In the continuation of my last post on The 10 Commandments of Personal Finance for Actors, here again is the vital yet not discussed very much subject of money in our business. Every actor wants money, but you’re not in it for the money. Hummm. The pure love of art and the craft of acting is the very reason most actors are starving artists forever…never attaining many of their dreams.
With a little bit of focus and some attention paid, (double meaning there…PAID, get it?) you’ll start to see some shifts that will make way for a financial breakthrough as well as make it easier for you to create art. Here are the last 5 of the 10 Commandments:
5. Thou Shalt Set Financial Goals
In order to reach your financial goals, you need to know what those goals are. Nobody can determine these goals except for you. You need to take the time to figure out exactly what your financial goals are so that you can take the needed steps to reach them.
One of the first steps I recommend is to find out current actor pay rates. I find that when I work with my coaching clients and we begin setting financial goals, they’ll come up with an arbitrary number they’d love to make in a year. Often that goal is sooooo unrealistically reachable simply because they don’t know what stuff actually pays. I won’t go into all of that here, but knowledge is power and starting with achievable goals and attaining them creates enthusiasm and momentum to reach higher.
If you don’t know specifically what your financial goals are for this year, next year and 10 years from now, take the steps needed to create them. Choose target dates and a plan for reaching those goals by that time. Review your plan every quarter. Progress makes perfect!
4. Thou Shalt Educate Yourself and Be Responsible for Your Decisions
I know you want to really make a great living as an actor and when you do, while it may be more convenient to hand over all your money matters to somebody else, please promise me, you will not do this. Part of being financially responsible is having the final say in all decisions about your money. That does not mean that you can’t seek out advice and get opinions on your finances, but in the end your money is your responsibility, and you are the only one who is going to truly look after your own interests.
Many years ago I got hooked on learning about investing my money without a financial planner. I took my savings and IRA money and put it into self-directed investments. In order to not screw it all up and lose everything I took classes with Tyrone Jackson, an actor and voiceover artist, who taught himself everything he needed to know to invest wisely and win in the stock market. He created a class for actors and artists and shared that knowledge. Now he has widened his horizons and teaches his methods to any and all who want to learn. It’s because of this financial education that I’m confident about my future retirement and prospects for having all the money I’ll need when I’m older.
3. Thou Shalt Save and Invest
As in the two previous commandments. Take the money that you pay yourself first and either save or invest it to make it grow and work for you in the future.
If you are carrying credit card debt, invest your money by paying it down/off first. But also make sure to take full advantage of the saving and investing opportunities that are available to you now that you may not be. If your flexible day joy company matches contributions to a 401k, contribute up to the match maximizing the potential savings. No matter what your work status, opening a Roth IRA and making regular contributions, no matter how small, will create the habit of saving. Having an emergency fund is also essential. And no, heading out of town for a last minute weekend adventure is not an emergency!
2. Thou Shalt Protect Your Finances
This is more than making sure your purse is closed or your wallet is in the front pocket when walking through Times Square. At some point in your career, you will need to take the necessary steps to make sure that your money and investments are protected in case of a disaster. This mostly means insurance and there are several different kinds.
Take the time to make sure that all your assets are properly insured, and re-evaluate this every few years or whenever a major life change occurs, such as buying a house or apartment, getting married or having children. Be sure to compare insurance rates on a regular basis, since this is a competitive business.
I know that some of this seems far down the road for some of you, however looking forward to what’s to come and what’s needed in order to maintain and protect what you’ve worked so hard to create is essential.
1. Thou Shalt Donate to Worthy Causes and Those Less Fortunate
This is my absolute, #1 favorite commandment. No matter how desperate your finances may appear, if you are reading this article there are a lot of people that are far worse off than you are in the world. It’s important to nurture a sense of giving and to be thankful for the small things that you do have. That means donating to worthy causes on a regular basis.
Helping the homeless, donating to the Cancer Society of America, animal causes, etc. are all needing funds to make an impact. Find the causes that you believe in, and give to them generously. Don’t assume that money is the only way that you can give. Volunteering time and skills are also appreciated by most charitable organizations.
On Amazon I sell my 8 Steps to Reps pocket guide for $2.99 and donate all of the proceeds to one of my favorite charities, The Best Friends Animal Society. They also have the largest “no kill” animal sanctuary in North America located in Kanab, UT and I’ve volunteered there as well. What an amazing experience I’ll never forget and can’t wait to repeat!
So that’s it. The Ten Commandments of Personal Finance for Actors. Even if you just start with implementing 3 of them, that means you’re taking ACTion and that’s a good thing!
I always love to hear your opinions on my posts but here I’d also love to hear which one (or three!) commandments you’re committing to taking on. It’s time to have an adult life folks…actors are fun loving creators and that childlike quality is what keeps our creativity alive. However, the business of show requires you to get your financial act together so come on, tell me what you’re gonna do!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Broke-Pocket-1.jpeg152240Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2018-02-15 11:09:122020-12-01 08:55:42How to Not Stay Broke All the Time (Part 2)
The real title of this message is: The 10 Commandments of Personal Finance for Actors. But that’s not very sexy. Money in our business tends to be a taboo subject and even though every actor wants it, many work for free for the love of the art. People in our business tend to be broke – a lot, so here’s my take on CHANGING that for yourself forever!
It starts before you have a ton of it. Practice these commandments NOW and when you work for it and make more money acting, you’ll have the habits and discipline to make it work for you. It’s simple, but not easy, only because you may not be in the habit of abundant thinking and ACTion. Stay the course and you’ll begin to notice the magic happen…
10. Thou Shalt Take ACTion
Reading about how to improve your personal finances is a start, but it has absolutely no meaning if you don’t take the action of putting what you learn into motion. Before you can get anywhere with your personal finances, you need to begin — right now. If you are reading this, you already know that you should be taking steps to get your personal finances in order.
Print out these commandments and place the page where you will see it every day, so that you are reminded that money is important and a priority in your life! Commit to taking some kind of action each and every day to try to improve your situation.
9. Thou Shalt Pay Off All Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is, in most cases, the #1 enemy to your personal finances. It can have a huge negative effect on your future as well as feel like a burden presently if your credit card bills are not under control. Managing debt is possible even when your income is sporadic. If at all possible pay, your credit card bills every single month to not carry a balance. Waiting for that big future payday to take care of a big debt it is folly.
Pay off balances with the highest interest rate first. As you eliminate the debt from the higher balance cards, put them away in a drawer and don’t use them anymore. Continue the process with the card with the next highest rate, etc. until your debt is paid off. Easier said than done, I know, but focusing on eliminating debt will improve your personal finance position immensely.
8. Thou Shalt Understand the Difference Between Wants and Needs
To keep your finances in perspective, you need to understand the difference between wants and needs. There is nothing inherently wrong with small luxuries, a latte here and there or an evening out with friends. You deserve to be able to enjoy many of the nonessential things you have. But it is important to realize that wants are not needs. If you master this skill, your finances will be in much better shape.
Take some time to critically look at your true needs vs. your wants. If you truly need that latte, I get it, but if you’re struggling to pay your rent every month and your true desire is to enter your short film in a festival with a $75 entry fee and you can’t because of your latte needs, well, this is where you’ll need to change something up. The distinction between wants and needs will truly shift your “starving artist” conversation for good.
7. Thou Shalt Live on Less Than You Earn
When I first heard this commandment I was like “whaaaaaat? Nobody actually does that, right?” Well truth be told, abundantly thinking and financially secure people do. There are no two ways around this one. If you want to keep your personal finances in order, you need to live on less money than you make. That means buying stuff for your biz that you need like Actors Access, dues and membership fees and yes, those lattes, all have to cost less than you currently make.
Hate the word budget? So do I so I have taken on a wonderful money management system I learned from T. Harv Eker of Peak Potentials, LLC that I teach in one of my seminars. It makes commandment #7 easy peasy. It’s either that or figuring out a way to increase your income from “side jobs” so that you can spend more, but still less than you earn in total. Either of these is perfectly fine.
The easiest way to live on less is to make a list of where your money is going each month, then look for replacements. For example, shopping for a new cable company or switching phone plans will leave you with the same services for less. The same concept works for products. If you purchase a couple of soft drinks each day, instead of can by can, buy a 2 liter bottle. What the above examples have in common is that you are still getting the same items or services that you are getting today, but at a better price. This frees up money, allowing you to live the same lifestyle you have been enjoying for less.
6. Thou Shalt Pay Yourself First
I know you’ve heard this one before and have thought it was a great idea yet the majority of actors I know leave it for last. Because of this there’s no such thing as a savings account and the paycheck to sporadic paycheck lifestyle of the starving artist perpetuates.
Before you pay any of your other bills, you should pay yourself a minimum of 10% of all money that comes your way. Money earned from a straight job, acting income, residuals, birthday money from Grandma – all of it! This money is taken off the top, FIRST and put into an account that is not part of your immediate spending. This is your financial future!
Go to your bank and set it up so that your paycheck is automatically deposited if you have a regular job, if possible. Then set it up so that an automatic payment is immediately taken from your paycheck into a specified account that is not used for your monthly expenses. This could be a savings account or an IRA or if you like to have your money make money while you’re sleeping, put it into the stock market after you’ve gotten an education in investing there.
If the first 5 commandments make cents to you, ahem, sense to you, then stay tuned for the next post with the TOP 5 commandments. I’d love to hear from you with your thoughts on money. “Money doesn’t grow on trees”; “It takes money to make money”; “Money is the root of all evil”; “A penny saved is a penny earned”. What thoughts about money have shaped your life? Please share in the comments section below.
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/money-stack-psd60538.png267400Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2018-02-15 07:48:242020-07-20 19:32:31How to Not Stay Broke All the Time
It’s nice to have dreams, essential in fact, but at the end of the day they are never going to come true unless you ACT on them! (See how I did that, LOL!)
These 3 tips will help you clarify your dreams and work toward them in the most efficient way. I HIGHLY recommend the following:
1. Write Them Down: A dream written down and attached to a date becomes a goal. It sounds over-simplistic, yet that simple act is the difference between a dreamer and a doer. The statistics are staggering. People who set written goals are much more successful than those that don’t. Putting your goals where you can see them is really important. My CEO grads can attest to this one.
2. Dream BIG Dreams: It’s funny, but the amazing thing to me is the fact that it is easier to accomplish a BIG dream than a small one. Big dreams are exciting and keep us motivated. They get us up in the morning and keep us motivated through the day. They attract other people to get involved. Little dreams are easily forgotten and often abandoned. Like one of my great mentors, Les Brown is quoted as saying “Shoot for the moon, cause even if you miss you’ll fall among the stars.”
3. Focus on One Dream at a Time. An old Chinese proverb states that “A man who chases two rabbits, catches none.” Focus is critical to achieving our goals. Steve Jobs commented that the single thing that made Apple successful was the thousand projects they didn’t do. Focusing on one important goal at a time will help you stay on track.
I’ve been talking a lot about dreams lately…the kind we have when we are awake, but this exercise has a lot of effect on the dreams you have when you’re sleeping too and I consider this internal programming, if you will. When you wake up in the morning going after your DAY dreams feels exciting and inspiring.
So that’s it…simple yes, easy no. It takes practice so get to it! Let me hear right now in the comments section what your BIG dream is.
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Dreams.jpg254199Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2018-02-02 19:33:122021-06-12 20:20:023 Tips to Help You Achieve Your Dreams
You work hard at your craft, to build a reputation and contact list, generate positive reviews and word of mouth. You’re working on your visibility and getting known for what you do. But are you undermining your own efforts? Consider these common pitfalls of actor marketing:
1. Your marketing is all about you.
It should focus on your talent and what you bring to the party, right? Well, no, not exactly. It should primarily focus on what your talent and “actor services” do for the project or people who are hiring you. The former is about “me and what I want and need” and the latter is “here’s how I can best serve the story that is being told.” Take yourself out of your marketing and put your contacts (the people you are marketing to) at the heart of it. In other words make THEM the “leading man/woman” in the story of your career.
2. You market to yourself.
You can really mess things up of you make assumptions about your contacts based on the preferences and behaviors of you or your friends. Your marketing could end up possibly offending and deterring your intended audience – out of touch with their true wants, needs and likes. On that note…
3. You don’t know your audience.
If you aren’t your target market, well, who is? Invest the time and money to identify not just who your niche market is but how they behave. How do they prefer to be contacted? Email, snail mail, social? Where do they look for talent – what sites, networking places and showcases do they use/attend? What influences their decision making process. Who influences their choices? Have a clear and full picture of the person you are trying to reach before you reach out.
4. Your marketing is based on what you’ve heard, not learned.
Marketing in our business is like parenting: Everyone has an opinion and believes they know how to do it effectively (especially those who don’t have children). Even if you admit to being clueless, you are often influenced by others who also have no clue or are a know-it-all. The best way to counter-act both is to have information (data) that backs up your plan. Stay away from marketing classes and services that guarantee you results with no effort on your part and gain knowledge from your own research, participation and learning about your desired contacts. Knowing who and how to reach your target market is best achieved by having insight into their mindset, not by choosing funky fonts or colored paper for your correspondence. Which is why you have a problem if…
5. You don’t have data.
I just said this above but it bears repeating. Research, not opinion or gut instinct, should be the foundation of your marketing program. That doesn’t mean art and creativity (which abounds) have no role in your plan. Instead, think of data as giving you the necessary clarity you need to create new opportunities. That’s a truly inspiring place to begin and will create a foundation for marketing your talent that’s fun. Remember you’re ABCD’s – Always Be Collecting Data.
6. You rely on example instead of analogy.
Creating your “big break” opportunity will be completely different from anyone else’s. What has worked for one actor will not necessarily work for you. Even if you studied their story and duplicated their marketing, your path (by Universal Law) has to be different. However you don’t have to re-invent the wheel either. Remember, the folks in our biz really don’t love “original” (unproven and risky) but they love “unique” (familiar, with a twist). By the way I’m talking about your marketing, not your acting. Therefore I suggest you look outside of the way most actors market themselves and to other people and organizations outside of our biz for ideas. Be innovative. Take something that worked “over there” and start using it “over here”. (For example, the inspiration for this post came from Entrepreneur magazine)
7. You aren’t sharing yourself or your experiences.
In our socially connected world, between all of the technology that has forever changed the way we relate in our industry and get work, many actors are not leveraging the newest methods of marketing available. The traditional (old fashioned) way of creating visibility and getting hired are still around, but have significantly narrowed the opportunities, while the amount of actors seeking work has increased 10-fold during the same period. Your marketing has to include social media and enabling connections outside of the “norm”. Are you encouraging and supporting interaction by rethinking the way you reach people? How about building relationships before industry professionals have identified you as a possible candidate for a project? You must have an on-line and social strategy in place so you can frequently engage folks in the industry outside of always “trying to get a job”. Building rapport is the key to future success. Which leads me to…
8. You’re too quiet.
If someone reaches out to you on social media, do you respond, or is the message met with silence? Too busy/picky/don’t know what to say? Actors, casting directors, agents, producers, directors, et al are people first and these days most expect real-time (or near it) responses. This is a fast business with tons of options at all time and if an answer doesn’t come quickly, the likelihood of any R.O.I. (return on investment) is greatly reduced. And after 24 hours, forget it. If you’re not facile with social then get started because it is replacing almost every traditional method of making contact out there.
I’d love to hear about some of the ways you’ve screwed up. Then let me know how you learned from your mistake and what the “correction” was. SHARING your pitfalls (heck I’ve had so many you’d go blind reading about them) is the surest way to inspire others and gift them your wisdom so they can learn from your mistakes. Please post comments in an effort to “pay it forward” to our fellow actors in the community!
To Your Success, Lisa
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/marketingCloud.jpg10581600Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2018-02-01 13:14:432021-06-12 21:10:42What NOT To Do – 8 Ways to Screw Up Your Marketing
Here’s a little “to do” that if you actually DO it, will help you get what you want much faster! But of course, you have to know what it is you want for this to work. I have found in my coaching sessions that not distinguishing what EXACTLY my client wants is the biggest obstacle to a successful acting career that dreams are made of. “I just want to make my living as an actor” is not a goal…at least one that can have a strategic plan with actions that will bring you that manifestation.
So what do YOU want?
WRITE down your big dream, short term desire (a 90 day goal) and a supportive belief. What do I mean by that? Here’s an example:
Big Dream: I have just been nominated for my first Oscar and am about to appear on a hit late night talk show.
Short Term Desire: I have just been cast in my first leading role for PAY in an independent film.
Supportive Belief: Because of my strong acting skills and fabulous network, I believe my determination and natural likability will make it easy for me to get cast in the kind of projects that I want to act in.
Give yourself the gift of this 15 minute exercise and I can absolutely guarantee a HUGE difference will be seen in 90 days. Why, because what you FOCUS on expands. Attention to your dreams and goals (a dream with a deadline) is what speeds up any process!
Why 90 days? Because some scientist or genius figured out that anything done for this amount of time eventually becomes habitual. And creating the habit of focusing on exactly what you want will have it come to you faster.
For more assistance I’ve put together the 90 Kick Butt Kick Start Program workbook for you if you’re feeling like this would be helpful to you. Give it a try!
Also, I’d love to hear about some of your big dreams and short term desires in the comments below!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Fast-Dream.jpg749600Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2018-01-23 00:55:452018-01-23 01:01:50A Faster Way to Realize Your Dreams
No matter the season, the weather, or even what the day of the week it is, we can always use a little motivation to lift our spirits. I thought it appropriate to give some ways that I guarantee will make you immediately feel more successful (what ever that means to you!) for today and beyond.
Here are 14 quick strategies to get and keep yourself insanely motivated:
1. Condition your mind. Train yourself to think positive thoughts while avoiding negative thoughts.
2. Condition your body. It takes physical energy to take action. Get your food and exercise plan in place and follow it just like your business plan. I just started back at the gym again, yay!
3. Avoid negative people. They drain your energy and waste your time, so hanging with them is like shooting yourself in the foot…or worse. Learn and practice the word NO!
4. Seek out the similarly motivated. This is why the Act Outside the Box community exists. The positive energy of like-minded, pro-active actors will rub off on you and you can model their success strategies. Wanna join us? Check out The Gold Standard mentoring program.
5. Have big goals–but remain flexible. No creative biz plan should be cast in concrete, lest it become more important than achieving the goal. Know that every plan will alter.
6. Act with a higher purpose. I love this one. Any activity or action that doesn’t serve your higher goal is wasted effort–and should be avoided at all costs. Really “check in” with your gut…it never lies.
7. Take responsibility for your own results. If you blame (or credit) luck, fate or divine intervention, you’ll always have an excuse.
8. Stretch past your limits on a daily basis. Walking the old, familiar paths is how you grow old. Stretching makes you grow and evolve. I do something called “never dones”. Basically I take on, at least once a week, something I’ve never done before. It’s VERY exciting.
9. Don’t wait for perfection; do it now! Perfectionists are the losers in the game of life. I know this because I’m a recovering perfectionist! Strive for excellence instead.
10. Celebrate your failures. Your most important lessons in life will come from what you don’t achieve. Take time to understand where you fell short, then correct and continue.
11. Don’t make success your highest priority…make it happiness. Success is a feeling, not a thing or a circumstance. It is a place to come from, not to get to. Laugh and enjoy every moment of the inspired actions you’re taking toward your goals. If you can achieve that during the process, you ARE successful.
12. Avoid weak goals. Goals are the soul of achievement, so never begin them with “I’ll try…” Always start with “I will” or “I can.” Big dreams with short term attainable goals are the way to go. Remember, if you shoot for the moon and miss, you’ll still fall amongst the stars! (quote by Les Brown)
13. Treat inaction as the only real failure. If you don’t take action, you fail by default and can’t even learn from the experience. ACT Outside the Box.
14. Think before you speak. This should actually have been #1…but it’s a GREAT thing to leave you with. Keep silent rather than express something that doesn’t serve your purpose.
The above is based on a conversation with Omar Periu, one of the world’s best (and best known) motivational speakers.
And what is one of YOUR ways to get and stay motivated? Please share with your fellow acting community by commenting. Thanks!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/actor-jumping.jpg225225Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2018-01-22 09:15:302021-03-14 21:54:1014 Ways to Get INSANELY Motivated!
You’ve got to meet, listen to, work with, and hang out with people at the next level and you will get to the next level. No exceptions.
When I first started out I did background work like a lot of actors do. I spent my days on set counting the hours until lunch and reading magazines. Sometimes I’d be upset when getting called to the set. I was in the middle of something important…like a card game with another actor.
Yes, you read that correctly. I didn’t pay attention to the crew and learn their names, but I sure knew I’d like to be in the union and get the better food and more money. Oh yeah, and I thought that if I looked really sweet at the director he might give me a line. I was such a novice back then and I really needed someone to tell me what to do to have my career work out. Now I’m the one that does that for a living. Full circle, right? And that’s why I do this…to pass on what I’ve learned the hard way through lots and lots of experience so it doesn’t have to be as hard for you my friend. Read on please…
Actors who’ve created an enviable career have a knack for understanding how to make every experience a small step on the ladder to where they want to go. (Goal) They observe others, pay attention and they can undoubtedly share a lot of lessons they’ve learned along the way (many of which they probably learned the hard way too).
So here’s are a question to ask yourself if you intend to expand your network of influence by forming some new stellar relationships in service of the forward progress of your career:
1. How many casting directors know your work?
You know the old saying “It’s who you know” that will help you get ahead in this biz? It’s actually our tag line at Actors Connection. Well honestly, I think that’s only half true.
My take on it is “it’s who knows you”.
For every agent meeting you take,you will be asked, “How many casting directors know your work?” Before you interview, my recommendation is that you have at least a list of 10 or don’t go! And when you have an agent, they will want you to continue to grow your list on your own in addition to the auditions they send you on.
So how do you create a network of influential people like those top casting directors that know you, like your acting work and are in your court?
Let’s look at 5 ways to do just that:
Mail or email your headshot and resume to the 20 top casting directors in your area of focus every quarter, without fail, letting them know that you’re available and what else is going on in your career. Ex. new class, skill acquired, call back or booking.
Identify which CD’s you’d like to show your talent to in person and book a meeting with them at a casting director workshop establishment like Actors Connection in New York or Ace Studios in Los Angeles. If you’re not in either of those two cities, check for local opportunities or submit a reel for critique on ActorsInsite.com.
Attend a networking party, brunch, assistant’s night, screening or other event where casting directors and other industry professionals will be in attendance. Introduce yourself as an actor and be interested in them and what they do before you offer a headshot and resume.
Volunteer at or attend a charity event frequented by the entertainment community. Animal rescue and health awareness causes always draw actors, agents and casting directors alike. Do your research on your top picks to see what they stand for and if you get behind the same cause, you have commonality.
Follow or friend them on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Today casting directors use the web to offer advice, post auditions and offer feedback on many things hoping to help the actors they will meet someday in an audition room.
It’s time you understood that without a HUGE network of people that have you on their radar, the chances of having the BREAKTHROUGH, kick-butt, acting career of your dreams are pretty much dead in the water. Talent is not enough…people have to know you’re talented, like you, and have you be on their list in order for you to be able to act for a living. There are many people in the showbiz world who are ready and waiting for you to get connected and STAY connected. You never know which one of them will be key in your forward movement.
I’d love to hear some of your thoughts on meeting new people…how you do it, why you do it and most importantly, how you keep in touch!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meet-new-people.png8161056Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2018-01-16 15:44:342018-01-16 15:45:47Creating New Industry Relationships – a “How To” Guide
In my last post I talked about 20 signs you’re already successful. Most people think success is the creating, going after, and obtaining of goals. As I write this we’re about to end one year and being another, a time when many are busy making plans, goals and resolutions for a future brighter than before. However, no matter when you are reading this, goal setting and creating the path to your desire is something that can be accomplished any and every day. Let’s take a closer look…
Being successful is a creative process and you’re engaged in it already. It’s something we live, not an end state we arrive at. The choices we make either align with or block the path to success. This starts with choosing worthy goals.
Desire– seeds planted that lead to your divine passion and purpose. Signs, dreams, feelings, visualizations and images.
Destiny – the experience of the growth of that desire.
If you set a goal that takes months or years to excel at (like being the best actor you can be craft-wise, or being represented by CAA) and this is a time span you can embrace because you love what you’re doing, your vision of this goal will make it easier to respond to setbacks that are normal on the path and you aren’t dismayed by external factors because your goal comes from within.
There’s a good chance you’re going to make a New Year’s resolution this year, and there’s also a pretty good chance you’re going to break it.
Why? It’s no secret that setting goals for yourself is hard, especially when many of the goals you have may be out of your control. (like being represented by CAA!) But the things that ARE in your hands that are accomplish-able are still a challenge and the hard truth is that many people who make goals never achieve them. So I recommend a shift in what you call a goal.
Here’s a short list of worthy goals. They are all a progressive realization and while some I’m listing may feel a fit for you, some may not. By the way, your goals can and will evolve…a major goal that will sustain you for a lifetime is to be self-aware. I’m always, always, always working on this one and for me in this business of show, it is to be of service. Your worthy goal can be a word or a phrase.
Love and compassion for all
Promoting Peace
Teaching others
Pursuing creative expression
Protecting the weak
Promoting culture
Exploration and discovery
Being of service
Protecting the environment
Choose a goal without worrying that it must be permanent. Sit quietly and center yourself. Breathe deep and exhale, another deep breath, exhale, now a third breath, exhale. Think about the goal you want to achieve…ask yourself “am I already living my goal at least part of the time?” Is this pursuit enjoyable and energizing? Does it come naturally and make me feel more like the person I want to be. When you can say yes, then you’re making your success a living reality and thrive today as well as tomorrow.
I wish for you a bright future year, month, week and day ahead, full of purpose, passion and the pursuit of worthy goals! Please feel free to share one or more of them in the comments section below.
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but within ourselves.” – Shakespeare
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Worthy-Goal.jpg407600Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2017-12-25 11:20:332021-04-12 02:06:18Do You Have Worthy Goals?
We’ve all had days, weeks, months and — for some — even years of dark times, stagnation and even depression over the state of our career. (There’s that TIME thing again!) Whether we fall into ruts of self-sabotage, loneliness, insecurity, or waning belief in our future, leading a happy, joyful life as an actor can sometimes feel like a fairy tale. However, I’m here to let you know that just like dreams, fairy tales do come true! Here’s how…
I often tell my ‘business of show’ students and coaching clients they’re doing soooo much better than they give themselves credit for. I can see it even if they can’t. It’s the old “can’t see the forest for the trees” analogy.
Most of us are so busy trying to dodge the bullets, grasping for any signs of progress, and looking for those outward results, that we forget to stop and appreciate the little victories along the way to our goals and dreams. More on goals and goal setting in my next posts…
But for now, consider for a moment that you’re already doing a tremendous job. Living a life as an actor isn’t always an easy thing to do, but it can be most enjoyable when we start to see the good instead of focusing on the bad. (There’s that Law of Attracting thing again!)
You are actually living your career dreams already by recognizing these 20 signs:
1. Your relationships are less dramatic than they use to be. The drama is now mostly on the stage/set where it ought to be.
2. You may not have as much money as you want but you know and believe more is on the way. However, you’re not waiting to live a rich and abundant life NOW.
3. You’re no longer afraid to ask for help and support, thinking it is a sign of weakness. Instead you realize the juice of this business and you’re open to allowing someone to be a contribution on your journey.
4. Where you live feels like home. This means your actual living home and in your skin.
5. You’ve raised your standards. The bar is presently high and you’re setting it higher as you move forward.
6. You let go of things that don’t make you feel good. This could extend to people, experiences, and negative thinking. Feeling good is your top priority.
7. You have moments where you appreciate who you see in the mirror. Hey, it may not be all the time but when you recognize those moments, you grin from ear to ear with a pleasant knowingness.
8. You’re working on limiting your inner critic and consciously disavowing outer critics who are not out to serve your best interests. Bad reviews have nothing to do with you. Opinions are like…(you know what goes here!)
9. You’ve learned that setbacks and failure are part of career growth as well as self-growth. Fail your way to success. Correct and continue. There is no such thing as perfect.
10. You have a support system that includes people who would do anything for you. And that’s not by chance.
11. You hear “I love it”, “great job”, “wonderful effort” and “I love you” often, from family, friends, partners, and industry professionals.
12. You’ve accepted what you can’t change, but are changing what you can’t accept. This tricky balancing act has become the norm.
13. You don’t complain as much, but instead focus on solutions. You recognize that you can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it and search for a different approach. You’ve also limited the complaints you’re willing to listen to. (Take special note if you work background…a breeding ground for complaints.)
14. You don’t blame your parents, and accept them for who they are. OK, though I’m not a therapist, this is the big one!
15. You’ve stopped caring about what others think of you. Ahem, I meant THIS is the big one. By not care, I mean you understand that what other’s think about you is none of your business. (For “how to” do that, check out an excellent book written by Terry Cole Whittaker that I highly recommend called “What You Think of Me is None of my Business.”)
16. You can celebrate other actor’s successes and really be happy for them.
17. You have a true passion that you are pursuing. It’s not the fame, money or your ego that is driving you. You feel this passion more often than not.
18. You’re able to accept compliments without deflecting. When acknowledged for your acting prowess, singing skill, or for the way you’ve inspired someone through your artistic expression, you simply smile and say “thank you”.
19. You feel connected to your work both on and off the stage. Every part of your career, not just the actual craft of acting, is part of your passion.
20. You have many goals that have come true. Finishing that acting program, having fresh new headshots to distribute and making that notoriously scowling casting director smile during your audition are things you had on your never ending “to do” list and they got DONE! Up next, getting an agent, a co-star role on a series, a big check…You don’t discount the previously met goals as insufficient to the ones not yet realized.
Look to this list of 20 in times of doubt and when you’re just not feelin’ it. Sometimes a few reminders of just how absolutely awesome your career IS going can make a huge difference.
Tweaked and significantly added to by Lisa Gold. Original base content from Shannon Kaiser of www.the-open-mind.com
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Success-1.png427640Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2017-12-10 20:35:182021-02-21 23:16:0120 Signs You’re Succeeding At Your Career (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)
In the last several years I’ve become a believer, a fan, a follower of one of the natural laws of the Universe, the Law of Attraction. As I delve into the concept, then take the tenants into practice, I can see the materialization or manifestation of my smallest desires to some of my largest goals realized. What you focus on expands.
It’s pretty obvious to me I am not alone in this thinking. Here are some well known “thought leaders” that have been inspiring you for years and their most famous quotes on the very powerful Law of Attraction.
My hope is that these quotes inspire you as they have me. Read them slowly and savor! As usual, I welcome your thoughts in the comment section below.
Every single second is an opportunity to change your life, because in any moment you can change the way you feel. – Rhonda Byrne
You create your own universe as you go along. – Winston Churchill
It is the combination of thought and love which forms the irresistible force of the law of attraction. – Charles Hammel
See the things that you want as already yours. Know that they will come to you at need. Then let them come. Don’t fret and worry about them. Don’t think about your lack of them. Think of them as yours, as belonging to you, as already in your possession. – Robert Collier
What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. – Mark 11:24
Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step. – Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
All that we are is a result of what we have thought. – Buddha
Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. – Albert Einstein
Whatever the mind can conceive it can achieve. – W. Clement Stone
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. – Anne Frank
Divine mind is the one and only reality. – Charles Fillmore
Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you are right. – Henry Ford
Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing. – Muhammad Ali
If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else. – Yogi Berra
To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. – Anatole France
Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think. – Benjamin Disraeli
Nothing is, unless our thinking makes it so. – Shakespeare
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. – Helen Keller
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambition. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you, too, can become great. – Mark Twain
Those who think they have no time for bodily exercises will sooner or later have to find time for illness. – Edward Stanley
We are always getting ready to live but never living. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus to, whether positive or negative. – Michael Losier
That which is like unto itself is drawn. – Jerry and Esther Hicks
What you radiate outward in your thoughts, feelings, mental pictures and words, you attract into your life. – Catherine Ponder
Nothing external to me has any power over me. – Walt Whitman
Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life. —Burton Hills
If you can dream it, you can do it. – Walt Disney
Whatever you create in your life you must first create in your imagination. – Tycho Photiou
The grateful mind is constantly fixated upon the best. Therefore it tends to become the best. It takes the form or character from the best, and will receive the best.” – Wallace D.Wattles
Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never ever have enough. – Oprah Winfrey
A person is what he or she thinks about all day long. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nurture great thoughts, for you will never go higher than your thoughts. – Benjamin Disraeli
As soon as you start to feel differently about what you already have, you will start to attract more of the good things, more of the things you can be grateful for. – Joe Vitale
Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true. – Napoleon Hill
Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. – Napoleon Hill
Gratitude is an attitude that hooks us up to our source of supply. And the more grateful you are, the closer you become to your maker, to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being. It’s a phenomenal lesson. – Bob Proctor
A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes. – Gandhi
Everyone visualizes whether he knows it or not. Visualizing is the great secret of success. – Genevieve Berhrend
I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. – Michael Jordan
I have decided to be happy, because it’s good for my health. – Voltaire
Every saint has a past and ever sinner has a future – Oscar Wilde
A moment of gratitude makes a difference in your attitude – Bruce Wilkinson
Learning is a gift. Even when pain is your teacher. – Maya Watson
I can be changed by what happened to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it. – Maya Angelou
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. – Martin Luther King Jr.
There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness. – Lady Blessington
All things are difficult before they are easy. – Thomas Fuller
You are in the perfect position to get there from here. – Abraham Hicks
Givers get given to. – Russell Simmons
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. – Judy Garland
The entire universe is a great theatre of mirrors. – Alice Bailey
Love everyone. Trust few. Paddle your own canoe. – Anonymous
Criticism is something we can avoid easily
by saying nothing, doing nothing,
and being nothing. – Aristotle
Genius is the ability to receive from the universe. – I Ching
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/LOA-Image.jpg546728Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2017-12-09 15:09:582022-03-18 19:07:18Law Of Attraction Quotes To Live By
How to Not Stay Broke All the Time (Part 2)
/in General/by Lisa GoldWith a little bit of focus and some attention paid, (double meaning there…PAID, get it?) you’ll start to see some shifts that will make way for a financial breakthrough as well as make it easier for you to create art. Here are the last 5 of the 10 Commandments:
5. Thou Shalt Set Financial Goals
In order to reach your financial goals, you need to know what those goals are. Nobody can determine these goals except for you. You need to take the time to figure out exactly what your financial goals are so that you can take the needed steps to reach them.
One of the first steps I recommend is to find out current actor pay rates. I find that when I work with my coaching clients and we begin setting financial goals, they’ll come up with an arbitrary number they’d love to make in a year. Often that goal is sooooo unrealistically reachable simply because they don’t know what stuff actually pays. I won’t go into all of that here, but knowledge is power and starting with achievable goals and attaining them creates enthusiasm and momentum to reach higher.
If you don’t know specifically what your financial goals are for this year, next year and 10 years from now, take the steps needed to create them. Choose target dates and a plan for reaching those goals by that time. Review your plan every quarter. Progress makes perfect!
4. Thou Shalt Educate Yourself and Be Responsible for Your Decisions
I know you want to really make a great living as an actor and when you do, while it may be more convenient to hand over all your money matters to somebody else, please promise me, you will not do this. Part of being financially responsible is having the final say in all decisions about your money. That does not mean that you can’t seek out advice and get opinions on your finances, but in the end your money is your responsibility, and you are the only one who is going to truly look after your own interests.
Many years ago I got hooked on learning about investing my money without a financial planner. I took my savings and IRA money and put it into self-directed investments. In order to not screw it all up and lose everything I took classes with Tyrone Jackson, an actor and voiceover artist, who taught himself everything he needed to know to invest wisely and win in the stock market. He created a class for actors and artists and shared that knowledge. Now he has widened his horizons and teaches his methods to any and all who want to learn. It’s because of this financial education that I’m confident about my future retirement and prospects for having all the money I’ll need when I’m older.
3. Thou Shalt Save and Invest
As in the two previous commandments. Take the money that you pay yourself first and either save or invest it to make it grow and work for you in the future.
If you are carrying credit card debt, invest your money by paying it down/off first. But also make sure to take full advantage of the saving and investing opportunities that are available to you now that you may not be. If your flexible day joy company matches contributions to a 401k, contribute up to the match maximizing the potential savings. No matter what your work status, opening a Roth IRA and making regular contributions, no matter how small, will create the habit of saving. Having an emergency fund is also essential. And no, heading out of town for a last minute weekend adventure is not an emergency!
2. Thou Shalt Protect Your Finances
This is more than making sure your purse is closed or your wallet is in the front pocket when walking through Times Square. At some point in your career, you will need to take the necessary steps to make sure that your money and investments are protected in case of a disaster. This mostly means insurance and there are several different kinds.
Take the time to make sure that all your assets are properly insured, and re-evaluate this every few years or whenever a major life change occurs, such as buying a house or apartment, getting married or having children. Be sure to compare insurance rates on a regular basis, since this is a competitive business.
I know that some of this seems far down the road for some of you, however looking forward to what’s to come and what’s needed in order to maintain and protect what you’ve worked so hard to create is essential.
1. Thou Shalt Donate to Worthy Causes and Those Less Fortunate
This is my absolute, #1 favorite commandment. No matter how desperate your finances may appear, if you are reading this article there are a lot of people that are far worse off than you are in the world. It’s important to nurture a sense of giving and to be thankful for the small things that you do have. That means donating to worthy causes on a regular basis.
Helping the homeless, donating to the Cancer Society of America, animal causes, etc. are all needing funds to make an impact. Find the causes that you believe in, and give to them generously. Don’t assume that money is the only way that you can give. Volunteering time and skills are also appreciated by most charitable organizations.
On Amazon I sell my 8 Steps to Reps pocket guide for $2.99 and donate all of the proceeds to one of my favorite charities, The Best Friends Animal Society. They also have the largest “no kill” animal sanctuary in North America located in Kanab, UT and I’ve volunteered there as well. What an amazing experience I’ll never forget and can’t wait to repeat!
So that’s it. The Ten Commandments of Personal Finance for Actors. Even if you just start with implementing 3 of them, that means you’re taking ACTion and that’s a good thing!
I always love to hear your opinions on my posts but here I’d also love to hear which one (or three!) commandments you’re committing to taking on. It’s time to have an adult life folks…actors are fun loving creators and that childlike quality is what keeps our creativity alive. However, the business of show requires you to get your financial act together so come on, tell me what you’re gonna do!
How to Not Stay Broke All the Time
/in General/by Lisa GoldIt starts before you have a ton of it. Practice these commandments NOW and when you work for it and make more money acting, you’ll have the habits and discipline to make it work for you. It’s simple, but not easy, only because you may not be in the habit of abundant thinking and ACTion. Stay the course and you’ll begin to notice the magic happen…
10. Thou Shalt Take ACTion
Reading about how to improve your personal finances is a start, but it has absolutely no meaning if you don’t take the action of putting what you learn into motion. Before you can get anywhere with your personal finances, you need to begin — right now. If you are reading this, you already know that you should be taking steps to get your personal finances in order.
Print out these commandments and place the page where you will see it every day, so that you are reminded that money is important and a priority in your life! Commit to taking some kind of action each and every day to try to improve your situation.
9. Thou Shalt Pay Off All Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is, in most cases, the #1 enemy to your personal finances. It can have a huge negative effect on your future as well as feel like a burden presently if your credit card bills are not under control. Managing debt is possible even when your income is sporadic. If at all possible pay, your credit card bills every single month to not carry a balance. Waiting for that big future payday to take care of a big debt it is folly.
Pay off balances with the highest interest rate first. As you eliminate the debt from the higher balance cards, put them away in a drawer and don’t use them anymore. Continue the process with the card with the next highest rate, etc. until your debt is paid off. Easier said than done, I know, but focusing on eliminating debt will improve your personal finance position immensely.
8. Thou Shalt Understand the Difference Between Wants and Needs
To keep your finances in perspective, you need to understand the difference between wants and needs. There is nothing inherently wrong with small luxuries, a latte here and there or an evening out with friends. You deserve to be able to enjoy many of the nonessential things you have. But it is important to realize that wants are not needs. If you master this skill, your finances will be in much better shape.
Take some time to critically look at your true needs vs. your wants. If you truly need that latte, I get it, but if you’re struggling to pay your rent every month and your true desire is to enter your short film in a festival with a $75 entry fee and you can’t because of your latte needs, well, this is where you’ll need to change something up. The distinction between wants and needs will truly shift your “starving artist” conversation for good.
7. Thou Shalt Live on Less Than You Earn
When I first heard this commandment I was like “whaaaaaat? Nobody actually does that, right?” Well truth be told, abundantly thinking and financially secure people do. There are no two ways around this one. If you want to keep your personal finances in order, you need to live on less money than you make. That means buying stuff for your biz that you need like Actors Access, dues and membership fees and yes, those lattes, all have to cost less than you currently make.
Hate the word budget? So do I so I have taken on a wonderful money management system I learned from T. Harv Eker of Peak Potentials, LLC that I teach in one of my seminars. It makes commandment #7 easy peasy. It’s either that or figuring out a way to increase your income from “side jobs” so that you can spend more, but still less than you earn in total. Either of these is perfectly fine.
The easiest way to live on less is to make a list of where your money is going each month, then look for replacements. For example, shopping for a new cable company or switching phone plans will leave you with the same services for less. The same concept works for products. If you purchase a couple of soft drinks each day, instead of can by can, buy a 2 liter bottle. What the above examples have in common is that you are still getting the same items or services that you are getting today, but at a better price. This frees up money, allowing you to live the same lifestyle you have been enjoying for less.
I know you’ve heard this one before and have thought it was a great idea yet the majority of actors I know leave it for last. Because of this there’s no such thing as a savings account and the paycheck to sporadic paycheck lifestyle of the starving artist perpetuates.
Before you pay any of your other bills, you should pay yourself a minimum of 10% of all money that comes your way. Money earned from a straight job, acting income, residuals, birthday money from Grandma – all of it! This money is taken off the top, FIRST and put into an account that is not part of your immediate spending. This is your financial future!
Go to your bank and set it up so that your paycheck is automatically deposited if you have a regular job, if possible. Then set it up so that an automatic payment is immediately taken from your paycheck into a specified account that is not used for your monthly expenses. This could be a savings account or an IRA or if you like to have your money make money while you’re sleeping, put it into the stock market after you’ve gotten an education in investing there.
If the first 5 commandments make cents to you, ahem, sense to you, then stay tuned for the next post with the TOP 5 commandments. I’d love to hear from you with your thoughts on money. “Money doesn’t grow on trees”; “It takes money to make money”; “Money is the root of all evil”; “A penny saved is a penny earned”. What thoughts about money have shaped your life? Please share in the comments section below.
3 Tips to Help You Achieve Your Dreams
/in General/by Lisa GoldThese 3 tips will help you clarify your dreams and work toward them in the most efficient way. I HIGHLY recommend the following:
1. Write Them Down: A dream written down and attached to a date becomes a goal. It sounds over-simplistic, yet that simple act is the difference between a dreamer and a doer. The statistics are staggering. People who set written goals are much more successful than those that don’t. Putting your goals where you can see them is really important. My CEO grads can attest to this one.
2. Dream BIG Dreams: It’s funny, but the amazing thing to me is the fact that it is easier to accomplish a BIG dream than a small one. Big dreams are exciting and keep us motivated. They get us up in the morning and keep us motivated through the day. They attract other people to get involved. Little dreams are easily forgotten and often abandoned. Like one of my great mentors, Les Brown is quoted as saying “Shoot for the moon, cause even if you miss you’ll fall among the stars.”
3. Focus on One Dream at a Time. An old Chinese proverb states that “A man who chases two rabbits, catches none.” Focus is critical to achieving our goals. Steve Jobs commented that the single thing that made Apple successful was the thousand projects they didn’t do. Focusing on one important goal at a time will help you stay on track.
I’ve been talking a lot about dreams lately…the kind we have when we are awake, but this exercise has a lot of effect on the dreams you have when you’re sleeping too and I consider this internal programming, if you will. When you wake up in the morning going after your DAY dreams feels exciting and inspiring.
So that’s it…simple yes, easy no. It takes practice so get to it! Let me hear right now in the comments section what your BIG dream is.
What NOT To Do – 8 Ways to Screw Up Your Marketing
/in Actor Marketing, General/by Lisa Gold1. Your marketing is all about you.
It should focus on your talent and what you bring to the party, right? Well, no, not exactly. It should primarily focus on what your talent and “actor services” do for the project or people who are hiring you. The former is about “me and what I want and need” and the latter is “here’s how I can best serve the story that is being told.” Take yourself out of your marketing and put your contacts (the people you are marketing to) at the heart of it. In other words make THEM the “leading man/woman” in the story of your career.
2. You market to yourself.
You can really mess things up of you make assumptions about your contacts based on the preferences and behaviors of you or your friends. Your marketing could end up possibly offending and deterring your intended audience – out of touch with their true wants, needs and likes. On that note…
3. You don’t know your audience.
If you aren’t your target market, well, who is? Invest the time and money to identify not just who your niche market is but how they behave. How do they prefer to be contacted? Email, snail mail, social? Where do they look for talent – what sites, networking places and showcases do they use/attend? What influences their decision making process. Who influences their choices? Have a clear and full picture of the person you are trying to reach before you reach out.
4. Your marketing is based on what you’ve heard, not learned.
Marketing in our business is like parenting: Everyone has an opinion and believes they know how to do it effectively (especially those who don’t have children). Even if you admit to being clueless, you are often influenced by others who also have no clue or are a know-it-all. The best way to counter-act both is to have information (data) that backs up your plan. Stay away from marketing classes and services that guarantee you results with no effort on your part and gain knowledge from your own research, participation and learning about your desired contacts. Knowing who and how to reach your target market is best achieved by having insight into their mindset, not by choosing funky fonts or colored paper for your correspondence. Which is why you have a problem if…
5. You don’t have data.
I just said this above but it bears repeating. Research, not opinion or gut instinct, should be the foundation of your marketing program. That doesn’t mean art and creativity (which abounds) have no role in your plan. Instead, think of data as giving you the necessary clarity you need to create new opportunities. That’s a truly inspiring place to begin and will create a foundation for marketing your talent that’s fun. Remember you’re ABCD’s – Always Be Collecting Data.
6. You rely on example instead of analogy.
Creating your “big break” opportunity will be completely different from anyone else’s. What has worked for one actor will not necessarily work for you. Even if you studied their story and duplicated their marketing, your path (by Universal Law) has to be different. However you don’t have to re-invent the wheel either. Remember, the folks in our biz really don’t love “original” (unproven and risky) but they love “unique” (familiar, with a twist). By the way I’m talking about your marketing, not your acting. Therefore I suggest you look outside of the way most actors market themselves and to other people and organizations outside of our biz for ideas. Be innovative. Take something that worked “over there” and start using it “over here”. (For example, the inspiration for this post came from Entrepreneur magazine)
7. You aren’t sharing yourself or your experiences.
In our socially connected world, between all of the technology that has forever changed the way we relate in our industry and get work, many actors are not leveraging the newest methods of marketing available. The traditional (old fashioned) way of creating visibility and getting hired are still around, but have significantly narrowed the opportunities, while the amount of actors seeking work has increased 10-fold during the same period. Your marketing has to include social media and enabling connections outside of the “norm”. Are you encouraging and supporting interaction by rethinking the way you reach people? How about building relationships before industry professionals have identified you as a possible candidate for a project? You must have an on-line and social strategy in place so you can frequently engage folks in the industry outside of always “trying to get a job”. Building rapport is the key to future success. Which leads me to…
If someone reaches out to you on social media, do you respond, or is the message met with silence? Too busy/picky/don’t know what to say? Actors, casting directors, agents, producers, directors, et al are people first and these days most expect real-time (or near it) responses. This is a fast business with tons of options at all time and if an answer doesn’t come quickly, the likelihood of any R.O.I. (return on investment) is greatly reduced. And after 24 hours, forget it. If you’re not facile with social then get started because it is replacing almost every traditional method of making contact out there.
I’d love to hear about some of the ways you’ve screwed up. Then let me know how you learned from your mistake and what the “correction” was. SHARING your pitfalls (heck I’ve had so many you’d go blind reading about them) is the surest way to inspire others and gift them your wisdom so they can learn from your mistakes. Please post comments in an effort to “pay it forward” to our fellow actors in the community!
To Your Success, Lisa
A Faster Way to Realize Your Dreams
/in General/by Lisa GoldSo what do YOU want?
WRITE down your big dream, short term desire (a 90 day goal) and a supportive belief. What do I mean by that? Here’s an example:
Big Dream: I have just been nominated for my first Oscar and am about to appear on a hit late night talk show.
Short Term Desire: I have just been cast in my first leading role for PAY in an independent film.
Supportive Belief: Because of my strong acting skills and fabulous network, I believe my determination and natural likability will make it easy for me to get cast in the kind of projects that I want to act in.
Give yourself the gift of this 15 minute exercise and I can absolutely guarantee a HUGE difference will be seen in 90 days. Why, because what you FOCUS on expands. Attention to your dreams and goals (a dream with a deadline) is what speeds up any process!
Why 90 days? Because some scientist or genius figured out that anything done for this amount of time eventually becomes habitual. And creating the habit of focusing on exactly what you want will have it come to you faster.
For more assistance I’ve put together the 90 Kick Butt Kick Start Program workbook for you if you’re feeling like this would be helpful to you. Give it a try!
Also, I’d love to hear about some of your big dreams and short term desires in the comments below!
14 Ways to Get INSANELY Motivated!
/in General, Random Thoughts/Musings/by Lisa GoldHere are 14 quick strategies to get and keep yourself insanely motivated:
1. Condition your mind. Train yourself to think positive thoughts while avoiding negative thoughts.
2. Condition your body. It takes physical energy to take action. Get your food and exercise plan in place and follow it just like your business plan. I just started back at the gym again, yay!
3. Avoid negative people. They drain your energy and waste your time, so hanging with them is like shooting yourself in the foot…or worse. Learn and practice the word NO!
4. Seek out the similarly motivated. This is why the Act Outside the Box community exists. The positive energy of like-minded, pro-active actors will rub off on you and you can model their success strategies. Wanna join us? Check out The Gold Standard mentoring program.
5. Have big goals–but remain flexible. No creative biz plan should be cast in concrete, lest it become more important than achieving the goal. Know that every plan will alter.
6. Act with a higher purpose. I love this one. Any activity or action that doesn’t serve your higher goal is wasted effort–and should be avoided at all costs. Really “check in” with your gut…it never lies.
7. Take responsibility for your own results. If you blame (or credit) luck, fate or divine intervention, you’ll always have an excuse.
8. Stretch past your limits on a daily basis. Walking the old, familiar paths is how you grow old. Stretching makes you grow and evolve. I do something called “never dones”. Basically I take on, at least once a week, something I’ve never done before. It’s VERY exciting.
9. Don’t wait for perfection; do it now! Perfectionists are the losers in the game of life. I know this because I’m a recovering perfectionist! Strive for excellence instead.
10. Celebrate your failures. Your most important lessons in life will come from what you don’t achieve. Take time to understand where you fell short, then correct and continue.
11. Don’t make success your highest priority…make it happiness. Success is a feeling, not a thing or a circumstance. It is a place to come from, not to get to. Laugh and enjoy every moment of the inspired actions you’re taking toward your goals. If you can achieve that during the process, you ARE successful.
12. Avoid weak goals. Goals are the soul of achievement, so never begin them with “I’ll try…” Always start with “I
will” or “I can.” Big dreams with short term attainable goals are the way to go. Remember, if you shoot for the moon and miss, you’ll still fall amongst the stars! (quote by Les Brown)
13. Treat inaction as the only real failure. If you don’t take action, you fail by default and can’t even learn from the experience. ACT Outside the Box.
14. Think before you speak. This should actually have been #1…but it’s a GREAT thing to leave you with. Keep silent rather than express something that doesn’t serve your purpose.
The above is based on a conversation with Omar Periu, one of the world’s best (and best known) motivational speakers.
And what is one of YOUR ways to get and stay motivated? Please share with your fellow acting community by commenting. Thanks!
Creating New Industry Relationships – a “How To” Guide
/in General/by Lisa GoldWhen I first started out I did background work like a lot of actors do. I spent my days on set counting the hours until lunch and reading magazines. Sometimes I’d be upset when getting called to the set. I was in the middle of something important…like a card game with another actor.
Yes, you read that correctly. I didn’t pay attention to the crew and learn their names, but I sure knew I’d like to be in the union and get the better food and more money. Oh yeah, and I thought that if I looked really sweet at the director he might give me a line. I was such a novice back then and I really needed someone to tell me what to do to have my career work out. Now I’m the one that does that for a living. Full circle, right? And that’s why I do this…to pass on what I’ve learned the hard way through lots and lots of experience so it doesn’t have to be as hard for you my friend. Read on please…
Actors who’ve created an enviable career have a knack for understanding how to make every experience a small step on the ladder to where they want to go. (Goal) They observe others, pay attention and they can undoubtedly share a lot of lessons they’ve learned along the way (many of which they probably learned the hard way too).
So here’s are a question to ask yourself if you intend to expand your network of influence by forming some new stellar relationships in service of the forward progress of your career:
1. How many casting directors know your work?
You know the old saying “It’s who you know” that will help you get ahead in this biz? It’s actually our tag line at Actors Connection. Well honestly, I think that’s only half true.
My take on it is “it’s who knows you”.
For every agent meeting you take, you will be asked, “How many casting directors know your work?” Before you interview, my recommendation is that you have at least a list of 10 or don’t go! And when you have an agent, they will want you to continue to grow your list on your own in addition to the auditions they send you on.
So how do you create a network of influential people like those top casting directors that know you, like your acting work and are in your court?
Let’s look at 5 ways to do just that:
It’s time you understood that without a HUGE network of people that have you on their radar, the chances of having the BREAKTHROUGH, kick-butt, acting career of your dreams are pretty much dead in the water. Talent is not enough…people have to know you’re talented, like you, and have you be on their list in order for you to be able to act for a living. There are many people in the showbiz world who are ready and waiting for you to get connected and STAY connected. You never know which one of them will be key in your forward movement.
I’d love to hear some of your thoughts on meeting new people…how you do it, why you do it and most importantly, how you keep in touch!
Do You Have Worthy Goals?
/in General/by Lisa GoldBeing successful is a creative process and you’re engaged in it already. It’s something we live, not an end state we arrive at. The choices we make either align with or block the path to success. This starts with choosing worthy goals.
Desire – seeds planted that lead to your divine passion and purpose. Signs, dreams, feelings, visualizations and images.
There’s a good chance you’re going to make a New Year’s resolution this year, and there’s also a pretty good chance you’re going to break it.
Why? It’s no secret that setting goals for yourself is hard, especially when many of the goals you have may be out of your control. (like being represented by CAA!) But the things that ARE in your hands that are accomplish-able are still a challenge and the hard truth is that many people who make goals never achieve them. So I recommend a shift in what you call a goal.
Here’s a short list of worthy goals. They are all a progressive realization and while some I’m listing may feel a fit for you, some may not. By the way, your goals can and will evolve…a major goal that will sustain you for a lifetime is to be self-aware. I’m always, always, always working on this one and for me in this business of show, it is to be of service. Your worthy goal can be a word or a phrase.
Choose a goal without worrying that it must be permanent. Sit quietly and center yourself. Breathe deep and exhale, another deep breath, exhale, now a third breath, exhale. Think about the goal you want to achieve…ask yourself “am I already living my goal at least part of the time?” Is this pursuit enjoyable and energizing? Does it come naturally and make me feel more like the person I want to be. When you can say yes, then you’re making your success a living reality and thrive today as well as tomorrow.
I wish for you a bright future year, month, week and day ahead, full of purpose, passion and the pursuit of worthy goals! Please feel free to share one or more of them in the comments section below.
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but within ourselves.” – Shakespeare
20 Signs You’re Succeeding At Your Career (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)
/in Think & Grow Rich Acting/by Lisa GoldI often tell my ‘business of show’ students and coaching clients they’re doing soooo much better than they give themselves credit for. I can see it even if they can’t. It’s the old “can’t see the forest for the trees” analogy.
Most of us are so busy trying to dodge the bullets, grasping for any signs of progress, and looking for those outward results, that we forget to stop and appreciate the little victories along the way to our goals and dreams. More on goals and goal setting in my next posts…
But for now, consider for a moment that you’re already doing a tremendous job. Living a life as an actor isn’t always an easy thing to do, but it can be most enjoyable when we start to see the good instead of focusing on the bad. (There’s that Law of Attracting thing again!)
You are actually living your career dreams already by recognizing these 20 signs:
1. Your relationships are less dramatic than they use to be. The drama is now mostly on the stage/set where it ought to be.
2. You may not have as much money as you want but you know and believe more is on the way. However, you’re not waiting to live a rich and abundant life NOW.
3. You’re no longer afraid to ask for help and support, thinking it is a sign of weakness. Instead you realize the juice of this business and you’re open to allowing someone to be a contribution on your journey.
4. Where you live feels like home. This means your actual living home and in your skin.
5. You’ve raised your standards. The bar is presently high and you’re setting it higher as you move forward.
6. You let go of things that don’t make you feel good. This could extend to people, experiences, and negative thinking.
Feeling good is your top priority.
7. You have moments where you appreciate who you see in the mirror. Hey, it may not be all the time but when you recognize those moments, you grin from ear to ear with a pleasant knowingness.
8. You’re working on limiting your inner critic and consciously disavowing outer critics who are not out to serve your best interests. Bad reviews have nothing to do with you. Opinions are like…(you know what goes here!)
9. You’ve learned that setbacks and failure are part of career growth as well as self-growth. Fail your way to success. Correct and continue. There is no such thing as perfect.
10. You have a support system that includes people who would do anything for you. And that’s not by chance.
11. You hear “I love it”, “great job”, “wonderful effort” and “I love you” often, from family, friends, partners, and industry professionals.
12. You’ve accepte
d what you can’t change, but are changing what you can’t accept. This tricky balancing act has become the norm.
13. You don’t complain as much, but instead focus on solutions. You recognize that you can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it and search for a different approach. You’ve also limited the complaints you’re willing to listen to. (Take special note if you work background…a breeding ground for complaints.)
14. You don’t blame your parents, and accept them for who they are. OK, though I’m not a therapist, this is the big one!
15. You’ve stopped caring about what others think of you. Ahem, I meant THIS is the big one. By not care, I mean you understand that what other’s think about you is none of your business. (For “how to” do that, check out an excellent book written by Terry Cole Whittaker that I highly recommend called “What You Think of Me is None of my Business.”)
16. You can celebrate other actor’s successes and really be happy for them.
17. You have a true passion that you are pursuing. It’s not the fame, money or your ego that is driving you. You feel this passion more often than not.
18. You’re able to accept compliments without deflecting. When acknowledged for your acting prowess, singing skill, or for the way you’ve inspired someone through your artistic expression, you simply smile and say “thank you”.
19. You feel connected to your work both on and off the stage. Every part of your career, not just the actual craft of acting, is part of your passion.
20. You have many goals that have come true. Finishing that acting program, having fresh new headshots to distribute and making that notoriously scowling casting director smile during your audition are things you had on your never ending “to do” list and they got DONE! Up next, getting an agent, a co-star role on a series, a big check…You don’t discount the previously met goals as insufficient to the ones not yet realized.
Look to this list of 20 in times of doubt and when you’re just not feelin’ it. Sometimes a few reminders of just how absolutely awesome your career IS going can make a huge difference.
Tweaked and significantly added to by Lisa Gold. Original base content from Shannon Kaiser of www.the-open-mind.com
Law Of Attraction Quotes To Live By
/in General/by Lisa Gold