# Chris Fenton | What Does It Mean To Be Valuable?

By: Justin Abrams
Published: 2026-07-22

Justin sits down with Chris Fenton, veteran Hollywood executive and author of Feeding the Dragon. Chris spent seventeen years as president of DMG Entertainment, produced or supervised twenty one films including Iron Man 3 and Looper, and teaches the business of cinematic arts at USC.

Chris shares the philosophy that shaped his colorful career. Life is a lottery, so own as many tickets as you can. Every person, every lesson, and every failure is a ticket in the drawing. He and Justin get into chasing opportunity instead of passion, why your network is only worth the currency you can give back, and why money alone will never make you happy.

They also dig into the thing every creator wrestles with. Authenticity over clicks, the brutal role of consistency, and why staying true to your mission beats chasing the algorithm.

Plus, Chris makes the case for American made film, an industry that employs three million Americans, and his new movie Bad Counselors.

Topics covered:
- Harvesting life's lottery tickets
- Pursue opportunity, not passion
- Networking as the currency of trust
- Money cannot buy happiness
- Authenticity over clicks
- Consistency is the key to success

Website: https://badcounselors.com
https://fenton-ibsc.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenton-chinaexpert/
Plate & Ponder Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2dZxONorGM2NHrW2VyixF2?si=de026db061ce46bd

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