“What are the odds that a movie with that good a role is going to make it all the way through the ranks of known actors, and then get thrown to the wolves, and then after all of us fight for that scrap, one of us gets it? This ain’t gonna work. I got to do my own thing.”
That’s Matt Damon, reflecting on why he and Ben Affleck wrote Good Will Hunting. They didn’t want to wait for a chance. They created their own.
The Traditional Process Is Built on Hope
Whether you’re chasing an acting role or a corporate job, the process usually looks the same:
- Wait for an advert, recruiter, or agent.
- Apply and hope you’re shortlisted.
- Interview and hope you’re right for the part.
- If selected, hope the job or film turns out to be worthwhile.
That’s an awful lot of hoping and very little control.
Because the only piece of that process most people can influence is the application itself, they double down. Some prioritize quantity, firing off dozens of resumes. Others focus on quality, obsessing over cover letters and polishing every detail.
But after that effort, it’s back to waiting. Back to hoping.
Taking Control by Creating Your Own Role
Writing your own script or creating your own job might appear to be a harder route. But is it really? At least you’re making something tangible. At least you’re shifting more of the process into your control.
Of course, there’s survivor bias in Damon’s story. Thousands of actors have written films that never saw the light of day. But wouldn’t you rather try to direct your own destiny than sit in the endless audition line?
Why This Matters for Your Career
The lesson is simple: don’t let your future rest entirely on the choices of others. The traditional job market rewards conformity, patience, and luck.
Building your own opportunities, whether that means launching a project, starting a business, or crafting a new role inside your company gives you agency.
Or as Damon put it: “This ain’t gonna work. I got to do my own thing.”