It’s Time To Start Failing Up

By Bob Fraser

Many actors are surprised to discover that one of the most important components of success is … failure. It’s a fact. You must fail – and fail a lot – in order to succeed.

For instance, silent screen legend Lon Chaney worked as an extra in nearly a 100 films – before he got a credited role.  He did almost 200 films before he got a starring part.  He was a huge ‘failure’ – but Hollywood ended up making a movie about his career (The Man Of A Thousand Faces).

John Wayne worked in the movies as a wrangler, a stunt man, an extra and a stand-in – for 13 years – before he got the role that made him a star.

Sylvester Stallone went almost seven years without work – before Rocky.

Bottom line? Most actors must fail – and fail a lot – in order to succeed.

In fact, if you read biographies carefully you will discover that, in every case, success was the result of going from failure to failure without losing the determination to succeed.

The point is this: If you aren't failing – you're probably staying right where you are.  So, I urge you to go out today and fail.  Fail grandly, fail regularly, fail every day ... because failure is the only pathway to success.

How To Start Failing More Successfully

 All successful people have two things in common: They believe it is possible to succeed. They take action on that belief.

In some cases it requires massive action. For example, Steve Martin was in show biz for almost 20 years before he finally became a star. Bette Davis had to take out an ad in Variety to get work – after she’d won the Oscar … twice. Are you willing to take massive action?

 This is a great quote to put on the fridge. "Do what's right.  Do it right.  Do it right now."

"But, Bob, what am I supposed to do?"

Well, that’s the hard work part.

Ben Stein gives this excellent advice, "The indispensable first step to getting the things you want in life is this: Decide what you want."

Your first step is to define what you want. AND, in order to get what you want, you will follow a plan. AND, in order to keep things straight, you will write this plan down – on paper  

Here are the basic elements of a plan: (Don’t forget to write it all down.)

STATE YOUR GOALS. Say exactly what you want to happen. You will not get a positive outcome with a negative statement ... so don't focus on what you don't want – focus on what you do want.

BE SPECIFIC. How will it feel?  How will it look?  How will it sound? The more sensory information you create in describing your goals – the more information you will communicate to your brain, the operating system you’ll hopefully be using to succeed.

MAKE A LIST OF RESOURCES. What will you need to achieve the goals you've decided upon?  Money, pictures, training, etc.

DESCRIBE THE SORT OF PERSON YOU WILL HAVE TO BE TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. You cannot be successful if you don't know the components of success.  If you don't know what the parts look like you will find it difficult to put together the whole.  So write down a description of the traits, skills, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that you have observed in other successful people. Disciplined? Happy? Educated? Passionate?  Prepared? Persistent?

LIST WHAT YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOU: Are you cute? Are you a great mimic? Are you good on following through? Again, what you're writing down is information for your brain to work with – so you must be totally honest. (And write it all down.)

LIST THE THINGS THAT PREVENT YOU FROM SUCCEEDING. Do you make a plan and then fail to act on your plan? Do you imagine the worst possible scenario and stop trying? Do you do too many things at once? Do you waste time?  Do you spend a lot of time being jealous? Go ahead, be merciless – nobody is ever going to see this list, except you. 

Once you have a long list of your limitations, examine each entry carefully.

I'm positive you will discover that most of your ‘problems’ are self-imposed.

STAY IN CONTROL. You must be totally involved in going after your goals.  No one else will do the hard work needed for you to succeed. Other people will not change in order for you to get to the red carpet. Don’t plan on other people taking action, either. Make sure that your goals are set up so that you can achieve them – by taking action yourself.

CHECK YOUR RESULTS.  You can't tell if you're winning if you don’t keep score.

“But, Bob, none of that will help me. I don't photograph well, I'm too fat, I'm bald, I'm old, I’ve never been lucky – and did I mention I don't have any experience.”

The answer to those sorts of arguments seems too simple for most actors to accept … but here it is anyway:

SO WHAT?

Helen Mirren is a hottie? America Ferrera has ‘the look?’ Forest Whitaker is a young leading man?  Sacha Baron Cohen is lucky?

And that’s just this year’s winners.

Here's the truth: The thing you think is keeping you out – is likely to be the very thing that can get you in. It isn’t about physical beauty. It isn’t about artistic fulfillment. It isn’t about luck.

It’s all about (and only about) telling stories about people. If you are a people – you qualify.

Look, this is a business. Your product is you. If you are going to focus on the inadequacy of the product, its lack of features, its inability to meet someone else’s expectations – well, then, you are admitting you can't (or won't) do your real job – which is to sell the product. The only product you have … YOU.

 Just keep in mind that if you fail – you’re probably on the right track … as long as you’re willing to fail again.

Bob is an actor, writer, director with over 50 years of experience both on and off the screen., He was the writer/producer (show-runner) on such hits as Full House, Benson, The Love Boat, Condo, Marblehead Manor, and others. He has also spent many years acting, writing, producing and directing in theatre - first in NYC and then as the owner of his own theatres in various parts of the U.S. For the past five years he has been advising actors on career matters and is the author of You Must Act! - The Virtual Acting Career Course, Nail It! - Delivering The Hypnotic Audition, Headshot Secrets Revealed - How to Get A Headshot That Gets You Called In, and The Agent Code - How To Get An Agent Interested. Bob is a regular columnist for NowCasting.com, ActorsLife.com, InFocus Magazine, Acting Magazine and many other sites. He's also been a featured speaker at AFI, SAG Conservatory, Equity Library Theatre, UCLA, USC, Actors Creative Network, Film Industry Network, Women In Film, and many more.

Bob Fraser can be reached at bobfraser@youmustact.com