Fl-Opportunity: when opportunity, costs

Website design By BotEap.comThe other day I was watching a show where famous people painted their portraits while giving an interview.

Website design By BotEap.comThis week it was the Australian comedian, musician and director; Tim Minchin.

Website design By BotEap.comIt was big in the UK. It is big in Australia. I don’t know how well known it is in the US, but it was also one step away from nailing Hollywood. Then everything was ripped away.

Website design By BotEap.comThis is the story:

Website design By BotEap.comAt the peak of its comedic success in the UK, Dream Works came up with the opportunity to direct an animated film that follows Bilby and Kangaroo’s adventures in the interior.

Website design By BotEap.comTim seized the opportunity and assembled an all-star Australian cast for the voices, which included: Hugh Jackman, Ben Mendelson, Damon Herriman, Jackie Weaver, Naomi Watts and Margot Robbie.

Website design By BotEap.comBasically the best of the best of Australia’s best actors, and enough star power to make the film an instant hit.

Website design By BotEap.comTim talks about time and the attention that is given to him.

Website design By BotEap.com3 and a half years, with “half-hour meetings just to discuss the dust on the texture of a leaf”, gold “the color of the red earth in the Australian outback”

Website design By BotEap.comI have no doubt that it would have been a huge success, but three and a half years after production, Universal Studios took over DreamWorks and Tim got a phone call.

Website design By BotEap.comA suit, on his first day, called Tim and said:

Website design By BotEap.com“They didn’t know if it was going to be a success or not.”

Website design By BotEap.comSo they just killed him. And that was that. All that work, it’s gone.

Website design By BotEap.comTim reflects that there were two things he’s had trouble coming to terms with since then:

Website design By BotEap.comThe first thing was dissonance.

Website design By BotEap.comHe couldn’t understand how an outside power could take away his art. I imagine this is how people feel when they build a business on Disgracebook, only to have it destroyed for no reason.

Website design By BotEap.comThe second thing he struggled with was all the things he said No to during that time.

Website design By BotEap.comHis family, numerous tours, basically withdrew his comedy career just as it was peaking to put everything into this project, only to have it erased on a phone call from someone he didn’t even know.

Website design By BotEap.comThis is a major achievement.

Website design By BotEap.comOpportunity cost is everywhere.

Website design By BotEap.comEvery time you say Yes to one thing, you say No to an infinite number of other opportunities.

Website design By BotEap.comRemember the story Jim Carey tells about his father, who was a very funny guy and could have been a great comedian.

Website design By BotEap.comJim says:

Website design By BotEap.com“My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t think that was possible for him, so he made a conservative decision. Instead, he got a secure job as an accountant and when I was 12 they let him leave that job for sure, and our family had to do everything possible to survive. I learned many excellent lessons from my father. One of the most important was that: you can fail at what you don’t want. We are going to risk doing what you love. “

Website design By BotEap.comWise words, indeed.

Website design By BotEap.comI think doing what you love rather than what’s safe is a solid sentiment for 2021 after the year we’ve all had.

Website design By BotEap.comI think Tim Minchin would agree, but could add:

Website design By BotEap.comIf you build something, create something, invest in something, make sure you own it so it doesn’t end up as a costly failed opportunity.