Here’s an interesting excerpt from “The Master Game” by Robert S. DeRopp:

“Seek, above all, for a game worth playing. Such is the advice of the oracle to modern man. Having found the game, play it with intensity. Play as if your sanity depended on it. Though nothing means anything and all roads are marked no exit, yet move as if your movements had some purpose. If life does not seem to offer a game worth playing then invent one. For it must be clear, even to the most clouded intelligence, that any game is better than no game. But although it is safe to play the master game, this has not served to make it popular. It still remains the most demanding and difficult of games and in our society, there are few that play. A contemporary man, hypnotized by the glitter of his own gadgets, has little contact with his inner world, concerns himself with outer, not inner space. But the master game is played entirely in the inner world, a vast and complex territory about which people know very little. The aim of the game is true awakening full development of the powers within.”

Check out the summary below to see the status of your target series…

In my opinion, the biggest distinction between successful people and those who struggle is their level of decisiveness.  Your ability to make inspired decisions influences your results more than the actions you choose.  If you want success, you must decide.

I get it.   Sometimes we all get stuck.  It’s easy to be rendered indecisive.  But whenever that happens, all you need to do is remind yourself of what your goals are, of whatever it is that you really, really want and take action from that place.  Decisions come easy when you start thinking from wherever it is you want to be.

Just step into your ideal scene and make your choices from there. For example, I try to make my decisions from the place of a millionaire CEO.  I’m not there yet, but I’ll get there quicker behaving like I already am.  I cannot stress enough the importance of making a decision based on where you’re going rather than where you’re at now.

I had a client named Elaine, who had an audition for work at a trade show wearing a giant foam Strawberry Shortcake head.  She sought my advice and asked me if I thought it was a good idea to audition for the part.  I asked her to name a successful actor whose career she wished to emulate.  She quickly responded with the name Cate Blanchett.

“Great,” I said, “Now, would Cate Blanchett go on the giant Strawberry Shortcake head audition?”  Elaine burst into laughter and said, “Definitely not.”  “Well, there’s your answer,” I told her.

By putting herself in the shoes of someone whose career she wished to model, it was easy for Elaine to say no to an action that was not in line with what she wanted.  You make decisions this way too.  Simply fast forward and imagine you’re living the career of your dreams.  From that place, ask yourself, “What would I like to do?”

I heard someone once say, “If it’s not a Hell yes, it’s a Hell no.” I totally agree.  Sometimes you just have to say no.  It’s a healthy habit we could all embrace more often.   No need to apologize or feel guilty about it.   Doing so will make room in your life for the yeses to come pouring in.

The first step in decision-making is to know what you want.  Knowing what you want makes it easier for you to set goals and take action, but if you really want something in life, you also have to create space for it to occur.   If your life is filled with non-paying student film auditions, there is no room to audition for a series regular.

Decisiveness leads you toward change.  Indecisiveness, on the other hand, leads you nowhere.  Decisiveness generates momentum and catapults you into the cycle of success, which looks like this:  Action – Result — Confidence.

Every action you take produces a result.  That result increases your confidence, which makes the next action easier to take.  The cycle of success starts with a choice.

The alternative to the cycle of success is not a pretty one:  Hesitation — Regret — Paralysis.  First, you think about what you might do.  Next, you regret the fact that you’ve been thinking instead of doing.  Finally, the pressure builds to the point that you fall victim to analysis paralysis.

Remember guys, it’s not what you choose, it’s that you choose.

Teddy Roosevelt once said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

So, don’t worry; there’s nothing to fear.  As long as whatever you perceive to be happening is fairly accurate or true, you’re good.  Whenever you feel stuck, just make a choice.  It doesn’t matter what decision you make, as long as it’s in line with what you want and what you value.   If you’re clear on your values and you act in accordance with your goals, you’re set; you’ll never make a wrong decision.

Be today the person you want to be in life.  Make decisions from that future place and take action that is in accordance with your goals.  That’s all.  Just take consistent action that is in line with whatever it is you really want and you’re good as gold.  If you don’t believe me, believe Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said,  “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

So, what the heck are you waiting for?  It starts with a choice, and the choice starts now.

Greenlight Coach Jessica Sitomer joined us last month on the Thriving Artist Circle Guest Expert call.

Jessica talks about the five types of partners that you need to have in order to launch your career to the next level.  But how do you select a good partner?  Here are three tips Jessica shared to help you in your search:

1. Make sure your partners are people you know are reliable and will be supportive.  Your partners should care about your success as much as their own.
2. Ideally, your five partners should be different people.  The more people on “Team You”, the better.  That way if someone is having an off week and drops the ball, there are four more people in your corner still working for you.
3. Isn’t it easier to brag about someone else than yourself?  Use that to your advantage.  Your partnerships should be reciprocal relationships. You are promoting their work, and your partners are pitching for you.

If you’d like to listen to our call and learn more about the five types of partners you should be looking for, join us at www.thrivingartistcircle.com.

For more information about Greenlight Coach Jessica Sitomer, check out her website at www.thegreenlightcoach.com and her blog at www.andactionbook.blogspot.com.

Unlike casting directors, producers are not inundated with calls, headshots, postcards, and requests from actors.  Yet, they’re the people who are ultimately in charge of hiring you.  A producer’s job is to take meetings and make phone calls.  So, I find they are so much more receptive to an actor’s marketing than a casting director.

I’ve met many casting directors who feel frustrated by the fact that at the end of a long casting process, the actor who gets the job is someone who has a relationship with the producer.

Now, this may sound very unfair but I think it’s really great news because all you have to do is build producer relationships and get on their short list.   You can do that by applying a lot of the same strategies we just talked about with casting directors.  Let me walk you through it.

Step 1
For television producers, identify the producers who work on the television shows that your target casting directors cast.  Look for those producers who have multiple credits, such as Alan Ball.  Not only is he the creator of True Blood, but he is also listed as a writer and director.  When you select producers who wear multiple hats, it’s a safe bet that this person is quite involved in the day-to-day production of the series.

For film, simply identify the producers who work frequently with your dream directors or actors.  A little bit of research will easily lead you to a solid target list of producers.

Step 2
Pick up the telephone and request a meeting. I’m considered to be a leading expert in marketing for actors and if I could only recommend one marketing touch, it would be a phone call.  Phone calls are very scary.  But they are also the least expensive and most effective way to get results quickly.  Embrace the power of your telephone.

I have a student who has really embraced this strategy.  She makes two or three calls a week.  These calls generate about two or three meetings each month.   So, this is a strategy that works. When it comes to the phone, you must be clear about what you want and brave enough to dial.

Step 3
Stay in touch with a monthly marketing campaign.  This can be the same message you send to casting directors.

Step 4
Set up a Google alert for everybody on your target list.  If you go to www.google.com/alerts,  you can basically fill in specific search terms and Google will notify you whenever your search terms show up in the media.

Now, it’s tough to really know when a producer is about to begin production on a project,  so you must let go of any need for immediate results.  Remember, the key here is to get on their shortlist.  Take your need for a job off the table.  Your focus with producers is not about being cast in one particular role; your focus is about building a relationship that will last a lifetime.

I’m about to do something kinda crazy…
Over the last several years now, I’ve developed some pretty incredible marketing tools that have helped hundreds of actors to book more work, land better representation and acquire more auditions in less time, with less effort, and less money.

These tools and techniques are simple to do
and they really work!

Normally, I only share these tips with my coaching clients and students, but for the next seven days, I’m going to share them with you at what my friends think is a “Dallas, you’re nuts” value.

As part of my Actor’s Business Blueprint Home Study Kit (launching in 2010), I’ve created a beautiful, full color marketing template handbook.

This 28-plus page book is packed with more than fifteen simple and proven marketing templates sure to inspire you!

These are the very tools I’ve used to build my business as well as to help tons of actors elevate their careers to the next level.  Now, I want to give you the first and only chance to get this one-of-a-kind resource.

Okay, here’s the skinny…

These templates will soon be part of a larger home study kit, so this is the ONLY TIME I will offer them on their own and at this price. I’m also releasing a very limited number, so you must act very quickly.  Once they’re gone.  They’re gone.

The Actor’s Business Blueprint Template Handbook includes colorful examples of all my favorite marketing tools.  Not only do I show you real-life samples, I share tips and resources to simplify the process for you.

Sorry you missed this great deal.  You can learn more about how to get this product FREE at www.actorsbusinessblueprint.com!

My hubby and I are preparing for a week-long trip to fabulous New York City.  We’ll be hosting a series of free workshops for actors and I’m so excited I can hardly stand it.  I’ve developed a brand new program that I’ll be launching in New York.  It’s designed to help actor accomplish their ultimate career goals through the power of masterminding, extreme decision making, and consistent action.

When I return from NYC on Halloween, I’ll be ready to introduce the program nationally, so stay tuned.

Thanks to all of my friends and colleagues for the great restaurant recommendations.  I wish we had time to visit all of them, but that’ll have to be another trip.  Here are some links to the spots we’ll visit.

Isabella’s NYC

Serafina

Sarabeth’s