We recently connected with Phil Svitek and have shared our conversation below.

Phil, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear you experience with and lessons learned from recruiting and team building.

When it comes to hiring someone, my process typically begins with determining where to look for potential candidates. One common approach is seeking recommendations from people I trust, as their firsthand experiences can provide valuable insights into the capabilities and work ethic of potential hires. Another option is to explore freelancer platforms like Upwork or similar websites, which offer a wide pool of skilled professionals.

Regardless, when you speak with any candidates, be specific about your requirements is essential. Clearly defining expectations for the role helps ensure there are no surprises (for you or them). See how they respond. Do they ask questions and are they following any directions you may give them (ex: please send me three links to past work of this scope). This serves as a test to assess their ability to follow directions and demonstrates their level of attention to detail. By filtering out those who fail to follow instructions, I increase the likelihood of finding the right person(s).

If after this process there are multiple people who could in theory be a good fit, I hire my favorites to do a small task. This allows me to observe their performance firsthand and assess the quality of their work. While this approach may initially seem costlier, it provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate their skills and work ethic before making a long-term commitment. By investing in these preliminary trials, I can mitigate the risk of making a costly hiring mistake.

Phil, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started in the “entertainment industry” by filming and editing a documentary for The Connecticut Hospice, showcasing 30 years of hospice care in America. After high school, I attended Emerson College and had wonderful mentors including Friend’s executive producer Kevin S. Bright, Robert Patton-Spruill, Pete Chvany and my soccer coach Jared Scarpaci. There I got to truly learn filmmaking from start to finish, working on a wide array of projects.

Post college, I was hired to edit my first feature film, Adventures of Serial Buddies, which was directed by Keven Undergaro and produced by Maria Menounos. We developed a bond and after the movie, the duo launched a podcast network called AfterBuzz TV, which they asked me if I wanted to be a part of. I said yes and for nearly a decade I produced thousands of shows with hundreds of hosts.

When I turned 30, I decided to return to my love of storytelling. So far I’ve made two features I wrote and directed. (One was filmed in Colombia)! I’ve also written one novel. More importantly though, I’ve taken all the experiences and knowledge gained to coach other artists to achieve their successes. I have a passion for teaching and problem-solving and I love to see people thrive.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My main goal when it comes to my creative journey is to push myself. I want to shatter any limiting beliefs I may have. I want to prove to myself that whatever’s in my mind can be achieved so long as I have the patience, determination, and work ethic.

Likewise, my aim is to surround myself and work with people I love. The creative process is long and arduous. But it’s rewarding when you can accomplish something amazing with people you respect and who elevate any given project.

And lastly, I want to share stories that explore the deeper truths about humanity. I want to offer hope by highlighting ideas not commonly recognized.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice

It’s a complicated answer especially since it’s a constantly evolving field. But overall I look at NFTs as a utility that offers opportunity to artists. It’s a way to engage with fanbases by offering collectibles and other rewards. Plus, those NFTs have the potential to grow in value, which incentives people to be a part of it and spread the word to others. And, another big component of NFTs is it allows artists to get residuals they otherwise would have never gotten.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://philsvitek.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/philsvitek
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/@philsvitekyt