Proof That You Can Succeed

When you look around at all of the successful people in your field, it's natural to feel jealousy.

But I want to introduce you to a new emotion surrounding other people's success: pure elation.

Why?

Because their success is PROOF that you can do this, too.

The people you envy are no more special than you are. They don't have any super powers that you don't have.

They don't have "luck" on their side any more than you do.

Any time you see someone doing exactly what you dream of doing, it is proof that your success is inevitable.

If they can do it, so can you. Period.

Capacity for success does not judge: it doesn't matter what you look like, where you came from, or what you're pursuing. 

No matter who you are, your capacity for success is exactly the same as the successful people you look up to.

Your story may not unfold in exactly the same way. 

But that's because you are a unique human being, and your journey is specific to you.

And thank god for that!

This world needs your talent in a way that only you can deliver.

So get to work!

Because one day you're going to be the successful person that someone else looks up to.

And you will be their proof.

Are Your Hollywood Expectations Unrealistic?

When I tell people that I'm Hollywood's Success Coach, one of the first questions I often get is, "Oh, so you do a lot of managing expectations?"

And I've grown to really hate that phrase, "managing expectations."

It essentially means that I need to help you set more "realistic" goals and help you understand that your expectations may be out of control.

This. Is. Bullshit.

Here's why: I truly believe that you can achieve ANYTHING you set your mind to.

And not in a fluffy, "You can do it!" kind of way.

In an actual, real life, results-to-prove-it kind of way.

When people ask if I'm managing your expectations, it's because of the limitations they see for what is possible in their own lives.

I see NO limitations.

I know that's a bold statement, and it triggers some people.

They want to fight me on this.

But what they are really doing, is fighting to keep their limitations.

Fighting to stay where they are...

Fighting to believe that they can't achieve their own dreams...

And that's fine for them.

But it's not acceptable for you.

I want you to believe that you can do anything.

I will never "manage" your expectations.

If anything, I'll challenge you to dream bigger.

There is proof all around us of people achieving HUGE dreams, even against all odds.

Why can't that happen for you?

There is no reason.

The Consequences of Later

“Erica, please clean your room.”

“Mom, I’ll do it later!” {Story of my childhood!}

I swear the phrase “I’ll do it later” was invented by kids who didn’t want to do their chores.

When we were younger, that phrase meant the thing we said we’ll do was at the bottom of our priority list. It was this phrase we thought would magically convince our parents that we would, in fact, complete the task, but in a very nebulous time frame.

The consequences of using that phrase were limited to chores being completed at the absolute last moment—essentially living in a mess for as long as we could get away with.

But as we grew older, that phrase, “I’ll do it later” began to encompass more than getting out of chores.

While our “adult chores,” like paying bills and buying groceries still don’t sound like fun, the consequences of putting them off until “later” are more severe. Our parents’ wrath is nothing compared to having our electricity turned off or being without food.

Living and working in Hollywood, and spending my days as a Success coach, I’ve heard “I’ll do it later” in ways that go far beyond chores. Now, when I hear someone say, “I’ll do it later,” they are referring to their dream.

But it’s no longer the parents they are trying to convince that the task will be completed—it’s themselves.

When I meet someone who is working in a job that they don’t love, desiring to work a dream in the entertainment industry, their response to whatever I suggest is often followed by “Ok, I’ll do it later!”

It’s like I have become their parent, and they want to convince me they will pursue their dream at some nebulous time.

But I don’t need convincing. The only person they need to convince is themselves.

When people say “I’ll do it later” it gives themselves some comfort, that the task will, in fact, be completed. Even if there is no specific time frame in sight.

But we all know the truth behind that phrase.

We all know, that when we say that phrase, we have no intention of following through.

And while it may have been a cute response when were 10, it’s no longer going to cut it in the world of responsibility.

Brian Tracy says,

“It is the fear of rejection that causes you to settle for far less than you deserve.”

When people refer to their dreams by saying, “I’ll do it later”, it almost always comes from a place of fear of rejection.

Rejection from peers, jobs, Hollywood—the list goes on and on.

And I get it: To leave a life of certainty and comfort for a big, huge unknown, is terrifying.

So it’s understandable when one says they’ll do that later.

But as Brian Tracy’s quote says above, it causes you to settle for far less than you deserve.

You deserve the best.

You deserve all that life has to offer.

You deserve the dream that lives inside of you.

But every time you say, “I’ll do it later”, you’re settling for a life that doesn’t include any of that.

So it’s time to cut the crap.

Instead of saying “I’ll do it later,” call it what it really is: “I’m too afraid to go after it and leave the comfortable life I have now.”

There is nothing wrong with feeling that way. But calling it “later” is a disservice to yourself.

If you want to do this thing...go after this dream of yours...there is no “later”.

The only time is now.

We all know what “I’ll do it later” really means, so who are you trying to convince that you actually will follow through later?

If you find yourself saying “I’ll do it later,” ask yourself this one question:

What is holding me back from doing it now?

If the answer is fear, that will most likely never go away.

We all have fear when pursuing something that matters to us.

You can learn to dance with the fear and move forward, or you can let it cause you to settle for far less than you deserve.

If the answer is something other than fear, dig deeper.

Under all the “finances” and “resources” answers lies fear. They are surface symptoms of the underlying cause.

As Tony Robbins says, “It’s not about having resources. It’s about being resourceful.”

So whatever is holding you back, confront it right now.

And make a choice.

Because we all know what “I’ll do it later” really means.

When Your Circumstances Suck

What are your current circumstances?

You know, the ones that are holding you back from achieving anything GREAT in Hollywood.

Are you low on money? LA is hella expensive.

Do you lack a network of connections? They say LA is all about who-you-know.

No resources? 

Feeling alone?

Low on energy?

Lack knowledge?

Lack representation?

There are a million ways your circumstances could suck right now. 

And you may feel that all of them are reasons why you aren't where you want to be in your career.

I know I've felt that way before. Especially when it comes to M-O-N-E-Y.

But I've got some good news. (And some bad news.)

Let's start with the bad news first:

You are responsible for your circumstances.

I have some good news too, remember?

You are responsible for your circumstances.

If you've been following me for some time, you know about my obsession with Jack Canfield and, particularly, his book The Success Principles.

Chapter 1 is about Responsibility. And yes, that needed a capital R.

When I first read it, my mind was blown.

It was as if Jack spoke directly to me and said, "You are responsible for your life, Erica!" and then dropped the mic.

Ever since that moment, I've viewed my circumstances differently.

Whatever circumstances you're currently in that you don't like, can be changed.

And the only one who can change them is Y-O-U.

If you are low on money, find a way to bring in more income (and monitor your spending). Get a higher paying job, get a second job, sell stuff on eBay, be an affiliate for Amazon. There are so many more ways to make money today than there were 10 years ago.

If you don't have a network, get out there and start meeting people. Attend events, participate in Social Media conversations, send cold emails, ask your friends and family for possible connections, join my free Facebook community. The internet has made networking easier than ever.

No resources?

Tony Robbins says, "You don't need resources. You just need to be resourceful."

There are many stories of people finding success after living through circumstances that are much worse than what you're currently experiencing.

J.K. Rowling was "jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless," before Harry Potter was published.

Oprah was sexually abused as a child.

Jim Carrey had to quit high school to get a job to support his family.

Your circumstances don't define you.

And they can't stop you from finding success unless you let them.

You have more power than you realize.

It's time to OWN that power and take responsibility for your life.

You may find yourself in circumstances that don't serve your dreams.

What are you going to do about it?

Jack Canfield's famous equation states: E + R = O

Events + Response = Outcome

This means that events will happen in your life, but it's how you RESPOND to those events that will create your outcome.

It's easy to blame your outcome on someone else—it's your manager's fault, or the industry's fault.

When you blame others for your outcomes, you're keeping yourself where you are.

Stop waiting for someone to change your circumstances for you.

Take responsibility, change your response, and watch your outcomes change.

Want to find success in a Hollywood career?

Change your circumstances.

Be resourceful.

The Fastest Way to Leave Your Day Job and Pursue Your Hollywood Dream Full Time

When you’re still stuck in your day job, and a lot of time has passed, your dream begins to feel more distant.

The more distant your dream becomes, the less your subconscious understands how to get there.

And the less your subconscious understands, the less you take actions towards your dream.

And the less you take actions towards your dream, the longer you stay in your job.

It’s a vicious cycle and it’s easy to feel trapped.

But there is a way out.

Let’s say your dream was to run a marathon, but right now, you can hardly run 1 mile.

When you start training, you wouldn’t run an entire marathon on the first day.

Your body wouldn’t be prepared, and your mind can’t understand something so huge.

So what do you do?

You start out in smaller increments and work your way up.

Your mind can understand a stretch of a goal, like running 2 miles, easier than it can understand running a marathon.

It’s the same thing with your Hollywood dream.

When you’ve been in your day job for awhile, it’s easy for your big dream (say, winning an Oscar) to get pushed farther and farther away.

It becomes your marathon.

When it feels like a marathon and you haven’t run 1 mile, you make choices that keep you in your current, comfortable situation.

All you have to do to get out of that cycle is chunk it down. Find your “2 mile run”.

I'll show you exactly how to do this in my Strategy Map That I Used to Book Work on 26 TV Shows (Even Starting With Zero Contacts) that you can grab for free.

But before you do any of that, you have to WANT it.

You have to find that spark again...that reason you moved to Los Angeles.

Maybe it’s already there but it’s a little dim. That’s OK. Life happens.

Now is the time to light it back up!

I know stepping outside your comfort zone is the hardest part.

If you’re feeling comfortable in your day job, you’ll have to get ready to be uncomfortable.

You know that’s where the magic happens. (I know you know this.)

But it’s easy to forget. It’s easy to get comfortable in the life you’ve created for yourself.

Even if it’s not the life you’ve dreamed of.

The life you’ve dreamed of can still happen, though.

You are capable of succeeding at even the most “impossible” dream.

But you have to give your subconscious a reason to get up and take the right actions.

A reason to eventually leave that day job.

That reason is your equivalent of the 2 mile run. As long as you focus on the big dream, you’ll continue to be stuck where you are. You can’t run a marathon tomorrow.

But you can totally do a smaller increment. And THAT your subconscious can get on board with.

So figure out what your 2 mile run would be, and start taking actions to make that happen.

If you have no idea what your 2 mile run would be, grab my Strategy Map where I’ll show you how to figure it out.

Six to twelve months from now, where do you want to be?

Focus on the increment instead of the big dream, and you'll be on your way to making your big dream your new life.

4 Hollywood Myths That Could Be Costing You Your Career

Hollywood throws a lot of crap at you.

It’s an industry that feels like the Mean Girls lunch table.

I mean, you wore pink on Wednesdays, and you’re still not allowed at the table. WTF?

You’re working hard and doing your best, and all you want to do is sit at the table, and be part of the glamorous Hollywood life.

But you keep getting knocked down.

Whether it’s articles you read, or phrases you hear around town, the rejection is so much bigger than a “No” at an audition or interview.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

On my very first TV show, someone on the crew said to me, “Don’t pursue this. Get out while you can.” Pretty comforting, huh?

It’s no wonder everyone has come to the same conclusion: Making it in Hollywood is near impossible.

But when you have this big dream...and it comes from a genuine place deep in your heart...and you still believe in Hollywood magic...that conclusion sucks.

More importantly—it doesn’t have to be YOUR conclusion.

That conclusion, that seeps into your subconscious every turn you make, doesn’t serve you.

It doesn’t create a foundation for your dreams coming true. In fact, it does the complete opposite.

When you ingest negative statements about your ability to achieve your Hollywood goals, it does so much more damage than you may realize.

If you believe the statements, they get locked away in your subconscious, and begin to control the actions you take, making you feel like you keep hitting a brick wall.

Check out my brilliant illustration (I’m a designer, let me have it!):

Because we seek experiences to prove our beliefs to be true.

So if we believe it’s going to be impossible to make it in Hollywood, our subconscious makes us take actions that will create experiences to prove that to be true.

In order to change this, you’ll need to take part in a cliché Hollywood pastime: A cleanse. But don’t worry—this one doesn’t involve green juice. Although, it requires you to dig pretty deep, so maybe you’ll wish it involved green juice. As Mastin Kipp says, “You can’t green juice your way out of this.”

The cleanse (a 4-day detox process to stop blocking success) begins by recognizing the 4 major Hollywood myths that are harming your chances. These 4 myths need to go bye-bye. (Can I add a third “bye”? I can’t resist the urge to make an N’sync reference).

Ok, ready? Here we go:
 

Myth #1: LACK, LACK, LACK

This first myth is the one that does the most damage. It says that there is LACK everywhere: lack of roles, lack of jobs, lack of opportunities, lack of genuine people. It says you’re never going to make it because there simply aren’t enough opportunities for you.

But Larry Broughton says it best, “You’ll find what you’re looking for.”

So if you’re looking for lack, you will find lack.

If you've been feeling like there aren't enough opportunities lately, your lack mindset is creating that. 

So why not look for abundance?

Take a moment and look around. There is an ABUNDANCE of roles. An ABUNDANCE of jobs. An ABUNDANCE of opportunities. If you choose to see it.

Especially in today’s landscape: Hollywood is vastly changing with the internet and new media. The opportunities are ENDLESS.

This is a mindset shift. Choose to change it, and you will rule your career.

Myth #2: COMPETITION MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE

Ah, competition. That word just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, right?

Just kidding. It probably makes you nauseous. (I’ll put a trash can next to your bed, just in case.)

The only time a career approach should give you the sweats, is if it’s pushing you outside of your comfort zone. Nerves are great, when you’re trying something new!

Your career pursuit should not make you queasy. It should not feel gross and icky. And that’s what “competition” does.

The cure for that virus?

Understanding that competition does not exist.

Instead, check this out: everyone is on their own journey, and there is room for everyone.

You wouldn’t be blessed with this talent if you weren’t meant to share it (and get paid for it).

If someone gets a job over you, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t meant to be successful. It means that, for whatever reason, that job was not meant for your path, and it was meant for the other person’s path. You can both find success taking different roads.

One time, at band camp… just kidding. One time, I interviewed for a job on the show Entourage. I had a few connections, so I thought I would definitely get it. But I didn’t. Someone else got the job and I was crushed. I immediately spiraled into the negative self-talk: “I’m not good enough. I suck. They didn’t like me…”

A few years later, I found out the other person who got the job met her husband on that show.

WHOA.

There was a reason bigger than me, why the other person HAD to get that job.

And it had nothing to do with my skills, talent, or personality.

She had her own journey. And I had mine. And after 26 TV shows, I did perfectly OK without that job.

Myth #3: IT’S ALL ABOUT LUCK (YOU ONLY GET ONE BIG SHOT)

I could go on for days about this.

If you dig deep into anyone’s career that has involved “luck,” you’ll find it was so much more than that.

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity, so it’s all about preparing as much as you can, so you’re ready when opportunities come along.

When you believe that it’s all about luck, you take a passive seat to your career.

You wait and you wait for luck to come your way.

But everyone is capable of creating their own “lucky” moments.

And when you shift your mindset that way, you make room for them to flood in.

When you believe you only have one big shot, you’ll put so much pressure on every opportunity. But, as Abraham Hicks says, “People get to the dock and they think they missed their boat. But there is always another one coming.” There is always another opportunity. There will always be another shot. (See Myth #1)

Your Hollywood dreams will not rest on just one big break or one moment of luck.

If you REALLY WANT your dream, I’m talking, with ALL YOUR HEART, the universe will deliver many moments of “luck” when you’re ready.

Myth 4: THE POWER LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE INDUSTRY

I’m hoping you’re starting to get the picture now—with each of these myths, you’re leaving the power in the hands of the industry. As long as you believe them, you’re creating a world where they are true.

But I want you to understand that YOU have the power. It lies within you. Not to get all Wizard of Oz on you, but you’ve always had the power.

When you believe any of these myths, your power is taken away. And when you lose your power, it’s really difficult to find success.

Choose to take your power back. Choose to see things differently. Choose a high-achieving mindset. Your Hollywood dreams are ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE. And they’ll begin the moment you detoxify yourself of these myths.

The Universal Final Exam

Big dreams require big leaps.

And those big leaps can be f*$king scary.

So scary, that most people refuse to take them.

They talk about it ALL. THE. TIME.

But when it comes to actually following through, they're suddenly "too busy."

And become SO good at coming up with excuses, they could major in it. 

Do you feel like that's you?

Do you feel like you could major in Excuses and graduate Summa Cum Laude?

You might not even realize it.

Because of the Universal Final Exam (since I've already started with that whole school analogy!).

When you're about to take the leap for something HUGE...when you've managed to get yourself up to the ledge, and you're standing there looking down...

That's when the Universe smacks you in the face with a final exam.

The Universe sees that you're ready.

Or that you at least THINK you're ready.

And it wants to make sure.

Actually, what the universe really wants to do is keep you where you are. 

Ok, wait. That's not true. But that's how it feels.

If we're being honest here, the universe wants you to succeed.

It wants you achieve all of your wildest dreams. And it wants to help you get there.

But sometimes, it has to test you.

And that test is going to dangle comfort in your face.

It's going to present an opportunity to you to tempt you to stay exactly where you are.

Something to prevent you from taking the leap.

And most of the time, YOU have complete control.

You have the control to say NO to this thing. You have to control to say NO to whatever is keeping you comfortable; to whatever is pulling you away from that ledge.

But the reality is, most people fail this final exam.

Because staying where you are is REALLY tempting.

I mean, who doesn't love being comfortable?

That ledge was looking mighty scary. It seems sensible to be pulled away from it.

This Universal Final Exam has many different forms. It can look like:

• A new job offer
• A party or social event you can't miss
• A health issue
• A family issue
• A wedding, or holiday celebration
• A job promotion
• A possible opportunity

Or it could even just be your fear. Without the need for a big event.

Whatever it is, the universe will put one of these in front of you RIGHT before you take the action required to leap.

It's going to say, "Are you sure you want to do this? How about this shiny object over here?"

When this happens, there is no wrong answer.

You can accept the Universal Final Exam, or you can reject it.

It's completely up to you.

But be aware of this: you will never be "ready" to take a leap.

You won't be more ready later.

It won't feel less scary later.

If you accept one of these final exams, they will continue to come up.

Maybe this time it's a job offer. But next time it will be a wedding. And the time after that, it will be a relationship.

Before you know it, years pass and you still haven't taken that leap that you know you need to do because it's so deep down in your heart.

If this is something you REALLY want—something you know you're meant to do—then take the damn leap.

As Ray Bradbury says, "Take the leap and build your wings on the way down."

That's how you learn. And grow. And become a more interesting, fulfilled human being.

Or you can keep accepting those temptations.

It's your call.

Success in Hollywood: Don't Believe Everything You Read

"Hollywood Success is Nearly Impossible" — kill. me. now. (After 26 television shows, I'm allowed to make that comment.)

Yes, it may be difficult to make it in Hollywood. But that’s not specific to Hollywood. It’s specific to any Big Dream anyone has ever gone after.

Big Dreams (yes, capitalized, they are proper nouns in my book), have pretty standard requirements: 1) Drive 2) Dedication 3) Skill 4) Persistence.

You know this. We all know this.

It’s standard for every Big Dream that ever existed, regardless of industry.

So why must Hollywood (or all the articles on Google) choose to make it a soul-crushing experience? Why must they make us feel bad about the decision to pursue this Hollywood-specific dream?

I Googled, “How to become successful in Hollywood” and OH. MY. GOD.

It's so painful. So many articles about how hard it is to make it in Hollywood, and how gritty it's going to be.

Comments on the articles saying, "If you can do something else and be happy, as the saying goes, then do it." (Meaning, don't try Hollywood, it's too difficult.)

I read one sentence that said: [about people who move to L.A.]
“...most return a few years later, hardened, cynical and full of war stories.”

The moment I read these statements, I RUSHED to my trusty Google Docs (where I write all my blog posts, obvi). Something inside me was screaming, “SAVE THESE PEOPLE!!!”

While I know “saving” you is quite a dramatic plea, I feel it is my duty to at least educate you on the BEAUTY of pursuing a dream in Hollywood, and why you MUST pursue it now.

And, to be quite honest, I hesitate to write these words. Because I’m going against the grain. Big Time. Capital B, Capital T.

I’m going against every article you’ve ever read about Hollywood.

Hell, I’m going against the people that actually told me, “Don’t pursue this. Get out while you can.” (I clearly remember that conversation on my very first show, “Trust Me” on TNT.)

It’s scary to do this. Scary AF. Even my colleagues in Hollywood may disagree with me.

But I feel it’s more important to share this message with you than worry about my own fears (False Evidence Appearing Real…).

So, here goes:

Going after your Big Dream is one of the most GLORIOUS THINGS YOU COULD EVER DO WITH YOUR LIFE.

From the moment of conception to the destination of living the Big Dream, the journey is the MOST enriching activity you’ll ever take part in.

It’s so much more than doing something that other people deem “difficult”.

It’s about doing something that you can’t NOT do.

Because it’s in your heart. And you don’t want to think about doing anything else.

It’s about learning SO MUCH about who you are as a person and what you are capable of.

It’s about feeling fulfilled in a way you never imagined, and in a way most people will never feel.

It’s about serving others with your talents, and how GOOD that feels.

It’s about living your soul’s purpose.

It’s about the emotional roller coaster and the friendships that keep you going along the way.

It’s about becoming the BEST version of yourself, and therefore, the most talented version of yourself.

It’s about living life.

Will you have struggles? Probably. I hope so.

Because no great storyteller (or human being) becomes great without struggles.

As Tony Robbins says (yep, I went there!), struggle ignites DRIVE.

And Drive is the MOST important ingredient when pursuing a Big Dream.

So, for a moment, forget about all the tales you’ve been told.

Forget about the headshots, and the reels, and the connections, and the L-U-C-K (don’t even get me started on that one).

For this moment, instead, focus on the BEAUTY of pursuing your Big Dream.

My favorite mentor Jack Canfield says,

“You’re not given a dream unless you have the capacity to fulfill it.”

(He said that on Super Soul Sunday, so you KNOW it’s gold!)

Let me emphasize, in case you missed it.

YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FULFILL IT. (No matter what the crap on the internet says.)

This Big Dream you have? It’s yours.

Go get it.

Hollywood will only "chew you up and spit you out" if that's the story you choose to believe. 

So write a different story.

Because Hollywood can easily become your greatest love.

Remember, YOU are the creator of your own experiences.

You don't need to live out other people's opinions of what your experiences will be like.

Even if they're experts.

The only expert on your life is YOU.

So pursue your Big Dream, and make it the most positive, genuine, enriching experience of your life.

You deserve it.

Milestone Goals + Why They Are a MUST

When you're pursuing a dream that ends in a HUGE way, such as winning an Oscar, or Writing a Blockbuster, it's easy to get paralyzed by how big that dream is.

I am a really big fan of HUGE dreams. If your dream doesn't scare the crap out of you, then it just isn't big enough. And life is too short NOT to shoot for the stars. So dream BIG.

But the question is, how to get there?

See, our subconscious mind has a really tough time understanding something that it's not even close to seeing yet. 

So when we create goals based off of those HUGE dreams, our subconscious gets super confused and stops you in your tracks. 

You say, "I'm going to win an Oscar!"

And your subconscious is like, "A whaaa? You haven't even acted in one film yet! I don't see that happening. Nope. Nu-uh. No idea how to make that happen."

Then you get trapped in your daily actions. 

It's like stepping in quicksand. 

And it sucks because all you want is that big dream, but you're stuck where you are, and now you're sinking.

So how can you get around this?

The answer: Milestone Goals.

See, when we have these big dreams, we forget about all the exciting stuff that happens on the way. 

It's like taking a road trip from the East Coast to California. 

You reeeeeally want to get to your destination and live it up in California.

But then you get to the Grand Canyon.

And you have that silent moment, where you breathe a heavy sigh and say "Holy crap, this is incredible!"

Even though the Grand Canyon isn't the destination you're after, it's still a worthy stop on the way. 

You still get that slice of achievement. 

When you're pursuing that huge dream, there are many stops along the way that are going to feel JUST AS AMAZING as the final destination. Because you've never been there before.

Take a look at your BIG DREAM PATH. What needs to happen before you get to that big dream?

What milestones must you hit along the way?

Your subconscious can understand the next milestone because it's only slightly out of reach. It's not 10 steps ahead, it's about 2-3 steps ahead, and that is something the subconscious can get on board with. 

For example, if you want to win an Oscar, example Milestone Goals could be: getting into SAG-AFTRA, getting representation, getting your headshots taken, getting auditions for features, landing a small role on a feature, etc.

Once you figure out what your Milestone Goals are, pick the first one that has to happen, and then make THAT your goal. Focus on that, and nothing else, until you achieve it. 

Not only will this be FUN, and feel like an accomplishment, it helps your subconscious get on board. That way, you're not paralyzed in action. You're actually moving forward.

Focusing on these Milestone Goals will help you get to the final destination faster. 

And we forget how INCREDIBLE those Milestone Goals are going to feel. Because we've never done them before. 

So if your big dream is to win an Oscar, but you've never acted in a film before, when you get that small role in a film it will be SO EXCITING!

What Milestone Goals can you work towards now?

The 4-Step System To Getting Unstuck + Finding Success in Hollywood

I'm going to start with a quote that might piss you off. 

But trust me, I'm going somewhere with this.

It's by Jack Canfield, the Co-Creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series, multi-millionaire, and Success Coach:

You're never really stuck. You're just creating the same experiences over and over again.

You may have to read that one more time. Go ahead, I'll wait.

This quote is pure brilliance, but I know it might be painful.

Because you might read it, throw your phone/laptop and scream, "EXCUSE ME?? YOU THINK I'M CREATING THESE CRAPPY EXPERIENCES???!"

That's pretty much what I did when I first heard it.

We usually believe, especially in Hollywood, that the reason we aren't moving forward is someone else's fault. Like the industry's. Or an agent's. Or anyone else we can think of. 

Because we've heard a million times that it's going to be hard to make it in Los Angeles. So we think it's normal when we find that it's hard. 

We think we are stuck because we are supposed to be stuck. Because that's just how it is. 

But the truth of the matter, is that we are solely responsible for our own destiny.

It really is US creating the same experiences over and over again. 

The beautiful thing about this is that means we have the power to turn it around. We don't have to wait for the industry to do it for us. 

If you're ready to take hold of that power, and finally see the massive Hollywood success that you deserve, then read on for my 4-Step system to do just that. I've broken each step into a separate article so it doesn't completely overwhelm you. 

Step #1: UNLOCK THE CHAINS

Step 1 is the most important step, and you can't move forward until you've completed it. It is where the DEEP PROBLEMS lie that cause the surface symptoms that is your Hollywood struggle. 

Unlock the Chains is your chance to unlock the chains that holding you where you are. Because YOU HAVE THE KEY. You are the only one able to free yourself. 

The #1 reason people feel stuck in Hollywood (according to a survey I conducted), is FEAR and LIMITING BELIEFS.

Shocker, right?

Like I previously mentioned, most people think the #1 reason people get stuck is because of the industry not granting them success. But in reality, it's F-E-A-R.

Whenever you pursue something that is big and meaningful, you're going to have fears come up. These fears may come from you—the conversation you have in your mind from one negative belief to the next. Or it may come from other people—other people's stories that creep into your subconscious.

For example: 

• I'm not good enough
• I"m not talented enough
• Only one in a million make it
• It's really hard to make it in Hollywood
• You're not good-looking enough
• You don't have what it takes
• It's like winning the lottery

Ever heard any of those?

It doesn't matter if it's coming from outside source, or from within. What matters is that you believe it to be true. Because the second you accept it as truth, even if it's in the back of your mind, it goes down into your subconscious. And your subconscious controls your actions.

So, even if you were told, "You'll probably never make it" a long time ago, if you secretly think it's true, or even if you outwardly say, "I will probably never make it but I'm going to try anyway!", that thought is controlling your actions. And when you believe a negative statement such as that, the actions you take will sabotage your career.

Oh, and this all happens unconsciously, so you probably don't even realize it's happening.

Whenever you have a belief in your subconscious, you seek out experiences to prove it true. So when you believe ,"I'll probably never make it", you will seek out experiences (i.e. situations in real life related to your career) to prove that statement to be true. 

If you're currently taking actions in your career that aren't moving you forward, take a look at your fears and limiting beliefs. For example, let's say you dream of being an actor, and you took a full time job working in a production company that has you working 9-5. When you took this job, you thought it would be a great opportunity to feel like you were working in the industry, and making connections. And hey, maybe one day they will hire you to act in one of their productions! -- It's this thought process of validating an action, that is run by the subconscious. The main way to get from acting dream to "Actor", is auditioning. And you can't audition regularly if you're working a 9-5 job. So it may start to feel like you're hitting a brick wall, like you're not moving forward in your acting dreams. And while the decision to work at the production company came had good intentions behind it, it ultimately blocks you from achieving your dream, hence, proving this statement of "I'll probably never make it" to be true.

The best way to unlock these chains, is to CHANGE your story. Swap out those negative beliefs for new, positive ones. Create a story that says, "I'm going to live out my dream and it's going to be amazing!"

You have to toss out the Hollywood myths that have been fed to you, and replace them with positivity. 

Hollywood Myth #1: LACK (There is not enough. It's a one-in-a-million chance)

Have you ever watched the credits after a movie? I'm talking about ALL the credits. There are usually 100 - 200 people who work on each film, from the actors to the PAs. While the PAs may not be living their true dreams yet, there are still 100s of people who are. And that's just on ONE film.

How many films are filmed at the same time? How many TV shows? A. FREAKING. LOT.

That means there are THOUSANDS of successful people working in Hollywood every day.

You have to change this myth from LACK to ABUNDANCE. There are an abundant amount of roles, scripts, opportunities. Why can't one (or several) be yours?

As long as you believe the lack, that's what you're going to get in your career. 

As long as you believe in abundance, that's what you're going to get in your career.

People think that they got to the dock and missed their boat. But there is always another one coming.

- Abraham Hicks

No FOMO here. Your opportunities are endless.

Hollywood Myth #2: COMPETITION, COMPETITION, COMPETITION

This one stems from LACK. It tells you that everything is competition, and when you don't get a job, you feel crushed and immediately begin the self-doubt conversion: What did I do wrong? I must totally suck. I'll never make it.

The truth is that we are all on our own path. We each have our own journey that has nothing to do with our neighbor's. 

Several years ago, I interviewed to be a PA on "Entourage." 

I thought I was a shoe-in. I knew a bunch of people who worked on the show, so that job HAD to be mine!

But I didn't get the job. And I was devastated. And I started that self-doubt cycle.

Years later, I coincidentally became friends with the girl who got the job. It turns out, she is an amazing person, and great friend.

We talked about Entourage, and I found out the most helpful news: she actually met her husband on that show.

Holy crap! Me not getting that job had NOTHING to do with me. It had to do with her path. Her destiny. She HAD to work on that show to meet her husband. And all these years later, they are still happily married. 

I was fine. I still found success working on over 20 television shows after that. 

So you see, COMPETITION DOES NOT EXIST.

If it drives you, then use it as fuel.

But know that your path has nothing to do with your neighbor's, and there is enough success to go around. Your path to success might look different than you planned or thought—but it will still take you there in the most perfect way.

If you want to stop hitting those brick walls, you need to start by unlocking the chains. Let me know in the comments below, what other Hollywood myths you're fed up with, or what limiting beliefs have been holding you back.

You've got the key. Unlock those chains, baby.