Finding Your Inner Alchemist

Chasing White Rabbits | Chapter Five

Traditional leadership often emphasizes control, structure, and predictability—like an architect meticulously designing a blueprint. But in times of uncertainty, leaders should act as alchemists: turning chaos into opportunity, conflict into creativity, and resistance into momentum.

Don’t hear me wrong—I prefer a detailed and reasonable schedule, a master plan with contingencies, and well-thought-out strategies that govern every decision. But in creative execution, those desires are often a luxury. Even the best-laid plans, as we know, can and will go sideways.

So, when shit hits the fan, how do you respond? Freeze? Panic? Reach for a drink? You name it—I’ve done it. Especially in those early years, when facing a crisis for the first time felt like the end of the world.

But what if those moments of chaos are the very catalyst you need to grow? To take that next step in your own journey of self-development. What if they’re not the enemy but the raw material—the copper waiting to be transformed into gold?

In my 20+ years in this industry, I’ve seen my fair share of unpredictable storms. I’d even say it’s likely that over half of the work I’ve done has been, at times, forged in the fires of chaos—managing on the fly, trusting my gut, and finding my way through whatever challenges were thrown at me. Why? Because in creative work, there is no option for giving up. Production doesn’t halt. Expectations don’t vanish. Promises have been made, and there’s no world where, “Sorry, we didn’t get the shot,” is accepted.

You find a way. That’s the mantra. That’s the only mantra.

I’ve had entire concepts changed by the client after bids were already approved and paid.

I’ve had servers fail the night before the biggest launch our agency had seen in 20 years.

I’ve had lead actors end up in emergency rooms during principal photography.

I’ve had torrential rain, subfreezing temperatures, and fog so thick we couldn’t even see what we were shooting; bring entire productions to a halt.

But here’s the thing—you find a way. You always find a way. Not because it’s easy or because you’re fearless. But because if you give yourself an out, you’ll take it 9 times out of 10—and with me, there is no out. Well, except for once, as you know—detailed within the perils of Chapter 4. Otherwise, there’s only find a way.

Over time, I’ve come to relish the challenge, embrace the chaos, and even find humor in the madness of the moment. I’ve grown fond of being the alchemist. Because let’s face it: there are few people willing to run toward the storm, to say, “Screw it—let’s roll,” in the face of adversity.

This ability to thrive in chaos isn’t accidental. It’s built on practice, perseverance, and a willingness to change your perspective. And much of the alchemist’s success isn’t born in the storm—it’s forged in the preparation before it. Here are the ingredients I’ve learned to rely on when the chips are down:

• Lay the groundwork before the storm hits. Trust and resilience are built with your partners long before the crisis begins. Preparation creates the stability you’ll need to weather the unpredictable. Whether it’s sharing moments of genuine connection, championing their ideas, or showing up for them outside the workplace, these investments forge the loyalty you’ll need when the storm comes.
• Own the problem. Avoid blame. When you take responsibility, others will step forward to help find the solution. If I’m going to claim the good, then I also must be willing to claim the bad. There’s an odd freedom in accepting responsibility; it’s therapeutic in a way.
• Be transparent about challenges. Honesty breeds trust, and trust fuels perseverance. When the stakes are high, people rally around those they believe in. I have found this to be true in multiple situations—one that you’ll see featured in Chapter 6.
• Choose partners who embrace the challenge. Like-minded collaborators see obstacles as opportunities to innovate. Shared burdens create deeper bonds and greater shared victories. This is vital. We either all succeed together, or we all taste defeat.
• Value hard work over easy wins. The most rewarding successes are earned through persistence and shared effort. They leave you stronger and more united. The riskiest, most challenging project of my career—which could have gone sideways more times than I care to admit—not only tested us but left the team stronger, wiser, and more dedicated to continued success. We went through hell to get there, and we succeeded because of it.

And the most important ingredient, without which none of the above matters: you must have an unwavering self-belief that you will find a way, no matter the challenges or the team at hand. If there is breath in your body, you will rise when the chips are down and your reputation is on the line. This is the secret of the alchemist. It is what transforms chaos into opportunity.

In the end, it’s not about avoiding the storm—it’s about using it and transforming it to find your moment of brilliance. It might be a conversation you have with a partner on the brink, calming a client’s nerves on a project so big it scares them to death. It may be providing clear and calm direction in moments of team-wide panic, or being the voice of reason when tempers and attitudes are at their lowest. It might even be rallying everyone around the one thing that binds us all: the siren song of doing the impossible.

The truth is, anyone can lead when the path is smooth. But in chaos, when plans crumble and doubts creep in, that’s when true leadership emerges. That’s when the alchemist takes over. And it’s in those moments I feel most alive.