“Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living.”—Bob Marley
BRYAN CRANSTON
When I researched persistent creators, the famous American actor Bryan Cranston of Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad stood out. In his memoir, A Life in Parts, he talked about his dissatisfaction with his creative life early in his career. He hustled from audition to audition, making a steady living but felt stuck. A lot of his feelings stemmed from a place of unfulfilled expectations. This is one of the main problems with an excessively goal-oriented approach to creativity. He would set his mind to a goal, such as getting an acting gig, scoring a temporary contract, or earning a specific amount of money. Then, whenever he didn’t meet those goals, it would leave him with resentment that chipped at his motivation to pursue his creative dreams.
At a pivotal moment in his career, his mentor, Breck Costin, suggested that Bryan make a small…