Moonshot Mentor with Laverne McKinnon

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com If procrastination has ever made you clean out closets, reorganize junk drawers, or (in my case) manually express your dog’s anal glands instead of working on something important—this week's post is for you. 😉 We’re taught that procrastination is a time management issue. That if we just had better systems or...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com I didn’t go to Japan to think about work. I went for the cherry blossoms, the food, the castles—and to have the trip of a lifetime with my brother and eldest daughter. But somewhere between getting lost in the Shinjuku train station and noticing the very cool rituals of everyday life, I started thinking diffe...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Are Your Gremlins Lying to You? 👹 You know that voice—the one that whispers (or shouts) that you’re not good enough, that you’ll never recover from a career setback, that maybe it was all your fault. That’s not the truth. That’s grief talking. And the longer we let those gremlins run wild, the more they shap...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Why do I keep starting over? New job. New project. New industry. The thrill of something fresh is exciting—until stress kicks in, and suddenly, you're back to square one. If you’ve ever wondered why you keep pivoting but never feel like you’re thriving, you’re not alone. Many professionals get stuck in sprout...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Why does your career setback still bother you? You tell yourself you should be over it. Maybe it was a layoff, a promotion that never happened, or a career path that didn’t unfold the way you planned. On the surface, you’re moving forward—applying for jobs, updating LinkedIn, considering new opportunities. Bu...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Lately, something feels off. The skills that once set you apart don’t seem as valuable. Job descriptions read like they’re written for someone else. Conversations about AI and automation make you wonder if your experience still holds weight. Maybe you were laid off, or maybe you’re just sensing a shift—a quie...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com You know when you’re going through something tough, and someone says, ‘Time heals all wounds’? Yeah… grief doesn’t exactly work that way. If you’ve ever wondered why grief lingers or if you should have ‘moved on’ by now, you’re in good company. So many people think that grief has a timeline, but it doesn’t. O...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com What most people don’t understand is that growing your career is completely different from scaling your career. Growth and scaling are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Depending on where you’re at in your career trajectory, you may want to consider scaling rather than growing. Growt...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com There’s a lot of pressure to develop a thick skin and walk it off when something we’ve poured our heart and soul into just… doesn’t happen. But ignoring the ouch doesn’t make it go away. The hard truth? Some projects don’t make it. Maybe your film got shelved, your contract was canceled, or the work you inves...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com There’s nothing that tests our endurance like launching and sustaining a career. Sometimes, it feels like the sheer grit and drive it takes could power a spaceship into another galaxy. There’s the studying and training to hone our craft, accruing 10,000 hours to gain mastery, building the “right” relationship...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Why does career progress sometimes feel impossible? You’re smart, experienced, and putting in the work—so why does it feel like you’re standing still? I’ve coached ambitious professionals for over a decade, and I’ve seen 50 common reasons people feel stuck in their careers. Some are external—bias, industry sh...

Once a month, I’ll be breaking away from my normal blog and video format to bring you some short, guided meditations. You can also watch them on my YouTube channel , where I am still posting videos every week. I hope that they help bring some ease to your every day. Please let me know if you enjoy them as I love hearing your feedback! If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe or share. It...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com The one step you can take that will make all the difference between stagnating and thriving in your career: know your why. What truly sets apart those who thrive isn’t just talent or experience—it’s clarity about their why, a deep understanding of the purpose behind their work. Knowing your why fuels your dri...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com When I was fired from CBS back in 2006, all I could do was replay over and over and over the mistakes I made—everything from speaking up in a meeting when I should have kept quiet to making a snarky comment on an email and accidentally hitting "reply all" to not managing the tone of my voice when I would get...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Few moments in life feel as destabilizing as when everything you’ve worked for comes undone in an instant. I recently came across a LinkedIn post from Alexandra Long, PhD , who shared her story about a devastating career setback. She had just graduated with her doctorate in clinical psychology from American U...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com What happens when the world tells you to settle for less than what you know you’re capable of? Mae C. Jemison, the first Black woman to travel into space, faced that question head-on. Her answer was simple: "Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity." These words are a p...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com I used to hate networking. It felt clunky, false and forced because I wanted my entire network to feel deeply meaningful. Then I realized I was approaching networking as one-size-fits-all. Turns out not every relationship has to be long-term and “Kumbaya.” Some networking is purely transactional, and that’s o...

At the end of year, there’s a lot of talk about resolutions and the promising big changes and fresh starts we will be making. But studies have shown how resolutions often fizzle out, which impacts our self-esteem and confidence.  Reflection takes a different approach. It encourages you to slow down, think about the highs and lows of the past year, and get clear on what matters to you. It’s a power...

The holiday season is here, and with it comes the endless to-do lists, family gatherings, and work deadlines. It’s easy to feel like there’s no time to stop, let alone rest. But here’s the thing: rest is what allows you to show up fully for the people and responsibilities that matter most. Without rest, we risk burnout, poor decisions, and losing sight of what’s truly important during this season...

I want to start by acknowledging that today’s post is a little different from my usual. While I typically focus on offering insights and reflections for navigating career challenges, this one has a specific purpose: to share details about two groups I’m launching in January. These groups are designed to help producers and creatives tackle some of the most complex decisions in filmmaking. Whether y...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Is your career where you want it to be? 🌟 Or do you feel stuck, unsure how to move forward? Whether you’re celebrating wins or feeling frustrated by setbacks, this time of year is perfect for taking stock of where you are—and where you want to go. The gap between your current career and your ideal future can...

If you’ve been following the journey, you know about the Moonshot Mentor Mastermind Producer Group and Moonshot Mentor Hybrid Producer Group launching this January. These groups bring together producers, writers, directors, and actors who are ready to take control of their projects and connect with a like-minded circle. We’re still accepting applications! If you’re looking to join a curated commun...

It's totally normal to constantly evaluate the world around us—it’s how we navigate life and make decisions. But when judgment takes over, it can cloud our perspective and keep us stuck in frustration or comparison. Shifting to discernment or assessment offers clarity and growth, helping us align with our values and focus on solutions. In this week's blog and podcast, I’ll explore how these tools...

I’m back to share more about the Moonshot Mentor Mastermind Producer Group and the Moonshot Mentor Hybrid Producer Group , both starting up in January for film producers, writers, directors, and actors who are ready to step into the world of producing. Here are my past posts about these offerings: Producing a movie is a moonshot—an ambitious leap that demands everything from creativity and vision...

As we close out the year, I want to say how much I’ve appreciated your presence here—your thoughtful questions, comments, and insights have made this space so meaningful. To show my gratitude, I’m hosting the Great Journal Jam, a free end-of-year Zoom session where we’ll reflect on 2024 and dream big for 2025. Think of it as a moment to pause, breathe, and focus on what’s next—with journal prompts...