My nickname for my sister Elizabeth is “my sister the sage.” She regularly drops insightful observations or speaks deep truths–often, without seeming to notice.
If her super-power is being a sage, my super-power is realizing when she—or anyone—has said something profound.
I’m working on a collection of aphorisms, and along with the aphorisms I’m writing myself, I’ve got a section devoted to some of my favorite aphorists, people like Andy Warhol, Samuel Johnson, Marie von Ebener-Eschenbach, and Winston Churchill. And Elizabeth, of course!
Here are some highlights from my collection of her sayings related to work and to writing—you’ll hear that because she’s a TV writer and producer, they have a distinctly Hollywood flavor. But, as I’ve learned from collecting “proverbs of the professions,” a truth that applies in one area or profession often applies just as well in other areas and professions.
During casual conversation, Elizabeth has told me:
- No one has an opinion until someone else has an opinion.
- People succeed in groups.
- “Yes” comes right away; “no” never comes.
- Step into the future.
- People don’t remember late. They remember bad.
- Every cliché about Hollywood is more true than you can possibly imagine.
- In a creative undertaking, the question is: Does this decision move the needle?
- Action is the antidote for anxiety.
- The more creative input you have, the more creative output you have.
- My job isn’t to have the best ideas. My job is to have the best TV show.
- You want volunteers, not recruits.
- Take care of yourself; no one will take care of you.
- Any gift that’s personalized seems more thoughtful.
- When writing TV shows, you’re shooting at a target to try to hit a bull’s eye. For some targets, the bull’s eye is very big; for others, it’s very small. Look for ideas with a big, forgiving bull’s eye.
- Nothing endears you to people more than helping their career.
- Everyone’s always looking for a reason to say “no.”
- Everyone who moves from New York to Los Angeles gains ten pounds, because they’re doing so much less walking.
- Writing is re-writing.
I feel very fortunate to have such a sage for a sister!
If you have any proverbs of the professions, please send them my way so that I can add them to my collection.