How do you define success? One word HAPPINESS. A very good friend once told me if you have your health and are surrounded by people who love you, you have everything in life you are entitled too. How do you define career success? That’s something different. That can change. Let’s say you are an actor and your goal in life is to “be a star like Tom Cruise.” Or a singer and your goal in life is to be Taylor Swift. You may never make it to that level but if your career becomes Jake from those State Farm or Lily from the AT & T commercials, or a constantly working session singer are you a professional success? By my definition you are. You can always satisfy your other creative dreams by singing in a night club or doing local theatre. And how do you get there? Hard work and lots and lots of luck. I truly believe the greatest novel ever or the greatest script ever written is sitting in a drawer somewhere because the author never got a break. Was Matthew Perry a success? Professionally yes but in life…hardly.
The most valuable resource you have in any business is time. Don’t waste it. Use it well.
Time fly’s by in the blink of an eye. What you do with it will determine your success.
My good friend a two-times Emmy Award winning actor Jay Thomas once told me there is no room for any of us i business. You have to make a place for yourself. I’ll give you an example. Susan Egan was a star on Broadway in her 20’s and early 30’s. She created the roll of Belle in Beauty in the Beast and went on to star in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret and many more. Her star shone brightly. Then she hit the inevitable lull in her career. Did she sulk and hang her head, no. She created her own luck. Susan conceived and sold Disney on concept of a music showcase “The Disney Princesses” in which she now tours with three other Disney Broadway stars to sold out shows worldwide. Susan, dare I say is cleaning up. I am so proud of her. But ask Susan and she would surely say her two daughters are her real princesses.
The Irish Poet Oscar Wilde once said, “Put your genius into your life but only your talent into your work.”
Let me end with words from one person who did just that, John Lennon: ” When I was 5 years old my mother told me happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they
asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
Mama Lennon was a smart woman.
