Chapter 8: The Validation Trap

Validation is a drug, and for creators, it’s the most addictive one there is. We all crave it—the applause, the recognition, the feeling that what we’ve made is worthy. But here’s the catch: the more you chase it, the less of it you actually get. It’s a never-ending loop of approval-seeking that steals your time, your energy, and your creative fire.

In the film industry, validation is the currency that everyone’s fighting for. From the moment you decide you want to be a filmmaker, you’re told that success means getting past the gatekeepers: the agents, the producers, the festival judges. But here’s the truth: you don’t need them. You never did. The only validation that matters is the kind you give yourself when you finish the work and put it out there.

I grew up around the film industry. My dad worked on movie sets, and I spent my childhood hanging out with grips, electricians, and construction crews—people who got things done. It wasn’t about glamour; it was about hustle. I learned early on that work beats waiting every time. There were no shortcuts, no secret doors—just show up, do the job, and don’t complain. But when I made my first film, I forgot those lessons. I got sucked into the validation trap.

I finished “God Money” and thought I was on my way. I had a completed film, a real movie, and I was ready to show it to the world. But instead of doing what I knew best—getting it out there—I fell into the waiting game. I set up screenings, took meeting after meeting, hoping for someone to say, “Yes, you’re the real deal.” But that moment never came. I wasted years waiting for someone else to give me permission to be great. It was like being trapped in a purgatory of almosts and maybes.

Here’s the harsh truth: no one’s coming to save you. No one’s going to suddenly see your genius and hand you a golden ticket. You have to take it. You have to be the one who says, “This is good enough to share. This is worth putting out there.” Because if you don’t, you’ll be stuck forever, waiting for a nod that might never come. And while you’re waiting, the world keeps moving.

Forget the gatekeepers. They’re playing their own game, and you don’t need to be part of it. You don’t need their approval to be a filmmaker, an artist, a creator. You just need to make the work.

 You need to create without asking for permission, to put it out there without waiting for validation. Social media has changed everything. You can find your audience directly; you can build your brand without the middlemen. There are no more barriers between you and your fans—unless you build them yourself.

Stop chasing validation. Stop waiting for someone else to tell you you’re good enough. You have the tools, the platforms, and the freedom to make what you want and share it with the world. The only person who can give you permission to create is you. So do it. Make the film. Write the story. Build the brand. The world needs creators who aren’t afraid to show up and make things happen, not ones who are still waiting for a tap on the shoulder.

The validation you seek won’t come from a film festival, an award, or a big-shot producer. It comes from the act of creating, from the courage to put your work out there, and from the satisfaction of knowing you did it on your terms. Validation is just a byproduct of showing up every day, making the work, and not being afraid to fail. So get out of the trap. Create because you love it, because you have to, because it’s who you are. Everything else is just noise.