True Story About How Kindness Counts

When YII came across this story, from Reno, NV-based producer, illustrator, 3D animator, motion graphics and VFX designer, and  editor, Andrew Johnson, we thought it illustrated perfectly the mindset common to so many successful entertainment pros. Alas, not all of them have this kind of understanding and humanity, but if you can cultivate it young, it will serve you well in your career and your life. 

When I was an intern at a small ad agency very early in my career, myself and another intern did an interview of the founding family of a major (and famous) restaurant chain for a free resort newspaper. It was a throwaway interview for them, but they granted it nonetheless. We were seated with the whole family in the living room of their mansion. One family member unfortunately had MS and was very difficult to understand. But us two interns thought nothing of it and included him in our questioning, listened intently, patiently waited for his answers, joked with him and basically treated him like he was no different from anyone else. It didn’t even occur to us to treat him any different – in other words, we didn’t go out of our way to make a special case. It was just natural because he was part of the family and this business.

When we were leaving, the founder pulled us aside and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to us for including his son and treating him as an equal. He said they had been interviewed by countless media – local, regional and national – and they all had ignored the son except us. He said our actions had meant a huge boost to this son’s self esteem. Again, we didn’t do it on purpose – it was just our nature.

Less than a week later, the little ad agency got a call to handle all this chain’s advertising – changing the fortunes of this agency. The agency owner was told it was because of the character of his interns. I kept a little stick-on Maryland blue crab that was given to me by the founder on my car’s rear view mirror as a reminder that great things can happen by being a good person, no matter where you sit on the ladder. To this day, I try to answer every inquiry I get – no matter how basic or off-base to my business – with respect, patience and a sense of helpfulness. You never really know who you’re talking to and how they may change your fortunes. Plus it’s just being a good person.

Know anyone who could use an entertainment industry insider? Encourage them to sign up on the YII home page to receive our Mogul Mindset eBlasts today!