Meet Phil Cooke

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Phil Cooke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Phil, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
Many years ago, I learned that “creative” or “writing” blocks happen because we start a project too soon. I don’t even start working on a project until I see the deadline rushing up in the distance. I do research, think about it, reflect on it, and literally do anything but actually start to write. I just let all those ideas churn around inside until I can’t hold them back any longer. Then, when I DO sit down to write, the words often come faster than I can even type. I believe in this so much that I wrote a book called “Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking.” It focuses on helping people overcome the fear of deadlines and unleash their greatest ideas – even when the deadline is looming.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve been told I’m a bit rare – a working producer in Hollywood with a Ph.D. in Theology. My client list has included studios and networks like Disney, Dreamworks, and USA Network, as well as major faith and nonprofit organizations from Voice of the Martyrs, The Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army, The YouVersion Bible app, to many of the most respected churches in the country.

I’ve produced TV and film programming in more than 70 countries around the world, and in the process, been shot at, survived two military coups, fallen out of a helicopter, and in Africa, been threatened with prison.

I’ve also lectured at universities like Yale, University of California at Berkeley, UCLA. In addition to writing a blog at philcooke.com, I’ve contributed to The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Forbes.com, Wired.com, and FoxNews.com. I’m also on the Advisory Boards for The Salvation Army and The Hollywood Prayer Network and have been a long-time member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and The Producers Guild of America in Hollywood.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1) People skills – no question. In my experience, dealing with people skillfully is far more important than the skills it takes to do your job.

2) A sense of humor. In a filmmaking career – particularly in challenging places worldwide – you must keep a positive attitude to survive. And perhaps more importantly, being able to use that attitude to inspire and motivate your team.

3) Being able to read a room. In many situations, knowing what people are thinking can save your career and, sometimes, your life. Whether you’re dealing with a client meeting, a brainstorming session, or a rogue police officer in a Third World country trying to arrest you for filming an event, staying ahead of everyone else in the room can transform your career.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
There’s no question that we need to focus on our strengths and not our weak areas. Think about it like this: on a scale of 1-10, your best areas are an 8, 9, or 10. But your weak areas might be a 3, 4, or 5 – maybe a 6. The critical thing to know is that people don’t pay for 3, 4, or 5. They pay for 8’s, 9’s, and 10’s.

Whether it’s a potential client, a boss, or a company that might be hiring you, they’re looking at your strengths, not your weaknesses. So my advice is to stop worrying about your weakness and spend more time developing what you’re amazing at doing – because that is what people are looking for.

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I own them all.

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