Take Action & Don't Worry About the Outcome - by John Essay

“Take action” should be a guiding rule in all of our lives. We all have good ideas now and then, and we all have second-guessed them when it comes time for us to actually do something about them. The only people who can actually win the lottery are the ones who actually take action and buy a ticket! If we are to succeed at running our businesses, we must always take action regardless of the outcome. (Be reasonable, folks. I’m talking about running your business not robbing a bank!) Not every action may lead to the result you had planned, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take it. Try to resist the urge to procrastinate, or the common urge to “rationalize” why you shouldn’t take action on your idea. Here are some examples of excuses actors use.

“I’m not going to that open call because I’m too tired, and I probably won’t get the part anyway.” The important thing here is to go! Take the action regardless of the outcome! You may or may not get the part at that open call, but you might meet someone who may be instrumental in your advancement, or you might become aware of an audition for a different project, or hear about something that could lead to life improvement just by being observant.

Perhaps you find out that someone you knew or worked with in the past is now working at a theater or is in some position that could help you. Contact that person. What if they don’t respond? What if they don’t remember you? What if, what if … you get the picture. Send that email. Make that call. Go to that audition. Take the action regardless of the outcome. Without the "action," there will NEVER be an outcome.

Say you were thinking of making a video of some clever sketch idea to put up on YouTube, but get cold feet because “someone’s already done this before” or “maybe it’s just not good enough” or “it’s not perfect” or “no one will look at it” or “I don’t have any video equipment.” Take the action regardless of the outcome. No equipment? Your friends may have an iPhone or a video camera, and you can record on your computer with simple FREE software. Just do it!

If it doesn't work as you imagined it in your mind, so what? By seeing it for yourself, you have accomplished more than you could imagine.

1. You actually created something yourself. It doesn't matter if it is good or not. The fact is you did it AND it will most likely lead to something else that is creative and perhaps more appropriate or funnier.

2. Trial and error usually reveals things that you never intended to discover.

3. As soon as you can find a way to tape this project, you will then know how to do many others without much thought.

Take the action regardless of the outcome. You will be glad you did.

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Advice & Critique: How to listen when it's not what you want to hear

In The Actors Guide To Everything, under REPRESENTATION, we write that a manager "advises clients on career choices, grooms them for the industry with guidance on new headshots, resumes, classes, type choices, etc., and personally advises every step of their business, which includes some aspects of life coaching."

Presumably actors know this - and want this - when they are seeking a personal manager, or other form of representation. Yet I can't tell you how many times I have met with an actor for the first time - for our "interview" - and started to tell them something they didn't want to hear - that I was unable to represent them, or that they needed to get new pictures, or ... well, you get the idea - and watched them "tune out" I can watch it happen before my eyes: their eyes glaze over, they nod like they are listening but I can tell they just want to get out of my office as soon as they can.

Actors frequently come into my office thinking I am going to be amazed at how talented, professional and on top of things they are, and they seem to think I will simply agree to represent them with no advice to offer. When they hear my suggestions, they look stunned and uncomfortable. I wonder how well they take direction on stage or on screen. I wonder what is going to happen if we decide to work together and we encounter a crisis -- how can I help someone who can't listen to my advice, or accept anything they feel is critical of them?

A happy life & career require personal growth, and understanding criticism is essential to personal growth. Criticism is everywhere, so use it to your advantage.

Here are some simple steps to deal with criticism: Hear it, evaluate it, learn from it and take action.

Hear the criticism: Just listen. Resist the urge to justify, excuse or defend yourself. If you're not ready to analyze the critique, analyze it later.

Evaluate the criticism: Does this criticism apply to you? Is the critic speaking truth or is he/she off the mark? If you are unsure if the critique is true, ask someone close to you, who you trust.

Learn from it: If the criticism is justified, you have been made aware of something you need to adjust, change or do. Accept this knowledge.

Take action: Once you have figured out what action you should take, do it. This is a typical time for procrastination, but make the choice to make the changes instead.

This process of "dealing" with criticism will be a tremendous advantage to you as an actor.

If you need more tantalizing information on receiving criticism, check out Bob's Corner!