Animator and director Saul Blinkoff (Doc McStuffins, Mulan, Pocahontas) always wanted a job in animation and films. But first, he had to figure out the equation that would lead him to that destination – because simply ‘wishing upon a star’ wasn’t enough. What steps did he take on the path towards his dream? How did he overcome obstacles to improve his skills and exceed expectations? Saul also shares why we need healthy competition, why it’s important to wear many hats in your industry, and how the movie Rudy changed his life when he thought his dream was dead.

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Cathy’s recommendations:

1. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

2. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, PhD.

TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1. It’s important to know what you want, but you have to know how to get what you want.

2. Knowing what you do well is key. But knowing what you need to work on is more important. Go work on it.

3. You need to go to sleep every day and say, “Nobody worked harder than me today.”

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Saul Blinkoff’s website

• Listen to Saul’s podcast Life of Awesome! wherever you get your podcasts

• The Little Mermaid – the movie that made Saul want to become a Disney animator

• Columbus College of Art & Design

• Watch the trailer for Rudy

• Proof that Michael Jordan won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award (1987-88)

• A video with Bill Matthews, animator

• Pocahontas

• Mulan – I’ll Make a Man Out of You

• Save the Cat! The Last Screenwriting Book You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder

• Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker

Thank you so much for listening!

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