My first professor in college told me something that I’ve thought about a lot since. He said although we’d probably never heard of him or cared about what he’d dedicated himself to studying (15th century political institutions in Zürich), it didn’t matter because at the end of the day, he knew that he knew more about the subject than anyone else on the planet. He was the best in the world.

The Executive has taught me a lot about that. He got tired of muddling around with actors and their huge egos – people that you’ve certainly heard of. He’s done with that. He only wants to work on things that have the chance to be THE best. Anything else he leaves for other people. And if you look at him and Tucker and Robert, they really have very little in common other than that in what they do, no one else can touch them. It’s a whole different wavelength.

That’s what I am working for. The rest I’ll figure out later. It’ll be a good problem to have.

A couple weeks ago, one of Tucker Max’s dogs jumped up, squatted and pissed all over my puppy’s face who just happened to be stuck in the middle of a large tractor tire in the front yard of a barrio house in Los Angeles. Apparently, this is what my life has become. I’m totally happy with that. When you’re in a surreal space, surreal things will happen – it’s what you get when you take a chance and stop listening to “how things are and should be.”

Play the game but don’t believe in it–that part you owe yourself. Even if it lands you in a straight jacket or a padded cell. Play the game, but play it your own way–part of the time at least. Play the game, but raise the ante, my boy.”

Ellison, Ralph

Invisible Man

Chances are you’re playing the game, so what is your raise?