[CASE STUDY] Overcoming Procrastination and Getting Focused | with Moni Salazar
About Episode
Moni Salazar is a Mexican assistant editor (and now editor) for feature films who has been KILLING IT since she moved to Los Angeles. In fact her first feature film as an editor, Honey Boy, is about to screen at Sundance! As an assistant editor she has also worked on such films as Netflix’s All Day and a Night, The Beach Bum, and Zoe. In addition to the many hours she spends in dark rooms, she is also the Vice President of Blue Collar Post Collective.
Moni approached me last year because she found it nearly impossible to focus on creative tasks. She was constantly distracted by little things that kept her from doing the creative work that she loved, so much so at one point she didn’t get her Visa application done in time…and she was forced to move back to Mexico! We worked together one-on-one for the next 12 weeks to help her clarify her goals and find the most important ‘One Thing’ in her life that she had to accomplish every day in order to get focused, avoid constantly procrastinating, and get her life organized!
My purpose for sharing this case study is to help explain the process that Moni and I worked through and the steps she took to get her life more organized and establish daily habits to help her increase her focus and productivity while actually creating more time in her day to relax. That way you can use some of these same ideas and techniques to move yourself forwards this year, whether or not you’re interested in working with me one-on-one in my coaching program.
Episode Highlights
- Practicing focus and awareness during work hours
- Learning when it’s okay to say ‘no’
- Recognizing when you are creating your own obstacles
- Moving forward with your necessary tasks even when they seem overwhelming
- How time blocking enhances your creativity even if it feels like having a schedule will restrain it
- What’s the ‘one thing’ you need to focus on to complete your goals?
- The domino method of task management
- Defining the qualities you want to see in yourself before anything else
Useful Links
About Guest
Mónica Salazar is a Mexican editor and assistant editor for feature films. She enjoys crafting stories on a daily basis, and is usually found hidden in the darkness of an editing room with a cup of coffee serving as her safety blanket. Her editing credits include Honey Boy set to premiere at Sundance in 2019, and the Los Angeles Emmy award winning documentary Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano. Mónica has also worked as an assistant editor for various films, including Netflix’s All Day and a Night, The Beach Bum, and Zoe.
Monica also serves as the Vice President of Los Angeles for Blue Collar Post Collective, an accessible and focused grassroots non-profit organization that supports emerging talent in post production.
Mónica takes pride in her taco-expertise and has found the best pastor tacos in LA.
Episode Credits
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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).
