by Maria Ross, Red Slice
I met someone the other day who told me she wanted to get into acting. So what did she do? She got involved behind the scenes instead. Her plan was that she’d “fall into” being used on-set and on-camera by understanding the behind-the-scenes operations. Luckily, one time she did get asked to be a stand-in on set (a pretty cool paying gig that helps you get used to being on camera and on-set).
Bless her heart. How comfortable to want the rewards without taking the risk. And how easy to put the risk of failure on someone else (“But no one ever noticed me back there!”).If you want to act, act. Don’t just be an extra, don’t be a production assistant…take some damn acting classes, get professional head shots and start auditioning for any and every role you can. If you want to start a jewelry line, start a jewelry line. Take a course, experiment with some designs, and see if you can start throwing living room parties or snag a booth at your local farmer’s market. If you want to launch your own consulting business, launch your own consulting business. Leverage the skills you’ve spent time, sweat and money developing, package them up into some irresistible offerings and just start networking.
Don’t say, “Well, I do this but one day I’d really like to (BLANK).” Start with “I’m a (BLANK) at heart, but I pay my bills doing X.” Half of being something is saying you are that something. Once you start leading with that, you’ll be surprised at the referrals or opportunities that can come your way. I am a writer, an actress and a branding consultant. That is what I am. That is what is in my blood. Do I get the occasional, “Oh you’re an actress! Have I seen any of your work?” Sure I do. But my answer is, “Probably not. I do a lot of theatre and the occasional short film project” (like I did this past weekend). But you know what? I am in plays. I am in short films. Ergo, I ACT! Just because my face is not plastered across tabloids or I don’t have a multi-million dollar movie deal with Scorsese (how sweet would that be?!), I still act. Fame does not equate to doing the activity. I’ve never been to the Olympics either – does that mean I’m not “really” a skier?
When I opened my brand consulting business, I had to consciously stop defining myself by what I was and start embracing who I had become. No more, “Well, I used to be a Silicon Valley marketing director but now I’m doing my own thing.” It became, “I am a branding consultant with almost 20 years’ experience with clients large and small.” Granted, you have to have the chops to back up your swagger (ie, an authentic brand). You can’t go around saying you’re an amazing tennis player or doctor or astronaut if you are not – but if you actually do the work and engage in the activity, then why not stake your claim?
In my experience, it seems women have a bit more trouble doing this than men. Why do you think that is?
No one is going to cast/hire/buy jewelry from someone who is not really committed to it. If you don’t take yourself seriously, why should others? Why would they spend their money on someone who is not really quite sure they can deliver? Confidence and moxie attract. If you don’t get out there and claim your space, believe me, no one else will do it for you.
Maria Ross is the founder and chief strategist of Red Slice, a branding and marketing consultancy based in Seattle. Her passion is storytelling and she has advised start-ups, solopreneurs, non-profits and large enterprises on how to craft their brand story to engage, inform and delight customers. Maria is the author of Branding Basics for Small Business: How to Create an Irresistible Brand on Any Budget (2010, Norlights Press).
This post originally appeared on Red-Slice.com.
