100 Ideas That Can Help Keep You Sane As An Actress

To paraphrase the well-known quote from Churchill...

Being an actor or actress is tough. To paraphrase (mangle) the well-known quote from Churchill, being successful as an actor is about going from rejection to rejection without losing your enthusiasm.

That’s hard! So how do you do it?

Please enjoy these 100 ideas below. Know that you are not alone!

Accept feedback

Be prepared to fail and fail quickly. Basically, you need to be ok with failing and quickly recover from it. Then figure out what went wrong and revamp or tweak your failure. Also, you have to be grateful and accept feedback. If you are wise, you ask for it. Then you need be prepared to iterate over and over until you reach your best version. There were parts tied to my film that I had to iterate a few times and it wasn't about what I thought. It was about innovating smart which meant I had to ask for feedback and quickly solve what wasn't working. I would repeat this cycle until the version reached its full potential. -Kellee Marlow

You can say no

The casting director wants you to get the role. It’s so easy to let nerves get the best of you and think that everyone in the room is against you. However, that’s the furthest from the truth. Casting directors want you to book the role almost as much as you want it. It makes their lives easier if you get the role, and let’s face it no human is sitting behind a desk judging you and waiting for you to fail. They’ve called you in because they see potential in you.

You can say no to something you don’t feel comfortable doing. I was lucky enough to have an amazing agent when I started out, who told me this from the day I signed with her. I’ve seen too many talented people fall prey to shady practices by dishonest people who sometimes aren’t even part of the industry.

Confidence is the most powerful tool in your tool belt. Sometimes it’s hard to feel confident when things aren’t going right on set, but I find the best way to counter it is to stop and reset yourself. I’ve been on sets where I’ve felt flustered and overwhelmed and not given my best performance. When I’ve been able to, I find a quiet moment to take a few deep breaths and reset my thoughts to something calmer and more positive.

You don’t need to be “skinnier, prettier, taller, shorter” etc. The beautiful thing about acting is that you’re portraying life. If everyone on screen looked nearly identical, it would make for some pretty boring viewing. You’re there because you’re unique, so let that shine through on screen. I once auditioned for a role where I was supposed to be playing a “beautiful” woman with no lines. However, when the casting director got talking with me and we joked around, she asked me to read for a completely different role. I ended up landing that part.

If you don’t see a role for you, create it yourself. Starting out as a model it wasn’t the most collaborative experience in terms of a vision for the final images. The same goes for acting, however now with the ease and accessibility of good camera gear, phones, lighting etc, you can absolutely create the roles you want for yourself. That was part of the reason I found the calling to write stories that were grounded in diversity, I saw a lack in Hollywood films and wanted to express it.- Melissa Riemer

Speak up

JENNA:

Speak up in pitch meetings. I was always so afraid that my ideas wouldn’t be “good enough” that I just didn’t say anything. Don’t be afraid of a bad idea. Sometimes getting the bad ideas out is how you get to your really good ideas.

Be ready to write down all your ideas. You never know when inspiration will strike. That little nugget of an idea could be an entire series. Journal, diary, the notepad on your phone — whatever you want to call it. I can’t tell you how many times I wished I had just written an idea down the moment I had it. Now, I usually text Lacey every idea I have — you should see our iMessage history.

Celebrate and enjoy your achievements! Document your success. Take pictures. Share your news with your family and friends. If you moved to another city to pursue your career, keep your loved ones from your home state as involved as possible. They want to share in your success too!

Take breaks. You deserve them. The beginning of your career will definitely be a hustle! There’s no way around it. But this is a creative industry and you cannot force creativity; It’ll come to you naturally. When I worked on talk shows, I thought I could only give myself a break when the show took its standard breaks (every 5–7 weeks and on summer hiatus); That’s not sustainable for a well-balanced life. Listen to your mind and your body, reset as you need to.

There will be people who don’t believe in you or your vision — don’t let that stop you! It’s no secret that Lacey and I did not start our careers in the tech world. We found a way to better incorporate technology into our industry but in selling our dream and raising for our seed round, we’ve met those who doubt or don’t understand our vision. There’s a learning curve for us being in the tech world and a learning curve for investors with creatives. If we let the first person who said “no” stop us, we wouldn’t have gotten to those that are saying “yes”!

LACEY:

It’s your responsibility as a Co-Founder to disagree. Early on I read this article that a CEO’s job is to disagree with others, in turn making agreements much more valuable.

Take criticism with a grain of salt. Everyone will have their own opinion of your work. Take criticism in moderation.

Separation between work and personal life will drive creativity. Inspiration will not come from sitting at your desk or your daily routine.

Track your milestones. Take a notepad and jot down small victories. You’ll appreciate that you did so in the long run.

Raising seed rounds for a creative company is tough, but possible. As we’re actively raising our seed round, it’s been exhausting trying to sell “the dream” over and over again. I love the feeling I get from every meeting I take which has made the process that much more enjoyable. There’s a massive venture market for creatives, it’s just a tough market to crack if you’re a first-time founder. -Lacey Kaelani & Jenna Kammo

Importance of the Business

1) I wish that someone had taught me about the importance of the business side of things. Being an actor, I thought that the only thing you need is to focus on your art and craft and on being as good as you can be, and the rest will fall into place. Not true, unfortunately, especially in today’s world. It may have been in the past, but today, in order to thrive in this crazy and unpredictable industry, you need to be savvy about the business side of things. You need to understand how things work, how decisions are made, and what comes into play. When you do that, you start to take it less personally and begin to find new ways to adapt, so that you can make things work for you.

An example for me personally is when I made my feature film debut as a lead in an indie film that premiered at Cinema Village NY during my first year of drama conservatory in New York, and I thought that that was it and that my career was going to take off, and I wouldn’t have a care in the world. Not quite. I didn’t hustle for it; I thought it would come to me. And it didn’t. At least not in the way I imagined it would. So the moral of the story: Don’t wait for anyone to come looking for you. The industry is saturated, and you need to keep reminding them of your existence, even at the risk of being annoying. Even established actors and entertainers have to do that. All the time. And while that may be already part of someone’s character, it wasn’t part of mine. So I had to learn. The hard way.

2) Have an idea of the big picture, but don’t focus on it too much. Having big plans feels great, but I know for a fact that you can only accomplish big things by making small steps and focusing on the task at hand. This industry can feel genuinely overwhelming, and if you set overly ambitious goals, you tend to get discouraged faster. You never know how long it may take for you to get where you want to go, so having unrealistic timeframes is not helpful either and can lead to even more disappointment. It may happen tomorrow, or it may happen years later. So, I truly wished that someone had hammered into my head more that all you need to do to move forward is focus on what you need to accomplish now and not think so much about the big picture when you’re doing that. Just like in auditions, you need to remain present and focus on your character and what she’s going through, and not on how that one audition can change your career. (A great book on the subject, by the way, is Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, but you have to be ready for it. I know I wasn’t the first time I picked it up.) It’s not one event that can change your career or life; it’s many small ones combined, and every little step brings you closer to your dream. Artists are dreamers, and while that’s a quality, sometimes, being too ambitious can make you stall if you are not meeting your own expectations.

3) Learn how to prioritize. That’s a tough one, and easier said than done. It’s also so personal that it’s hard to teach someone that. When you’re starting out, you don’t necessarily realize the importance of some decisions you make that may seem minor but can actually make a big difference. You really need to weigh the pros and cons in every situation, and no one can do that for you other than you.

4) Be less trusting. Assume that if you don’t look out for your own interests, no one else will. If you operate too much on trust, you will get taken advantage of. I speak from personal experience, being cheated even by people who are supposed to protect your interests. I grew up in a very safe environment, and while that’s a good thing, I wasn’t really prepared for the shark mentality in business. And people like me who are trusting are easy prey. Or at least used to be (I hope). I was deceived by big companies and people who appear reputable. And it’s crazy when you think about it, and often hard to wrap your mind around it. But it’s sadly the reality, so always be extra cautious. The devil is in the details.

5) Create your own work, and learn about all aspects of the industry. You know how MFA directing programs for example have acting classes so that directors know about the process an actor goes through to be better directors. The same is true for performers, writers, etc. It helps to know all aspects of the industry you’re in. You don’t need to be an expert in everything, but having basic knowledge about everyone’s process gives you an advantage. And when you’re creating your own work, you have the freedom to do it exactly (hopefully) the way you want to and showcase your skills and talents in the best possible light. -Stella Velon

Be Authentic

Seek feedback from people you trust and admire. You don’t always have to listen, but you need to ask for it so that you can see your blindspots. As a leader, I have noticed how inclined men are to seek feedback, and how women often avoid or skirt around it. Even if it feels scary, find the courage to ask for ways to grow and improve.

No one wants you to be perfect; they just want you to be authentic. I am always inclined to be a perfect student, but I remember working with a manager who told me to stop answering his emails too quickly because it was coming across as desperate (haha) I still answer my emails pretty quickly, but the takeaway for me was that I didn’t have to do everything perfectly to be valuable.

Done is better than perfect. I see so many writers and creators who work so hard to get something perfect that they never actually put their work out into the world. I always strive to get my work at a B-, because aiming for an A+ is way too much pressure. Plus, I heard this story about a very successful runner, Carl Lewis. He always started behind everyone else but somehow finished first. A sprint coach studied his running and saw that the reason he was ending in first place is because he wasn’t straining at all: he was giving only about 85% of his effort, while the other athletes were clenching, tightening, and overworking, which slowed them down. Often when we push above 85%, we push too hard and lose the magic and spontaneity necessary in art.

Not everyone will get what you’re doing, and that’s okay. It’s way better to find your people than to try to appease everyone and make your work so vague that it’s unrecognizable. I have a quirky and dark sense of humor. It’s not for everyone, but by sharing it authentically, I can connect with the people who get it.

Don’t be afraid to have interests outside of the entertainment industry! When I first moved to NYC, I did all kinds of jobs from installing people’s IKEA furniture, to dressing up like a lamp for someone’s birthday party (weird, but true!) to being a private investigator (also weird and also true!). There’s a saying, ‘If you love anything other than acting, do that instead,’ but I disagree. I think that having other hobbies, interests and passions only makes us better artists and positions us to interact with all kinds of people, which just expands our empathy and gives us better stories to tell. -Whitney Uland

Trust your gut

Trust your gut. If your intuition tells you not to do something — even if you can’t find a logical reason to decline — turn it down. I’ve come to realize that if I get an inclination to do or, more specifically, not do something, it’s usually correct.

Never take it personally. You can be the “best” actor and lose the role because it was cut out of the script, it went to the producer’s cousin, a celebrity said yes or you look too much like the director’s ex (they don’t want that reminder every time they look at you on set)! I booked a feature film and when I got to set, they decided they wanted the director’s sister for that part instead.I also worked on a commercial where I had to walk up and hand something to a woman sitting at a desk. We did one take and they decided that the woman looked too similar to me, so they had one of the extras replace her. My heart went out to that actress because she was cut and she didn’t do anything wrong.

Acting for auditions is completely different than acting on set. This was such a revelation and a game changer when I learned how to craft performances for an audition instead of acting as if it were being shot as a scene. If there is one thing I would tell newer actors — take an audition technique class and practice, practice, practice on camera.

Trust people but take care of yourself.

Be you. I would wager a guess that every actor, at one time or another, has looked at a script and thought, “what do they want?” or “what are they looking for?” The truth is, “they” really don’t know until they see you! Instead of wasting time and worrying if you’re doing it “right” or giving them “what they want”, show them YOU. How do you infuse yourself into that scene? How would you react to those circumstances? I’m not saying there shouldn’t be homework and choices — you absolutely should break down the scene, make strong choices and find the writer’s intention based on the text. But, if it states something like “she begins to cry at the funeral” don’t think you won’t book the job because you began to laugh. Grief is a weird thing and people sometimes laugh when they’re nervous. . .so maybe the team watching your audition has an epiphany when they see your performance and you book the job because of it! You never know! That’s probably a terrible example but hopefully you get the idea!- Lauren White

Return the favor

1) Be like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl. Remember how she explained the connections she made for the new Trask business deal by reading the newspaper on the Staten Island ferry in her big hair and tennis shoes? Read as much as you can–trades, other news, poetry, and everything else. You never know where ideas will come from.

2) Think of Waiting to Exhale as your blueprint. Find your ride-or-die crew, your version of Angela Bassett, Whitney Houston, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine. Surround yourself with allies who will understand what you are going through. The best colleagues are creative, give great feedback, push you to be a better artist than you thought you could be and pick you up in tough times. Be prepared to return the favor.

3) Expand your circle like Jason Patric in The Lost Boys. Be open to new people, new experiences, and those cool 80s clothes. Leave the vampires behind, though. It’s important to have friends inside the business, but it is equally important to have friends who can’t tell a 70mm lens from a 40mm one. I met many of my dearest friends while volunteering. We connected over tutoring children, supporting arts nonprofit, and running with people who needed sight assistance. These fellow volunteers keep me sane and show me there is a world outside of the industry. They inspire me with the great work they do in the world. They have also been great resources when I needed non-film related connections. For example, I envisioned fantastic visual art for the home in my feature film, but I was working with a limited indie budget. My best friend’s wife came to the rescue. She put me in touch with a variety of artists who were her MFA classmates in art school, and the production design of my film soared as a result.

4) Like Lara Jean in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, write it all down. Journaling about what happens on set and during your creative process is essential. Whenever I start a new project, I look at the takeaways from previous projects to remind me what worked, what can be done better, and what is important. Keep your notebooks away from pesky little sisters, and you should be alright.

5) Don’t listen to Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own. There is crying in baseball. Wilmer Flores endeared himself to Mets fans when he shed tears while playing five years ago. Flores thought he had been traded from the team he loved, but it turned out he hadn’t been yet. His emotional display made him a fan favorite, and the Mets made it to the World Series later that season. I am not saying cry every day on the job, but we are human, after all. Bring your full self to your work. See also, the Youssou N’Dour documentary I Bring What I Love, my favorite mantra of all time. Let me say it again: I bring what I love. -Lanie Zipoy

It's OK

It’s going to be OK. I can’t tell you how much energy I wasted fretting about my career when I started acting. So much wasted energy! Worrying about the future is a natural human tendency and yet there is nothing we can do about the future, so why bother losing valuable energy worrying about it? I would recommend transforming that nervousness into curiosity. Curiosity is filled with positivity and purpose, and that energy alone unlocks the possibility of new ideas, new relationships, new information and new opportunities.

It’s cool to be kind. I’ve watched so many actors, directors, and producers all try to have the biggest ego in the room, but it’s far cooler to be kind than to act like a jerk. Why? Because nobody wants to hang out with a jerk! The Golden Rule is golden for a reason. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Trust me, you’ll be remembered for how wonderful you were to be around instead of being recalled as the arrogant, entitled, such-and-such who was a terror on set.

Play the long game. In an age when everyone wants instant gratification it’s all too easy to get frustrated every time you hear a no. The key is to remember that life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You’ll cross the finish line if you pace yourself along the way. Nurture relationships, and when you do have the opportunity to perform or participate in any capacity in this industry, do it with joy, appreciation, integrity, and pride. Your patience will pay off if you keep your eye on the prize.

Everyone matters. The entertainment industry is all about collaboration and that’s not just the names that appear on the cast list. Make sure that you navigate this business with kindness toward everyone. From the people that are working the craft service table, to the guards that work the gates on the major studio lots, to the person that’s reading the script to you when you’re auditioning. Everyone matters. And when you are focused on them, you instantly shift your focus away from yourself and trust me — that’s a good thing!

Everything counts. Every experience we have in life matters. I know that may sound very obvious, but how often do we get frustrated when we get a smaller role than we hoped for, or we get depressed after every rejection. One of the best opportunities I had came from a friendship that was formed with a make-up artist I met while doing a Neosporin commercial. That one connection opened up an entirely new chapter in my career and I am so grateful that I was in the right place at the right time to meet her. When you keep yourself open to every opportunity, you can make the most out of each experience! -Alexa Fischer

Practice makes perfect

Less is more. I wish I kept some of my segments to a minimum. When I did the Valentine’s Day segment on the Jam in Chicago, I had so many items that I rushed through and barely took a breath. I looked sweaty and uncomfortable. Less is more. Focus on a few great items and tell the viewers what they want to hear.

It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Sometimes I was so concentrated on what I specifically wanted to say and the exact order of the language that I came across as flat.

You have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you speak. Early on I was so concerned with getting the points out that I neglected to listen to what the hosts were saying. In retrospect the banter is a key component to a successful show. Listen to the hosts.

Wear bright colors. My mentor told me this but I had to learn the hard way. There is a thanksgiving segment where I’m in a dark dress and a burgundy leather jacket. The show’s graphics were bright and fun. I could have done better. Again listen to the experts.

Prepare, prepare, prepare. Practice makes perfect. -Barbara Majeski

Personal sacrifice

I wish someone had told me:

Be careful who you surround yourself with. I had a lot unfortunate events but the one that sticks out was being offered a ride home from a fellow comic so we could “talk about comedy” turns out it was so he could hit on me in the most grotesque way. While driving me home he pulled over and shoved his hand down my shirt, I froze like a deer in headlights and he pulled his hand out and drove me to my place. I said nothing, just got out of the car. I was way more cautious with people I surrounded myself with after that.

Being jealous doesn’t serve your career goals. I used to always concentrate on things I “didn’t get” — and I would also be stressed about other people getting things. When you are focused on what OTHER people are getting — you aren’t focused on your own career and your own craft. I needed to put that first.

To learn to manage my finances better. I spent so much time mis-managing my own money that I was constantly in panic mode as to whether I would be able to pay my rent or phone bill. I wish I had better prepared for jumping into a creative career and had known more about managing finances.

How much personal sacrifice would go into the career of stand-up comedy. You make sacrifices to family, friends, and more. You have to be willing to sacrifice that time, to miss holidays, birthdays, anniversaries — opportunities you don’t get back, in service of yourself and your goals.

How hard it is to juggle personal relationships and family relationships while being a touring comedian — I feel like I’m playing “life Tetris” and wanting to give people attention when they are also in a time of need. The mental space that can get taken up by thinking and caring about other people issues is a lot and you want to find the time to be present for them, but not at my own detriment. Finding that balance is hard. -Gina Brillon

Do your best

1. “Do your best and forget the rest.” I love this line by Tony Horton. It’s so easy to compare yourself to others who are already successful or wish you could be like them. But the fact is, we need to focus on doing our best, cause that is what’s going to help us reach our goal.

2. “If God called you to it, He’s going to see you through it.” Sarah Jakes Roberts said that, and I love it! There were so many times in my life where I was scared that I wasn’t good enough. Thinking things like, “Who am I?” to do this. My faith in God has helped me through those times.

3. You are the only expert at being you. In other words, don’t try to be someone else. Embrace who you uniquely are and let yourself shine.

4. Embrace where you are and accept it. I remember when I started my first job, I was out to prove myself to the people I worked with. But the fact is, I was just a beginner. And, recognizing that and letting people know that will get you farther in life.

5. Double check before you erase footage. Because if I did that…I would’ve had the video of Ryan Reynolds and Matthew Perry. Lol - Patricia Kelikani

Be patient

Be patient with yourself. When I moved to LA, I seriously thought I would arrive and automatically be discovered overnight. It was the ambition and passion that made me believe it would be relatively easy. Boy, I was wrong! I knew I was talented but there are a lot of talented people here. I had to work twice as hard to leave a lasting impression. The years flew by and I wasn’t getting younger. I had to realize that it doesn’t happen when you want it to, it happens when it’s supposed to.

Save every penny you get from working as an actor. I have always worked extremely hard to support myself with a regular job. However, it’s important to have multiple streams of income. Using your job money for life expenses and money you get from working as an actor for saving purposes.

Get an LLC or corporation. You are the CEO of your own company. Learning about taxes and the perks of having a company are extremely important.

A support system: having a support system is crucial to your success. It may not always consist of family but make sure it consists of those that believe in you, love you and who will be there for you through it all.

Keep going: No matter what life throws at you you gotta keep going. LA is filled with people who gave up when life got hard and theres a small percent that actually “make it” because they kept going. -Daffany Clark

Control everything

You are enough. I felt a bit of an outsider for a long time, like I didn’t really belong anywhere, but then I realized that was my strength, because I would always have a different point of view that will help me seeing things clearly.

If you don’t see people like you on TV then write your way in. Show business is a business and it’s open. If you write something that is relevant people will listen. There are a lot of people like you out there that need to feel represented.

Just doing a good audition is not enough. There are a lot of competent performers, you need to be extraordinary, and that is possible only by really channeling yourself. Make every audition really personal, it will make the difference.

You are your biggest competition, just focus on what you have to do. Talent is just 10%, the other 90% is dedication. Other people are there to inspire you to do better.

Detach from the outcome. Do your best but then let it go. You can’t control everything. You will win some and lose some. In the grand scheme of things, everything will work out. - Anna Elena Pepe

Mind your business

I’d say it goes back to the “it’s never personal” thought process. The BUSINESS of Entertainment is a very expensive business. It’s about THEIR bottom line, or image of a character, etc… it’s not because they didn’t “like your shoes” and if that ACTUALLY WAS what it was about….SCREW THEM! You don’t want to work with those people anyway!

Look straight ahead, not to the left, or right or behind you… You have no idea why someone got to where they got instead of, or before, after you etc…

It’s seemingly a cliche but it truly IS A MARATHON and not a sprint…I’m so thrilled and grateful now (as miserable as I was about it then) that I didn’t “peak” at 24!

MIND YOUR business!

Never stop moving, never stop creating! (Easier said than done)! -Orfeh

Don’t quit

1- Success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s taken Bridals by Lori 40 years to reach her full potential.

2- Don’t quit. Even during challenging times like 9/11 and COVID-19, see it through.

3- Look your best. Take great pride in ensuring your appearance represents your business.

4- Have fun. Although our team works so hard, we make sure to laugh a lot.

5- Be flexible. Things change, and you’ve got to roll with the punches. - Lori Allen

Kind diet

How to eat the kind diet so I felt in control of my health, wellness and looks. Switching to a plant-based diet rocked my world. I credit this diet 100 percent with improving my life — I’ve ditched my asthma inhaler, stopped my weekly allergy shots, lost weight, energy boosted, and found my skin and hair to be more radiant than ever. Releasing the grip from certain foods immediately healed and freed both my body and mind! And as a major foodie, it exposed me to a world of crazy delicious foods. My first book, The Kind Diet, has tons of advice and recipes.

Trust my instincts by listening to myself first, over others. There’s no better example of this than when I was pregnant. I was feeding my body all the clean nutrition-packed foods that had transformed my health years ago. But under the instruction of my midwife, she suggested I take a prenatal as an ‘insurance policy’. I embarked on a quest to find the cleanest prenatal vitamin possible, one that fit with the way I ate. After countless research, a voice inside of me echoed that nothing on the market met truly healthy and transparent standards. I trusted this instinct and sought after making one. The stars aligned and Garden of Life and I co-founded myKind Organics. Together, we created an entirely new kind of vitamin line that is Certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and free of synthetic binders and fillers. Seriously — made with nothing but whole foods and love!

I wish I had known sooner about the way animals were treated and tortured for food. I could have started my journey much sooner! Food shouldn’t come with such an incredible cost. The benefit to plant-based eating is not only so animals won’t suffer, but the earth can heal. Animal agriculture is responsible for more global greenhouse emissions than the whole transport system combined, and it is the major driver of deforestation. Animal agriculture is going to make this planet uninhabitable for us. The 2 million who die of hunger each year would have food if we didn’t take it and feed it to animals, which produce only a tiny fraction of calories. These animals are extremely inefficient converters of food, as they eat much more than they produce. We lose 90% of calories when we convert from plants to meat and feeding 30 calories to a cow converts to 1 edible calorie of meat.

I wish I chose Organic sooner as these plants are grown in richer, purer soil. They contain more minerals than conventionally grown, chemically enhanced foods, making them tastier and more nutritious. When you choose organic, you are voting for healthy soil, nutrient-rich produce, clean water, and ecologically sound farming. I wish more Certified Organic products were available to me sooner, as these plants are grown and produced without chemical pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides, and are not genetically modified. They are grown in soil free of sewage sludge and are free of antibiotics or hormones.

When it comes to parenting, I wish I knew about elimination communication before my son Bear was 6 months old. I would have done it right from Birth! The Kind Mama has a whole chapter on this. It saves you from ever needing to potty train!!! An amazing game changer! -Alicia Silverstone

Ignore the naysayers

1) Do what you love — I wish I had focused on directing rather than splitting my focus. I love acting and directing, but I was being urged to direct quite often in the late 90s/early 2000s. I only focused in about 2010 and it’s a long road. So…

2) Focus. Find your love and focus.

3) Ignore the naysayers. Really. Everyone gives advice from their own history, and your life will never be theirs. You will hear NO constantly. Who cares. There’s a YES out there.

4) Surround yourself with people who are already successful. Watch them. Learn from them. If you surround yourself with people who are “struggling” you will be surrounded by that mindset. Surround yourself with the “winner” mindset.

5) Take action when it feels right. I believe in the law of attraction, which states that things come to you, rather than you making things happen. There is no law of assertion. You can’t force things to happen. So before you take an action for your career, make sure your heart feels it is right. That is is the right moment. If you move out of desperation, lack, or frustration, you won’t get what you truly want.-Colleen Davie Janes