Actors – Four Secrets to Setting Smart Goals

One of the easiest mistakes to make as an actor is to set ambiguous or general goals. Ambiguity creates resistance because you are unsure of the steps you must take. Ambiguity makes it impossible to measure your progress because you don’t know where the finish line is or how close you are to getting there. Ambiguity does not serve you.

The more specific and clear you can make your goals, the more specific and clear your path will be. Specificity is a powerful thing. It’s one of the greatest motivators and sources of inspiration while you’re out there pursuing your dream. Specificity serves as a measuring stick. If you want to make money as an actor, how much money do you want to make? Do you want to make it as an extra or the lead in a successful series? If you want to expand your industry relationships, with whom, specifically, do you want to meet? How many people? What precisely do you want the relationship to look like? Get crystal clear about where you’re going so you’ll know how to get there.

There is a thin line between being specific and limiting yourself, so be careful. Specificity works to motivate you, not discourage or limit you. Be specific enough to catapult yourself into inspired action without limiting yourself or getting mired down in the minute details.

A short-term goal is achievable when you believe it is. Really, it’s that simple. You must believe that what you desire is truly possible. If you don’t believe in it, what’s the point in pursuing it?

Okay all you perfectionists out there… listen up! I know you think you’re just keeping high standards for your life when you set these super-high expectations for yourself. You’re not fooling anyone. You’re just falling victim to the most cunning form of resistance I know and it’s called perfectionism. Let me tell you something. There is no such thing as perfect. It isn’t real, so give it up. When you set a goal that’s too far out of reach, the only thing you are doing is setting yourself up for failure and giving yourself an excuse not to really go for it. I’m not telling you to play it safe, but I am suggesting that you commit to creating consistent momentum over the long haul by setting and reaching incremental goals in order to realize your long-term vision one day. In order to lose fifty pounds, you must first lose one, then two pounds, and then a few more pounds. Eventually, you will indeed lose all fifty pounds, but to expect yourself to do it overnight insures disappointment and failure. This is true for your acting career as well. It doesn’t make sense to assume that you’re going to be an overnight success. Outline achievable short-term goals so that your success will come, not overnight, but perhaps over a few short years. Don’t fall victim to your own perfectionism and impatience. Release your high expectations of yourself and replace them with divine desires for your life.

When it comes to your goals, do you truly believe that one day you will accomplish them or do you only wish for them? When you wish for something, it’s out of your control and you are separate from it. Wishing leads to wishywashy actions that lead you nowhere. Stop wishing and start believing that your goals are indeed achievable.

Is your short-term goal something you really want? Does it matter enough to you that you’re willing to do what it takes to make it happen? If not, your goal isn’t genuine and your journey toward achieving it will be long and arduous.

I coached an actor named Brian who, at nineteen, seemed to have his entire career already figured out. Brian saw his long-term vision clearly and he had a plan. Brian’s dream career consisted of acting in big summer blockbusters. He looked forward to A-List status and huge box office appeal. Brian’s plan was to begin by pursuing commercials. After he booked a couple of those and secured a SAG card, he’d get a contract role on a soap opera and develop a fan base. From there, he’d move into guest starring roles on prime time television eventually moving up to series-regular status, then to starring in his own series. After the series ran for a couple of years, he’d finally make his way into movies and eventually become the action hero he always dreamed of. According to Brian’s plan, being an action hero was only about nine years away. Yup. You read correctly – nine whole years.

Though Brian’s plan was certainly specific, he felt stuck. His short-term goal was to snag a commercial agent, but he could not motivate himself to take action because frankly, he didn’t care at all about booking commercials, starring on a soap, or even having a series. His true desire was to play an action hero in big budget films. That was his purpose, and it didn’t include commercial work.

I asked Brian how his pursuits might look different if he only had to pursue the goals he wanted for his career rather than the things he thought were easiest or most likely to happen. Well, Brian hadn’t thought of that! After contemplating this new possibility for a few moments, Brian’s face lit up and he rattled off dozens of short-term goals much more in line with his long-term vision than his previous plan. He decided to cultivate relationships with directors and producers who typically work on action films. He decided to specifically market himself as an action hero. And he decided to pursue stunt work and independent films. Brian was so excited about these ideas that he was forced to act on them. He began networking with action film directors and producers, creating an actionbased demo reel, doing stunt work on films and developing his action hero persona.

Just two years later, Brian booked the lead in an independent action film that got DVD distribution, he auditioned for the lead role in two big budget action features, and his name is currently attached to three other major action flicks. Wouldn’t you know it that Brian also booked a couple of commercials, a co-star credit on television, and even a couple of days on a daytime soap opera! Of course he said “yes!” to these opportunities when they arrived, but Brian never took his eyes off the super hero vision that motivated him into action every single day.

Brian is years ahead of schedule because he committed to specific short-term goals directly in line with his long-term vision without worrying about how other actors in the business developed their own careers. His short-term goals were genuinely his, which gave him ownership of his career and kept him moving forward.

How does your goal fit into the broader picture of your life? What will you do after you accomplish this short-term goal? Everything you do is connected, so be sure that you know how each step in your career pursuit connects to the next. What’s your timeline? Without connecting the dots between each individual short-term goal you cannot maintain consistent momentum. So keep your eyes on the big picture.

Recently, my client named Caroline decided she had to get her house in order before she could take any action toward her acting goals. Her home was in complete disarray, which left her feeling scattered, frustrated, and unmotivated. Caroline knew that the way she treated her house was a direct reflection of the way she approached her career. For many people, cleaning your house has nothing at all to do with making it as an actor. But for Caroline, a messy house was the only block between where she wanted to take her career and the current state of things.

Stack your goals up against these four components to discover whether or not your goals are sage goals. Make adjustments and corrections where you need and then go turn those goals into realities.