James Cameron‘s film Avatar has now grossed more than $1 billion, making Cameron the first director to helm two billion-dollar movies — Titanic being the other.  Cameron’s success is largely attributable to two things, personal vision and unparalleled passion.

Cameron’s films are unique works of art covered in his fingerprints.  He dreamed up Avatar before he was even a film-maker, and spent years fleshing it out in his mind.  Is the story unique?  Nope.  It’s a pretty standard story of imperialism and its costs.  But, wow, how Cameron tells that story!  Same thing with Titanic. Not the first telling of the tale, but probably the most powerful.  The Abyss, a more original story,  grew from Cameron’s love of diving.

All of Cameron’s films benefit from Cameron’s passionate commitment to excellence and refusal to accept the status quo.  He has supported new technologies, driven studio executives and financiers to the brink, and taken ridiculous (but smart) risks to make his visions come to life. Through it all, he makes it clear that it’s his vision going on film.  Cameron has been been known to wear a hat on-set that says “HMFIC” and his tirades against less-than-outstanding performance are legendary.  Cameron once told a lighting crew that watching them try to light a set was “like watching two monkeys try to f*ck a football.”

Are you bringing a personal vision and deep passion to your show?  Do you take true ownership of the program? Do you offer unique, must-hear observations or opinions?  When is the last time you came up with an entertaining new way to make your point?  Do you demand and reward killer performance from your staff?  Do you sweat every single detail of your show, including what happens during the commercial breaks and newscasts?  Do you fight for your show and team in the building?

In my experience, the answers to the above will determine whether you become a radio version of James Cameron or spend your career doing our medium’s equivalent of made-for-cable movies.

Make a resolution this year to Be Like Jim.