Greenlights

The tension between hustling for an outcome despite the odds and allowing life to do its work without interference is a key theme of McConaughey’s book. Catching greenlights, which are affirmations that our dreams are coming true, depends both on conscious effort and “skill: intent, context, consideration, endurance, anticipation, resilience, speed, and discipline” and also a matter of luck and being “in the zone, on the frequency, and with the flow” (Location 180).

Hailing from a tough-loving family who are the “last to cry uncle to bad luck,” McConaughey considers that he always hustles for the outcome he wants (Location 282). When as a relatively inexperienced actor in Hollywood McConaughey is offered the small part of Freddie Lee Cobb in A Time to Kill, he is far more drawn to the starring role of Jake Brigance and shows up to Joel Schumacher’s office “with a plan” (Location 1603). While Schumacher acknowledges McConaughey’s talent, he says that the studio would not allow a relative unknown to star in a role. McConaughey is not put off by this early rejection and eventually lands the role by taking advantage of both the greenlights he has enabled and those that have shown up to help him.