MAGICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
* First, a SHOUT OUT to my last accountability buddy, Marsha! Magic, dear lady!
Marsha took a break from acting for a bit. We got together just when she decided it was time for her to come back. One of her goals....book a tv show. She had a target CD. Signed up for her workshop. Guess who got called in already for an audition by her target CD? Yup, Marsha. Way to go! That's what I'm talking about. One Love Miss Henraaaaaaay! :) :)
* Next magical thing! Remember the Marki Costello workshop I took at ActorFest?? She's the 'IT' person in the hosting world. She teaches and manages. Well, she saw my blog, watched a vlog I made, and called me!!! Whaaaaaaat. I thought I was going to throw up. We talked about my brand/product, and she was extremely supportive and encouraging. Her December BootCamp workshop was full but she opened up a spot for me! I signed up quick. ;) Wait, why am I surprised?? I told God/The Universe what I wanted, and it delivered. As always. Thank you. As always. :)
If you want to know more about Marki and her workshops....
SO,
What's your Brand??
You want to take your career to the next level? Know your brand. Who are you? What do you do? What do you represent?? What stories live inside of you and want to be heard? Why do you do what you do? Why would people come to YOU? What do you offer that others don't? How do you make your audience feel?
Do you realize how crucial it is to know this NOW?? Not 'when I get an agent', not 'when I get a manager', not 'when I get a publicist'. Because it's not their job to tell you who you are, what parts you are right for/not right for, when you go out for auditions, what to say/not to say, how much you get paid, what to wear, what jobs to take/not take, etc...
This is all YOU. Your team is there to collaborate with you and guide you as professionals. They are not there to 'make' you. You already exist. You are already here. You already have what it takes to do what you're here to do. It's just a matter of showing up and saying, "Here I Am."
"If you build it, they WILL come". I believe this and know this to be true. And Marki said this a dozen times as well. Trust me, when you build your own thing, you become a magnet, and people will come to you. Whether it's an agent, a manager, a co-writer, a director, an actor/actress, a teacher, a student, etc...will show up. Whoever you need will just show up. They are your miracles and signs that you're on your way. God/The Universe is your co-creator...waiting in the wings for your cue. When will God/The Universe take your cue? When you begin building. Let's begin building.
SO,
How do you find your Brand??
Easy. Just look at your pictures, old and new. There's a pattern. Ask your friends to describe you in one word. There's a pattern. Look at things you have created...anything you have created. There's a pattern.
Also try a little exercise Dallas Travers taught us. Write a list of actors or actresses you like. Not gender specific. Then the role he/she played. Then one adjective to describe why you liked him/her in that role. Write at least 15. Do this first before I tell you what you'll learn from this exercise. Because knowing the rest can influence your answers. :) Answer at bottom of blog post.
OR,
Start creating and doing. This is what helped me. Because the 'Who Am I?', 'What Do I Represent?' questions can get heady. "Am I bubbly? No way. I thought I was sarcastic and dry but, then again, I was awfully cheery just now. Do I come off aloof? I thought I was being totally open and receptive. Am I shy? Damnit! Why didn't I say anything? Maybe I am...................." Heady. But, by doing and seeing...it puts a physical perspective to it. My blog and vlogs are teaching me and showing me. Who knew I was such a Positive Polly. ;) And by doing more and seeing more.....there will be a pattern. The answers are all there.
So whether you decide on a brand and push forward or push forward to discover your brand, as my mom and aunt would say, you figit it out. You figure it out. ;)
SO,
Do you want to go a little deeper?
My accountability buddy, Morrison and I did a book exchange. I'm reading a book of his, The Hero And The Outlaw by Margaret Mark and Carol S. Pearson. This book is about 'Building Extraordinary Brands Through The Power Of Archetypes'. Wow. This book is just what I needed to read.
If you want longevity in your career, this is a MUST READ. Because brands that are based on an archetype thrive. Because you touch your consumers on a soul-level. Because you go deeper into the psyche and touch on a collective consciousness.
Archetypes tell our stories...the most ancient stories. Archetypes give us meaning. Archetypes are universal and timeless myths that show us patterns to teach us the nature of our world. The nature of our world. That is why different cultures tell similar stories. As different as we are, we are the same.
An excerpt from the book:
"Perhaps the underlying reason that archetypes are so enduring is that, in essence, they reflect our inner realities and struggles. The external particulars may vary, but the essential journey is always the same.
Joseph Campbell and other students of mythology maintain that the various myths and archetypes found all around the world are basically expressions of the inner human drama: We can understand them as different expressions of an eternal impulse to find a human meaning in the mystery of creation. We 'recognize' them because we have been programmed to do so. ... In the view of Jung, Campbell, and others, we come into life instinctually resonating to these archetypal stories because of the very ways in which our minds are configured. Therefore, the meaning of a product can be communicated very quickly simply by evoking a story or a concept that calls forth the viewer's instinctual recognition of some fundamental, recognizable truth."
Freud had his archetypes, Jung had his, Campbell had his too...I'm going by what's in the book.
Here is how Mark and Pearson break it down.
ARCHETYPES AND THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTIONS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES
Archetype Helps People Brand Example
Creator Craft something new Williams-Sonoma
Caregiver Care for others AT&T
Ruler Exert control American Express
Jester Have a good time Miller Lite
Regular Guy/Girl Be OK just as they are Wendy's
Lover Find and give love Hallmark
Hero Act courageously Nike
Outlaw Break the rules Harley-Davidson
Magician Affect Transformation Calgon
Innocent Retain or renew faith Ivory
Explorer Maintain independence Levi's
Sage Understand their world Oprah's Book Club
This goes for people too...not just corporations. Jack Nicholsan is the Outlaw, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is the Innocent. Even movies portray archetypal stories...such as, Forrest Gump and Braveheart as the Hero, The English Patient and Titanic as the Lover, and Shakespeare in Love as the Creator.
Pretty cool and powerful stuff, huh?? Which one are you? Which story is your story??
I used to think, "But all the good movies have been made already. But all the good parts have been played already. But all the good stories have been told already. But, But, But." Excuses. Possibilities are unfathomable.
You are a unique being. You dress a certain way. You talk a certain way. You walk a certain way. You love a certain way. You fight a certain way. You believe in certain things. You believe in certain people. You get the point. YOU are one dynamic individual. Believing this is the very first step.
Do you remember factorials in math class??
For example, 5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
Now, take this concept and apply it to all the certain ways about you.
For example, YOU! = __ x __ x __ x __ x __ x __ x __ x __ x __ x __ and on and on it goes because you are constantly evolving, changing, and learning. It's never ending...so many possibilities. And because the possibilities are endless, at any given moment...YOU are that much more hard to copy or replicate. There's only ONE YOU. And because there is ONLY ONE YOU, HOW you do what you do is going to be specific to you...not WHAT you do. Which brings me to my last point.....
NOW,
Become Indispensable.
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”
― Maya Angelou
To understand more about becoming indispensable, here's a great interview with Seth Godin. Seth Godin is the marketer's marketer. He's the guru of our time. They talk about Seth's book, Linchpin: Are you indispensable? Seth is great because not only is he business savvy, he's life savvy. He understands how your work and life go hand in hand. Better yet, how you do your work and how you live your life go hand in hand.
*** Dallas Travers exercise continued...
Once you have listed 15 or more, again, you will see a pattern. What characteristic/essence repeats itself?? You are drawn to that because it is you. You connect with it, you desire it, you despise it, you somehow relate to it. Because it's a part of you. Yep, and you thought you weren't sexy....pshhh. ;)
I hope this post helps you get more specific and empowered about your career. Your brand is up to YOU. Once you have a clear vision of your brand and your mission, run with it. And go build your empire. I'm building mine. :)
I hope to see you and your brand thrive. :)
Have a great week.
with LOVE,
Alex
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