I thought I might share with you some thoughts from my new book, The Reality of MakeBelieve.
I have searched to discover what it takes to succeed in this profession and what it takes to enjoy the process. Some actors who have great natural talent, strong academic backgrounds and tremendous experience unfortunately, have the same low success rate as actors with little or no training. Regrettably the ability to become successful is not guaranteed by the best schools, the best opportunities or the strongest connections. Although all people are capable of incredible things, what most people accomplish is another story.
My finding can be summed up in what I call the 4 D’s. The 4 D’s are desire, dedication, determination and discipline. This blog deals with the 4 D’s and an understanding of their application to your world of expectation. With a clear working understanding of the 4 D’s you’ll achieve the knowledge base and tools necessary to be competitive in this business and avoid the concept of failure.
Failure is a perception. You can change any beliefs that get in the way of your dreams. However, for this to happen you must be clear as to what your thoughts are and how your thinking process is supporting or undermining your desires. Desires are those things that you wish to manifest into reality. They are the things in life that you tell yourself are of value to you. Things that will make your life become what you believe will make you happy and fulfilled. The truth is that happiness and fulfillment are found in the now. No amount of effort is going to arrive at a place called happiness. Once you accept that your ability to be happy is a choice then you can begin to find happiness in the path to what you desire. Understanding how your thoughts translate a desire is key to your perceived success or failure. Everything that must evolve has a process. The thinking process is the beginning of any journey toward desire. If that process is flawed as a result uncontrolled thoughts then the ability to guide a thought from desire to manifestation is diminished. However, if you understand the power of your thinking process and refuse to control it your personal issues are based on a desire for self loathing and defeat. Therefore, failure is not a process and comes from knowing what you should do but refusing to do those things. In fact, it is your non actions that create a perception of failure that leads you to the fear of trying. The most important knowledge about failure is that it is only the absence of success. In itself it is powerless. It requires you to keep it in control. Success is created by action and action is a fundamental reality of a life journey that is positive and fulfilled.
The process of success comes from being willing able to control your thinking process, clarify your desires, learn from your experiences and create different approaches to your goals when a certain action appears to yield negative results. You already know that if you really want something you’ll do what it takes, learn what you must, focus and create the actions to make it happen. Dedicate yourself to this effort. Action is the key factor in really wanting something. If the actions you’re taking are ineffective, change your actions. You must be willing to change course. By learning to become aware of your true desires and your thoughts you can tap into your ability to be all that you can possibly be. Your goal to become a successful professional actor is really going to be up to you. And, you can make working toward a professional acting career a thrilling ride.
Avoiding mediocrity is important to your process. Learn how to stay clear of mediocrity. You do this by recognizing it in your thoughts and in your actions. Often we are unaware of the mediocrity of our existence because so many around us are in the same place. It is not normal for a successful actor not having an agent. It is not normal for a successful actor not to be a member of any actors’ union. Complaining about your circumstance is a path paved by mediocrity and must be avoided. Your thoughts will tell you to what degree you are responsible for your own circumstance of mediocrity. Your internal dialogue or thinking process guides your actions. You control those thoughts or you do not. If you don’t then you must discover what is getting in the way of your growth. Mediocrity loves company just like it’s friend misery. Stay clear of others who find excuses easier to support than action.
In order to guide yourself toward success you must define what that term “success” means to you. A definition of success related to money earned is the most limiting of all possible definitions of success. Unfortunately, the vast majority accept this definition for success. Success must be based on the feelings that you get with the results of your actions. Most working actors find a certain degree of financial success. The degree of that financial success is based on the arena with which your talents are used. Being a professional actor in relation to finding employment in academia or non-profit circumstances can be a choice. That choice must come with the agreement of the income the circumstance can generate.
For our purposes we are going to follow a path toward being a successful professional actor. That will result in celebrity both financial and personal. This does not mean that pursuing a career in the theatre must be guided by this expectation. It does, however, mean that you are clear as to your choices as to pursuit and acceptance.
Every other art form has a science. Dance has names for the individual steps that combine together to form a choreography. Fine art also has different strokes, brushes, mediums, textures. Art, dance, music all have objective techniques that can be taught, learned, and mastered. They have a science. So does acting. The difference lies in the distribution of the knowledge of that science. The knowledge of the science does not guarantee success but it does put a point of reference toward expectation of success.
You want to know what is in the way of taking actions to improve your chance of success. You want to know what things you can do on a daily basis that will insure you a successful future in acting. You want to discover and practice those daily exercises to make the growth happen.
My finding can be summed up in what I call the 4 D’s. The 4 D’s are desire, dedication, determination and discipline. This blog deals with the 4 D’s and an understanding of their application to your world of expectation. With a clear working understanding of the 4 D’s you’ll achieve the knowledge base and tools necessary to be competitive in this business and avoid the concept of failure.
Failure is a perception. You can change any beliefs that get in the way of your dreams. However, for this to happen you must be clear as to what your thoughts are and how your thinking process is supporting or undermining your desires. Desires are those things that you wish to manifest into reality. They are the things in life that you tell yourself are of value to you. Things that will make your life become what you believe will make you happy and fulfilled. The truth is that happiness and fulfillment are found in the now. No amount of effort is going to arrive at a place called happiness. Once you accept that your ability to be happy is a choice then you can begin to find happiness in the path to what you desire. Understanding how your thoughts translate a desire is key to your perceived success or failure. Everything that must evolve has a process. The thinking process is the beginning of any journey toward desire. If that process is flawed as a result uncontrolled thoughts then the ability to guide a thought from desire to manifestation is diminished. However, if you understand the power of your thinking process and refuse to control it your personal issues are based on a desire for self loathing and defeat. Therefore, failure is not a process and comes from knowing what you should do but refusing to do those things. In fact, it is your non actions that create a perception of failure that leads you to the fear of trying. The most important knowledge about failure is that it is only the absence of success. In itself it is powerless. It requires you to keep it in control. Success is created by action and action is a fundamental reality of a life journey that is positive and fulfilled.
The process of success comes from being willing able to control your thinking process, clarify your desires, learn from your experiences and create different approaches to your goals when a certain action appears to yield negative results. You already know that if you really want something you’ll do what it takes, learn what you must, focus and create the actions to make it happen. Dedicate yourself to this effort. Action is the key factor in really wanting something. If the actions you’re taking are ineffective, change your actions. You must be willing to change course. By learning to become aware of your true desires and your thoughts you can tap into your ability to be all that you can possibly be. Your goal to become a successful professional actor is really going to be up to you. And, you can make working toward a professional acting career a thrilling ride.
Avoiding mediocrity is important to your process. Learn how to stay clear of mediocrity. You do this by recognizing it in your thoughts and in your actions. Often we are unaware of the mediocrity of our existence because so many around us are in the same place. It is not normal for a successful actor not having an agent. It is not normal for a successful actor not to be a member of any actors’ union. Complaining about your circumstance is a path paved by mediocrity and must be avoided. Your thoughts will tell you to what degree you are responsible for your own circumstance of mediocrity. Your internal dialogue or thinking process guides your actions. You control those thoughts or you do not. If you don’t then you must discover what is getting in the way of your growth. Mediocrity loves company just like it’s friend misery. Stay clear of others who find excuses easier to support than action.
In order to guide yourself toward success you must define what that term “success” means to you. A definition of success related to money earned is the most limiting of all possible definitions of success. Unfortunately, the vast majority accept this definition for success. Success must be based on the feelings that you get with the results of your actions. Most working actors find a certain degree of financial success. The degree of that financial success is based on the arena with which your talents are used. Being a professional actor in relation to finding employment in academia or non-profit circumstances can be a choice. That choice must come with the agreement of the income the circumstance can generate.
For our purposes we are going to follow a path toward being a successful professional actor. That will result in celebrity both financial and personal. This does not mean that pursuing a career in the theatre must be guided by this expectation. It does, however, mean that you are clear as to your choices as to pursuit and acceptance.
Every other art form has a science. Dance has names for the individual steps that combine together to form a choreography. Fine art also has different strokes, brushes, mediums, textures. Art, dance, music all have objective techniques that can be taught, learned, and mastered. They have a science. So does acting. The difference lies in the distribution of the knowledge of that science. The knowledge of the science does not guarantee success but it does put a point of reference toward expectation of success.
You want to know what is in the way of taking actions to improve your chance of success. You want to know what things you can do on a daily basis that will insure you a successful future in acting. You want to discover and practice those daily exercises to make the growth happen.
First you must define the knowledge and skills you are trying to enhance and secure. Next you must secure those skills necessary to perform and maintain an upwardly mobile career as an actor. You are going to acknowledge what it takes to make acting as a career support your happiness and well being in all areas of your life.
By working on a daily basis, you’ll improve the quality of your life and the power of your talents. Your ‘stick-to-it-tive-ness’ through discipline (use of time) and your desire to follow the rules of this successful strategy are key. It is important to identify your existing talents and how they can be practiced on a daily basis. This awareness of your existing abilities and talents will enable you to then identify other talents that you currently need.
By working on a daily basis, you’ll improve the quality of your life and the power of your talents. Your ‘stick-to-it-tive-ness’ through discipline (use of time) and your desire to follow the rules of this successful strategy are key. It is important to identify your existing talents and how they can be practiced on a daily basis. This awareness of your existing abilities and talents will enable you to then identify other talents that you currently need.
Start the activities to create actions that propel you toward the destiny that you expect for yourself. On a daily basis empower yourself through motivation and new specifically designed strategies. Be determined (resolute) to dedicate (commit) your desires (wants) to becoming realities through discipline (controlled use of time). How you think and how you use your time are choices that you make. Let's start making choices that give us power over our personal destiny.
Have a great day.
Russ
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