Happy…what the hell is today? Hm…nothing today, what’s the next holiday? Armed Forces Day? That’s a pretty darn good one to celebrate so let’s go with that!
Today I want to talk to you about something that everyone is all too familiar with: failure. I don’t bring this up because of any recent VO rejections (actually, things on that front have been pretty freaking awesome lately!). It’s just a good topic to broach once in a while to renew our sense of purpose, so here we are.
BTW when I say “failure” I mostly mean “rejection”, specifically when auditioning, trying to join a talent roster, or seeking representation from a manager or agent. Of course you can apply this to any form of rejection or failure, be it professional or personal.
Failure, believe it or not, is critical to success. Every successful person I know has lost far more times than they have won.
Life is all about action, reaction, and most importantly, the ability to CHOOSE your reaction. That’s what separates humans from animals. It’s not what happens in your life that matters, it’s how you respond that matters. So, it’s not the failing that makes people great, it’s how they REACT to failure that separates them from the rest. It’s the lessons they learn and the wisdom & resolve they acquire from said failure. It’s also the ability to change tactics when something isn’t working, which comes from the strength & maturity to admit flaws in both method and character.
TIP OF THE WEEK: When failure comes (and we all know it will sooner or later!), take a step back and figure out…
1) Why did it happen? Was the cause external or internal?
2) What can I learn from it?
3) What can I do to succeed next time?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: (I overheard this conversation yesterday and I couldn’t stop laughing!)
Little Boy: How long have you played Pokemon?
Pokemon Player: I’ve loved Pokemon since I was three.
Little Boy: Does that mean you hated it when you were two?
STUFF!: Just remember folks, every pot has a lid!
From Tom Dheere’s apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News…