Anthony Hopkins of “Silence of The Lambs,” and close to a hundred other movies, has written a memoir that is just out, “We Did Okay, Kid,” At eighty eight he has many stories and wisdom to share. Since I’m a fan of both, I dove into an interview with him from last Sunday in the NY Times. Nestled in with show biz tales and personal revelations there was one line that stopped me.
“Act as if it’s impossible to fail.”
I love this for a few reasons. First of all, it's a much more layered personal pep-talk than the ever present, “I’m the G.O.A.T.” My son taught me this one, as a joke. For those of you not in the know, G.O.A.T. stands for Greatest Of All Time. “I’m the G.O.A.T!” became a go-to response in the house to questions like, “Did you finish your homework?” “Are you sure you’re packed?” etc. To get the laugh, it helps if you “Pffft” with your lips, tilt your head back and throw your chin out while saying it. It’s like the other pop phrase, “I got this,” on steroids.
But all kidding aside, sometimes, we don’t “got this.” And saying it doesn’t make it so.
“Act as if it’s impossible to fail,” takes our not-funny human fear and procrastination into account. It’s actionable. In fact, these seven words are a comprehensive directive when feeling unsure. If only the syllables were right, it could be a haiku for success.
The fact that it’s an Anthony Hopkins’ quote is even more compelling to me because he starred in the film The Father, about a man succumbing to Alzheimer’s. One of the most helpful tools for caring with people with Alzheimer’s, is based on this same principle. As challenging as it can be, for the sake of everyone involved, it’s always best to approach engagement exactly as he suggests, as if it’s impossible to fail. In this case, holding out hope for a positive outcome.
Even more simply, letting go of the moment before and approaching the next one like it’s going to have a positive outcome. The analogy I always like to make is that when you’re a comic and a joke bombs, you don’t run in the bathroom and cry. I mean you can. And I have. But it’s not good. You have to regroup and hold out hope that the next one is going to slay.
A message we could all use right now. As we run the last laps of 2025, and despite what many of us may be afraid of, for our own health and well-being, we have to heed this advice and get up and act as if failure is impossible. In whatever you are pursuing, creating, fighting for, or just anticipating this holiday season. If we take Hopkins to heart it will affect how we show up to everything.
I’m all about being the G.O.A.T., but sometimes in order to get there we need some mental crampons to keep scaling, even if that mountain is just dinner with family. It helps to hear the voice of an octogenarian artist whispering in our ear.
