The $2.5M Decision That Changed Everything
Early in his career, the screenwriter behind The Green Mile and The Walking Dead was offered $2.5m to sell the rights to a script.
The deal? Let Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise star instead of the unknown actors he wanted.
He said no.
His reason? It was his "chance to do something really great" with his screenplay and the vision he had for it.
He had no way of knowing if he was right.
The film could have flopped. Those unknown actors could have killed it. He could have lost everything betting on his vision.
But he trusted his instincts anyway.
While we might not be getting $2.5m waved in our faces, we all face versions of this choice:
- The client who wants to water down your best idea for something "safer."
- Taking the proven approach vs. the one you know could be breakthrough.
- Saying yes to the sure thing vs. holding out for what feels right.
These moments can shape our careers. Not the obvious choices, but the ones where you choose between certainty and possibility.
How do you make the call when you can't know the outcome?
I don’t have the answer, but I do share a few ways to help navigate through them
My Groove Theory newsletter uncovers how creative professionals make high-stakes decisions in moments that matter.
PS. The film? You might have heard of it. It's called The Shawshank Redemption.
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