“You have to do a thousand things one percent better, not just do one thing a thousand percent better. It’s doing the little things well, being on time for meetings, returning phone calls, saying thank you to people. It sounds like a cliche, but that is the reason one organization or one person is successful over someone else. Everyone knows what they ought to be doing, but the ones who practice daily excellence are the real difference makers.”
– Buck Rodgers
There has been so much already written about transitioning from student to professional that I don’t want to “beat a dead horse” as they say. But it is such an important subject for those of you about to make the leap from being an aspiring artist (student) to being out in the real world as a young professional. And one of the most important parts of that transition that emerging artists are talking about is knowing who you are and what you have to offer that others want or need. This is important no matter what industry or field you choose to enter into once you graduate and enter the real world.
Let me start by saying everyone you know, family, friends, teachers, mentors, employers, instinctively understand your value to them; your benefit to each of their lives and work. You also instinctively know what benefit each of your friends, family members, teachers, mentors, employers, etc. bring into your life. This phenomenon is something we don’t often think about in these terms, but it is the truth. So it stands to reason that those in our industry will also be looking for what how you will benefit them. I’m saying this so you understand that it is something we do naturally as we bring new acquaintances into our lives and vice versa. It’s simply showing others what you are capable of right now when you present yourself in person and on paper; in an audition presentation, with your conversations and your PR packets.
Next, I want to say that taking the total responsibility for your education in acquiring the abilities that will allow others to see your benefits – vocal technique, acting abilities, personal brand, and business savvy – is essential. It might mean that you will have to go outside the box to create an addendum to your required courses and curriculum if you feel it will enhance your benefit to others. These kinds of action, going beyond what is required, are the qualities that make you unique and authentic. These are the qualities that show you are an original, not a copy of someone else. These then become the benefits that you bring to the table. And the learning curve for a performer are never ending because there is always something new and interesting to learn and master.
Another big truth is that you need to be prepared to deal with rejection, failure and mistakes along the way because that is also part of the learning curve. Instead of looking for the pony in the pile of horse manure, I think most people take rejection, failure and mistakes personally and make it into a big negative emotional wound which often keeps one stuck in one’s comfort zone afraid of taking another risk because you don’t want to get shot down and hurt again. That’s certainly one way to look at it. In truth, all of these words simply mean, find the lesson within each, look at it as feedback, notice if there is any truth in any of it, use it as a stepping stone as you apply the lesson and move on. Even the top cooperate CEO’s know that failure, rejection and mistakes are all part of the equation of doing business.
And because not everyone is the same in how they do what they do, it becomes apparent that you have to be responsible for finding what works best just for you. Don’t allow yourself to be blindly led by others. Look through what they have to offer and perhaps find something in their method that makes sense to you; then put it to the test. Does it really fit with your core values and where you want to go? If not, let it go and keep looking for the bits and pieces that others might be able to give you as you continue on your learning path. And as far as getting to know yourself, it’s important to look at your specific inner patterns and traits. Some of you are more motivated by the carrot that is dangled out in front of you and some are more motivated by the stick beating you on your back side to get you moving. There is no right or wrong, better or worse. The motivational method of getting to where you want to go may be different, but it still get’s you there. Maybe you prefer having more choices rather than a set process or want to use a combination of the two as you do your work. Do you like dealing with the big picture, the overview when you look at a project or set goals or do you want to get directly into the details? You need to know how to move from overview to details or vice versa so you can create a doable plan of action for reaching your goals. It’s also important to know your time table for getting things done will undoubtedly run at a different pace from others. Again, there is no right or wrong, better or worse. But knowing how you do what you do will help you make better choices and decisions, learn how to work smart, and give you more confidence because you are in the process of learning how you tick on the inside and are using it as a tool to get to where you want to be.
How and what you learn can be done in a plethora of ways and needs to continue especially after graduation. This is just the beginning of a whole new way to expand your world. It’s your responsibility to get what you feel you want and need to help you grow and become the performer you know you can be. Go outside the box if necessary and start being responsible for what you require to have as tools and skills whether you are in a formal educational system or the real world of creating a career. . It’s also important to know everyone’s time table runs at a different pace so pick which one really works for just you. Sure, there is only so much time available to you each day, so make what you do and how you do it count. It’s your life going by. Do you want to be caught off guard as you enter into the real world? I don’t think so.
You know what I think, now let me hear from you. Ciao, Carol
