Who are you?

Here's the truth:

  1. You are not your history; and
  2. If you're working on something, some new idea, rest assured that someone else on the planet is working on something very similar.

    Note: I first discovered this second truth as an executive at a semiconductor company in the late 80s, when I read, and was blown away by, The Chip: How Two Americans Invented the Microchip and Launched a Revolution.

I distinctly remember an interview with Vince Gilligan on Studio 360 where he candidly shared his thoughts on his acclaimed television series Breaking Bad. Here are a few of my gleanings of his creative insights:

  1. The idea for Breaking Bad sprung into his head fully-formed, "somewhat in an instant."
  2. He's amazed that he even pitched the idea and that it's on the air, since "on paper it should not work."
  3. He's glad he didn't know about the existence of the TV series Weeds (a similar idea), because had he known he "would have never gone forward and pitched Breaking Bad."
  4. Gilligan was known (positioned) as a comedy writer when he did Malcom in the Middle, then a sci-fi guy when he did X-Files, then a super hero guy when he did Hancock, and now he's a gritty, reality guy, because he did Breaking Bad.

Who are you?

Forget who you were. Forget what you've done. And forget what others are doing (don't Google it!). Simply ask, What am I passionate about?

Now go do it.

And bingo! That's who you are.

Posted by Tom Asacker September 12, 2012
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