Award-winning film producer Will Packer’s new book, “Who Better Than You? The Art of Healthy Arrogance & Dreaming Big” is an exploration of self-belief and achieving one’s goals. In the book, Packer shares personal stories of growth, wins, losses, and a certain 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl that didn’t turn out so well.
Packer, who recently discussed “Who Better Than You?” on Good Morning America, took time to visit The Atlanta Voice office to further discuss the book with the paper’s Editor-in-Chief Donnell Suggs.
A graduate of Florida A&M University, Packer is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, but calls Atlanta his “adopted home”. Many of the movies Packer has produced and been involved in were filmed in Atlanta. During the interview, he also spoke about how the word “arrogance” needs to be re-categorized.
“We have to reclaim that word,” Packer said.
The Atlanta Voice: What made you write “Who Better Than You?” in the first place?
Will Packer: Being in the game, I didn’t realize until I started writing the book that I have been in it for almost three decades. Doing film and entertainment, I have learned so much from being around some of the most high-profile people in the world, but almost some of the most successful people in the world.
There are traits that they have that I have learned by navigating those worlds and working with some of those big personalities and egos that I believe are transferable whether you’re in Hollywood, whether you’re in a completely different industry, whether you’re just looking to live a more fulfilled life. So, I wanted to write my book about that.
The Atlanta Voice: There are a bunch of stories in this book.
Will Packer: I said I wasn’t going to write my book until I had a drive, a thrust, a story to tell. And I have a bunch of stories to tell.
AV: A storyteller telling stories. Feels appropriate.
WP: As a storyteller, I always try to figure out what’s the purpose of the story? How can you have the narrative have an impact on people in a different way other than just telling a story just to tell it. By tying in lessons with things that I have learned, mistakes that I have made, things I have done right, things I have done wrong, I felt like I could now share with folks who come to me often and say will you do a masterclass.
This book is the master mentorship I wish I had.
AV: Why do you believe 2025 is the right time for a book like “Who Better Than You?”
WP: I think there has never been a better time. We live in an unpredictable world. A world of uncertainty. A lot of people are doubting themselves. They are doubting their place in the world. They are doubting their value and you have systems and institutions that are systematically saying you don’t have value.
There’s never been a more important time for you to be steadfast in what your value is, what you bring to the world, and the fact that you are unique and that there’s nobody better than you to have the absolute highest levels of success.
AV: So everyone should believe, no matter where they come from they can be successful. No matter the field of choice?
WP: 100 percent. One of the things that is important for people to realize that I talk about in the book is it doesn’t matter if you’re somebody that’s got a big personality, walks red carpets, has money, and has a famous last name, it doesn’t matter. What matters is how you see yourself. The value that you have, that you perceive to have, and how you get others to perceive that same value in you. That’s what matters.
I believe that there are things that you can do everyday to strengthen your own value system and your own confidence. You can strengthen it just like a muscle. The most important voice you are going to hear everyday is your own voice. Everyday I look at myself in the mirror and I tell myself how important I am, how prepared I am, how I have the skills that are necessary to meet whatever challenge that I am going to come across that day.
AV: That last part, why do you do that?
WP: I do that because my voice is the most important voice and I have to start off every day hearing it. I give my voice that weight. We all have insecurities and negative thoughts, but the most successful people walk into a room and realize this room is better because I am in it. You have to believe that and double down on it.
AV: The phrase “Healthy Arrogance” is something I can relate to. What would you like for readers to come away with from your definition of healthy arrogance?
WP: Arrogance for a long time has been a negative thing. There is toxic arrogance, but that’s not what we’re talking about. We are talking about the belief that there’s nobody more important than in that room. You have to believe that so clearly, so strongly, that it projects and becomes pervasive.
Packer shared a story about being a young film producer at FAMU (Class of ’96) and how he and his partners believed their college film was so good that they invited everyone on campus to the premiere. They even invited Hollywood filmmakers. None of the filmmakers showed up, but the entire campus did.
WP: It was contagious because we believed in it so strongly. That’s what I want people to do.
AV: In Chapter 2: Finish the Deal you say “It’s an absolute must to keep your eye on the finish line”. The fact that you used the Falcons’ loss to the Patriots in the Super Bowl was a good example of not finishing the deal. What was your thought process behind using that as an example?
WP: It’s painful. It was supposed to be painful. Oftentimes in life we celebrate too soon. It ain’t over till it’s over. Everybody has an example like that.
Packer shared another story about how successful the opening week of “Think Like A Man” was and how he underestimated how popular the movie would be in the box office.
WP: Don’t just think that you could be successful. Think that you can be the biggest version of success that is out there. I want people to have big, big dreams.
AV: You called Shayla Cowan (Producer and Chief of Staff at Will Packer Productions), your “secret weapon” in the book. How important is it for people to make sure to surround themselves with people who have their best interests at heart?
WP: You have to protect your energy. We all have a finite amount of energy that we can give. We are giving away too much of our energy to things that are not important, that are draining you, and not augmenting you. Surround yourself with people that are helping you achieve your goals. I surround myself with people who understand and have the same value system that I do.
AV: So it’s not always going to be the days-ones that are with you till the end?
WP: Yeah, because you’re not on day one anymore. You’ve changed so your circle should change.
“Who Better Than You” is available wherever books are sold.
