"If you walk the walk, you don't need to talk the talk."
"Pride, ego, and desperation are an actor's greatest enemies."
"The energy put out there is directly related to what comes back to you."
"Actors often don't realize their good fortune until it's too late."
"An actor's mistake is wanting fame and fortune over fulfillment."
"Trust your counselors, take their advice, and follow their directives."
"Talent underestimate what they should overestimate, and overestimate what they should underestimate."
"Frustrated actors forget why they got into show biz. Once you get jaded, it's time to get out."
"People who haven't realized their dreams don't want you to realize yours. Stay away from them."
"Actors who think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence haven't seen the big pile of poo on the other side."
"Don't make excuses. They don't work."
"Go to the bookstore often. You can spend a delightful afternoon reading, browsing, and people watching. Read about business, marketing, entertainment, acting, media, spiritual growth, and self-improvement. Transition into writing poetry, songs, short stories, articles, books, and screenplays."
"Develop a thorough list of goals and embark upon tangible activities to achieve them. Break them down into smaller objectives and tasks. Write everything down. Utilize a calendar and daytimer."
"Take a look at what you want and need to get done, and what you actually do accomplish in a given day (sleep, grooming, working out, God time, 'me time,' family time, socializing, day job, school, acting, chores, errands, meals, etc.). Where are you spending your time, energy, and money? Where do you find imbalances? Do you spend too much time, energy, and money in areas that take you away from the truly important activities? Are you attempting to mask negative emotions or feelings, such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, boredom, fear, avoidance, or perfectionism? By balancing our efforts, we generate positive outcomes and emotions that override our negative feelings. The key is to recognize the need for ongoing pendulum/ paradigm/momentum shifts that we alone are responsible for creating."
"Actors must always focus intensively on image. This includes weight, hair, skin, clothes, teeth, make-up, eyebrows, etc. Work out regularly, keep a tan going, use a tooth bleaching product, know effective makeup application, get an updated haircut, and adhere to an appropriate facial cleansing program for your skin type. Avoid smelling like smoke and appearing unkempt. Image is everything in show business. Your look will often get you in the door before your talent will. If you are not focusing on image, you are not furthering your career."
"Stay busy! Laziness and procrastination will destroy an actor's career before it starts. One cannot reap the rewards of a career until the seeds are planted and sown. It takes forty hours a week in a full time capacity to achieve success and override the competition. Idleness will show up in one's work ethic, image, and auditions (or lack thereof)."
"'Who you know' will never replace 'what you know.' Actors make the mistake of thinking they are one step closer to 'making it' because they know someone influential or famous in show biz. To quote Tombudsman from Backstage West: 'A friend of mine [an actor] worked for one of the biggest directors in Hollywood and was given a glowing recommendation. The director even went so far as to have his assistant call a couple of agents on behalf of the actor. The calls were gladly taken, but the guy didn't score one appointment. Go figure.'"
"There is a fine line between confidence/grace and cockiness/ego. Show biz professionals should not make the mistake of feeling so great and bold about how well they're doing... what they've accomplished... where they're heading, etc. that they think they've arrived. It's great to be near the fence by owning a tremendous sense of self worth. But when one tries to jump the fence holding the weight of attitude, they'll discover a big pile of you-know-what on the other side."
"One cannot expect growth, success, happiness, fulfillment, opportunity, favor, and peace without taking personal accountability for attitudes, actions, belief systems, and mistakes. Many people believe they are above natural laws and God's will... that they're different, unique, special, and chosen... that certain rules don't apply to them... that consequences are unfair. Show biz professionals are wise to assume accountability over pretension, pride, expectation, and sloth."
"An actor's energy, vibe, persona, aura, and attitude are very important. Avoid being egotistical, spoiled, snobby, fearful, protective, anxious, angry, or competitive. Avoid comparisons to peers and bragging about accomplishments. Be respectful, courteous, and open. Defer to the expertise of others. Listen closely to others. Have fun. Be happy, positive, outgoing, spirited, and energetic. Create and possess an edgy, hip vibe. Charisma is so important in show business. It is one of the most important qualities an actor can possess. And one other thing... do it all with genuine sincerity, not false modesty."
"Be patient, yet persistent. Build a life. Get a job or go to school. Make friends. Develop lots of interests. Actors must get grounded and stay grounded. Don't give it 'six months.' Even the ten-year plan may be too narrow. Actors shouldn't put timelines on their hearts' desires."
"Everyone has an opinion in show biz. Don't let anyone tell you 'how it is' or try to solicit you. It is very dangerous for actors to heed the opinion of someone who is jaded, subjective, or ignorant. Beware of name-droppers and fast talkers with inflated stories. There is a good vein and a bad vein in LA. Make sure you stay on the right side, or you could destroy your career and relationships. It happens all the time to actors who get ahead of themselves."
"Maintain a strong spiritual relationship with God. We need His guiding hand over us, and we must continue to recognize how valuable His support is in our lives and careers. As Max Lucado says, 'There's great power in prayer, and God heals the wounded. But we can't tell God what to do and when to do it. There's a difference between faith and presumption. There's a difference between believing He's the almighty God and demanding He become our divine servant.'"
"Command respect, don't demand respect. If you have to demand it, then you are not being respected."