We recently connected with John Morrisey and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, John thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was 6 years old. I loved to put on the illusion of being someone else.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Here’s a little teaser about me: I have what’s called a severe learning disability. It’s not dyslexia but something different. I was diagnosed about 28 years ago. I went to college specifically to find out what was wrong with me and pretended to be interested in signing up for classes.

Long story short after a battery of test they told me that I have an eye brain coordination problem and it was beyond fixing. I asked if I had dyslexia and they said no, what I have is way beyond dyslexia. They also told me that my reading skills were at second to third grade level, but along with that I was one notch below genius in the auditory area. That I could basically achieve many things if I relied on my hearing rather than visual. They told me to stop trying to read and get all my information from listening.

They also told me that my brain will not work well with anything that has to do with organization or numbers, but I was gifted in the arts, acting singing painting dancing etc.

So when I say I read about this or that what I mean is I heard this article or heard this book.

Now I read that the human brain is not built for perfection, but it does work very well with adaptation. And that’s what I do and have done my entire life is adapt. Years ago I was an assistant film editor. Assistant film editing was nothing but working with organization or numbers, but I made it work. I didn’t go to school to learn this skill, but was self taught by watching others do it. I adapted this craft in an unusual way and became at one point the highest paid assistant film editor in Hollywood.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My whole life has been a pivot because I do things differently than others. The key thing I found is to accept this fact that we are all different and everyone has a unique way of doing things. Don’t try to conform to others but do it your way. When I was working on the Film The Titanic as an assistant film editor I remember an apprentice editor who watched me do everything said “you do everything different than everyone. You even eat an apple differently. Because of this I don’t watch other, but blaze my own path.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Years ago when I was an assistant film editor there was a job that it seemed everyone wanted, working for Clint Eastwood. I was put up for this job along wit many other assistants. Of course I believed I would get it as did most of the other assistants. The difference was I let go and put it in Gods hands. In other words if I did get the job it was Gods will if I didn’t get the job it was Gods will and it was alright with me either way. I got the job and became a legendary and the highest paid assistant film editor in Los Angeles. My name was bantered around Hollywood from one side of the town to the other.

Being different is fun at times, but it used to be extremely frustrating. I learned to not judge myself, but to learn from my failures. Every time I fail I am that much closer to success. I learned to not give up. I like this saying by Marcus Aurelius “Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny for what more could apply fit your needs.”

Image Credits
I took my photo’s and take my own head shots.