet Tutorial: Tour of Heros - Angular 2 for TypeScript 49:54 - Material Design   Joe’s List for ““talks to watch if you want to get up to date with Angular 2” AngularConnect Keynote with Brad Green, Igor Minar and Jules Kremer Angular 1.5 and beyond with Pete Bacon Darwin and Lucas Mirelmann Routing in Eleven Dimensions with Component Router with Brian Ford Getting started in Angular 2 with Rado Kirov and Naomi Black Angular 2 Data Flow with Jeff Cross and Alex Rickabaugh Better Concepts, Less Code in Angular 2 with Victor Savin and Tobias Bosch Google Angular Team Panel   Joe’s Additional Recommendations Using Web Workers for More Responsive Apps with Jason Teplitz Building native mobile apps with Angular 2 0 and NativeScript​ with Sebastian Witalec Reactive Streams in Angular 1 and 2 Ben Lesh   Suggest topics and guests! Contribute to the repo aiatopics!   Picks AngularConnect (Joe) Denmark (Joe) Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer (Official) (John) Ultimate t-shirt for trolling science fiction fans (Chuck) Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh (Chuck) The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (Chuck) MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins (Chuck)

“It's your duty as a professional working with a director & producer that you tell them when it becomes impossible to do the job on your own.”Eddie Hamilton, ACE is the editor of Top Gun: Maverick, the last 3 Mission: Impossible films, Kick-Ass 1 & 2, and X-Men: First Class, just to name a few. And in my second interview with Eddie (here's part 1 if you haven't listened yet), he and I candidly discuss his experience editing Top Gun: Maverick and what drove him to asking for help before it was too late.The grueling work hours required to produce blockbuster content can literally be deadly if you don't care for yourself properly. When your livelihood depends on your creativity, your mental health is no longer a luxury, it's a job requirement. But many of us have spent so many years (maybe our entire lives), ignoring our self-care needs at the expense of our jobs - no matter the cost - we don't actually know how to care for ourselves when the time comes we have no other choice. Eddie recognized early in his career that he would have to take control of his mental health and set boundaries if he was going to survive working in Hollywood at the highest level, but not even that was enough on this job.In this conversation (which as a crazy aside was actually recorded before the pandemic, and I had to wait to release this interview until the film released!), Eddie honestly shares the immense challenges and responsibilities he bared working on Maverick and he gives an inside look into challenges like managing burnout, summoning the courage to ask for help, and whether or not working at the highest level in the business is worth the sacrifices.Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn:How Eddie got started in editing.Eddie went from being his own assistant for his first ten movies to having 7 AE's for Top Gun: Maverick.What a typical day looks like while Eddie is cutting dailies on Mission Impossible and Top Gun: Maverick.Why Eddie had to ask for help on Top Gun: MaverickThe challenge and responsibility of being an editor on high budget films and how listening to Optimize Yourself reminded him to stay healthy.My story of the pressure I felt on Burn Notice when I had to cut a season opening montage with found footage from past dailies.Eddie's healthy habits of running and watching movies keep him fit and creatively informed to do his job well.Fever dreams of close ups of actors in his head wake him up at 3am.The hours Eddie worked when he went on location with the film.When burnout kicked in and he found himself frozen in front of his laptop unable to cut dailies.The foresight Eddie had to mention he was going to need help to the producers early on.Not only could Eddie not keep up to camera in cutting dailies, he couldn't keep up to watching all the dailies.Eddie values having another editor to bounce ideas off of and get immediate feedback.Does Eddie think the work is worth all the sacrifices he make?Eddie insists his team attends all important events in their lives.Why Eddie took a week off to do a personal development course and what changes it brought about in his life.The importance of asking lifestyle questions in job interviews.Eddie sees an appreciation for mental health growing in the past few years.Finding employers that respect your mental wellbeing is essential and should be prioritized whenever possible.Useful Resources Mentioned:Eddie Hamilton previous episodeHoffman ProcessContinue to Listen & LearnEp175: Defining Your Own Version of Success & Overcoming the Loneliness of Being a Freelancer | with Michael Bauman I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here's What I Did About It.Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace TashjianHow I burned out as a burnout coach (and then bounced back) Dear Hollywood...We Create Entertainment For a Living. We're Not Curing Cancer.Dear Hollywood: We Don't Want to “Go Back to Normal." Normal Wasn't Working.Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel LevyEp168: Hollywood On the Record: What's REALLY Happening On Set? | with Shay'La Banks and Nickolaus Brown Ep149: How Modern Society Is Damaging Your Brain (and the Simple Steps to Reverse It) | with Dr. Dave JenkinsEp82: Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael KammesEp01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression with Dr. Edison de MelloGuest Bio: Eddie Hamilton Eddie Hamilton, ACE is currently editing the next chapters in the Mission: Impossible movie series. Before that, Eddie cut Paramount Pictures' Top Gun: Maverick, directed by Joe Kosinski, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation for director Christopher McQuarrie. Other credits include Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, X-Men: First Class and Kick-Ass for director Matthew Vaughn. After 23 years in the industry Eddie has cut over 20 feature films (both indies and studio movies) in a wide variety of genres as well as TV dramas, documentaries and award-winning short films. His enthusiasm for big screen storytelling is matched only by his total dedication to the craft of film editing, his nerdy technical expertise and his undisputed love of chocolate. He has given presentations on Avid Media Composer editing at NAB and IBC. Eddie is a member of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, American Cinema Editors and BAFTA, and was on the feature film panel at EditFest London in 2013 and 2018.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).