All this talk about the economy getting you down? Clearly, you’re not alone.
As an actor, writer, teacher, coach (and all around freelance kind of guy) I belong to a segment of the population that has to deal with unemployment, job insecurity and finding work as a matter of course. So, while people have been freaking out, I (and many of my friends) have been calm. We continue to do what we always do to bring money in – in spite of the doom and gloom that seems to be everywhere.
How do we do that? By keeping a few things firmly in mind. Stay positive. People are always making money. There’s money out there and money to be had, it’s just a matter of finding it and finding our way to it. Next: Thinking outside the box can be the rule, not the exception. And that way of thinking – leads me to the three keys:
1) Rewrite that resume: It’s happened to me a million times, a job asks for a resume and the one I have doesn’t seem right for what they’re looking for. What’s the solution? Write a new one! If my gut tells me that what I have to offer is a fit for what they’re seeking, then job one is to rewrite my resume to make the case for hiring me. This might involve getting outside help to do the rewrite or talking to a job counselor, but it might just as easily mean spending a few hours rewording job descriptions and changing the summary line at the top of the page. I’m not talking about lying – just shuffling the order and emphasizing the common ground between what you’ve done and what the job calls for. Remember, volunteer work counts as work experience. So rewrite the resume and lean into the relevant skills.
2) Re-envision your skills: (Skills are always transferable): There came a point, after years of acting when I needed to make money doing something else. I didn’t want to do anything else, but I had to pay bills and I had to eat. I paid a visit to the Actors Work Program (a division of the actors fund) and was encouraged to look at my skills from a broader perspective. As an actor I was good at adapting to new situations, eager to problem solve, well spoken and presentable, a self-starter. Where might those skills come in handy? After some brainstorming I found myself teaching: SAT prep, computer skills, writing, and I discovered I could also be indispensable in an office situation – answering phones and helping small companies run day to day – using my problem solving and the ability to be a front man. I found myself working for a small non-profit and then a hedge fund. By using my skills in new ways – I found I was qualified to do work that I’d never done before and I managed to find employment quickly.
3) When in doubt, work for yourself: I wasn’t used to thinking of myself as a business owner (when in fact, an acting career is a business), but then I realized I’d been coaching actor friends for years. People had picked me to work with them on audition material and for career advice. Why not use some of my other skills (as a writer, a computer person, a collaborator, a problem solver) to work with people one on one or in groups – to help people move ahead in career stuff and life stuff. So I started doing just that. The most important thing here is the planning: ask yourself – What am I offering? How does it work? And then, of course, let people know what you’re doing – which means anything from sending email blasts (marketing) to taking out ads (advertising). Be clear about the specifics: (Contracts? Terms? Fees? Location?). Then get out there and let it be known. You’d be surprised how people respond (and pay) when you’re clear about what your services are and how you can help. (A great book to read on the subject is Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port.) Granted, these aren’t the only things to do to run a successful business, but thinking this way is essential if you’re going to start one.
So next time you hear people complaining about the state of things – I suggest you refrain from chiming in. Allow things to look different to you. You can find work, and/or invent it. There are many people out there doing just that, even in these challenging times.
Steve Harper is an actor, playwright, teacher and coach and a 20-year veteran of the entertainment industry. Other creative adventures include producing and writing for radio and television, directing film and theatre projects, writing for print and online publication and teaching multiple disciplines. He is dedicated to helping people show up fully in their creative gifts. More information: http://yourcreativelife.net/
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