Why Redefining Success is Your Superpower

Let me start with a story that might surprise you: I once sat next to an A-list actor (you'd definitely know their name) in an audition waiting room at a major Hollywood studio.  We were both auditioning for the same role and she turned to me and said, "I’m not gonna get this role…I honestly think I'll never work again." This was a well-known working actor with more credits than most of us could dream of.

That moment? It changed everything for me. Because if THEY were questioning their future in this business, then maybe—just maybe—we've all been thinking about "success" completely wrong.

The Success Trap We All Fall Into

Here's the thing about our industry that nobody really talks about: we're all playing a game where we don't get to make the rules, hold the cards, OR know when the next hand gets dealt.

Think about it. You can't control:

• Which auditions turn into callbacks
• Which callbacks turn into bookings
• Which agents "get" your vibe
• Which projects get greenlit
• Which pilots will get picked up by a network or streaming service
• Which roles you're "right" for this week (but maybe not next week)
• How your career trajectory will actually unfold

And yet, most of us are measuring our success based on these exact things we can't control! 🤯

No wonder so many talented actors feel like they're constantly falling short. We're trying to win a game using someone else's scorecard.

What If Success Looked Different?

What if I told you that the most successful actors I know—the ones who've built sustainable, fulfilling careers—aren't the ones who booked the most jobs right out of the gate? They're the ones who figured out how to redefine what winning actually means.

Real talk: The actors who thrive long-term are masters of what I call "process-based success." Instead of hanging their entire sense of worth on outcomes they can't control, they've learned to celebrate the things they CAN control i.e. their own process and relationship to the work itself.

Your New Success Scorecard

Let's flip the script, shall we? Here's what success can look like when you take back the power:

🎯 Success is showing up fully prepared – When you walk into that audition room (or hit record on that self-tape) knowing you've done the work, analyzed the character, made bold choices... THAT'S a win, regardless of whether you book it.

🎯 Success is staying curious and growing – Did you try a new technique this week? Take a class that stretched you? Dive in to learning a new skill you’ve always been interested in? You're literally investing in your craft. That's success building compound interest.

🎯 Success is bouncing back faster – Remember when a "no" used to derail you for days? Now it takes you an hour? That resilience you've built? Pure success.

🎯 Success is trusting your instincts – When you stop second-guessing every choice and start trusting that voice inside that knows what feels right for the character... you've just leveled up as an artist.

🎯 Success is enjoying the actual work – This one's huge. When you're having fun in class, getting excited about new material, enjoying your rehearsal time, or even just savoring the joy of reading a script - If you're feeling energized by the creative process itself... you're winning at the thing that matters most.

The Plot Twist Nobody Tells You

Here's where it gets really good: When you start celebrating process-based wins, something magical happens. You become a different kind of actor. You walk into rooms with a different energy. You feel more empowered to make different choices. You connect with the work in a deeper way.

And guess what casting directors notice? Confidence. Authenticity. Joy. The very things that can't be faked or forced.

I've watched this transformation happen with client after client. The moment they stop trying to control the uncontrollable and start owning what's actually theirs to own, everything shifts. Not just their mindset—their bookings too.

But What About the Fear?

Look, I get it. That voice in your head that says, "But if I'm not constantly worried about booking, won't I get complacent? Won't I stop trying as hard?"

Absolutely not. In fact, the opposite happens. When you're not paralyzed by the pressure of outcomes you can't control, you free up SO much mental energy to focus on the work itself. You take bigger risks. You make bolder choices. You show up more fully.

Your Mindset Makeover Challenge

Ready to revolutionize how you think about success? Here's your challenge:

Step 1: Keep a "successful process wins" journal. Every day, write down ONE thing you did to invest in your craft or career that was completely within your control. (ex: I signed up for acting class, I researched a new TV show I'd love to be on, I schedule enough time to really dive into prepping my audition...  These type of things are all about "your process" and you can and should be proud of yourself for owning those things.)

Step 2: Before every audition or self-tape, set an intention based on your process, not the outcome. (ex: "I'm going to trust in my bold choices" or "I'm going to have fun while recording this selftape audition"... instead of "I have to book this.")

Step 3: After a few weeks with this new approach, celebrate your growth. Look back at how you used to view auditions versus how you're viewing them now. Notice how you've evolved. Give yourself credit for that progress.

Here's the beautiful thing about this shift: success doesn't have to be some huge achievement like "I won an award at a film festival" or "I booked a co-star role on TV". Success can be showing up to acting class even when you're tired. Success can be staying present and connected even when a scene partner throws you a curveball. Success can be practicing your accent work for 20 minutes before bed.

These small, daily wins add up. And when you share this journey with a fellow actor friend, you'll notice how it shifts the conversation from scarcity ("I'm not booking enough") to abundance ("Look at all the ways I'm growing and investing in my craft"). Because now you're taking responsibility for things you can control, celebrating those as wins, and not leaving your happiness tied exclusively to bookings.

The Real Secret Sauce

Here's what I've learned after 25+ years in this business: Your career isn't built on the roles you book. It's built on who you become in pursuit of those roles.

Every class you take, every risk you make in an audition room, every time you choose to trust yourself over your fear—that's you building the most important thing an actor can have: an unshakeable foundation.

Because here's the thing - This industry will test you. It will make you question everything. But if your sense of success is rooted in your commitment to growth, your love for the craft, and your ability to show up authentically... no one can take that away from you. Ever.

The actors who "make it" aren't necessarily the most talented (though talent helps!). They're the ones who learn to find fulfillment in the journey itself, who stay passionate about the process, and who define winning on their own terms.

You've Got This (And I've Got You)

That A-list actress I mentioned up top…can you read the Hollywood ending on the wall?  Did she end up booking the role we were both auditioning for?  Plot twist - nope, actually neither of us booked that role.  However, she did go on to book many other amazing projects after that.  

Remember, every single working actor—from the series regulars to the Oscar winners—is figuring it out as they go. The only difference between them and you might just be how they define success along the way.

So here's to rewriting the rules, celebrating the process, and finding joy in the most unpredictable, challenging, and absolutely magical career path on the planet. 🌟

Keep shining, and remember: your success story is already being written. It's happening every time you choose growth over comfort, courage over fear, and passion over perfection.

You're not just building a career—you're becoming the artist you're meant to be. And THAT is worth celebrating every single day.

Ready to redefine what success means to you?

Cowabunga! 🏄‍♀️

Kimberly

P.S. – Want to share your biggest "success process win" from this week? Hit reply and tell me about it! I love celebrating these victories with you.