Mentorship Thoughts: Mark VanderSys

Mentorship Thoughts

Mark VanderSys

I am a creative entrepreneur and founder of Pixel Light Creative Group with 35+ years of experience in strategic visual storytelling. As a 56-year-old business owner with ADD, my unique personality profile shapes both my strengths and challenges.

Profile Details & Context

My assessment shows I am highly cooperative and considerate (95%), very creative and innovative (75%), struggle with organization and follow-through (11%), tend to be more reserved and inward-focused (22%), and maintain exceptional emotional stability under pressure (6%).

While driven by creativity, empathy, and big-picture thinking, I recognize the need for structured support to enhance focus, organization, and consistent execution to ensure my creative vision translates into sustained professional success and better work-life balance. I am particularly concerned that my difficulties with focus, organization, and follow-through might sabotage my ability to fully engage with and benefit from the mentorship program, despite my genuine passion and commitment to filmmaking.

Strengths & Development Areas

Core Strengths

My professional profile highlights several core strengths valuable in creative and strategic endeavors:

  • Ideation & Strategic Thinking: Naturally adept at generating novel ideas and seeing the bigger picture, connecting concepts in unique ways to develop compelling narratives and strategies.
  • Adaptability: Comfortable and effective in navigating change and adjusting approaches as projects evolve or new information emerges.
  • Empathy & Connection (Developer): Skilled at understanding and connecting with others' perspectives, fostering strong relationships, and mentoring talent. This translates into authentic storytelling.
  • Creative Vision & Openness: Possess a strong aesthetic sense and a drive to create meaningful, high-quality visual work that resonates emotionally.
  • High Agreeableness: Collaborative and supportive team player, focused on positive interactions and shared goals.

Concerns/Weaknesses

I am actively working on enhancing specific operational areas where my natural tendencies present challenges:

  • Implementing Structures for Consistent Execution & Follow-Through: Seeking mentorship on practical filmmaker workflows for project completion.
  • Enhancing Prioritization & Focus Amidst Creative Flow: Need guidance on ADD-friendly focus techniques and prioritization frameworks within a dynamic production environment.
  • Streamlining Operational & Administrative Processes: Looking for advice on efficient systems, tools, or delegation strategies used by successful filmmakers.
  • Refining Planning & Organization Systems: Aiming to learn specific planning methodologies suited for creative projects and managing deadlines under pressure.
  • Establishing Sustainable Work-Life Boundaries: Need strategies for setting and maintaining healthy boundaries while managing a creative business.

Proposed Productivity & Focus Initiatives

I have identified the following strategies that I'm considering implementing, potentially refining them within the mentorship program:

Time Management & Focus Techniques

  • Pomodoro Technique
  • Strategic Sprinting
  • Task Chunking (10-min starts)
  • "Parking Lot" System for distractions
  • Environmental Optimization (work zones)

Prioritization Framework: Impact Tiers

Considering a visual Kanban board with tiers:

  1. Tier 1: Urgent & Important/High Value
  2. Tier 2: Important/High Value but Not Urgent
  3. Tier 3: Delegable or Low Priority

Tools & Technology Integration

  • Google Workspace (calendar/time-blocking)
  • Evernote (idea capture/"second brain")
  • Bloom.io (CRM/client workflow)
  • AI writing assistants
  • Voice dictation

Review & Improvement System

  • Weekly review process to evaluate progress and adjust strategies
  • Monthly reset for deeper metrics review and system cleanup
  • Quarterly deep dives to assess goals and realign systems

Mentorship Consideration Statement

My goal is to leverage my creative and strategic strengths more effectively by building robust systems and habits that mitigate my challenges. I am fully aware that without addressing these operational weaknesses, I may struggle to fully benefit from any mentorship program, regardless of the mentor's expertise or my creative capabilities.

I believe that transparent communication about these challenges is essential for establishing an effective mentorship relationship. With the right guidance focused on both filmmaking craft and complementary organizational strategies, I can channel my creative energy more productively and sustainably.

The productivity initiatives I've outlined demonstrate my commitment to self-improvement and readiness to actively engage with mentorship, though I would welcome guidance on which approaches might best complement the program structure. I am eager to learn from experienced professionals who have navigated similar challenges while building successful careers in filmmaking.

I am proactive, self-aware, and ready to put in the work required. With structured support in the areas I've identified, I am confident I can transform potential obstacles into opportunities for growth and achieve both creative excellence and operational effectiveness.