by Bruce Willis is one of the most well-known and successful actors in Hollywood. With over $3 billion in box office worldwide gross and some of the most iconic action movie roles under his belt, it’s hard to imagine a time when his acting career wasn’t flying high. But in a recent revealing interview, Willis opened up about a pivotal moment early in his career when he had to make a bold decision that would end up reshaping his path to stardom.
In the late 1980s, Bruce Willis was struggling to make it big. He had bounced around with minor roles on TV shows and small parts in forgettable movies. But the big breakthrough still eluded him.
As Willis tells it in the interview, he was becoming increasingly frustrated with the direction (or lack thereof) his acting career was taking. He confided in a director friend one day about how dissatisfied he felt.
The friend asked Willis point blank: “What do you want to do? Do you want to be a movie star or don’t you?”
This question stunned Willis into thinking seriously about what he wanted for his career. Did he want to keep churning out mediocre roles and hope for his lucky break to come someday? Or did he want to really commit 100% and go all in on becoming a major Hollywood star?
Up until then, Willis had been straddling the line, not fully committing to either path. But he realized in that moment that he needed to make a choice if he really wanted to make it in this industry.
So Bruce Willis made the bold decision to do whatever it takes to become a movie star. He got a new agent, took any role he could get his hands on, and fully dedicated himself to his acting work.
Within just a few years of making this decisive career move, Willis landed the role of John McClane in ‘Die Hard’ which catapulted him to A-list status overnight. He followed it up with other huge hits like ‘Pulp Fiction,’ ‘Armageddon,’ and ‘The Sixth Sense.’
Clearly, making the deliberate choice to pursue acting fame wholeheartedly changed the entire trajectory of Bruce Willis’ career. It shifted him away from a path of mediocrity onto a road of massive success. His story demonstrates the incredible power of making bold decisions to completely reshape our lives and careers.
So how can you apply the lessons from Bruce Willis’ story to make bold decisions that will transform your own life and work? Here are some suggestions:
Decide What You Really Want
Just like Willis had to get clear on his acting goals, you need to decide what you really want in your career or life. Do you want to switch industries? Start your own business? Move across the country? Make a huge life change? Get very specific on your vision for the future.
Weigh the Trade-Offs
Any big decision will require trade-offs. Really think through what you’ll have to give up or sacrifice to achieve your goal. Sometimes we have unrealistic expectations of keeping everything the same while only changing one aspect of life. Get clear on the exchanges you must make.
For Bruce Willis, fully committing to his acting work meant giving up some of his freedom and taking on more work than he previously had. He decided the sacrifices were worth it.
Set a Deadline
If you don’t set a firm deadline for making your decision, it’s easy to keep putting it off. Give yourself a concrete timeline for when you’ll make your choice, whether that’s a few weeks, months or by a certain date. This will motivate you to actually move forward.
Don’t Listen to Naysayers
When you make any big decision, there will always be some negative voices telling you why it’s a bad idea. Bruce Willis likely had people telling him he couldn’t make it in Hollywood. Listen to wise counsel, but don’t let fear or other people’s limitations stop you.
Plan for Potential Failure
Bold decisions have the potential for bigger rewards, but also come with greater risk of failing. Make sure you have a back-up plan if things don’t work out as expected. Have a financial safety net, alternative career options in mind, or a path back to the status quo.
Break It Down into Small Steps
Any ambitious goal can seem overwhelming when viewed in its entirety. Break your decision down into smaller, daily goals and steps you can take to move you forward. Outline the specific actions needed to help manifest your vision.
Surround Yourself with Supporters
It’s essential to have encouraging people in your corner cheering you on, especially when you pursue something unconventional.Cut out naysayers who sap your confidence. Seek out those who share your bold vision.
Take Inspired Action
The most important step with any decision is taking action! You can analyze and plan forever, but must take the first step. Inspired action builds momentum, motivation and leads to more clarity. Keep moving forward.
Bruce Willis’ wise words about boldly deciding to commit 100% to his acting reminds us that we all have pivotal moments where we can choose to maintain status quo or radically alter our lives. It’s scary to make such major changes. But just imagine where Bruce would be today if he never made that fateful decision to fully pursue his Hollywood dreams.
We all have our own version of becoming a “movie star” that lives within us. Whatever your equivalent of this bold dream, go after it with all you have. You have the power to reshape your future.
Use Bruce Willis’ story as your inspiration to make courageous decisions. Our one life is too short to hold ourselves back due to fear or indecision. Imagine if just one bold choice could redirect your career and life journey onto an amazing path meant just for you.
The time for hesitancy and playing small is over. Decide what you really want, get clear on your non-negotiables, set a timeline, surround yourself with encouragers, and start taking inspired action.
You hold the pen to write your life story. Make bold decisions that will transform you into the lead character in your own blockbuster movie! The box office may not be waiting for you like it was for Willis, but satisfaction, fulfillment and the life you’ve always dreamed of can be yours. Seize the day. Reshape your destiny. Be bold.
