Transform Your Mindset with John Boyega | 15 Minutes of Motivation

People normally, when they talk about me, they go from Attack the Block to Star Wars. There's a few years in between where there has been a lot of nos, a lot of you're not right enough. I stayed in LA with no money. I stayed on my friend's couch and I'd lost my accommodation elsewhere.

So do you want to be the biggest movie star in the world or do you want to—

I don't know what that is, but I'm going to do me and however you guys want to define it, you can define it for whatever it is.

What's up, Believe Nation? It's Evan. My one word is believe, and I believe in you, and I want to see that great thing that you have inside of you come out so you can help change the world. So to help you on your journey today, we're going to learn from actor John Boyega and my take on his top 10 rules of success. Rule number 1 is my personal favorite, and I'd love to know which one you guys like the best. And as always, guys, as you're watching, if you hear something that really resonates with you, please leave it down in the comments below and put quotes around it so other people can be inspired. And when you write it down, it's much more likely to stick with yourself as well.

Enjoy. So what's been your lowest moment? I think it's, um, a lot of it has been the reality that your circumstance does not in, in any form match to what you want to be. Yeah, my reality just did not represent me being in a Star Wars movie or even being an actor because it was just basic. Yeah, I know when I went in basic, it's not a bad thing. It's, it's a cool opportunity that we all get. We get free education, we get, you know, at least decent home, even if it's government housing, whatever, you have a roof. But, you know, it was my circumstance did not reflect and did not give me any clues as to what my future would be. So to have to make that decision and feel like, I mean, you understand, you change your life and make a decision that is uncanny. It was a big low point. But after getting into it and just doing it, it turned out to be something of value. Because what's bomb about that is I was just talking to a friend of mine and we were discussing how life is 10% circumstance and then 90% your attitude towards that circumstance. Yeah. And it takes a lot of time to— it takes some people short amounts of time and some people a longer time to kind of get to grips that, you know what, No one's gonna scout me. Life isn't just gonna pay me a million dollars. I'm gonna have to probably work my ass off just to survive and, you know, honor my Nigerian family name. And I think that I have. You have.

Were you confident? Did you have enough self-confidence and belief in yourself that you'd get to where you wanted to be? Were you ever worried it wasn't gonna work out?

Yeah, of course. I mean, I just tell myself, "Shaq, you've got no other choice." But I mean, I had great experiences even in terms of the opportunities that I didn't get. With Matthew Vaughn, I was able to work closely with him during the audition process. And then, you know, with The Maze Runner and all of that, despite the fact I didn't get the role, served as a great opportunity.

Are you particularly ambitious or you just wanted to be interested in your work?

No, I'm ambitious by nature. It is what it is. You know, failure is a part of the process, but I just I like success. I like getting things done. And it's something that has been a positive impact on my life. And going towards a goal and achieving it, there's nothing like it.

So should you keep on putting the bar further out for yourself or?

Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, I mean, why would I? How would I be doing back-to-back interviews, going on planes all the time? And, you know, it's a harsh life, but now it's a commitment. It's a commitment. You know, doing this is a commitment. I just feel like Sometimes you don't want to do it, and what pulls you through is ambition and wanting to achieve something, and there's nothing wrong with that.

So do you want to be the biggest movie star in the world, or do you want to—

I don't know what that is, but I'm gonna do me, and however you guys want to define it, you can define it for whatever it is. But I want to do me for sure, and I just want to be the best that I can be, and I want to inspire other people to do what they want to do with their lives. And regardless of what it is, just be the best you can be.

I just had a question because we have a lot of aspiring actors and even struggling actors who listen to the show, and everybody wants that one moment where they're like, yes, I'm in a big movie, or I got a big opportunity.

Yeah.

When JJ called you and said, you're going to be the star of the new Star Wars movie, what was the first thing that came through your head? Were you shitting bricks? Were you like, hell yeah, groupies? Like, I mean—

oh man, I mean, I was relieved. I was relieved. If you've worked for so long— I mean, people normally, when they talk about me, they go from Attack the Block to Star Wars. There's a few years in between where there has been a lot of nos. A lot of, you're not right enough. And it's a lot to take in. So to be rewarded for the failures and the hard work and the persistence, when JJ told me face to face, I was just like, OK, now I can really go home. Like, I can really go to my parents and be like—

Exhale.

OK, cool. Yeah. I don't need to get a job.

You don't have to pay this much rent.

I don't have to pay this much rent.

One of the things that I think a lot of people respect about you is with your platform, you still speak out about issues that matter. One of those being a lack of diversity in Hollywood. You talked about Game of Thrones and sort of called them out for lack of diversity. What gives you that confidence to speak on those issues, still being, you know, new and young in your career, but being bold and just saying exactly how it is?

I don't know. I don't know. I just don't— there's certain things I don't like. And when I don't like it, I just, you know, have to speak out about it. And it's a good, positive conversation to have. I think the more people add their perspective, the more you kind of teach everyone to have a conversation about something. And I think with those statements, people are starting to talk about the important things.

What made you want to be an actor in the first place?

I just like it.

Was it something you did as a kid, or was it—

Yeah, I did it as a kid, and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed performance. I felt good doing it. I felt like in a really good space. And it's the side of yourself, once you discover it, that you just continue to explore, and then it morphs into a job and a serious thing. And that's what happened to me. I've always loved it.

When did it change for you into work, into a career?

When I started going to, like, drama school. That's when I knew I wanted to take it seriously because that required a significant commitment of time. And then I started auditioning, getting headshots, started making money to invest back into trips to LA and became a serious thing. I did a pilot for HBO called The Brick with Spike Lee that didn't go to season. That's got to be a— That was a bummer. So after that, I kind of left America I'd done a few things back in the UK, and then I came back out to the States many times. I was back and forth, just auditioning, meetings, trying to make something happen.

Did I hear correctly, you were on the shortlist for Kingsman?

That one almost happened? Yeah, yeah. Kingsman almost happened. The Maze Runner almost happened. And they didn't. That was a huge bummer at the time.

Does it get easier, or does each one of those sting?

Maze Runner was particularly hard. Particularly hard because I stayed in LA with no money. I stayed on my friend's couch and I'd lost my accommodation elsewhere on the hope that— obviously we were down to like the last two and, you know, at the time the team was very keen that, you know, it would go through and it didn't. So I was kind of like, ah, I gotta go back to London now. For me, I always like a director with a good balance. And what I mean by good balance is enough vision number one, and then enough freedom for the actors to be able to do their jobs. So I— the style of acting that I choose to take for each role, I love to be the character. I love to become it, not in a method type of way, but in a scene. I like to watch a movie I'm in back and feel like I can't remember doing that stuff. Like watching Star Wars, half of the things Finn does in that film, I can't remember making a decision to do it. Because it was— there was instinct and there was freedom and there was the ability to be able to be creative. And J.J. is a big advocate of that. I mean, he would— we would start a scene with the dialogue and he'll be like, all right, let's just do your version and let's just do a version that you guys feel free with. And that's how Harrison works as well. And improv really makes way for magical moments. And when you have a director that has a good enough balance to understand the technical point of view for at least a good shot, color correction, visual effects, practical effects, but then he has artistic knowledge also for character arcs, dialogue, and fun. It's always good. So that's what I look for.

What inspired you to come to LA?

More work. Oh yeah, more work. It's bigger. There's more roles, there's more opportunity. There's bigger things to be a part of. The narrative in the UK was getting boring to me. Just felt a little bit like there wasn't any stories that I just wanted to be a part of that were just different and dynamic and granted itself a great career move. So most of us go to come to the States, kind of like now the norm, you know, to come here for better opportunity. My last screen test for the role, J.J. came up to me and J.J. was just like, we really want you, you know, to book this part. But in order for us to do that, we need you to have a really good eyeline. And he brought out Chewie. And I'm just like, you know what? Just roll the cameras because this is so emotional for me right now. It was Chewie in real life just walk— and, you know, just doing the whole— and I was like, wow, it's right there. And to perform with him on set is a whole other experience because it's a symbol. It's like you— I'm in a Star Wars movie. I'm replying to Chewbacca right now. I'm like holding him and stuff. Stuff, you know? I hugged him all the time. I mean, there were moments you get back in the car, you're like, "Chewie." Harrison's— well, first of all, I have to say this. Harrison's my best friend. Honestly, he is. He won't exactly say it like that, but he is. And it's pretty cool having an actor like Harrison who has been there and done that, to see him to relive the excitement of coming back is just ridiculous. Like, Harrison was as passionate and was as enthusiastic as if this was his first movie. And so for me, it was really enjoyable working with someone who was still buzzing to just go on set and shoot.

Wow.

You know, it sounds like you're joking, best friends, but I read that you were in London a few days ago. Yeah, this is probably something you wanted to keep private but got out in the news anyhow. You took him to like your— where you grew up, the neighborhood you grew up in, your favorite restaurant as a kid.

Yeah.

Can you talk a little bit about that experience or—

Yeah, I mean, we were— it was while we were filming, we were on the Falcon, as you do. And I was like by the chess set just messing around and he was just like, boyega. I really want to go to a spot that's, you know, really want to go to a spot that's enjoyable. I'm sick of chicken breasts and veg. So, you know, a place. I was just like, yeah, man, you can come to where I grew up. So I was just like, you know, you're going to have to like ditch the security though, because that would just be too much. You just go with me, we'll eat some food. And he's like, okay, cool. And we went to just like 10 minutes from where we shot Attack the Block, actually, we just went to the area and we sat down and we just had Nigerian food, like, and he was ordering everything. And, you know, for people who are African-Caribbean, you know, you know, you get a bit of a— that's just like a sleep medicine after that. Harrison was slumped in the car back. He was just like— the food just got him. And he does well with the spices too. But people were starstruck. But the thing about Nigerians, you know, Nigerians are kings regardless what the bank account is saying. So after a certain amount of time, they can, you know, we were able to just have a normal meal, which was fun.

Thank you guys so much for watching. I made this video because Luke Johnson asked me to. If there's a famous entrepreneur that you would like me to profile next, check out the link in the description and go and cast your vote. I'd also love to know what did you learn from this video that had the biggest impact on you? What lesson are you going to take? And immediately apply it somehow in your life or in your business, leave it in the comments below. I'm really curious to find out. I also wanna give a quick shout out to Mike from Illinois. Mike, thank you so much for picking up a copy of my book, Your One Word, posting a picture onto Instagram. I hope you enjoy the read and I appreciate your support. Thank you guys again for watching. I believe in you. I hope you continue to believe in yourself and whatever your one word is. Much love, I'll see you soon.

Did you ever, like, you don't have the, usually when people come up here they tell a story of strife and struggle and, you know, I was in the streets and I shot a few dudes, they shot me. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I live to tell the story now, I got a rap career. Yeah. You don't have that story? I don't have that, I've never been shot, I've never shot anyone. Okay. You know, I stayed away from all of that. I decided to take my life seriously. Smart man. Yeah, yeah, I'm 23. I'm trying to be rich, right? I can't do that when I'm dead. I first heard about Star Wars after Disney, uh, bought Lucasfilm for like, you know, £4 or something. Um, and, uh, then they announced that JJ was on board for a new Star Wars movie. See, as an actor, you, you tend to think, okay, where's the opportunity going to come from? And finally, uh, finally Femi, my agent, called me and just told me that, uh, we have an audition for you, it's for the new Star Wars movie. And the breakdown was: boy 1, charming, funny, hero. Girl 1, strong, independent, hero. And I'm like, come on guys, I need to be more than this. But then I went into audition and through the process JJ gave me notes that then carved from the rock of confusion the Finn that we know today. So let me give you the one word secret to happiness. One word. This is all you need to be happy.

The most important word ever.

If you had to think of one word that's most important to you or that sums you up or that would be kind of like a little beacon. Hey Believe Nation, if you want to know what the most important one word is for Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk, Oprah Winfrey, will.i.am, and Howard Schultz, I have a very special secret video for you. Check the description for details.