Key Takeaways
- Max Greenfield's children's books originated from his daughter's remote learning struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Greenfield's acting career involved over a decade of persistent struggle and various odd jobs before his 'New Girl' breakthrough.
- Impending fatherhood significantly shifted Greenfield's priorities, leading him to re-evaluate and nearly abandon his acting ambitions.
- Greenfield emphasizes a philosophy of self-reflection, self-forgiveness, and embracing discovery over control in personal and professional life.
Deep Dive
- Max Greenfield's venture into children's books began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- He shared his and his daughter's struggles with remote learning on Instagram, receiving significant feedback from parents and educators.
- His book, 'I Don't Want to Read This Book,' addresses children's reluctance to read, drawing from Greenfield's own school struggles.
- His agent initially suggested a podcast for this content, but Greenfield declined, aiming to maintain authenticity.
- Greenfield openly discusses his past difficulties with formal education, clarifying he was 'incapable' of succeeding rather than disbelieving in it.
- In his late teens and early twenties, he realized he could not complete university due to a 'scattered mind' and lack of sustained interest.
- After leaving university, he found an acting class, a decision met with disapproval from his father, a Cuban immigrant engineer.
- His father, despite exposure to the arts through finance work at record labels, viewed acting as an unstable career path.
- Greenfield details approximately 12 years of persistent struggle in his acting career, describing it as 'slamming my head into a wall'.
- He faced a decade of 'near misses' and bit parts throughout his 20s, with success not coming early.
- He found inspiration from teachers and rare impactful moments that fueled his desire to continue despite the lack of traditional discipline.
- Over a decade while pursuing acting, Greenfield worked various jobs, including teaching spin classes for free gym access.
- He delivered pharmaceuticals to retirement homes, choosing it over waiting tables due to stress and memory concerns.
- He briefly worked for a company delivering packages to agencies and celebrities, nearly encountering Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.
- He describes his initial 10-12 years in Hollywood as difficult, unfocused, and lacking personal maturity.
- Facing impending fatherhood, Greenfield considered quitting acting due to perceived selfishness, exploring other employment but not being hired.
- Around the time his wife became pregnant, he experienced significant financial insecurity, recalling only $240 in his bank account.
- His wife secured a casting executive position at Fox in the same week they learned of the pregnancy, shifting his focus.
- He chose to let go of his acting dreams, finding fatherhood more fulfilling, which paradoxically led to his 'big break' on 'New Girl'.
- Since the success of 'New Girl,' Greenfield maintains a clear balance between his career and family life.
- He expresses gratitude for his current position, feeling it is earned and lacks 'imposter syndrome' after navigating significant life changes.
- Greenfield notes his career path, including a radio show and TV show with his father, was unplanned and driven by 'pulls' rather than a grand strategy.
- Greenfield adheres to a personal philosophy of embracing discovery and intuition over attempts to control outcomes.
- He believes that things work out when he trusts the universe but fall apart when he tries to control them.
- He finds the process of discovery, whether in simple moments or as a parent and husband, to be the most fulfilling aspect of life.
- He acknowledges the difficulty in letting go of self-criticism, even when it is not beneficial.
- Greenfield discusses his tendency to be hard on himself, questioning whether this self-punishing approach truly serves him.
- He consciously stopped judging others but continues to be self-critical, desiring to be kinder to himself.
- He connects self-awareness to external factors like the loss of his brother, recognizing that joy can be a conscious choice.
- Greenfield considers himself his own 'worst enemy' but finds the power of self-forgiveness to be a valuable, late-life discovery.
- Greenfield recounts a challenging first day filming 'A Man on the Inside,' where director Mike Schur orchestrated an intricate, long camera shot.
- Despite initially feeling lost, he found his footing by observing actor David Strotherin, clarifying his character as the 'worst version' perceived by Strotherin's character.
- The collaborative set allowed Greenfield to experiment with his character, often suggesting ideas to Schur, which occasionally led to unexpected additions.
- This creative dynamic deepened his working relationship with Schur, whom he describes as a decent person and a rare creator.