It seems like there are two ways of thinking about opportunities…
One way says that not all opportunities are equal, and you should be judicious about what opportunities you put yourself out there for.
The other way says that every opportunity is valuable, because you never know what might come of a lesser opportunity.
Being a consummate Gemini, I’m torn on this issue, so bear with me.
I’m of two minds on the issue… (lol, this image is weird, creepy and also I had to use it anyway)
On one hand:
Time is limited.
We cannot possibly take advantage of every opportunity, nor should we try.
The 80/20 rule says to put most of your energy into the 20% of effort that yields 80% of your results. In order to do that, we need to analyze where we are putting most of our energy, and where our results are coming from.
On the other hand:
Some of us complain about not having enough opportunity, while simultaneously turning down opportunities we deem unworthy.
We cannot possibly know the end outcome of a single path taken.
The 80/20 rule only works for steps we’re already taking. If you haven’t really tried a particular path fully, then you can’t compare it to the results from another path.
I truly believe every opportunity is valuable.
I have had opportunities come from the strangest and most unlikely of places:
From doing a screenplay reading during a blizzard, I reaped a full-time job at an ad agency.
From acting in a student film project, I gained my longest-running (and nicest) voiceover client.
From doing a small part in a play with a small theatre company, I became friends with some really great people, and found my interest in Commedia dell’Arte and physical theatre, which also led to me visiting one of those friends in Italy on my first ever trip abroad.
From signing up for a voiceover class, I was added to a mailing list, auditioned for an audio drama, and the directors introduced me to another podcaster, which led to me getting cast as the lead in one of his audio dramas, which has been SO MUCH FUN!
From cold calling a company once, interacting with them occasionally on social media, and sending maybe three emails over four years, I eventually booked about $4000 worth of work with them on a single job. And my hope is that eventually, we’ll work together again.
From getting cast in a theatre production, and then quitting it in the first week of rehearsal, I gained a connection with the director. And despite my quitting, he came to me a few years later and booked me on a paid on-camera industrial gig. Which led to me meeting the guy who played opposite me, who introduced me to an actor friend of his who was in Atlanta, and we became friends and he offered to introduce me to his agent…you see how these things can spiral outward.
From the perspective on the ground, it’s impossible to tell a promising path from a dead end.
So, on one hand:
Yes, I do believe we have to filter our opportunities somewhat.
We don’t have the time or energy to do EVERYTHING. And we definitely don’t have interest in everything.
And I’m not in favor of taking work that goes against our values or feels exploitative.
But on the other hand:
I don’t think we’re always the best judge of what is valuable, what might lead to something, or who really wants our skills.
Oftentimes, I audition for something on the P2P sites just on a whim, not thinking anything will come of it, and those are the ones I book (slam poetry??? Really???)
I also don’t think we’re always the best judge of what we might be interested in, or what might lead to personal and professional growth (notice, this isn’t JUST about short-term money making, but creating a career).
I used to find yoga boring, and then I became obsessed.
I used to think I had NO INTEREST in improv. I was terrified of it, and judged it. After a few classes, I found I LOVED it. It’s one of the most useful acting classes I’ve ever had.
I used to despise physical theatre—in college, that class was one of my least favorite. I wasn’t good at it, had no interest in it. Eventually, I found Viewpoints and devised theatre, and fell in love with it.
Finding value in something can require a commitment before you see the value
Sometimes, I think, we just need to get over ourselves and give something a real try, especially when the universe keeps handing us opportunities to do that thing.
Lately, for me, it’s audiobooks. I’ve always been resistant, but I’ve gotten some openings lately, and I feel like I should explore them. I keep thinking that I won’t enjoy the work of doing audiobooks…yet, I haven’t tried it. So how would I know?
My acting teacher always said, if you resist something, it’s probably something you really need.
With yoga, I needed some mindfulness. With improv, I needed to learn to trust my instincts and learn to react honestly and spontaneously. With physical theatre, it was learning to connect to and trust others.
So, with audiobooks, maybe it’s that I need some storytelling and character work in my life again.
Once upon a time…there was a girl who needed an outlet for creative storytelling…
Another acting biz saying that I love:
You’re not auditioning for a role; you’re auditioning for your career.
You may feel like your auditions are going into the void, but every chance to be seen (or heard) is an opportunity.
A director or casting director might pass on you fifty times before they find the right role for you.
A production company might never reply to your emails, until one day, seven years after the first one, they reach out with a job.
You might audition for someone’s unpaid passion project, and then they hire you for a lucrative gig through their day job.
All of these things are happening behind the scenes. You just see a wall of doors, and you can’t tell just by peeking through them which door leads to a dead end, and which leads to treasure.
Don’t waste time trying to decide if you have time to do both!
If you have an over abundance of the types of opportunities you want and don’t have time for them all, then congrats. Judge away!
However…
If you keep wondering when you’re going to get your break, and yet you’re turning down opportunities that are coming your way because you are judging them as “not for you,” you might want to rethink your strategy.
You may very well be closing doors that lead to the very opportunities you seek.
What opportunities do you keep passing on that might actually be a doorway to something great? Share below!
I hope you’ll be brave enough to put aside the judgement and explore what gift those opportunities might have to offer you.