The Ron Howard Interview

    Ron Howards discussion about his movie "Driven" held one, very specific, shining example to all film makers out there- amature or professional.
    He was asked in this specific article if he- the director of "Apollo13", "Cast Away", "Willow", and a number of other classics who've all been box office gold- knew just be looking, if a film project was going to be a hit or not?
    His response: no.
    The paragon director of our time stated, up front, that even he cannot tell at a glance of script or diagram, if a film project will succeed or fail.
   "The film market is far to volatile and fluid to ever say for sure if a project will succeed or fail," he said.  "When I look at a script or project, and I like it, and I decide to do it, I give it my all.  I pour myself into it and make as great as I can."
     Red letter words those.
     And the bullet point being successful in any business.
     If you give less than your all, and you don't succeed, you already know why.
    Going into business for yourself is not a part time or  75% of the time, thing.  Its a 100% of your time and energy thing.  And when you decide to do a project, when you accept a client or investors money and say, "I will do this,", you need to give it your all.
    Otherwise-
   Its like the sold cliche goes:  success is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.    
   

The Devlin Reminder Thats 10,000 Years Old:

by Matthew Moody

Business In Creative Design-

01/08/2015

     Devlin was a lot more enlightening that he knew.

     The notes I recall: I am grateful that brought up that any one can have success (even the 11^th son of a successful family). Also that, even though you have all these people around you, there are still ideas to make money off of (again- very goo 11^th son).

      He also elaborated on a fact that I was no aware: BYU Business grads CAN succeed. This is good news. And no, I will not apologize for that!

     He also mention Paul Gramm and his books and lectures, all of which are very good and everyone who plans on ever opening a business should give them a listen.

     And, finally, he came to the matter at hand. He answered the big question.

    The question that I knew I wanted to ask Devlin, and he answered it with the 10,000 year old paradigm that has always been the business model: what was your idea?

    The answer: he looked for a problem, and he fixed it. Then he shared it with people in trade for goods and services.

     When man first saw his problems in ages past- the dark, the cold, hunger, thirst, etc.- he looked around and he had an idea.

    Fire makes light, so, my idea: if I have fire, I can see in the dark.

    I can get warm by covering my skin-

    I see the animals eating things. I can eat those too. And, hey, I could probably eat the animal as well.

    Water quenches thirst. I know. If I'm always near water, I will never be thirsty. And there will always be animals nearby, and plants.

    And all business stems from this same simple pattern: here is a problem. I have an idea. I fix the problem with this idea. Now I share it with everyone else for a small fee.

    An oversimplification probably.

    But no less true, and inspirational.

     Devlin, it turns out, is responsible for the Canvas education software (which makes him awesome), and I don't mind saying that a better solution for handling online class work was sorely needed and I am glad he came along.