Family Issues

I find it fascinating to listen to success stories shared by middle-aged and older people. It never fails that there was always some choice tidbit that I would part away with. At present, I am not part of those middle-aged persons whom I fondly listened to and as I look back on the years I realized that I have a lot of things to share than can be of help to those who are still beginning their careers and building their resume in the entertainment business. It does not matter what your dreams are; whether you desire to be a successful actor, director, producer, writer, agent or any one of the many other positions that exist in this business, this is true for everyone. I labelled this theory the “showing up” theory. It is not hard to do and it’s effective most of the time.

If you reside near a large city (especially if it’s Los Angeles or New York) then you know that there are many meet-ups, industry mixers and networking opportunities; thus, having a resume ready is vital. As you start to attend those you will notice that your business cards start to stack up and your Rolodex begins to miraculously increase. If you are smart and keep in touch with those who you’ve met, then your circle of business associates is ever-growing and therefore your opportunities for success have widened. But how did you arrive to this position? Well, you can put yourself in that kind of position by using the principle of “showing up”.

One of the most overlooked principle of wisdom is the theory of Showing Up. Take the Friends sitcom for example, I am sure you are very familiar with this sitcom. But how many of you know about how this theory really worked for one of the members of the characters?

The story goes like this, there was an extra who got tired of working small time acting jobs, but despite this he still decided to show up for work one more time. He was getting worn out with his current part, but he liked the job and so he decided to show for work one once more. That day transformed his life. While he was at the back room the director of “Friends” started searching for someone who knows how to operate a cappuccino and machine, this extra raised his hand despite the fact that he actually has no idea how to use the device and he became part of the scene. That extra person soon earned the character name of Gunther, who owns the infamous coffee shop and he became a regular on one of the most well-liked TV shows of all time. Guess what he did? He simply reported to work and showed up even if he does not want to any longer.

The theory of Showing Up is the kind of theory anybody can use, anytime and anywhere. Be around those that are successful in whatever you are pursuing. Attend classes, events, film conventions and premieres with your resume in hand whenever is possible. It is a proven method and I myself have encountered it. Who knows, may be your life will transform just because you showed up.