The Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey spoke out this week to reveal the advice that his father gave him when he learned he was going to pursue acting.

While appearing on sports journalist Rich Eisen’s new podcast ”Just Getting Started With Rich Eisen,” McConaughey admitted that he had “many doubts” when he was starting out as an actor. He added that there were times that he was sure something was going to work out and “either I imploded or the world exploded it for me.”

“I’ve also had many times where I just – the hardest part about me going into what I was going to do is just to tie my shoes get out the damn door, jump off the cliff and figure out how to fly on the way down,” McConaughey said, adding that it “seems like that’s sort of the art of life – making plans and then knowing change is going to come anyway.”

Later in the interview, McConaughey explained that he didn’t initially want to be an actor, and that he’d originally planned to be a lawyer.

“That’s all I talked about,” he said of law.

That all changed when he caught the acting bug in his sophomore year of college. When McConaughey told his father, he was supportive of his decision to become an actor, only advising him not to “half-a–” it.

“So he gave me not only his approval, he gave me a kick in the backside, freedom, accountability and responsibility to do that,” McConaughey said.

McConaughey’s dad emphasized the importance of “committing” to whatever you want to do and in the pursuit of his career. McConaughey took this to heart, admitting that he’s sometimes landed a job just because he failed so many times that the person hiring appreciated his tenacity.

“I have gotten some jobs by failing more often and consistently,” he said with a laugh.

“‘I want this guy on my team,'” McConaughey joked a casting director or a hiring manager would say after seeing him come back to try again and again.

Rich’s new pod is up and already Top 100 for the category.

“Just Getting Started” first guest: @McConaughey who told amazing stories about his origin and how you can get started on your path.

Of course, Rich also had to ask about “Sing 2” for his kids.https://t.co/KdTLll2fs4 pic.twitter.com/SpuNtv41EA

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) March 6, 2021

This comes weeks after McConaughey revealed why he doesn’t judge his parents for raising him in a violent household.

“I never got injured, but I do remember the values that were instilled in me from the butt whoopings,” McConaughey said while appearing on Smith’s internet show “Red Table Talk.” “I got my first one for not answering to my name. I got my second one for saying the words, ‘I can’t,’ instead of saying, ‘I’m having trouble.’ I got my third butt whooping for lying and my fourth for saying, ‘I hate you’ to my brother. So what I remember is that those four times I got in trouble, I earned it.”