So Much I Want to Tell You
Anna Akana is an Asian American actress, comedian, and filmmaker. In 2007, Anna lost her teen sister, Kristina, to suicide. Filled with confusion and strife, Anna found comedy as a way to help process her grief. Ten years later, Anna published, So Much I Want to Tell You, a book centered around letters to her sister about all the lessons she has learned in creativity, identity, career, and relationships.
What was your favorite quote?
There were over 70 standout quotes within this book! The one that stood out the most was:
Remember that the world we can see is the one that really matters, and never lose sight of that.
The Internet and technology today provide us with more opportunities than ever before. We can message and send updates to each other across the world within seconds. With social media, this connection is only showcasing the highlights and snippets of who we are. Yes, there will be moments of vulnerability and honesty; however, it does not hold the full picture of the world we live in, the part that matters beyond all the likes and comments.
What were the top 3 lessons you learned?
Lesson 1: People come and go
Anna talks about a best friend she had named Barbara. The two befriended each other when Anna first moved to Los Angeles. Barbara was someone Anna spent a bunch of time with, but Barbara was suspicious of others due to prior experiences with malpractice lawsuits. When Anna asked Barbara for help and had her sign a contract, Barbara’s paranoia led to a fallout between the two. They have since resolved the incident, but that memory will always stay with both of them and they no longer talk as they once did. The two were only intertwined for a season of time.
Lesson 2: How to respect and take care of people professionally
Anna took on multiple roles such as directing, acting, and editing to grow as a content creator. As she continues to grow her production team, she can now cater to these roles with a deeper understanding of their viewpoint. Moving into a management position, Anna looks into how to best use their time, provide them appropriate compensation, and respect them as no one’s time is more important than the other’s.
Additionally, those who are hired are expected to show up and know their role. Anna talks about a time when a director continued to ask for confirmation and said sorry all the time. While collaborative confirmation is welcomed, there is a middle ground between too much and too little feedback as the director is the main voice for calling the final shots.
Lesson 3: Focus on what you’re providing to the world rather than the result
Anna talks about the tendency for artists to look at the result. If the content was produced well and received positive affirmations they’re on top of the world, whereas if it is not well-received then they’re destroyed and struggling. This up-and-down attachment to the result leads to a dynamic sense of self-worth.
Instead, disassociating on what the results were and focusing on what you control AKA what you’re providing and producing for the world should be the main focus.
What did you think about the book?
Anna’s book is a tome of wisdom. She explains many concepts well and captures the reader’s attention within these short chapters. From lessons such as finding your voice to falling in love with the creative process, there is a little bit of something for all readers.
Some chapters did not have additional stories to re-enforce the lesson stated. The high-level idea was explained cohesively, but real-world examples would instill the lesson further. Plus, this would make the book a bit longer!
All in all, I would reread this book as it was relatively short (4.5 hour read time) and has many lessons for anyone looking to find their voice and move into content creation.
Want to read the book?
Consider buying from the affiliate links below! This comes with no extra fee for you, and I will receive some of the profits.
