When I start working 12 hour days,7 days a week, the standard schedule when we get behind, which seems to be very common in Hollywood, it takes extra effort to survive. During the 1980’s, when I first started working in the business most guys used some form of stimulant. I never really enjoyed cocaine, but I suppose it made a certain type of sense. Many guys drank and smoked heavily, which has the opposite effect on your energy level, but also alleviates the mental strain, I guess. The three qualities needed for optimal performance and success, in my view, are strength, endurance and perseverance. Physical strength means more than just your muscle mass, it involves knowing how best to leverage your body, and being aware of your limits. Endurance is the combination of your physical ability with being able to control your mind to your best advantage. Perseverance involves finding a purpose to combine with the first two qualities. This purpose does not have to be ‘save the world’ big. It can be micro, and personal. I view the long hours and physical exertion , which can wear you down, as a way to train my body, mind, and soul.
While building a set is not the same as running a marathon, I think that some of the techniques athletes use can translate to success in the work environment. Endurance is described in the dictionary as “the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions”, and perseverance as “steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.” Caitlin Chock, writing about distsnce running for Active.com describes a four part process to deal with the messages your brain sends you as you start to tire that I believe can be applied to the work environment. Anticipate that you will get tired while working for 12 hours. Realize that everyone else on the crew is experiencing the same conditions. Assess how your body is reacting so that you know when to hydrate or take a breather. Reassess and reinterpret the messages your brain sends you and override them using any technique that works for you. For runners she suggests these tricks: visualizing your experience before you begin; using a positive self dialogue to keep yourself focused; concentrating on the things that you can control to distract yourself from the unpleasant, and focusing on your goals or rewards.
I expect to work at least 30 years in my set building career. In fact I have almost reached that marker, with at least ten years still remaining before I reach a retirement age. I have struggled to find meaning in the work beyond my paycheck. What I am starting to realize is that all aspects of work can serve as training for every area of life. My perseverance through obstacles including fatigue, pain, boredom, unemployment, the occasional obnoxious coworker, and attacks on my own ego and self esteem have trained me to the point where I honestly believe I can conquer any obstacle.