When one thinks of Hollywood legends, the name Harrison Ford instantly springs to mind. With iconic roles like Han Solo in Star Wars and the whip-cracking archaeologist Indiana Jones under his belt, Ford‘s stardom seems predestined. However, his road to success was marked by challenges, including skeptical studio executives who doubted his talents. As Ford reveals in a recent appearance on Conan O‘Brien Needs A Friend, he even had one exec trying to get him to change his name early in his career. While many would have crumbled under such pressure, Ford persisted and provides valuable lessons for all aspiring entertainers.
"Kid, You Have No Future In This Business" – Overcoming Self-Doubt
Though it may shock fans today, Harrison Ford faced immense skepticism in the early days of his acting career. He reveals that after landing a 7-year studio contract in 1966, he was let go after just a year and a half with the harsh feedback that he had no future in showbusiness. At the time, Ford was making $1200 a week and appearing in popular TV Westerns and variety shows like Love American Style – decent accomplishments for a young performer.
It was during this period that one studio executive even suggested Ford change his actual name, which the exec found too pretentious. Amusingly, when pressed to come up with an alternative, Ford sarcastically suggested "Kurt Affair." Clearly, the name didn‘t stick. Nonetheless, Ford continued to face doubters, like the executive who called him in to essentially cut him loose from his contract. As Ford explains:
He said, "Kid, you have no future in this business." And I said, "Well, hang on a second now. You signed me to a seven-year contract." And he said, "Yeah, but I was wrong." And I said, "Well, OK, can we talk about this?" And he said, "What‘s to talk about?"
Just imagine – you landed what you thought was your big break only to have the door shut on your dreams. Many would have given up and quit. However, Ford refused to accept this fate.
Drawing A Line in the Sand – Knowing Your Worth
Despite his youth and self-doubt, Ford demanded a fair chance and pushed back on the executive‘s dismissal. He drew a proverbial line in the sand, putting his contract above his pride. As he shares:
I went down to see the head of the studio ‘cause I was under contract, I was getting paid, I had a job which I wanted to keep. I went down to see the head of the studio and there was like four weeks left on my contract. And he said, "We want you to quit." And I said, "Well…" I did the math in my head. I needed the money. I had a house payment. And I said, "If you give me the four weeks‘ pay that‘s left on my contract, I‘ll quit." And he said, "No, we don‘t want to give you the four weeks‘ pay, we just want you to quit."
While Ford remained calm, he rightly asserted his contractual rights. And even in the face of losing a paycheck he desperately needed, he held firm:
I was pretty pissed off, so I just turned around and walked out and went back and finished out my four weeks. They were so pissed off that they didn‘t use me for the last two weeks and I sat around. But I made my house payment.
It‘s a scenario many creatives face – should I compromise myself and my worth for advancement? Ford‘s example shows the importance of knowing your value and not selling yourself short. Had he caved to the pressure, it may have stifled his self-confidence when the big breaks eventually came.
Persevering Through the Early Grind to Find Your Place
Harrison Ford had to grind through some lean years before becoming an overnight sensation. In addition to early TV Westerns, Ford took small roles in shows like Love American Style, gaining experience and exposure. He likely had to take whatever work he could find to pay the bills while keeping his dreams afloat.
When asked by Conan about working on such shows early on, Ford downplays the significance but provides insightful context:
Well, everybody worked on those shows when they were starting. Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, all the guys that I admired were working on this stuff.
The lesson here – all celebrities pay their dues early on. Setting unrealistic expectations too soon can be detrimental. New entertainers should lean into small opportunities that build skills and connections, viewing them as stepping stones. Had Ford fixated on instant stardom, he may never have built the resilience required once huge hits like Star Wars broke.
Maintaining Authenticity Creates Opportunities
Ford also reveals how he landed his appearance on Conan‘s podcast after resisting for years. Despite Conan‘s popularity, Ford remained guarded, causing some awkward run-ins with the host:
You asked me to do the show one time and I said no. And then I ran into you in an elevator and you kind of…I scared the hell out of you in the elevator.
However, here too Ford‘s authenticity won over. Conan comments:
You‘ve always dealt straight with me and I appreciate that…I apologize for calling you Jared.
It may seem basic, but staying true to yourself opens more doors than compromising your values simply to advance. Had Ford pandered to Conan rather than setting boundaries, their relationship may have soured. This allowed Conan to eventually book the huge guest when Ford felt ready.
Authenticity also drives fan affinity – Ford is beloved not simply because of his charisma but his steadfastness. He doesn‘t bend to Hollywood pressure or gimmicks. After all the name-changing nonsense earlier in Ford‘s career, his refusal to become someone he wasn‘t clearly bred long-term success.
The Last Laugh on Executives Who Doubted
The most amusing anecdote from Ford‘s appearance speaks volumes about persevering through early skepticism. He shares:
I was having dinner about 15 years later after this first stuff happened, and a waiter came over to me and he said “Mr. Tarkovsky”…That was Jerry Tarkovsky, that was the name the studio guy had wanted me to change my name to.
Imagine enduring years of small roles, doing the work to grow your skills because you believed in yourself when others didn‘t. Then – wham – the meaningless name an old executive had suggested crosses your path, bringing the memories flooding back. Instead of anger, Ford took it in gracious stride:
At the end of the dinner a guy came over and he said, "I just wanted to say hello, I‘m the guy that suggested you change your name." And he said, “I made a mistake and I just want to acknowledge it.” And I said, “That’s fine” you know?
Perseverance pays off with the last laugh. Ford had proved the naysayers wrong simply by focusing on his passion. And his former doubter showed humility in owning mistakes, ending the feud.
The next time self-doubt creeps in, recall Ford pushing past studio gatekeepers telling him he had no talent. Let skepticism fuel rather than discourage you, drawing strength from Ford‘s example. Master your craft and the stage calls. Fame and recognition from perseverance tastes far sweeter than chasing flash-in-the-pan hype. If Harrison Ford had taken short cuts, movie lovers may never have met Han Solo or Indiana Jones. We should all be grateful he ignored the doubters and charted his own course.