Over-Promise Under Deliver

 Have I mentioned this before?

The very worst thing you can ever to...EVER...is to over-promise and under-deliver. If anything do the opposite. Under promise and OVER deliver.

Nothing is more grating than someone puffing up their own efforts or others or offering other people's services only to have them do a last minute shit work.

This is VERY common. It is typical of how we cram from exams at the last minute. This business is far more egregious towards it because everyone wants to be involved. Then they realize the actual work is daunting.

STOP volunteering if you even suspect you even won't deliver. This has happened to me more times than I can count. Too many people make these grand plans and then they fizzle. This is what most people who work here are referring to when they call everyone "flakes" They're flakes in the sense of being in the moment.

As I get older, I try more and more to be aware of making promises because of it.

I know also that people don't want to lose jobs over it. Or that they missed out on the fun. or credit or whatever. The point is to say what you're going to do, and DO IT.

Conversely as a filmmaker, you also owe the cast and crew to make the best possible project to your ability. TOO many projects fizzle out. I would feel so sick to my stomach if anyone paid for my projects and it ended up being shelved for not being finished. Too many of these. Then your energy is sapped. And then you'd rather look at midget porn than your own movie.

Be aware that you owe people...specifically yourself to complete something. That is the greatest feeling you can have. Better than not. That feeling is horrible. When something lingers over your head when it was never done. That's got to haunt a lot of people.