Whypower

Forget Willpower. It’s all about “Whypower”.

Recently at networking event I was asked by a fellow neophyte filmmaker what my #1 tip is for making a movie. He had found out that I recently finished production on my first feature film, Gatling. He, an aspiring filmmaker, was getting ready to begin production on his first feature film as well. Looking to me for sage advice, he asked me the question. I said “make sure you know WHY you are making your movie.” Based on his reaction I deduced that this was an unexpected answer. Intrigued, he crossed one of his arms across his body and put his other hand under his chin and leaned in. I continued to tell him that the universe does not want your movie made. There are going to be a surfeit amount of obstacles and challenges that will inevitably surface and make you want to quit. Scheduling issues, budget, talent, locations, equipment, weather, etc, etc, etc. I said that there will be times where you will want to, as in the words of Tony Burton’s character in Rocky IV, “throw the damn towel” and quit. I told him, that is when your “Why” has to be stronger than your desire to quit.

In his book The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy discusses the importance of Whypower instead of willpower. Our choices are only meaningful when we connect them to our desires and dreams. The most motivating choices are the ones aligned with that which you identify as your purpose, your core self and your highest values. You have to know why you want something or you’ll give in too easily. 

Why do you want to make a movie? For me, it’s a calling, an internal voice that needs expressing. I love film, I love cinema. It’s woven into the DNA of my core self. I absolutely enjoy making movies. Is it stressful? You better fucking believe it. But when things get dark, when it feels like the forces of evil are conspiring against you to prevent your film from seeing the light of day, that’s when you need to find your Light of Earendil, your “Why”.

Whether it's wanting to get in shape, start a creative endeavor, start a business, learn to play an instrument, or whatever, you better know your why. If you can’t find a why, then maybe it’s time to reevaluate whether or not you should do it. You need the magic “Why”. That “Whypower” is going to be the rocket fuel that will propel your intergalactic spaceship to the stars and help you achieve that dream. It’s not going to be easy and you will want to give up and take your happy ass on home and sit on the couch and munch Cheetos when things get tough. But if it was easy, would it be worth it? No. And that is exactly the reason why you should do it.