80% of success is down to this one thing

The importance of getting into the room

This article has been rewritten and reposted - without the link the Writers Room day which will not be taking place for reasons that will be explained in full next week - which will be the last Situation Room. (I’m fine, by the way. I’m just pivoting…)

You may not have heard of Marshall Brickman. He co-wrote Annie Hall with Woody Allen. Personally, I found that film creepy, and let’s be honest: don’t take life advice from Woody Allen.

But Marshall Brickman says that Allen was right about one thing:

I have learned one thing. As Woody says, ‘Showing up is 80 percent of life.’ Sometimes it’s easier to hide at home in bed. I’ve done both.

Later, Allen confirmed this is a maxim of his:

80 percent of success is showing up.

Hiding at home in bed, or staying behind a keyboard is easy. You can have everything delivered. You can learn a lot from YouTube. No man is an island, but it’s now possible to be an island for a really long time. But there are times when you need to leave the island.

Six Hours for 85 Minutes

On Tuesday, I had a meeting with a publisher to pitch an idea for a book. I knew that meeting had to be in person to be effective. That meeting lasted about 85 minutes. It took me three hours to get to London. And another three hours to get home. It cost me about £60.

Was it worth it?

Yes. I was able to bring some books with me, show them to the publisher and say, “I want to do a book like this – but with this other angle.” They picked up that book. There was engagement. They were not secretly checking emails. We were all present in the room. It was worth six hours of travelling, £60 in costs – and the money I lost being in transit and therefore unable to work (which amounts to another £120–150?).

I always try and have meetings in person. In short, if I want to be a success, I need to show up.

We need to get out there. You need to get out there. I need to get you there.

So I’m trying to get meetings, and get gigs for my touring live show God the Bible and Everything (in 60 minutes). Which is why I really don’t have time to give to The Situation Room.

I love writing it. I love helping people write better sitcoms scripts. And I love sitcoms. But right now, I need to be honest about the time it takes (quite a lot), the money is makes (not enough) and what I really want to do (a new podcast called Stand-up Theology, along with Cary’s Almanac and The Wycliffe Papers - as well as pitch new sitcoms).

So I’ll be signing off next week.