We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cory Danziger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cory, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Optimism simply feels good. Being optimistic is a choice that I make when I wake up in the morning and when I go to bed at night. I want to feel good, and everything is up to our interpretation. As a result, I have chosen optimism most of my life.
My parents were optimists, and they encouraged me to keep an eye on the “possibilities” for good things to happen at any and all times. I am grateful for this trait, and I’m grateful for their encouragement to see the “light” in whatever I’m doing.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Since I was seven years old, I’ve been working in entertainment and art. As a child and teenager, I was acting in motion pictures and television and had a wonderful career doing that. From pictures like The ‘Burbs to television programs like Beauty and the Beast, I was able to work from a young age with some incredibly talented, driven, and wise, creative people. I watched and learned a lot. It was wonderful.
As an adult, I’ve made my living as a Creative Entrepreneur. As the Co-Owner of SceneFour, my partner Ravi Dosaj and I, have spent the last twenty years doing collaborative fine artwork with music legends. These works are unique, as the visual artwork featured is crafted from the musicians’ performances. These works are some of the fastest selling art pieces in the country. The collectorship reaches more than 80 countries.
Coinciding with the work of SceneFour, I’ve been doing my own artwork and writing. The artwork, mostly done with silkscreen on paper and canvas, has found it’s own collectorship. The writing has also been embraced by a loyal following as well.
My journey over the last forty years has kept me very busy and creatively satisfied.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
There are so many lessons to be learned as we go about our creative journeys. Lessons in business, friendship, and trust are paramount. With the work I did acting and the work I’ve done with SceneFour, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most talented folks in entertainment, music and art. Many of these successful people have some wonderful things in common.
Here are three qualities that they share:
1. They value “time” – Money comes and goes and comes again. Your “time” however is limited. Once it’s gone, it is gone forever.
2. They give 100% – With people at the top, they share a common belief in “effort.” If they agree to a project, they go all in. If they’re not going to commit like that, they won’t do the project.
3. Failure is not fatal – Creatively speaking, failure is not the end of the world. If a project doesn’t find an audience or doesn’t resonate, they move onto the next project. There’s a lot more to do for folks that are highly creative.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Over the last year, I’ve made a conscious shift to set boundaries with the people and places around me, and the situations I participate in. I’m realizing, at 47 years old, that not everyone is going to think I’m the nicest or greatest. Some might, but pleasing everyone and meeting everyone’s expectations isn’t something I can control. This year, I’m doing my best to please “myself” and to look inward for my own approval first and foremost. If I don’t want to do something professionally, I say “no.” If my gut is telling me that something doesn’t sound like a good project for me, I politely decline. Being more selective is a signal to the Universe, in my opinion. By being “selective” and knowing what I want, I’m able to let the Universe know what I’m seeking.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.scenefour.com, www.corydanziger.com, www.corydanzigerart.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cory.danziger
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