Happy New Year
It’s that time again…resolutions. Love them or hate them, they are upon us. Have you picked any yet?
Normally I mull over a couple resolutions for my career and a few others for myself personally. I can’t say honestly that many have been seen through, albeit they each get attempted at one point in the course of the new year. Inevitably however, I end up dissatisfied with my progress and my resolutions tend to stay the same for a few years in a row…Not good.
This year, it’s going to change. Here’s how and why:
When I moved to Seattle from New York City January 7th, 2013 I wanted to do everything. When I moved here, I felt finally like I COULD do everything! Steeling myself against the insane, rather unreasonable audition practices and expectations in NYC (EPAs, I’m looking at you), built up a thick skin, but also a lot of insecurity about what I could accomplish in that city. I was not unfounded, nor was the irony lost on me. Not to get too into it, but I didn’t bother auditioning for a lot of work because I can’t kick my own face in after doing a triple pirouette and belt like Barbara. I also am not Equity. Or a star. So even if I COULD do those things, I couldn’t get seen anyway.
In any case, Seattle’s not easy by any means, but I’ve found it far more accessible than New York. No longer feeling restricted by the expectations of NYC, I have taken the opportunity to audition for other types of work that I previously never believed I’d be appropriate for (film, musical theatre, I’m looking at you). Now I have begun to be far more familiar with what I do well, what I like, what I feel I’m right for as well as what I lack, what I need and where I can realistically improve.
After six months auditioning and working in Seattle I made new resolutions. And I made a lot of them. And then I got overwhelmed. And then I turned 25 and had a quarter-life-crisis. And then I got COMPLETELY overwhelmed.
The last few months since the aforementioned crisis I have done a lot of soul searching. I want to be a lot. I want to do a lot. It will take a lot of work. It requires a lot of resolutions.
But Jennifer, I say to myself, If you make all those resolutions, won’t you be stuck where you’re usually stuck: wanting to be everything and trying to do it all at once…but not getting anywhere because you’re too distracted by all the other programs and aspirations you have? A jack of all trades but master of none… Not good, I think to myself.
Ruminating on this last week, I thought suddenly of a commercial voice-over audition I recorded months ago. It spoke of picking one thing to start with to have a healthier life, instead of trying to do everything at once. I listened again to the audio file I saved and on went the proverbial light bulb.
This year, I am going to pick one thing. I will work to nurture, excel and eventually master it. Jack of all trades, master of one. If this year goes well, I can start branching out and work on mastering my other skills. One step at a time.
I’d love to hear your resolution success stories! Share them below in the comments section.
All the best for 2014!
x Jennifer