IT WORKED FOR HENRY FONDA

MONEYSWORTH

DECEMBER 1996

Milton Katselas Tells How to Make Your Dream a Reality

After spending 30 years directing, teaching and motivating successful actors – including Robert Duvall, Bette Davis, George C. Scott and Henry Fonda – I’ve come to believe that the frailties and hopes of celebrities are no different from those of the salesperson, the high school teacher or the company executive.

The secret to banishing your doubts and turning your dreams into realities is the persistence, tenacity, passion, involvement, caring and resolve that pushes people to accomplish the impossible.

PUTTING DREAMS INTO ACTION

Think of yourself as a winner

Jimmy Durante, Danny De Vito, Helen Keller, Barbara Streisand, Robert Redford and Julia Roberts were all unlikely winners.

Each of these people could be considered by conventional standards to have a flaw that should have hurt their careers. I’ve included Redford and Roberts because in our society there is not only the prejudice against unattractiveness, but also one that says if you’re beautiful, talent may not be close by.

The lesson is that you can assume that your physical appearance or eccentricity will hold you back – or you can ignore it…or recognize it as an asset.

Two men who were quite dissimilar in nature made this point while speaking at my classes. First, Cary Grant said. “All you have is you.” Then Marty Ritt, the film director said, “Mine the vein of gold within you.”

You and your uniqueness are all you need to be a winner. The key is to find out how to take advantage of your personality an exploit your uniqueness.

Have a launch pad

Get a sturdy, well-ordered desk. And – get your own telephone and answering machine.

Put that desk in an uncluttered, bright spot in your house. Don’t share it with others. This desk is the launch pad from where you will set goals, plan daily activities and create a concept of your career – all with out distractions or interruptions.

Example:

I knew a fine actress who was talented and beautiful – but her career wasn’t progressing. Her life at home was filled with distractions from family and friends. I told her to get a desk and create her own space.

Not long after, Martin Scorcese was casting for a movie. Since this actress had worked with him previously, she called him. But he told her there wasn’t a role for her.

I suggested she sit at her desk and write him a letter asking for a part. At her desk, undisturbed, she realized that the part’s size and money weren’t major issues but working with him was – and she told him so. He gave her a smaller part, which led to an even bigger break.

Your launch pad check list…….

Desk

Calendar

Stationary

Telephone

List of Contact

Dictionary

Make choices that move you forward

Your career requires you to make choices, and day to day, the tiny details of life demand that you make choices the either move your career forward or slow it down.

When you have a choice to make between several options, take out a sheet paper for each choice.

Draw a line down the middle of each sheet. At the top, write the name of each option. Then write the positive aspects on one side of the paper and the negative aspects on the other side.

Now – which one helps you’re career the most? Which one presents you with the most benefits in the future, spiritually and materially, short term and long term?

Don’t Flinch

I would say that 50 % of all career problems are a result of “flinching” – backing off…retreating. losing courage at the very moment you need it.

Exercise: What are flinching from write now? Are you trying to avoid something on your to -do –list, some person or some action that could advance your career?

State what these items are and make plans for following through on them.

Don’t blame others

Imagine you’re life as a movie in which you are the screenwriter. When you blame others, you’re allowing other writers to change your best lines. Nothing inhibits your dreams quicker than the blame.

It’s far better to write an Oscar winning script – and take responsibility for seeing it through.