I think you missed out "luck". I don't think I've ever heard a story of a successful person where they didn't *also* have some luck besides those other things. I know you worked and work very hard at everything you do, Ken, but imagine if you *hadn't* been reading Teichman's biography of George S. Kaufman at the right time in the right place...
I think "serendipity" ought to be distinguished from "luck" although the ideas do overlap. You could say that luck requires some sort of readiness; Robert Heinlein had a character of his say once, in a 1958 novel, "There is no such thing as luck. There is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe." By contrast (as I see it), serendipity is more a matter of happy coincidence.
Luckily I adhere to all 10 things on that list. And Wendy is correct, LUCK does come into play, as does TIMING. I also think just being a fun/pleasant/outgoing/kind/positive person who doesn't repel or alienate the others is important - someone people WANT to work with.
People always hate it when I try to explain how difficult the goal is, but they're not even on the map if they can't understand how much is required of them.
Last year a major studio made an open offer of an entry-level position. I'm not exaggerating here. They said, "We're only looking at the first seven hundred resumes and will choose twelve finalists who will intern until we decide which one to hire." That was especially strange for me to see because I had already worked at that studio but had been shut out during a reorganization.
Naturally, there are less extreme ways to get employment. Most hiring takes place entirely within the business, no need for cattle calls. I've gotten jobs without formally applying for them because my work floats around various offices as projects get packaged. Sometimes people recommend me. The thing is, though, the recommender puts themself on the line that way and the recommendee owes the person that sticks their neck out not to disappoint them. Early in my career I used to be loose about trying to hook people up and would inevitably get an irate phone call almost immediately from the employer saying, "Why did you send me that idiot? We lost an entire day and still have to find someone who knows what they're doing." Wasting someone's time is a federal offense in this high-pressure field.
That's when you learn what to look for in an applicant. If someone shows up for a meeting unprepared and unfocused, wanting to involve you in their great Hollywood adventure but not contributing anything to the project at hand, they've failed the audition. It's not like we're giving them a trick quiz, but that they came into the game with all the wrong ideas and are unwilling to let go of them. Another common disaster is trying to explain how hard the work is and the wannabe yells, "I AM working hard!" when they're nowhere near the mark. They're mad because they expected things to be easy and feel it's unfair that the real-life job isn't that way. On the other hand, it's exciting when someone comes along who can't hide their energy and perseverance. And yes, sometimes it really does feel you have to go through seven hundred misfires before you find a team member like that.
In the writing Venn diagram of talent and persistence there is a very tiny intersection where the two may come together. However, it's very rare. That's why I've said so many times that that is why there is so much mediocre product out there. Because the people that make it in this industry may not necessarily be the best; they just worked harder to get there.
On the other hand, if you have enough natural talent, you can get away with not exhibiting many of the qualities on this list. There are plenty of examples in Hollywood history -- and I've known a few people like that myself. Of course, they're hell to work with. But if enough decision-makers think they're worth it, they'll still get hired.
Yeah... it’s weird. I forgot it was even the end of the decade until my son mentioned it. I know we’re going into 2020 but it doesn’t have the bittersweet feel as when pre-2000 decades ended.
I think the issue might be about putting the cart before the horse.
None of the things on that list will make you successful in and of themselves, even you somehow possess all of them (which is both subjective as much as dubious).
Luck and timing? Yup. Of course that's what gets anyone's nose in the door. But after that--that top 10 list is actually pretty useful. Be those things once you have a job, just don't expect them to get you a job.
Getting somewhere on time is literally a learned skill for some people. I once knew someone who was always late for things. I found out why once when we went to a movie and accidentally got there 20 minutes before the film started and he was fit to be tied because it meant he had to wait! I was talking to a theater manager once and asked why movies never started at the listed time and he explained that they always start 20 minutes later because some people can never arrive on time and this accommodates that. Back in 1997 when they rereleased the original Star Wars I got to the theater way early. The theater slowly began to fill until it was almost filled and just as the film began people were still arriving, but the only open seats were down in front in the first row.
If there is one thing I've learned throughout the years, "Being on Time" will get you far in life. Also, learn manners and how to look someone in the eye on an interview.
I don't see why this list is in any way specific to showbiz. In fact I doubt the photo came from a talk about showbiz. But anyway... The only really important thing is "#6 Passion". Because if you have that then all of the other items on the list are just going to happen.
Also, "#5 Bodylanguage" is the odd one out, since it isn't necessarily something that will come naturally as a result of having passion for your work (maybe it can in some people... But not necessarily).
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I think you missed out "luck". I don't think I've ever heard a story of a successful person where they didn't *also* have some luck besides those other things. I know you worked and work very hard at everything you do, Ken, but imagine if you *hadn't* been reading Teichman's biography of George S. Kaufman at the right time in the right place...
ReplyDeletewg
great list for success in any endeavor. I would add persistence
ReplyDeleteI think "serendipity" ought to be distinguished from "luck" although the ideas do overlap. You could say that luck requires some sort of readiness; Robert Heinlein had a character of his say once, in a 1958 novel, "There is no such thing as luck. There is only adequate or inadequate preparation to cope with a statistical universe." By contrast (as I see it), serendipity is more a matter of happy coincidence.
ReplyDeleteLuckily I adhere to all 10 things on that list. And Wendy is correct, LUCK does come into play, as does TIMING. I also think just being a fun/pleasant/outgoing/kind/positive person who doesn't repel or alienate the others is important - someone people WANT to work with.
ReplyDeleteThose 10 things you have control over, luck you don't. I think that's why it's not on the list.
ReplyDeletePeople always hate it when I try to explain how difficult the goal is, but they're not even on the map if they can't understand how much is required of them.
ReplyDeleteLast year a major studio made an open offer of an entry-level position. I'm not exaggerating here. They said, "We're only looking at the first seven hundred resumes and will choose twelve finalists who will intern until we decide which one to hire." That was especially strange for me to see because I had already worked at that studio but had been shut out during a reorganization.
Naturally, there are less extreme ways to get employment. Most hiring takes place entirely within the business, no need for cattle calls. I've gotten jobs without formally applying for them because my work floats around various offices as projects get packaged. Sometimes people recommend me. The thing is, though, the recommender puts themself on the line that way and the recommendee owes the person that sticks their neck out not to disappoint them. Early in my career I used to be loose about trying to hook people up and would inevitably get an irate phone call almost immediately from the employer saying, "Why did you send me that idiot? We lost an entire day and still have to find someone who knows what they're doing." Wasting someone's time is a federal offense in this high-pressure field.
That's when you learn what to look for in an applicant. If someone shows up for a meeting unprepared and unfocused, wanting to involve you in their great Hollywood adventure but not contributing anything to the project at hand, they've failed the audition. It's not like we're giving them a trick quiz, but that they came into the game with all the wrong ideas and are unwilling to let go of them. Another common disaster is trying to explain how hard the work is and the wannabe yells, "I AM working hard!" when they're nowhere near the mark. They're mad because they expected things to be easy and feel it's unfair that the real-life job isn't that way. On the other hand, it's exciting when someone comes along who can't hide their energy and perseverance. And yes, sometimes it really does feel you have to go through seven hundred misfires before you find a team member like that.
Nepotism is a good one. Though I guess you could file that under luck.
ReplyDeleteKen, if anyone sends you a link to a movie trailer called "Tenet", please don't click on it. Your holidays will be ruined.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas :)
As the late Robert Evans said in The Kid Stays in the Picture, "Luck is when opportunity meets preparation."
ReplyDeleteIn the writing Venn diagram of talent and persistence there is a very tiny intersection where the two may come together. However, it's very rare. That's why I've said so many times that that is why there is so much mediocre product out there. Because the people that make it in this industry may not necessarily be the best; they just worked harder to get there.
ReplyDeleteNOT THAT I'M BITTER OR ANYTHING.
M.B.
On the other hand, if you have enough natural talent, you can get away with not exhibiting many of the qualities on this list. There are plenty of examples in Hollywood history -- and I've known a few people like that myself. Of course, they're hell to work with. But if enough decision-makers think they're worth it, they'll still get hired.
ReplyDeleteRemember the days when we used to celebrate the decade and review and eventually define it? It seems like those days ended, starting with the 2000s.
ReplyDeleteYeah... it’s weird. I forgot it was even the end of the decade until my son mentioned it. I know we’re going into 2020 but it doesn’t have the bittersweet feel as when pre-2000 decades ended.
DeleteThese 10 attributes ring true. I call getting hired in the biz the BLT+P method - Balls, Luck, Talent plus Persistence.
ReplyDeleteI think the issue might be about putting the cart before the horse.
ReplyDeleteNone of the things on that list will make you successful in and of themselves, even you somehow possess all of them (which is both subjective as much as dubious).
Luck and timing? Yup. Of course that's what gets anyone's nose in the door. But after that--that top 10 list is actually pretty useful. Be those things once you have a job, just don't expect them to get you a job.
Getting somewhere on time is literally a learned skill for some people. I once knew someone who was always late for things. I found out why once when we went to a movie and accidentally got there 20 minutes before the film started and he was fit to be tied because it meant he had to wait! I was talking to a theater manager once and asked why movies never started at the listed time and he explained that they always start 20 minutes later because some people can never arrive on time and this accommodates that. Back in 1997 when they rereleased the original Star Wars I got to the theater way early. The theater slowly began to fill until it was almost filled and just as the film began people were still arriving, but the only open seats were down in front in the first row.
ReplyDeleteIf there is one thing I've learned throughout the years, "Being on Time" will get you far in life. Also, learn manners and how to look someone in the eye on an interview.
ReplyDeleteI don't see why this list is in any way specific to showbiz. In fact I doubt the photo came from a talk about showbiz. But anyway... The only really important thing is "#6 Passion". Because if you have that then all of the other items on the list are just going to happen.
ReplyDeleteAlso, "#5 Bodylanguage" is the odd one out, since it isn't necessarily something that will come naturally as a result of having passion for your work (maybe it can in some people... But not necessarily).