As new year resolutions lose their appeal in these weeks, it’s time to evaluate what is realistic.  As a person you should be aware of your life situation and if your in the business of entertainment you’re almost painfully aware of your life situation.  I certainly don’t own a crystal ball and I don’t know anybody who has one either so I don’t know whats in store for me.  Along time ago I was one of those people who felt like I had every little thing planned out and then the I was smacked in the head by the XXL hand of the universe.

Your career requires constant expansion.  You should be better tomorrow than you are today.  Not saying today is bad but tomorrow can be even greater.  The way to do this is by organizing key points that can help you down the path of career growth.  You may not grow at the rate that you expected but if you have a constant growth it doesn’t matter.  The worst thing that can happen is a dry spell and I don’t mean romantically. A hiatus can make you lose your heart quickly:  You  cannot avoid rough patches, bad and good go hand in hand.  However, when the wind has left you sails it calls for you to grab an ore and start rowing.  When you find yourself in the doldrums, make a new way to keep things going.  Have a project wish list handy.  All of those things that are labeled “some day” or “when I have time”  can be labeled “today” and ” now that I have time”.  I have lots of random ideas that I kick around for a while and they get put on hold due to my current work and travel demands.  The french have the saying ” Les femmes intelligentes ne s’ennuie jamias” smart women are never bored.  Meaning you should always have something constructive for yourself to be doing.  Make it a point to have ways to work/ generate income through other resources.  If you can’t find modeling work produce your own calendar or poster to sell.  Get a group together to teach others your skills, hell hold a damn seminar.  If you never lose interest and ambition you cannot lose your way.  Get some other professionals together and see what their thoughts are on a collective situation.   Everybody has their main skills to share in some way or another.  Those of us who are creative professionals should never be short on new concepts.

In the event you just don’t know where to start go down your contact list and start reaching out.  Ask what others around you have going on and if they need help with anything.  You never know where an opportunity can be hiding.  Most people only have a one track thought process, derail yourself and brainstorm for a while.  I find it very useful to write down what it is that I think I can improve on and things that I want/ want to happen.  Secondly, make a list for each of these things that you can do to make these improvements/wants/desires happen.  Physically and mental acknowledging your needs are the ground work for these instances coming to fruition.

The book THE SECRET has become a pseudo Hollywood religion.  I know many celebrities and other creative folks who base their lives around this.  Under the mantra “if you truly want it, it will come to you..”  As a person who has gotten everything they wanted, I can stand by this. I have had a few people try to get me into “the secret” hoopla, at first I thought it was some new age hippie crap.  If has proven to be just the opposite.  Another lesson learned was always listen to those who are more successful than yourself.

There is always a way to expand yourself and your career.  In the words of Emma Stone “when you stop believing it will happen, it will. So just always believe that things are happening.”

Identify what you want, develope a plan and MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

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