Weeds Grow Fast

Just a few months ago I walked past a wine bar conveniently situated on the corner of a busy street lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. The sun was out and every patio table was taken as people chatted away carefree over snacks and white wine. 

Today, that place is completely gone. The only sign of life that remains is a placard hanging in the window that reads: "Space Available for Lease." What's more, the place looks as though it was abandoned another decade ago. Most notably, weeds have already taken over what not long ago was an impeccable courtyard full of customers.

What I realized is twofold: things are not always as they seem and you need to always stay on top of your game. You must constantly put in the work. You simply cannot rest on your past accomplishments, or yesterday's revenue.

For years I believed that once you reached a certain level in your career or business it would be smooth sailing. But what I learned as a casting reader, performing opposite some of the biggest names of the stage and silver screen is you never not have challenges, you merely trade your old ones for new ones. But in order to even stay in that position you have to keep getting better. If you don't, others catch up.

Actors especially know this all too well. You're only as good as your last job. But what do you do in the interim? As a mentor once said to me, when you haven't received the break you've been so desperately looking for, whether it's in show business, a job promotion, or finding a partner, you have to continually work on craft.

In other words, you need to stay ready. 

Gaining Perspective

Often times when find ourselves in some type of funk, the root is an over-focus on ourselves and an under-commitment to others. There are lots of ways to "get over ourselves" and put that very energy into a cause greater than ourselves. .

We can help someone else who could really use a hand. Start small and sign up to work as a volunteer at your local community center, church, or wherever you find would be the best fit. It may take a little trial and error. 

But to help others help themselves lends greater integrity to your ambition and will be sure to put your challenges into perspective.

Getting Honest Feedback

How often have you rushed to a friend for his or her opinion with a problem in your life? How about their take on a new project you've just completed? A short story? A screenplay?

Having a community of like-minded people who have your back is crucial. And those of us who are fortunate to have such a network should never take it for granted.

But it can be a challenge to get the type of feedback you really need to help you take your work to the next level.

Your friends are your friends, which means they're feelings for you are biased. From their vantage point, being objective while trying to be sensitive to your feelings can be a very delicate dance.

Instead, try seeking the opinion of those you may not know as well and aren't afraid to be direct with their input. Rather than pursuing points of view that support those you already have, be on the lookout for thinking that enriches and challenges your own.

Cost and Benefit

For a few weeks now I've been raving about a book called, Grit by Angela Duckworth. The book has resonated with me on many personal levels and I've found it a particularly useful resource for actors. In no other industry that I can think of are the words, fortitude, grit, and determination more applicable - unoriginal as it may seem.

But this morning I came across a passage about, "Cost and Benefit." In other words, we have a tendency to weigh the amount of time, effort, or finances a project will entail and what we hope to gain as a result of our efforts.

As actors, more times than not, we fail to see our return on investment. How many hundreds of hours have you spent strengthening your voice, breaking down a script, or perfecting a monologue only to see the part go to another actor, or the project go through setback after setback?

I realized two things:

1. You do the work because that is the reward.

2. Showing fortitude, determination, and "grit," is often less about where it will get you, but more a representation of who you are at your core.

Both are respectable reasons and arguably more noble than simpy trying to gain something.

You can check out Angela Duckworth's TED Talk below:

https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance