This Is Genius - And so are You!

This is Genius- a spoken word poem with a simply directed video tells a pretty cool story:

The question is how far should we take that? We do need some basic education that we can all agree with, but how much of it? And where can we start to divide the herd... and how?

What do YOU think?



This Is Genius - YouTube

How NOT To Talk To An Actor

You're probably expecting some list of "Do it this way..." or "That was nice, but I wish you had.."

But this post is not about that at all. I just wanted you to know.

I recently became a parent, and so I've been reading all sorts of articles, books, and blogs about how to be a better one.

Some people think that's dumb.

But for me, I've noticed that anything I excel in- and it is a great many things- I have done well not because I follow other people's advice, but because I get enough advice that I get to CHOOSE from the options.

In other words, if I just go with what I know, then my choices are limited.

Also, by being a "generalist", I get to incorporate ideas from all sorts of places, and allow my brain to make connections....

I'll get to where ACTORS come into this in a minute, and it's not what you think.

So the other day, I read an article called How Not To Talk To Your Children, and it was all about the random, unfettered praise some people give their kids. Not in the "You're making kids soft" way, I mean the stuff that EVERYONE thinks is a good idea:

Like saying "You're smart!"

I mean, who can argue with that, right?

Well, it turns out that telling kids they are Smart after they do something means that the only way for them to go from there is DUMB.

So many people avoid trying anything they know they won't succeed at.

This is VERY true.

I swear, I'm getting to actors... just hold on!

In my life, I was labeled smart pretty early, and in Junior High school, I was in the "Special Progress" class, and we were kinda isolated from the rest of the school... whom we all knew were dummies. Not our fault- it was kind of an understood thing among us.

Then I went to The Bronx High School Of Science, where being "smart" was the pre-requisite for admission.

I've been around the label "smart" for a long time.

Anyway, I can say with absolute confidence that many of the people I know are PETRIFIED of being "found out" as NOT being as smart as they are assumed to be.

Myself included.

Do you see where I'm going yet with Acting?

So, the study goes on to show how these kids who are labeled "smart" and praised as "smart" when they get a simple test correct are DE-MOTIVATED from trying anything that may be a challenge for them.

However, kids who are praised for their EFFORT are not only emotionally boosted, they are MOTIVATED to try a harder task. You see, we all like praise, so if we can get it through trying something HARD we'll get it.

NOW comes the acting part.

For Actors, this is a one-two punch.

Everyone says that the acting business is tough, and we actors are constantly praised by other people for "trying to be an actor", and "good for you!" for going for our dreams, and blah, blah, blah. And if we're not being as successful as Tom Hanks, then "at least we're trying".

So we get praised for that.

Then there's when we actually do perform... we get APPLAUSE.  I mean, for someone who is feeling unworthy of attention (an almost cliche trait of an actor), that mass praising is an addictive, irresistible drug.

But then- the praise that probably harms and destroys more careers than any is:

"You're so talented"

Talent may kill your career

Because now- we should be rich and famous actors based on our TALENT as opposed to because we WORKED hard at it.

And I don't just mean a performance, I mean being in the business.

Kind of like "If you're talented, you don't need to promote yourself- your TALENT will make you stand out" kind of idea.

It even works to REMOVE our pride when we DO get a job because as we know- "Only the talentless actually WORK" becase they are "promoting", and "networking", and doing whatever "FALSE" things they have to do because their TALENT didn't get them there.

Do you understand what I'm saying here?

Believing in your "TALENT" might be exactly what will prevent you from using it!

"Unrecognized Genius" is a cliche, and the more UNrecognized we can be- then the MORE genius we must have, right?

So, aside from the praise- it's easier to be "Talented", but never be in a position to have that questioned.

From my own life, I am MUCH more attracted to parts that I feel are "within my wheelhouse" of skills. Now, of course that's a good business strategy in general (Tom Hanks will NEVER play an action hero vigilante), but maybe I'm also trying to avoid being BAD and "untalented" in my performances.

Fortunately, I've realized that it's always best to be the WORST in any group, so you can learn the most. How do we teach this to younger kids though? Especially those who show a "Talent" for something....

What about you?

Did this make sense to anyone else, or did I connect too many ideas?

How Actors and Artists Can Use Their Blog To Get Work

I made this powerpoint in October... of 2013... and I never made the video!

So, when I found this, I figured that people would benefit from it, so I
made this super quick. Tell me what you think!




http://www.JobsStink.com/Blog/


The Kalatu Blogging platform starts with a 21-Day Blogging Challenge,
it's fun, but you obviously don't havr to do it- check it out here- http://www.JobsStink.com/Blog/

So, Actors have learned that having websites are good as digital business cards, but what your blog can be is a sort of magazine about YOU as an actor, or as a person.

An Actor can use their blog to get work because part of out business is "getting known",
and that is exactly what a blog is for. Artists use their bogs all the time to show their fans their new work, so why not YOU?

Check out the Kalatu Blog- http://www.JobsStink.com/Blog/

And if you'd like to Build Your Acting Business without a day job, go to http://www.NoMoreWaiters.com/Free/

How To Write A Kid's Book, and Make It A Best-Seller

Every once in a while, I get a call from someone who wants to write a book. Sometimes it's fiction, sometimes it's non-fiction, but my favorite is when they ask about my children's books.

I wrote and published "What Kind Of Penguin Are You" and "What Kind Of Owl Are You" not too long ago, and I thought I would pass along a few ideas.

Know this: Parents want to entertain and make their kids happy! Now that I am a father, I will buy and read ANY book that seems half-way decent if it will make my kid smile!

If your intention is to create smiles, then you really can't go too wrong. When I wrote those books, I imagined that I was reading them aloud, because that's probably how they'll be read. 

Is it entertaining on it's own? 

What about the visuals? My books visuals are extremely simple, but other people make very elaborate pictures to bring kids into the world of their books. 

Not many people know this, but my Penguin book was written AND published in a 24-hour period, and has been selling ever since.If you set things up in a smart way, your book can have a long cycle.

HOWEVER, the biggest thing I learned is that there is a difference between writing a book, and publishing and selling a book, and I had to learn that VERY IMPORTANT lesson from someone else.

I learned how to do all of this (and many other things) from my secret weapon- Jay Boyer.

JOIN THE WEBINAR

His company JJ Fast publishes many kinds of books, and I am actually an excellent customer of theirs and have learned a lot from them. 

They are doing a children's book publishing webinar this week, and I am very excited to add some extra tips to my knowledge:

Join Jay's Free Webinar

I learned a number of great things from Jay:

1. How to find ideas for kids books
2. Where I can find illustrators for cheap
3. When is a good time to sell children's books
4. Why Children's Kindle books can be a steady source of income

If you want to learn how to be a children's book author, I suggest you get on his webinar before it fills up. He always provides great info, and I can't recommend him and his company enough.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEBINAR

See you on the webinar!

11 Things You MUST Accept To Make Everyday A Snow Day

Today, New York City is on Lockdown because we were all expecting a HUGE snowstorm...

But it didn't happen.

People are home today with their kids, and on facebook they are all talking about how GREAT it is to have a "Snow Day" again, and how wonderful it would be to always have this option.

You CAN have this option everyday. I've been saying it for years.

I've taught and taught, and taught, and it seems like people are finally getting it.

You really CAN build your life and income without a day job.

There are a few things you have to accept though:

11 Things You MUST Accept To Have A "Snow Day" Everyday...

1- You have to have snow

2- You have to make money another way

3- You can make money by selling things online.

4- You can make money by selling OTHER people's things online.

5- You can just promote a link, and get paid for that.

6- One of the best ways to do that is with a blog.

7- You will make money by offering a LIST OF PEOPLE many different things.

8- You can do all of this at the same time

9- You can do it enough that you never need to ask someone for a job or day off again.

10- You can do whatever you want with your life when you aren't trading time for money.

11- You can sled, ski, snowball fight, or make snowmen all day when you aren't working a day job.

Can you accept those 11 logical steps?

Great- then put them all together here-  http://www.truthorhypetv.com/?id=friends

He Was About To Punch A Wall (Tears Part 2)

(In case you missed PART 1, you can read that here:

http://www.youcantmissthis.com/2015/01/she-was-in-tears.html )

*************************************

PART 2- He was about to punch a wall...

There was a girl at what was basically a fancy job fair, and she was 

an actress on the verge of quitting so she could get "stability"...

She kept saying that word "Stability"

I had heard that earlier in the night from this guy I knew.

I didn't know he could get angry so easily.

You see, he was also at this fancy job fair, looking for what he hoped

would be his future.

You see- he has a wife. 

And Kids.

And he's from a family that.... well.... he should be doing "better".

So he was there looking for "stability" too.

And I bet when you hear that word, you get a nice warm feeling in your chest now

because it's something that people are supposed to be looking for.

-especially when they have a wife and kids.

and when your family is expecting you to do "better".

But what if I told you that in the NEW ECONOMY, that idea of "stability" is

exactly the TRAP that keeps people stuck in a race they can't win?

When I started my conversation with him, I made the mistake of saying

"You'll be fine- think of all the skills you've gotten!"

I saw him purse his lips, as if he's heard it before.

I knew how he felt; I certainly have heard it before:

"Oh, you're smart- you'll figure out something!"

That was when I could hardly look my wife in the face because I had

just used the last paper towel to clean the kitchen, and I didn't

even have enough money to go get a new roll.

I couldn't afford a NEW ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS.

In fact, my friend had bought me a HAIRCUT a few days before,

A HAIRCUT.

So, I knew my saying "You'll figure out something" 

wasn't all that reassuring to him in the moment.

"Yeah, I will, yeah..." he said, trailing off as he probably wanted

to punch the next guy who said that in the face.

You see, the girl could get choked up and teary-eyed with me

while she told me of her money worries,

But with men, it's a different thing,

Most of us channel our fear and sadness into anger- it's more

acceptable in our society, sometimes even celebrated.

The thing is, sometimes it's even resourceful.

Sometimes you can get mad enough that you say

"THAT'S IT! I WANT A CHANGE!! And you can say it angrily

enough that you scare yourself into action.

You can SCARE YOURSELF into action.

But this guy was beaten down. Questioning, wondering.

Looking for "Stability".

That girl who was about to quit acting said she was just going

to give up and get a "stable Job"

Y'know, trade the "acting thing" for the "desk thing".

Because she figured that was easy to do.

but if it was so easy, then why were all these other people

at this job fair?

Why were all these other people with degrees from an expensive school

there looking for a desk thing?

They were there with resumes, and suits, and shaking hands,

and giving out phone numbers and LinkedIn profiles for one of 

these "Stable" Desk things.

Maybe they're not that stable after all.

The main speaker was a woman who ran an international company,

and she had graduated 30 years prior.

She was telling us that when she started working, you could go from

the mailroom to the boardroom, but that it was different now.

She told us that at her company, they got 25,000 applications

for 10 jobs.

25,000 applications for 10 jobs.

So what do you think her advice was?

This is someone who works at an extremely high-level company,

in an extremely high-level industry.

Her advice was....

"Be better that the competition"

That's what she said.

"Be better"

So when this guy was bottling up his anger, I could only guess

that he had "Be better" in his mind.

Along with that he should be "Doing better"

and that there were 24,999 other people who were trying to "be better"

so they could be one of the 10.

I changed my course of conversation with him.

I knew that he had been let go from a well-paying job where

he was given a lot of responsibilities.

He had managed several high-end restaurants.

He lived in a nice section of Manhattan.

With his wife.

And their kids.

But here he was, looking, but trying very hard not to look like it.

And here I was, all smiles and "motivational-ly"

Exactly the wrong thing.

I could see he wanted an ANSWER, and he wanted it

before his temper blew. Either here...

Or at home.

So, since I was all smiles, and since I was being all 

"motivational-ly", and acting like I had all the answers...

I gave him one.

I gave him the same answer I give everyone.

The same answer I had heard before.

GET OUT OF THE RACE.

"Why are you looking for a job, when you have all these skills?"

Huh?

"You don't need someone to hire you"

Was I being a wise-ass? Was I about to get punched?

You see, I don't compete with 25,000 other people.

The last time I put a resume together was for a gig that I invented.

There WAS no other resume but mine.

That was my stability. It was that there WAS no one but me to rely on.

No suits, no hand-shaking, no LinkedIn profiles.

My stability comes from my own skills, and my own learning.

I told him my favorite way to make money, and my favorite way

to make jobs and money come to ME. I told him how he already

had the bulk of it, he just needed to PACKAGE it.

He looked at me like I had punched HIM in the face.

Of course! It's so obvious!

GET OUT OF THE RACE.

Let the other 25,000 run their hearts out, and claw at each other's

faces.

You WALK your race.

With your wife.

With your kids.

I told him to do the one thing that HUGE businesses do,

that you can do for yourself right now.

In fact, you're LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW.

He relaxed, he said that I was brilliant.

And that he would think about how to do it.

I gave him my card, and told him to call me when he was

ready to take action now, and not just talk about it.

We'll see what he does.

What are YOU going to do?

If you're ready to take action, then click here:

http://13.spinsphere.pay.clickbank.net/

She Was In Tears

She was in tears... and even though the room was crowded,

she wanted an answer more than she felt embarrassed.

Let me back up.

I was asked by my alma-mater to come and be a mentor to

people who were "in transition" from their careers.

That means people looking for a job.

There were a lot of people there- in fact, the room was pretty

packed considering that we had all graduated from a very

expensive school, and many of us probably still owed money

for our degree.

People know that if you want to get ahead, you PAY to learn.

and then you use what you learn to GET PAID.

But a lot of these people PAID, but didn't learn the right things

to GET PAID.

That's why they were looking for jobs.

I wasn't one of them.

I was at a table for "people in the arts and communications",

and our table had only two people who were actually working in

the arts:

A producer, who works her regular job behind the scenes,

and me.

You see, I graduated with an ENGLISH degree, and I have a few

books out on Amazon, as well as one with Simon and Schuster.

I paid a lot to learn how to do that. 

And I pay a lot now to get better,

so I can get paid better.

So there I was answering some questions for aspiring writers

when she walked up.

Not walked- Stomped.

She was pretty, tall, and had fire a big smile that she had obviously practiced.

I could tell behind her smile was frustration.

"I've seen you on TV, right?"

she asked.

"Yeah, I'm an actor too" I said, kinda sheepishly.

"Yeah, I know that- your bio says you do a lot of stuff"

she said, as if she didn't believe me.

"Well, I learned that if I was going to be an actor, i was going

to have to do something else also, and I learned that a day job

wasn't going to be it, and I certainly wasn't waiting tables.

"Well, I'm an actress, and I'm about to quit"

When she said this, I could hear the smallest quiver in her voice.

It was then that someone else asked me about writing, and I

got kinda side tracked.

I told the writers there that they had to stop being "writers", and 

start being "Authors"...

Because "Authors" write books THAT ARE FOR SALE.

And it's the only thing that a publisher cares about.

Because publishers PAY writers so they can GET PAID.

She broke in again:

"Well, I'm just tired of being broke, and not getting any work, and

seeing people like you on TV, and not knowing how they did it."

"Why don't you just ask?"

"Well, I already know, but how did you get your agent, and what

kinds of shows do I have to do so agents come to see?"

That's when I hit her with the first Brick

"NONE OF MY AGENTS HAVE EVER SEEN ME IN ANYTHING."

"Huh?"

"Nope. Nothing. Because they don't care about that. It's not part of

why they work with me. They work with me because I book jobs.

I PAY them because I GET PAID"

That's when she started welling up and her voice went up a few octaves:

"But I don't understand, I've been sending postcards for agents to come

to my shows, and how am I supposed to get any work if I don't have

an agent, and how can I get an agent if they won't come see me?"

"What do your friends tell you?"

"Huh? Y'know, we all are kinda wondering."

"'Exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"I already know the whole story. All of your friends are doing shows,

and talking about how no one is paying attention, and you really should

have jobs by now, and some of them are 30 now, so their quitting 

acting for their day jobs."

"Yeah... I'm 31"

"Yeah.... I know. A lot of my friends quit around them too. They

couldn't get paid, so they quit. Instead, I paid to learn about other

things, and so now I get paid."

She cleared her throat to get a hold of herself, but

I could see her eyes welling up.

I cared, and I was there to help, so I gave her the total truth:

"You gotta stop hanging out with the people

who aren't doing any of the things you want to do, and find 

new people to get around."

"What do you mean"

I said: "If none of your friends have the answer, then you have

to find it. YOU have to be the one to do something about your 

acting BUSINESS"

I emphasized the word "Business".

"See, I learned how to have a business online,

and since I needed help with that, I found people who were successful

in that.

Then I figured I should do the same thing with my acting career.

I stopped hanging out with the losers, and found some winners to learn from."

This is when the writers started asking questions again.

By now, I had a small crowd around me.

One of the writers said "My friends get together and we write stuff"

I asked the obvious: "Which one of you is published?"

None.

"Which one of you has SELF-published"

None.

"Which of you gets paid to write?"

Strike three.

 I told them "You need to change where you're getting your information from,

and more importantly:

You have to change WHO you're getting your information from."

See, I created a private facebook group for people who want to be successful

in LIFE: As actors, writers, as business people and artists.

Because the very FIRST lesson is this:

We are ALL Business people.

And the ones who RUN their business of art are the ones who succeed.

And what i mean by succeed is GET PAID.

Whether they want to learn about Acting, writing, online business

or offline business:

We can all learn from each other's successes.

So, if you're someone who would like to learn any one of these areas,

or someone who wants to help other people..

Or Both...

I'm going to invite you to my PRIVATE facebook group.

"Private" means PAY FOR.

It means you PAY, so you can GET PAID.

Is it a lot? I don't know- that depends on whether your free friends

at the bar and in your show are costing you the dreams you want.

That's REAL.

If you're not sure just see whether they have what you want.

NOW... Do they have what you want NOW?

Not in 10 years when everything is great- see what they have NOW.

If it's not what you want NOW, then find new people to learn from.

I'm offering you my help, if you value your own dreams, and are willing

to pay the price for your dreams.

You either pay for success or you pay for failure.

I told her all of this because I cared about her, and because so many​

of my friends were her- and now they've become what she was CRYING

to not become.

So- I gave her my card, and told her to contact me.

She just did.

She is willing to pay the price for success and happiness- Are You?

If yes, CLICK HERE : http://www.NoMoreWaiters.com/Private/