An Inspired Chat with Tim Bennett of Unicorporated

Tim Bennett shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Tim, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’ve been reticent to position myself as an “expert.” Some of that is my struggle with Imposter Syndrome, for sure. But so many people nowadays sell themselves as gurus of some sort, and most of them peddle flim flam. I definitely don’t want to be perceived as yet another snake oil salesman. On the other hand, I’ve come to accept that my years of experience and the wisdom I’ve earned along the way has a value. I suppose I’m being called to share that knowledge as a consultant, mentor and writer.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Tim Bennett. I’ve been working as a creative in the entertainment industry for over 30 years, mostly in the comedy space, though not exclusively. I recently partnered with animation veteran Bob Harper to launch the imprint Once Upon a Farce. We’re creating properties for print, animated and live-action TV and film for adult audiences, family & kids and four-quadrant.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Perfectionism. It’s not that the part of me with healthy perfectionist traits needs to be released, but the maladaptive perfectionist part needs to go. Maladaptive perfectionism sucks the joy out of every endeavor. It’s self-sabotaging, dreadful and unkind.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
All of them? The needling fear-of-failure has been a tremendous obstacle to my progress. Avoiding judgment and criticism drags projects on indefinitely as I grasp to achieve some unobtainable state of “finally finished.” There’s also the fear-of-success. It doesn’t get as much press as fear-of-failure, but it’s equally as…unproductive.

Agoraphobia.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely not. Social masking is integral to navigating the world. The way that we present ourselves publicly should be different than the how we are when we’re bro-ing out with our boon companions. And who we are with our besties isn’t who we are with ourselves. It doesn’t make us any more or less authentic. When I have to engage with the world outside, I can be a dynamic personality, full of verve. When I’m having me-time, I’m pretty boring. It’s mostly negative self-talk and fondly recalling the best sandwiches I’ve eaten in my life.

I guess the deeper question is: is the real you the real you?

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would immediately stop procrastinating and I’d stop taking on new projects. I would focus my time and energy on completing all those unfinished masterpieces that were never perfect enough for me, those projects that collect digital dust on hard drives, and I’d get them out into the world.

Who knows? I may only have 10 years left.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://timbennettamusements.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timbennettamusements/

Image Credits
Leslie Plaza Johnson
Ryan Penington
Rhet Bear
LAHUX