Tony Suriano standing confidently with bold text overlay that reads “Direct Your Life – What’s Your Mindset?” against a gritty, cinematic background.

The Mindset That Changed My Life (and Got Me in a Scene with De Niro)

May 15, 20252 min read

🎬 The Mindset That Changed My Life (and Got Me in a Scene with De Niro)

Ever feel like you’re stuck in one-way thinking that’s getting you nowhere?

Like no matter what you do, you stay stubborn as a bull… 🐂

Yeah—I used to live there.

And it wasn’t just hard. It was hopeless.

I had a fixed mindset. Everything was black and white.

The kind that whispers:

“If it hasn’t happened yet… maybe it’s never going to.”

Until one day… I changed the story. Not because I read the right book. 📚 But because I made a decision.

A real decision:

“I’m going to start living like the person who believes this can still happen.”

I didn’t have a plan.

I had a fire. 🔥

That decision got me on a plane to New York. ✈️

That decision landed me in a scene with Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and… my dad.

That decision created one of the most surreal, full-circle moments of my life.


🧠 Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset (Plain and Simple)

Fixed Mindset:

“I’m either born with it or I’m not. If I fail, it means I don’t have what it takes.” ❌

Growth Mindset:

“Every failure is data. Every win is a rep. I can build what I need.” ✅

One keeps you stuck.

The other gives you your power back.⚡️


Want to Hear the Full Story?

🎧 In the very first episode of Direct Your Life, I share how I broke out of the fixed mindset trap—

and the exact shift that helped me finally move forward.

Listen now:

🍎 Episode 1 on Apple: Fixed Mindset or Growth Mindset—Which Do You Have?

📺 Check out Episode 1 on YouTube

What to Ask Yourself Today

  • Am I living like I have something to prove… or something to build?

  • Am I avoiding mistakes… or inviting growth?

  • Am I waiting for confidence… or taking the reps that create it?


The old mindset tells you to play it safe.

The growth mindset tells you: direct your scene anyway.

🎧 Want to go deeper?

Check out Direct Your Life — the podcast for mindset fuel, creative breakthroughs, and behind-the-scenes stories that’ll light you up. And please coment and let me know your take away!

Stay unleashed,

Tony Suriano

Director | Speaker | Creative Coach

🎙️ Host of Direct Your Life

P.S. Want weekly creative fuel that helps you break mindset barriers and unlock your boldest self?

👉 Join the FREE Creatives Unleashed Newsletter — raw insights, behind-the-scenes breakthroughs, and the tools to actually direct your life.

🔥 Check out the Creatives Unleashed Mastermind — monthly creative charge-ups, live Zooms, hot seat breakthroughs, and a community that gets it.


Tony Suriano Creatives Unleashed banner with gold, silver, and bronze laurel wreaths and bold text: ‘Weekly Fuel to Direct Your Life

Tony Suriano is a creative coach, film director, and public speaker who specializes in helping people unleash confidence and creativity like a superpower.

As the founder of the Creatives Unleashed Community and host of the Direct Your Life Podcast, he combines personal growth with cinematic storytelling to help others turn their life into a masterpiece worth watching.

Tony Suriano

Tony Suriano is a creative coach, film director, and public speaker who specializes in helping people unleash confidence and creativity like a superpower. As the founder of the Creatives Unleashed Community and host of the Direct Your Life Podcast, he combines personal growth with cinematic storytelling to help others turn their life into a masterpiece worth watching.

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