10,000 NOs

CHAPTER 6Perseverance

“Keep ‘em choppin’, keep ‘em choppin’, lalalalalala!!!!”

—Coach Hurley, Freshman Football Coach, John Jay High School

You've now heard enough stories to understand why, when I am asked to speak to soon-to-be graduates of MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) acting programs in Los Angeles, I describe my job as “being told ‘no’ for a living.” It usually elicits a chuckle from at least a few of the graduates, but hearing my stories about the intricate and unique ways in which I've been pounded by “the business,” it starts to sink in that they need to prepare themselves for a life of rejection if they are really going to carry on as professional actors. Perhaps the adjective that most encapsulates the qualities inherent in any actor who has lasted more than a decade is “perseverance.”

Perseverance Is for Everyone

I don't believe that perseverance is just for actors. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines perseverance as “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition: STEADFASTNESS.” My personal definition of perseverance has always been “the ability to go on, when the going gets tough.”

As such, perseverance applies to every relationship and every activity in which we engage throughout our lives, from our kids to our jobs to our relationships. Because the things that matter most to us are never going to be perfect right off the bat, or ever, for that matter. Which is why we need to practice follow through when things don't ...