Great movies always have a scene that screenwriters call "The Dark Night of the Soul." It's that spot where the hero questions not just what they're doing, but why they're doing it. Why they're doing anything. It resonates because we've all had our own dark nights.
Chris Hemsworth had one about 15 years ago. He'd moved from his native Australia, where he'd been wildly successful as a young soap opera star, to Los Angeles, hoping to star in much more than soaps.
It wasn't working out the way he'd hoped. He was missing out on roles. Bombing auditions. Waiting for callbacks that never came. "Eight months, nine months with sort of nothing-and the feedback was getting worse," he says. One night, as Christmas approached, he looked around the home where he was staying-his manager's guest house, which almost accentuated his precarious position, because the manager knew how much Hemsworth was struggling and allowed him to stay rent-free. He thought, Should I be here?
Should he just fly home for the holidays and not come back? Give up on his grand ambition for L.A.-starring in major motion pictures which was also his grand ambition for life?
Everything on this dark night suggested he should.
Then he asked another question.
Why did I start this?
Meaning: Why did he move to L.A.?
That's right, he thought. To take care of my parents.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The $20 Bill That Became Priceless
As I built my snack-food brand, Sun & Swell Foods, I kept hearing the same advice: Hustle for your customers. Never turn down business. Obsessively focus on ROI. So that's what I did-and although my company grew, it wasn't profitable. This began affecting me emotionally. I love my brand and care deeply about its success. Its challenges started to feel like my own.
THE BEST MARKETING DOLLARS I'VE EVER SPENT
Great marketing doesn't require huge budgets. We asked franchisees and franchisors to share their best marketing ROI-and their stories (on the following pages) will inspire you.
READ THIS BEFORE MEETING A FRANCHISOR
Thinking about buying a franchise? You should meet the franchisor-and you should know exactly how to approach that meeting-to ensure you're making the right decision.
THE BOLDEST NEW IDEAS IN FRANCHISING
These eight innovative businesses are now franchising-and maybe in a few years, they'll be climbing the Franchise 500 list too.
5 BRANDS GROWING IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS
Want to know how to rocket up in the Franchise 500 rankings? These brands all jumped over 150 spots since last year-and they're sharing the strategies behind their growth.
FRANCHISE 500 TOP 10
Meet the Leaders of the Franchise 500
TAX STRATEGIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN 2025
Your taxes won't go up this year. But you can still find new ways to decrease your burden.
HOW TO CLOSE THE SALE (EVEN WHEN THEY SAY NO)
I'm the world's leading door-to-door sales expert. I've heard “no” endlessly. Here's how I close sales anyway-and how you can too.
'The Sword We Refuse to Die On'
Some people tell Chip and Joanna Gaines to play it safe, and to keep doing what made them famous in the first place. But they're ready to take more risks-because that's the entrepreneurial way.
Are You Feeling the Squeeze?
Many companies are struggling with rising costs and tighter margins. We asked six business leaders to share their solutions.
