December 12, 2024

Mike Nichols had a great run, with four consecutive wins at the box office. Life was good, all turned to gold when touched. Two academy award nominations.

An Oscar for Best Director. But, then he made a movie that did not hit big.It was poorly received. For the next seven years Nichols did nothing. He created nothing.

He collaborated with no one. He purposefully declined to work. He procrastinated. Why? Fear. The entertainment business is wild, and image is paramount.

The swing and a miss for Nichols hurt and it halted him from working. He was too concerned with what others might think. What they saw in him and his work.

However, he rebounded himself and reminded himselfwho was really in charge. Nichols would later reflect and say, "those seven years of not making movies taught me more about making movies than the years I spent making them." Those seven years taught Nichols how to "relax." He said, "prepare as much as you can. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Then show up, and throw it all away. Just show up and see what happens."

For many this success swing would ruin a career. Letting procrastination take over and topple. But in his seven years away, he took that time to build himself back up. Nichols realized that procrastination is vile and he found his antidote. Just show up. Prepare. And relax. Success or failure, just relax. Prepare. Show up.