A wise man once said, “If you don’t jump out of bed each morning, you don’t have enough goals!”
I’m not the most adventurous person. My bucket list doesn’t consist of the go-to’s like bungee jumping or seeing all seven wonders of the world. But man if I don’t have a ton of TV I want to watch, lots of karaoke songs to practice and a stack of books to read. I want to learn more words, to draw, to cook delicious food, write an award winning TV show, write a musical, become a photographer, director, be a better improviser, volunteer, own a business, start a fashion line, I think you get it by now.
My point is that I have a thirst for new skills and knowledge. But it’s important to note this is not something I’ve always had. Like everyone, I go through many periods of time wasting. States of depression where I’d just rather lay about than do anything “productive”. “Productive is such a scary word. But, eventually I found a way to make even my lazy days count for something. More on that later.
This side of myself came about in the last few years when I saw a couple of my friends constantly challenging themselves to learn new things. My friend, Kate Frisbee, is a perfect example. In the years I’ve known her, she’s gone through the Groundlings program, taught herself to write, play keyboard, and how to shoot and edit her own videos. She even learned how to groom dogs and started a grooming business among MANY other things.
If you want another example, follow Ms. in the Biz creator, Helenna Santos. This woman is a beast! Always learning, always creating, and from afar, always showing me how much is possible in one day!
The important thing that I learned by watching them is these skills were not learned overnight. Kate didn’t grow up grooming dogs! Each skill was obtained one by one, slowly.
If you’re a fan of any kind of video games, you’ll find that many of them center around having to “earn” a new title or “learn” a new skill. Only then will you be able to move forward in the game. Well, I’ve found life is no different.
I feel like most people feel stuck when they near their 30th birthday. They feel like whatever they have decided they’re good at up until now is “their thing” and that’s it. It feels permanent. What I now know, is everything can change at any point in your life if you make goals and stick with them. At any moment, you can drop “the biz” and go back to school. It’s gonna cost you, but you can do it! Heck, you could even become a fashion designer. For a great example of that, check out the book #GIRLBOSS.
So, I want you to make some lists. As Blake Snyder was a fan of saying “You’ll like this, it wastes a lot of time!”
CAREER LIST:
First make a list of things you need/want to do for your career. As luck would have it, these are usually the most expensive. Make sure that you list each step as action items, so you can feel success as you cross off items and move toward the bigger goal. I’ll give you some examples:
Schedule headshot session
Put photos on Actors Access
Put photos on LA Casting
Improv Class
Write new scenes for demo reel
Shoot new demo reel
Upload demo reel onto youtube
Audition Technique Class
Buy new audition suit
Create IMDB profile
Those are just a few. But it can get overwhelming, right? I mean, look at all the money waiting to be spent on that list. That’s why you’re going to pick only one and work on it, and save up, until you can cross it off. Then you’ll start on the next one. One goal at a time. The important thing is, you’re always moving forward.
MISC LIST:
Now make a list of other things you want to do. Some cost money and some will be FREE!!! You can make as many lists as you want. My favorite new toy is the Wunderlist App which helps me keep all of my lists organized. Here’s a peek into some of the items on my lists from past and present. Most of the things I’ve learned or plan to learn, I’ve learned on Youtube!
Work my way through Pinterest recipes
Use vocabulary app
Learn Google Calendar (Youtube)
Learn to shoot with green screen (Youtube)
Read more (I made a book list)
Watch shows I’ve never seen (TV List) ←——This is for the lazy days!
Learn to scrapbook and journal more
Buy Photoshop
Take photos and learn to use Photoshop (Youtube)
Buy Final Cut Pro
Learn Final Cut Pro (Youtube)
Learn screenwriting (Library and Amazon)
Learn to play keyboard (Youtube)
Dance classes
Learn to clean my house more efficiently and make my own cleaning products (Youtube)
Gardening
Send more handwritten mail
Learn to create my own website
Create a blog
Learn to watercolor paint
LIFE GOALS:
Finally, make a list of life goals. These can be really big! But don’t be afraid of chunking them down into smaller tasks like I did in the first list. For now, try to concentrate on things you have control over. For example, instead of saying “I want to book three national commercials this year”, find ACTION ITEMS that could lead to to that goal. Like, “Submit to bigger commercial agencies” or “take a commercial class”.
Here are a few of mine:
Write a TV show as a vehicle for myself
Learn how to market TV show ideas
Study directing
Learn how to find investors for film projects
Take a movement class (Alexander Technique?)
Publish a book
Host a monthly networking event to introduce friends to each other
Buy a house
Start a family
WRAPPING UP
I’m sure many of you reading this have many different goals. Maybe you want to step on all seven continents. GREAT! Pick a continent and start saving TODAY! (There are great deals on Groupon)
If you make lists like these and throw everything down you can think of, you’ll never have a reason to feel bored. When you have some spare time, pick one item on the list and start working. You will be AMAZED how your life can change in a few months.
Oooooh, I can almost hear the sound of you making a New Years Resolution already. STOP IT! Make a resolution today! If you put these principles into use now, just imagine where you’ll be standing next year! G