JAMES CAMERON: THE EPITOME OF IMAGINATION, WILL AND ABOVE ALL, SELF-CONFIDENCE.

            “Only as high as I reach can I grow,

                Only as far as I seek can I go,

                  Only as deep as I look can I see,

                    Only as much as I dream can I be.”

                    — Karen Ravn

Imagination, will and confidence!

These are the key principles — formidable faculties of the mind — I find fitting to best qualify a creative superstar of Hollywood; James Cameron, whose unprecedented achievements will serve as inspirations to billions of people for many generations ahead.

James Cameron imagined a future of purpose, he nurtured his imagination with the will to practice and prepare in advance; and with the will to win, he demonstrated confidence to achieve records that remain exceptional till this day—and thus, we are compelled to consider him a genius.

Since awareness precedes choices, my objective is to illustrate with his example that — no matter where we are now — great things are still possible for us, when we truly understand the power of universal principles and implement them in our lives.

The essence of this article is to prove that principles are true and fair to all, if we are faithful in applying them unceasingly. Self-confidence is the dominant of all factors behind the success of James Cameron — a college drop-out. 

After reading this article, I hope you will decide to do what it takes to build your own confidence, day by day.

Read on with delight the enthralling account of an attractive personality of our time…

HOW THE UNKNOWN GENIUS BEGAN

James Cameron started like many of his peers in the seventies; he enrolled at Fullerton College to study Physics. 

However, in 1973, he dropped out, just like Steve Jobs, likely with the inner realization that academic degree had little bearing to his calling in life. But he chose to study personally the subjects of film technology that he found really interesting while he made his living as a truck driver among other odd jobs.

His confidence peaked in 1977 after seeing Star Wars; so he decided to enter the film industry by quitting his truck driving job. With wonderful imagination, he wrote the script of the Terminator; a film about a vicious cyborg sent from the far future into the then present for a nasty assignment.

Imagination is a powerful force and all achievements start with its creative use. As George Bernard Shaw states that “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.”

Cameron set out boldly to manifest the creation of his mind. He was so confident in himself that he was willing to sell only to studios that would allow him to direct the film. But all the studious at time refused to invest in the idea because he was considered largely inexperienced. 

He tried studios after studios without luck but eventually, with his glowing self-confidence, he was able to secure the cooperation of one producer who bought the screenplay for one dollar and allowed him to direct the movie. Now, the outcome of success or failure entirely depended on the young James, whom many rejected because his skills and prowess were yet to be proven.

He had only one shot, he had only one chance, he had only one opportunity, so he resolved to seize the opportunity and make the most of it, which he did. The rest, as we shall see is a history of game-changing and record-breaking success in succession. 

Terminator went on to surpass the expectations of the scoffers, critics and the naysayers altogether. It grossed over 1000 percent of its total cost and ultimately became a cult classic. Cameron achieved what the so called experienced directors and able film makers in the industry might not have achieved. 

With his skillful work on special effects, he found huge success in this science fiction action film. He surpassed all expectations simply because he had the confidence to think differently and to take a risk.

I would have stopped here to begin my analysis of what we can tap from his remarkable example; but that will be unfair to the full range of awe-inspiring records that implausibly followed. So please, patiently, read on.

Furthermore, with his use of cutting-edge technology for special visual effects,  James went ahead, 8 years later, in 1991 to  make another critical and box office hit; Terminator2— a sequel to the first film. 

The film made a record-breaking sum in excess of $500 million dollars world-wide, delighting the viewers and enriching the investors copiously. It won four Academy awards, including the Best Visual Effects. And it became the highest grossing film that year.

Afterwards, in 1997, James Cameron still proved himself to be the most bankable of all directors and producers in the industry, with his latest film till date: The Titanic. 

Derisively, before the film was released, it was widely ridiculed by critics for its expense of $200 million dollars as it was the most expensive movie ever made at that time.

Eventually, Titanic became the highest grossing film of all time, raking in more than $1.8 billion world-wide; and it was the first film to gross more than $1 billion in history. The film went on to win multiple awards which included the one that made Cameron, The Best Director, that year.

But Cameron was unremitting in his pursuit of  the acme of excellence and the highest level of success; his best was yet to come.

In 2009, Avatar, which took him almost 10 years to complete was released. 

Cameron explained the reason for the long-time span it took to finish the film; that the available technology was not good enough to produce his work; the movie had to wait for the realization of the advanced visual effects imagined by Cameron.

As if he had the Midas touch, Avatar grossed over $2.7 billion, breaking several box office records, and surpassing the previous Titanic to become the highest-grossing film of all time. 

Avatar also became the first movie in all history to gross over $2 billion world-wide. The Academy awards won included, the Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects among others.

James Cameron's films have grossed a whopping total of over $7 billion worldwide.

To simply answer the surprises and wonder of anyone who is just reading these details for the first time, I will quote the words of Sigourney Weaver, one of the actresses who worked with him on stage. They are as follows:

"There are very few geniuses in the world, let alone in our business, and he's certainly one of them."

Now, it is hard to debate that conclusion, isn’t it?

But I am more curious of what makes him than I am of all his impressive records.

What is clear is that he made a judicious use of his mental powers of imagination and will, which in turn gave him the self-confidence to make big bets and won successively.

And it is in this sphere that I want to derive my insights on the practical lessons we can adopt to create a power habit that can attract greatness to us in life.

By the way, James Cameron — being first person in history to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean, in a solo descent — is unquestionably a man of supreme imagination, will and rare confidence and arguably, the most resourceful figure in film industry today.

THE CORE SECRET BEHIND IT ALL IS: THOROUGH PREPARATION

"One important key to success is self-confidence. 

An important key to self-confidence is preparation."- Arthur Ashe

"Confidence is preparation.   

Everything else is beyond your control." – Richard Kline

To create a fabulous future, James Cameron had to begin with imagination; he had to start with the end in his mind. But he didn’t end at merely seeing the future he wanted, he saw himself doing something immediately to create it. Just as Kiyosaki said, our future is not created by what we do tomorrow; our future is created by what we do today, by what we do now

He had the will not to win overnight but the will to thoroughly prepare ahead to win; and at the core, that’s what gave him the unflappable confidence to take such risks that made his peers trembled; that made his critics shuddered; that amazed his friends.

Many of his colleagues are living witnesses to this fact in his life. They witness that he has a very high expectation for his work and he is willing to make everyone risk their lives and limbs for every shot, including his own.

His extreme preparation for the work even started long before he entered the drama scene, right from his truck driving years. This is what he said:

"I'd go down to the USC library and pull any thesis that graduate students had written about optical printing, or front screen projection, or dye transfers, anything that related to film technology. That way I could sit down and read it, and if they'd let me photocopy it, I would. If not, I'd make notes."

Ahead of the production of Titanic, Cameron himself dived to the bottom of the Atlantic and shot actual footage of the ship underwater, which he put into the final film. No wonder, the visuals surrounding the sinking and destruction of the ship were considered fantastic; he did the work and he did it thoroughly. 

His former wife, Hamilton, even considered his character flaw to be a blind devotion to his work to the exclusion of almost everything else. And some of his colleagues considered him a nightmare to work with due to his uncompromisingly high standard. 

Whether they love him or loathe him, the inarguable truth is this: his unique work ethic and strict standards gave the world the phenomenal successes that will forever remain significant in the annals of world film history.

The keystone of his confidence and wizardry is plainly what Louis Nizer eloquently expressed and written below as:

“Preparation is the be-all of good work. Everything else is a satellite around the sun. Thorough preparation is that sun.”     

WHAT CAN WE ALL LEARN FROM THIS

First, we must learn to not belittle our own ideas and imaginations; everything begins in the mind. Inferiority complex will slay the most useful imagination right in its track before it can even take a strong hold. Imagination will remain a mere fantasy without the primary belief in our ability to execute and bring it to life.

However, the main lesson in this journey of imaginative and bold success is that the best way to eradicate fears and doubts — the main killers of creative thoughts — is that we must work hard to prepare ourselves thoroughly and in advance to make the most of our gifts and talents.

We must make taking massive action a habit, if we are to realize our dreams, our vision, and our imagination; and thereby make the world a better place for all.

Just like Roald Amsunden, the recognized first person in the world to reach both the North and South poles; with careful planning and thorough preparation, we too can have the confidence to face and overcome the most daunting tasks, with results that will not only amaze others but astonish our own selves.

And Robert H. Schuller also agrees that the key to duplicating the like of Cameron’s confidence and hence, his achievement is; thorough preparation:

“Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation.”

FINALLY,

So, for that big idea that we imagine and think about most of the time, why has it not come to fruition?

Why has it not amounted to anything than just a dream?

Why has it not led to a breakthrough for our world?

Answer them for yourself but from Cameron's example, maybe...

Maybe the deficiency is in the preparation.

Maybe it all boils down to sincerity of purpose to do everything in our power to making it a reality.

Maybe we need to prioritize above everything else, doing something now in preparation for the great moment in coming.

If we are serious, now is the time to become absolutely committed to use all our resources to prepare, by doing the work, day by day, month by month, year by year, without weariness and slack for our own moment in the history of the world.

Sure, we have to imagine the big picture, but we need to do more; we need to work hard every single day; we need to derive inexhaustible drive from the challenge. We need to know that self-confidence comes from having the will for thorough preparation before everything else.

We need to know it is about being ready long before the angel of opportunity visits. Self-confidence is all about preparation; early, intense, extreme and unremitting commitment to making ourselves always ready. 

I can’t think of a better way to drive home my point on the sole significance of self-confidence and the best way to nurture it than the brilliant words of the great Jim Rohn when he said that:

“The greatest step toward success is self-confidence. The greatest builder of self confidence is self-esteem, and self-esteem comes from doing the daily things you know you should do. Your self esteem will start to soar when you make some critical decisions — decisions to walk a new road, to start a new direction, to start a new discipline.”