ARTICLE: Take The Do Over

When I was a kid, I had this clown that I could punch as hard as I wanted and it would go down and pop back up just as fast as it went down. That clown actually became a great metaphor for me in my life. When you get hit and go down... it's not the hit that counts... it's how long you stay down there. I truly believe that your character is defined by how you deal with the hits in life. How strong are you? Are you strong enough to do what it takes to make it in what you believe is your life's purpose? Can you take a hit and not take it personally, but instead get up, brush yourself off and spend some time figuring out why you were hit to begin with? So many people wallow in their pain for months; years and sometimes their whole lives. You do not want to be a shoulda, coulda, woulda person! Figure out a way to deal with all the information, get up, seek it out and do it. There is help out there for you to find the answers.

Take The Do Over

Take the "do over." That's what I love about New Years.  New Years to me was never about the party or the food or getting drunk - I could do that any time. What I love about New Years is that it gives you a chance to take a "do over." If you feel that you are in the same place - doing the same thing - feeling the same way - take the "do over." You can wait another year to take it, but why wait. Take it now. You'll be glad you did. 

Happy New Year!

XOXO

Amy Lyndon

CEO - The Lyndon Technique

http://thelyndontechnique.com

http://tltaccess.com

http://www.imdb.me/amylyndon

ARTICLE: Are You Working Hard Enough? Really?

Not easy to build.

Last month, I wrote an exclusive article for our TLTaccess.com Members about burnout - the inevitable result of too much stress and working at a level-ten frenzy. This month, I want to swing to the other side of the pendulum and ask you, “Are you really working hard enough?”

I think we actors can easily point to the trials and tribulations of trying to make it in show-business and come up with a myriad of reasons (excuses) why our careers aren’t moving forward. “It’s tough.” “I don’t have the money for classes/headshots/coaching.” “If I only knew the right people.” “If only my agent sent me in more, or I had a better agent.” And so on…

Guys, it is very tough to be an actor. A lot of gurus say that if you can do any other job – do it. Well, I say bull**** to that. Rather than bail on your dreams because you can, you should tighten your belt, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to beat the hell out of any challenges that dare to take you on.

Whether it’s money, time, agent issues or whatever, there is a solution that someone has discovered. You are not the first actor to wish they had better contacts or better reps. Your challenges are not unique to you, so, what makes YOU different from the thousands of working actors?

You’re not working hard enough, or you’re not working smart enough.

Now, before you go crazy on me, please note that the keyword there is enough. You may be working very hard and very smart, but it may not be enough. Enough is a relative term, and so you have to decide what’s enough for you. A 19-year-old gorgeous blond model who is the niece of a famous director is going to have a different value for the term “enough” than you might have. But the principle remains the same: If you’re going to be a successful actor, you have to figure out what it’s going to take, and then do ENOUGH OF IT!

Honestly guys, this is a big subject, because every actor’s journey is different, so I can’t point to a checklist of actions and wash my hands of you. If you’re struggling, stop trying to figure it out on your own. Get connected to a trusted group of actors or industry professionals who aren’t afraid to tell you you’re slacking off. Even better, schedule a Career Consultation with Amy locally or via Skype. Whatever you do, do it NOW. Like, right now, today, in the moment, because this is your dream we’re talking about! It’s you vs. the world, and only one of you gets to walk away victorious.

Time to roll up your sleeves.

Justin Turner + Amy Lyndon 

The Lyndon Technique

Marketing Director

http://www.TheLyndonTechnique.com

http://www.TLTaccess.com - Download your FREE 4-Week Booking Kit

818-760-8501 - Call to schedule your Career Consultation

ARTICLE: Get Your Juicy On!

You know what else is juicy? Oranges.

JUST DO IT! GET YOUR JUICY ON PEOPLE AND BOOK BIG!!!

Common, you know you love it. Why not commit to it? Why not go all the way with your feelings? Why not get dressed for the occasion and show up on time and go for it? You know they want you. You know you have the gift and the talent to make them say... Yes! Yes! So, why not do it? Why not put time and love into what you do? Why not just go there and take it? It's waiting there for you to take it. It's calling your name. Sound enticing?

I'm talking about your career. I'm talking about your dreams. You want it, right? Then go about it the correct way and be prepared. Get your juicy on. Have a plan of action. Show them what you're made of. Don't let some other person take what you want. Attack your opportunities. Don't let them pass you by. Taste it and go after it. Hit every thought. Set up every action, Know what you're doing. Know who you're talking to or about. Create your environment. Feel every moment and tell the absolute best story there is to tell. Expand your imagination and breathe in all the possibilities.

You sell it baby, and we will buy it! Give it all you got and walk away knowing that you were successful, interesting and juicy. You made it happen. You're the one to facilitate your dreams into reality. You're the captain of your ship. Just put up the sails and go.

Always here for YOU!

Amy Lyndon
CEO - The Lyndon Technique
818.760.8501
http://thelyndontechnique.com
http://www.imdb.me/amylyndon

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Are Great Actors Born Or Made?

I’m sure not too many people share my views on this, but I do believe that anyone with a great emotional facility, imagination and fortitude can become a great actor.

The actor is “made” by his or her own willingness to be great. There are actors that were “born” to be actors, however if they don’t understand the work that it takes to be great, then it’s just another person out there who never capitalized on their God-given gift.

Just because an actor has a television series or stars in major motion pictures, does not make them great. They most certainly can fall into the category of “made.” That is in the sense that they had the right look and were placed into a project at the right time. There are many brilliant actors out there that work hard and are ready, but were never “made.” That is, “made” in the sense of the business making them a household name.

There are others like Philip Seymour Hoffman that are brilliant because they worked on anything and everything to be seen, heard and exercised to the extent where they built their career whereby the public came to them. Cream really does rise to the top.

Amy Lyndon is multi-award winning filmmaker, actress, director, writer and producer. Having grown up in New Rochelle, New York, formal training was as easy as jumping on a train. During her senior year, Lyndon studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse (NYC) and went on to England to tackle the prestigious London Academy of Performing Arts. After earning her BFA from Syracuse University, Lyndon flew out to LA to debut opposite Andy Garcia in the Feature Film “A Night In Heaven.” Shortly after, Lyndon brushed up her chops with Stella Adler and Harry Mastrogeorge.

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SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ON ACTORGURU.COM: http://actorguru.com/2010/09/01/are-great-actors-born-or-made/