Harper Lee’s first book was To Kill a Mockingbird and Matt Damon & Ben Affleck only had to pitch one movie script and their lives were changed forever.
From that information you might form the belief that ‘all I need is just one big break and then I’ll become a superstar!’.
If you do, I would add a word of caution.
I believe Damon and Affleck’s successful capitalisation on a big break to launch a long term career is the exception and not the rule.
Think of the hundreds if not thousands of one hit wonders who couldn’t sustain success – Gloria Gaynor, Soulja Boy and Psy.
Steve Martin learned this lesson the hard way in his stand up efforts:
“There was a belief that one appearance on the Tonight show made you a star. But here are the facts: The first time you do the show – nothing! The second time you do the show – nothing! The sixth time you do the show someone might come up to you and say ‘Hi, I think we met at Harry’s Christmas party’. The tenth time you do the show you could conceivably be remembered as being seen somewhere on television. The twelfth time you do the show you might hear ‘Oh I know you, you’re that guy!'”
If Steve hadn’t been playing the infinite game. If he wasn’t settled in for the long haul and prepared to persevere we never would’ve heard of him.
A big break would be unreal but are you prepared for the scenic route?
Thomas Duggan 