The very best way to earn a dollar

I have a friend who is a successful attorney. He earns an excellent living. By all standards, he is doing very well for himself and his family.

He is also a screenwriter. He has yet to sell a screenplay, but he has an agent, a manager, and a successful writing partner. He has been paid to work on various film-related projects in the past.

In short, he has potential. He writes well. He’s producing screenplays. Putting in the time. Doing the work. Waiting for his big break. 

Last week he was hired to write the trailer for an upcoming film. He earned $500 for his efforts.

Writing trailers is not exactly screenwriting. It’s not even creative writing. It’s more like creatively writing about someone else’s creative writing. 

And $500 is not much of a paycheck. In comparison to his salary as an attorney, it’s not a lot of money at all. It’s not a small amount of money, but it’s not going to make or break his holiday season.

But when I spoke to him about the job, he said, “It’s the best $500 I’ve made in a long time.”

I understood perfectly. As much money as I might make as a teacher or public speaker or wedding DJ or tutor or life coach or minister, there is no better way to earn a dollar than to be paid for something you made up in your head.  

I’ll say it again:

There is no better way to earn a dollar than to be paid for something you made up in your head.