the actors’ business breakthrough - amazon s3 · •lose 8 pounds •attend 8 networking events...

This Career and Life Mastery Course is designed to shake things up, inspire new actions, and transform the way you approach your acting career.

Buckle up! This is going to be an adventure to remember.

Actors’ Business Breakthrough... Career Mastery Course

The Actor’s Business Breakthrough (c) 2004-2015 Dallas Travers. All Rights Reserved 1

The Actors’ Business Breakthrough



"Keep your wits about you. It is not necessary to barter your talent, your self-esteem,

and your youth for the chance of pleasing your inferiors.

It is more frightening but it is not less productive to go your own way, to form your own theatre company, to write and

stage your own plays, to make your own films.

You have an enormously greater chance of eventually presenting yourself to, and eventually appealing to, an audience by striking out on your own, by making your

own plays and films, than by submitting to the industrial model of the school and studio."

True and False by David Mamet

I am your constant companion.I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.I am completely at your command.

Half of the things you do you might as well turn over to me and I will do them-quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed-you must be firm with me.Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few

lessons, I will do it automatically.I am the servant of great people,

and alas, of all failures as well.Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine though I work with the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a person.

You may run me for profit or run me for ruin-It makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet.

Be easy with me and I will destroy you.Who am I?I am Habit.

-by Ian Krieger





Prep Work

Goals, Habits, & Action Plans

Download prep work training audios and videos at

http://www.dallastravers.com/breakthrough-prepwork



1. Select only one specific eight-week goal you wish to accomplish during the Actors’ Business Breakthrough Course. If you already have a few longer-term goals in mind, use them as a framework to pin down an eight week goal in line with your larger vision.

Some examples of a specific eight-week goal are:• Book a paid leading role in a festival-worthy indie film• Earn $3000.00 in unexpected acting income• Partner with a new manager / agent• Increase my weekly auditions to more than 3 per week• Lose 8 pounds• Attend 8 networking events and connect with 2 like-

minded people at each event• Get three general meetings with network casting

directors• Have 8 coffee dates with filmmakers I admire• Complete my demo reel and get it in the hands of 4

decision makers• Write a first draft of my script• Book a national commercial that runs a lot

2. Why only one goal? We will be covering a lot of content during our course, so you will be very busy. Also, with just goal to laser-in on, you’ll be able to easily build strong habits that will sustain you throughout your career.

3. What major obstacles might prevent you from accomplishing your goal?

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Part One:

Identify your eight -week

goal.

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1. Now, it’s time to design an action plan... Start by following the Possibility Web Process below. This will focus your energies on the opportunities in front of you rather than on the obstacles you may perceive.

Possibility WebGreat for landing an agent, booking a job, etc. The results

are not completely up to you, but the steps are. Use the Possibility Web when you feel blocked by too many ‘have-tos’,

‘cant’s’ or obstacles to move forward.

o At the top of the page, identify your goal.o In the center of the page, write down what’s in your way & put a

box around it.o Now, thinking outside of the box… what creative, risky, new steps

can you take to reach your goal? Brainstorm all ideas for 10 minutes. The sillier or riskier the idea, the better!

o Pick a thought or two and commit to it.o Now brainstorm what actions you can take to make it happen.o Create a weekly action plan, check in, make changes, stick to it!

* For more details on the Possibility Web, read chapter 3 of The Tao of Show Business. Or download the action plan audio MP3 located at http://www.dallastravers.com/breakthrough-prepwork



Part Two: Design Your Action Plan





2. After you have completed the Possibility Web Process, it’s time to lay out your specific plan of action. You can do so in one of two ways: The Time Traveler or the Post-It Process. Select the option that most resonates for you and be sure to have your action plan in place before our first Actors’ Business Breakthrough class.

Action Plan Option One: The Post It ProcessWanna think big? Looking for an action plan that’s measurable yet flexible at the same time? Check out Dallas’ Post-It Process now by watching the video located at http://www.dallastravers.com/breakthrough-prepwork

Action Plan Option Two: The Time TravelerGreat for writing scripts, producing a film, or tackling a large project comprised of many individual steps or phases. The time traveler will help you stay focused and move forward quickly. This is especially helpful for perfectionists, multi-taskers, and victims of overwhelm.

o ID an end date and outcomeo ID where you’re at right nowo What’s the ½ way point?o Fill in the ¼ & ¾ points with dateso What daily or weekly commitments are involved in order to stick

with this timeline?* For more details on the Time Traveler, read chapter 3 of The Tao of Show Business. Or download the action plan audio MP3 located at http://www.dallastravers.com/breakthrough-prepwork



http://livepage.apple.com/




After you have identified the goal you wish to accomplish during The Actors’ Business Breakthrough, please answer the following questions.

What positive habits must you develop in order to accomplish this goal?

What negative habits must you eliminate in order to accomplish this goal?

What must you BELIEVE in order to accomplish this goal?

What actions will you take in order to absorb this new belief?



Part Three:

Habits and Beliefs

Daily 1. 30 minutes of work on your eight week goal2. 30 minutes of work on your class assignments3. Call your accountability partner (if

applicable)

Accountability Call Format a. Identify today’s accomplishments b. Share your action plan for the day

c. Offer ideas, support and accountability

Weekly 1. Attend & Participate in each call 2. Call in on time or even early

3. Outline your weekly action planner4. Complete weekly homework assignment

5. Share your successes, goals, and process on the online member forum

The Rules• Want for others’ success more than your own success• Meetings are mandatory• So is a good attitude• As well as an open mind• Respect the group • Participate fully• Trust this process

Sharing GuidelinesWe will be connecting throughout each week via our online member forum. The more you participate in the forum, the more you will gain from this experience. You are invited to ask questions, start brainstorming threads, and share ideas on our private forum. If you want direct feedback from Dallas, please post your questions in the “Questions for Dallas” Thread.



Your Personal

Responsibilities

One of the simplest and most effective ways to accomplish your goals is to rely on an accountability

partner. Checking in with a buddy about your daily actions, your weekly accomplishments, your monthly roadblocks, and your yearly goals will keep you on track and actually help you generate bigger results quickly.

My students often ask me, “Dallas, how do you get so much stuff done everyday?” My answer is simple. I

have support. I rely on my accountability buddy to help me prioritize my immediate goals, take smart actions daily,

and most importantly, celebrate the process.

Believe it or not, I have three accountability partners. That’s right, three. I’m a big believer in the power of teamwork. So, I guess you could say that when it comes to accountability, I take a “more is merrier” approach. Now, you do not need to have three different accountability partners. Unless, of course, you want to. Instead, why don’t you pick the type of partnership that feels like the best fit for you.

The Daily Buddy Check-InMy first accountability buddy, Joanna and I begin every workday with a 7:00 am check-in phone call. Joanna and I are both building our businesses at a rapid rate. Though our businesses are different, we operate in the same way. We’re both quick decision makers, hard workers, and big thinkers. These similarities make us the perfect match for daily accountability calls.

These calls last about twenty minutes and they’re designed to help us both laser in on the day’s top priorities. Joanna and I have been making these buddy calls since the beginning of the year and I credit them to helping me accomplish more in the last six months than I did in the previous twelve. These daily calls also provide an instant confidence boost because I’ve got a buddy to remind me everyday of the mini accomplishments that I often ignore when I’m working on my own.

Here’s what the daily buddy check-in looks like:1. Joanna calls me at 7:00 am sharp.2. We each have ten minutes to share and we take turns going first3. During our allotted time, we share what we accomplished the day before. Then we identify the immediate priorities for that day. Lastly, we discuss what, if any insight or support we need from the other person.



Everybody Needs a Buddy

by Dallas Travers, CEC

If you’re looking for more focus or you just need a swift kick in the rear, the Daily Buddy Check-In is just what the doctor ordered!

The Weekly Buddy Deep DiveI think of my daily check-ins with Joanna as a daily jumpstart to my business battery. My weekly calls with my lovely friend Melanie are more like a deep dive. During these hour long calls, Melanie and I rely on our personal expertise to coach each other.

Melanie and I have opposite strengths. My business is more evolved than hers, so I can share how-to tips to help her develop her marketing muscles. With years of training and work as an expert healer, Melanie is spiritual, centered, and really in tune; qualities I’d like to expand in myself. That’s why she and I are the perfect pair to dive deeply each week into strengthening our ‘weak spots’.

Our weekly deep dive calls look like this:1. I call Melanie every Monday at 8:00 am.2. One of us volunteers to go first.3. We start by sharing a brief overview of the previous week’s events.4. Then, we laser in on specific questions we have for the other person.5. We address all of the first person’s questions.6. Then, person one commits to take specific actions before the next call.7. Next, it’s person number two’s turn.8. At the end of the call, we congratulate each other on all of the progress we’re making.9. These calls are typically an hour long and I’m always amazed by how quickly time flies!

If you’re feeling stuck in your career and want deeper support, the Weekly Buddy Deep Dive is for you.

The Monthly Buddy BrainstormLast but not least are my monthly brainstorming calls with Pat. She’s a mover and a shaker and a ton of fun! Pat and I already get a lot of support in our businesses, but we still like a periodic check in to take a step back and look at the big picture.

Here’s a sample structure for the Monthly Buddy Brainstorm:1. Pat and I set a date and time for our monthly call. We’re both so busy that

the dates often shift, so rather than having a set date, we schedule our calls one at a time.2. We begin the call with a quick hello and catch up.3. One of us then volunteers to share first.



4. We share successes for the month.5. We then address the specific project we’re currently focusing on.6. As the conversation unfolds, we offer up ideas, support, and resources for the other person.7. We identify the specific actions we want the other to hold us accountable to.8. At the end of the call, we schedule next month’s call.9. There is no time limit for these monthly calls. For me and Pat, they’ve ranged from sixty minutes to just five minutes in length.Between monthly check-ins, Pat and I know that we can reach out to each other if a problem arises.

If you’re truckin’ along in your career endeavors and just want an outside perspective every once in a while, try the Monthly Buddy Brainstorm on for size.

How to Form Your Accountability PartnershipYou know better than I do what type of person and what type of partnership will work best for you. But let me share a few tips to help you create your accountability partnership.

Tip 1: Reach Outside Your Inner CircleTry to partner with someone who is not a close friend, relative, roommate or partner. You’ll see deeper benefits from your buddy relationship if the waters aren’t muddied. Ideally, the foundation for this partnership should be that you both want to focus on your careers and you’re seeking support from a neutral party. You’ll find that your buddy will evolve into a close friend naturally, which is an added bonus. But don’t assume your best friend is the ideal accountability partner.

So, think of three or four people you know, but who aren’t necessarily in your inner circle yet. You could ask a classmate, a former colleague, or even the friend of a friend to try out the buddy system with you.

A lot of proactive and positive actors support each other on my Facebook wall. If you need help finding a partner, post your request on the wall and try to find yourself a match in that community.

Tip 2: Set a Firm FoundationIdentify what date and time you will connect. Agree upon who is responsible for initiating the call. Set ground rules about confidentiality, topics you’ll cover and acceptable reasons to miss a call. Also, share what you both want to gain from the partnership and how you can support one another. Creating this foundation in the beginning will help you both get exactly what you need and know exactly where you stand in the relationship.



Tip 3: Keep Your WordThe buddy system only works if you work it. So, don’t try this at home if you’re not willing to commit. You’ll only get out of the relationship what you put in. And though it may feel like work, once you get your buddy system up and running, you’ll experience the incredible power of teamwork for yourself.



the actors’ business breakthrough - amazon s3 · •lose 8 pounds •attend 8 networking events...

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