Master your anxiety. Unleash your genius | Jesse Eisenberg for Big Think+
1,264,791
Published 2024-02-21
Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► / @bigthink
Up next, Adam Grant's #1 phrase to unlock potential ► • Adam Grant's #1 phrase to unlock pote...
In a candid exploration of the forces that drive creativity and success, Jesse Eisenberg delves into the paradoxes of the creative process and leadership.
With striking honesty, Eisenberg reveals how anxiety, self-doubt, and fear have been unlikely catalysts in his multifaceted career as an actor, writer, and director. Beyond the glare of Hollywood, he shares personal anecdotes that shed light on the complexities of navigating public perception, criticism, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Eisenberg's journey is a testament to the transformative power of reframing vulnerability as a source of strength, offering profound insights into the art of leadership. Through a lens of empathy and humility, he challenges conventional notions of authority, showcasing how leading with a quiet confidence can inspire innovation and collaboration.
This dialogue invites a deeper understanding of how emotional intelligence and a willingness to embrace the unknown are pivotal in cultivating a culture of creativity and resilience in any field.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go Deeper with Big Think:
►Become a Big Think Member
Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more. members.bigthink.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_mediu…
►Get Big Think+ for Business
Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business. bigthink.com/plus/great-leaders-think-big/?utm_sou…
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Jesse Eisenberg:
Jesse Eisenberg is an Academy Award nominated actor and an acclaimed playwright and author.
Eisenberg’s film credits include Roger Dodger, The Squid and the Whale, Adventureland, Zombieland, The Social Network, Now You See Me, The Double, Night Moves, The End of Tour, American Ultra, Louder Than Bombs, Batman v. Superman, Now You See Me 2, Café Society, Justice League, The Hummingbird Project, The Art of Self Defense, Zombieland: Double Tap, Resistance, Vivarium,Wild Indian, Manodrome, and Sasquatch Sunset which sees him play the urban legend Sasquatch.
On the small screen, Eisenberg was recently seen playing the titular character of ‘Toby Fleishman’ in the FX limited series Fleishman Is in Trouble based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s best-selling novel of the same name.
Eisenberg made his directorial debut with A24’s When You Finish Saving the World, which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival to glowing reviews and screened as a part of Critics Week at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The film is based on the Audible Original of the same name, both of which were written by Eisenberg.
Eisenberg’s second directorial effort, A Real Pain, recently had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film, which Eisenberg stars alongside Kieran Culkin, tells the story of two estranged cousins who travel to Poland after their grandmother dies to see where she came from and end up joining a Holocaust tour, won Eisenberg the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for his screenplay The film was bought at the festival by Searchlight Pictures for a release later in the year.
Eisenberg has written four plays, including “The Spoils,” which had a box-office record-breaking run-on West End. He also wrote and starred alongside Vanessa Redgrave in his play “The Revisionist,” and “Asuncion.” His play, “Happy Talk” starring Susan Sarandon and Marin Ireland opened April 2019 at the Signature Theater in New York.
Born in New York, Eisenberg is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, the author of the collection, Bream Gives Me Hiccups from Grove Press and the Audible Original When You Finish Saving the World, which won “Best Original Work” at the 2021 Audie Awards.
All Comments (21)
-
I can’t believe this guy is 40. He looks so young (in a good way)
-
"A leader that you like working for is probably a lot like you." So they are relatable
-
He’s the kind of guy people prejudge to their detriment. He’s not overly charismatic, laughing, joking… smiling. Therefore, he must be a stiff or a jerk. Nope. I’d love to know him, work for him, or be a friend. Listen to how he speaks about Kieran and Julianne. He’s so complimentary, supportive and is the type of guy who makes others shine. Oh yeah, he’s also incredibly talented. Love this personality and I’m a fan.
-
“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom” - Søren Kierkegaard
-
Anxiety is like fire. It can either ignite a flame of momentum to get you going in life, or it can burn you to the ground. You have to choose daily though, to not allow it to do the latter.
-
This is GOLD!!!
-
It's ground breaking for me. "YOu are anxious because you care"
-
Showing how one can succeed with anxiety disorder, is amazing
-
i was honored to have this man visit an audio & video production class i attend where we all got to show him our work. he truly is no different from what you see in this video. he was so supportive and kind and gave such wonderful feedback. his anxiety, weird as it may sound, was actually very comforting to me. knowing that someone with that big of a spotlight struggles with the same things as everyone else makes it a lot easier to attempt success.
-
This guy and Michael Cera in a comedy buddy cop movie where they're both timid and reserved and over the course of the film work through their anxieties about the job is something I'd watch.
-
I literally searched "anxiety and confidence as an artist" and clicked this thinking it was uploaded years ago, come to find out it was a day ago. Its crazy how these things find you in your time of need.
-
He makes a good point about avoiding the things that cause you unnecessary anxiety and stress. We don’t always have to “confront the dragon” and take on more than we need or that is unproductive for us
-
That guy's energy is awesome and he feels anxiety, sorrow, agony, misery, sadness, blissfulness and ecstasy. He looks brilliant but not only looks brilliant he is a brilliant actor.
-
I still think Mark Zuckerberg at first whenever I see him.
-
Thank you for not editing the video. He is so refreshingly relatable, real and at the same time credible, interesting, beautiful, and human.
-
Wish more celebrities opened up about their real fears and everyday struggles. Absolutely loved this talk - so many insights about leadership and life!!!
-
I love how you edited this piece, letting his authentic personality to shine through. Amazing work and great insights. Vulnerability paying off.
-
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
-
I think insecurity is the biggest thing that's holding me back from my potential. Thank you for making me think of it again
-
“Eagerness to defer to others” creating a collaborative space is amazing and so well spoken. It’s so true. I naturally defer to others when I realize they know more than me and it’s amazing
