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Today’s question comes from a member of our community who participated in a recent Community Call and is answered by Laura Berman Fortgang.

Question: After a career in sales, I’ve decided to go for acting. Over the last few years I’ve taken some classes, done a TV commercial, and have received positive feedback. I know it’s a long shot. I’m in my late 50’s and it’s a risk financially. It’s a challenge and feels scary but I also know that I haven’t been able to make anything else happen career-wise. What do you think?

Answer:

You’ve clearly stated this is something you want to do and if that’s the case, you’ve got to be the one to beat the odds. That’s the frame of mind you’ll need to be in and applies to anyone, whether you’re in the middle of a job search, starting a business, or any other endeavor. Treating it like a business every day is also important. That means putting some structure around the actions you need to take, for example: finding an agent, going to a certain number of auditions every week, and taking some action every day. Keep taking acting classes and spend time with positive people.

In order to move forward with something that’s risky, ask yourself: If I never got paid, would I still do it? If you’re answer is yes, that means you might really love doing it, regardless of whether it turns into your full-time employment. Also ask yourself: How much time can I give myself with no regrets? For instance, can you give it a year? If your answer is yes, go do that without looking over your shoulder and find the joy in it every day. If after a year there’s no traction with this direction, you can reassess.