This week I had a funny conversation with a client. Early in her career things came very easily to her. She is gorgeous, petite, has a very unique, marketable look, and career opportunities often fell into her lap. Without her really having to do much at all.
If only we were all so lucky.
She even joked with me that because things came so easily to her, she had gotten into the habit of being a “half assed actor.” Just showing up was often enough, so she didn’t put in any other effort.
She certainly wasn’t marketing herself, maintaining industry relationships, or actively working to build a buzz. Other people did that for her. People in the industry came to her. Opportunities abounded.
It’s not like that for her anymore. Things changed. She got…gasp…gulp…horror…OLDER, and now finds that things are not so easy. Opportunities don’t fall into her lap anymore. She isn’t being seen for roles as often. Things have slowed down.
But she hadn’t done anything differently. She was still being a “half assed actor.” She was frustrated that things had slowed own, but wasn’t changing her actions.
(Until she started working with me of course).
Here’s the deal. Even if you are what you hear everyone in the industry telling you you must be in order to book work – 20 years old and gorgeous, the truth of the matter is, it doesn’t last. Even if you book a ton of work right out of the gate, you can’t be half assed about your career. Even when your team takes care of a lot of marketing and pr for you, it’s still in your best interest to be more invested in your own career than anyone else is.
Because if you ever get into a position where things slow down, you don’t want someone else in charge of your relationships.
Success comes from who you know, and who knows you. If you drop the ball on your own relationships, you are missing out on opportunity.
If you are only being half assed in your acting career, you can only receive half assed results.
I am really proud of this particular client. When we first started working together she railed against embracing social media. She said something along the lines of “I KNOW I should be doing it, I KNOW it will help me, but I just have a block against doing it. It’s almost like I’m rebelling against myself.”
Self sabotage will show up in all kinds of ways. She’s struggling with her own frustration that she now has to work hard. If in the past all you had to do was be your adorable self and show up, I can imagine it would be a very rude awakening when that stopped working.
The thing is, though, success requires you to do more. It requires you to step outside of your comfort zone, outside of your own laziness, to push beyond the boundaries of what you think you can do.
If success were easy, EVERYONE would have it. But not everyone does. So what makes the difference?
Here’s a quote from one of my very favorite articles on the subject:
“The common denominator of success — the secret of success of every man who has ever been successful — lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.”
From The Common Denominator of Success by Albert EN Gray
Yes, the language is archaic (and possibly sexist). Yes, this article was written by an insurance sales man in the 1940’s, BUT none of that really matters. What matters is that the concept is 100% accurate.
To be successful you MUST do things you don’t really feel like doing in order to get what you really want.
There’s no escaping this fact.
So the next time you find yourself being half assed – in your marketing efforts, in your commitment to yourself, in your personal relationships, at your day job, remember this – the only possible result you can expect is also half assed.
And just to wrap up on why I’m proud of my client. Part of her assignment for the week was to introduce herself to some folks on facebook. She emailed me asking if she had to do it, because she didn’t feel like it, blah blah blah.
A few minutes later there was an email in my inbox from her. She had stepped up to the plate and done it. Why? Because she’s ready for more than half assed results.
If she can do it, so can you!
Leave a comment below. Where have you been half assed in your acting career? Where are you holding yourself back, procrastinating or avoiding certain activities altogether? Make a commitment to yourself right now. JUST FOR TODAY commit to giving 100% in everything you do.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Great message, Billy. This encourages me to pull it out and refresh myself periodically. I keep myself busy working on my career day and night. Though, there are some things I don’t like to do and consequently don’t. This article brings the reality that I’m being half assed, unless I give my all all the time. No more half assin’
Thanks for pointing out that I need to find the areas of discomfort in my career, Emily, because by pushing through those areas, I’ll grow. A good metric to locate where I need to put my attention!
Thank you for the kick in the half ass, Emily! Take responsibility and confront the challenges head on, or you’ll never break boundaries and grow to your fullest potential. I’m going to do some things that make me uncomfortable this month. I’m terrible at the mingling game, approaching people is intimidating for me but I’m going to attend some social events and really put myself out there. Starting a blog seems to be an awesome tactic to let people know who I am. This will help conquer my discomfort of writing about myself. I’m sure I won’t regret it! Thanks again for all your awesome advice.
Yes!