After living in Los Angeles for 16 years—13 of which I spent working in Hollywood—my wife and I decided it was time for a change. We wanted to stay close to LA, but the traffic, high taxes, and constant grind just didn’t feel sustainable. We ended up moving to Las Vegas, a place I never imagined calling home.
But something strange happened after we got settled. I realized I felt more at home in Vegas than I ever did in LA.
In Los Angeles, even after all those years, I never truly felt like I belonged. It always seemed like a temporary stopover, not a place to plant roots. But walking into our new home in Vegas felt different. It felt... right. And then, something else hit me. People in Vegas are so much friendlier. They smile, they say hello—it caught me off guard at first. I mean, say "hi" to someone on the street in LA, and you’ll probably get a sideways glance or worse, a look that says, “What’s your angle?”
So what’s the difference? The two cities aren’t that far apart geographically. Both are packed with entertainers. Yet the energy in Vegas is miles away from LA’s.
Here’s what I realized: in LA, especially in the circles I ran in—mostly entertainment folks—people are constantly trying to be someone else. And I don’t just mean playing a role on screen. They’re always striving, always waiting for that next big break, always talking about how life will get better “when this deal goes through” or “once my show gets picked up.” And there’s this bitterness, this competitive resentment toward the actors, directors, and entertainers who do make it big. It’s like, “How did they get a show? We’re in the same acting class, and I’m so much better.”
The irony? The most successful entertainers, the true A-listers like Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts, are the ones who are most themselves. Fans love them because they know exactly what they’re going to get. It’s not about becoming someone else; it’s about embracing who you are.
And here’s where that lesson applies to you: so many of us waste years trying to “become” the person we think we should be. We strive for better, always thinking we’re not quite good enough. But the real power lies in embracing who you already are and figuring out how to magnify that.
One of the best ways I know to do that is by writing a book. I’ve written many, and I’ve helped dozens of people publish their own. Trust me, it’s one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself. And the process? We’ve got it down to a science.
This year, let’s make it the year you stop trying to be someone else. Embrace who you already are and let your true self shine.
