There are those who have what it takes to make it as an actor and those who don’t. We all believe we have what it takes to achieve our goals despite what others may tell us. But how do we know whether we really do have what it takes to make our dreams a reality and sustain them as a career?
From my experience, I would say the first clue might be your own level of frustration with others who believe they have what it takes, but clearly don’t. It can be hard to define, but it seems the people around us, whether or not they have any knowledge of the industry or the strength of our desires, can sense our realistic potential. Our future can be foretold in our behavior, daily habits and attitudes.
So what does it really take to become a success? Desire is a start, but it is meaningless and ineffective on its own.
1. Plan and focus
It is not enough to know where you want to go. You must have at least a general idea of how you’re going to get there.
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
An ultimate goal with no strategy is little more than a fantasy. How can you possibly stay on track if you have not plotted a coarse of action?
Clearly define your goals, and then list all the things which must happen in order for those goals to be achieved. The things on that list then become smaller, preliminary goals.
Example: You want to become a Tony Award-Winning Broadway actor. What must happen first? For starters, you will need training, a resume full of theatre experience, a union affiliation (SAG), and live in New York City. These would be your preliminary goals. These can be broken down even further into baby steps: acting and vocal classes, community theatre auditions, researching housing in NYC, etc.
Set a reasonable time frame to accomplish each of these goals because a deadline will help you maintain momentum and stay focussed. The smaller the goal, the easier it is to accomplish. Once you are checking items off your to-do list at a regular pace, you will see your dreams begin to take shape.
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