How I Visualized Calling The Shots In Hollywood When I Was A Pimple-Faced Kid In Ohio
How I Visualized Calling The Shots In Hollywood When I Was A Pimple-Faced Kid In Ohio
When I was 13, I knew who I wanted to be when I grew up—a big-shot Television programmer. I visualized about the day I would hire and fire producers, wine and dine the talent, and present my programming line up to advertisers. I created a storyboard in my mind as to what my life would look like. To this day, I have a piece of paper that I authored when I was just about to enter high school. On it is a diagram of my life's goals—up to age 50. I remember creating a "backwards thinking" road map of each step I would need to take in order to achieve my ultimate goal. By thinking "backwards" rather than "forwards" you have already mentally achieved your goal—and you're simply filling in the steps necessary to get there.
Look at it this way, suppose your goal is to find your true love in the castle at the top of the highest mountain. Traditional "forward thinking" would have you climb the steep mountain in an effort to reach your destination—fighting the elements, the terrain, the fear of the unknown—and wondering if your princess is actually going to be there—and available—once you reach the top! Whereas with "backward thinking" you have already reached your destination, won the heart of your princess, and now all you have to do is to simply get down the hill—and back home. Face it; it's a lot easier looking down from the top, than looking up from the bottom.
Ironically I reached my goal in half the time that I had planned for. By the time I was 25 I was in Hollywood heading up global marketing and creative affairs for King World. I was hand-picked by the King Brothers to join the company when it only had a handful of employees, and assets of just a few million dollars. I was the main creative and marketing honcho on the west coast, reporting directly to the President and CEO, Michael King. We had garnered the rights to a couple of shows that had been canceled on the networks and turned them into the two biggest syndicated series of all-time—WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY! I then had the privilege of working with, and launching, OPRAH WINFREY nationally, along with top producers like Merv Griffin, Dick Clark, and dozens of others. While most of my friends had just graduated from college and started their careers, I was already in Hollywood starring in the role that I had visualized when I was 13. Years later, King World sold for billions of dollars. WHEEL, JEOPARDY, and OPRAH still remain at the top of the rating charts!
Throughout my career I have visualized each and every career move. I have painted storyboards in my head—providing myself with a road map to achieving my goals and fulfilling my short and long-term purpose. Prayer is also a powerful tool that I use. It helps me ask God to paint my storyboard for me. There is simply no greater artist than my Creator—the master of the universe.
When I was 13, I knew who I wanted to be when I grew up—a big-shot Television programmer. I visualized about the day I would hire and fire producers, wine and dine the talent, and present my programming line up to advertisers. I created a storyboard in my mind as to what my life would look like. To this day, I have a piece of paper that I authored when I was just about to enter high school. On it is a diagram of my life's goals—up to age 50. I remember creating a "backwards thinking" road map of each step I would need to take in order to achieve my ultimate goal. By thinking "backwards" rather than "forwards" you have already mentally achieved your goal—and you're simply filling in the steps necessary to get there.
Look at it this way, suppose your goal is to find your true love in the castle at the top of the highest mountain. Traditional "forward thinking" would have you climb the steep mountain in an effort to reach your destination—fighting the elements, the terrain, the fear of the unknown—and wondering if your princess is actually going to be there—and available—once you reach the top! Whereas with "backward thinking" you have already reached your destination, won the heart of your princess, and now all you have to do is to simply get down the hill—and back home. Face it; it's a lot easier looking down from the top, than looking up from the bottom.
Ironically I reached my goal in half the time that I had planned for. By the time I was 25 I was in Hollywood heading up global marketing and creative affairs for King World. I was hand-picked by the King Brothers to join the company when it only had a handful of employees, and assets of just a few million dollars. I was the main creative and marketing honcho on the west coast, reporting directly to the President and CEO, Michael King. We had garnered the rights to a couple of shows that had been canceled on the networks and turned them into the two biggest syndicated series of all-time—WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY! I then had the privilege of working with, and launching, OPRAH WINFREY nationally, along with top producers like Merv Griffin, Dick Clark, and dozens of others. While most of my friends had just graduated from college and started their careers, I was already in Hollywood starring in the role that I had visualized when I was 13. Years later, King World sold for billions of dollars. WHEEL, JEOPARDY, and OPRAH still remain at the top of the rating charts!
Throughout my career I have visualized each and every career move. I have painted storyboards in my head—providing myself with a road map to achieving my goals and fulfilling my short and long-term purpose. Prayer is also a powerful tool that I use. It helps me ask God to paint my storyboard for me. There is simply no greater artist than my Creator—the master of the universe.
Tags: california, david, dream, future, hollywood, hope, jeopardy, la, merv, ohio
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Barbara Siragusa on -
It is wonderful to read your story. You knew what you wanted, and you got it. With God's help along the way. Thanks for these words, which encourage me as I walk down my own path. We are taking on a big production, big for us, and it is taking everything we have, financially, physically and emotionally. But we have faith in our production, and visualize our moves.
-
Permalink Reply by Phyllis "Krystara" Swenson on -
Hi David.
I can certainly appreciate the things you have shared. When I was a kid I knew without any doubt that I would be a writer/author when I grew up. I have been writing since I was 4 years old. I write things that I enjoy and feel deep inside whether it is a poem, a short story or non-fiction. My parents encouraged me early in life to write and all of my teachers in school were constantly complementing me on my writing skills. I always visualize in my mind what I wish to write and the words just flow as if by magic.
Just like with you I know that God is the artist behind my words. Both of my published books were written with effortless ease because I sat back, relaxed and allowed my Creator to be the creative Spirit flowing the words into my mind. I am always filled with joy when someone tells me that the things I write has inspired them and lifted their spirit. There is no greater joy in life than to do the things you enjoy that you know you were born to do. God has given us the gift of imagination and it is up to us to use it wisely in ways that are inspiring and uplifting.
Your unique ability to use creative visualization to achieve your goals is a remarkable talent. I too use visualization and have found it to be very helpful in fulfilling my dreams. The more I do it the easier it gets and I am always fascinated with how it works. It's almost like having a magic wand in the mind that creates things in miraculous and mysterious ways. For me, prayer and meditation are also powerful gifts of the Spirit which I use to be a co-creator with God.
Thanks, David, for sharing your inspirational story.
Blessings,
Krystara
-
Permalink Reply by Tony63 on -
Wow, This is a real Motivating and Inspiring Story! It is a Story of Excellence as well as "True Vision". David had a real "Vision" of what he wanted in life. A Vision is a Perfectly clear Picture of an Ultimate destination, with a detailed roadmap for getting there. I've always applied the Backwards thinking principle to Exercising because it does makes accomplishing your goals much more easier. But I've never thought of applying this Backwards thinking roadmap to my Gaols in life. That's really good David. I, too, am from Columbus Ohio. Thanks for sharing this! ~Tony Steward.
-
Permalink Reply by Silvia Richardson on -
I love that idea backwards road map.... I will let my son read this and together we will make our rodmaps but backwards - starting from the goal to our today's life - Thank you for sharing this - this is an extraordinary way of reaching your goal.
Love and Blessings to you Silvia :-)
-
Permalink Reply by Stacey Smith on -
Hi David,
Pretty cool. It's great to know that there are believers in Hollywood. God is the "master of the universe"!
Stacey
-
Permalink Reply by ZyeCha Inc. CEO/Founder PRINA on -
Hi David thanks for the invite.
Much Love,
Prina
Let's Get Growing
Badge
Diamond Member Posts
© 2010 StartUp | Report Spam and Scams |
