Ep 69 - Special Sauce: What's Yours?

Every successful creative seems to have something extra. Not a better camera, more expensive gear, or a more impressive title—but a unique value that keeps people coming back. I call it their secret sauce.

Years ago, when editing technology was changing, I realized I needed to grow or risk getting left behind. Learning to edit wasn't just about mastering software. It was about becoming more valuable.

Little by little, I discovered new ways to make every story stronger, and in the process, I refined my own secret sauce.

But here's the challenge: before you can refine your secret sauce, you have to know what's already in it. Think about the people who keep hiring you. Why do they call you back? What value do you consistently bring that makes their work better?

Sometimes the answer isn't what you think. As one of my favorite freelance camera operators taught me, your greatest value may not be your technical skill—it may be your attitude, your work ethic, or your ability to make everyone around you better.

This week, call five people you've worked with and ask them three simple questions: Why did you hire me? Why do you keep hiring me? What do I bring that makes the project better? Then listen.

Because here's the truth: You know the recipe. Other people know the flavor. Your secret sauce isn't just what you do. It's the value you bring...and how you make everyone around you better.

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-gotta-hear-this/id1805367166

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0vYCMlY3JtM0u2LoQFWQ60

📚 More creative resources, courses, and tools at paulstevenforrest.com