How do you play the long game in an industry that thrives on instant success?
1) Firstly, reframe your career as something you are going to be doing for the rest of your life - we’re talking decades here. Ask yourself - can you actually see yourself doing this when you are your parents’ age?
2) Realize that what looks like “instant success” is actually years of hard work. Don’t be fooled by what you see on television. Getting one break is one thing; taking that break - nurturing it, creating more opportunities and building something that is your own is another thing altogether.
3) Keep exploring and redefining what your “ideal” career looks like. One lucky break - if you are lucky enough to get one - isn’t going to set you up for life. Sure, you might have a vague idea of what interests you at this point, but start exploring those little nudges now. Yes, there are people who build their entire career on one moment, but most people don’t. Most people continue to redefine themselves. Idina Menzel has. Lea Salonga has. The Khardashians have.
4) It is a business. At the end of the day, money talks. So every decision is about what maximizes profit. Put on your business hat. If you don’t have one, go and learn about the business of show business.
5) Be deliberate in every step you take. Every choice you make needs to be a deliberate step towards a career that you want to build. I’m not saying that every step will move you closer; what I’m saying is that every step will be a learning opportunity that has to be taken with a clear head grounded with a clear picture of where you are headed.
6) Celebrate all successes, no matter the size. Every step is a step forward - even if it was a painful lesson. Define your own criteria for success. For me, it’s about the tiny improvements I make and the confidence I feel after every new audition. It’s also about successfully creating a new character in my show that I feel really proud of. It’s about having a really powerful conversation with someone I am journeying with.
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My name is Eu Jin. I embarked on a career as a professional actor after 20 years in the corporate world. I am a big supporter of personal growth and I dedicate time and energy in performing arts education, specifically in the arena of practical approaches to inner health because I believe that this lays the groundwork for a sustainable career as an artiste.
If you would like to engage in a conversation about a healthy inner life practice, please leave me a message on the "Contact" page of my website and a way to contact you. Thank you very much!