Chapter 3: The Real World and the Myth of the Perfect Opportunity

There’s this pervasive myth that keeps so many creatives, entrepreneurs, and would-be doers stuck: the myth of the perfect opportunity. It’s the idea that there’s a right time, a right place, a right project, and if you just wait patiently enough, it will come. But here’s the truth: waiting for the perfect opportunity is just another form of procrastination. It’s fear wearing the mask of patience.

I’ve seen it play out over and over again. People tell themselves, “I’ll start when I have the right gear, the right budget, the right client.” But that perfect moment never comes, and meanwhile, they’re watching others pass them by—not because those people are better, but because they’re willing to start messy. They’re willing to jump in, even when the circumstances are less than ideal.

One of the things I say often is, “Stop talking and go make something.” It’s not about being reckless; it’s about recognizing that the conditions are never going to be perfect, and that’s okay. The real world doesn’t care about perfect. The real world rewards those who show up, take risks, and learn on the fly. It’s about momentum—building it, keeping it, and letting it carry you to places you never expected.

Take the countless creatives I’ve known who started with nothing—no money, no connections, no roadmap. They didn’t wait for someone to give them permission to start. They picked up a camera, a paintbrush, a guitar, and got to work. They didn’t wait for the dream gig; they made whatever was in front of them into something worthwhile. And because of that, opportunities came—not the other way around.

One of the best examples of this is a friend of mine, Rafi, a filmmaker who’s been grinding away for years. One day, he goes to a boutique event, grabs his camera, and films it, just because. He makes this gorgeous little video showcasing the brand, and suddenly, people take notice. What started as a low-stakes, no-budget side project turns into paid gigs, collaborations, and bigger opportunities. Not because he waited for the perfect project, but because he made the project in front of him count.

This is the kind of hustle that builds momentum. It’s the willingness to work with what you’ve got, to make something out of nothing, to turn every gig into a stepping stone. And it’s a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out to start. You just have to start.

I’ve been in rooms pitching projects that never got picked up, working on shoots that went nowhere, and creating content that seemed pointless at the time. But every one of those moments led to something else. A failed TV pilot led to a conversation that led to a commercial that became one of the biggest projects of my career. And it all started because I was willing to make something imperfect and put it out into the world.

There’s no formula for success. There’s no secret sauce. There’s just showing up, doing the work, and letting each step lead to the next. The perfect opportunity isn’t coming to knock on your door—you have to go out and make it happen, one imperfect project at a time.

So, the next time you’re tempted to wait for the right moment, remember this: there’s no such thing as perfect. There’s only progress. There’s only momentum. And the only way to get anywhere worth going is to start moving, even if you have no idea where it’s going to lead. The real world is waiting, and it’s not interested in perfect. It’s interested in people who are willing to take action, learn from their failures, and keep going.