Moonshot Mentor with Laverne McKinnon

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Imagine feeling confident in your decisions, knowing they're guided by a sense of inner knowing rather than fear. Understanding the difference between instinct and intuition is key. While instinct is rooted in fear and survival, intuition taps into your deeper wisdom to help you make decisions that align with...

It’s Black Friday, a day all about deals and opportunities—and for producers, the financing landscape is much the same: a crowded market full of options, each with its own promises and potential challenges. Securing financing isn’t just about finding the right people to pitch; it’s about understanding a spectrum of models that can make or break your project. Crowdfunding, for example, can be a gre...

Awe is the feeling of amazement and wonder. Awe brings fresh eyes to the familiar and can connect you with inspiration, hope and gratitude. It feels like a lovely topic for Thanksgiving week. 🦃 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com/subscribe

Building a strategic plan isn’t just a box to check—it’s a foundation that keeps you aligned with your vision and purpose. Strategy is your north star, keeping you on course, while tactical planning brings it to life.  In the Moonshot Mentor Mastermind Producer Group and Moonshot Mentor Hybrid Producer Group, we’ll dive deep into both. From identifying your financing model to crafting a targeted p...

As the end of the year draws near and the holidays approach, you’ve probably heard the common belief that everyone’s winding down, checking out, and putting networking on hold. But is that really the case? 🤔 While some may be pausing their efforts, others might be quietly taking this time to make meaningful connections or set up future opportunities. So, the real question isn’t what everyone else...

n my work as both a producer and a leadership coach, I know how much grit film producing demands—balancing strategy, financing, team management, and constant adaptability. It’s a role that often feels isolated, with high barriers to entry and limited transparency.  That’s why I’m launching the Moonshot Mentor Mastermind Producer Group and Moonshot Mentor Hybrid Producer Group—two application-based...

Taking a pause this week with my regular blog and blogcast to share some tender feelings post election. When life feels heavy, I retreat to my cave, reconnect with my core values, and take small steps to find hope. I was inspired by Brene Brown’s post over the weekend about despair. If you're navigating sadness or despair, take a moment to reconnect with what sustains you. Write down your values,...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com When you think about your career, do you ever find yourself stuck in uncertainty? Whether it’s waiting for feedback on a project or wondering if you'll get that promotion, uncertainty can feel paralyzing. It’s tempting to fill the silence with stories that explain the unknown, but what if those stories are ho...

Stop the presses! I’ve got another deadline insight that a client shared with me: aggressive deadlines can actually be your secret weapon for creativity and growth. I was dubious, but she talked me through it and I get it!  By setting challenging deadlines, you can push yourself beyond the boundaries of perfectionism and unlock new levels of creativity and efficiency. Dive into this week’s blog to...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Have you ever felt like your work and personal life are a constant balancing act? It can feel impossible to keep everything steady without falling off track. But what if finding balance isn’t about standing perfectly still? What if it’s more like riding a wave—making minor adjustments to stay afloat rather th...

Many people are finding themselves reaching out for career help, only to be met with... nothing. Being ghosted by former colleagues or folx you’ve supported is disheartening, upsetting and frustrating.  By understanding why your network is ghosting, you can learn how to make the right asks that will help you utilize your contacts and open up new opportunities. In this week’s blog, I  explore the t...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Do you ever find yourself putting off tasks, even when you know they’re important? You might think it’s just a time management issue, but the real reason goes deeper than that. Experts say procrastination is more about managing emotions than managing time. It's not the task you're avoiding but how that task m...

When our careers begin to stall, it's easy to lose energy and get stuck in a cycle of negativity. After all, as humans, we’re built to look for what’s negative as a way to survive. But that survival tool doesn’t actually help us thrive. In today’s blog, I share a simple way to feel more energized, motivated, and focused. TBH, I was resistant to it, but life felt so glum I thought why not try it? A...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Are you feeling stuck in your career and unsure whether to stay the course or make a bold change? If you’re in an industry like entertainment that’s experiencing a massive contraction, you may be questioning if it’s better to wait for things to improve or to pivot. What if there was a way to make this decisio...

Ever notice how some days you’re able to handle stress, communicate well, and keep your cool, while other days you feel overwhelmed and in a spiral of mercury in retrograde? In this week’s blog, I dive into how you can stay in an awesome, cool, and balanced state more often – so you can achieve your career goals and not get derailed.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with ot...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Ready to pivot your career or find a new job but feeling stuck on reaching out to your network because it’s been a long time? This question came from a reader of my blog on Substack and it’s a problem we all face when reconnecting. I believe it’s possible to overcome those blocks and in my latest blog, I brea...

If you’re like me, deadlines can be both motivating and stressful especially when tackling larger goals. While deadlines are valuable in order to create accountability, prioritize tasks, and track progress, we often create arbitrary ones in our careers that are unrealistic and ultimately unhelpful. In this week’s blog, I dive into how to best use deadlines to achieve results.  This is a public epi...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com Grief can feel like an immovable boulder, crushing and overwhelming. If you’ve ever wondered how to lighten this burden, you’re not alone. Inspired by a reader's question about how to manage the weight of grief, this week’s blog in the form of an advice column explores how changing your perspective can turn t...

Have you ever found yourself making a choice because you felt you had no other option? 😟 Maybe you took a job out of sheer desperation, hoping it would solve your immediate problems, only to find it left you feeling unfulfilled and stuck.  You're not alone in this experience. Many of us face situations where making a decision from a place of desperation seems like the only way out. But what if th...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com *Apologies for the loud outside motorcycle noise during part of this recording! Nostalgia often hits when we least expect it, making us yearn for versions of ourselves that no longer exist. 🌟 These past identities, whether an ambitious young adult or a naive expat landing in a new city, play a crucial role i...

For a long time, I used to obsess over my career narrative, trying to justify the why and how of big wins and humbling losses. The truth is that I could never quite connect the dots except that in the down times, I would feel discarded and dismissed.  In this week’s blog and podcast, I explore career resiliency through the journey of a poinsettia plant I bought last December and how trashing it di...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit moonshotmentor.substack.com The path of solo entrepreneurship or creative ventures is filled with exhilarating highs and daunting challenges. It can be lonely and isolating — and also extremely rewarding. In this week’s blog, I respond to a reader’s request to explore the unique journey of the solo hustle and how to navigate the ups and...

Feeling stuck is beyond frustrating. Recently, I got really stuck when I had COVID and could not get myself to rest. Whether it's a lingering project, a strained relationship, or a lack of progress, being unable to move forward can leave you feeling trapped and helpless. In this week’s substack post, I offer a practical method encouraging deep self-reflection and insight. It’s a very cool two-part...

Have you hit a career plateau? You're not alone. Many of us reach a point where we feel like we're spinning our wheels, unable to move forward despite our best efforts. It can be incredibly frustrating to work hard and not see the progress or opportunities we expect. But what if the issue isn’t just about job openings or qualifications? What if the real problem lies deeper in how our careers align...

Holidays are a great opportunity and a reminder to kick back and have fun and reset. 🛀 So I’m taking this week to do just that. 🌴 If you’re looking for a few quick reads to shed a bit more light on how and why to rest, I’ve highlighted a few of my most popular posts on this topic. Happy Fourth of July! 🎆 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acces...