Michael Ovitz

But we had at one time, I think we had at one time close to 400 people on a list that...

were either fired, weren't working, or fell on hard times.

There was a writer that we had on the list that was about as important a writer as there was in the television business in the 60s.

And we had asked him when he was really important to write an episode of a half hour comedy for a client that we had just signed that really needed the job.

And he did it.

And 20 years later, the guy called me and he said very simply that he had hit a dead end.

He couldn't get a job anywhere, any place.

And he was older and he was very nice, but he timed out.

His kind of style was gone.

And in a staff meeting, I

this story that I just told you.

And I said, we're going to legislate a job for this guy.

This is not just giving him a check.

He needs his dignity back.

And we went out and in two weeks we got him a job.

And that was our duty.

That wasn't our choice.

And yeah, in that was some confrontation because people tried to blow us off the phone saying they wouldn't do it.

And we used the confrontational tactic to get them the job.

So you have to say to yourself, what's more important?