Unlocking Success: The Luxury of Time and the Power of Perspective in Show Business

In the chaotic cosmos of show business, where stardust dreams collide with the grindstone of reality, one virtue reigns supreme: time. So let’s talk about the luxury of time. Yes, time – that elusive, precious commodity that most of us don’t realize, but actually have in abundance.

In this industry it's all about perspective and execution.

Let me start by stating the main point of this article. Success in this industry is possible. Fame, becoming a working actor, auditioning more...these things are, indeed all very possible. The opportunity is real. The problem is, it's hard. (Spoiler alert...it's harder than you think)

So, let's address the elephant in the room. Yes, the entertainment industry is fiercely competitive. It's a landscape riddled with complexities and nuances, both captivating and bewildering. In many ways, it's a well-oiled machine, meticulously structured and operated. Yet, I often find myself pondering how such a dynamic yet flawed system has endured for so long. It's amazing to me that an industry that produces some of the most amazing things I've ever experienced, witnessed and seen, can also operate in such an old fashion, tired way. But let's save that discussion for another day.

Today, let's focus on what we can control: our perspective (how we look at this whole thing) and our time (what we do with it). If you're reading this, it's clear you're driven by a hunger for success. Me too.

Now, let's address a prevalent issue in our industry—the fixation on outliers. This is a big one for me. Something I despise with a passion. We're drawn to the tales of overnight sensations, those rare instances where lightning strikes, propelling someone to instant fame. Yes, it does happen that someone gets discovered while shopping at walmart and the next thing you know, they're everywhere in everything. However, let's be real, unfortunately, these are the people who seem to get all the attention. It's unfortunate, because for people like you, reading this...someone who cares deeply about making a career out of it and trying your best, you're left with a false belief of how things work. However, even though they get all the attention in terms of media and coverage, these are not the typical every day working actors. They are the 0.00001%.

But what about the vast majority—the 99.999%— those like you who toil tirelessly for years, honing their craft, inching closer to their dreams with each passing day?

It's disheartening to witness talented individuals succumb to the allure of quick success. Because of that reason, most people (those who fall within the 99.999%) quit this industry too early. Can you blame them? After forging hard at this for years, they're still struggling. So, ya, it makes sense. But what they don't realize is that they have the wrong perspective.

I'll say it again...Fame, becoming a working actor, auditioning more...these things are, indeed all very possible. The problem is, it's hard. Harding then they realize because they've been fed a lie. A lie over overnight success.

So let's try and re frame your perspective, shall we.

I'll start by debunking a myth that's so often misunderstood that it is frustrating. Number 1: Someone else's success doesn't diminish your own opportunities. Not even a little bit. There's an abundance of opportunities in this industry - auditions, money, fame, - all waiting to be seized. So don't get mad, don't have envy or jealousy - Instead of harboring envy - let's celebrate each other's victories, especially those hard-earned triumphs by the actors who fall in the 99.999%.

Number 2: What you focus on shapes your reality. What you think about, you bring about. The best way to explain this, is by using social media as an example. Our life, our career, our opportunities work similarly to social media. Your feed reflects your interests, your inclinations. Choose to surround yourself with positivity, with stories of resilience and kindness, and guess what, that's all the algorithm well show you on your feed. I wish I could share my feed with all of you. It's full of acts of kindness and puppies. Why, because that's what I choose to like and follow. So, in tern, the algorithm sends me more of what I'm looking for, liking and engaging with. The Algorithms job is to keep you on the App for as long as possible.

Your job is to choose what you want to focus on and surround yourself with.

Now let me explain a bit more on that last point. Accountability.

If there is anything that is the secret sauce, the cheat code to success in this industry...more than ANYTHING else is to be accountable. I implore you to embrace it wholeheartedly.

If only 1 of you reading this, actually walks away from this article saying, whatever happens this year, I'm going to blame 100% of the stuff I'm upset about on myself. I’m going to be accountable for my losses... I'll consider this article a win for me.

As professionals in this industry, furthermore, as humans, we have come infatuated with pointing fingers. Who’s to blame. Let’s put a stop to that right now. Today. Let's be accountable.

Which brings me to my next point…2024 needs to be the year you finally do shit. You know what I'm talking about, right. Passive learning won't suffice. Knowledge without application is futile. Let me explain clearly what I mean. There’s a lot of actors/people who are “passive” learners. Reading about pushups is not the same thing as doing the pushups. Similarly, reading about self-tapes or acting techniques is not the same as doing it, being in class and working on materials. Reading a book about meisner technique or watching a video on it is not the same as doing it.

A lot of people reading this article, believe that reading, or watching a YouTube video or watching a masterclass online means they're “kind of doing it” and they’re engaged. But they're not. Don't fool yourself like that. It's just not the same.

Commit to doing the work, day in and day out and while you're at it, embrace failure. I truly believe each setback is a stepping stone toward eventual triumph. The only way to win in the grand scheme of things is if you're comfortable losing multiple times in the smaller battles. That's the unfiltered truth.

Let me get personal with you all. Personally, I've encountered countless setbacks before finding my footing. I’ve bombed in boardrooms, and I mean bombed so bad that the executives walked out. I've failed multiple business ideas, I've lost dear friends, lost many clients, lost some actors I really believed in and, yes, of course, financial mishaps were all part of my journey. Did it sting? Absolutely. But each stumble taught me invaluable lessons, guiding me toward clarity and growth.

In fact, If I can get even more personal, there was a time that i HATED loosing. I took every loss personally. A lot of times it's not personal, but I did. What did this do? It made me scared to keep trying. To keep going. It made it easy to quit too early.

I was fortunate to make that connection before I did quit. So, I wanted to change my perspective and I did. I embarked on a year-long experiment to rewire my perception of failure. I created a calendar with 100 squares, ticking off a box with every setback or mistake. Rather than viewing these ticks as defeats, I embraced them as stepping stones toward improvement. It was a strange sort of thrill, acknowledging each misstep as an opportunity for growth and getting closer that that 100 mistake mark. I had re-framed my mind that it took 100 failed attempts or setbacks for me to reach my ultimate goal. And guess what, it really worked. I no longer see small micro failures as losses. I see them as, well nothing really. It is what it is. I move on to the next.

Here’s an even more unpopular opinion I have. I miss the thrill of failing. I do. The beginning when everything goes wrong, where there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight, I actually (in a weird way) miss that. I no longer get the opportunity to "play again". If that makes any sense.

Failure shouldn't be stigmatized; it should be celebrated. It's through failure that we learn, evolve, and ultimately succeed. Plain and simple...it's part of the game.

So you didn't book it? I get it, it stings. It sucks. But is that the end? Was that the last audition you'll ever get? Did you do your best. Oh you did, and you still didn't get it? Well, guess what, there's also 100 other actors who sent in a tape and did their best. 99 of them didn't get it either? But who's to say, if you did your best and you didn't get it that you weren't the talk of the room throughout the selection process. Have faith that if you do good work and pump out quality audition after quality audition your time will come. It might take a while. It might take way longer than you thought. But trust me, if you keep at it and, like we said earlier, make 2024 the year that you make shit happen...it will happen. That's how this works. There's no guarantee of when, but if you stick with it and you keep making shit happen, it will.

The reason I love the saying make shit happen, it's because it gives you a plan. If you get up and do just that, make shit happen...This will create momentum.

Which is my last and final point for this whole "shaping your perspective" article.

Life thrives on momentum. This industry also thrives on momentum. It might be daunting at first, to get up and get going, but with perseverance, momentum builds, and progress becomes inevitable.

If you are not where you want to be it’s because of momentum not going in the right direction. But, here's the good news. You can change that.

Let me use the gym as an example again. Have you ever stopped going to the gym for a while and then tried to go back after some time off? That first day back is exiting, sure. But let’s talk about week 3? How's that feel? For most people, It's horrible. It sucks. This is where you’ve been doing the work, but still aren’t really seeing the results. This is where most people quit. This is where we look at the people around us in the gym and say…ya, I’ll never be like that.

Here’s the secret, once you break that seal and get passed that hump...it gets easier. Then it gets better. Then you start to see results. This is called “momentum”.

So to get momentum going, you need to get to work. You need to “go to the gym” and do the pushups so to speak. You need to keep going till you break the seal.

All of you reading this know what you need to do. You actually know what’s needed to give you momentum. So why aren’t you doing it? Is it Money? Is it Time? Is it Fear of failing? Is it Not your priority at the moment? Whatever the excuse you need to squash it if you care about this. Otherwise, you’ll never get momentum.

Another way to cultivate a good perspective and create momentum for yourself is to celebrate the small wins. To practice gratitude. Because just like momentum, gratitude reciprocates.

Gratitude fuels momentum. Take stock of your blessings, however small they may seem. Cultivate a mindset of abundance, and watch as opportunities unfold before you.

So, take a moment to absorb this article as I wrote it straight from my heart. Let these words guide you as you navigate the twists and turns of this industry. Don't succumb to despair; instead, let optimism be your guiding light. Together, let's rewrite the narrative and redefine success on our terms.