“The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one’s work seriously and taking one’s self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous.”

—Margot Fonteyn

“The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one’s work seriously and taking one’s self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous.”  Margot Fonteyn

This quote to me epitomizes the differences in the movie careers of Steven Segal and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Regardless of what you think of his politics or personal life, no one can dispute Arnold’s power at the box office in his hay day.  He isn’t afraid to laugh at himself and his comedies have been some of the most popular and highest grossing films in his career.  Segal, however, comes off deadly serious about his persona and, although successful as a cult figure, never had the enormous success Arnold achieved at the height of his career.  Segal’s deadly seriousness is in fact an object of unintended laughter.

Do you have a sense of humor about yourself?  Doing serious work demands not taking your success, your failures or yourself too seriously.  Not doing so is a serious mistake.