I created Optimize Yourself so that I could provide the resources to help creative professionals find fulfillment in their work and love what they do...but not at the expense of their health, their relationships, or their sanity. A natural extension of this is that we must be valued & respected for the work that we do. Without respect, no matter how much we love our jobs, our careers won't be sustainable and our passion will eventually become indifference (and sometimes even hatred). We become overworked, disrespected, and burned out.

This is unfortunately what’s happening right now to tens-of-thousands of below the line workers in the entertainment industry as clearly portrayed by the meteoric rise of the @IA_Stories Instagram account. In part because of the horror stories this account has amplified, The IATSE union and the AMPTP have come to a standstill in contract negotiations and the union is asking its members to vote and authorize a strike. This is a historic moment in the union's history, and it's important that all of us understand what is truly at stake beyond the deal points and the percentages. That's why I decided to have an “All-hands-on-deck” call with my Optimizer coaching & mentorship community to provide an open forum where union and non-union members alike could ask their questions, voice their opinions, and gain a better understanding of the true impact this pending vote (and strike) can have on our industry for decades to come.

Whether you are in the union or you work freelance outside the union, this conversation will (hopefully) answer your questions and paint a clear picture of why you need to be paying attention to this issue.

If you haven’t yet read my latest article, Dear Hollywood: If We Don’t Speak Up Now, The Industry As We Know It Will Never Be The Same (It’s Gut Check Time), I encourage you to check it out as it provides even more context to this timely and important conversation.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• How does the current IATSE contract dispute impact non-union workers?
• This negotiation outcome will be a sea change in the way we advocate for ourselves.
• Why we need to band together and present a united front.
• What does is mean if we vote yes to authorize a strike?
• What exactly is IATSE and who are the members involved?
• The red ant- black ant analogy and what we should really be focused on.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: We need our message to reach the other IATSE locals so they understand what is at stake and can make an informed vote.
• When we talk about producers in this context, we are talking about the studios and the producers at AMPTP.
• To support our cause, union and non-union members can sign this petition on Action Network.
• How do we address the issue that working less hours = less pay?
• What ‘lifestyle creep’ is and how it cripples us.
• One way to help alleviate fears is to create a fund to help people pay their bills. If such a fund is created, I pledge to personally put $1000 into it.
• Why it's important to understand the problems of the people above you and the people we are negotiating with.
• The only thing that will make it change is if we no longer meet those unreasonable expectations.
• How voting works within the guilds to vote for a strike authorization.
• Director Sam Lavin weighs in about the situation and gives a director's perspective.
• Canceling our streaming services is not the way to fight back.
• It comes down to how willing we are to set boundaries to protect ourselves.
• Ricardo is seeing younger generation of workers stepping up and setting boundaries for themselves so there is hope for the future.
• Please vote with your heart and do what you feel is right as long as you have all the information you need.
• If you can't vote, please spread the word to the right people so they understand what the conversation is about.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Dear Hollywood: If We Don’t Speak Up Now, The Industry As We Know It Will Never Be The Same (It’s Gut Check Time)

Tell AMPTP to Give Film and Television Workers a Fair Deal

IATSE Stories (@ia_stories) • Instagram photos and videos

Continue to Listen & Learn

Dear Hollywood: If We Don’t Speak Up Now, The Industry As We Know It Will Never Be The Same (It’s Gut Check Time)

Dear Hollywood: We Create Entertainment For a Living. We’re Not Curing Cancer

Dear Hollywood: We’re Not “Lucky to Be Here,” You’re Lucky to Have Us

Dear Hollywood: Loving What We Do Makes Us Easy to Exploit. Here’s Why.

Dear Hollywood: It’s Time For An Intervention About the Hours We Work

I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here’s What I Did About It.

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Ep112: On Signing COVID Waivers, Kit Rental Fees, and Working Humane Hours | with Cathy Repola, MPEG National Executive Director

Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy

Ep149: How Modern Society Is Damaging Your Brain (and the Simple Steps to Reverse It) | with Dr. Dave Jenkins

Ep82: Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael Kammes

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Our Generous Sponsor:

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Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content