Optimize Yourself Zack Arnold

Given the vast uncertainty in the job market over the last year, it can feel near impossible to both structure your time so you actually feel productive and also manage your finances so you have the confidence you’ll weather this storm.
That’s why the Optimizer team & I have put together this Top 5 series the Creative’s Guide to Time & Financial Freedom. We have chosen my most relevant conversations with some of the world’s experts on both time & financial management to help you gain a little more control in a world that feels very out of control. These episodes are packed with actionable tips from brilliant minds who understand the unique challenges faced by freelancers and creatives, both inside and outside, of the entertainment industry. 
If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.
Without further adieu, here is the second part of this five-interview series with Laura Vanderkam who is the author of All the Money in the World: What the Happiest People Know About Wealth. Despite the book being ten years old, the information is timeless and this conversation will help you see the relationship between time, money, and happiness in a whole new way.
The original show notes for this conversation can be found at optimizeyourself.me/episode241.

Given the vast uncertainty in the job market over the last year, it can feel near impossible to both structure your time so you actually feel productive and also manage your finances so you have the confidence you’ll weather this storm.
That’s why the Optimizer team & I have put together this Top 5 series the Creative’s Guide to Time & Financial Freedom. We have chosen my most relevant conversations with some of the world’s experts on both time & financial management to help you gain a little more control in a world that feels very out of control. These episodes are packed with actionable tips from brilliant minds who understand the unique challenges faced by freelancers and creatives, both inside and outside, of the entertainment industry.
If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.
Without further adieu, here is episode one of my five-part interview series with Ramit Sethi, founder of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, and author of the New York Times bestseller of the same name. In this conversation, Ramit, who is also my business mentor, delivers a slew of actionable steps you can take to design a richer life for yourself far beyond the spreadsheet.
The original show notes for this conversation can be found at optimizeyourself.me/episode105.

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My guest today is composer and music editor Shie Rozow whose lifelong passion for music and storytelling led him to work on over 150 feature films including The Flash, The Lost City, Guardians of the Galaxy and Hustle & Flow. Shie has earned 17 Golden Reel Award Nominations, winning for his work on Chicago (as assistant music editor), IMAX: Deep Sea, and Wu Tang: An American Saga along with 4 Telly Awards for his scores to Matt and Maya, Lost Time, One Day You’ll Go Blind, and Body Language: Bill Shannon.
But here's the thing: Shie's journey isn't your typical award-winning musician, child prodigy story. In fact, Shie shares that he couldn't even read music when he applied to music school. You’ll learn how his passion and determination have allowed him to grow and thrive as a creative professional despite the ups and downs of the volatile entertainment industry. Shie has discovered how to diversify his skills, interests, and passions in order to make himself irreplaceable.
In addition to diversifying his skills, Shie has made it a point to build meaningful, genuine relationships. He generously shares the strategies he uses to maintain them and these are some of the best warm outreach strategies I’ve ever heard!
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Here's What You'll Learn:How Shie got a scholarship at Berklee College of Music despite his 'not-so-good' application & auditionHow college prepares you for the real world according to ShieWhy Shie said 'yes' to so many different things throughout his careerThe importance of diversifying your skills both in and outside of workHow to be irreplaceable by AI based on Shie's years of industry experienceKEY TAKEAWAY: How to respond to rejections without the negative impactWhy building relationships is way better than networkingThe BEST WARM outreach strategies I’ve ever heard!Why Shie never landed a job from cold outreachWhy Shie wrote a book about music primarily for filmmakers (not just musicians)Useful Resources Mentioned:EditFest 2023: Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Art of Editing
OpenAI’s SORA
Shie Rozow's Books (enter the coupon code 'Optimize' at checkout for $5 off)
Continue to Listen & LearnEp250: The Creative’s Guide to Understanding AI and Leveraging AI to Build Workflows & Optimize Your Creativity | with Rob Howard
Ep246: Building a Career Beyond Your Job Title, Strategically Crafting Your Story, and Diversifying Your Career Portfolio | with Jeff Bartsch
Ep231: How to Become Resilient In the Face of Change (and Manage an Identity Crisis) | with Brad Stulberg
Ep233: Redefining Your Career Path in a Post Generational Society | with Mauro Guillén
Ep232: How to Future-Proof Your Creative Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger Than Your Résumé | with Christina Wallace
Ep222: Is Artificial Intelligence Coming for Your Job? Maybe…and Here’s How to Prepare | with Michael Kammes
Ep221: How to Be an Irreplaceable Creative in the Emerging World of Artificial Intelligence | with Srinivas Rao
Ep214: What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone
Ep212: The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Ep205: Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler
Ep59: The Craft of Film Composing (And Working with Composers) | with Joseph Trapanese
Ep248: Make Yourself Memorable: How to Leave an Impression, Build Your Network, & Get Hired | with Carole Kirschner
Guest Bio: Shie Rozow
  
Composer and music editor Shie Rozow (pronounced Shy ro-zov) has taken a different path than most leading him to work on over 150 feature films inc

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If you're a creative professional in the entertainment industry, you are probably feeling pretty discouraged by the lack of jobs popping up this year. At Optimize Yourself, we like to focus on the things we can control and set goals that we are empowered to achieve.
While we can't control what jobs are out there or whether they are offered to us, we can put ourselves in positions where we will be the first to hear of jobs when they pop up. This involves building relationships with people.
That's why today, I'm sharing this episode from the archives with editor and assistant editor Scott Davis, who, back in 2018, made a big move from New York to Los Angeles with zero contacts or connections. The strategies he used apply the same today as they did back then. I hope you find this useful and actionable so you can let go of what you can't control and take action on what you can control.
→ Click here to see the original published episode
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Here's What You'll Learn:Scott’s ‘origin story’ from New York to Hollywood with no connections and ‘no idea what to do’ (sound familiar?)The terrifying feeling of trying to get into this ‘fortress of opportunity’ in Hollywood where the only way in seems to be from people inside who are working & too busy to help you.The dilemma of just 'finding the next gig to pay the bills' vs. ‘playing the long game’ to pursue the career path you really want.The counter-intuitive shift in focus that makes that effectively eliminates that so-called ’dilemma’. (Listen for this key takeaway!)Why there’s no more important skill than networking in this industry and the step-by-step path to networking for introverts.Discover the ’secrets’ to “cold emailing” / “cold outreach” and how Scott boosted his response rate from 5% to 75%.The REAL goal of sending an outreach email. (HINT: It sounds so easy it couldn’t possibly work.)How to ‘crawl inside the brain’ of the person you send an outreach email to and see it from their perspective.How to get people to OPEN your approach email and why doing a few minutes of research goes a LONG way.Why the idea of “nobody wants to help me” is just wrong and right way to tap into people’s natural tendency to WANT share their wisdom & experience with you.Connecting the dots: Scott’s story of turning rejections into opportunities.What it really means to “lead with value” and the power of ‘validation’.The momentum that builds when you invest in building relationships over time.Useful Resources Mentioned:Get The Insider’s Guide to Writing Great Amazing Outreach Emails
The Optimizer Coaching & Mentorship Program
Continue to Listen & LearnEp244: [CASE STUDY] How Marc Wiltshire Optimized His Cold Outreach Strategies (and Expanded His Network) to Land His Dream Job
Ep204: [CASE STUDY] How to Make Your Dream Project a Reality | with Matt Allen and Matthew Gentile
Ep192: [CASE STUDY] How a Single Outreach Email Led to a Dream Job at Marvel | with Matthew Farrugia
Ep172: [CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle
Want a Response to Your Cold Emails? Then Every Message MUST Do These 5 Things
Why Writing Cold Emails Is the Most Important ‘Soft Skill’ You Must Master (Especially If You’re An Introvert)
The 5 Most Common Mistakes You’re Making With Your Cold Emails (and How to Fix Them)
Ep184: Networking (the Right Way), Mentorship, and Connecting with ‘Experts’ | with Troy Takaki, ACE
Guest Bio: Scott Davis

J. Scott Davis is an editor, assistant editor, outdoorsman, hopeless introvert and constant seeker of knowledge.
"I lived and worked in

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Today's guest is Rob Howard who is a professional software developer and the founder of Innovating with AI, a company that helps entrepreneurs harness the power of AI. As a veteran with over 20 years in the tech industry, Rob is here to help us demystify AI by giving us a glimpse of how Large Language Models (LLM) really work. Rob breaks down for us what makes AI tick and how understanding it can shift our perspective from fear to opportunity, as AI becomes another tool for unleashing more of our creativity so we can do great work.
Rob also shares how you can start to dabble with AI so you can integrate it with your own unique talents and skills. Regardless of how you feel about AI, this conversation will open your mind and help you future-proof yourself in order to stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape.
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Here's What You'll Learn:How being a Jack-of-all-trades can create robustness in what you do in life and in businessWhy Rob compares AI to a giant Plinko boardWhat tokens are and how are they used in Large Language Models (LLM)The math that makes AI workHow AI gives us decent answers and why it shouldn't terrify usThe big change AI brought us that we didn't think was possibleThe root cause of our fear of AI and why it's actually a good thingWhat will make you replaceable by AI, and more importantly, what won'tThe level at which AI fails and how to leverage it to do great workHow to innovate with AI without being a coderUseful Resources Mentioned:Plinko board
Image: Zombie crawling to the finish line
The iron triangle
Innovating with AI
Rob's No Code Toolkit
Continue to Listen & LearnEp249: OpenAI’s Chad Nelson on How Artificial Intelligence Could Shape the Future of Creativity, Collaboration, and How We Can Survive
Ep222: Is Artificial Intelligence Coming for Your Job? Maybe…and Here’s How to Prepare | with Michael Kammes
Ep221: How to Be an Irreplaceable Creative in the Emerging World of Artificial Intelligence | with Srinivas Rao
EditFest 2023: Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Art of Editing
What Does The Future Hold for “AE’s” In the Age of “AI”? | LACPUG Panel
Ep214: What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone
Ep212: The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Ep246: Building a Career Beyond Your Job Title, Strategically Crafting Your Story, and Diversifying Your Career Portfolio | with Jeff Bartsch
Ep233: Redefining Your Career Path in a Post Generational Society | with Mauro Guillén
Ep232: How to Future-Proof Your Creative Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger Than Your Résumé | with Christina Wallace
Ep245: How to Reinvent Yourself, Pursue Your Dreams, and Change Careers at Any Age | with Marcelo Lewin
Guest Bio: Rob Howard

Rob Howard is a 20-year tech industry veteran, software developer, startup founder, investor and entrepreneur – and the creator of Innovating with AI.
Rob’s story starts at age 12 – when he learned to code and built his first HTML websites. A few years later, his first online business was featured in Entertainment Weekly, and he was off to the races in a career that combined tech and entrepreneurship with journalism, public communications and a unique approach to building companies that make their customers and employees proud.
Rob founded a 1-million-user cloud storage startup that was acquired in 2009, and since then he’s built, acquired and invested in a range of tech startups, including acquisitions of MasterWP and Understrap and the launch of EveryAlt, BusinessEnglish.ai and Inbox Autopilot, three AI-powered software-as-a-service plat

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
Artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing and causing a stir among creative professionals that ranges from excitement at new possibilities to fear of rendering jobs redundant and unnecessary.
As the responsibilities of assistant editors have morphed into highly technical tasks over the years, a disconcerting question emerges: are their roles at risk of being assumed by AI?
At last year's LACPUG, I was honored to be the moderator of a panel that talked about this very topic. The distinguished panelists were Ashley McKinney, Assistant Editor (Gotham Knights, Shooter, The Last Movie Star); Scott Jacobs, Assistant Editor (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, WandaVision, The Orville); and Richard Sanchez, Visual Effects Editor (Ahsoka, Bill & Ted Face the Music, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law).
Whether you are an assistant editor or any creative professional in any industry, this conversation applies to you. AI is not going anywhere and the more we understand how it impacts every job and person we interact with, the more we can adapt and grow with it. Join us for a candid conversation about what this paradigm shift means for all creative professionals. This is a discussion you won't want to miss and I am immensely grateful to LACPUG for allowing me to publish it here.
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Here's What You'll Learn:Why it’s important to say Assistant Editor as opposed to AEShould we allow AI into the creative workflow?Where AI can be dangerous in the workflow and what we can do to avoid thatThe MovieLabs 2030 Vision Initiative and how it affects the assistant editors' worldEfficiency versus effectiveness and which one should you focus on moreWill there be a new path to becoming an editor?Understanding the limitations of AI and using that as leverageHow to protect your boundaries in the midst of efficiency brought about by AIWhere you can start to learn more about AIThe essential skills you need to develop to become irreplaceableUseful Resources Mentioned:EditFest 2023: Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Art of Editing
The 2030 Vision Initiative (MovieLabs)
Continue to Listen & LearnEp249: OpenAI’s Chad Nelson on How Artificial Intelligence Could Shape the Future of Creativity, Collaboration, and How We Can Survive
Ep222: Is Artificial Intelligence Coming for Your Job? Maybe…and Here’s How to Prepare | with Michael Kammes
Ep221: How to Be an Irreplaceable Creative in the Emerging World of Artificial Intelligence | with Srinivas Rao
Ep214: What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone
Ep212: The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Ep246: Building a Career Beyond Your Job Title, Strategically Crafting Your Story, and Diversifying Your Career Portfolio | with Jeff Bartsch
Ep232: How to Future-Proof Your Creative Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger Than Your Résumé | with Christina Wallace
Ep245: How to Reinvent Yourself, Pursue Your Dreams, and Change Careers at Any Age | with Marcelo Lewin
Ep231: How to Become Resilient In the Face of Change (and Manage an Identity Crisis) | with Brad Stulberg
Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).